22 Fear.

She frowned when her eyes met with the loser called Atharva. He was the last person she wanted to see right now. After what Karan has done to her poor and innocent heart, she hated men! All men!!

"Why do you keep appearing when you are not needed?" Priyanka yelled, slamming her foot on the floor. It was frustrating for her that Karan did not show up as planned. But why did the Lord send Atharva? Could her day be worst than this?

"Sweetheart, you know I always come to your sud when you need my help the most" The red-haired man winked at her...

Priyanka almost threw up when he licked the corners of his lips. What a thing to do to a crying girl on the streets! She did not believe that this made her smile for a minute.

"You are wrong this time around" She raised her shoulders with confidence. He should know that she was a strong woman....strong enough to take care of herself on the streets. "I managed on my own. How do you think I survive when you were arrested for years?"

Priyanka's fist balled into a fist. She wished she never blurted that in his presence. What if he becomes angry and decides to react?

'Think, before you talk, think' she said, to herself in a low tone.

"You haven't changed a bit. I keep falling in love with you over and over" he opened the door of his car. On his legs was a pair of Versace shoes. She gasped, taking a close look at them. Why the hell did he get all this money from?

Before he was arrested, Atharva live off by stealing from the neighborhood. She could remember how he struggled to buy food or clothes.

'How come does he wear Versace now?'

Priyanka crossed her hands in front of her chest "Please, don't love me, Atharva because you will just be wasting your time like all those years."

The man came down from the car. His hunky figure could frighten anyone. He was tall and muscular.

He took a look at her dress as if he just noticed it. A dirty smile appeared on his face. He loved what he saw...

"Please, I don't want to talk now. I'm going home" she said, placing her hands on her shoulders. But it did not help. The shoulders were still bare.

"You are going to meet another guy?" Atharva asked, taking a step closer to her. The gap was so small that a person can not be passed through.

The question sent cold chills down her spine. Priyanka was speechless. Her lips parted but the words got stuck on her tongue. This was one of the worst to nag or quarrel with him. He was a thug and anything could happen to her. But who will she blame?

Karan! Yes, he was the cause of all her recent problems. Why would he do this to her?

Even if he wanted to take revenge on her, why will do it this way?

"Look at what you are wearing?" Atharva shook his head. He behaved like did not like it. "Come, we will go home together. I don't know if you will survive before going on your own in that dress."

"No, I will go back to the dancing house" She gave him a brief smile.

Priyanka looked behind her. The dancing house was still close by. It would be better to go and wait for the girls or Miss Srita. They will accompany her if she told them that she was scared of Atharva.

"I forgot" she placed her hand on her forehead as if she had just recalled something. Her eyes were shut "I'm supposed to perform tonight. See you later."

As she turned around to go, the unsatisfied man grabbed her hand tight. It was so painful that she screamed. What was he trying to do?

"Do you think I'm stupid, huh?" He said, angrily.

Priyanka was afraid. He did not change over the years. Her hand hurt from the grip. She opened her eyes and spoke "Do not act like a fool, Atharva. We are friends right?"

"You shouldn't have worn this to see him. I don't believe whatever story, you just say about dancing tonight" He said, in disbelief. His eyes were fixed on his chest...he loved the size of them...

She knew this was the end time for her. If only she knew this was going to end this way, then there would have been seeing Karan tonight. The fool did not waste her time but he got her into trouble with Atharva.

The man standing in front of her was not the same Atharva, that took her out for a dinner at the bar. He seemed so dark and creepy. Everything about him scared her. The way he talks smiles and laughed.

She wondered where he got this new money from. He must have forgotten himself involved in an illegal business.

"I'm sorry, Atharva. But I can't go with you" She frowned, losing his grip on her hand.

He wanted to say something when a car flashed its front light into his eyes. Even in a difficult situation, she could not stop herself from smiling. This was a payback time for doing the same thing to her.

The white Rolls-Royce skipped to a halt behind her. Priyanka turned back to Atharva, whose hands were covering his hand "This is what we call class. You intentionally let your lights shine on me a few minutes ago and now, another car owner is doing it to you. What a funny word, we live in."

"The owner is a fo..." He did not complete his statement when a sweet honeyed voice interrupted him.

"Priyanka?"

Her heart thumped so hard in her chest. She did not believe it. The familiar voice called again and this time, she turned in his direction.

She couldn't help but notice the fitted dark room retro suit which boosted the masculine body underneath and out of the front chest pocket, the corner of a wine-red handkerchief could be seen peering out subtly. Eyeing down, she could see a pair of perfectly straight legs leading to a pair of freshly polished dark leather shoes which glistened in the dark.

This was not a dream and she was not sleeping on her bed.

Priyanka shut her eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling through her mouth. The heat in her chest traveled up to her head as she stared at him "Doctor Karan?"