When Heartless Falls

Anaira~ I knew I jinxed it when I stood alone like a lost girl on the dance floor of this most amazing nightclub. Naturally, my mouth formed a pout as I stomped my feet. Then I saw Karan, my best friend, who was laughing his ass off, and his fiancée, Trisha, gave me an apologetic look. Suddenly, music started to play and it was one of my favorite songs. I let the music grow on me before I began to dance, swaying my hands up my body, then bringing them down slowly while playing with my hair. Bringing my hair to one side, I was dancing to the music. But right now, I want to forget. Forget about tomorrow — I must meet a stranger whose name I do not even know. I had never seen him before, and I might not even get a say before being expected to marry him. Forget that my life might not be the same from hereon. Being a huge romantic who dreamt of true love, she will have to settle for an arranged marriage. The fear that he might never accept me completely, my past, my present, and the version of me meant for our future — clawed at my chest. A single memory from my past washed over me, icy and violent, chilling my entire body. I sucked in a sharp breath and shook my head hard, trying to let the music swallow everything I didn’t want to remember. Only one ray of hope was that I would be shifting to London. There I might make my dream come true to work with my dream publishing house. Making my confused and slightly sad heart settle, I decided to just enjoy myself this evening and dance my heart out. And that is what I did. I danced there by myself like there was no tomorrow. Those shots were not as mild as Karan said. They started to go into my head. Nevertheless, I was enjoying myself. Until, I felt someone’s presence behind me, but I ignored it and continued dancing. My eyes closed, and I turned my body to the music and just then my leg slipped. I was completely ready to take the fall and all the embarrassment after that, but I did not fall. Just like that? My eyes were shut tightly with fright, although I was surprised that I did not fall. Then I started to be aware of my surroundings. I felt someone was holding me, opened my eyes slowly, and I saw the most handsome man on the earth. I tried not to jump to conclusions… but God, he was breathtaking. The light blue shirt and dark denim framed him perfectly, but it was his eyes that pulled me in—blue, sprinkled with flecks of gold, like someone had trapped a piece of sunrise inside them. I blinked, stunned, my gaze tracing the lines of his sculpted face, the sharp jawline, the impossibly perfect lips. He didn’t smile. He didn’t move. He just stood there, silently… staring at me with a quiet intensity that made the world around us blur out of focus. And for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people breathing. For a moment there I wondered how amazing he would look if he just passed me smiling. The frown on his face made me snap out of my daydream. s**t I should not think this way. He is a stranger. Remember Anaira, Stranger’s Danger. Just then, the music changed and the lyrics of the songs brought butterflies to my stomach. I’ve been everywhere, man Looking for someone Someone who can please me Love me all night long I’ve been everywhere, man Looking for you babe Looking for you babe Searching for you babe That handsome guy was still looking at me intensely. His constant stare was making me nervous. My legs started to tremble. Why does this stranger have such a kind of effect on me? He knitted his eyebrows and looked at me confusingly. His one hand was on my waist and the other was just below my shoulder. I thought about all this in that short time-span, but this guy was staring at me like no tomorrow. Then he leaned in. Uh-oh! He kept leaning in slowly and at the same time started to pull me closer to his chest. I thought he was going to kiss me. And I wasn’t in shape to protest, I was frozen. There was almost a few inches difference between us, but he didn’t stop leaning in and pulling me at the same time, then it hit me. Your future husband might give you your love story! I panicked when realization was drawn upon me, I was about to kiss a total stranger. No. No. No. I started to push him to get out of his embrace. But he was so strong, he did not lose his grip on me. By using all my strength, I pushed him and created some distance between us. He was flabbergasted. But his hands were still on my waist. Another little push and I was a step away. I saw him blink a few times, a few times, then frown. I just shot him a glare to make me feel that way and padded towards my table. As I reached my table, I didn’t realize at first, but my heart was beating so crazily. If it beats any faster than this, it will not beat it at all. “That was quick!” Karan commented as he took a sip from his drink. “I thought I had been there dancing for a long time,” I said. “Ever heard of sarcasm?” I rolled my eyes, “Shut up.” I scoffed, and my eyes started to roam around the club searching for that guy. That handsome guy. Even his mere thought started to make my hands shake. “Are you okay, Ana?” Trisha asked and Karan started to look at me with concern. “Um, yeah I am,” I assured them, “I am going to the washroom,” I murmured and wore my heels. “Okay, others are also about to arrive. ” I nodded to Karan. My eyes still searched for that guy as I walked towards the washroom. ‘Maybe he left’ I thought. “Thank god,” I sighed and took a deep breath. After getting fresh, I came out of the washroom and reached our table once again. I found out my other friends had also arrived. “Hey guys!” I greeted them. “Ana. ” They imitated my usual squealing voice by waving their palms at me dramatically. I just shook my head. “What happened? You look, flushed.“ Mohit spoke carefully, observing me. I was about to say something but Karan beat me to it. “She looked flushed ‘coz she did shots,” he declared loudly, and I sighed. “What, you did? “ Mohit asked, astonished, looking back and forth between me and Karan . I just nodded with a sheepish smile on my lips. “Wow, I can’t believe it, are you drunk? God, I can’t wait to see a drunk Ana. ”he exclaimed, and I facepalmed myself. “Oh shut up you guys!” I cried out. “She is not usually this short-tempered, which means she is definitely drunk,” Mohit said and he fived Karan . Completely annoyed by their actions, I slapped his hand. “And drunk and is feisty too,” he added. I pouted and felt Mohit place his arm on my shoulder. “Hey, I was joking…cheer up,” he said. I just nodded, looking down, in my own thoughts. We all chatted for a while, and they all went to dance, but I started feeling anxious sitting all by myself at the table. So I also went up onto the dance floor. “Karan wants to go home,” I yelled in his ear as the music was too loud. He nodded and said something to Trisha which I couldn’t hear. Me, Karan and Trisha went towards the parking lot outside the club. “What happened, Ana, after your dance you seem quite off?” I sighed. “Nothing, just not feeling well.” “You shot too many shots!” Karan declared. “Maybe,” I accepted, not telling the truth. I heard Karan chuckle after that. “Ana we are going to my home, okay?” Trisha tells me. “Of course, Trish.” Soon we were on our way to her place. “So when do you have to meet that guy, Ana,” Karan asked. My heart flipped when he mentioned the guy my parents asked me to meet. “Tomorrow afternoon. I don’t even know what he does for a living,” I murmured. I heard him take a sharp breath beside me. “Be good, Ana,” he warned. “Yes. Mother.” I mocked him and in no time we reached Trisha’s place. We bid farewell to Karan and I got the house keys from Trisha, got into the house, giving both Karan and Trisha some quality time. I entered the guest bedroom as I was already familiar with Trisha’s house. From my handbag, I pulled out my PJs and a top. I ran into the washroom to freshen up and changed into my night dress. Jumping on the gigantic bed, I close my eyes. As I did so, that handsome guy’s face appeared in front of my eyes. Damn it, why am I thinking about him? In the next few seconds, my phone lit up with a call from my mother. She told me I had to meet the guy she’d chosen for me — somewhere outside. I sighed in relief; at least I wouldn’t be humiliated in front of everyone at home. A private meeting felt safer, easier… so I agreed. Mom squealed with excitement before hanging up. I lay back down, hoping for a better tomorrow. My eyes had barely closed when my phone buzzed again. Mom had sent me the guy’s name and number. I stared at the screen, took a deep breath, and at that moment, I knew sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon. Let’s meet, Veer Kohli. And I pray you’re nothing like the worst my heart is bracing for.