Charlie walked in as soon as Niti slept off. I noticed she glanced at our hands entwined with each other but chose not to comment. I was glad since I didn't have any explanation for her anyway

"They have all left" was all she offered and I nodded "I'll leave as well"

She smiled "Stay the night. I'll make myself comfortable here while you and Ayaz can take my room"

"Are you sure?" though I was ready to pounce on that plan. I was beyond exhausted

Charlie nodded as she took a place next to me, looking over at Niti

"Thanks for being there for her today" she almost whispered. "Maybe this party wasn't such a great idea after all"

"You think?" I teased but she didn't react, clearly not in the mood. I sighed and said "Its okay, Charlie. You only had her best interests in your mind" I seemed to be a doing a lot of consoling today

"I really wish I knew the answer to get her out of this misery"

"Unfortunately, she has to find a way herself. Noone can do it for her" I spoke a little too wisely even for me

She 'hmmed' and kept staring at Niti. Mustering all the possible courage I had, I risked asking her "Charlie, what happened exactly?"

"It's not my story to tell, Parth. She was anyway miffed that I told you guys. Let her tell you yourself" she smiled apologetically

I nodded in understanding and took that as my cue to leave. I pecked Niti's forehead, hugged Charlie and left for what I hoped was going to be a blissful sleep

I couldn't have been more wrong! I was jerked awake by I don't know what. Maybe a ghastly nightmare or maybe the day's events were getting to me. I glanced over at my phone to check that it was 4 in the morning I closed my eyes again and tried to sleep but just couldn't! "Blast it" I said to myself as I threw my blanket off me

Squinting my eyes in the darkness, I made my way to the kitchen, warmed up some water and made way to the balcony, recalling the evening's misadventures

"Not sleepy?" a soft voice jerked me out of my thoughts

"Yes" I smiled as I turned to face her "Howz the hangover?"

"Dreadful" she answered but smiled nevertheless as she joined me in the balcony

"I'll get you some limewater. You will feel better" but she shook her head. "I already had" she said "this is not my first hangover, you know" the tease evident in her eyes and I smiled as we stood in a comfortable silence.

"Umm..I wanted to thank you" she broke the silence "For, you know, what you did today"

"Do you even remember what happened?"

"Vaguely...mostly in glimpses" she sighed "I don't know what got over me. That's why I don't drink. I can't seem to know where to draw the line"

"Yeah. Alcohol does bring out the worse in people" I said wisely

She snorted and I couldn't help but laugh at that. How could a noise like that come from a beautiful girl like her?

"What?" she asked perplexed

"You are too adorable" WAIT. WHAT! Did I just say that aloud?!

But she blushed – her cheeks taking an adorable shade of pink as she smiled to look away and I could literally feel my heart drop from its original place! What the hell was she doing to me?

"But you are welcome" I fumbled; immediately trying to cover it up

"I sometimes hate them all" she said; turning to look outside the balcony "All guys"

"Hey" I protested slightly and she laughed

"But seriously, what is with you guys? I mean, do you once stop to think what the girl is going through?"

"Babe don't generalize ..." I started

"Don't babe me" she turned to me; her eyes blazing with fury and her tone taking a harshness edge that I refused to believe came from her

She recovered just as fast "Sorry, my fiancé" she paused "No. My EX-fiancé used to call me that"

"Oh! Sorry" I offered and we slipped into a silence again...this time an awkward one

"I am sorry. I just lose it sometimes when I talk about him" she smiled – a genuine one but I could see the pain in her eyes

"Listen" I finally had had enough "Please know that he wasn't worth you"

"Really? And you know" she snapped, clearly not appreciating my intrusion

But I wasn't going to shut up. "NO! NO WAIT. YES. Yes I know within the few days that I have known you. I know that a girl who is so pure at heart, a girl who is just so gorgeous, a girl who is worth all the happiness in the world just doesn't deserve all this bitterness, all the sadness, the worthlessness that he has brought in your life. You are better than this" I blurted out as I took her hand in mine "You seriously are" I added softly gazing into her now wide eyes

A small tear betrayed her beautiful eyes and before she could reach out to wipe it; I leaned down to kiss it away, just like I wished I could kiss all of her pain away. She closed her eyes and leaned onto me, wrapping her tiny little arms around me as she perfectly fit into my large body frame.  

It didn't take me even a minute to take her in my arms and revel in that amazing feeling of having her right where she belonged. Yes, she belonged in my arms. She belonged to me!

At that thought, my eyes went wide open. What the hell was happening? Did I really feel that? For the millionth time, what was this girl doing to me?

She must have felt me stiffen because she suddenly dropped her arms and stepped away from me. And going by her expressions, I judged that this was as unexpected to her as it was to me

"I...ummm..This..."I fumbled to find the right words, looking everywhere but her

"I should go" she whispered

"No. Niti. Wait" I needed to clear this with her "Please just wait"

"For what?" she taunted me and I grimaced at the tone of her voice "What do you want to talk about, Parth?"

"Niti, I...."

"No. I know what this was. How are you different from that guy in the evening? How are you different from my fiancé?"

"WHAT? Really? You are comparing me to that jerkface?" I lowered my voice; keeping it in check so Charlie and Ayaz wouldn't hear us but I was screaming from inside

"YES. Yes I am. Because that's what you guys do. That's all you guys know. Ever stop to think about us? About me? How all of this is affecting me?" she had now started pacing the length of the balcony, waving her arms around frantically "You cant just swoosh into my life and take control. You cant tell me what he did was wrong. You cant tell me that I am adorable and then expect me to coming running in your arms. You may be used to a lot of girls falling head over heels for your charm, Mr. Parth Samthaan but I am not one of your groupies. I am not. I am too broken for this. Please leave me alone" With that she gave me one long look and ran to her room, leaving me too stunned to react