Riposte

could feel her veins pumping with the unforgivable words Sahil had just uttered. Before she knew it, she looked at him squarely in the eye, rage inflamed in them, clenched her teeth, tensed her muscles, and swung her straight, hardened palm across his cheeks with all the physical strength and force she could muster.

  The movement was so quick, yet so slow that the impact left was massive on both, Sahil and Aamanda. The energy from her was such that her whole body turned to the right except her feet, which stood rooted to the spot. She had felt his slight stubble graze across her skin and even though her skin was burning right now, this was probably the best she had felt in quite a while. No, not probably, it was. Like a small bit of a load had been lifted from her heart, almost making her smile. Realization, however, struck all too soon. |This didn't change anything. And it wouldn't, ever.

  Sahil's face flew to one side and his body swayed slightly as his mouth dropped open in utmost horror. His cheeks immediately started prickling, then stinging as though someone had wrenched his skin out mercilessly. Feeling blood rush to that side of his face, he looked back up and saw the tiniest glint of satisfaction cross his opponents face for a mere micro second, before the original raging storm replaced it.

  "You fucking…"

  "Mr Sahil Verma!" Arjun was there, and he could see Sahil ready to raise his hand on her to counter her attack. That was not going to happen. Especially not in his presence. Arjun had witnessed Aamanda slap him, her hand coming in direct contact with his face, and from what he could see, he was sure Sahil's cheeks would throb for quite a while now. Despite himself, he couldn't resist that urge to smile even though he poured water on to the fire that pushed him to almost clap for her! And quickly, he curtained it all once again.

  "Miss Wade," Arjun nodded, as Aamanda's eyes directed towards him. For a fleeting moment, he saw the vulnerable, pleading look directed straight at him and felt his heart go out to her. Strong as she was, there was something inside her which hated every single moment of this, right from when it started. "I'm sorry." He whispered to her then turned to Sahil.

  "What the fuck do you think you were doing?" his voice was low, so that they didn't attract further attention from the customers who were already staring and pointing after that slight display of violence which had grabbed their interest.

  "She..."

  "Didn't I tell you to ignore them?" Arjun's muscles were clenched together, in an effort to stop himself from repeating what Aamanda had just done.

  "yeah but..."

  "Walk out of here, and meet me at my car." The short curt words did not seem to go through Sahil's head.

  "Bitch, I will make sure you are destroyed."

  "Sahil!" But this time two voices spoke up. Both outraged. One from Arjun and the other came from Aaliyah.

  Aaliyah had just entered the scene, shocked to the core to see Arjun furious at Sahil, and Aamanda standing up against both of them.