FIRST LOVE

*CHAPTER FIVE*

He was advancing towards me and I was freezed there, not knowing what to do. This day had turned out to be full of unprecedented events. I gulped down hard as I saw Madhyam walking towards me. I was freaking out and wanted to scream for help but it felt as if I had lost my voice. I didn't want to think about what Madhyam would do to me, that too in his drunken state. Atleast, not when I was wearing such a dress in which I was feeling as if I was completely bared. I just hoped this was a dream and I would wake up to see the sunlight.

I heard footsteps behind me, indicating someone was coming towards us. I couldn't even look around. I just hoped that the person wasn't one of Madhyam's mates. The person stood in front of me. Relief washed over me as I saw Manik standing between Madhyam and me.

'You?' Manik fumed in anger, his index finger pointing at Madhyam.

'You stay away, man. Let me take a look at this nerd who has mysteriously turned sexy today.' Madhyam said, smirking.
'Madhyam, you're not in your senses now. You are too drunk, so just go away.'
'I'm as much in sense as I need to be, babes. You just stay away and let me do whatever I want.'

Manik landed a punch on his face and Madhyam lost his balance. He lay upon the floor. I'm sure he was passed out because he didn't show any signs of movement.
Manik turned around to look at me, his glinting green eyes boring into mine.

'Are you alright?' he asked, his voice sounding concerned. His hands were on my shoulders and his touch was soothing.

'Yeah.....er......thanks for that.' I said, not meeting his eyes.
'I am really sorry that it happened again. Thankfully, I was just at the entrance and I saw him coming towards you. He was really drunk.'
'Yeah....so you didn't drink?'
'No.... I'm not into alcohol. It's harmful, but I can't have a party without it since everyone around me drinks it.'

I was surprised by that. For his bad boy name, he didn't seem that bad. He was really soft at heart. Or was it some game he was playing? I didn't know.
'I don't drink too.' I said, just make clear that I wasn't one of those people around him.
'Yeah, I can see that.' he said, smiling. That's when I noticed his dimples.

They are so cute!

'Let's have a walk outside?'

He suggested. I nodded in agreement. Having a walk seemed like a much better idea than being in that mansion full of hormonal teenagers and alcohol.

'I am glad that you came.' he said as we walked on his lawn.

'You left me with no choice.'

I said, surprised at myself that I was speaking to him without stuttering. I wasn't a sociable person, you know.
He chuckled.

Just then someone called Manik from a distance. I looked at the source of the voice. It was a girl who was wearing the shortest dress possible. Even I felt ashamed seeing her.

'Babes, come over here.' She shouted at him.

Manik looked at me apologetically.

'Go over. She needs you.' I said.

'Will you be okay?' He asked.

'I...I will be fine. Navya must be coming now.'

'Okay. Just be alert. Don't go near those guys. And if you need anything, just come to me. I'll be around here somewhere.' He said.
I nodded and he went away, waving at me.

He went up to that minimally dressed chick and as soon as he was near her, she started kissing her. I looked away, trying not to disrupt their privacy even though they were doing it in public.
I don't know why but I felt a sadness over my heart as I saw them together.

Is it jealousy? Hell no! Why would I be jealous?
Maybe it was just because I didn't have anyone who loved me, not even my father.
***

I sat on my bed, recalling the events of that day. I wouldn't say it was a very fruitful day for me but it did keep me away from my family problems. Just after Manik had gone to that girl, Navya had come with Cabir. She asked me why I had tears in my eyes. I didn't know that I had tears in my eyes. I explained that encounter with Madhyam and she said sorry to me a hundred times before I warned her that I would hit her if she didn't stop.

Now, here I was sitting on my bed, waiting for my father to show up. If I slept before he came, I knew I would be beaten up in the worst way possible. So, I decided to go for less pain, of course.

I was crying a little by now. I felt humiliated by the way Madhyam treated me at that party. I wasn't like this. I felt like a slut, dressed like that and being at a party. Nobody had treated me like that before.

Hell!

Nobody hadn't even noticed me before. So, why now?

I preferred being the unknown and socially awkward person to everyone. I made a mental note that I wouldn't attend any parties in the future. I was crying hysterically by now.

Call me emotional if you want, because I was an emotional person. Very emotional.

Just then, I heard the main door of my house open. I knew it was my father. I heard the steps and then, he opened the door of my room. He met my eyes with his bloodshot ones. He saw me sobbing and rubbing my eyes to brush off tears. Suddenly, his eyes went soft. He wore a different look. It was a look I hadn't seen in more than ten years. It seemed he was guilty of something because he looked down and then turned away. He closed the door and went downstairs.
Well, that was unexpected.

*******

So how was it?

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