Soon after the interim, we huddled in the auditorium, I took my seat while others got on the scaffold. Ayaan delivered the entire lines, which astounded him as well as the rest present over there. With that, the others resumed, maybe it was the effect of Rithvik conversation. That we had a few hours back in the canteen, that he delivered it flawlessly. There was a dialogue that Preethi was not able to execute correctly.

"No! It's not looking pleasing." I reprimanded, "why don't we attempt it one more time?" I suggested politely, that didn't go right with her. She was provoked by my words but still nodded in agreement. As she didn't aspire to encounter Rithvik's wrath, like last time.

"So we will initiate from the portion where Preeti's dialogue begins," I proposed for which the rest approved.

Preeti led on with her dialogue, I couldn't connect with the emotion the scene had. If I couldn't relate to it, how could the audience? "Stop it, not at all functioning well." It discontented me, I was persisting to give it one last turn when Preethi exploded out losing her self-control.

"Don't pretend as if you're a director of the drama. You are just a script-writer so work like one." Preethi snarled at me, Reema came to my aid. To my astonishment, Drupa was not charmed with it. I gazed at her dubiously, while Reema uttered to Preethi.

"What offensive did she spoke? I didn't felt anything fallacious in her speech, she is correct. I too sense that you're not able to play the scene accurately." Reema felt a flash of irritation with Preethi's words.

"She is pointing out your error, so you can grow up as an actor. Just learn from it rather than quarreling over it," Ayaan was striving to knock some sense in Preethi's brain.

"If she grasps it better than Preeti, let her enact as it's easier stated than performed." That remark came from a self, I least presumed. Drupa was fronting me, why had she turned like that? Was she exasperated on me? Had I hurt her accidentally?

"Are you serious, Drupa? You're defending her?" Reema stares at Preethi with revulsion. She shared a huge aversion towards Preethi.

"I uttered what is correct, I can't accept her words just because she is my friend." Drupa glowered at Reema, which amazed Ayaan.

"Have you lost your mind?" He jumped on Drupa, seeing her behavior towards Reema. While Reema held his biceps, gesturing him to leave the subject. A situation like such made me feel that he cared for Reema, how could Rithvik not view it? I gazed at him, who seemed swallowing down his frustration glaring at Drupa. He too didn't appreciate such behavior with his sister, the only distinction between Ayaan and Rithvik was that the latter one didn't display it willingly.

"She will impersonate and prove both of you wrong," Samir too was supporting me up. But the thing that disturbed me was Drupa's unusual behavior. Why was she behaving in such a fashion?

"You have already demonstrated yourself as a skilled writer now let's show that you're a better performer than us. As your script is squealing it out." Jiya spoke, getting excited she was another member of our play.

I shuffled towards the platform, glimpsed at the paper which Preeti delivered to me. Preeti and others moved down, only I and Ritvik was left behind. Though they showed confidence in me, I had the least faith in myself. As I had never performed where else Preethi was acting for several years. So acting turning better, than her was improbable.

"Let's see how good you act," that came as a challenge from Preethi as she sat on the seat. Everyone else too occupied the first row, while I felt Preethi purposely sat on mine. Contemplating me, I averted my gaze.

I shut my eyes, inhaled fresh air, and mumbled some phrases to strengthen my courage. Opened my eyes, speaking those lines. "I perpetually endeavored to please you," I altered the direction to view Rithvik. His orbs were staring into mine, "I tried to fascinate you in various means." I tugged him closer by his ruff. "You constantly shoved me away, detecting one or other fault. Was love all about your fancied traits in a person? Has it nothing to do with the depth, the person feels for you?" I raised a question gently inclining into him.

I had to appear as a drunk, what an irony? The person who despises alcohol was faking being drunken. I was certain that Rithvik would have nailed it if he had to act drunk, as it would have come up naturally. I felt a grip on my waist and stared at him with confusion. That was not discussed in the script, but I carried on with my dialogues. "You perceive, how painful it is to view you with someone else. That you like someone, not me pierced my heart." I moaned in his chest, I raised my head and found his deep amber orbs fix on me. I didn't permit myself to lose my focus.

My eyes were brimming in tears, "why don't you get that I love you?" With that, I listened to the cheers of our collaborators. I glimpsed at the seats, they all had stood up, applauding for us except for two. Preeti was predicted, but the blow was from Drupa. Why had she turned irate at me? What had I done?

I tried to back off, but the Rithvik grip was tight on my waist. "What an amazing performance!" Ayaan whistled, expressing his delight.

I passed Ayaan a smile, "Rithvik, what are you doing? leave me others are watching." I whispered so others could not overhear. I felt a fixed gaze from the audience watching at us, which was approaching from Drupa.

"I don't mind if they see, as I am in no mood to leave you free." That made me flip my eyes back at him, what was he even speaking?

"Have you lost your mind? I will yell if you don't leave me now," I glowered. Struggling to get out from his grip, I could feel an instant gaze of others on us.

"You're free to do so," he smirked. I snorted at him, he was well aware that I was just extorting him.

"What do you want?" I surrendered as that was the only route of escape.

"Nothing," he leaned towards me. I widened my eyes in horror, what was he going to commit? "I love you," he whispered in my ear. I stared at him, dumbfounded.

What? Did he confess? Or was he tricking me up? He had a girlfriend then why on earth? I was dazed to react, his grip on my waist loosen. He smirked glimpsing at Preethi, who was boiling in resentment. Was he working the same trick with me, the one Drupa playing with Dhruv? Just to grab Preethi's attention, I shook my head. Descending the platform, Rithvik followed me.

I stood beside Reema, she gazed at me getting concerned. She was well aware of his brother's actions, as my face had turned pale after his that statement. "Did he say something?" She inquired.

"Nothing," I denied not aspiring to drag the topic. Those words had no significance to him, it was just a jest to notice Preethi's action, maybe.

"Why don't you take the lead opposite Rithvik?" Jiya suggested, which fumed Preethi up.

"Why do you have any problem with me?" Preethi questioned her up, which made her shut her mouth.

"But I don't think the idea is that bad," Reema taunted Preethi winking at me.

"No! I am fine being the writer, no need of taking one more burden on my head." I rejected the offer which made Rithvik snort at me, as he was standing beside me. What was up with him? He should be delighted with me declining the offer, as he got an opportunity to be cast opposite his lady love.

"As we are done with today, Preeti got practical training from our writer." Ayaan mocked at Preethi, which made her groan. "So we should proceed and carry the spare rehearsal tomorrow as I am starving." Ayaan pleaded Rithvik, rubbing his stomach a gesture that he was hungry, for which Rithvik provided him with a node.

As he mentioned hunger, my eyes traveled on Drupa who was standing there glowering at me. That was pissing me off, I had enough of her. She walked from there followed by Preeti and the rest. Ayaan grasped Reema's hand and was pulling her along with him. She jerked his hand away, she was still enraged at him.

"Sweetheart, I had justified you my action. That was just healthy flirting and nothing more," Ayaan was trying to persuade Reema.

"Don't forget that Rithvik..." Reema halted in mid, noticing me. I felt as if she had forgotten about my presence for a second, she grabbed my wrist, "come!"

She dragged me but a strong force on my other wrist was propelling me back. I glanced at the source, it was Rithvik. "What's your problem?" Reema got irritated.

"What? I am not holding you up, you are free to live." Tightening his grip on my wrist.

"I want to take Shanaya along with me, leave her hand. I can't trust you," Reema scowled at him, what she meant by that statement? I was appalled staring at her, Rithvik was giving her a questioning look.

"Would you care to explain?" Raising a brow, and pulling me closer to him as Reema's hold on my wrist losses.

"I have seen the way you act with her. Insulting her up, what you thought?" Reema gave her a skeptical look.

"None of your business, you carry on with your boyfriend." Rithvik narrowed his eyes at her.

"Why on the earth are you both at strife? Question Shanaya what she aspires," Ayaan expressed and I finally felt that someone acknowledged my interest.

It seemed that Rithvik's grip hardened, I was going to take Reema's name but one glance at him. And I spotted a hint of anxiety underlying in his fierce, rigid face. I felt to stay behind with him, not for my comfort but his. Was I admitting it for real? Preferring him over me, a man whom I claim that I hate him the most.

"Shanaya, speak up." Reema urged me, thinking that I would take her name. I peeped at her once, feeling sorry.

"I will stay behind," that offended Reema. She stared at me with a suspicious gaze, as if I was covering something.

"Is he forcing you? Is there something which I should know?" Reema held my shoulder getting concerned about me, glaring at his brother. "I had warned you, bro, to..." she again left her statement in between, as Ayaan nudged her my presence.

"You wanted an answer and she gave, now leave." Rithvik roared at Reema and jerked her hand away from my shoulder.

"Reema we should move, Rithvik is correct. If Shanaya wants to stay behind, it's her choice." Ayaan was gesturing her to shut her mouth. What were they concealing from me? And what had she warned Rithvik?

"Ayaan, you too supporting him? It's evil, how can you both..." Reema's mouth was covered by Ayaan.

"You both carry on," with that Ayaan dragged Reema along with him.

As the door shut behind them, I was turned with power. Rithvik had made me face him, mine chocolatey brown eyes staring into his. I darted my gaze away, he held my chin making me glance at him.

"Hey, why are you diverting your gaze?" He was triggered by my action.

"Because I don't want to look at you," I again altered my face. Was going to leave but he yanked my wrist, which made me land on his chest. My palms unknowingly landed on his chest, his arms wrapped around my waist. His grip was so tight on me that it didn't even allow me to move in his arm.

"What are you doing?" I was struggling in his arm. "Leave me," I was infuriated by his behavior, who gave him the liberty to treat me in such a manner?

"I won't, I don't ever leave what's mine and you are mine." He nuzzled his face in my hair, I was attempting my level best to stir him off. He was firm to even get affected by my small pushes.

"If you even seek to take benefit of my vulnerability, I won't spare you." I was mounting up the determination to fight back with him but not seeing it working. "Please leave me," I pleaded him. The only alternative left to get out of his grip, the terror that he might take advantage of. I was lamenting my decision, maybe this what Reema was uttering. He had been faking in front of Preethi earlier, what was the reason behind his action at the moment. His hot breath on my neck was making me feel worthless. It made me feel that we women were so feeble in front of men. Though we might achieve heights, they knew that vulnerability of ours with which they could ruin us beyond repair.

He broke the hug and cupped my face. "Why are you crying, Love?" he brushed off my tears, I didn't even realize when I ended up in tears. "I just wanted to spend some time with you, if you don't want it then fine." He loosened his grip from my waist. "You're free to go," as he spoke it I rushed out of the auditorium. Not paying any heed to him shouting at me. "Love! Your bag..."

As I got out, people walking in the surrounding, glimpsed at me getting perplexed seeing me rushing out in a haste and gasping for breath. I passed a nervous smile and moved from there, directly to the canteen.

I wanted to move to a place which contains crowd, to push my thought away from the encounter I had with Rithvik. And wanted to have a conversation with Reema about the same, she might enlighten me on what was amiss with her brother? As I walked into the canteen, I saw Reema already having a conversation with Drupa.

"Why are you acting so peculiar with Shanaya? And what was that? You helped Preethi, so you could irritate Shanaya? What's wrong with you Drupa?" Reema was upbraiding at her.

"You should be demanding Shanaya for the answers, what had she done with me? How could she play games with me? She was well aware that I had a crush on Rithvik and still, she is dating him?" That provoked me, how could she even imagine that I would do something like that? I took a step towards them, Drupa noticed me but proceeded to ignore my presence. She was seeking to burst her rage on me, obliquely.

"What are you uttering? Shanaya dating whom? Rithvik?" Reema found it inconceivable, I felt as if she understood me better than Drupa. "Do you think so?" She questioned her up, staring at her dubiously.

"I was thinking the same, but then..." Drupa roared, I gritted my eyes at her.

"But then what? Do you think, I will date a person like him?" I shook my head, I had noticed that moment Rithvik joined but I proceeded. I could feel everyone's eyes fixed on me but they had heard Drupa's conversation about me dating Rithvik. And it was better to clear it up, for me as well as for Rithvik. "And when the entire university knows that Preethi is dating her from years now." I got pissed at Drupa, for even anticipating that I would date Rithvik.

"I had told you enough, that he doesn't hold feelings for her." She was growling at me, peeping at Rithvik for once. I gazed at Preethi so she would debate on that matter but she too was glancing at Rithvik. That made me peep at him, "Rithvik won't you say? That it was you who confessed the same to Preethi." I was flabbergasted on listening to the statement from Drupa.

"What?" I faltered, did she spoke that Rithvik confessed it to Preethi? I glance at Rithvik who was grinning at me for the first time.