Playlist:

"Kaise Batayun Tujhe" by KK
"Mera Pehla pehla pyaar hai" by KK
"Lover" by Taylor Swift

*Slightly Mature Content*

"You might think I'm exaggerating but I swear you're as pure as the deity inside this temple for me, whether you're menstruating or not," and that was enough for Arvika to lower down her tears barricades as droplets of pearls started glistening down her doe eyes.

Nobody had ever made her so proud of being the monthly subscriber of Nature's Menstruation than this man in front of her.

She hugged Dev and this was his time to freeze.

Too much freezing, was it Delhi or Siachen?

Arvika hugged him as the blockades of her insecurities broke and all her nestled feelings converged into a bone-crushing hug. Dev stood frozen in disbelief as Arvika's arms wrapped around him, drawing him into an unexpected embrace. Shock rippled through him, mingling with a twinge of sadness at the knowledge of Arvika's pain. He had never anticipated such a gesture from her, especially given the circumstances of her menstrual cycle and the emotional weight she carried from her best friend's silence about her mother's heart attack.

Arvika's embrace around Dev was a balm for her frayed nerves, offering a moment of rest from the tumultuous day she had endured. The weight of her best friend's silence, compounded by the chaotic dance of her own hormones and the relentless grip of her period, had left her feeling emotionally drained and vulnerable. Yet, in Dev's arms, she found a refuge from the storm, a safe haven where she could let down her guard and release the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

On the other hand, to be sure that she was hugging him, Dev blinked his eyes and even counted from twenty to one. Arvika was still hugging him. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of how to respond to this sudden display of emotion. But then, instinct took over, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a gesture of reassurance and support.

Arvika interpreted it as a gesture of friendship and comfort, seeking solace in the warmth of their embrace. To her, it was a moment of emotional connection, a reminder that she was not alone in her struggles and her other friend, that is, Dev was with her. He could feel the tension in her body slowly melting away as she leaned into his embrace, seeking solace in the familiarity of his presence. However, unbeknownst to her, Dev's thoughts raced in a different direction. As he held her close, he couldn't shake the feeling of intimacy that permeated the embrace.

Each gentle squeeze of her arms against his body sent a jolt of electricity through him, awakening dormant desires that he had long kept buried.

"Thank you, I needed this. I was just too emotional after all the things that unfolded today. Thank you," as Arvika drew back from the embrace, she whispered, her eyes being moist of her raw emotions. But Dev had a completely differed demeanor.

Arvika's hug enveloped Dev in a whirlwind of sensations, both sensual and emotional, leaving him momentarily breathless. Sensually, her touch sparked a fire within him, igniting a primal longing that pulsed through his veins with every beat of his heart. The warmth of her embrace seeped into his skin, awakening desires he had long suppressed, a tantalizing dance of closeness that left him intoxicated with longing.

A subtle flush crept up his neck, and his pulse quickened as he struggled to regain his composure. It was as if every fiber of his being was attuned to her presence, responding instinctively to the magnetic pull of her allure.

In that moment, he realized that even the slightest touch from Arvika had the power to set his heart ablaze with desire. He needed her to stay away from him otherwise he didn't know how he'd control his primal instincts towards her. He needed to avoid her touch for it awakened intoxicating ablaze within him.

As Arvika and Dev stepped into the temple in the tranquil embrace of the evening, the soft glow of dusk enveloped them, casting long shadows across the ancient stones. While the ambient chants and the scent of incense filled the air, Dev found himself entranced by the ethereal presence of Arvika beside him. Her grace and poise seemed to illuminate the sacred space, captivating his attention to the exclusion of all else. He was still in a daze of the embrace they shared a few moments back. He was not lying when he said that Arvika was no less than the Goddess inside the temple for he could worship Arvika day and night.

Unbeknownst to Dev, Arvika's steps were accompanied by a silent dialogue with the divine. As she traversed the temple halls, her heart heavy with the weight of tradition, she offered prayers of gratitude for the opportunity to seek solace within the temple's sanctum. Yet, a pang of remorse gnawed at her conscience, a whispered apology for defying convention by entering during her menstruation.

The rest of the journey was masked in a comfortable silence but Arvika was soaked in an unknown comfort and the smile never left her face; she replayed his words again and again and a blush crept on her cheeks unknowingly.

As the night enveloped them in its embrace, Dev remained lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, his primal instincts driving him ever closer to the edge of temptation. And in the silence that stretched between them, he couldn't shake the feeling that something irrevocable had shifted within him, forever altering the course of his journey with Arvika.

****

A week later

Arvika sat alone amidst the quiet confines of the library, the soft glow of the reading lamps casting a gentle illumination over the rows of shelves. Her classes were done for the day and she was immersed in the world of calculus, pencil scratching against paper as she tackled the intricate equations before her.

While Kavya was busy with her own tasks and backlogs back inside her hostel room, Arvika found comfort in between the old and thick books of engineering, science and whatnot. After a period of rest and healing following her heart surgery, Kavya's mother regained her strength and vitality. With each passing day, she grew stronger, her resilience shining through as she resumed her daily routine in Mathura.

Determined to leave no stone unturned in his quest for success, Rohan dedicated himself wholeheartedly to refining his skills and knowledge, eager to showcase his abilities to potential employers. He couldn't take risks this time, he needed this job.

And Dev?

Well, Arvika didn't know where he was. It had been a week and she hadn't seen or heard from him. Maybe the hug they shared the last time they met was too bone-crushing? Or, was it the Prasad?

Arvika didn't know. She neither tried to contact him nor asked Rohan or Kavya about it. Maybe he was at home to meet his family? Arvika sighed and directed her attention to the current problem, that is, the calculus problem.

Vinay's footsteps echoed softly against the polished marble floors of the library as he made his way through the rows of towering bookshelves. His heart weighed heavy with remorse as he approached the secluded corner where he had last seen Arvika engrossed in her studies.

With each step, memories of his past behavior in Mussoorie flooded his mind, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the recollection of his actions. He had red bull that day along with the sneaky remarks of his friends who booed at him for being a chicken as they all knew what he used to feel for Arvika. Red bull literally got him wings and his friends' remarks got him a pervert tongue. He knew that he had acted recklessly and without thinking, and now, he was determined to make amends and seek forgiveness from Arvika.

As he neared her table, Vinay's footsteps faltered for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at his resolve. But then, with a deep breath to steady his nerves, he squared his shoulders and approached Arvika with humility and sincerity.

"Arvika," he began softly, his voice tinged with genuine remorse as he met her gaze. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, but there's something important I need to say."

Arvika looked up from her books, her expression guarded yet curious as she regarded Vinay. She could sense the sincerity in his voice, and though her initial instinct was to shout at him to get away from her, she couldn't make herself do that. That'd be too disrespectful. He was her classmate and maybe she could just listen to what he had to say.

With a silent nod, Arvika gestured for Vinay to take a seat opposite her, a silent invitation for him to share whatever was weighing on his heart. And as Vinay took a seat opposite of hers, he knew that this moment was his chance for redemption, a chance to make things right and maybe ask for friendship?

Vinay took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to the floor as he struggled to find the right words. "I owe you an apology," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "For what happened in Mussoorie. I was out of line, and I'm truly sorry for how I behaved. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just....too overboard with some other piled up emotions."

Arvika studied Vinay's face, searching for any hint of insincerity, but she found none. Instead, she saw genuine remorse etched in his features, and her heart softened slightly at his honesty. Maybe she could forgive him and end whatever animosity she shared with him.

After a moment of silence, Arvika nodded, accepting Vinay's apology with a small nod. "Thank you, Vinay," she replied softly. "I appreciate your apology."

Vinay's shoulders visibly relaxed as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Though he knew that forgiveness wouldn't erase his past mistakes, he felt a sense of relief wash over him, grateful for the opportunity to make amends and move forward. And as he watched Arvika return to her calculus problem, he silently stood up from the chair when a thought struck him.

"You know why am I apologizing so late?" he asked her again gaining her attention towards him. Arvika looked puzzled and shook her head. "No".

Vinay sighed and sat again on the chair. "Well, you might not have noticed but I was absent in class since many days." Arvika nodded slightly at him when he further added, "Dev I mean Dev sir punished me for that day".

The word punishment astounded Arvika and she looked baffled. Dev was punishing people? Was he the college president or the a dictator like Kim Jong Yun of North Korea?

"Yes, actually after giving me a punch on my jaw, he warned me not to trouble or badmouth any girl especially you. But the plight doesn't end here. He actually..." Vinay struggled to say and Arvika's bated breaths increased the tension in the air.

"What did he do to you?" she mouthed in a whisper and her hold on her pencil got stronger.

"See for yourself," Vinay was embarrassed and took out his phone from his pocket. A video was playing with the lowest volume.

Arvika's stomach churned with a mixture of disbelief and disgust as she watched the video of Vinay kissing himself in the mirror, his voice dripping with self-adulation as he uttered the words, "I love you, Vinay Baby." The sight was nauseating, sending waves of revulsion coursing through her veins.

She didn't know that Dev could go to such level to punish someone. But he wasn't wrong either. That day Vinay had literally been a rascal to downgrade her. But she couldn't shake the feeling of disgust that washed over her, the image of Vinay's vanity etched into her memory like a grotesque caricature. It was funnier to describe this incidence but disgusting to actually watch it.

"And I had to do it every day for three whole weeks," and he delivered the last embarrassing parcel of his grotesque punishment from the President expecting some sympathy from Arvika.

"And now like a cry baby you're complaining in front of Arvika as if she'd beat me for punishing you after your Mussoorie stunt you played at her?" Their attention diverted to the sudden authoritative voice and they were not wrong when they saw whom the voice belonged to.

Dev stood in all his glory, his demeanour matching that of a predator ready to pounce. Unknowingly, a warmth surfaced in Arvika's heart as she caught sight of Dev after almost a week. There was something different about him this time, a subtle shift in his demeanour that piqued her curiosity. As she stood up from the chair, her pencil fell down. Before she could reach to get it, Dev bent down and brought it up to her, whiffing her baby powder.

'Damn Arvika' he whispered and straightened his body as well as his sensualized mind.

Meanwhile, Vinay stood in trepidation, his face pallid as that of a corpse, and his breaths escalated. He never thought that the person he was just complaining about would greet him like this, intimidating him from within. If Vinay was as white as a paper and someone was looking at him from a distance, it'd have appeared that a very long flag was being unfurled in the motion of the wind.

With an air of confidence that bordered on regal, Dev settled into the library chair as though it were his rightful throne, his posture exuding authority and self-assurance. His presence commanded attention, casting a shadow of dominance over the room as his gaze swept over his surroundings with a quiet intensity and finally landed on Vinay who didn't have the guts to even look into his eyes.

Arvika and Vinay, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel the weight of Dev's presence as they lingered in his proximity. In this moment, Dev seemed to tower above them like a king among his subjects, his aura of power undeniable.

And as Dev began to speak, his voice resonated with a quiet strength, leaving both the juniors to listen to him as his mere subjects.

"So, Vinay what were you saying man?".

"I....I was just here to apologize sir. I didn't mean to...." Vinay shut his mouth when he saw Dev's raised palm, signing him to stop.

Dev turned his attention towards Arvika and demanded, "You may sit down. This will take some time".

'Oh God! I am doomed'! Vinay pondered and bit his cheeks from inside, mentally slapping himself for sharing about the punishment thing with Arvika.

Arvika just followed what her President said to her. This was something new. The Dev she had come to know in the past few months was a sweet, nice, dimpled guy but this commanding person was someone else in his body. A complete different personality. Of course, he was the Student President. She dismissed her thoughts and looked at Vinay who was looking at the ground as if he really wanted to entomb himself into it.

"So Vinay, tell my dear friend how cruelly I punished you. She might love to know what happened to you in your hostel room," with a smug look, Dev disposed, crossing his arms behind his head, relaxing in a lazy position.

"No sir....I wasn't complaining about you. I was...." Dev chuckled and turned his attention towards Arvika who had a solemn look on her face. "Well, he might have showed you the video but lemme tell you Arvika, there was more to it than he told you."

"I made him write my thesis, my practical that were pending for some time now. I also made his friends serve refreshments to the placement coordinators and the HRs of the different companies. This was well not a punishment, in fact, a learning for them for the future because they need to do all these things in the future. no?"

"And well, for he was so excited to kiss someone in that truth and dare game, I completed his wish and made him kiss his image in the mirror? What was so wrong about it? Isn't self love the most heavenly thing? Do you think it was really a punishment Vinay? Do you think I am a villain figure to actually punish a sweet boy like you?" with a voice overflooding with saccharine, Dev added, a mocking smile adorning his face.

The nerve of this man. Arvika was puzzled and she didn't know what to feel about it. On one side she was happy that Vinay and his friends got punishment for insulting a girl and her modesty, on the other side, she was also sorry for Vinay because his punishment, especially the mirror one was quite....quite a disgusting chastisement.

"Do you want me to show her the video or have you shown it already?" Dev added and took out his mobile from his pocket.

"I am sorry sir. I won't do it again. I am remorseful about what I did. I promise I will never disrespect a girl. Please Arvika, please tell sir that you've forgiven me," knowing that he was going to face more insults from his senior, Vinay nearly beseeched Dev to let him go.

"Sir, I think he's guilty about what he did. He even apologized. Let him go. He's sorry for his doings," Arvika advocated on behalf of Vinay because even she didn't like the way the scene was escalating and more and more insults were being added to Vinay's discomfort. Dev huffed and nodded his head. Taking this as cue, Vinay nearly sprinted out of the library, praying to never face his senior again.

"So, back to sir?" Dev teased and turned his attention towards Arvika who was now busy shooting daggers at him. She looked cute though, like a bunny with angry red eyes.

"What was the need to give him such a disgusting punishment? He showed me the video and I was really nauseated," Arvika nearly gagged remembering the ludicrous scene of Vinay kissing himself in the mirror and that too, a French Kiss! Ughhh!

"I don't know what will happen to you when you see what real ragging is in a boys' hostel," Dev murmured but Arvika heard it. Her questioning eyes made Dev roll his eyes at her.

"There's something more to it, isn't it?" she asked, crossing her hands at her chest, her action inadvertently drew attention to the delicate curve of her neckline, where a glimpse of her cleavage peeked through, accentuated by the gentle rise and fall of her breath which made Dev look at her bosom for a microsecond before he again shifted his gaze to her eyebrows.

It was red! Damn red! Was that a mole? Was there really a red mole he saw right in the middle of her cleavage? He needed to recheck but he didn't know how she would react if she saw him looking at her bosom.

'Check, check you idiot. She'll not know!' his dirty mind compelled him to look at her cleavage but his Sanskari mind was totally against it, admonishing him for his lust.

(Modest)

'You scoundrel! Is it your manners to look at a girl's cleavage like a pervert?' His Sanskari mind chastised him scornfully.

But.

Men will be men.

At last his eyes landed on her beauty spot and he was confirmed. There was a red mole right in the middle of her cleavage. Dev's senses heightened as his gaze fell upon the delicate curve of her cleavage, where a small mole lay nestled like a secret waiting to be discovered. It was a subtle detail, which she modestly covered every time, but to him, it was a revelation. The sight stirred something deep within him, a primal urge that pulsed with desire.

As he admired the enticing curve, his thoughts veered into realms of desire, his imagination painting vivid scenes of intimacy. In that moment, he knew that he was captivated, ensnared by the subtle sensuality of a single, delicate mole on her cleavage. He could do some much to that little enticing piece of mole with his mouth, breath and his lips. Yet, before he could fully indulge in his fantasies, Arvika's sudden movement caught his attention.

With a graceful yet subtle shift in posture, Arvika corrected herself, her movements fluid and controlled. It was as though she instinctively sensed his gaze lingering on the small mole adorning her cleavage, and in that swift adjustment, she shielded herself, protecting her vulnerability from his scrutiny. She closed her eyes and started putting invisible locks of hair behind her ear, her hand shaking due to the sudden intimate moment.

Ugh! It was so embarrassing! She mumbled to herself.

In that moment, Dev felt a pang of realization wash over him, understanding the unspoken boundary he had unintentionally crossed.

He immediately turned his eyes towards the shelves of books in front of him. A heavy breath left his mouth. Oh god.

'Junior would show up anytime now, leave. I said leave' Without a moment's hesitation, he made a swift decision to excuse himself, muttering a hurried apology and hastily retreating from the scene. The heat of embarrassment tinged his cheeks as he hurriedly made his escape, the memory of that fleeting moment haunting him with a mix of regret and unease.

"MEN! GOD!" Arvika shook her head and put her hand on her head, meanwhile adjusting her top.

She opened her Calculus problem once again but her attention was somewhere else. In his eyes, she saw not just desire, but a primal longing that transcended mere attraction, tapping into something ancient and primal. Well, it was something different she had never seen in his eyes before.

Her reverie was broken when she got a call from Kavya, asking her to come to the hostel as they were going to celebrate some girl's birthday party in the hostel. She sighed for the nth time today and packed her stuff, ready to leave for her hostel.

On the other hand, Dev was inside the washroom, cursing at his body's reaction of what his eyes perceived today. God. Sinful thoughts clouded his mind as he emptied his bladder.

"Sh*t," he cursed taking the support of the wall and tried to remove all the salacious images he was getting inside his aroused mind. His state had been like this only since the time Arvika had hugged him a week back. That's why he was not even coming to the college, fearing his junior might say a hello to her even at the slightest of non-intentional sensual action of hers. And eventually, the same thing would've happened hadn't he excused himself at the right time.

'She saw you looking at her cleavage you dumbo! And here goes your sweet-sweet chocolate boy image to just a perverted-man-and-his-cravings-for-cleavage' He pondered and groaned loudly.

****

Arvika and Kavya stumbled back to their hostel room, their laughter echoing through their empty room as they reminisced about their hostel mate's wild birthday party. Cream streaked their clothes and clung to their hair, while beads of sweat glistened on their skin from the energetic dancing that had ensued. Despite the sticky mess and exhaustion weighing heavy on their limbs, there was a sense of exhilaration in their steps. As they collapsed onto their beds after changing into fresh clothes, they knew they would carry the memories of this unforgettable night with them for years to come.

Kavya was just busy sending love emojis to Rohan when Arvika told Kavya the tale of Vinay's bizarre encounter with Dev, her animated gestures punctuating the story as she recounted every unexpected detail. From Vinay's bewildered expression to the absurdity of Dev's unconventional punishment, Arvika left no stone unturned in her recounting. With each word, Kavya's laughter bubbled up uncontrollably, unable to contain her amusement at the sheer absurdity of the situation. Despite the peculiar circumstances, Arvika couldn't help but join in, the shared laughter cementing the bond between them as they reveled in the hilarity of Vinay's misadventure.

"That idiot really deserved that. Oh God I missed his video. I would've laughed so much had I been there too," Kavya exhilarated, putting her hand on her aching tummy due to a good round of laughter. Arvika just shook her head smilingly, "It was looking disgusting yaar, but now I think of it, it was hilarious yet humiliating. I do feel bad for him".

"Dev Bhaiya is really something yaar!"

"Dhamaka hai wo insan dhamaka. Well, rather than the name Dev, Dhamake ka Devta suits him more," Arvika joked and they both laughed like mad women at that imagining Dev dressed in a bomb prop and fire propelling from here and there from his body.

(That man is a blast.) (God of explosion)

"Accha, don't feel bad for that Vinay. He needed to learn his lesson and Bhai was right to punish him like that. That'd be a reminder for every guy to respect every girl they encounter here," Kavya huffed and Arvika just nodded her head, she felt perplexed because Vinay's humiliated face was not worth a sight seeing for.

She shifted the topic and added further, "Well, I need to tell you something funny that happened today."

"My tummy is already aching but go on. I am all ears. Spill," Kavya replied lying her head on Arvika's lap, playing with her mobile phone.

"Well, I was talking to Dhamake ka Devta earlier, and I had crossed my hands on my chest when accidentally a small part of my cleavage was on full display," Arvika animatedly mimicked what happened back in the library and Kavya's eyes widened and she immediately sat up from her lying position, with a sly smile she added, "Oh no, really? Then?"

"Yeah, and the funniest part is, I noticed him sneaking a quick glance before he immediately looked away!"

"Oh God! TURU LOB! Hahahaha! Poor Bhai, probably didn't know where to look after that."

"Hehe. Exactly! I felt a bit embarrassed, but it was just a harmless accident."

"Well, at least it gave him a good view for the time being. But he'd have to spend his nights in the cold showers now," Kavya joked and Arvika hit her with a pillow, making Kavya chortle more.

"Accha chal show me what you have in there, show show," in a moment of jest, Kavya playfully nudged Arvika and jokingly quipped. Arvika couldn't help but burst into laughter at the unexpected remark, her cheeks flushed with amusement and threw another pillow at her shameless friend.

(Okay now)

"Youuuuu"!!!

Their banter filled the room with laughter, a lighthearted exchange that served as a reminder of the warmth and camaraderie that defined their friendship.

****

Author's Note:

Happy Holi my sweethearts! And surprise!

I wanted to compensate for the delay this story had to endure to be completed, so thought of giving a small chapter.

Please feel free to vote, comment and share this story if it made you laugh and love too.