Those shadows had slithered out of the dungeon today and despite trying his best to fight them off, he couldn’t lock them away. The pressure within his chest increased, and the pounding ache between his eyes made their presence known. With each breath, his childhood flashed in front of his eyes. He relived the episodes that formed his nightmares even today.
The revelry around him only served to increase his anger because their carefree happiness seemed to mock him for his inability to break free of his burdens. His resentment grew. Had he been in his right mind, he would have known the futility of such feelings.
He barely acknowledged Arjun and Kaya as they left their private booth to head to the bar. Vihaan had been strangely tense as well, but it was Aditi whose gaze he wanted to avoid. He sipped his drink, refusing the alcohol in case it tipped him over the edge. He was wound too tightly anyway. Better to leave, he decided.
“Where are you going?” Aditi looked up at him, surprised when he stood up and shrugged his jacket on.
“Home. I’ll send the car for you later.”
His voice was gruff, his mouth thin. Aditi took a step after him, holding his arm. She searched his face for answers, wondering what had happened that had put Rian in such an unsettling mood. The relaxed, sweet man she’d come out to dinner with had been replaced with someone who looked like he was locked in a battle with demons no one could see.
“Do you want to dance? They’ll be starting up the music soon.”
“No. I’m fine. I should go.”
“How about karaoke?” she offered, pointing to the side room that had been set up for private entertainment.
He stiffened at the offer, shaking his head once, but all Aditi could see was that he needed a change of scenario. She felt his tension leach into her and she hated it. Pasting on a bright smile, she leaned in.
"Come on, Bugs, let's go sing a duet."
"I don't like singing, Aditi. Leave me be."
"Please, it'll be fun! They have good songs to choose from."
"I don't want to,” came his answer once again, the vein in his forehead ticking dangerously.
Unfortunately for her, her determination to lead Rian out of his bad mood meant that she disregarded the signs of danger.
"Bugs.” She tugged at him playfully. “Let’s go."
"I said no!” he burst out, his voice louder than she’d expected.
The fury with which he jerked off her hold had her gasping. She saw Vihaan frown, stepping closer to her just as Arjun and Kaya returned, their relaxed smiles waning when they registered the tense atmosphere.
Rian, in the throes of anger, couldn’t hold back.
“How many fucking times do I need to say no? If you want to make a fool of yourself for someone's entertainment, go right ahead. Leave me the hell alone!”
Aditi stared at him, her face turning white with shock, and then red.
"S-sorry," she croaked, embarrassed. She bit down on the inside of her lip, unable to utter another word. She clutched the side of her dress to hide her shaky hands. "I. . .I think I need a drink.” Avoiding all eye contact, she slipped away before anyone could stop her.
The silence that surrounded him after Aditi’s footsteps faded felt like a judgement in and of itself. His eyes remained stuck on the empty space she’d left, his wrath now twisting and flowing inwards, the object of his disgust morphing from Leela Shetty to himself.
"How could you be so rude to her?" Kaya chastised him.
"She was being pushy." One part of him wanted to hold on to any reason to justify his outburst, the fear of hating himself stopping him from admitting that he had royally fucked up.
"She was being fun,” Vihaan snapped. “We can all see you’re pissed about something. Her only mistake was that she tried to help you.”
“Who pushed a stick up your ass tonight?” Arjun asked, clearly unhappy with Rian as well.
"You should apologise to her,” Kaya suggested.
"Right after all of you get the fuck off my case," he snarled, his ego buckling down hard.
"What the hell is your problem, Rian?” Vihaan argued, taking an agitated step towards him. Kaya held him back.