The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 49

By the time Aparna reached Naik Villa, she was so nervous that her hands were shaking. Even though, she knew everyone in Nishant’s family but still this was a formal meeting after the press announcement. And, right now she was all alone.

As the car neared outside the main gate, she saw a line of cars waiting to enter. However, Siraj steered the vehicle towards a smaller gate. She was about to open the door to get out when he opened it for her. She got out and was smoothening her sari when someone touched her shoulder from behind. Thinking it is Nishant, she turned with a huge smile but it vanished the moment she saw Dhruv.

Seeing the look of disappointment, he sighed and said with a mock sad face, “And, you are not happy to see me.”

“No, No, that’s not it. I just thought....”

“That it will be Nishant. You broke my heart,” he said putting his hand on his heart.

Aparna laughed and Dhruv put his arm around her.

“Come on; let’s go before he loses it.”

They entered the villa through the back gate to avoid the zapping cameras and questioning media. Taking her through an array of balconies, Dhruv finally reached the main hall where the party had already begun.

As Aparna looked inside the room, the crowd and blazing lights, she took a step back and turned away. Looking at her reluctance to enter, Dhruv let her go.

“What?” he asked looking at her strangely.

“I can’t go in there,” she replied rubbing her palms against her sari trying to ease the bubbling nervousness inside.

“Come on, Aparna. Don’t tell me you are nervous all of a sudden.”

She just looked at him and closed her eyes.

Where are you?

Why aren’t you here?

*****************

Nishant looked at his watch and then scanned the room.

Where is she?

He knew she had arrived, then where is she? He reached to his pocket to take out his phone then remembered it was lying upstairs.

Dammit!

As Rushali grabbed his arm for another photograph, suddenly he looked around the hall and realised his mistake. Quickly, he let go of her arm and rushed towards one of the balconies at the back of the room.

*****************

“There is nothing to worry about. Nishant is there inside,” Dhruv said trying his best to soothe Aparna’s scared nerves.

Somehow the effort failed and she felt her stomach rumbling as her insides coiled with nervous tension. There are so many people in there. How can she face all of them at one go. She turned away from Dhruv and clutched the pillar hard trying to summon the strength to enter the party.

**************

Nishant stepped out in the balcony and looked around, but Aparna was not anywhere. He turned to his right and was about to start walking, when he saw her standing near the pillar with her head resting against it, eyes closed.

Although his instincts told him to rush to her but his heart urged to stay and look at her. His eyes scanned every part of her of what was visible to him. Her eyes again had that winged style and he could imagine what would happen when she would look at him with those kohl filled ones. Unlike other times, her lips now were painted with a light coating of red lipstick making them more kissable than ever.

His muscles clenched hard as his gaze lowered to her body. Her hair was completely open and cluster of it just slipped inside her blouse as she shook her head a little. A primitive feeling of love coiled inside him and his feet automatically moved towards her.

Dhruv saw him but silenced himself as Nishant gestured him not to say anything. Smiling, he turned and went inside leaving them alone.

Slowly and softly, Nishant came and stood behind. Resting his back against the wall, he looked at her back. Bare and insanely tempting, it bombarded his brain with millions of sensations spinning in every possible direction. Although he wanted to grab her but, somehow he was enjoying this slow burning inside.

Aparna suddenly felt that Dhruv wasn’t there. She opened her eyes and instantly knew that she was not alone. There was someone standing behind her. But, this time she did not hope to see Nishant.

She turned and everything plunged into darkness. But before her eyes could adjust to the faint light streaming from inside, she felt herself being pulled towards someone.

“Nishant!” She exclaimed softly as she collided with his chest.

“Shhhhhh! Don’t.”

As the sound of the soft music playing inside fluttered outside, she raised her eyes to his.

The music, the faint light and their racing hearts transformed them to a world of their own.

Every single thing around them ceased as they looked into each other’s eyes. Neither of them was able to pull away from their mesmerising intensity. Their bodies burned with the feverish heat emanating as they clutched each other hard.

Nishant pulled her closer to himself and she circled her bare arms around his neck. As her fingers went inside his hair, he placed his heated palm on her bare back and caressed the line of her spine softly.

Aparna sighed with pleasure as the heat of his fingers slowly spread in her veins. Her nervous fright suddenly changed to passion and she swayed in his arms. Slowly her fingers stroked lovingly the back of his neck.

Nishant moaned and pulled her closer than before fusing their bodies together.

“Nishant, are you there?” Rushali called as she came out in the balcony.

Aparna clutched the lapels of his suit with effort as she heard Rushali’s voice. She tried to look sideways but he stopped her.

Shaking his head, he looked into eyes silently urging her not to break the moment. She raised her face to him and he slowly guided them to the other side of the balcony.

“Who has turned off the lights?” Naresh Naik asked as he came to the balcony.  

He switched on the lights and called to his son twice. 

Nishant heard his father’s voice but nothing registered other than the look in Aparna’s eyes. He wanted nothing else but to feel her all over him. Grabbing her hand, he dragged her down the stairs and did not stop until they reached the garden.

Aparna was panting hard by the time he let her go. But before she could catch her breath, he pulled her to him and her back collided with his heated chest. 

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