After The College,

"By the way you got a whole week for holiday!", says Riddhi walking side by Devesh.

"That's true! One week no faces of those professors." exclaims Devesh.

Rasika with her concerned look on the wound of his hand , also walking by side of Devesh, asks,"But what about the wound you got in your right hand? How will you stay alone in college days?"

Nitya eagerly answers , " I will stay with my big brother!!!"

"No ." replies Devesh ," You with other two brothers will go to college straight for one week as in this case you were the victim so when the case will be filed you have to give the last statement with Hrit and Rey as the observers , also all of you guys have to give statements regarding the case!"

Kiara in confirmed tone,"Don't worry bro! If the parents of those idiots came to say , I and Shivani are there to shut their mouths , and say them to learn parenting by themselves first!"

Shivani laughing," Sure sure don't worry bro leave that on us! What are friends for?!"

Mahi ," True I will also there providing the proof since I have recorded every thing!"

Sakhi," Ohhoo !! That's our Mahi!"

Jay," Good Job!"

Devesh becoming little emotional yet with a tough look," Thank you !"

Rasika holds the hand of Devesh with her fingers brushing his smoothly , providing relief to his soul with her gentle touch , "Get well soon Dev!"

Devesh smiles and nods for he can see the worry in the eyes of Rasika though her aura showing a strong woman .

××××××

THE NEXT DAY

Before leaving house , Nitya reminding the whole to do list to Devesh ," Apply your medicine , take shower, study , take rest, order lunch ! No need to do anything with that hand ! "

Devesh with his mischievous smile, " My hand is not broken sis!"

Nitya with her concern, " It is deeply cut , I will broke it if cut increases with your mischief, I swear!"

Hritesh in his shock ," Damn girl where was this bossy girl? During that time?"

Reyansh adding fuel to the fire ," True bro I was also thinking the same!"

Hritesh mockingly, " I know right!!"

Nitya while throwing death glares at Rey , Hrit .

Reyansh grabs Nitya , lifting her up ," We will be late let's go! Take care Bro!"

Hritesh closing the door," Take care brother ! If any problem just give a call! Bye!"

Meanwhile , Nitya starts shouting outside , " Aaaah leave me I am not child!!!"

Reyansh shouts to Devesh, " And Nitu will be under our cover so don't worry about her!"

Devesh laughs and bids them good byes .

After they went , I make sure that the main entrance door is perfectly locked , then I come to my own room , taking out the bandage from my hand and washes it with clear water .The blood stops oozing out by means of time.

I open my shirt and comes in front of mirror ~ there are few bruises on my chest as well so along with my hand I applies medicine on my chest and sits on sofa with my phone letting the medicine dry.

"What shall I order ? Pizza? Biryani? Or Ramen?"

"What is the favorite food of Rasika?"

"But why am I thinking about her favourite food , ughh , my mind needs distraction, her eyes in the yesterday's incident is still flashing infront of me . Why my strong and savage mode turns to childish infront of her?!"

"Will order food later , the dishes are there in the sink from the time of breakfast ,I should do them !"says to myself .

Thinking this I get out of my room and goes downstairs to the kitchen. I am in the middle of washing dishes when I hear the ring of door bell.

Thinking that it may be some delivery guy of one of the thousand orders of Nitya did . As I opened the door, the last thing I expect is her-Rasika-standing there, the fading sunlight of winter framing her like a vision. My breath hitches and a wildfire ignites in my chest, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

Her eyes widen, a kaleidoscope of surprise and something deeper, darker, as they roam over my shirtless body frame. Slowly, deliberately, her gaze traces the planes of my bare chest, lingering on the bruises and the faint sheen of medicine glistening against my skin. It is the first time she has seen me like this, exposed and unguarded.

She doesn't speak. She can't. Her parted lips and the faint flush rising in her cheeks says more than words ever could. The air between us seems charged, electric, crackling with unspoken emotions neither of us dare to name.

For a heartbeat or maybe a lifetime, her gaze locks with mine. In that moment, I feel raw, as if her eyes aren't just looking at me but reaching into the very core of who I am. And yet, I can't look away. Her silence isn't uncomfortable; it's a language of its own, speaking volumes I am not ready to hear-but desperately wanted to.

I break the silence and her fantasy world where she transported herself through her mind saying ,"Sorry for interrupting!" and shuts the door !

Why am I feeling embarrassed?

With the light speed I go to grab a shirt from my cupboard.

Meanwhile ,

"What did I just saw?????"I scream in myself ,"His body, a testament to relentless dedication, looks as though it is crafted by the very hands of the gods themselves. Broad shoulders taper into a perfectly sculpted torso, where each ridge of his six-pack gleams like polished stone under the light. His biceps curve with a strength that speaks of countless hours in the gym, veins tracing like rivers over bronzed skin. Every muscle is defined, every line sharp, exuding raw power and disciplined elegance, a vision of pure masculine perfection."

But why Devesh being shirtless alone in house? Is there someone else ? Is he flexing ? Or applying medicine?

Seeing each bruise on him strikes my heart like a shard of stone, cutting deeper with every glance.

That's why I am here to take care of him. "

While I was thinking such different overviews he opens the door again , now with his shirt on.

"Sorry for keeping you wait for this much time outside , please come in!" , he says opening the door wide as I enter.

"Is there anyone else in the home?", I asks out of my curiosity.

" No no I was applying medicine on my bruises and was letting it dry , that's why I was shirtless, there was no one in house except me !" ,he says confidently and his voice feels like honest reply.

"Can I see if there anyone in whole house?" I ask.

"Yeah! Sure from where shall I give my lady the tour ?" This gentle replies of him is enough to melt me.

"I was just joking and no need to do your lunch , I have cooked for both of us and have brought the lunch." saying this I keep the lunch packet on the dinning table.

Devesh eagerly looks in the lunch boxes saying , "For me? Really?! Yayyyy!" and his eyes start sparkling like a happy kid.

I giggles seeing his childishness.

"But you haven't put bandage on your hand!"

"Yeah I am about to put ." says Devesh.

"Sit here and give me the bandage , let me put it for you."

Devesh forwards me the bandage with the cotton and I starts bandaging his hand.

"Why don't you go to College today?" Devesh asks looking at me with his eyes .

The eyes that burned with furious fire yesterday now hold a softness, an unspoken tenderness.

"Cuz you are not well , being a friend its my responsibility to take care of yours."

"I am blessed to have you," Devesh murmurs, his gaze lowering as if the weight of his emotions is too much to bear.

Is he getting emotional and soft? This side of him is again new to me yet it fills my heart with warmth. I am happy he feels safe enough to open up his feelings to me-something not every boy dares to do.

"And I am the happiest person on earth to have you!" I say with my brightest smile just to see another bright smile of a childish boy sitting infront of me.

×××××

IN COLLEGE

The rest of friends group reaches College and when they come together in the classroom ,

"Where's Rasika? Is she absent today?" I ask

Nitya giggles ," No she is present!"

I confusingly ask again,"But where?"

Hritesh replies, "In our house most probably. "

Nitya slightly punches Hritesh, " Not probably, she is present there!"

Kiara teasingly says ,"Ooooooo!"

But it is not right , Devesh has to stay alone today , I was thinking to bunk the College and go to him to say something very important but the plan shatters , why Rasika went to him today?! My plan will not even work in her presence!

What if I say to Nitya?

But she is also 24/7 surrounded by her brothers and friends! I cannot talk to her personally until she is alone but she is never aloneeee!

Ughhh ! What shall I do now??

"Are you okay , Riddhi?" Mahi asks keeping her hand on my shoulder.

"They are not safe!!!" subconsciously I shouted in my loud voice .

Everyone in shock looks at me .

Sakhi with worry look asks," You are sweating girl ! Who are not safe? What happened?"

I hesitates, " I - I think I didn't locked the main door! My household things are not safe ! I have to go !"

Sakhi holds my hand," Girl I pick you up from your home and you have locked the door in front of me so don't worry!"

"But-"

" No but s let's go and take our seats now!" Mahi says.

One part of my plan fails and this can cause a huge hindrance for all of us !

(To be continued..)
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