Natasha

« RITHIK »

A constant thought ran in my mind amongst a million others that came and passed by everyday. Tried to push it away but in vain. It was like human body telling you that it needed water. It was that basic.

I loved her.

Scratch that, I was irrevocably and irreversibly in love with her.

That Natasha fucking Patil.

I swore it wasn't like that in the beginning. I was attracted, yes but more than that, I was intrigued. You wouldn't normally meet a woman who would kiss another guy to attract your attention or straight out confessed about having sex with you. My curious side wanted to see what else she was made of. And disappoint, she never did. Not in bed. Not with her sassy mouth. Not with her confidence.

I was certain my curiosity would fade with time but it only magnified. More than that, I looked forward to spending time with her, especially after the night out episode. Sometimes I'd invite her to stay the night in my garage room, while other times, I stayed in hers. Those comfortable weeks turned into months. I discovered sides of her— Her childish side, her embarrassed side, her vulnerable side— that she wouldn't otherwise, display in public. Before long, my curiosity transcended into feelings of attachment and affection. It wasn't something I signed up for but now, I regret nothing.

It irked me. This situationship of ours. More so after our perfect night at the farewell party. Were we seriously still going out as friends- with- benefits or was it a cheap rip- off of dating? I heard of the infamous more- than- friends- but- less- than- lovers tagline before, but I really wondered where Natasha and I fell into? I had no clue. If I was told to ask her out right now, I fucking would. I was that ready. I wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of this ridiculous arrangement. I wanted the freedom to express my bucket load of feelings I buried, take her on dates, cuddle with her, hear her innermost thoughts.

And yet, I couldn't. Hell, I couldn't even breathe the word 'love' in front of her without passing it off as a sick joke.

My woman wasn't ready.

Natasha wasn't into dating. She told she loathed the drama and the silly gestures but I knew there was more to it. Sure, everyone loathed drama, yet they still fell into the pit, including me. Then why was she running away? What was it that held her back so much? I knew she was hiding things. A lot of things, actually. I tried to make her open up to me but she was as tough as a tortoise shell. Would she ever open up to me in this lifetime?

“Just tell her,” Yash told me after I ranted it out to him. “I mean she's straightforward and all. You should be as well.”

“Mai iss raaste se aake bolunga, wo uss raaste se chali jaayegi (I'll come from the left to confess she'll leave from the right),” I replied, gesturing my hand towards the left and right simultaneously. Changing the tone of my voice, I mimicked her, “Ah, is that so? I told you not to get whipped by me but you still did, dumbfuck. And you said women were emotional creatures, huh? Guess our arrangement is done then. Fuck off. Bye- bye.”

"Come on, she isn't that heartless."

"She is... She must be if she's still carrying on with our pointless arrangement, despite knowing there's more between us."

I smacked Yash's back when he continued chuckling. Out of my freeloading gang of friends, only Yash was aware of the real relationship between Natasha and I. It happened on a drunken night when I deliberately confessed my troubles to Yash. I wasn't planning on telling anyone but the constant mockery from my brothers on being a lucky stud sickened me. An ideal couple? My ass.

“I can talk to her if you want,” Yash suggested while rubbing his arm from my smack earlier. “And hopefully get you to stop whining about it.”

“Sure. Go ahead and try... Just be subtle about it.” I said, frowning at my own words. Being subtle wasn't my thing. Like Natasha, I was direct but I had no choice. If I had a choice between letting her leave by confessing or making her stay by suppressing my feelings, I'd choose the latter. Nothing outweighed the thought of her leaving. Not after I had gotten so used to her presence around me.

*

Today was one of my lucky days. When I said lucky, I meant business. We scored a pretty sum of fifty thousand rupees. By 'we', I meant Natasha and me. Natasha was pretty badass, if it wasn't obvious before but today, she just reached level queen. Normally she wouldn't involve herself in my little 'Casino mess' (as she put it), but today she decided to dirty her hands. Usually, she would pass her time with her phone or leave. So when she casually dropped her gentle ass on my lap and asked if she could join us, I was immensely surprised. Maybe she got encouraged when she noticed a female player amongst the three.

“Let me take over the reigns this time,” She naughtily whispered in my ear.

Being a helpless slave to her charms, I instantly replied yes. The cute smile she returned, made me fall for her even more. At that moment, it didn't matter whether I won or lost. The fact that she participated was worth it all.

From thenforth, I explained her the rules and laid my money on the table. We were playing poker. Initially, the plan was to let her participate only, but at times, I had to advise her in when she couldn't understand something. Before long, we were both playing together. It didn't bother the other players since the girl on the other side of the table was backed up by her own boyfriend named Raj. With hideous stares and wicked smiles between the two girls, it almost seemed like a cat- girl game. Not like I was complaining. With her fine ass rubbing against my crotch, I wasn't complaining at all.

Gradually things got harder. Both the game and my dick. I hated and loved how she deliberately moved her butt against my lap whenever she had to play. To other people, it might have looked like I was discussing strategies when in actuality, I was warning her not to get up, lest my embarrassment got revealed in public. It was torture.

As I said, today was my lucky day. Not only Natasha participated but managed to sag most of the money too. I was so overcome with joy that I actually got up after her and squished her in my arms. Thankfully my front was covered by her so no one could have witnessed my embarrassment (unless they really gauged their eyes).

I was ready to hunt her down for teasing me when it was just the two of us afterwards. Instead she took me to where my motorbike stood. I thought she wanted a bike ride but then, she laid flat against the seat, unbuttoning her jeans.

“Say, ever had sex on a bike?” She rested her hands behind her head while parting her legs.

“Nope.”

“Great, me neither. Which means—” she paused to pull me by my collar as I climbed onto the seat opposite her. “It will be our first time.”

The short kiss I gave her showed how elated I was. She said she wasn't romantic but today's gesture and her words were anything but that. We threw a dirty smile before giving ourselves.

In order to celebrate our victory, I decided to take us clubbing. Unfortunately, we weren't as alone as I liked us to be.

“Saalo kutto ki maut maroge tum sab. Go to hell!” I cursed my good- for- nothing friends for tagging along.

“Don't you worry about missing us, you're coming along without Natasha. She will go to heaven.” Atul said, followed by a animalistic laughter from everyone for no fucking reason. He threw a mocking, flying kiss, “Ja mere sher (Go, my lion). Bring us our fuel.”

“I think you made a grammatical error there. I'm pretty sure 'God' won't bring me to heaven for his own sanity,” Natasha interrupted proudly.

“Atleast leave us alone in hell, woman. You have stolen Rithik's time enough.” Snorlax complained, followed by a couple of comments, backing up his dramatic statement.

“Oh, come on, I haven't forgotten about you,” I replied curtly when one said I forgot about them. I scoffed. “You shits do a pretty good job of making unforgettable yourselves by violating my place.”

A woman ought to be uncomfortable in the company amongst a group of only men but Natasha was different. She adapted to the atmosphere as she talked, laughed and scolded them. Usually she would drink a small amount of alcohol but today she was going all out. I watched her intently as she downed the contents of the glass. She never really gotten drunk in front of me before, except the night when I fetched her from a club. Even then, she claimed she was just tipsy. It made me curious.

There was a lot more activity in our group than an hour ago. Someone was singing, other was dancing, while another was grieving from his previous breakup. We were the most noise polluted brats in the club. Even the waiter had to shush us down a few times. Natasha was starting to appear drunk too, as she moved her head like a pendulum and told men to shut up. Her reluctance to drink before was beyond my understanding. She only appeared to be a normal drinker so far so what was the problem? Maybe she was just shy.

When she continued dozing off on a table for a few minutes, I shifted my chair closer to her.

“Hey...” I called, shaking her shoulders a little. When she didn't listen, I added. “You okay? Wanna head back?”

Blinking her tired eyes a few times, she raised her head from the table to me. She continued to stare at me critically as if she was solving a math problem. Her slightly reddish eyes crinkled as she gave off a sheepish smile.

“Darrrlingg~”

Said who?

What followed next wasn't something I expected.

It took me a millisecond to realize that it was Natasha linking her arms with mine and another to confirm it was her head resting on my shoulder. Not just resting but rubbing her forehead against me while wearing a blissful smile on her face.

“But you were so far away, baby~ I called you but you didn't listen,” She voiced out when she noticed the big question mark on my face. She traced circles on my forearm. “Though that doesn't matter since you're here now, hmm...”

And leaned on me once again.

Am I dreaming?

“Lay your hands off my man, you bastard! Shoo, shoo!” She defended when Shailesh (Snorlax) tried to drag me away by the arm, a little while later.

Natasha Patil was cuddling. Someone who always brushed me off for being too touchy was sticking onto me like glue. It was official now. I was dreaming.

“Tell me—” I began while draping my arm around her. She didn't resist, even a bit. The world was going to end anytime soon. “Do you like when I stay close to you?”

“Hmm.” She nodded.

“Do you like when I behave romantically with you?”

“Hmm.”

“Would you like to date—”

“Stop with the fuckin' interrogation. Let's play. Boys!” She stood up, extending her invitation to my friends. I shook my head.

After an hour of random shit games, we decided to get another round of drinks for the night was still young. Since I was dealing with the finances of party, it was only obvious I would fetch it. I left off with a bloated smile, thinking about this new version of Natasha.

When I returned to the table a few minutes later, the atmosphere seemed a little bit off. My gaze swarmed through everyone's mixed faces until it landed to the leftmost side. I noticed two things.

A crying Natasha.

A comforting Yash.

Two very wrong things in the same room.

I rushed to the scene at once and balled my fists at what I saw. My blood was boiling but then my rational mind came to the rescue, reminding me it wasn't what it seemed. Upon noticing me, Yash let out a sigh of relief while Natasha let go of him to rush to my side.

“What even...?” I tried to form a coherent question as Natasha pressed her head against my chest with her arms circled around my waist.

“Why were you gone for so long? I thought you left me. I was so lonely, you idiot!” Her voice was especially smaller as she continued with her tear stricken eyes. “I know we have to part ways someday, but you don't have to leave so soon. Don't leave my side tonight.”

And hugged me two times in a row.

I think my heart bloated like a balloon just now. Not just the world, but the whole universe was going end today.

“I don't get it. You could have just come to the bar if you were missing me.”

Yash let out a sigh. “She was about to when our gang stopped her.”

As my gang's gazes fell on me at the next table, they froze. I tried. I really tried to be furious at them but when you feel your girl under your arms willingly for the first time, I couldn't. Instead, I felt myself grin. An earthquake could befall us for all I care and I would still be just as unfazed. Pathetic, I know.

Dream or not, I decided to dig this situation. The guys eventually understood that their lovesick brother was more into his (fake) girlfriend tonight. They eventually left, doing me a loadshit amount of favor. Natasha and I were finally alone.

The next hour was quite eventful to say the least. We danced, ate snacks, danced again and guffawed together. I was throughly digging this side of her. For once, she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around me; didn't hesitate to kiss my cheek and lips in between; didn't hesitate to give me that love- struck smile. It was like she had cast her walls aside. Just like her farewell party back then. This was the Natasha I never knew, yet the one I always knew.

Meanwhile, I also tried to juice some answers out of her. Questions like whether she loved me, or her immense reluctance to commit. It turned out to be futile though. She would either answer something like 'I have a big heart that extends to my stomach. I love everyone', or simply mumbled something gibberish like any normal drunk person. She seemed way too happy to be in for a serious talk right now. Oh, well, there was always next time. Thinking that, I gave up.

After informing my parents about staying over at my friend's place tonight (Just didn't mention that friend was a female), Natasha and I left the club.

* * *

After parking my bike to a side parking lot, we ascended the flight of stairs to her apartment. She wouldn't stop blabbering on the way. Something about improving the city's infrastructure, then suddenly changing the topic to gloomy nights and dark matter. It took me a little while to figure out. If there was a classification of drunk, I'd say she was the 'Devdas' type. The type to start rambling depressive stuff on her own. She was a real mess.

The full moon peeked out from the little clouds that gathered in the sky, illuminating it's milky moonlight onto the whole corridor we walked on. It was serene. I was lost, gazing at the moon when I felt Natasha climbing on my back, causing me to yelp.

“Give me a piggyback ride. I'm tired.”

I craned my neck behind, “But your place is literally at the floor above us.”

“I don't care, I want a piggyback ride!” She whined like a seven-year-old child while beating my back.

“Finee,” I sighed, raising my arms from behind. She stood at a step above me on the staircase, “Climb onto my back already.”

A small laugh escaped her lips. I didn't even need to see her face to know she was smiling behind my neck. Her arms encircled my shoulders from behind while her face rested on my neck. I waited her to climb on my back but that moment never came. She just stood there, embracing me in bliss. Feeling happy by her gesture, I kissed her arm. She kissed my cheek in return, letting out a happy laugh. “You're so sweet & warm, Rith. Love you.”

Love you.

Love you.

“Natasha...” I breathe out while turning around to face her. “What... did you... say?”

She cocked her head to a side, “You're sweet?”

“No, after that.” I was a centimetre close to having my heart explode to bits.

“I love you?”

My stomach fell at the drop of a hat.

Funny how just a month ago, I confessed to her in this exact same building (even though I pretended to take it off as a joke). The moonlight shed upon us, just like last time.

“Rithik?” She blinked, standing next to me, chuckling. “You have tears in your eyes.”

For a long time, I concluded my feelings to be one sided. I knew she felt something for me; that she liked spending time but nothing more. She never directly indicated anything beyond a teenage crush (or ‘fancy’ as she worded it). And no matter how hard I studied her actions, it was never enough to set the confirmation in stone. Not unless she said it out loud. But that was something you'd never expect from someone like Natasha. Her stubbornness had murdered my expectations. I was certain those three words would never fall from her mouth in this lifetime. So when she finally did, it threw me offguard. I was stunned to the core.

“Natasha...” I could hold myself no longer. I squeezed her into my arms, grinning and tearing up all the same. It was pathetic, but I didn't care. I wanted to hold onto this moment forever. I wanted to hope for something I never hoped before. My fingers coiled around the fabric of her top. “I love you, too. I really love you. Let's be together, okay?”

“Okay....” Her arms roamed my back. My breath caught as she said 'I' but then she fell silent. It was a second later when her weight fell on me that I understood.

“Me... sleepy...”

I broke from the embrace, letting out a disappointed sigh. Her eyes were already closed, though her lips were still moving in a whisper. “Not before you say those three words again. And don't forget to add my name in there.”

“I love you, Riiithik. Happy now?”

“Very. I love you, too,” I replied, planting a kiss on her temple. As promised, I carried her behind my back to her apartment.

Khushboo was at the door as usual. She didn't even seem surprised at our situation anymore. She giggled, pulling Natasha's cheek, “She looks so darn happy.”

She did indeed. When I laid Natasha down to bed, I could see her smiling in her sleep as if she was lost in a happy dream. It made me smile in return.

“Don't give up on her,” Came Khushboo's voice behind me. After covering Natasha with a soft quilt, I turned to Khushboo who was sitting on the edge of the bed, swaying her legs along, “In all the two and a half years I've been with her, I've never seen her this happy. Not with anyone else. She's a tough nut to crack but maybe... maybe you can reach her.”

“Can you believe it, Khush? She said she loves me. I've got to make her say it again!” I shared the happy news with Khushboo, which made her smile just as much as me. But then, I grew serious. “I will. Thanks.”

I wouldn't give up. Not when we had come this far. Might as well walk through this till the end.

***

They confessed (she was drunk but still 😆). Hope you liked this chapter from Rithik pov. Should I do more chapters from his pov?

Do share your thoughts and vote if you like it. I do hope someone is still here reading this 온라인카지노게임. Look forward.