❝I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know? ❞

-Ernest Hemingway

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CHAPTER ONE | THE SPARK

HE HELD HER in the cage of his arms. She could feel his hands right beneath her chest and just above her waist. They danced together- in the dizzying crowd. Everyone spun around in their bright colored clothes- the sequins shone, the mirrors on the long, billowing skirts of the women sparkled.

Indians were known for their lively dance parties. Especially Gujaratis- which were a type of Indians that Rudra was. Adhira didn't know much about his culture. Even though she was Indian, Punjabi to be exact.

Today felt like a fairytale. As they danced among the crowd, her steps weren't flattering in the bright lights. The weeks of practicing the traditional Guajarati dance Garba had paid off. She could hear his friends cheering them on as they moved among the large circle of dancers. There were smiles around. Rudra's parents were standing by the food stalls, enjoying a light beverage. For the first time, Adhira didn't see resentment in their eyes for her.

Even they, with everyone else, cheered them on. She couldn't have been happier- knowing how much his parents meant to Rudra. She turned around, the silver anklets she wore jingled pleasantly.

"Rudra, your parents." She brushed her fingers against his shoulder.

He gripped her hand. "I know."

Breathlessly, Adhira realized how perfect he seemed when he smiled. The gruff beard, wide face- innocent yet devilish brown eyes- how very enticing they were. She felt her heart skip couple of beats, painfully, quickly. She couldn't have counted the number. He had that effect on her. Even after six years of dating, he still made her feel like a silly teenager.

"Adhira, I'm tired of dancing. Let's go somewhere."

Before she had a chance to reply, he took her hand and spun her deftly through the crowd. Adhira didn't know why she giggling as she followed Rudra through the narrow, dimly lit corridors. He came to an abrupt stop when they reached a secluded corner. Pushing her up against a wall, he ran a finger across her jaw.

"Do you know- "He stopped his finger right next to her earlobe- where a pearl earring hung. "How absolutely ravishing you look?"

Nervously, she tucked few strands of hair behind her ear. "No, I don't..."

She could feel his breath trickle up her heated cheek. "Should I show you then?"

Tortuously slowly, he began planting soft kisses on her collar- just above her blouse's elegant neckline. She could feel the roughness of his beard against her chest. Closing her eyes, she gripped the back of his black tunic.

"You shouldn't.... someone might see us"

"Like you give a damn." He whispered, breathlessly against her neck- the pecks were growing softer and more urgent.

"I don't but people might talk...." Before she could complete her sentence, he interrupted her.

"You're mine and the whole world needs to know that."

Those were his finals words before he stole the words on her tongue and......

♫Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way♫

The loud blaring noise of the alarm clock jolted Adhira out of her deep slumber. Groggily, she slammed the back of her hand on the clock and snuggled deeper into the blanket. That dream- damn, it was too good to be true anyways.

"Rudra is in no way that romantic. I should have known it was a dream." She mumbled into the pillow.

Somehow, somewhere a part of her wanted to believe that it wasn't a dream but reality. The reality of her life was too screwed up to be that good. She rolled over one last time before reaching for her phone.

No messages from Rudra. She checked his last active time on WhatsApp.

Yesterday at 11:47 pm.

She wondered who he stayed up texting that late into the night. It certainly wasn't his girlfriend. Adhira was slowly starting to feel as though this relationship was more toxic than it should be. She was constantly doubting him, herself, and everything that had brought them together. He barely had time for her.

She understood that he was an emergency medicine resident and he did not want to spend every free moment he had with his girlfriend. Even though Adhira devoted her time constantly for him, she couldn't even expect the same from him.

After blowing a heavy breath, she got up in bed. Seeing that the clock was close to striking eight, she was already running late for class.

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Clara, Adhira's research partner, was in her moody morning moods. Both Clara and Adhira were majoring in Criminology and being the ambitious women they were, they had decided to formulate a new way to investigate DNA evidence. It was tricky and required more expensive equipment than the college could provide. Hence, the reason their research was progressing at the rate of a turtle.

Adhira sat down in the student longue. The sofas and dimly lighted room provided a nice, calming ambience for their dedicated study time. The coffee machine in the corner was occupied as usual. An old man was waiting for his cappuccino to be finished.

Clara peered over the books, her brows set into a confused expression. "It doesn't make any sense for God's sake."

"Welcome to uni,"

She glared at her and Adhira simply shrugged her shoulders as she continued to copy the data they had collected yesterday.

"When will you analyze that." Clara pointed to the neatly scrawled data tables on her notebook.

"Tonight, after Garba practice."

The expression on Clara's face soured further. "For that useless boyfriend of yours. Does he even know that you've gotten huge blisters on your feet from the dance? Like literally you couldn't even stand upright the day before yesterday."

"He doesn't even know I'm taking lessons." Adhira muttered under her breath.

"When is the celebration?"

"Tomorrow." Adhira gazed outside. It was such a pleasant weather – the maple trees were swaying gently-yet Clara and her were stuck indoors.

Clara had recently gone through a bad relationship and was convinced that all men were succumbags that should be eliminated from earth immediately.

"When was the last time you guys had a proper conversation?"

"Two weeks ago I think..."

"You know all the signs are pointing towards it."

Adhira slammed the book shut. "No, Clara. He's not cheating on me. I know he's busy." Her voice broke slightly towards the end. "I trust him."

Seeing her distraught expression, Clara didn't argue any further.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Adhira was walking towards her car after practice. The sneakers barely provided any comfort- she could feel her feet sorely aching. The instructor had said to put warm pad over them and the swelling should go down overnight.

She stopped walking suddenly- when she spotted a guy carrying his girl on his back. Laughing, they went towards their car. There used to be a time when she and Rudra used be that happy, that in love.

The night air chilled her bare arms.

It used to be different in the beginning. She was the distant one and he was always chasing for her. She knew no-matter what he'd be there to catch her, to hold her in his arms.

The roles seemed to have reversed now. He had taken her for granted, her love, her devotion to him. She missed the nights of lying in bed, talking aimlessly all night long, just savoring each other's company- soaking in the other's fear and providing comfort in return.

Where had those days gone? Now, weeks went by without them talking. Sometimes to see if he cared, Adhira wouldn't text him first. But then the fear of him not reaching out again, forced her to call him.

She wondered, would he miss her if she disappeared? Would he be worried?

Adhira didn't want to admit this- but, but .... she didn't think he would even notice.

Wow, after exactly one year- I bring back to you my favorite story- CRASH. I hope that updates will be regular as I have spent time writing quite few of the chapters. Every ounce of support is appreciated. I won't abandon you all. <3 Much much love from my side.