''So can I drop you somewhere?'' Neil asked politely

''No I'm here with my friends''

''sach mein?!! Mujhe laga usse bachne ke liye bol rhi thi"
( "Really ?? I thought that was something you came up with to get away from that guy " )

'' Han sach mein''
( " I was just stating facts")

''So where are your friends?''

She looked into their direction with gloomy eyes

''Dancing on the dance floor''

''Oh.Why aren't you with them?''

''I don't dance.

 I don't like loud places either.Itna shor hai ki insaan khud ke dil ki awaaz bhi na sun paye'' she blurted out unintentionally without even looking at him
(I dont like loud places either. Noise so loud that it drowns the beats of your own beating heart ")

He was about to leave,but this absent minded words that came out from a total stranger made him stop.Her words conveyed more than probably she intended to.

She realised what she had uttered mindlessly when she didn't hear him reply back.She mentally facepalmed herself and turned around, only to find him looking at her intently.A minute passed before either of them spoke.

''Umm'' Neil said clearing his throat.''Do you want to get out of here?''

''Excuse me?!!!! Tum kuch jyada hi frank nai ho rhe ho?''
( Excuse me ?!!! Arent you being too frank with me ?)

'' Don't get me wrong.I mean club ke bahar...shor se door?''
( " Dont get me wrong. I meant if you would want to go outside ....just to get away from this noise ?"

''Oh!!Ok''

The prospect of getting away from the noise was so appealing that  she followed him out, zoning out the warnings of her rational mind.

                             ***~***

Ananya felt so relieved to be away from the deafening noise.She breathed in the fresh air. It felt so relaxed inspite of being in the company of  a unknown man.

''So your friends don't know you very well"

''Colleagues!  Not friends.I was here for a conference.These are the only people I know in the city. So came along with them."

''so what do you like? "

''Peace'' she said with a hint of sarcasm.

Getting her hint,Neil stopped whatever it is he wanted to say next.

Both of them leaned against the railing outside and gazed at the clear night sky.The sky was clear blue,filled with uncountable stars, without a cloud in sight.A smile crept up her lips.

He saw her smiling for the first time since they met.Her smile was so pure and innocent just like a kid.

''So there is a cafe nearby. Wanna walk till there ?'' his sudden question surprised him as much as it surprised her.It was so unlike him to ask a girl he had just met for coffee ; and yet it felt just right.

''Main strangers ke saath coffee peene nai jati''
( " I dont go out on coffee dates with complete strangers")

''par strangers ke saath night club mein aa sakti ho.How long have you known your 'colleagues'?''
( " But you can walk into night clubs with strangers ! How long have you known your " colleagues" ?")

''Longer than I have known you''

''And yet I was the one who came to your rescue when the jerk was troubling you''

'' Mere friends pareshan honge mujhe yahan na pake''
( My friends must be worried about me )

''Fine then.I'm going.Tum wapas jao aur pehle ki tarah akele enjoy karo''
( You go and enjoy with your friends like before)

The thought of going back inside the chaos was so disturbing.She felt much more comfortable in the presence of this total stranger.To add to that the coffee did seem alluring at the moment.

''Ok ok.I'll go.But don't you try to act overfriendly...karate black belt hoon main''
( But dont you try to act overfriendly....I am a black belt in karate ")

He couldn't help smiling to her cute little warning.

''Ok I won't.Let me get my Car and we can go''

''No.Lets walk.Tumne kaha na paas mein hi hai''
( You said its nearby no )

He understood her apprehension and nodded in affirmation.

She sent a quick message to her friends informing them about her whereabouts. While sliding the phone back into her sling she stealthily checked for her pepper spray just in case.

The walk seemed long owing to the pertaining silence.

''So tum har ladke ko pehli baar mein hi blackbelt wali baat bta deti ho?''
( Do you inform every guy you meet for the first time about your black belt status ?)

''Tum har ladki ko aise hi club mein impress karte ho?''
( Do you try to impress every girl in a night club like you did today ?)

''Excuse me! I was there for a meeting.Main waisa ladka nai hoon jaisa tum samajh rhi ho''
( I am not the kind of guy you think I am)

'' Aur main bhi waisi ladki nai hoon jaise tum soch rhe ho''
( And neither am I the kind of girl you think I am)

''But I didn't say anything like that''

''I was just making things clear''

''Tum already bahut clear kar chuki ho'' he chuckled.
( You have already made it pretty clear )

They walked in silence for a few more steps.

'' Can you walk to my right?'' Neil asked suddenly.

''Kyu??''
(Why ?)

 There was no answer.She followed his eyes to see a bunch of guys,probably drunk sneering at her.Before she could say anything she felt a jerk. He had pulled her to his right, so that he overshadowed her. 

Her immediately reaction was to say something witty but she knew that he meant well.He was only being protective which was weird considering they had just met.So she decided to let go just for this once.

to be continued....