We stared at each other's face and bursted out laughing again. The sentence was funny, no doubt but it wasn't that hilarious.

I think some of us even forgot what we were talking about, just a look at each other and we all started laughing again.

"Ok ok, enough now. My stomach has started paining, please stop", Jiya said clutching her stomach.

Everyone nodded, taking few breathes to calm down. We were almost successful but Shanaya started laughing again and the chain of contagious laughs started again.

We finally managed to calm down after few minutes, holding our stomachs while breathing heavily.

All four of us stood idly, not knowing what to do or say now.

Thinking that it was only appropriate that I invite them inside as we were standing near my house.

"Umm, would you all like to come inside?", I invited them.

"Do you really want us to come or its just a formality?", Maitri asked confusing my awkwardness to be my hesitancy to call them.

"Why would she do any formality? She is calling us because she wants to, right Sia?", Shanaya interrupted rolling her eyes at Maitri while simultaneously pushing me aside to enter my house.

She turned towards us upon reaching the door. "Why are you all still standing there? Come on", she spoke moving her hands frantically in a 'come fast' motion.

"I would say sorry for her behaviour but this is going to be a normal occurrence, so just get used to it", Jiya muttered while we followed Shanaya.

I chuckled upon hearing her. Looking at Shanaya behaving like a host even though it was my house, it was clear that what Jiya spoke was 100% true.

Upon seeing us, Ganga Tai brought snacks. She conversed for a few minutes but soon left as Rudra had warned her to not overwork herself.

"Soooo, now what?", Maitri asked when a sudden silence fell upon us.

I had invited them on an impulse, while that wasn't wrong in anyway but I had no idea of what we were going to do here.

"Do you have board games? I want to play", Shanaya asked with hopeful eyes.

"We are not kids to play board games", Maitri taunted shutting down Shanaya's idea.

I thought Shanaya would be hurt because of Maitri's tone but Shanaya is unpredictable.

"Everybody is a kid at heart. Come on, don't be a granny", Shanaya said while tickling Maitri to make her agree.

"Ok ok, I agree. Please stop", Maitri said laughing, trying to get out of Shanaya's hold.

"Wait for a few minutes, I will just go and bring the board games here", I said standing up from my seat.

                          ~~~•~~~

We were enjoying so much that none of us noticed the time. It was when Rudra came in, I realized that we spent the whole evening playing and it was now time for dinner.

"Rudra? How come you are here? And how did you enter the house?", Jiya asked making Rudra freeze in his spot.

"Amm, I....I actually", he stammered unable to come up with a response.

He has always been a shield for me and it was my time to help him.

"Ganga Tai must have left the door open, by mistakenly. How else would he come inside, right Rudra?", I made an excuse.

"Yeah, the door was open", Rudra repeated sighing in relief.

We both knew that the door was closed and he entered through the keys, but the girls didn't need to know that information.

"What are you doing here? I mean at this time. It's not that late but still...", Maitri trailed out her words.

"Umm...", he was blank again.

"Guys, stop interrogating him. He is here for notes. I knew he was going to come but lost the track of time while enjoying with you all", I lied seeing that Rudra didn't want them to know that he was working here.

"Oh! Then it's okay but Rudra next time ring the bell, okay? Even if the door is open , always ring the bell or atleast knock before coming inside. Sia lives alone so you shouldn't just barge in", Jiya lectured him and truthfully there was some sense in her words.

There's a chance that I may be roaming around in my nightwears and it would be really embarrassing if he comes in at that time. Fortunately, it hasn't happened but I need to take care from now onwards.

"You are right. It won't happen again", Rudra agreed.

"Guys we should leave now. It's really late and our parents must be waiting for us", Shanaya said pointing towards the wall clock.

"Yeah, you are right. Let's leave. We had a great time. Bye Sia, bye Rudra", Jiya said and all three of them left after bidding us bye.

I closed the door and returned to the living room to see Rudra standing there with his head bowed down.

"Rudra?", I called him softly.

He looked up with nervousness clear on his face and said, "Sorry. It's not like I am embarrassed by working here. It's just...It's just"

"It's just awkward", I completed his sentence.

He just nodded sighing.

"Don't worry. I understand, it happens. You work peacefully, I won't tell anybody", I assured him and went to pick up the board games while he moved to the kitchen after thanking me.