Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Indefinable Attractions Abhay's P.O.V
“There you go!” Ruksaar skidded to a halt as soon as we entered the village perimeters. “We've helped you find your way back safe and sound. It was nice meeting you, Abhay! But I guess it's time to part ways.Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“D-do you guys w-want to go for lunch?” The words were out before I could stop myself. “Consider it a thank you gift for getting me here safely.”
Ruksaar’s sister gave me an irritated glare from over her shoulders while Ruksaar clapped her hands together in excitement. I've never seen a woman as disinterested in me as Ruksaar's sister, and yet, it felt like there was this invisible rope that was binding us together. The more time I spent near her, the more I felt drawn to her. And that was probably why I felt the need to stay near her longer than I had intended to. And what better way to spend time knowing them than to invite them to lunch?
“Thank you, Abhay!” Ruksaar skipped over to me and linked her hands through mine. “Let's go eat! I'm starved! I haven’t even had breakfast today!”
“Really? Neither did I!” I told her with a smile. Somehow, it was a lot easier to talk to Ruksaar than it was to her sister and she also felt very welcoming. Even this tiny physical touch with her didn’t make me feel anything other than a friendly gesture.
“Come on, Jiji!” Ruksaar removed one of her hands from mine so she could pull her sister along with her as we made our way to the nearest restaurant.
We found another little dnaba not far from the hotel I was staying at. The interior was nice and coal and clean and it looked affordable enough to me. Ruksaar excused herself as we took our seats and went to the washroom so she could sprinkle some water on her face...at least that’s what she told us before she left. So it was just her sister and me, all alone in the big restaurant as we sat face to face and waited for Ruksaar to arrive so we could order our food.
The restaurant was pretty empty considering that it was about eleven in the morning which meant it was too early for lunch and too late for breakfast. I stared at Ruksaar’s sister across the table from me and wondered what her name could possibly be
“So...what's your name?” I asked outright, taking even myself by surprise.
“What?” Her voice was sharp as she gave me a narrow eyed glance. I noticed for the first time that her lashes and eyebrows were a darker color, dark to the point that it almost looked black. I was sure it wasn’t makeup, though. As a photographer, I could tell when someone was wearing makeup and when someone was being completely natural
“I just...want to know your name. Why, is that not allowed?" I asked. “No,” she gave me a sarcastic smile. “But I don't like to give my name to strangers.
“But we're not strangers!” I told her. “We have known each other for the past two hours. And I already told you my name, haven't I? It's only fair that you tell me yours. Even Ruksaar told me hers.
“Don't get too familiar with her!” She snapped.
“And you still haven't told me your name,” I smiled at her pleasantly, wondering to myself where in the heaves am I getting all this strength from? I always have a hard time talking to women and here I was, being the poster boy for chit chatting. “Maybe I should call you Firangi? That sounds nice, doesn’t it? It suits you.”
‘I'm not a foreigner!” “How would I know? You sure look like one.” I smiled
I couldn’t believe it, I was actually enjoying myself. I was enjoying teasing her and watching the cold, cold ice turn into blue fire every time she snapped at me. Her eyes were indeed gorgeous. I felt like I could drown in their icy depths for eternity. She looked like a misfit in this desert. The sand didn't suit her. Her cool composure was more suitable in the snowy lands of my dream, where she would live in harmony with the ice and snow and the white wolf from my dream.
Sitting here, opposite to her in this restaurant, it all felt out of place. It was strange how that one dream had made me so restless this morning and yet, here I was a few hours later, longing for the cool touch of the snow in a land that I never knew existed until this morning. A land from my dreams.
As if sensing my thoughts, Firangi turned her eyes towards me and for the second time, my eyes locked with hers, brawn to blue and for an instant, everything else just s disappeared from sight. It was just like this-the first time our eyes met.
YY . a 'd losttrack of everything arqund meand the only focus of mytife had been her. What is it abouther that draws me in like a magnet? Why does looking in the blue, blue depths of her eyes make me feel like she's the only thing I need in my life and nothing else. Everything else ceases to be important the instant I am near this woman.
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I've never been so absorbed with any woman in.my entire life, especially hatike this. Then what makes her Ye) special? Why am I so. attractedtd her? Why do I have thts urge to-feel the lushness of herHps
>) \! on mine, the softness of her skin under my fingers? Physical attraction of this magnitude isn’ something that I'm familiar with. Why is it her? A girl I barely know...a girl I keep associating with a white wolf.
“Hey!”
Startled out of my trance, I looked up to find Ruksaar sitting back on the table witkyus and adjusting her dupatta. A bit disoriented, I looked at the silvechaired woman that I now called Firangi, and for the first time, I
“NO. A! founder in the same state of. disorientation like myself. Her eyes lsoked unfocused and surprised but only for a few seconds. She was back to brooding and glaring before I knew it and I felt a smile form on my lips.
“Hey, Ruksaar.” I smiled at her instead. “Are we ready to order yet? Because I'm starving
le too! Jiji and I haven't eaten anything since last night either.” Ruksaar said absentmindedly as she went through the menu card lying on the table. “So, have you two decided what you want yet? I'm feeling chilies.”
“Chilies? In this heat?” I raised my eyebrows at her. "No thanks, I have a really low heat tolerance. I wish I could though, but unfortunately...” I shrugged.
“Ah!” Ruksaar smirked. “Well. Abhay, you have no idea what you're missing out on.”
“Then why not try some of the spiciest curry in this restaurant and cut that out of your bucket list?” This time, it was Firangi who was smirking and it wasn'ta pleasant one. There was clear challenge in her eyes.
“Alright then, let's try it.” I told her with an equally cunning smile. Two can play this game. “Since you're insisting. Firangi.
“Firangi?” Ruksaar gave us a knowing look as a wide smile appeared on her lips. “I was gone for all of five minutes and you two are on nick name basis?”
But we never got to complete our challenge or have lunch together, because a commotion at the doorway to the restaurant distracted us right that moment. There was a lot of shouting and I think I heard the word ‘thief being repeated at least a few times.
“What's going on?” I asked a passing waiter.
“Oh, there’s this girl outside with a child, I think she stole food from the kitchen.” The waiter said. “But, not to worry, she’s been caught.” “Oh?” A girl with a child? Maybe she’s a homeless person? “What did she steal? I'll pay for it, please, just her go.” I told the waiter.
The waiter game me a confused look before turning towards the kitchen. “Please wait, I'll talk to the Manager.”
“Okay.”
“Mikalya?”
I turned towards the women te find them looking back towards the kitchen. Mikalya? Did Ruksaar just call Firangi Mikalya? So that's her name! It suits her.
But in that moment, what I failed to notice was how still both women have become, how their aura had changed. But I most definitely did notice when a low growl sounded in the room, like a wild animal's warning growl when it tries to defend its territory.