C3 Chapter 3 The Encounters.

Rahil's Perspective.

It's been more than a week since I have came back. Gradually, I started winning Mr.Mallick's trust and well it wasn't such a difficult task as he was already impressed with me. Secretly, I have also started inquiring about Baba's case and wanted some old investigation files for that purpose but unfortunately I was unable to find those at the prosecution office. Great despair engulfed me at that time, but they say when you have good intentions, God open hundred doors for you. Rhia told me that some files of the old cases of Mr. Mallick are at his house and I beamed with happiness. Now I have to trick that oldie to get that file. Thinking all the possible excuses I drove to his home. Stepping out off the car I looked towards the beautiful mansion. The guard opened the door after the second ring and let me in after knowing that I was Kabir Mallick's guest. Entering inside my eyes first landed on the beautiful lawn adorned with lush green grass and sweet smelling flowers. The thing which was increasing the beauty of the lawn was the cutest scene playing in front of my eyes.

I saw lots of children running here and there with a young girl chasing them. The girl was dressed in a purple embroidered chiffon shirt paired with white trousers and she was blindfolded. They were playing Blind man's buff.

'Accept your defeat already Big Sister. You can never catch us.' A boy said mischievously.

' Yes sister it's been two hours since we are playing and you haven't caught anyone of us. A little girl said lisping slightly while I controlled myself from laughing hard.

'Aarav, Mansi Shut up both of you and better concentrate on the game.' This time the young girl spoke angrily and the expressions on her face made me chuckle.

'Catch me Izzy.' A boy said slightly pushing her.

'Wait you monkey! I'm gonna catch you.' She said and started running behind him while the boy came towards me and hid behind me.

'Huh, caught you.' She said while holding my right arm with happiness dancing on her face.

'Hahaha, Sister. You haven't caught Armaan.' The kids said while laughing and she seemed confused. She left my arm and touched my face with her delicate hand and then pulled the knot of the blindfold.

The moment our eyes met, time stopped. Wind stopped blowing, clocks stopped ticking. World became blurred.

Brown vs Black! Coldness vs Warmth! Darkness vs Goodness!

Drowning into each other's eyes we forgot the world. They said that sometimes eyes speak louder than words, and it's the truth because she didn't uttered a word but her eyes were speaking volumes. Telling the tales of her sadness, loneliness, fears and much more.

'Sister come with me.' The same little girl started pulling the corner of Izna's shirt and the spell was broken. She looked towards the girl and then me.Uneasiness was visible on her face.

'Uh, I'm sorry. It was so stupid of me.' She said without making an eye contact.

'No problem. Can you tell me where is Mr.Mallick?' I asked while she looked towards me.

' Are you Daddy's guest? Oh God! I'm so stupid. I'm so sorry, actually I forgot everything when I play with these kids.' She said drowning into the pool of embarrassment.

'Kids we'll play tomorrow. Now go to your home.' She said looking towards the kids who were smiling mischievously.

'Please come inside.' She said in a polite tone and we went inside the mansion. I saw Mr.Mallick coming down the stairs talking to someone on his phone.

'Oh you are here, my son. Well I'm extremely sorry Rahil, I have to go somewhere urgent so I won't be able to help you, but you don't worry Izna is here.' He said and I was more than happy because I can do my work easily without him.

'Daddy me?' Izna asked him with a questioning look on her face.

'Yes Izna dear, he is Prosecutor Rahil Khanna. Actually he want some old files. You just take him to the room in the basement and help him in searching those files.' He told her while she look towards him with uneasiness.

'Daddy but how can I..?' She wanted to deny but he didn't let her.

'Izna look I have to go to Singhania Uncle's house and you have to help him.Understood!' He said and she shook her head.

'Okay Rahil, I have to leave now.' He said to me with a smile while I too faked one.

'Come.' Izna said after Mr.Mallick's exit and I followed her to the basement room. She opened the door and turned the lights on. The room was full of shelves occupied with many paper documents.

'The old documents are kept in those shelves.' She told me pointing towards the shelves on my right side. I started checking those documents to find the desired one when I heard some noises and turned my head to found her standing on a wooden stool. She was standing on the tip of her toes to take out the files from the upper shelves and than started throwing the files down while I was bewildered on my place. She was so lost in her work that she didn't even realize that she was standing on the edge of the stool and can slip any moment.

'Hey, listen.' I said and went towards her.

'Finally, here you go.This is the last..Ah.' Holding a file in her hand she turned towards me and lost her balance.

Izna's Perspective.

I closed my eyes as I slipped from the wooden stool. I feel no pain and felt two arms holding me, without looking at the owner, I can tell who he is. I felt a knot in my stomach as soon as I lifted my lashes and our eyes met. The addictive cologne rising from his body combined with our proximity made me feel a little nauseous.

'You can put me down.' I stammered due to his proximity.

'Oh yeah.Here you go.' He said and carefully let go of me.

'Thank you.' I said avoiding his eyes.

'You know you have a quality of attracting trouble? Didn't you?' He said plastering a smirk on that handsome face while I turned red like a cherry due to embarrassment.

'Uh.. I think we should look for the files now.' I said to divert his attention and starting picking up the files from the floor.

'Raima what kind of an outfit is this yar?' I complained as soon as I saw the dress she bought for me to wear at Khushi's Wedding.

'What's the problem sweetheart? It's such a pretty dress.' She said while doing her makeup expertly.

'Pretty! Are you serious? I'm not gonna wear this lehnga choli (traditional eastern attire).' I said looking towards her while she looked towards me with angry expressions.

'And I'll make sure that you wear this dress only.' She said while I frowned.

'Here take this and go get ready. We don't have time to waste.' She said handing me the dress and pushed me inside the changing room.

'Come outside Izzy. This time your lame excuses won't work on me.' I heard Raima shouting for the nth time and decided to go outside.

'Oh..My...God! Tonight will be the last night for the guys who are going to attend Khushi's wedding.' She said and winked while I nodded in disbelief.

'Okay now the turn of makeup.' Raima said with an evil smile while I gave her some horrified expressions.

'Makeup? No ways.' I told her and started running away from her.

'Yes way.' She said and starting chasing me. Finally she caught me and forced me to put some makeup as we were going to attend a wedding and not a funeral.

I stepped out of the car and walked towards the marriage venue with Raima. The arrangements were beautiful as if it was a fairy-tale themed wedding. The whole lawn and trees were adorned with white orchids and white lights. I saw people looking in our direction making me feel uncomfortable.

It was difficult for me to face the world and the people because of the incident which happened thirteen years ago. The incident not only snatched my mother, it even snatched my self-confidence. Tears brimmed in my eyes remembering that life changing incident.

My trance was broken by someone's gaze which was digging holes in my back. I lifted my lashes a little and was stunned on my place when I saw him, who was dressed in a blue sherwani(eastern men's wear). He was not just another handsome man but a total Greek god. I looked into his eyes and than our previous encounter flashed in front of my eyes. Thinking about his mere proximity make me unable to breath. All my life I never get into boys but this one ain't ready to get out of my head.

Breaking the eye contact with him, I went towards the stage with Raima to congratulate Khushi. I was standing on the stage besides Raima when I felt someone's hot breath fanning my back and was frozen on my place.

'One of the most beautiful and purest knot. Isn't it?' I heard a husky voice and knew who it was. Slowly I turned my heard towards my right and found him standing right behind me leaving no distance.

'Well now even I'm planning to tie this beautiful knot, soon.' He said looking into my eyes with husk dripping from his tone.