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I was sitting on the balcony with my book when I heard my best friend Barkha's voice downstairs. I waited for her to storm into my room, and she did exactly that, kicking the door open and storming inside with an angry expression on her face. I know why she is frustrated, but I decided to stay silent.

She looked at me, and just like that, she burst out. She stood beside me on the balcony and screamed so loudly that I was sure our entire neighbourhood was aware that something happened to Barkha.

I looked at her and said, "Want to talk about it?".

"What do I talk about? You know, it is the same shit!" she exclaimed.

Barkha wants to leave her parents' house, but they will not let her; they want her to stay. She has been arguing with her parents about this for a long time, and the response is still the same.

Barkha has a good job; she works in corporate and makes good money, so she can move out whenever she wants. But she does not want to disrespect her parents by abandoning them. They would be sad.

When I looked outside, I noticed the weather had improved. And thought of going outside to have coffee or something.

"Barkha Coffee Shop?" I simply asked her, and she understood.

"No, Chandini, I have to go back to the house; Mummy and Papa must be worried because I abruptly left without saying anything. You go enjoy your coffee," she said.

I looked at her, then down.

"It is okay, Nini. You can go; you are strong. And at this point, I am sure you will become a caffeine addict soon." She made fun of my coffee addiction.

I love coffee and can drink it anywhere and at any time. I smiled as I looked at her. Barkha left shortly after, and I changed my clothes to go to the cafe.

I entered the cafe and placed my order for a coffee. I took my order and sat by the window to enjoy the view and watch the world go by. I heard a small voice and saw a young boy, probably between the ages of 9 and 10, asking for chocolate ice cream. The man with him paid for their order, and they took a seat near the door. I could not look at the man's face.

I began reading my book, and after a while, when I looked up outside, I saw the same boy running in the middle of the road, picking up a cat who looked scared to be on the busy road. A car was speeding towards the boy as he was returning to the same man.

The man yanked the little boy harshly, causing him to slip on the side of the road. He then began shouting at the boy, which I could not understand. But seeing the little boy cry, I went near them and then heard that man scream.

"Athwa, you are stupid! Why did you run like that in the middle of the road?" His voice is deep and rough, and he then turns his back on the boy.

I went over to them. "You do not talk to a child like that, mister." He turned to face me when he heard my voice, and my hands stilled.

The man in front of me was attractive. He had the kind of appearance that would catch people's attention. His eyes were a shade of light brown—the same colour as honey. He had so much coldness in his eyes and was angry right now. His dark hair falls on his forehead, giving him an appealing appearance. A perfect face with a chiselled jaw. He appears to be older than me.

His very presence demanded attention and dominance.

He is beautiful.

The man was furious at me as if I had taken his favorite thing from him. I ignored him and turned my attention to the little boy.

"Hello, are you all right? Does it hurt anywhere?" But he was looking at me as if he had seen something strange.

I ignored his stare and made him stand on his legs, which was when I noticed his right knee was bleeding. I took him into the cafe and cleaned his wounds with the cafe's first aid kit before wrapping a bandage around his knee.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Athwa, and what is your name?"

"My name is Chandini. So, Athwa, tell me why you are so adorable; look at those chubby cheeks." He laughed when I pulled his cheeks.

"And you have dimples," I gasped.

"You are very beautiful, Chandini, like an angel." He blushed and looked down.

That man approached, gripped Athwa's hand tightly, and began dragging him towards the exit. I ran behind him and yanked on his arm, causing him to turn.

"Do not touch me with your dirty hands, and stay away from him as well," he yelled, his body shaking with rage.

"That was very harsh and unnecessary; I was just trying to help the poor kid who was bleeding. And my hands are cleaner than you think!"

I looked into his eyes, which were filled with anger, and he looked at me as if he wanted to kill me right now.

He suddenly grabbed my arm with such a tight grip that I am sure he left a bruise.

"Do not tell me what is harsh and what isn't. I don't need your help." This man is extremely rude.

I yanked my arm free from his grasp and slapped him across the face.

"Do not touch me, stupid. I didn't help you, nor did I want to. I helped Athwa." I told the man who was looking like a beast, but I ignored him.

I looked at Athwa, who was crying as he looked at me.

"No, Athwa, do not cry; it is all right! Your knee will heal quickly, and you will be fine." I said it softly.

"Thank you very much!" he said quietly, and I smiled at him.

They were both soon gone. When I looked down at my arm, I noticed large handprints. I groaned as I realized I would have to hide them from Samay Bhaiya and Barkha. I got home, went into my room, and applied ice and cream to help with the handprints and bruises that were appearing.

I started preparing dinner for myself and my brother. Taara, my younger sister, was spending the night at a friend's house because it was summer vacation.

Soon, the dinner was ready, and I was setting the table when I heard the front door open, and in came my brother, who looked exhausted from working so hard.

My brother works for the best and largest company in our country, 'The Kapoor's Company' Samay bhaiya works in the company's IT department, and I have heard that the CEO is a very rude man.

"Get fresh, Bhaiya, we will have dinner, and then you can rest," I told my brother, who smiled and kissed my forehead.

We ate dinner, and I was in my room, replaying the events of the day because I could not sleep. Barkha's moving out being an issue, I went to a cafe to relax, and there I met Athwa with that mannerless man, and I did Athwa's bandage and slapped a man.

Oh my god, I slapped a man today.

Shit! shit! shit!

I slapped a tall, handsome man with stunningly intense eyes.

I. SLAPPED. HIM.

I have to tell Barkha about what happened today. I called her and our other best friend, Rohit, and told them everything that had happened.

"I have never heard you speak this much after that incident, Chandini, and it feels good to hear you say more than a couple of sentences," Barkha said when I was done telling her everything.

"Of course, aside from putting people in their places," Rohit chuckled.

Even though my throat hurt from speaking so much, we hung up.

I could not get his eyes out of my head—they were emotionless as if he were dead on the inside. And I don't know why I felt bad for him. His voice was deep and rough, but it was pleasing.

I had a feeling I had heard this voice before, but I could not place where or when.

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