In my Devil's Arms

Riya got around in next fifteen minutes.

As she opened he eyes she saw him holding her hands looking at her.

" I am sorry for bothering you", she said.

He kept on looking her.

" You really know how to make a man feel guilty Ms. Sachdeva", he said. " You scared me."

" I am really sorry", she said.

" No Riya, its me who should be sorry and ashamed of myself. And I really am", he said.

" Don't judge yourself too harshly. Its a disease. I suffer from panic attacks", she said.

" Manav told me that", he said.

" Where is he"?

He pointed a bed on the next side of the room. Manav was sleeping soundly.

" He is really tired", she said fomdly.

His heart was beaking seeing that fondness in her eyes.

" Do you want to go home", he asked.

" No can't leave without him and I don't want to disturb his sleep", she said.

" You both are close", he said.

" We grew up together. His parents kind of adopted me", she said.

" Iheard about your parents too. I am sorry again", he said.

"Its fine", she said.

" So you both fell in love as you grew up", he asked.

" Its not like that. In fact its wierd to be engaged to him. We both opposed it at first".

" Why", asked Vicky.

" Because thinking about Manav like that..as I told you we grew up together".

SO IT WAS A SIBLING BOND.

Vikram relaxed.

" So ths engagement ", he asked.

" His mother wanted it. In the end we just accepted. We knew each other. It was safe."

" Ohhh". SHE DID NOT LOVE HIM. That's a relief.

" Look its fine if you wan't to go back to your party. You don't need to", she was saying.

" I hate parties", he said. " This extravaganza was my dad's idea. Besides he is always trying to pair me with some girl or another".

" For marriage", she asked.

" Yeah", he grimaced.

" And you don't want to get married. For obvious reasons", she looked at him pointedly.

" Well what can I say. I am single and I like to mingle", he said deviously.

" And you have a lot of choices. So why limit yourself to one", she added.

She was insulting him. But it brought colour back to her face. So he just shrugged.

" You really are shameless", she said it but without any haughty tone.

" Guilty", he accepted.

Riya giggled. Such a sweet sound.

" Can we sit outside on the balcony. I could use some air", she said.

Vikram was alarmed.

" Are you feeling suffocated", he asked.

" No , no, please don't worry. I am just not sleepy. You can sleep if you want. I'll sit in balcony reading something".

" I am not sleepy either", he said. " Beer or soda", he asked.

" Soda", she said.

They moved outside. He got two soda cans. He handed her one.

" Here cheers", he said.

" Cheers", she replied.

They got comfortable on two bean bags outside.

" For once will you tell me a truth", she asked sipping her soda

" What", he looked at her.

" Who is Gunjan? The name seems familiar to me. But.." She looked at him with those forest green doe eyes. So innocent. His life is at her feet.

" The truth is I don't know", he said.

" Vicky if hou don't want to tell", she was saying.

" I have nightmares of her death".

" Nightmares", her eyes widened.

" I try to save her very hard but she dies anyways. Every TIME ", he said. " High fever and seizures accompany. Nosebleed sometimes."

Tears flew from her eyes.

" Riya", he said.

" That's brutal", she says." How does she die"?

" A sword pierces her", he said.

" Did you try to ask a doctor?"

" Everything ", he said. " Dopamine injections, sleep therapy, aroma therapy, hypnotism. Nothing", he said. " I accept it. I am a faulty piece."

" When did it start", she asked.

" Around 19 or 20 years when I had that accident."

He explained his accident to her.

" I am sorry".

He shrugged.

" I can live with it but I don't want a lady to suffer because of me".

" So you reject marriage", she said.

" Yeah", I was having that nightmare when you woke me up that day.

" I am faulty too", said Riya.

" Riya you.."

" Its true Vikram. How long before Manav gets tired of babying me up? I am not right for him."

" So these attacks. What trigger them", he asked.

" Crowded places stages", she shrugged.

" Stages", he asked.

" Yeah I feel exposed. Like people are leering at me. Undressing me. Forcing me to dance".

He looked down. A heavy storm brew in his eyes.

His hands itched to kill someone. Yet again.

" Two negatives make a positive", she said.

" What do you suggest Riya Sachdeva ", asked Vicky.

" Friends Vikram Oberoi ", she said giving him a hand.

" Friends ", he took her hand.

As they joined hands Vicky promised to himself

" I shall never leave these hands again".

" Ohh I left my purse on that chair", she said.

" I'll ask someone to bring", she said.

" Which floor is the party", she asked.

" Ground floor", he said. We are on top."

" I'll bring, don't bother anyone as she went out towards lift. Something prompted him to follow. To avoid awkwardness he took another lift.

She was asking directions and went to an alley. Someone caught her.

" Hey let me go"

The man was a middle aged one. He stench of alcohol.

" You are a beauty and a fast one", said the man. " You were with Oberoi, then went on another man's arms."

" Leave me", she bit him.

" Aah you wild cat I will teach you a lesson".

He slapped her and tried to force her. Vicky saw the slap. A volcano erupted. He ran towards the man. But by that time he could kill him Riya hit him in the sh*n.

" Aah", he cried.

She kicked him hard in the face".

" Riya", Vicy said. He has called his security when he saw her fighting. He would still kill this man he thought.

" She ran to him and hugged him.

" Vicky", she said and burst into tears.

" Escort Mr Bansal out" , he said to the security.

Riya then collected her purse and they went back to his suite.