Abhimanyu had seen beauty only once before; in his Mother's soft sandy brown eyes that shone with the purity of love she had for him, since then he hadn't seen anything like it, that was until the beam from the lights bounced into a reflection that set Akshara's eyes alight with a fire he'd happily burn in.

It wasn't that he was in love, no, never that, God, he couldn't even define that, not anymore atleast... but somehow, when she looked at him to see if he was laughing at yet another one of her corny jokes, peace filled him in a way that calmed his heartbeat to a rhythmic pitter patter and for a man who'd never known serenity before, he'd swear up and down that it had to be her.

In a world full of misery and pain, she came like an angel with halos in her eyes and a cure in her laugh and suddenly, the world wasn't so bad anymore.

Perhaps he'd just been alone for far too long, he'd made the mistake before of falling for the sweetness of sugar only to find out it was salt. A man in his position couldn't be too careful, afterall, if he fell, the Devils would too.

Pursing her lips, Akshara frowned at the sudden darkness on his face. "Hey, wanna hear a Christmas joke?" Clearing her throat, she pulled him down to sit on the floor, pushing her legs through the bars so her feet swung from the balcony. "If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do elves get?"

"I don't know, Akshara, what do elves get?" He rose a brow, a smirk lining his lips.

"Hehe, mistle-toes" slapping his arm, she bent forward in a fit of giggles, "You get it?"

Although not even slightly funny, a full fledge grin caused his mouth to curl upwards and his eyes to water. "I get it".

"So, for a Devil, you're not very" she shrugged, "Devilish, why is that?" Maybe she shouldn't have asked, but every story her Brother had ever told her painted the Devils like a group of people who lived only to harm, but this man didn't even seem like he fit, but then again, what did she know?

"We're not all bad due to the name-sake, you know" he gave her a pointed stare.

"I know that" she sighed wearily. "It's just, you hear things, bad things and from what I hear, you've been gone for a while, right? I never try to judge before getting to know someone for myself and from what I do know of you, well, let's just say the stories don't seem correct".

"Does it scare you that what you've heard could be right?" He knew his background, he knew what his family had done, Abhimanyu wouldn't blame her for running as soon as she knew who he was, but she hadn't, so that must've meant something. He needed it to mean something. For once he wanted someone to look deeper at him rather than walk away just because Devil blood ran rampant through his veins.

"No" looking straight ahead, she slid her body an inch closer to him. "If it was true, you wouldn't have saved my life, you also would've made me pay you back by now for risking your life for mine, also, I'm sure scary men who kill for fun don't stay away from everyone at their own welcome home party and laugh at strange jokes with an even stranger woman".

"You have that much trust in me already?" Without even meaning to, his eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped a little.

"I think" Akshara looked him in the eye with a smile that made his chest hurt, "You deserve that at the very least".

Before he could respond, from the corner of his eye he caught the ever familiar view of golden heels making their way across the dance floor. Stiffening, he jumped to his feet, jaw clenching the second the scent of roses filled his nostrils. "He wouldn't" Abhimanyu shook his head, eyes ablaze with a darkness that hadn't saw an inch of light in a very, very long time.

"Abhi?" She looked up, pulling herself to her feet. "Far too old for this" she muttered under her breath before turning to him. "Are you okay?" Placing a hand on his shoulder, she scanned his face worriedly.

"Dance with me" He blurted out fast, more like an order and less like a request, his entire body shaking with wrath.

"What?" Her brows knitted together.

"Dance with me" his gaze softened, hand out for her to take. "Will you dance with the Devil tonight?"

Slowly placing her hand in his, she gasped as he tugged her into his body, one arm firm around her waist to keep her chest against his. "I, I don't really know how to dance" her cheeks heated in pink.

A sly smile drew itself over his lips "Is that nervousness I detect there, Akshu?" Twirling her out of his arms, he span her back in, dipping her into the bend of his left bicep.

Akshara's chest heaved with each breath. "That's new, you've never called me that before" she gazed up at him questioningly.

"Ah, way to avoid the question" his brows wiggled playfully.

"Absolutely not" she huffed, "Do I seem like someone who gets scared?"

"Well" Abhimanyu pulled her back up, cheek beside hers so his warm breath tickled her neck, "Then why are you shaking?"

"Maybe I'm just cold" she stuttered out stubbornly.

"Then allow me to warm you up". Lifting her, he dropped her down so her feet stood on his then ever so quickly released her so she fell back, grabbing her hips, he twisted her body then wrapped both arms around her waist and leant back so her back draped over his chest. "Warm enough now?" His voice was husky, vibrating down her spine as he swayed with her.

"Y-yes" she gulped, eyes closing as she settled more into his embrace.

"Ah, Abhi, how good to see you" a scratchy voice pierced their bubble causing them both to break away.

"Mujhe Abhi bolne ka haq sirf kuch logon ke paas hai" he warned, shoving Akshara behind him as he did.

"Oh, Birla, I see nothing has changed" she chuckled. Extending her hand, she moved her head to the side "Aarohi".

"Akshara" she went to shake her hand only to feel fingers tight around her wrist, looking up, she nodded at her former dance partner's warning head shake. Though she couldn't understand it, Akshara new a warning when she saw one and she certainly wasn't going to annoy her new friend, if she could even call him that.

"Oh, come now, won't you share your toys?"

"She. Is. Not. A. Toy" he spat. "Why are you even here?"

"Uncle invited me, don't act like I wouldn't come for your homecoming, I wouldn't miss it for the world".

Hailey nudged between them "While that's all lovely, Akshu, we have to go, your brother just text me" panting from her race up the stairs, she pulled her away from the duo. "Abhi, we'll catch up soon and Aarohi, I preferred it when you weren't here".

Aarohi's eyes narrowed "Feeling's mutual, Hailey" she spoke with venom.

"Let me drop you" he stepped forward, eyes full of earnest.

"You can't" Akshara placed a hand on his chest as if to calm him but quickly dropped it  at the eyes that followed. "Uh, I mean, my brother doesn't like the Devils, it's best for us to catch a cab, but thank you" she smiled. "It was nice to meet you" she nodded at the opposing woman.

"Then let me call one for you?" He offered, "I won't see you both waiting in the cold".

"Oh, so you're a gentleman now" licking her bottom lip, she covered her mouth to hide her laugh. "I'll be with Uncle" touching his arm, she fluttered her lashes, "Find me when you're done".

"You okay?" Hailey slowed her pace so she could walk beside him.

"I will be".

"It'll be alright" she nudged his arm. "If you can survive the loss of Parth, you can survive her, you've done it once, you'll do it again".

"Thanks for the faith" he put a thumb up at her half-heartedly.

"You left because of her, don't let her be the reason you leave again".

Looking forward at Akshara sniffing the boquet in the hall, he smiled, "Actually, I think I've found a reason to stay"

A/N: Parth is Abhi and Neil's older brother in this and Aarohi is not related to Akshara or Kairav!