Kashish's POV

I stir in my bed, disturbed by the sound of my phone ringing. I take it and look at who is calling.

Of course who else could it be.

"Ishan tereko pata hai ki I love my sleep, hadd hoti hai yaar.", I groan groggily.

"Yeah but you love me more, so anyways.", he states.

I wish you just knew how.

"Hmm bolo.", I mumble as I shuffle in my bed.

"Kahi bahar jayein?", he asks me excitedly

"Subah ke 1 baj rahe hai.", I whisper-yelled at him over the phone so as to not wake up Anu and Smu who sleeping in their room.

"So? It's fine, you'll be safe. Akeli todhi na jane waali hai. I'll be there with you.", he assures me.

"Haan but kahan jayein?", I ask him with a yawn.

"This might sound like a cliche but how about Marine Drive?", he suggests.

You are being so very not helpful about my feelings right now.

"Mhm okay, I'll get ready then.", I groan as get out of my bed.

"And I'll be there in half an hour.", he tells and cuts the call.

This wasn't the first time Ishan and I went out together late at night.

......but Marine Drive? Did that mean something?

I wish I could just stop overthinking, damn it.

I contemplate over what to wear over a few minutes and finally get ready is a while. I tiptoe across the room and close the door softly so as to not wake Anu and Smu up.

"You're on time, what a surprise.", Ishan teases me as I get inside his car.

"Haha very funny.", I roll my eyes, "clearly raat mei your sense of humour stops working."

"Looks like somebody's in a bad mood.", he points on.

"You woke me up at one in the morning, don't tell me you don't deserve it.", I yawn and I lean into the seat.

"Shit are you that tired?", he asks me concerningly.

"You know I take some time to get out of my sleepy state.", I wave it off, "I'll be okay."

"I could drop you back, if you want me to. We could go there some other day.", he tells softy.

"Arre I'm fineeee, just give me a few minutes.", I giggle.

Caring Ishan was truly the cutest.

"You'll have time for that, we'll be there in a while.", he grins and continues to drive.

"Andddd, we're here.", he tells excitedly after half an hour.

"Wow.", I tell amusedly, "it's so ridiculous ki we've never come here together in such a long time."

"Sorry", he sighs, "I've just been busy with some......things."

I furrow my eye brows in confusion about the pause but wave it off. If we were here after a long time together, I might as well enjoy. He had a series coming up in a month and it wouldn't be as easy to spend time or keep in touch like we did now.

We side for a while besides the walkway and look at the water body is silence.

"It's crazy how everything is changing.", he sighs as he leans back.

"Is it though?", I ask him with an eyebrow raised.

"I mean, not in a bad way, but it's just so weird. Like a few years ago Anu, Smu, you and I were all kids who used to spend almost every day with each other and now we're just working all the time and I'm so not even here for more than half of every year.", he vents out.

"Well, that's a part of growing up you know.", I sigh and shrug, "the more you grow, your responsibilities increase. Don't think too much about it... you're doing what you love and that's all that matters."

"Yeah you're right.", he sighs. "since when did the roles reverse though?"

"Ever since you started overthinking.", I grin at him, "it's something that many people do on a daily basis so don't worry.", I comfort him as I hold his hand.

"There's a lot of eateries open, kuch khaein?", he asks.

"Now I agree you're acting like me, are you okay?", I ask him.

"Aise kyun pooch rahi hai?", he asks me.

"Well because, one- you are on a diet and two- I'm weird so...", I shrug.

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing. It isn't okay? You're unique, so as you told me before, don't worry..... And also, today's cheat day.", he smirks and squeezes my hand softly.

"Okayyy, so let's find a store that has biryani.", I grin at him and stand up. I reach out my hand and he holds it and gets up.

We walk into this restaurant after a short walk.

God the smell of food itself is making me so hungry.

"Wait, isn't that Shreyas bhai and Jess bhabhi?", Ishan cuts through my thoughts.

I follow my eyes towards the direction his were looking at and find two familiar people sitting on two leisure sofas and eating.

"Yeah it is.", I agree, "should we join them?"

"Yeah I'm pretty sure they won't mind it.", he says and we head towards them.

"Heyyy.", Shreyas bhiaya almost yells as he recognises us, when we walk towards them.

Ishan does some ridiculous handshake with him and I give Jess a small hug as I sit next to her.

"So, what are you guys doing here?", Jess whispers in my ear with a smirk.

"Nothing.", I shrug as I give her a look,"we're just hanging out."

"Just hanging out? At Marine Drive in early morning? That sounds very-", Jess starts.

"-romantic.", I cut her off, "but it isn't."

Really wish it was though.

Published on: 04 July 2021