om: why do you like street food a lot?

gauri: because it's tasty, it's nice and it makes me happy. just try it.

om: fine but only one. we have to go soon.

gauri: good point. ok. golgappa bhaiya, two golgappas please.

the golgappa person nodded, made them and then gave them to om and gauri.

om: wow it's actually nice.

gauri: I told you so. thank you golgappa bhaiya. here, your money.

golgappa bhaiya: thank you. have a good evening.

gauri: you too.

the two went in the car and om started to drive.

om: so now?

gauri: I have to go home now. my dad doesn't mind me hanging out with my friends but he expects me home by 8.

om: and I thought you didn't like being told what to do?

gauri: only my dad is allowed to. I can stay out of the house till 8 mainly because he comes home at 8 from work most days. 8 and onwards, I can spend time with him.

om: how cute. only problem is...

gauri: is...what?

om: where do you live so I can drop you off?

gauri: pass me your phone and I'll set the address on google maps.

om: here.

gauri was given the phone and she typed in her address into the google maps then pressed the 'start' button. om started driving but once again, they were silent. neither of them knew what to say. om just looked in front of him as he was driving whereas gauri went on her phone, texting someone:

WhatsApp conversation:

gauri: CHAHAT!

chahat: bolo.

gauri: I'm in the car with him and it's going to take me at least 40 minutes to get home. it's already been 10 minutes and we are just being quiet.

chahat: start the conversation then.

gauri: what should I say? this has been happening all day. we talk and laugh then we're silent. 

chahat: ask him doll about him moving to our school. 

gauri: ok I will.

gauri put her phone down and said: so looking forward to move to our school?

om thought for a minute...he didn't really know what to say really because his mum only announced this news to him recently and he had met a lot of people at her party but he wasn't keen on some people.

om: well...yeah kinda, I mean you, rishi, chahat, asha and richa will be there. Shreya seem nice.

gauri: Shreya?

om: yeah Shreya.

gauri: she is really nice, just be careful if she flirts with you.

om: noted. rishi doesn't like her.

gauri: did he tell you why?

om: he did. but I am not looking forward to see yash.

gauri: no one looks forward to see him. what can I say? people hate him but no one can hate him more than me.

om: why do you hate him exactly?

gauri: he is obsessed with me. I'm not even joking, he is psycho obsessed with me. he asked me out 10 times and he doesn't understand the meaning of no.

om: seriously?

gauri: yeah.

om: who would want to go out with you?

gauri looked at him with an angry gaze. om felt her heavy gaze and continued driving, his mouth twitching as he tried to hold a laugh, but then he started to laugh.

gauri: I hate you.

she punched his arm lightly as he continued to laugh. whilst the playful punches and laughter was happening, they heard a loud thumping that almost made om lose control. he managed to stop the car and looked at gauri, who looked scared.

om: you okay?

gauri: yes but...but what was that?

om: let me check. stay in the car please.

gauri just nodded as he pressed 'pause' on his phone and then went out of the car with his phone, clicking on the torch. 

they seemed to have broken down somewhere isolated. the street was dead. no other car passed by. the narrow street was surrounded by a bunch of trees. soon the shadows of the trees would blend into the blackness and their silhouettes against the sky would grow less pronounced. the breaking of a simple leaves or twigs was heard. he detected the loam fragrance in the light breeze and glanced upward to catch a glimpse of the moon before a dark cloud came and erased its precious silver rays. once looking at where they were at, he directed his torch down where the tyres of the car were. he crouched down and examined the wheels and as he were, he failed to notice the door of his car opening and closing. 

om: shit, two flat tyres. 

voice: KYA?!

om looked up to see a silhouette figure sitting on the car bonnet. he shined his flashlight at the silhouette only to see gauri trying to block the bright flashy light from blinding her.

gauri: SERIOUSLY? IT'S JUST ME!

om: how was I supposed to know? you could have been a murderer or something like that.

gauri: really? me? a murderer?

om: how was I supposed to know it was you? also I remember telling you to stay in the car.

gauri: in case you have forgetton, no one and I MEAN NO ONE can tell me what to do. 

om mumbling: should have locked the car.

gauri: I'm sorry what was that? speak a little louder please. 

om: nothing. forget it. 

gauri: okie. so what are we going to do about the flat tyres? 

om: replace them dumbo.

gauri: listen you, I am not a dumbo. don't call me names. 

om rolled his eyes and he stood up, going to the back whilst gauri just sat where she was obediently. om lifted up the car boot to see if he could find any spare tyre. gladly he found one and the other stuff he needed. 

om: gauri, mind giving me some help?

gauri: sure. 

she went off the car bonnet and walked to the back.

gauri: so what do you need help with?

om: hold the vehicle user manual thingy, wrench and jack thingy.

gauri: fine.

she got the three small things whilst om carried the tyre back to the front.

gauri: do you want me to help?

om: it's fine. I have changed tyres before by myself so I don't need help.

gauri: pakka na?

om: haan baba pakka. 

gauri: at least let me hold the torch.

om: fine here's my phone, don't break it.

gauri: relax I won't.

gauri sat on the car bonnet, cross-legged, her phone in one hand and her other hand holding the phone that was shining the torch at the bottom of the car where om was changing the first tyre. the heavy breeze kicked in, making her hair fly and she started shivering. om looked up at her.

om: cold?

gauri: yes, freezing.

om: do you want to go in the car?

gauri: no, I want to stay sitting here for now.

om just chuckled and opened the car to find a hoodie in the back seat. he took it out and gave it to gauri before going back to the tyre.

gauri: thank you.

om: no problem.

she put it on and like the black hoodie, it was so big for her.

gauri: exactly how tall are you? your hoodies are too big for me.

om: 6'4 and you must be 5 foot. 

gauri: what makes you think I'm 5 foot?

om: have you seen how short you are?

gauri laughed and said: not every short girl is 5 foot. you're only thinking that because you are too tall.

om: yeah no shit.

gauri: and for your kind information I am 5'3.

om: really? still short.

gauri: I hate you.

om: nice to know. 

they laughed as om finished replacing the first flat tyre with a new one. he placed the flat tyre in the boot and went back to gauri, who was still holding his phone.

om: first tyre done but I don't have another spare tyre.

gauri: what are we going to do then?

om: what's the time?

gauri: how is this related to this situation? one tyre may have been fixed but the other?! are we going to be stuck here forever?! this place is really creeping me out, I mean no cars are here, it's all isolated and I am super convinced that there are wild animals....OH MY GOD! WHAT HAPPENS IF A WEIRD ANIMAL COMES AND EATS US FOR ITS DINNER? I DON'T WANT TO D...

she couldn't say another word before om covered her mouth with his hand. 

gauri: mm..mmmmmmmMMMMMMM.

om: quiet. there is no wild animals here first of all, and if there was, at the rate you are yelling at, we would be dead already?

gauri's voice muffling: KYA?!

om: second of all, we won't be stuck here forever and third of all just tell me the time.

he removed his hand from her mouth and gauri checked his phone.

gauri: 8:15. 

om: ok thanks. pass me my phone please.

gauri: here.

om got his phone and dialled in a number whilst gauri checked her phone.

Whatsapp conversation:

shashank: where are you? it's gone past 8.

gauri: hi papa, the car broke down. don't worry I'll be home soon.

shashank: pakka? 

gauri: haan papa, pakka. don't worry.

shashank: how can I not worry? it's nighttime and my daughter isn't even home. 

gauri: I'll be back soon, accha I have to go. my friend needs to tell me something about the car.

shashank: ok, just please let me know when everything is working. 

gauri: sure.

gauri turned her phone off and looked at om who was waiting.

gauri: now speak.

om: so I spoke to someone I know and they're coming soon.

gauri: how do they know where to come?

om: I just told them that we are in the place 15 minutes near high street phoenix mall and that person knows exactly what I was on about.

gauri: great and did you say 'high street phoenix mall'?

om: yes I did.

gauri: please can we go there? pretty please! 

om: why?

gauri: I want to go to forever new.

om: no.

gauri: why?

om: we're not leaving the car. 

gauri: urgh fine. 

she pulled a sad, angry pout and om just laughed, pinching her cheeks. her lips formed into a smile and she started giggling. om stopped pinching her cheeks and said: you are so cute you know? just like a kid.

gauri: why like a kid?

om: because you are short, you look like one and you can act like one.

gauri: very funny.

om rolled his eyes and leaned against the car. gauri smiled and ruffled his hair.

gauri: how come your hair is long?

om: I don't know actually. I think mum got it cut when I was 15 and then it just started growing and I didn't want to cut it.

gauri: never ever cut it please. long hair suits you.

om: aww is that a compliment?

gauri: maybe.

they continued talking and laughing, waiting for the person to come and fix the other flat tyre. 

gauri: mickey mouse is the best. end of discussion.

om: oh really?

gauri: really? I mean how can you not like the mickey mouse movies? they are damn amazing. clearly something is wrong with you.

om: wrong with me? mickey mouse is childish.

gauri: no it isn't.

om: yes it is. 

gauri: no it isn't.

om: yes it is.

gauri: no it isn't.

om: yes it is.

gauri: no it isn't.

om: yes it is.

gauri: no it isn't.

om: yes it...

before om said something, he felt a light slap on his face. he looked at gauri, sat on the bonnet, all innocent like.

om: you are so dead.

gauri gave a little squeal and got off the bonnet, om started to chase her around the car. as this was happening, the thick blackened clouds were dragged down by the heavy rain which it held in its delicate frame.  the clouds which struggled to withstand the burden of the weight which the rain held, soon gave in. the rain poured down over the city with a roar. The sound of emptiness was disrupted by the loud gregarious boom of thunder. the cold icy rain pierced his  wet skin as he wore no jumper or hoodie or long-sleeved shirt. the quality of darkness shifted in the sky but the rain kept pouring. The harsh rain obliterated the crystal reflection of the sky and turned it into an disorientated chaos. she ran across the slippery path, her posture weakened by the weight of her soaked clothes. suddenly, she lost her balance and was about to hit the ground when someone caught her. she looked up and saw om. his grip around her tightened as she locked eyes with him. though with the lack of light, moon wasn't covered by any clouds yet so she was given a little bit of light to see his eyes............his eyes, so black and deep, like a bottomless well. they were dragging her in, those eyes of his, and she could see the autumn tones, fending of the winter frost, that were her eyes falling under that dark well. 

he got her up but his arms were still around her. he pulled her closing, making gauri feel his heart beating against her chest. gauri tilted her head toward om's and without thinking his hand tucks her wet hair behind her ear. their ability to think disappeared as their lips met.  the moment is theirs. the rain runs down their faces to where their lips meet, both of them tasting the cold drops. instead of detracting from the intensity of the moment it brought them to new heights. om pushed his lips in more firmly and the wave that ran through gauri was intoxicating, making her head swim.  suddenly their brains came back and they realised what was going on they pulled away, gauri freed herself from om's arms and....and they just looked at each other.

they had just met, they hated each other at the very beginning and for some reason, out of nowhere, they kissed...they kissed in the rain. ok maybe the fact that it was in the rain wasn't as big of a deal as kissing each other in general! why did they even...why did they even kiss each other? they didn't even like each other in that way. they stared at each other in an odd way, as if it were a silent argument. their glances battled each other, until they heard a person talking.

person: hey om, sorry. traffic in the city. here's the tyre. I'll do it for you.

om: thanks man.

he looked at gauri who was just standing there. she sighed and walked to sit in the car whilst om just looked at the person fixing the other tyre. once that was done, om kept the other flat tyre in his car boot and shook the person's hand.

om: thanks for the help.

person: no problem. 

om: how much do I owe you?

person: nothing.

om: are you sure?

person: 100%. now have a good evening.

om: you too.

they went in their cars. gauri had finished texting her dad that they were now on their way. the person drove first and then om started driving. 

the silence hung in the air like the suspended moment. the silence was an unavoidable nothingness. a quiet that was deafening. the lack of life to break the deafness with ragged breaths and the beating of a human heart. well two human hearts. soon they reached gauri's house and finally something was said.

gauri: thank you for the ride and the day. see you soon.

om: your welcome. thank you for the day as well. bye.

gauri: bye.

she went out of the car and into her house. om wanted to mention the kiss but it would be cruel to keep her dad waiting. he just sighed and drove from her house.

precap: "about that kiss..."

ok so they kissed but they don't feel anything for each other.

so what does this mean for them?

will they immediately come lovers like ruhaan and pooja did or will they take it slowly?

who knows?

sorry for a SUPER DUPER LATE update. like I said, I was taking a break from writing cuz I felt like...idk miserable with stuff in my personal life. still am but I want to write because I guess I love it a lot. thank you for reading my crap. love you all.

target: 25+ votes and 9+ comments