❥Jasmin❥

"Kiara!" I yelled, clearly annoyed. "Ab aur kitni dair lagegi tumhe?" (How much longer will you take?)

"Just two minutes!" she called back.

Two minutes turned into five, yet she still hadn’t come out of the shower.

Bored, I glanced around her room, my eyes settling on a book on her shelf. The cover was strikingly unique and beautiful, instantly drawing me in. Curious, I picked it up and softly whispered the title, "Haunting Adeline."

A chuckle echoed around me, and I quickly turned to find Kiara laughing.

"When did you start reading horror book. You used to read romance, right?"

My gaze roamed over her. Kiara looked stunning in a maroon lehenga paired with a sleeveless V-neck blouse. Her shoulder-length black hair, streaked with brown highlights, framed her face perfectly, and her sky-blue eyes sparkled mischievously. Despite the countless compliments she’d received, Kiara was still unaware of how beautiful she truly was, inside and out.

"Interesting choice, Jasmeen," she teased, raising a brow. "You might want to read it."

"What's it about?" I asked, curious.

"A stalker romance," she replied with a grin. "And trust me, it's got plenty of spice."

I rolled my eyes. "You have such weird taste in books."

"Not weird, just refined," she defended herself. "You only say that because you haven't read it."

"Tumhara yaqeenan yaha ka screw dhila hai," (You definitely have a screw loose here.) I said, lightly smacking her head. "How can you fantasize about a stalker romance? Would you like it if you had a stalker in real life?"

"Maybe," she said dreamily, "if he was anything like Zade Meadows."

"What’s so special about him?"

"First, he leaves roses for her without the thorns. Then, for their first time, he... uses a gun."

"ENOUGH!" I exclaimed, horrified, as I quickly shoved the book back onto the shelf, half expecting Zade Meadows to appear out of thin air.

Kiara chuckled. "Yeah, I’m a sucker for Zade Meadows," she said, a sheepish smile on her face.

I shook my head at her delusions. Glancing at the mirror, I saw my own reflection staring back. A 5'5 girl with beautiful black doe eyes and a small mole beside my left one. My fair skin was complemented by my big, pink pouty lips. My dark brown hair, silky and smooth, cascaded down to my hips. And I had curves that most would envy.

A smile crept onto my face as I admired how beautiful I looked in my black anarkali, its sleeves intricately embroidered, paired with a heavy dupatta adorned with floral designs. We were supposed to attend a college party, and we were already running late.

"I was just wondering..." Kiara interrupted my thoughts, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "What would you do if you had a stalker like Zade Meadows?"

My heart raced, but I didn’t hesitate to respond. "I’d run for my life. As far as I could."

Maybe I was overthinking it. Things like that don’t happen in real life. At least not to everyone. Definitely not to me.

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"Are you sure?" Kiara asked again, her eyes filled with hesitation.

I gave her a gentle push towards the dance floor, where the couples were already swaying to the music. "Just go. Karthik’s waiting for you, and you wouldn’t want him to get upset," I said with a reassuring smile.

She hesitated for just a second before finally smiling back. With a deep breath, Kiara turned and walked toward Karthik. He was standing there, his eyes locked on her, radiating warmth and affection. As she approached, his smile widened, and without a word, he pulled her into his arms, sealing the moment with a tender kiss. The familiar notes of 'Ishq Shava' filled the air, and soon, they were lost in each other, moving effortlessly in sync with the rhythm of the song.

I watched them for a moment, a soft sigh escaping my lips. There was something so magical about witnessing two people completely in love, wrapped up in their own world. But it also stirred something deep within me—an undeniable pang of longing.

Turning away from the sight of them, I made my way to the refreshment table, trying to distract myself. The upbeat song played in the background, but my mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of what could’ve been.

"Enjoying the view?" A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. I glanced to the side and found Ahmed standing next to me, holding two glasses of punch. He extended one toward me, his signature smirk plastered on his face.

I shook my head, rolling my eyes in mild frustration. "No, thanks."

His eyes roamed over me, lingering in a way that made me uncomfortable. "You look beautiful tonight, Jasmin."

I forced a small smile at his compliment, hoping he’d get the message. But, as usual, he didn’t.

"Would you like to dance with me?" His voice was light, but the smile he wore made it clear he expected a yes.

I sighed, meeting his eyes with a firm gaze. "Ahmed." I paused, feeling the weight of the situation. "Please, take a hint. I’m not interested."

His smile faltered, but I pressed on. "I’ve told you before—this isn’t going to work," I said, gesturing between the two of us. My voice was louder than I intended, so I softened it, trying to remain calm. "So please... just leave me alone."

Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked away, hoping that this time, he’d finally understand.

As I weaved through the crowd, I could feel the tension in my shoulders easing, but not completely. I wasn’t far when I heard footsteps behind me.

"Jasmin," Ahmed's voice came again, more insistent this time. I froze mid-step, bracing myself before turning to face him.

"What do you want now, Ahmed?" My voice was sharper than before, my patience hanging by a thread.

"I just don’t understand," he muttered, looking genuinely puzzled. "Why can’t you give me a chance? What’s wrong with me?"

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my tone even. "It’s not about what’s wrong with you. It’s about me not feeling the same way. And that’s something you need to respect."

He opened his mouth to say something, but I held up a hand, cutting him off. "Look, Ahmed, you’re a good guy. But forcing this won’t change how I feel."

For a moment, he said nothing, just staring at me as if trying to process my words. Finally, he gave a slow nod, though disappointment clouded his expression.

"Okay," he said quietly. "I get it."

I exhaled, relieved that he seemed to finally understand. "Thank you," I said softly, before turning and walking away for good this time.

As I disappeared into the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of closure, but also a nagging doubt.

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I was standing by the window, watching the night unfold outside, when Umaira, one of my classmates, suddenly appeared in front of me. Without warning, she spun me around, pressing my back against the wall, catching me completely off guard.

"What is this behavior, Umaira?" I hissed in a whisper, eyes wide with confusion.

"Your zip... it's broken," she whispered back, her voice low but urgent.

My hand flew to my back, and a gasp slipped from my lips when I felt the zipper halfway down. Heat crept up my neck as embarrassment washed over me.

"Thanks," I murmured, grateful but flustered. "Could you please tell Kiara to come here?"

"Of course," she nodded quickly and walked away, leaving me by the window, still trying to process the situation.

I stood there, pressed against the wall, feeling utterly exposed despite the dim lighting. I tugged gently at my dress, trying to cover as much as I could until Kiara came. My heart pounded, worried someone else might notice.

After what felt like an eternity, Kiara finally approached, her face concerned as she quickly scanned the room before standing in front of me, blocking me from view.

"Umaira told me," Kiara whispered, her eyes full of sympathy. "Let me fix it for you."

I turned around silently, feeling her fingers tugging at the zipper. After a few moments, Kiara let out an annoyed groan.

"Jasmin, it's broken."

"WHAT?" I whispered in a panic, eyes widening. "What are we going to do now?"

Kiara bit her lip, thinking for a second. "Don't worry. I'll find something for you to change into. You can slip into one of the classrooms and switch outfits."

My heart raced as the gravity of the situation sank in. The room was packed with people, and walking around with a broken zipper was the last thing I wanted.

"Please hurry," I pleaded, glancing nervously around to make sure no one had noticed.

Kiara nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Stay here, I'll be back in a flash."

She disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing awkwardly by the window, clutching the back of my dress as discreetly as I could. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, but I forced myself to stay calm.

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I sighed in relief after changing into the crop top and jeans, finally feeling more at ease. But just as I began to relax, a strange sensation crawled up my spine. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and a subtle shiver coursed through me. Something—or someone—was watching.

I could feel it: an intense gaze, heavy and unsettling. My body stiffened as I became aware of someone standing behind me. A scent filled the air—a man’s cologne, rich and overpowering. Before I could react, his chest pressed against my back, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his body.

My breathing hitched, coming in shallow, quick bursts as his presence loomed over me. Then, I felt his lips graze through my hair, sending a cold rush of fear mixed with something unnameable through me. His lips reached my ear, and before I could move away, he gave it a teasing, deliberate lick.

I flinched, my entire body trembling as I mumbled incoherently, unsure of what to say or how to react.

"Who..... are you? And what are you doing?" I finally managed to stammer, my voice shaky but edged with the beginnings of anger.

The man’s breath was warm against my neck, and his chuckle sent another wave of unease through me. "Relax," he whispered, the words dripping with confidence and arrogance. "I couldn’t help myself... you look too tempting."

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing, fighting the urge to bolt. The air around us felt heavy, suffocating.

"Step away," I demanded, my voice more forceful this time. But the tremor in my tone betrayed my fear.

His grip loosened, but the tension in the air remained. "Don’t act like you don’t feel it too," He murmured, finally stepping back.

"That was quite a show," he chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with amusement.

A gasp escaped my lips as his words sunk in. I turned slightly, horrified at the realization.

"You... you saw me naked?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

Before I could process his response, he placed a firm hand on my bare waist and spun me around effortlessly, making my heart race.

I found myself facing him—a towering figure, his presence both menacing and magnetic. He was tall, far taller than I had anticipated. Though a mask covered most of his face, I could feel his gaze burning through me, taking in every inch of my exposed skin.

"I did," he said with a calm arrogance that made my stomach twist. "And it was one of the best views I’ve ever had."

His eyes flickered downward, lingering on my heaving chest before sweeping slowly across the rest of my body. The intensity of his gaze made my skin prickle with both fear and something I couldn’t quite name.

"Chehra toh waqai haseen hai," (The face is indeed beautiful,) he continued, his voice lowering to a husky murmur. "Par jism..." (But body....) He let the sentence hang in the air, unfinished, his meaning clear but cruel.

My breath hitched, and anger bubbled up inside me, clashing with the fear that had paralyzed me moments before. I stepped back, breaking his touch, my body trembling with a mix of shame and defiance.

"How dare you?" I hissed, my voice shaky but laced with fury. "You think you can just—"

"Shh," he interrupted, taking a step closer, his looming figure casting a shadow over me. "I didn't say I was done enjoying the view."

I backed up further, my hands instinctively pulling at my crop top down, trying to cover myself, trying to shield myself from his predatory gaze.

"You’ll want to watch your tone with me," he warned, his voice low and threatening. "Because once I set my eyes on something... I always get what I want."

I clenched my fists, determined not to let him see how terrified I really was. "You won’t have me," I bit out, my voice steadying.

He laughed softly, a chilling sound that echoed through the room. "We'll see about that," he said, his gaze locking with mine one final time before turning and walking away, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

As soon as he was out of sight, I exhaled shakily, my knees threatening to buckle under the weight of the encounter. The air felt heavy with tension, and my mind raced, trying to process what had just happened.

I knew one thing for sure—this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.