Love or less?

She stood by the window, watching him leave for work. How majestically her Arjun strutted towards the cab he booked minutes ago as his car was at the mechanic’s, it took her breathe away. Well, that was Arjun - he controlled her every breath, sometimes his very presence suffocates her and at times it entices her to the point that she forgets to breathe ; either way she knew, he was the death of her. If only, she knew this months earlier. If only... She, Ahana was a prisoner in this big beautiful penthouse, AA’s (abbrev for Arjun and Ahana) love lair - it was a lair indeed where one was the predator and the other was held as prey. A year ago... It was a happy day for Ahana, she was finally back home, after years of under and post grad studies outside Bangalore. She got placement in one of the best Universities in the country, in Delhi - upon her Papa’s advise, Ahana Shetty didn’t stop with her BSc, she went on to complete her MBA as well and topped her ranks. Since Bangalore was well known for many MNCs in the nation, she thought it will be good to apply for jobs over there as it is home as well and she can be with family during her working life as she spent most her University years away in the Northern part of the country, Ahana’s parents couldn’t be happier! But there was another being who was beyond happy at this news - Niti, Ahana’s bestfriend since playschool. Niti and Ahana managed to stick together till 12th but had to part ways when Niti got her admission in Bangalore itself. On the day Ahana left for Delhi, the two girls hugged and cried in each other’s embrace for hours, Niti is like a sister whom Ahana never had as Ahana was an only child. Niti started working right after her bachelors degree at an IT company and can’t wait to treat and spoil her bestie rotten once she gets back for good, she has been waiting for this day since forever! Niti insisted on meeting the very next day, as it was her off day and couldn’t wait to have her bestie all to herself! Ahana was super excited too, and finally arrived at the cafe Niti asked her to meet at, Bangalore had definitely changed thought Ahana to herself, with all the new hipster cafes popping up like mushrooms after rain. Ahana walked into the cafe with the neon signage, the interiors screamed out ‘highlighter pens’ loud! “So Niti!” muttered Ahana under her breath and chuckled. She found herself a table and sat there waiting for her Niti. She suddenly heard someone screaming her name and even before she could turn or get up, she was startled by a tight hug attack. It was her Niti at last! “A!!!” “I can’t believe you’re finally back for good!” said Niti without breaking their embrace. “Me too, Niti! I missed you so much! Delhi was great but nothing like having your bestfriend gossip face to face with you at the end of a crappy day and downing Papa’s chai every evening,” said Ahana winking at her bestie. The two girls finally settled down at their table and were rummaging through the menu while Niti was filling in Ahana with the town’s latest gossip. Ahana wasn’t really paying attention, as her tummy’s hungry rumbles were louder than Niti’s voice. It was her fault, after all - she was running late and didn’t eat anything before getting there. Suddenly something caught her eye, a really good looking man was paying at the cash register, he had a sturdy figure, definitely works out, standing tall at probably slightly over 6 ft. He wore a really thin raspy looking white shirt that hugged his biceps perfectly. He turned and walked in the direction of Ahana and Niti’s table, that’s when Ahana saw him well, he definitely looked like someone who’s got abs judging from the way his top clung onto his torso, upper buttons undone revealing his tan skin and a bit of chest hair, well defined jawline with a rugged beard and a smirk on his lips. His black wavy hair that partially covered his arched brows and that fell to his shoulders, and most importantly it’s the eyes that caught her attention the most. Strikingly familiar eyes, a pair of eyes that can make you do anything, and those pair of eyes were looking directly into hers now as his steps were getting nearer towards their table. That’s when Ahana snapped out of her trance and gulped, “s**t! I was so lost in his good looks that I’ve been staring at him like a maniac! He probably noticed and thinks I’m one and that’s why he’s headed this way! s**t! s**t!” freaked out Ahana. “Ahana! What are you blabbering? Who’s headed here?” “Did you knock you head somewhere on your way here,” asked Niti rolling her eyes now. “Dude, don’t look. There was this hot guy over there I was checking out while you were talking and seeing the menu, I think he realised and is now walking towards our table! What do I do?” said Ahana covering her face. Before Niti could open her mouth, both girls were interrupted by a deep voice, “Niti, it’s good bumping into you here and this must be our Ahana right?” asked the Ahana’s hot guy standing over their table. “Arjun? Hi, hi. Yes yes, it’s her. A, you remember Arjun from school right?” asked Niti casually after recognising her friend. Ahana, who’s jaw by now had dropped down to Hell probably, was lost for words. She quickly cleared her throat and tried to recall, “Ummm, Arjun Rao?” she tried to recollect still wondering if they were the same person because Arjun in school wasn’t a bad looking dude but he wasn’t this hot either. Who knew huh? Arjun replied huskily while bending down a little nearer to Ahana’s face, “The same,” and gave her a little smile that sent chills through her body. “Do you girls mind if I join you? I just had my meal here but a catch up with you two would be good if you’re up for it?” he asked. Before Ahana could protest with some made-up reason, Niti immediately agreed and pulled a chair for Arjun. He sat down comfortably and moved his chair closer to Ahana, she felt immediate discomfort. “So, tell me Ahana what have you been upto? I rarely see you in town, I did run into Niti and a few of our other schoolmates a couple of times since I’ve been back here for job and all,” he started the conversation. Ahana updated him about everything and they went on to order their food while Arjun ordered a long black for himself. The three of them were talking about their University lives, jobs and old friends but the entire time Ahana felt a little bit rigid and conscious around Arjun. She was starving and wanted to order a burger but since Arjun sat at their table and he was at a close proximity to her, she didn’t want to look like a mess gobbling down a burger in front of him and ordered a salad instead. Even Niti noticed all these and gave her a ‘what the...’ look when Ahana mentioned salad to the waiter. The entire time, even when they were not talking Ahana felt Arjun’s gaze on her, even while he sipped onto his coffee. She started feeling overly conscious and was looking down at what she was wearing, she was wearing a short sundress and her milky white thighs were exposed as they were crossed. She quickly uncrossed her legs and tried to tug the hem of her dress a little bit to cover herself, she didn’t know why she was behaving this way but it felt like Arjun was burning his gaze on her every part and movement. Before they decided to call it a day, Arjun asked for both Niti and Ahana’s cell number to stay in touch and hence they exchanged numbers. Once he was out of sight, Niti screamed at Ahana, “Dude, what happened to you! You were acting like you saw a ghost the entire time, are you okay? And salad? Really?” “What on Earth happened to Arjun and who’s the walking talking testosterone tank we just spent our afternoon with?” blurted out Ahana. Niti smiled and said, “I knew it! You got the hots for him, A! And I think he does too, I saw the way he was gawking at you today and dude, he & I bumped into each other many times before in town but never once we exchanged numbers but I’m sure he did it today to get yours but he asked mine too out of courtesy! But dude, even my jaws dropped when I saw him first time after years that time, what a hunk he turned out to be!” “I know right! But don’t daydream Niti, I doubt he took my number for any such reason you are presuming. He is too good looking and confident too that he can get any chick he wants, I’m sure he already has one or even many. Guys with that kind of looks are players,” said Ahana while shrugging her shoulders. “You will never know, A!” winked Niti cheekily at her clueless bestie. After a few days, Ahana gets a text on her cell that nearly made her choke on the dosa she was having. It was Arjun! “Hey, Ahana. Wanted to know if you’re free for a cup of coffee later this evening?” read his text. Ahana was freaking out, she didn’t know how to breathe suddenly and decided to call Niti and ask her what she should do. Niti was in the middle of a meeting at work and she cut the call short by saying, “just go for it! And dress well!” “Dress well?” “What for?” wondered Ahana to herself. Deep down inside, she knew she did want to dress well as she felt super conscious around Arjun for some reason. After a nice long shower, Ahana stood in front of her wardrobe, finding it hard to decide what to wear for her coffee-date with Arjun. Ahana mentally scolded herself for taking this whole outing seriously, as though it was some kind of date. “Was it?” she couldn’t help but wonder. Alas, she stood infront of her full-length mirror and admired herself. She was wearing a knee-length pastel peach dress with lacey long sleeves, she was looking cute and chic at the same time and she loved that. She applied some light make up and brushed her long chestnut brown hair that fell till her waist. Everything looked good except one thing that caught Ahana’s eyes and was bothering her now. Her bosoms! She always had heavy bosoms since her adolescence, they were huge for her frame and she could hardly find ready-made outfits that fitted her perfectly without exposing her cleavage or highlighted her heavy bosoms. She was always conscious of them and at times she felt like they made her life harder - because she often suffered from backaches since her teen years due to their heavy and big size for her body structure and weight. It was just genetics and there’s nothing she could do about it unless a reduction prodecure. She even tried losing more weight but no changes. She in fact realises even if her weight remains her breasts seems to grow bigger and develop over the years. Staring back at the mirror, Ahana realised how ample her bosoms looked in this dress, she was already running late and didn’t want to change from this pretty frock either. She then pulled her hair to the front, on both sides making sure they cover her both breasts on each sides. They did the job well as her hair was long and thick. “Perfect!” She thought to herself and now she just has to remember to keep her hair that way throughout the evening, Ahana made a mental note to herself and headed out for the evening. Arjun was already waiting for her, Ahana was a little impressed you can say. They decided to meet at this quiant cafe just 15 minutes away from her house. Arjun never broke his eye contact with her since the moment he spotted her at the cafe’s main door, it made Ahana all the more nervous. Just like the other day, Arjun looked like a snack Ahana observed. How could he look this hot and dashing thought Ahana. They caught up about alot of things including their hobbies and favourite places to visit over the years. Arjun apparently loved Vienna, that explained his addiction for good coffee and from their conversation, Ahana gathered that Arjun had gone to the US for his degree and got back to Bangalore 2 years back for a job at a mega international IT company. It was a nice catch up but Ahana for some reason couldn’t brush off the tensed atmosphere she felt around Arjun, the way the air felt around him and the way he looked at her. She can definitely feel herself crushing hard on him for his good looks. In the weeks that followed, as Ahana was sending in her applications to various companies in Bangalore - she and Arjun met more often. Sometimes they met up with Niti, and some other people from school but mostly it was just them. They enjoyed talking to each other for hours, they were completely different people with distinct interests but there was just some frequency that connected them. And one fine day, Arjun officially asked Ahana to be his girlfriend. She was shocked initially but she kind of hoped for it too because in this short period of time, Ahana Shetty had fallen head over heels for Arjun Rao’s rough yet charming ways. She said yes very shyly. As Arjun was dropping her home that evening, he pulled her back for a kiss when she was about to alight his car - Ahana immediately put her hand on his chest in between them to stop him. She was taken aback by the proximity between them, he was literally breathing on her lips and she could feel his dark eyes burning into her hazel eyes. She cleared her throat and managed to gather her words to speak up, “No, Arjun. Not now, let’s take it slow. I’m quite conservative, when it will happen it will happen,” she said. Arjun’s expression changed, she couldn’t read it - was it disappointment or anger? Either way, she gave him a sweet smile and got off the car. “Will call you tonight, baby,” he said and drove off. “Baby??? Awwwww,” Ahana felt herself melt! She can’t wait to break the news to her parents and Niti! Ahana’s parents were happy for their only girl, that she had finally found someone for herself and that too from their own hometown and they sort of liked Arjun since he had came over a couple of times and they felt he did seem like a decent boy. Regardless, her parents being the protective people they are, told her to take it slow and be wise to which Ahana nodded. Niti on the other hand, was super excited and was cursing even in her excitement although she was a bit worried as she felt Ahana and Arjun were moving a tad bit too fast and Arjun seemed a little hot-tempered for her sweet bestie Ahana. Niti tried to brush those feelings away and focused on feeling thrilled and happy for her bestie because that’s what Ahana wants, whatever makes her happy makes Niti happy too. Her days in Bangalore were amazing, Ahana couldn’t be happier. She did well in her interviews and was just waiting for the official offer letters, she was spending quality time with Mama and Papa at home and in the city during weekends. Niti and her had explored almost every hipster cafe and mall in their vicinity and Ahana met up with Arjun on every other day, trying out food at new restaurants or dancing away to 90s pop music at rooftop bars or just spending hours in a quiet cafe talking while leaning on each other. Then one day, Arjun invited Ahana to his place on a Saturday as he wanted to Netflix and chill with her that weekend since he had a long excruciating week at work. Ahana drove over to his place, it was her first time there as Arjun rarely spends time at his own house. He mostly goes back there only to sleep. Ahana was shocked at the sight of it, she never knew Arjun was a rich kid. Right in front of her, stood a mansion with a very beautiful garden which seemed to be very high maintenance too. Ahana remembered Arjun telling her, his dad is a businessman who often travels around India and the world for work, as for his mother - she isn’t in the picture since both his parents got separated while he was in 8th standard, he doesn’t like speaking about it so Ahana didn’t to try to pry any harder. Arjun has an elder sister too, who’s a doctor and is married and settled in Australia. He only sees her once or twice a year during Diwali or Christmas. Hence Arjun mostly lives alone in this mansion, not counting his servants of course.