Srinivas did not react. His face did not change throughout her speech. He just stared at her intently and listened to her as calmly as ever. His face did not give away anything. Neither his emotions nor his thoughts. If he had been hurt by what Zee had told him or disappointed, he did not show it on his face.

A while passed in silence. But then Srinivas asked breaking the silence, "Have you ever thought about it? Why? Why do you not want to have any commitment? Is it that you did not want to or is it that you are afraid to make one? Are you sure that you cannot commit? Or are you just scared that people are going to fail you invariably once you commit?" His voice and eyes were steady as they trailed at Zeenath.

The nervousness Zeenath had shooed away with so much effort came back the minute she heard his question. Because he had nailed it where it hurt the most.

Who wouldn't want warmth? She was human after all. But that warmth is something she only dared to look from afar.

God knows how much earning her eyes had held whenever she had watched Madhu and Akash in these few days. And it did not escape Srinivas's eyes.

But when the same kind of warmth comes near her.. she wouldn't even blink an eye before running to hills. She was not scared of commitment itself. But she was terrified of the betrayal that follows it.

Relationsh.i.p.s for her was like a star.. sparkling and twinkling when seen from afar inciting envy. But the closer you get.. you end up getting burned. So she always steered clear of them. She already has enough burn marks on her heart to last a lifetime, she was not really looking forward to adding to them now.

Madhu and Zee were similar in some ways but so different in others. For both, life hadn't dealt them with the best of cards but when a good card did appear.. Madhu was the one to pounce without worrying but Zee was the one to be suspicious and let it slip. After all, what you do not know is not going to hurt you.

"I am.. I am going to go now." Zee said fl.u.s.tered getting up from her place. But just as she walked past the bed, an iron grip held her in place.

With a quick tug, Srinivas pulled her to stand in front of him. He looked at her with his ever so calm eyes and asked once again, "Are you afraid?"

Zee's nervousness quickly changed into irritation and it further developed into downright pissed seeing his calm eyes. It was almost like he was an all known mentor and her- his na?ve irritable discipline.

She did not like the picture..

"Yes. I am afraid.. In fact, using the word 'afraid' will be the biggest understatement of the year. Now, are you happy? I admitted.. now let me go." Zee yelled glaring at him trying to pull her hands out of his grip.

Srinivas just stared at her blazing eyes and answered calmly yet again, "You think you are the only one who is afraid?"

"Well, let's just say that I am a coward! And I have no interest in being brave either. Not when it comes to relationsh.i.p.s at least. Now let go before I end up breaking your nose.." Zee said blaring her teeth.

How do you convince a person covered fully in burn scars that fire not only burns you but sometimes it can also provide you warmth in cold nights?

Srinivas did not let go of her hands but his grip softened considerably. And his calm stoic face cracked. He wore a tired exhausted face all of sudden seeming pitiful.

Seeing him like that, Zee couldn't bring herself to be angry.. she couldn't bring herself to storm out of the room flinging his hands. All she could do was stare back at him with a complicated look.

"Zee, can you give yourself a chance one last time? Please." His voice was precariously begging and his eyes.. they were filled with such earnestly that Zee felt as if she was going to drown in them.

"My life is a swirling void of a black hole, Srinivas. Don't come near it.. You will end up getting sucked in without a way of ever getting out??" Zee whispered taking her hands out of his at last.

He was someone who had seen the darkest sides of human and lived in it. He was someone who had witnessed how callous, devious, and evil humans can get in desperate situations. The kinda darkness he had seen is absolute and horrific. But he still believed that there had got to somewhere.. someplace in some corner of the world where there is a teeny tiny light glowing with all its might fighting the darkness.

He might not have seen that light but he still believed in it with absolute conviction. But until he can make her believe in the same, he knew it was useless to talk to her.

So he just got up from his place and wrapped his arms around her bring her into his embrace. His hand rested at the back of her head securely.

Zee instantly stiffened but was still too surprised to actually push him away.

And before she could do exactly that, Srinivas pulled away and whispered, "Good night.. Go on. Get some sleep. It's getting late.."

He then let her go completely.

The warmth of his touch lingered until she reached her own room.

All the men she had ever dated so far.. she always met them at a club or someplace similar. They were always smitten with her face and beauty. So nobody ever approached for anything more than that. But Srinivas's sincere eyes.. it haunted her. She herself did not understand what it was she was going through. But one thing she was sure was that when he did not defend her when she asked him not to get near her.. it filled her with an inexplicable sense of disappointment and it scared her shitless.