HER

CHAPTER 9

ASHTONS POV

It's been 5 minutes till she has gone to get ready. I have completed collecting broken glass pieces and thrown them. Now I am sitting on the couch scrolling through social media.

Image of an exhausted Rishika who looked so vulnerable for the very first time flashes in my eyes making me wonder what is going on in her life making her that way.

My eyes lands on the Ash tray. It has almost 11 cigarette buds and by the look of it and smell I smelt when I entered the house I can tell she smoked these few minutes before I came . The whole house still smells like smoke only. I stood up and opened the nearest window. So that the smoke can get out.

When we for the first time came to her house we were all surprised to see her living all alone in this big house . She told us that this is her brother's house and she is more comfortable in living here then anywhere else.

But when anyone will look around they would get a gloomy aura from this house. It has no lively vibes. No one could guess a always cheerful girl will live in house like this. I mean the house though is beautiful but I feel like something is just not right neither with house nor with the one living in it.

I hear footsteps coming in my way I lift my gaze from the Ash tray to now once again all sunshine and rainbow Rishika.

Is this what make up does to you . Even though she doesn't seems like wearing lots of it the way she has done her make up is so perfect for a second it makes me question whether what I saw even I came here was real or was I hallucinating .

I roam my eyes on her.vShe is wearing denim jeans, white t-shirt with denim jacket with black shoes. Everything similar to mine.She always wears a thumb ring and a silver bracelet kind something and a red color thread(which she told Kris to be a sacred thread)on her right wrist and a watch on her left wrist. Her hairs are open . Her straight short hair looks so soft how would it feel like to touch th-

"If you are done checking me out shall we go" she said smirking. Fuck me was I staring at her like a creepy . I should probably go and die.

But nevertheless I clear my throat awkwardly and move towards the front door.
"Should I take my car ?" She asked loudly
I glare at her stupid question I mean why the hell would I come here if I had to go alone .
"You never know about your hea-" she stops in middle when I cross my arms over my chest daring her to speak further

"I was just joking let's go " she said walking past me . Putting a small backpack on her shoulder.

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We have reached amusment park 10 min ago and now we are waiting for my friends to come . We are still inside the car only. Through out the journey here I thought she would initiate some sort of small talks as she always does to annoy me . I was expecting quirky comments, lame jokes or gossips but strangely she didn't uttered a single word. Her head was leaned against window and she was closing her eyes .

I should have felt relieved but her exhausted face was flashing infront of my eyes again and again.

I was leaning my head against head rest ,my eyes closed. Thinking about all the possibilities that might have happened to her when I heard a camera shutter.

I open my eyes and lift my head up and turn towards Rishikas direction . She has a camera in her hands.She is looking at the camera screen with a smile on her face. This is the first smile of the day which isn't fake.

I tilt my head a little to look at the picture she have clicked. She must have sensed my presence as she immediately hides the screen from my view. And looks up our face are so close to each other that her breath is fanning over my face. She smells like strawberry and cigarette.  And it makes me angry to think that she must have smoked after going up to get ready.