*Viraj*

I run faster as the music blasts loudly in my ears. Believer by imagine dragons is playing. My legs start paining from all the exertion. I can feel my heart thumping loudly in my chest. Faster.

Finally I stop the treadmill and take long breathes. I look at the clock. 5.30 am. Ek ghante me meri flight hai. To Goa.

To. Fucking. Goa.

Aur ye sab uss idiot Rudra ke wajah se. Shaadi kar raha hai saala.

A few months back, I was on Instagram scrolling through my feed as I was on my way home in my car. Waise mere paas time nahi hota ye sab ke liye but I had nothing to do.

With more than 5 million followers, the constant pings get irritating.

There was a message on Instagram and I usually ignored them because I get thousands of them in a day but the username caught my attention.

Rudra_Rajput.

What the..

*Viraj??*

*Bhai I know to online hai. I saw you liked some pictures a few seconds ago*

Saala stalker.

I look at the messages appearing on my screen and contemplate whether to open them. It's been more than 4 years I left that place. Left those people. Almost 5 years.

*Bhai shaadi kar raha hu*

I see the next message and that's it. I open it.

Shaadi? Shaadi! Abhi toh bass 23 ke hai hum.

What the fuck should I say? Kya karu? Kya likhu? Damn!

*Kisse?* I ask, although I know the answer.

Pari.

*Shit! Tu reply diya. Pari se kar raha hu shaadi obviously* comes his reply.

I smile. I miss him. He was like a brother to me. He was, scratch that, is my brother.

I suddenly feel really really bad for what I did to them. My friends.

Ek faaltu ladki ke liye sab ko abandon kar diya mai.

*Bhai kaha gayab ho gaya? Please ab gayab mat hona. Apna pact tujhe yaad hai na? Tu promise kiya tha* he messages again when I don't reply, and suddenly I remember.

Once when we were in the 5th or 6th grade I saw Rudra's eyes fixed on something. Or should I say somebody.

He was staring at Pari. Like always.

I always felt it stupid. Idiotic. Pyaar agar itna pagal banaa deta hai toh pyaar karna hi nahi, I had thought.

"One day I'll marry her" he had said out of the blue and I had smacked him on the head.

"She doesn't even talk to you. Uske bade bhai kitne khatarnak hai pata hai na" I had replied.

"Jo bhi ho. Ek din mai usse shaadi karunga. Aur sabse pehla invitation tujhe de raha hu. Promise kar tu aayega".

"Kya bol raha hai tu kuch bhi" I had rolled my eyes.

"Chal ek pact banate hai. Apan ek dusre ke bina shadi hi nahi karenge. Tu mera bhai hai. Tu rehna hi chahiye. Aur tere shaadi me mai. Pakka promise" he said spitting on his hand to shake it. I rolled by eyes but did the same.

And there a promise was made. A brother's promise.

I decided to call him after that message. I still had his number. Hopefully he hadn't changed it.

"Hello kon?" He said as soon as he picked up.

"Tera baap" I replied and I heard him laugh on the other line. I missed this asshole.

"Kab kar raha hai shaadi?" I asked him.

"Kuch fix nahi. Lekin abhi kuch mahine hai. Tu jab free rahega tab mai date fix kar dunga" he said and I felt like a big pile of shit for doing this to my best friend.

Vo shaadi ki date mere convenience ke hisaab se set kar raha hai. Aur mai..

"Jab tu kahe mai aa jaaunga" I said and gulped.

"Kaisa hai tu Rudra?" I asked and felt my eyes starting to feel pricky.

"Thik hu Veer. Tu?" He asked and I said that I was fine.

"Bahot achha lagta hai tujhe TV pe dekh ke. Bahot khush hai sab teri success se" he paused. "Tu wapas aa jaa na yaar" he said as his voice cracked in the end.

I looked up and took a long breath. "Wapas aane ka pata nahi. Teri shaadi ke liye jarur aaunga".

"Sirf shaadi nahi. Uske saath saath jo bhi sab ceremonies hote hai sab ke liye aayega tu. Aayega na?"

"Ha" I said after a moment.

"Veer, about Aslesha. Tujhe usse-"

"You won't ever take her name again Rudra. Please. Just this one condition you follow, aur fir chahiye toh jaan bhi maang le, mai de dunga. Lekin usse mention mat karna wapas" I say and the words had come out a little too sharply.

I heard him sighing loudly on the other end. "Fine. Jaisa tu chaahe. Bass tu aaja"

"Ha beta. Aaunga mai. Kisi ko batana mat apni baat hui. Warna I'll beat you into a pulp". He laughed.

"Chal ab rakhta hu. Tu apna khayal rakh".

"Tu bhi. I love you" he said and I had burst out laughing while cringing.

"Chee yaar Rudra. Bhak!"

And that's it. Tab se Rudra aur mai constant touch me the. Rudra ne kaha ke saare preparations vagera ke liye do mahino se jyada time lagega. I didn't want to stay in a hotel so I asked Rudra to see if there's a house available on rent, not in the city but somewhere far from the crowd.

Being in the spotlight is now taking a toll on me.

He had sent me many pictures along with the details of some houses he selected from which one particular house was so freaking beautiful that I decided to buy it.

Yes. Buy it.

I'm still wondering ke maine itna rash decision kyu liya? 3-4 mahine rehne ke liye ghar le liya. But then I kept convincing myself that maa ko achha lagega. Unke naam pe le liya fir.

Actually the house was simple but the location was breathtaking.

The only thing wrong with it was that it was located in Divar island.

But I don't care about her anymore so that place won't affect me. Neither does she.

Yea keep convincing yourself.

Shut the fuck up!

I don't know if I've got impulsive over the years but all my decisions are like this.

It had been four months and the work for my new house was in progress. Rudra still hadn't fixed the date. Vo pagal mujhe pagal toh nahi banaa raha.

And suddenly one day he called me and said that the wedding will be probably in November. Lekin tayyari ke liye, he told me to come.

Also with all the progress of the house and the hectic shit here, I just wanted to leave and relax. Ipl aur Asia cup bhi kuch dino pehle hi khatam hue the. There were no upcoming matches and the beach house was becoming too tempting.

And now I'm leaving. I can't believe mai Goa jaa raha hu. After all these years. Abhi it's the start of September so I'll have to stay there for almost 3 months. Seems too much.

But the guilt about treating Rudra and all my other friends that way is eating me up, now more than ever.

Toh kya hua agar waha mere sabse bade do dushman rahenge. Rudra ke liye jhel lunga.

Rudra didn't mention anything about them throughout these days and I'm thankful for it. He has handled my shit bachpan se. Har chiz me mera saath dena, chaahe vo chiz galat hi kyu na ho.

For Rudra I can handle it.

I haven't even packed my bag. I just dump whatever clothes come in my hand and stuff them in my suitcase.

I shower and call Satish Kaka, my driver, to keep the car ready. Fuck I haven't even eaten anything. Just one glass of milk and an apple.

Ye roz bina tel, bina masale ka khana kha kha ke waise bhi pareshaan ho gaya hu mai.

I text maa that I'm leaving. Vo toh bahot khush thi ke mai Goa aa raha hu. That I'm finally taking a break.

She too will be coming for the wedding. She was forcing me so much to stay with her and Nana Nani but I refused. I asked them to come stay in the new house but she refused.

Jesus!

Unse fir bhi milne toh jaana hai. Mostly she comes to Mumbai to visit me but now I'm going. Nana Nani ke ghar bhi kuch hafte rukna hoga.

When I reach the airport and see photographers, I groan in irritation. Ye log sote bhi hai kya? Hamesha airport pe pade rehte hai.

"Sir aau andar tak?" Satish Kaka asks me looking at the photographers.

"Nahi nahi kaka. Jyada nahi hai" I say and remove a few thousand from my wallet.

"Aap gaao ja rahe ho na ab mai nahi hu tab tak, ye lo" I say handing him the money.

"Nahi nahi sir aapne mujhe tankhaa di pichle hafte hi"

"Ha vo aapke liye. Ye paiso se kaki ke liye kuch lena" I say and forcefully hand him the money.

"Aur itna bola hu aapko ke sir mat bolo. Aapse bahot chhota hu mai" I say and he smiles.

"Sambhal ke jaana" he says and I wave him goodbye.

As soon as I get out of the car and walk a few steps, the photographers notice me and rush towards me. Fucking hell.

"Sir sir aap kaha ja rahe ho? Vacation?"

"Sir rumours hai ke aapne secretly super model Shikha se engagement kar li hai. Is that true?"

Who the fuck spreads these rumours. Har mahine ek hi sawaal alag ladki ke saath.

I sigh and keep walking.

"Sir sunne me aaya hai ke aapki aur captain ki bannti nahi hai aur vo chahte hai ke aap team me na khele" one of them says and I stop in my tracks and glare at him.

This is too much.

"Side me hatt tu" I say. His camera is right on my face and it's getting annoying. They all get away from me and I fasten my pace and enter inside.

The whole journey is full of selfies. Jaha bhi jaau, Viraj ek selfie please, Viraj ek photo please. Log baat toh karte hi nahi. Photo kheech ke nikal lete hai. Arre haath milaao, haal chaal pucho. Lekin nahi. Sometimes I feel like a zoo animal. Bass isi liye I desperately need a break.

When the plane starts landing, my heart starts sinking too. This is it. I'm here. Goa.

Koi baat nahi koi baat nahi. It's all gonna be good. It's gonna be great.

Again it's the same when I get out of the airport. All these people on my face.

I see my friend Jeetu in the car who has come to pick me up and I get in. I met Jeetu in Mumbai during a function. He's a singer.

Rudra ki kal tabiyet thodi kharab ho gayi so he couldn't come to pick me up.

"Kaisa hai tu bhai" he asks slapping my back. "Filhaal bhooka hu. Kuch khilaa jaldi" I say.

"Subah ke 8 baje hai. Kuch khulaa nahi hoga" he says.

"Kahi jaana nahi hai yaar. Order kar denge. I want to keep a low profile now that I'm here" I tell him.

"Ghar chal fir dekhte hai" he says and drives me to his house. I actually directly wanted to go to my new place but Jeetu can be very persistent at times.

"Ruk order karta hu. Tab tak fridge me dekh kuch hoga" he says when we reach his apartment and I enter his kitchen. There's just fruits. No thanks.

I see a bag with the print 'Goan accent'. I peek inside and see a plastic box with fried rice inside it.

"Oye yaha ye rice hai vo kha raha hu Mai" I shout from the kitchen.

"Kal ka hai vo" Jeetu replies. I don't even care.

I seriously can't wait anymore. I microwave the rice and when I remove it the delicious smell of spices hits my nostrils.

I see a few pieces of prawns. I have a bite and ummmhhh..

Foodgasm jo word hai, it applies to this. Ek number. Damn I love this.

"Oye Jeetu. Ye kaha se laaya tu?" I ask him.

"Arre mere chacha ka bada restaurant hai yaha. Waha se mangaya tha seafood platter. Pura khaya nahi gaya toh rakh diya tha" he says.

"Tere chacha ka hai. Fir toh ekdum sahi hai. Jisne bhi ye banaya hai I want him as my chef. Jitni bhi salary chahiye de dunga. Call him and tell him" I say and lick the plate.

"Aate hi kaam pe laga diya saala" he rolls his eyes and I show him the finger.

"Mera naam mat lena" I say and he nods and talks to his uncle.

"Ho gaya samajh le kaam. Aaj waise bhi Goa aa rahe the vo" he says and thank him.

"Mere ghar pe bhej dena usse jald se jald. Chal nikalta hu mai" I say.

"Abeyy ruk thodi der aur. Tera khana bhi aane wala hai" he says but I shake my head.

"Fir kabhi aata hu bhai. Baad me jyada log dekhne se achha hai abhi jaau" I say and he nods understandingly.

"Chal tujhe ferry tak chhod du" he says.

"Cab book kar diya hu. Aur waha se mere liye private boat arrange kiye hai. Chal nikalta hu" I say and give him a bro hug.

I put on my hoodie and cover my face as much as possible.

Chalo.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

Divar island is just as I remember and this beautiful house before me is breathtaking.

Jayson, the one who renovated this house, has done a great job. I gotta thank him personally later.

I enter the house and see that all of the furniture and stuff is yet to be set and there are boxes everywhere. I personally refused the interior designer to do it. Sab kuch ekdum perfect ho toh ghar ghar jaisa nahi lagta.

I see an old lady setting up the kitchen. She is Usha Tai I guess. She's gonna be my housekeeper and stays a few minutes away in a nearby village.

"Usha Tai?"

"Sir aap aa gaye. Mai abhi aapke liye paani laati hu" she says rushing towards the fridge. She's an old woman in her 60s but she doesn't look weak or anything.

Rudra said that she desperately needed the job as her son had abandoned her and she had no other family.

"Thanks tai" I say when she hands me the glass. "Aap please sir mat bulaaiye mujhe. Mai aapse bahot chhota hu" I say and she smiles.

I feel really awkward and bad when older people call me sir.

I look at the whole house going to each room one by one. 3 bedrooms, one living room, a kitchen and a gym room. All the rooms are empty except the gym room where I had asked for all the equipments to be placed.

I finally go towards the back of the house which overlooks the sea and breath in the fresh salty air. The sun is up and shining brightly and the beach is empty except a few fisherman here and there.

I see a cute puppy near the balcony and lift him. "Hey champ" I say and kiss him. Dogs are so precious. I feed him some biscuits and then he leaves.

The bedroom that is closest to the backside is going to by my bedroom.

I start to arrange it first. I shift the bed and arrange the clothes in the cupboard. I keep the toiletries in the bathroom attached to me bedroom and a little more furniture here and there. By the time I'm done it's 3 and I'm exhausted.

I'm so freaking hungry. I remember the rice I ate in the morning and my stomach lets out a growl. Ye Jeetu ne sab arrange kiya ke nahi? Kab aayega ye chef?

Usha Tai makes khichdi for me and that's okay for now. I get a call from Jeetu that the chef will be coming within an hour or two. I go for a run in the evening at the beach and after some time come back and take a shower.

Bhook lagi hai yaar.

I am buttoning up my shirt when there's a light knock on my bedroom door.

Finally aa gaya!

"Come in" I say because the door is partly open.

Thud!

A girl falls flat on her face inside my room and I'm about to rush towards her but she lifts her face.. oh fuck!

Fuck.

Aslesha freaking Mathur.

Her eyes go wide as she looks at me from head to toe and then stands up clumsily as a bottle of pepper spray falls out from her sling back.

What?

"Shit" she mutters under her breath and quickly picks it up and stashes it in her bag again.

We just look at each other.

My mind has gone completely blank. My heart too. My whole body system is blank right now. My existence is blank.

Ugh!

She is wearing a yellow top with jeans. Her features have become more sharp and she looks mature and more.. more..

Beautiful.

Viraj kab apna sabak seekhega tu?

I quickly hide my emotions and look at her blankly with an expressionless face. She is looking at me with wide eyes and her mouth slightly open.

I push down my urge to close it.

"Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?" I say accusingly.

First day here and this happens. Fucking hell! How did she even find me?

Agar ye Rudra ka kaam raha toh I'm leaving right away. Actually, I'll stab him with a knife first and then leave.

"Vo mai.. Mai vo.." she stutters and I roll my eyes.

"Sir ye.. Naam kya bataya tumne apna?" Usha tai comes suddenly. I frown.

"Aslesha Mathur" she says looking down at her feet as I see her pulling the hem of her top continuously.

Ye naam kaise bhul sakta hu mai? Khud ka naam ek baar bhul jaaunga lekin ye jo ladki mere life ke saath kheli hai, uska kabhi nahi.

"Ha Aslesha. Vo jo aapne chef ke liye bola tha na. Vo" Usha tai says.

And then everything clicks into place. Out of all the chefs in Goa, mujhe iska khana achha lagna tha. Itna ghatiya naseeb hai kya mera? Wow!

"We don't need a chef. You can leave" I say sharply and turn away and open my cupboard and pretend to arrange my clothes.

I can't look at her face anymore. I'm getting a weird feeling in my chest by looking at her. Acidity hogi.

She has not changed at all. Paanch saal lage iska chehra bhulne me. Bhul nahi paaya vo alag baat hai. Lekin ab aur kitne saal lagenge wapas bhulne me kya pata?

"Um but mai itne dur se aayi hu.. aur Robertson sir ne.."

She stops when I turn and glare at her. "I. Don't. Need. You" I say. "Leave. Now".

She nods and starts walking out.

"Sir. Maaf kijiye par abhi last ferry nikal chuki hogi" Usha tai says and I groan internally.

"Mai kisi hotel me reh lungi" Aslesha says.

"Yaha koi hotel nahi hai beta".

"I'll manage" she says and leaves the room.

"Sir bahot raat ho gayi hai. Mai usse mere ghar le jaati par mere jhopde me mere liye hi mushkil se jagah hoti hai. Aap uss bichari ladki ko rehne do na" Usha tai requests me and I sigh.

I walk out and see Aslesha is already out the door.

"Oye sunno! Aaj raat ke liye ruk jaao".

~•~•~•~•~•~•

I'm giving early updates aaj kal. I hope you guys are happy with that. I loved the comments on the previous chapter. They made me really really really really happy isliye ye naya chapter itne jaldi. Thanks to each and everyone who commented asking me to update early. Made me write faster.. I know it's the previous chapter only but in Viraj's POV but ye bhi jaruri tha. Hope you guys liked it. Ily :)