ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ

The party was still in full swing, laughter and music blending into a chaotic symphony. But Aarini barely heard it at all. Her heart was still unsteady from the dance, her body still betraying her with the lingering warmth of Revansh's touch.

She needed to get away from there.

Walking briskly toward the open balcony, she let the cool night air wash over her. The gentle wind caressed her flushed skin, and she closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply.

What was happening?

This wasn't supposed to happen. Revansh Malhotra was a selfish, arrogant playboy who toyed with people for his amusement. She had heard the rumors, she had seen it with her own eyes. And yet...

Yet...the way he looked at her. The way he held her. The way his voice had softened just for a moment-

No. She couldn't allow herself to fall into that trap.

"Running away already?"

Her eyes snapped open as she heard his silky voice.

She turned to find him leaning against the doorway, his black tuxedo crisp and perfect, his dark eyes holding that familiar glint of amusement. The golden light from inside cast a faint glow on his face, highlighting his sharp features.

"I just needed some air," she said, straightening her posture.

Revansh stepped onto the balcony, his hands in his pockets as he walked towards her. "Cold feet?"

Aarini crossed her arms. "From what, huh?"

He smirked. "From whatever this is between us."

"There is no 'this' between us, Malhotra," she said firmly.

"Then why do you look so flustered, sweetheart?" he countered, tilting his head.

Aarini clenched her jaw. "Because you're annoying."

He chuckled, stepping closer. "Tsk. Yet you can't seem to stay away from me."

She hated how effortlessly he got under her skin. She had spent her whole life keeping her emotions in check, controlling her reactions. But with Revansh, it was impossible.

"You're imagining things," she said, turning away.

Before she could take another step, he caught her wrist making her breath hitched.

Revansh's fingers were warm against her skin, his grip firm but not forceful.

"Say you don't feel anything when I touch you," he said, his voice lower now, more serious.

Aarini swallowed hard.

She should have yanked her hand away. She should have laughed in his face and walked off by taunting him. But she didn't.

Because a part of her didn't want to lie and Revansh knew it.

He stepped even closer, his scent intoxicating. "You can pretend all you want, but I know, Aarini," he murmured. "I know you feel it too, don't you? There is something between us.."

She finally pulled her hand back. "Okay, let's  take a possibility, even if I did, it wouldn't matter," she said, her voice steady. "Because I know who you are, Revansh. You get bored. You play your games, and when you're done, you move on to the next. Isn't it? And I, Aarini Joshi, I'm not a game, not for you, not for anyone!"

Revansh's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.

Aarini turned, her heartbeat still erratic as she walked away but before she could reenter the party, his voice stopped her.

"Not this time, Joshi."

She paused, but she didn't turn back.

"You're different, and I'm not playing with you..." he continued, his tone quieter now. "And that terrifies you just as much as it terrifies me."

Aarini closed her eyes for a moment before stepping inside, leaving Revansh standing alone on the balcony.

And for the first time in his life, he didn't feel like the one in control of his game.

***

The party inside raged on-loud music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses filling the grand Malhotra mansion. But out here, on the dimly lit balcony, it felt like an entirely different world.

Aarini's heartbeat was still uneven as she walked away from Revansh, his words echoing in her mind.

"You're different. And that terrifies you just as much as it terrifies me."

She hated that he could read her so well. She hated that a part of her was terrified.

Terrified of what, though? Of him? Of herself? Of the way he looked at her as if she was something rare, something he wasn't used to feeling.

No.

This was just a game to him.

A cruel, well-calculated game that she refused to play. After all why would a guy like him would ever be interested in her? He's definitely trying to play with her. She thought bitterly.

Shaking off the unsettling emotions, she stepped back into the crowded hall, forcing a neutral expression onto her face. She wouldn't let him see that he had gotten under her skin.

But she barely made it a few steps before she spotted Tanya approaching-this time, without her usual fake smile.

"You look... disturbed," Tanya noted, tilting her head as she sipped her wine.

Aarini rolled her eyes. "And you look desperate."

Tanya's smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered. "You think you're smart, don't you?"

"I know I am."

Tanya took a step closer. "Listen, sweetheart. I don't know what game you're playing, but you don't belong in Revansh's world. He gets bored easily. And trust me, when he does, you won't like how it ends."

Aarini clenched her fists. "Thanks for the warning, but I don't need advice from someone who begs for his attention."

Tanya scoffed. "You think you're special, don't you? That just because he's paying attention to you now, do you really think it means something? That you mean something to him?"

Aarini smirked. "And you think you still matter to him?"

Tanya's nails dug into her glass, but before she could retort, someone else stepped between them.

Revansh.

His arm casually draped around Aarini's shoulders, his touch light yet possessive. "Tanya," he greeted lazily, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Getting along with my date?"

Aarini stiffened hearing him. Date?

Tanya's expression twisted into something bitter. "I was just telling her the truth about you."

Revansh chuckled, his grip on Aarini tightening slightly. "Oh? And what truth is that?"

Tanya's lips parted, but before she could speak, Revansh leaned in, his lips dangerously close to Aarini's ear. "Care to share what she said, sweetheart?" he murmured, his voice like silk.

Aarini swallowed, refusing to let her face betray her emotions. "She's just upset that you're not chasing after her like a lost puppy," she replied smoothly.

Tanya's eyes burned with fury. "You-"

"Enough." Revansh's voice was sharp now, his playful act slipping for a moment. "Run along, Tanya. You're becoming a bore."

Tanya's face reddened, but she held her head high. "Enjoy your date while it lasts, Revansh. We both know how this will end."

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

Revansh chuckled, finally releasing Aarini from his hold. "That was entertaining."

Aarini stepped away immediately, turning to face him. "I don't need you defending me."

Revansh raised an eyebrow. "Who said I was defending you? I just enjoy seeing Tanya lose. It was fun seeing her fuming."

Aarini scoffed, but before she could walk away again, he caught her wrist-again.

"Malhotra," she warned.

He smirked, but this time, there was something different in his gaze. Something darker. "You're not like them, Aarini."

Her breath hitched in her throat. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Because I can't figure you out," he admitted, his voice softer now, almost... frustrated. "And that's never happened before."

Aarini clenched her jaw, shaking off the dangerous warmth spreading through her chest. "Maybe you're just losing your touch."

Revansh chuckled. "Or maybe... you're the first real challenge I've had in a long time."

Aarini knew she should say something, anything-to end this conversation. But the way he was looking at her, the way his fingers still lingered against her wrist...

It was dangerous. So dangerous...

So she did the only thing she could.

She pulled away and disappeared into the crowd.

Revansh watched her go, a smirk tugging at his lips.

He wasn't done with her.

Not even close to be done.

Aarini was really fun to play with and Revansh loved it.

***

The party was still in full swing, but Aarini felt suffocated. She needed space. Distance. Anything to escape the suffocating presence of Revansh Malhotra and the way he was worming his way under her skin.

She pushed through the crowd, ignoring the people dancing, laughing, and clinking their glasses together in celebration of a night she had no interest in.

She needed air but fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Just as she stepped toward the hallway leading to the exit, a strong hand caught her wrist-again.

She didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Are you seriously going to keep grabbing me like this?" Aarini snapped, spinning around.

Revansh smirked, his grip firm but not forceful. "Would you prefer I pull you closer instead?"

Her glare could have burned a hole through him. "Let. Go. Revansh Malhotra. "

Revansh tilted his head slightly, as if considering. Then, with a smirk, he loosened his grip. "Only because you asked so nicely."

Aarini huffed, stepping back. "What do you want now?"

"You keep running away," he pointed out, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's a little insulting, don't you think?"

"I just don't enjoy wasting my time," she retorted.

Revansh chuckled, but his gaze darkened slightly. "You wound me everytime, Joshi."

Aarini rolled her eyes, turning to leave again.

"I could drop you home, you know," he offered lazily, falling into step beside her.

She scoffed. "Yeah, no thanks. I'd rather walk."

Revansh raised an eyebrow. "It's late. Walking alone wouldn't be very smart."

"Then it's a good thing I am smart," she shot back.

He laughed, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "You really don't like me, do you?"

Aarini stopped, turning to face him. "You don't like me, Malhotra. You just like playing with things you don't understand. I understand this very well. Don't take ne for a fool. And people like you are temporary, kabhi iske toh kabhi uskeaur kabhi b- Aarini stopped herself before she could have said something bad.

(AN: GIRL WAS GONNA USE THE TERM BDSK- IT IS A HINDI CURSE WORD 💀)

Something flickered in his eyes.

For a second-a brief second-his smirk disappeared, and there was something raw in his dark gaze.

But then, just as quickly, it was gone again.

"You might be right," he admitted, stepping close, too close to Aarini. "But that doesn't change the fact that I want to understand you."

Aarini's breath caught in her throat. He was talking those weird things again...

Those things which had began to do something to her heart.

She needed to walk away. Right now.

But he was too close. Too close to get away from him.

His presence was intoxicating like a poison and she hated it.

She hated how his voice, smooth like whiskey, sent shivers down her spine.

She hated how his dark blue eyes made her feel like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous.

She hated how her own heart betrayed her-beating just a little too fast.

"Not everything needs to be understood," she finally said, her voice softer than she intended.

Revansh smirked. "But you make it so tempting."

Aarini clenched her fists. "Goodnight, Malhotra."

She turned on her heel, disappearing down the corridor before he could stop her.

Revansh didn't follow this time.

Instead, he stood there, watching her go, his smirk slowly fading.

Because for the first time in a long time...

He wasn't sure who was playing who anymore.

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Long time no see yall!

So how was the chapter guys?