The Big Swap - Part 44

 ~FORTY FOUR~

"Ar...are you drunk?"

Vedant seemed to straighten in his position, as he ran a quick hand through his obviously expensive graphic Lee shirt and a branded leather jacket she had no idea he possessed. From him, came out overwhelming wafts of his usual perfume she recalled gifting him on some occasion, and alcohol. Lots and lots of it.

It had been a day and a half since she'd returned from Mumbai. She'd wanted to meet him, so bad. But everytime she considered that, Mrs. Shah's words rang in her ears over and over again.

And then, she'd end up stopping herself. No, she wasn't going to ignore Vedant forever. But she wanted to avoid him, till she had collected her own thoughts.

Vedant and her had never had any major fights before, where they would stop communicating altogether. They had always managed to find a way back to eachother in the past.

But never had she ever seen Vedant look like this.

"Vedant, you can't come to my place sozzled like this in the middle of the night!" Meera lashed out, her volume still a bare whisper from the fear of waking up sleeping neighbours.

Unlike his usual disposition, to her angry exclaim, he rolled his eyes sexily with, "Why?"

There was something so very burly and out of character about his whole aura tonight. Because obviously, Vedant was anything but a late-night party person. And even though he did fancy expensive liquors and exquisite wines, he was not the kind to dress up in bad boy leather jackets with hair gel setting his hair the way it did, and sure as hell never rolled his eyes at anything she said.

"I want to kiss you."

Meera blinked, taken completely off guard. Throwing an amused chuckle his way, she deadpanned, "I can't believe how drunk you are right now."

"Will you please let me in Meera? It's chilly out here!"

She shook her head anxiously, "If my landlady were to find out that I allowed a drunk guy into my apartment at 12:15 AM, I will seriously have to begin apartment hopping all over again. And while that might not be a very big deal for you, I have my semester exams going on right now!"

He seemed to stiffen, and his shoulders tensed up, "What had you told her when I stayed over the last time?"

Meera sighed, looking away, "That you were my fiancé."

Vedant stared at her, agape, before bursting out into a maniacal laugh that was a touch too loud for that time of the night. Eyes rolling and fuming with rage at his inconsiderateness, she gripped his arm harshly before pulling him into her apartment and slamming the door shut.

"What is wrong with you Vedant?"

He stopped mid laugh, eying her ragged, angry breaths with the same suggestive admiration she'd seen on his features a countless number of times, only, they were perfectly well masked behind his controlled and responsible demeanour when he was sober. But as he stood before her right now, the alcohol weighing down his usual restraint, Meera gulped at the obvious wild thoughts he was surely having that instant. The temperature suddenly seemed too warm to her for comfort, and she stepped back from him immediately.

"I can't believe you have the mirth to lie about something that is so sensitive a topic for the both of us." Vedant mumbled, before taking off the ridiculously sexy, but out of character jacket, leaving Meera to stare at the tight, toned arms he'd developed since the inception of their long-distance relationship.

This was going to take a while to get used to.

"Are you going to take advantage of me?" Vedant posed dramatically after obviously noting how hungrily she eyed him unintentionally, and let out a wild laugh at his own, apparently funny joke.

Meera gazed at him in complete horror.

Who is he and what has he done to Vedant?

As if the conversation hadn't already tipped to an uncomfortable zone they'd never discussed before, he added suggestively, "I don't mind though, you know."

"Okay enough! Crash onto the couch, sleep through your hangover and don't you dare utter another word Vedant."

He grinned, walking closer to where she stood at the other end of the room, "And then what? Do what we're best at? Shove the things under the carpet?"

Meera let out an exasperated sigh, before her arms folded before her chest, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Vedant shook his head with disbelief, "I may be drunk right now Meera, but I think I'm still perfectly capable of being able to tell when you're lying to my face."

"Great! Then I'm not the only one lying. Now we're even." She retorted.

His eyes grew the size of saucers before he stepped back, and chuckled again. Sarcasm dripped from his entire disposition, till his arms spread wide and he spat,

"Even? EVEN? So that's what our relationship has become about now? Of keeping track of who fucked up where? Of seeing who can hurt the other better?"

Vedant's palm landed on his forehead as he ruffled his hair angrily, "You know, if I didn't know Kanan as well as I did, thanks to all those years of being in the same team for those stupid football matches, I wouldn't have the first clue about what was happening here."

Now, Meera looked baffled, "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? Seriously Meera? For someone who was ballistic on her ex for not having the balls to stand up for the truth, I expected you to have a little more confidence in yourself. I expected you to look me in the eye and tell m-"

"-Vedant shut u-"

"-no no! Tell me Meera. Please. Tell me how you met him properly after all these years. Actually no, let me guess. You saw him, he saw you, passion grew, sparks flew...and suddenly, you weren't sure of your feelings for me anymore!"

She didn't know what annoyed her more, the conviction with which he made these allegations, or the fact that such a thought would even cross his mind in the first place.

Of course meeting Kanan in such a moment of panic had brought with itself some doubts in her, of course his proximity still had an effect on her, feelings weren't switches that could be turned off like that. But despite all of that, through all her disagreements and confrontations with Kanan, there hadn't been even a single moment of doubt in her for her feelings for Vedant.

If anything, unknowingly so, Kanan had only made her realize how sure she was about Vedant.

Maybe that's why this clear look of distrust in his eyes hurt her as much as it did that instant. And much to her dismay, she could feel the tears welling in her eyes.

"Don't look at me like that! You have no right to look hurt!" he continued with clear fury, "You'd looked me in the eye and told me I would never have to compete with him Meera. You said you loved me." At this, his own voice seemed to crack.

Meera gulped, "Go to bed Vedan-"

"-NO! This is what you fancy about him isn't it? About how selfish and inconsiderate and conceited he can be around you? How he refuses to let his feelings for you change him in any way? How he challenges you and wins every argument?"

By now, Meera had no idea where this conversation was headed. But one thing became evident, Vedant knew Kanan much better than she had ever known he did. What was even more evident, was the fact that Vedant may have known about Kanan being her ex even before she'd told him.

Why had he never asked her?

"I bet he did all this again." He went on and on, as if his words didn't sting enough already, "I bet he came close to you every time you two argued...."

Meera gulped, watching him near her with a heat inducing gaze her way. "...I bet he touched you...." His finger ran along her arm, and it replicated Kanan's move too much for comfort, "...I bet that made you feel things my presence never cou-"

He stopped abruptly, his gaze taking in Meera's clear look of discomfort. His brain was on an overdrive that instant, the alcohol meddling with his rational thoughts with his desire. He didn't want her to be uncomfortable, and he didn't want to hurt her....God he just wanted to pull her into his arms that instant!

Vedant wet his lips, "Why didn't you come see me after returning to Delhi?"

Meera gulped, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "I was hurt."

"Why?"

She stepped away from him, before her eyes dropped down to the floor. "I realized our entire relationship has been nothing but a sham."

It felt like someone had pushed him down a never-ending flight of stairs, as the implication of every word that had left her mouth settled into his haywire brain.

"So I was right. You are in love with Kana-"

"For the love of God Vedant! This has nothing to do with Kanan and everything to do with us!"

He shook his head vehemently, his brain already conjuring up images of her and him that made his gut twist.

I'm going to be sick.

"I don't believe you." He mumbled, incoherently, heading for the exit to her house now.

"Where are you going?" she called anxiously.

"I don't believe you." It was like his head had stopped working altogether. All he could think of was air.

I need air.

He'd only just touched the door knob, when he felt Meera's palm wrap around his arm and a sudden jerk turned him around on his spot. When had she grown so strong?

Or am I that drunk?

She gazed at him angrily first, but then something in her eyes softened and the next instant, her lips pressed to his in a moment of un-comprehendible haze. The argument was immediately forgotten, as he found himself cup her face between both his palms and kiss her back with equal severity.

Meera drew back abruptly, her palms resting along his chest as she breathed heavily before mumbling, "I know I'm not the most ideal girlfriend. But I would never cheat on you like that."

Vedant blinked, not sure where she was getting with this.

"You obviously know Kanan really well and you've obviously cracked my equation with him pretty accurately." She paused, her gaze finally meeting his eyes, "I won't lie. All of what you said, it happened. It's all typical Kanan, and it's all typical me, to be baffled and intimidated around him. But I've loved you from the first moment I hopped behind you on that scooty of yours. And my feelings for you....they only intensify. I'm glad I met Kanan. Because if I hadn't, I would never realize what you mean to me."

"Is everything okay Meera?"

She smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I love you Vedant. And it is because I love you, that I can't be selfish with you. Not anymore."

...continued The Big Swap - Part 45