In my Devil's Arms

Evening 7 PM

Zoya, Lisa and Laxmi sat in a restaurant close to Zoya's house. They were having chicken except Laxmi. She was a vegetarian so she ordered a dosa.

" She totally lied to us", said Lisa.

" Yeah", said Zoya.

That morning

Laxmi excitedly came to the class and sat with her friends. Her eyes were mischievous

" You have fresh gossip", said Lisa.

" Yes its about Vikram Oberoi ", she said.

" What about him", asked Zoya.

" He was seen leaving with a new girl on the night of that party at Oberois. "

" A girl", asked Riya. " Who"?

" Nobody found out. He covered her well from cameras. Also his PR team is guiding her identity."

Riya relaxed but nobody noticed.

Vikram Oberoi has become a hot topic for girls since the day he bought that palace. He was a bachelor. Rarely snapped. Elusive. And hot.

" So where did they go", asked Lisa.

" His suite", said Laxmi.

" What could have happened there", asked Lisa.

" Duh uh dumbo", said Zoya. He took her on a ride. To paradise ".

The girls giggled. Riya was confused

" Ride"?

" That means he f*ck*d her seven shades of Sunday", said Laxmi rolling her eyes.

Riya blushed a deep shade of red.

" They could have just talked", she said.

The three girls shook her head at her.

" You are so innocent you should be kept in glass", said Lisa.

" Baby Vikram Oberoi is out of your league", said Zoya. " You be happy with your fiance and history books".

" Ahh but what about that rogue Sri you met at the palace", said Lisa.

" He was handsome right", said Laxmi.

She looked down again.

" He was", she said.

" Hey you told me you went to the Oberoi party with Manav. Did you see the girl Vikram left with", asked Laxmi.

" I kept my distance from him and just left after saying a polite hello", she lied.

" You", Lisa started.

" He is destroying that palace", she argued.

" Yeah you are loyal to your dream home and dead boyfriend", said Zoya. "Commendable".

Riya just shrugged and pretended to read some history book.

And they forgot her.

" Lucky girl", said Laxmi. " He really will take her to heaven."

" Yaa and then throw her to hell when he leaves her", scoffed Zoya.

" True", said others.

Present

" None of us doubted her. She hated him and cursed him", said Laxmi.

" Boy she is not as innocent as she seems", said Lisa." He looked completely hooked on her".

" She is innocent", said Zoya. " And Vikram Oberoi is a predator. Riya posed a challenge. So now he is onto her".

" You are right", said Laxmi. " Once he gets bored he will leave her.".

" And she will be hurt", said Lisa.

" We can't let that happen to her", said Zoya.

" What can we do"? This was a question Lisa asked.

" I have a plan", said Laxmi.

She then whispered her plan to her friends.

" Brilliant ", said Zoya.

" College tomorrow then", said Laxmi.

They all agreed and left.

Next morning

College Canteen

Riya was sipping a coke. Her friends ordered the snacks.

" So it seems", said Zoya "the paparazzi got some news on Vikram Oberoi's mystery girl".

Riya coughed as the coke spitted out.

" W.who is s.she", she asked.

"She wore a blue and orange halter neck dress", said Laxmi. She got this from her page 3 columnist.

" Why are you so hooked up on him and his girls", said Riya.

" Oh we don't know", said Zoya." Probably because one of them is our best friend. And she is lying to us for the as*hol*.

" I. I", Riya tried.

But Laxmi put forth a photo she got from her new digital camera which her father gifted her. SHE AND VICKY WERE HOLDING HANDS SMILING AT EACH OTHER.

" Don't lie to us Riya", said Laxmi.

" Girls let her explain", said Lisa. " Riya".

" Yaa that girl was me. But we are just friends nothing else.", said Riya.

" Really this is how you are going to lie to us Riya", said Lisa.

" But I am not lying", said Riya.

" And you met at party", said Zoya.

" We met at the palace. He is Sri".

The girls were stunned.

" Sri"?

" He was in disguise to solve trespassers and gangs operating there", she said.

Then she explained everything in detail.

" We met again at the party", she said.

" And clicked", said Lisa.

" No I kind of insulted him. I was angry about the palace you see", she said.

She explained what she did. The girls started laughing.

" But then he helped me", she said shyly.

She explained the panic attack and the drunk guest too.

"Manav was so tired he slept and we both spend the night talking about each other's life. End of story".

" What about the beach", asked Zoya.

" We went to a mall on weekday so I can enjoy bowling", she shrugged.

The girls knew she enjoyed bowling but due to crowd couldn't do it.

" Look babe he is trying to impress you", said Zoya.

" But", Riya was saying.

" She is right", said Laxmi. " He is a predator and you are the hunt.

" He just wants to be friend", she argued.

" Mark my words Riya. He is danger with a capital D", said Zoya.

" Yeah run in other direction", said Laxmi.

" Look Riya you are all muddled up in your brain", said Lisa. She said it without any prejudice. " You need some distance from him and your space. Think about it before you do it. Right", she said.

LISA WAS RIGHT.

She needs to control her growing feelings for Vicky. He just want to be friends and her brain was all muddled up.

The visions coming to her increased too. Gunjan playing with a girl her age. Gunjan worshipping in a Shiva temple . And then a courtesan she did not remember but seem familiar.

She would sometimes get visions of intim*cy between Gunjan and Srikant which would leave her red with embarrasment and all hot and bothered too.

SOME DISTANCE FROM HIM WAS A GOOD IDEA.

" What do you suggest", she asked them.

" My dad inherited a palace from some distant uncle. It is a monstous medival structure. My dad got a part of it repaired and we sometimes use it as a vacation house."

" Our exams and your first submission of thesis is soon to arrive. Lets go and revise in peace", suggested Lisa.

" Okay okay", said Riya. Old palaces excited her a lot.

Their plan was successful. With History they were able to save their friend from Oberoi. The three girls were happy.