With that he turned his back on her and walked towards the cupboard. Taking out a shorts and polo t-shirt, he slammed the door shut. He did not want to be rude to her, but he had no option. If he really was going to protect her, the best way was to distance himself from her. He stood there still for a moment, hoping when he turned around Susan would be gone. But instead he heard a sob.
Susan was still standing there with the novel in her hand, her eyes brimming with tears that were slowly flowing down her face. Did he really have to be that rude? True, they had broken up but wasn't she worth even a talk anymore?
Seeing her cry, Advay's heart ached and he felt an unexplainable pain cursing through his body, the pain of hurting someone you love. As his feet moved towards her, his brain stopped him from advancing any further. He had to show he did not care about her. Clenching his hands tightly with fingers digging in his flesh, he said in a cold voice, " If you really want to cry, just go and cry anywhere else. Don't waste my time. "
This one cold and torturous line from him made Susan's face shrivel up. Throwing the novel aside, she took large strides until she was dangerously close to him. Advay could smell the Jasmine scent that she had put on, the same one which she used in school.
Throwing her hands at his bare chest, she cried, " You pervert, how can you treat me this way? Am I nothing to you? I know you still love me otherwise you wouldn't have saved me that day. Then why are you -- "
" You're wrong. " Advay stopped her mid sentence, his brown hazel eyes boring into her black ones with great intensity, " I did not love you back then and I certainly don't now. So whatever ridiculous fantasy you have woven for yourself, just get out of it and leave me alone. " As he said the last word, he threw her hands away from him and Susan stumbled backward.
Gazing at him as if seeing him clearly for the first time, she did not answer anything. Susan walked towards the table and picked up the torn novel. Then thinking something, she left his bedroom without a backward glance. Advay heaved a sigh of relief. He didn't want to give up the novel, it was some of the sweet memories he had with her but since he was acting, he didn't have much of a choice. At least the novel would stay with her, the first romantic novel they had read together. He remembered how they had sneaked inside the school library just to get that book, and had to bear Mrs Grundy's punishment even though she hadn't caught them stealing the book.
Smiling slightly, he dressed up and was about to go study when he heard shouting downstairs.
" Miss, what are you doing? Please -- " as the butler stuttered, a huge flame went up.
After coming downstairs, Susan had gone straight to the living room. Well if he wanted nothing to do with her, she would make sure of it. When she had entered, the maids had been quite shocked. They did not know her nor have ever seen her in the house. The fireplace in the living room was burning a little, as if running on fumes. Throwing in some more bundles of newspaper and wooden logs, the fire glowed brighter, reaching new heights.
Scoffing, Susan stood there glaring at the fire as if seeing someone in them. Lost in her own thought, she did not notice when one of the maids had run out to find the head butler. The novel in her hand was clenched tightly, not wanting to part with her fingers but it was no use keeping it.
Bending a little, Susan outstretched her hand to throw the novel into the fireplace. That was when the butler had called her out shockingly. As she turned to look at him, Susan did not realize that her hand was still in the fire. The flames burned higher, engulfing her outstretched hand.
" Ouch! "
Susan screamed as her hand was singed by the flames. Holding her hand, she whimpered a little, tears coming in her eyes, as her hand turned reddish and skin was removed here and there. The butler hurried forward to look at the wound, a worried expression on his face. He did not have any idea about what happened upstairs, but one thing he knew for sure. If Arnav were to find out about this, he would surely lose his mind.
" Bring me the first aid box. " he barked to one of the maids, who ran out immediately.