Lara entered the huge hall. She saw her friend Anita, standing near the entrance and talking to some guests. Except a few of her college-mates, all others were strangers. She walked towards Anita and waved her, Anita greeted back at once.

"Come let me take you to Karan," said Anita and took Lara along with her. Anita informed Lara, "Actually he doesn't like much crowd. I arranged this party for him and as it was his 25th birthday, I wanted it to be grand. But he has absolutely no interest in meeting anyone that's why he has found a secluded corner and sitting there all alone."

"But I didn't realize that he was an introvert. I mean....I couldn't guess it you know. He talked quite well," Lara countered her friend.

"I know.....actually if he wouldn't have behaved properly in front of you, I would have punched him a lot. I had warned him to talk properly with you atleast. That's why he tried hard enough," Anita replied and smiled apologetically.

By that time they had reached the door of the room where Karan was sitting. Anita turned towards Lara and said, "Remember the first day I introduced him to you and we dropped you home, he kept on staring at you through the mirror."

Lara was shocked to hear that from Anita. She was under the impression that Anita hadn't noticed anything. She wanted to say certain things but preferred to be quiet and first listen to her.

Anita continued saying, "You know what....even I thought that he was staring at you. But actually something like a leaf had got stuck to your hair and he was looking at that. He wanted to tell you but couldn't. When you got down the car, I was all set to beat the shit out of him. But when you walked past the car, I found that he wasn't looking at your body but rather your head. Then I knew the actual reason."

"Oh....I didn't realize that," said Lara as she was unaware of it.

"I know! You mustn't have noticed because you were looking out of the window all this while," said Anita, quite confident of that. Lara didn't say anything but nodded in affirmation. She was feeling guilty that she had misunderstood her brother.

Anita called Karan aloud, "Hello birthday baby....see whose there to meet you!" Karan looked in their direction and smiled at Lara.

"Happy Birthday Karan!" Lara wished him smilingly and shook her hand with him.

"Thank You Lara....and thanks for coming as well. For a moment I thought you wouldn't," said Karan.
Lara didn't know what to say in response and kept smiling. At that moment someone called Anita and asked her to come out at once.

"Sorry guys...I need to leave. I am such a wanted person you know," she joked, "Both of you talk. I'll be right back."

After Anita had left the room Karan asked Lara to sit beside him. It was awkward for both of them....nobody knew how to start a conversation. Karan noticed Lara fidgeting her fingers and her eyes wandering all around.

"Do you like to read?" Karan asked finally breaking the long silence between them.

"Yes....I love it. It gives me peace, relives me of all stress and I feel like a book is a great companion," she answered.

"Impressed! I don't know why but I feel that you write too....tell me if I am wrong," Karan asked raising an eyebrow on her.

"Well....not entirely. I do write sometimes.....I meanI try atleast....not so good at it but still.....poems basically," she answered.

"Hmmmm.....good...good....well a beautiful girl like you must be creating beautiful poetry. If you don't someday I would love to listen to it!" Karan said, his eyes intensely gazing at her.

"I am afraid....I won't stand at par with your expectations," she blurted out at once.

"Well I don't mind if it's useless even...which obviously will not be the case...but still....let's imagine the worst that in case it is....I wouldn't mind it as long as I get to hear your beautiful voice," he said smiling.

What was wrong with him? Why does he behave like this? His sister tells that he's an introvert....is this how introverts behave? Uggggghhhhh.....Pervert!

Anita crashed into and interrupted their not-so-good conversation. "Hey guys, if your gossips are over should we go out and have some drink?"

"Yeah....sure," Lara was the first one to say aa she wanted get out of there as soon as possible.

They moved lazily through the snacks counters talking now and then. Anita couldn't tolerate this monotony and told them, "Okay...this is getting very boring.....It's a party.....If we behave like we are here for a religious ceremony which needs to be celebrated quiety then it's not gonna help....I am so so damn bored. I think we should have some fun....some games...some dance. Okay...I've got an idea....Let's bet Lara....whoever drinks the maximum shots....wins! Easy right? Karan are you in?"

"Ah....okay....I bet both of you will lose," Anita said and all of them started drinking.

"Yehhhhhh.....I win....all of you lose," Lara shouted in a drunken voice. She was never used to drinking so much and from her little experience of drinking she knew that, tequila drives her crazy. But ofcourse this time, most of the shots were of tequila.

"Come let's dance," Karan held Lara's hand and dragged her to the dance floor. Anita had found a partner for herself to.

Lara was in no state to refuse. She started dancing with him. After a few minutes, they were lot more closer to each other. They looked into each other's eyes.

Suddenly Lara spoke, "Karan....why do you do this?" He was confused at her question.

"What? What do I do," he asked not understanding the meaning of her question.

"This...," she pointed out making him realize their proximity.

"I am sorry Lara....I got carried....and didn't realize," he said and backed away two steps.

"Hmmm....thank you...Kaa..."she felt dizzy and was about to fall when Karan held her in his arms. She had already passed out so Karan picked her up in bridal style and carried her to his room. He obviously couldn't send her home in this state.

He pushed the door with his back and gently put her on the bed. Switching on the lights of his room, he came back to Lara and took off her heels and earrings which were poking her face and hurting her. He covered her with a warm blanket and left the room and went downstairs again to inform Anita about it.

It was past midnight now and soon the crowd started decreasing and the house became quiet again.

"Anita can you change her clothes? Give her some comfortable ones," Karan said Anita.

"I am too too too tired. I am no more in a state to move. Let her sleep too. You go .....sleep. Goodnight," saying this Anita went back to her room without hearing a word more from him.

He thought that it was better to sleep on the hall rather than going to his room where Lara was. He looked around but it was not in a condition to sleep. All around there was spilled food and bottles and glasses laying on the floor waiting anxiously to be thrown into the dustbin. He went to his room and slept on the small couch which was kept oppose to the bed.
Switching off the lights, he was about to sleep when he heard some noise in the backyard. Thinking it must be some wandering dog or cat, he ignored it and went into a deep sleep. He was oblivious to his surroundings now.

In the darkness, a person ran in a lightning speed.....




© Alekshyaa Das