25. The Strange Feelings

The correct pronunciation of the "Ashar" is "Ashr". I hope you all will like this chapter :) keep waiting for more.

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Ashar shoved his hands in his pocket and stood in a relaxed posture. His face was not clearly visible due to the darkness inside the room, but the strobe lights downstairs flashing on his face dimly after every few seconds. His contracted jaws gave me an impression that he was not happy to see me here and controlling his outburst.

"I'm talking to you, Sanaya. You were told to not to leave your room today so why are you here?"

"Um... you were downstairs a while ago, how did you...? I trailed off, gesturing my hand towards the balcony behind me.

His gaze moved to the balcony for a second before coming back at me, "So you were watching everything from here."

"I was just bored." I said in a very low voice.

"What if someone else saw you like me? Why are you trying to create more problems?" He snapped aloud. I took a step back involuntarily. So, he saw me from downstairs that's why he was here. I felt slightly frightened.

"I can't stay locked in the room all day. It's been quite some time since I'm staying here. You should know at least by now that I'm harmless, Ashar." I scoffed. I was not in the mood to be nice with him because the fake show that I just witnessed had totally ruined my mood.

"No. I'm still not sure." He shook his head, raising my annoyance some more. He was really hard-headed.

"Fine. Think whatever you want to. I'm getting out of here." I seethed and started walking towards the door. I felt fury bubbling up in me, making my blood boil. He would never change his opinion about me. He could soften his heart for his childhood sweetheart, but not for me who was actually more sincere to him than her.

I was about to step a foot outside the room, when suddenly his arm pulled me around and pinned me to a wall just beside the room's door. A low scream came out of my mouth, but he blocked it by putting his large palm on it. My eyes widened and I started squirming to let go of him. He looked daggers at me and grabbed my shoulder to stop me from moving, "Stay still." He mouthed, looking anxious.

I began feeling suffocating because his palm on my mouth blocking the oxygen. Shaking my head several times, I tried to give him a hint that I couldn't breathe like this. He ignored my intimation, angling his neck to look outside the room as if he was looking for someone. I couldn't pay attention to the fact that he was dangerously close to me because of the oxygen starvation.

I used my strength, pushed him back a little and moved his hand away from my mouth, "Are you trying to suffocate me to death?" I breathed aloud, glowering at him. Finally, I was able to exhale out all the air that was obstructed by him.

He groaned, "I told you to stay still. Someone is outside the room." My brows flew up in astonishment and it was difficult to breathe once again. He gave me a nod after noticing my reaction and put his finger on his lips, hinting me to stay quite.

"Are you really here to search for a restroom?" I heard a faint, male voice that was becoming louder as if he was coming this way.

"No. I lied." Another man replied, "I'm trying to get some spicy news story."

Ashar's jaws clenched. He was unknowingly rubbing his front with mine while he was still looking outside, completely looked unaffected by our awkward positions. The heat radiating from his body was raising the tiny hair on my arms and neck. I felt my face turned hot.

"But, what are you going to find out here? No one is here. All the guests are at the backside."

"Reporter's eyes are everywhere. You need to stay alert and attentive of your surroundings."

Ashar's face contorted in fury. His gaze met with mine. My heart was throbbing in my ears, loud and irregular not sure whether it was because of the fear or his nearness. I was scared of being caught by those newsmen. The truth would come out and Ashar would surely strangle me to death after that.

My eyes fell onto his mouth. It looked so close, so kissable and so inviting that I parted my lips a little reflexively. The electric zap and strange sensations tickled in my stomach, making it contracted.

"They are here." His lips moved in whisper. My haze of pleasure slightly disturbed so I glanced up, meeting with his eyes, founding them sparkling like mini-diamonds. I could not hear those reporters anymore because the desire in me taking control of my body. My vision became blurry and my ears were ringing.

Teenagers are known for their hormonal nature. But I was never fitted to that label. I was not hormonal and didn't feel stupid attraction for any random boy, but this man in front of me triggered my hormones always like a sprung up blaze and causing my sanity to disappear.

He got closer to me to hide us from the men outside. I shut my eyes tightly and fisted his blazer from front. He shoved me more against the wall by pressing himself to me. I felt his face going to my side as if he was hugging me. His one arm grabbed my waist.

I had never been this close to a guy before, at least not with a guy who I found strongly attractive. This was not good. I had decided to stay away from Ashar to get rid of the wobbly thoughts that messed with my brain, but this proximity was weakening my willpower. Samara's face popped in my head. The scene of them sharing a kiss flashed in front of my eyes, causing me to put my hands down from his chest and opening my eyes. A feeling of disappointment rippled through me.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw his arms were on my sides, caging me while his eyes examining my face. "Why your cheeks are red? What are you thinking?"

I pulled in my lips, feeling a large lump at the back of my mouth. "Are they?"

He didn't respond, so I just continued nervously, "Maybe it's because of the suffocation I felt a while ago."

That bloody blush! Always put me in trouble. I cussed mentally.

He lifted up his brows in a way that made me think that he didn't fully believe what I just said. He bent down a little to level with my height, bringing his face close to mine to the extent that I started feeling his breaths on my mouth. He moved his one arm down from my side. The funny sensations tickled through my body, probably reddening my cheeks more.

"You're so mysterious." He mumbled, wandering his gaze all over my facial features, "I can't solve you."

Ignoring my unsteady heartbeats, I stuttered a question, "What do you mean?" His stare right now was so ardent that I felt my legs going debilitated. I thought I was going to stumble any moment.

His face was centimetres away. If I would just move mine, my mouth would touch with his. That tiny gap was teasing me. "On one side you planned a great, clever trap for me that I couldn't find a way to escape it, but ended up becoming a victim of it. You made me your damn husband." His voice was rough and husky, "And on other hand, you behave like this; clumsy, distant and one who gets angry easily. Your naïve nature makes me feel like that I'm a bad guy here."

He touched some of my loose locks. Heat radiating from his fingers was touching my ear. His fingertips infrequently brushed with my cheek as he continued moving fingers in my hair. "I hate you to the core of my heart, but still I feel tempted to get to know you. Why?" He murmured, "Why are you confusing me? Tell me what you're really planning?"

He put his both arms down to his sides, breaking the physical contact, but still standing close to me. I recollected my thoughts, suppressing my lust feelings, "I'm not planning anything. I'm not mysterious. I'm not hiding any secrets. I'm just a simple girl who lived a very simple, ordinary life. If you can't believe me, then I really can't help you to sort out your confusions."

"Right." He stepped back, creating a considerable distance between us, "I should go now. You can leave after two to three minutes and go straight to your room. You've already seen the danger."

The birthday gift.

As soon as I got back my rationality which I had lost a while ago, my ears paid attention to the sound of music, coming from downstairs. That reminded me of his birthday and the birthday gift I had bought for him. Right now was the perfect opportunity to give it to him, but God, it was in my room.

"Wait." I blurted out quickly, following him.

He hissed, turning around, "What now?"

"There's something I wanna give you."

He cocked his head to the side, "What is it?"

"It's in my-"

"No wait. I don't have time right now. The guests would be suspicious of my absence." He didn't let me finish, "You go to my study. I'll see you in half an hour."

Without waiting for my response, he trotted out of the room. He could be amiable and personable if he just tried to be one.

💙

After listening to his hate for me, my mood was completely spoiled to give him the birthday present I had bought for him, but that gift bag and the gift inside it would go wasted. So reluctantly, I decided to give them to him. After all, I had spent my money on it.

I moved brush in my hair to settle them and sprayed some perfume on me. Although I felt conscious about my appearance in front of him because he was perfectly dressed earlier and I was in my pajama set, I didn't bother to change it and went to his study with the gift bag. The printed pajama set was actually my sleepwear. I usually wore it at the night time after dinner.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard the sound of door opening, so I stood up on my feet and turned around. Ashar gave me a short glance then moved towards the other side of the table. The environment in the room began to tense. His gaze fell onto the gift bag that was placed on the table, "What's that?"

Tentatively, I picked it up and moved it to him, said flatly, "It's a birthday-cum-thank you gift for you." He took the bag from my hand.

I quickly turned to my side, did not want to see his face. "Thank you gift?" I heard him say.

I faced him again, "Yeah. I wanted to thank you for helping me in my college work."

Amusement glinted in his eyes, "Did it go well?" He moved his hand inside the bag and put it out the chocolate box and the fountain pen case.

"Yep." I said bluntly, "I got a highest grade. Thanks." At the gift shop, those were the two things I thought would be good to give him. I really didn't know what he liked or disliked so I just went with the fountain pen and some chocolates because those were the things that normally everyone liked.

"That was something expected. Did you have any doubt?"

I didn't say anything just shrugged my shoulders in response. His face turned serious, "I don't like chocolates."

I widened my eyes at him in disbelief, "Why?"

"No specific reason. Maybe because they stick to your teeth and it's quite irritating." He put my gifts on the table in front.

My jaws clenched. I understood. He couldn't be just nice to me and say a simple thank you. He could've showed some courtesy to me, but no he chose to insult my choice right on my face. I regretted buying a gift for him. I regretted going through a fuss to search something good for him. I really didn't understand why was I uselessly trying to come on good terms with him when he was rejecting my every effort?

"Okay. I'm sorry I didn't know. You can give it back." I tried to say casually. I extended my arm towards the chocolate box with an intention to pick it up, but at the same time he also reached for it and put his hand on it.

"It's okay. I think I should taste them." His eyes looked into mine.

"Are you sure? I don't mind. I mean you shouldn't eat it if you don't like them."

"Yes. I'm sure." He said in ultimatum.

His expressions depicted that he did not want further argument so I just stepped back and didn't push him anymore. I guess he really had some manners.