Week Six

"What part of me screams athletic to you?" The wall was too high. Mridula looked at the wall and the wire lining on top of it that were openly taunting her. She watched Samira grip the ends of the brick, hoisting herself up like a skilled thief, effortlessly crossing the thin line between the ordinary and the exciting life, a line that Mridula desperately wanted to cross but the wall between threatened to rip her hopes apart, along with her vagina if she slipped.

She gulped, looking around. They had five minutes to jump before the guards started patrolling and their ignored presences became obvious. Half the risk was already taken, Mridula reasoned with herself. She couldn't go back to the hostel tonight after sneaking out, so she might as well jump.

"Come on Mri, you can do it. Just like I taught you-" Mridula nodded, it was time. If she had only these three years to live a lifetime, then she couldn't afford to be scared anymore. Who knew what life had for her, or what her obnoxious parents had planned for her- all she had was now and she has to jump into the moments before they slip away.

The jump became metaphorical now for her, and she struggled under the weight of her fears. She sloppily plodded up to one side, propping her upper body on top of the wall. She looked up to see the other side of the road along with some curious eyes that would linger. "Oh god."She muttered, adjusting her glasses as she carefully crossed the wires.

"Jump now, jump."Samira encouraged, as Mridula felt her body freeze. She couldn't see the ground below, she couldn't just jump down. Who was she kidding? She wasn't strong enough to hold her dreams, how was she supposed to live them? "I-I can't" She whispered, feeling her breath accelerate.

She tried to lower her foot but there was nothing to hook them on to and Mridula found her body growing hot. She closed her eyes, for once not knowing what to do.

Someone gripped the side of her hips, firmly and her body steadied itself. "Jump."A smooth voice fought the voices in her head as Mridula gulped. "I'll catch you, I promise." Mridula didn't know whose voice that was but she knew she had to hold on to it. She nodded, taking a deep breath before jumping. The hands on her hips steadied themselves, as her back hit the body of the voice and she was on her feet. And that to alive.

Her heart was racing, but now out of sheer thrill. She turned only to meet the eyes of the voice and her heart raced a bit faster now. She knew the eyes, and they knew her too. His lips turned into an amused smile. "How many times do I have to save you, 'fuckboi' "His voice was slow and almost lost in the noise of the traffic outside.

But Mridula heard it as clear as the winds on a lonely night.

"Thank you so much for helping Karna bhaiya." Samira's voice cut through her daze as Mridula looked away from his eyes. Her cheeks turned red as soon as his hands abandoned her body and she looked everywhere but him.

Karna smiled nodding, his eyes finding its way to the girl back. Suddenly the party seemed less of the nightmare he had thought it would be.

Samira hugged Mriudula at their victory, Mridula smiling at her excitement. The real struggle began now, at the party. "Come, let me escort you two to the grand celebration," Karna spoke mockingly, as Samira nodded walking a little ahead with him. Mridula was glad, she wasn't ready for her to fall under his gaze yet again.

Even in the dark, she could see the rainy face that had popped into her mind every day since the last few weeks, the way his eyes had looked like a prisoner in pain and she could understand that. It was strange, how they haunted her, no one had ever had this kind of daunting effect on her. Except for a stranger, who she kept bumping into.

"How did you manage to jump in that?" Karna asked as Samira just smiled her smile, shrugging a little. Her black dress ended a little above her knees, her small height hidden by her two inches heels. "Let's just say this wasn't my first wall."She spoke and still managed to sound humble. Karna nodded appreciatively before glancing back at the girl following them and his mind a lot lately.

"And I am guessing we have a wall virgin behind us."He chuckled as Samira nodded. "Oh, she may be a wall virgin alright, but she will do it like a pro," Samira said proudly as Mridula shot a tiny glare that was unseen. What kind of defend was that? She thought before seeing the teasing look in Samira's eyes. "But it is a good thing you helped, or her first time would have gone much more painful than we expected." She added. Mridula wanted to push a dagger inside herself.

Karna laughed. Under the faint street lights, his laugh filled the space between them like a cold breeze that came suddenly. "Oh, I am glad I could make her first time more pleasurable. " He smirked, leading them to the flat.

He opened the door to the staircase and waved his hand for them to climb. Mridula could hear music creep out of the flat, like a distant buzz. She could feel her lips aching for a cigarette already.

Samira walked ahead, as Mridula followed. But after taking a few steps she suddenly turned back, facing the man with a smooth voice. In the pale white streetlight, she saw his face again. It looked different than it looked when it was raining. He looked sadder. Even his eyes. She didn't know what she wanted to say so she just looked. He tilted his head, still smiling a little.

No words were exchanged as Mridula turned back and followed Samira into the party. Karna watched them enter, he felt he had heard enough.

—

Even the cold shower wasn't helping, Rumi thought grudgingly. She knew she should have gone to her house today and surprised her grandfather and eat khichdi with him instead but here she was fuming despite a cold shower. Why did Rooman have to be such a dick?

She knew she liked the highs and lows but lately, she had found herself begging for normality and he wouldn't give it to her. Tears came to her eyes at the thought of how abnormal her life was. The girls in her college would die to have her 'life'. One with absolute freedom from her house, having Rooman love her, and having the inside to the social group of the college. But sometimes it felt too suffocating and it was suffocating the love out of her.

The knock on the door as loud as she groaned. She slipped on her undergarments before wrapping the towel around her wet body. She opened the bathroom door and stepped out with the steam.

One.

Two.

Three.

And there he was, like clockwork. She looked up at the man who broke her and then built her right up, his hair falling over his brown eyes that made her want to sign her life to him. His navy blue t-shirt rested on his body like it was highly obliged of the honour and even in his mustard cargo shots, he looked like the man girls wanted to steal from her.

As if she had him to begin with.

Sometimes she felt like she did. When he would sleep before she would and she could watch him like a silent lullaby. When he touched her shoulders and brought her coffee, in the nothingness of the evenings she spent studying, he would be drawing something in the corner. When she buttoned his shirt right after he had a shower, and he was already late for his class but still, he would keep unbuttoning it back, she felt like he was hers.

His hands caressed her shoulder and then a sweet smile lingered on his lips.

The steam from her shower evaporated in his touch and she felt her heart pick up beats. "And I thought the party was outside." He whispered in his husky voice as he leaned in slowly, his lips catching hers in a soft dance. Rumi gripped her towel tightly as if to remind herself before she got too lost in the kiss. Rooman scooped her body up, slowly resting it on the edge of the bed. Even with a week old purple bruise on his cheek, he looked more captivating than anything she had ever laid eyes on.

The kiss carried them in waves of good as Rumi's hand hit the bed, resisting her from laying on it completely. Rooman at once understood what the resistance meant. He pulled back from the kiss, and he saw the anger on her face.

The music blazed out loud and yet Rumi's eyes were silent. Rooman felt annoyed at the difference between the audio in his background. He wanted to either be in the silence with Rumi or the middle of the party with the songs blaring, the midway sound in the closed room agitated him more than he thought it would.

Or maybe it was alcohol flowing in him already.

She sat in her silence, her hands folded. Her black eyes were wide and angry at him and she was giving him the silent treatment again. If only he could pull the anger out of her he would. He couldn't especially if she wouldn't let him, they were bound to go in circles.

Everytime. The same thing. It was beginning to tire him out.

"Rumi if you aren't going to speak then I am going to go. There are people in the house."He added plainly, trying to keep his voice neutral. He didn't want to be the only one in his party to not have fun. And they always fought, one day it was paradise the other hell. He was not in a mood to taste hell today.

Rumi's lips parted but then closed. She couldn't believe he was daring to ask her that. As if she hadn't been humiliated enough. The rumors floating in the college about Rooman kissing the girl on the basketball court the other day and then his actions on the court. He hadn't even noticed that she hadn't come to any of his practice the last week. And he still had to ask?

She stood up, walking past him, and taking out her clothes from his wardrobe. She picked the black tank top with jeans, she didn't feel like she wanted to party but before she could actually settle on it, he gripped her arm and turned her roughly. Rumi frowned almost suddenly, as she now glared at him. Her glare bounced back from his own.

"I am getting sick of this. If you don't talk to me I am not going to keep running after you." He said as she jerked her arm off. "When do you ever run after me?" She asked, her voice threatening to break.

He shook his head before walking out. Rumi knew he would come back in a few minutes.

He didn't.

—-

Samira's eyes glistened with excitement. She had heard a lot about these parties. She had wanted to come to each of the eight invitations she had carefully ditched before. It had taken a lot of restraint but here she was after Aarav had begged her for the ninth time. There was a difference in being invited and being begged to come. And Samira expected nothing less for herself. She knew all there was to know about him and she was ready to play the game he thought he had mastered.

Feelings and love had no space in this world. They looked good in books but in reality, they broke people. And the worst of all was that you could build yourself for years and years and it would take someone mere weeks to intervene and ruin you.

And Samira didn't like to break. So she took care of herself, running after what she wanted and getting it her way. She looked at Mridula, her face showing her nervousness. She knew Mridula had come because of her but she was the one who needed to be looked after. And Samira was sure of that. "Don't take drinks from strangers and come find me if I text you or if you need me."Samira reminded her again, gripping her arm so that her voice would cut through the music. Mridula nodded immediately.

The party was everything Samira had anticipated. The music was loud in the flat that was halfway between tidy and dirty. There were people she barely recognized but were a conversation away from being people who would potentially stalk your Instagram every day. There was a lot of alcohol but the party didn't focus on that.

Mridula smiled awkwardly at the people who talked to Samira, she didn't recognize any of them except when they started talking, then the stories Samira told her had faces. She looked around instead, it was always better to blend in the background than to draw attention which was possible since Samira was the flame that moths came to instead. Mridula was just fine being a caterpillar who crawled quietly and ate.

"And who is your date?" Mridula's attention drew from the random strangers to a face as she looked at the man who she didn't trust one bit. And her instincts only grew harder because he was Samira's only friend who bothered to talk to her. And this told her that he was planning something with her friend. And with his record, the evidence only led to the bad.

Samira smiled effortlessly as she touched Mridula's arm lightly. "Mridula, meet Aarav" His smile was so warm it reminded her of the sun. His moustache twisted with his lips, his wavy hair moving like a mane. He reminded her of a lion and the only other person who reminded her of one was Samira.

"Her date" Mridula clarified proudly, smiling back at him as she gave him a look she hoped translated into' I am watching you ' but he kept smiling as if she was his long lost friend. It made hating him harder with each second, she needed a smoke. "Welcome to my cave, chameli" He spoke, stepping a bit closer to Samira so only she and Mirdula heard the name.

Samira's face twisted involuntarily at the mention as Mridula couldn't help but smile. With one word in, he was already getting under her skin. "You need to stop calling me that before it catches on."She hissed, the music cutting through their voices. She had to lean in a little for each conversation, the dim lights falling on his eyes and shining back into hers.

He smirked, leaning down on her. "For that, you might need to convince me a little."He teased, before pulling back. "Come, let's get you girls Rooman's famous welcome drink."

Samira let Aarav walk ahead, she stayed next to Mridula as they reached the bar. Mridula passed an amused look to her. "Chameli."She whispered, making Samira roll her eyes in annoyance. "And I thought it was our little secret."She said, holding back her laughter. Mridula knew in the past year this was the first time she had seen someone get under Samira's nerves. And it made sense to her now why Samira was getting pulled in.

The sun's heat burned the skin but its warmth blinded people.

Aarav walked to the messy kitchen counter which was constituting as a bar for longer than it had worked for as a kitchen.

Rooman was mixing something in a big jug, his eyes carefully studying the mix of the drink. It looked too tropical for the rain that has been coming down lately. "Two drinks for the very special flower we have here."Aarav said as rested his elbows on the counter. Samira scowled at the mention, her eyes throwing daggers. She didn't want to be this angry but she couldn't help herself. She was not used to men being so cocky in front of her and here he was openly defying her. "

Not for me please, I am not really a drinks kind of person,"Mridula spoke, eyeing the suspicious liquid. She scanned the room, it was a big spacious flat but the people were ruining it. And then she spotted something that made her smile, behind a half-closed curtain a door to a balcony. She could easily spend some time there until Samira was done. It was already one A.M. and as Samira had promised, the party wouldn't die before sunrise.

"Aye Kuch abr, kuch sharab aaye. Uske baad aae jo azaab aae."Rooman replied smoothly, his muscled arms still mixing the drink. Mridula frowned at the couplet, she had never seen anyone quote Faiz Ahmed Faiz to persuade a girl to drink. "Luckily, I am not much of Faiz's fan. Talk about Faraz and maybe I would have taken the azaab too. "She replied cooly earning Rooman's gaze on her. He arched his eyebrow before nodding impressively, handing Samira a drink instead.

Rooman thought of all the Ahmad Faraz's poems he knew, his mind racing to find the one that would fit. It was an instinct, one he couldn't ever replace. Or lose. His mother used to love poetry and as the only child, he had spent hours sitting with her and listening to various ghazals. Even when she was in her hospital bed, her face would light up when he would recite one for her. And when he did it for any other woman, their face would light up too. He liked that warmness.

But before he could get that out of Mridula, his eyes landed on another warmness. This one he liked more. Rumi, sat on the arm of the sofa, her smooth legs crossed and casually grazing her classmate as he spoke something which made her laugh. A lot louder than Rooman could usually get her to do nowadays.

With Rumi, his poetry never brought the same warmness to her face. He tried and tried, but she was anti-poetry. And sometimes he wondered if that is what kept bringing him back to her. His self-discovery of what else he could do to bring out that warmth, something which doesn't remind him of his mother and more of himself.

Like the way, she smiled when he made her dinner. Or listened to her talk about a case that had no relation to their lives. She discovered him in ways he never could but now he was afraid, she was not liking the things she was finding.

Her loose black top shifted places each time she would lean in and then arch back with a laugh. Roman served the cocktail in a tall glass. "Excuse me" He said, abruptly picking up the glass and leaving. He made his way to the two of them, putting on one of his best smiles as he sat opposite to Rumi. Her eyes landed at him, her face immediately coloring annoyed for a brief second and then becoming indifferent.

"Hey, Rooman. I was just looking for you." Sarthak spoke, smiling at him. Rooman wanted to scoff as if he would find him inside Rumi's skirt. But instead, he nodded, focusing back on his real motive. "Here, your favorite drink." He said hopefully, giving her the glass. She eyed him and then the cup before shaking her head. "I don't feel like drinking today."She answered, sitting up a little.

Rooman frowned, before nodding. He brought the drink to his lips and gulped it in three big sips when he put down the glass he saw Rumi's confused eyes looking at him. The music softened, and Rooman got up. He held out his hand for her as she grew even more confused. He didn't say anything, just kept looking at her till she gave her hand in his. He smiled softly, leading her to the clear space. The dim lights helped him. "Manav! Keep it soft for a while."He called out to the guy playing DJ who nodded as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

The surprise action had taken her back for a moment but once she realized what was happening, she tried to stop it. She didn't want to melt under his trap and say something she was not ready for. But his grip was unrelenting as his hand rubbed her back softly. "Stay with me Rumi." He whispered, in her ears before kissing the lobe softly.

For a moment she forgot and smiled at him before she stopped her fight, moving with the song. There was no one else dancing but Rooman made it look so smooth, other couples followed suit quickly.

"If only I could be like a pigeon for you."He finally spoke, as Rumi sighed. Her eyes drifted from his face, as she rests her head on his chest, moving to the rhythm of his art beating. "But I think I am too much of a human to just coo." His hair fell over his eyes once again, and his grip on her waist tightened. She felt the warmness of his body radiate onto her as she shook her head. She didn't say anything but felt a storm bubble inside her head.

"You don't make it easier for me either."He spoke before letting out a dry laugh. "Hell, none of us make it easier for each other" He pulled a little back so she could look up at him. His hand found his way to her cheek as he grazed it softly. "I know something is upsetting you."He continued, reading her like she was an open book. He twirled her, before pulling her back tightly so she was closer, the suddenness making her look at him. "What is it?"He asked, and Rumi sucked in her breath.

She didn't feel like she could hide it any longer, keep it inside her.

She nodded, taking a step back but her hands didn't let his hands go. She pulled him to the side, out of eyes. Slow music hummed in the background. She looked around, she didn't know if now was the right time to tell him. But then, would there be any right time?

"I am pregnant, Rooman." She spoke out, looking him the eye. He didn't blink and so she didn't either. His face had no emotion and she did the same. "Rooman, say something. Even if it is your cheesy poetry." She asked, with a weak smile as he inhaled loudly, taking a step back from her. For some reason, seeing him lose his sense of reality was calming her down. She felt connected to him, even in this madness.

He opened his mouth to say something when a loud thud was heard. He looked behind her to see a crowd and Aarav in the mid-fight. "Fuck, you stay here Rumi. We'll talk." He spoke, already moving ahead. Rumi gripped his arm tightly, making him stop as he looked at her. She couldn't believe he was going right now, she knew he loved Aarav but this was bigger than a stupid fight.

It felt like deja vu and she already knew how it would play out. Yet the words clawed up to her throat as she held on to the little of what she could hold. "Rooman, if you leave me right now, I swear I will leave too. "She spoke, her voice loud and clear. He only frowned, cupping her cheek. "Don't be a child Rumi, just wait for me. Aarav needs me right now."He spoke, as another thud went behind. Someone called his name.

"And what about me?"She asked, letting his arm go. "You always have me."He spoke, already walking away.

Rumi didn't know if she wanted to bang her or his head on the wall? Or maybe their baby's head.

——

Mridula walked to the balcony, breathing in the night air. Without Samira, she could slip in and out of places like the wind, without any attention. She leaned on the railing, staring at the campus building. It felt so different to look at it in the night, she was supposed to be inside it and not on the outside, yet here she was and it strangely felt like home.

Not that she could do it often, he wouldn't always be there to catch her.

Her thoughts drifted to the man and how they kept bumping into each. Her heartbeat picked up a little faster at the thought of him and she inhaled a little louder than normal. His thought made her fingers restless and her mind started to rush a bit faster, she felt dizzy. She dug her fingers inside her pocket, taking out her cigarette flask. Before putting on her earphones, she heard the crickets chirp and she sighed. She could bring herself to a party but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy it. Her mind wondered about the cricket who didn't like to chirp. Would he be smoking now too ?

She placed it between her lips, her fingers now searching for her lighter as Quratul-Ain's voice filled her lungs. Before the lighter could light the cigarette, it was out from her lips. Mridula frowned, unable to capture what exactly happened. She let the earphone drop from her ear and the cricket's chirp was back again in her ears. So was his eyes.

"I don't need your umbrella now."She spoke flatly, letting her eyes rest on him too. Her heart went thud. The crickets went chirp chirp. And the people inside were a mess of noises. But she couldn't quite understand what his eyes were saying, they were different again.

"But you owe me something for taking your wall virginity."He said, a new sparkle in his eyes. "Trust me a Marlboro is a small payment." Mridula couldn't help but scoff and then smile, shaking her head a little. She removed her other earphone too, looking back at the night sky. It felt like she had looked at him for too long.

"What is so wrong if I owe you one for a bit longer? I could be more useful than just for your local sutta cravings."She said, looking at him again. He was so tall that she had to look up as if she was talking to the Gods in the sky.

But he didn't look like a God. He looked so human it made her heart throb. To be in love with another human is a rare thing. People are rarely human anymore. Not that she was in love but her heart liked to believe that.

This time he laughed, resting his elbow on the railing. He lit the cigarette and took a long puff. "What if I ask for something bigger? Something dangerous?" He remarked, leaning in closer to her. Mridula looked into his eyes. "Maybe it isn't that big a task for me as you would think." She replied, his lips smiling. "Alright, take this back then." He passed the cigarette back to her. Mridula placed it between her lips and took a puff. Why did her head make it feel so different?

"I like your name."She spoke, with her second puff. Karna scoffed at her sarcasm, before looking at her. Her smile said she wasn't lying which made him frown. Nobody had ever told him they liked his name. In fact, he didn't like his name. If people hadn't recommended him so often to change his name to Karan, he would have done it. "What is there to like about Karna? The curses? The failures? The loss?"He questioned, unable to hide his frustration from the stranger he couldn't get out of his head.

She looked so surprised at his outburst. "What is there to not like about Karna? He was a good man, even when life dealt him with the worst. He was good till the end, so much so that his curses were a result of misinterpreted good deeds. He was the kindest, most helpful, and perhaps the only man worthy of Draupadi in Mahabharat. To be named after him, I am sure your mother wished to rub some of his goodness on you." She finished, and Karna felt at a loss of words for once.

He had never looked at it like that, at the good side of Karna. He always focussed on the negative side, the bad and the ugly until it grew like a second skin all over him. And with few words, she ripped his skin apart.

"It is certainly better than my name."She added with a frown graver than his, and he couldn't help but smile. Her nose wrinkled, her specs resting on the hook like a crown on a king's head.

"What does your name mean?"He asked, and she sighed. "Mridula. It means the ideal soft woman. Have you heard of a more misogynistic name?" She questioned him, and he felt the same heat that he had for his name inside her. She shook her head. "It's like they never wanted to give me a chance to be anything other than soft or ideal." She added, her hair falling on her cheeks.

Karna couldn't help himself as he gripped her shoulders, his fingers touching the smooth warm skin of her arms. She looked up, and he could read the confusion. "You look like anything but soft to me."He spoke slowly, as the wind moved her hair. She kept looking at him, the cigarette burning in the side.

"But if you find yourself soft sometimes, remember that you convinced a ruined man for a minute that there may be a little good inside him of him too."He continued and watched her lips curl in response. Before she could say something, the door opened.

"Karna. I need you." He frowned at the voice as he turned to look who it was. Someone he didn't recognise.

A crying Rumi.

———

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to rely on the gossip?" Aarav felt his fingers twitch in annoyance. His skin was heated and his eyes were anything but smiling right now. This look rarely rested on his face, he never let anger settle for long because he started looking like his father too much. But when this look did come on his face, he understood why his father was so unloved. But she stood there, unflinching and unrelenting as her eyes looked at him.

He wanted something but his pockets were empty strangely. And he suspected she would let him move without getting answers from him.

He sat back, taking a deep breath. "How much do you know?" He finally spoke, and she shrugged. "Not enough" She shook her head and with each passing moment her eyes softened.

"It's nothing different from a heartbreak story. I was in love with Abhishiri for longer than I can remember. I also loved Naman. He was my closest friend, I have known him from school. Just like I know Rooman. And then one night, I come in and find Abhishiri and Naman in love with each other. I was forgotten."He said before laughing. "My heart couldn't take losing two people I love together in the worst way possible. And everyone likes to remind me of that as often as they can."He continued and felt his heartbeat in annoyance. He never really spoke about this, he never needed to. The news of his tragedy had spread like fire, nobody ever asked him about him.

The air felt uncomfortable, his body wanted to move. His lips wanted to smile. He wanted to push the memories out and he looked up at her for one sign, if she was uncomfortable too it would be so much easier.

But she wasn't.

Instead, she looked more relaxed than he had ever seen her. Her breathings were slow and she didn't speak anything. Yet the comfort of her presence made his body stop twitching. She looked at him and leaned forward and before Aarav knew it, he felt the warmness of her lips on his.

She kissed him so passionately, it shook his core. Her hands cupped his shoulders tightly, as her hair grazed his cheeks. And it took him a few seconds to respond. His arms gripped her waist in absolute need, not wanting her to pull back. His lips moved in sync and as she bit his bottom lip, Aarav felt his walls shake.

His mind went blank and then all he could feel was her warm presence and the smell of peaches come from her.

Her knees rested on the side of his thighs, her hair covering their faces completely. She pulled back, but barely enough. "Our hearts are too fragile anyway."She whispered, looking into his eyes. She smiled, kissing him back again. This felt different, and not only because Aarav had wanted this for months.

Or the fact that he had no joint to share his attention so all of it rested on Samira. Or he was the one falling into the bed, his back hitting the bed with her on top of him. She broke the kiss and looked down at him. In the dim lights of their isolation, she looked even more beautiful. He could see the freckles on her cheeks which the sun always hid.

"I'll be back in a minute. I need to check on Mridula."She spoke and leaned down kissing the cheek below his bruise. Aarav hummed a yes before pausing to think what just happened. She was already off him, her hands running fiercely to settle her hair as she walked out of the door.

Aarav propped himself on his elbows, frowning. What the fuck was he getting himself into?

Samira stepped out at the now deserted flat. After the fight, almost everyone had left. The few who were left were passed out on the sofa. Her heart raced, she felt guilty for leaving Mridula out here in the mess. She looked around, before heading for the balcony.

She sighed, finding her curled on the chair with her headphones on. She was wide awake and sipping on something. "Mri, I am so sorry I left you alone here."She spoke, reaching out and hugging her friend in pure relief. Mridula laughed, hugging her back. "It's fine Samira, it was barely an hour. Why are you here, I thought you were with him."She spoke, frowning a little. Samira nodded, smiling softly. "I was, I am. But I had to check on you. You are important than the lust burning in my loins!"She remarked mockingly, before laughing.

Mridula rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile too.

"Haha, very funny. So what's the plan here? Do you need to spend more time with him or should we disappear from here?" She asked, as Samira bit her bottom lip. She tilted her head to one side, thinking for a moment. "I think I want to spend a little more time with him tonight. " It took a lot of her to admit it, but in the dead of the night, who took notes? "But what will you do?"She asked as Mridula shrugged. "I'll go find an empty room and lock myself from inside and sleep until the owner is pissed." She answered as Samira laughed even though it wasn't a joke. "Okay, okay anytime you need me to leave, call me or just come banging into that door. "She spoke, as Mridula nodded. She looked at her phone. It was 4. A.M. She just needed to kill an hour or so here before she could getaway.

"Remember everything you do tonight, tomorrow I will need details. "She urged as Samira rolled her eyes before walking away.

Mridula sighed loudly, turning to look at the moon. "Stop yearning for strangers."She scolded it, before sighing again. Her mind wandered back to Karna and the girl who claimed she needed him and he went to fulfill her need.

She didn't know why it bothered her so much, it was natural for him to know other human beings. She got up and walked around to find an empty room. Apart from the room Samira was in, there were two other rooms.

She opened one door to frown at the sight. The room looked like it was vandalized. A cupboard was half-open, with half of its clothes on the floor. She stepped back from the room, hoping the other room was better. The silence inside the flat was starting to spook her, her footsteps the only noise in the lonely room. She prayed a small prayer before opening the next room. It was dark, the window letting moonlight shine on the bed. She turned on the lights and smiled. The room was surprisingly neat, the bed looked so comfortable that it made her tired.

She stepped in and locked it from inside, before looking around. There was a big doodle of a man playing basketball on one end and the other had pictures of mountains and trees. She felt odd stepping into someone's headspace without permission but her tired body persuaded her to think otherwise. There was a guitar on one end and she couldn't help but wonder who lived here.

She switched off the lights, resting on the bed. Carefully putting an alarm for one hour, she closed her eyes. The bed smelled of something similar but her mind couldn't recall exactly what. She sniffed it like a honey bee sniffs nectar until she fell asleep.

-

Karna quietly drove as Rumi looked out the window. She looked lost, tears falling out of her eyes. Karna was too scared to speak, he had never seen her look so distraught. He had seen them fight and make up a hundred times and some of the fights were worse than others, but Rumi was never quiet after that. She would keep cursing Rooman or muttering something erratic but never so quiet. But she never left in the middle of the night to go all the way across town to her grandparent's house.

And Karna knew when she would speak, her words would be heavier to take in. That is what kept her so quiet. She sniffed softly, wiping her tears. "I am sorry I disturbed you. But I didn't think I could drive right now." She finally spoke, as Karna scoffed. "Of all things you should apologize to me for, this is the least of it." He teased, looking at her. She half-smiled at the words, nodding. "What happened Rumi? You are scaring me now." He finally spoke, as she kept looking outside the window.

"This is what the end of a lifetime feels like. I am just trying to move through it." She muttered resting her head on the window. "I am sure whatever stupidity Rooman did, you can spank his ass back into shape," Karna remarked.

"This time I was the stupid one." She replied, closing her eyes as tears slipped out. Karna reached for her hand as he squeezed. His heart ached at the sight of her in pain like this. "Rumi, you have me. Don't stress about that idiot, you know how he is. Talk to me."He spoke as she shook her head. "Not tonight Karna, I need to move ahead alone. "She spoke softly, and Karna understood as he didn't speak again.

He still remembered when he had found her ripping Rooman's clothes one day, the scissors bending to her anger. He had stopped and given her a look to which she had shrugged, moving the scissors across the t-shirt. "He ripped my heart, I can rip his clothes."She spoke and he had nodded.

He knew Rumi loved him maybe more than Rooman loved her at this moment and it tore her apart right in the middle. But he had never seen her become so withdrawn, it looked like she was finally tired of all the insanity.

He stopped the car when they reached, it was still dark outside. She leaned ahead and hugged him as he rubbed her back. "You know I am a call away, when you want to be picked up."He said and she nodded, pulling back. "What should I tell Rooman if he asks?" Karna asked and she smiled. "He won't ask, Karna."She muttered, before leaving.

Karna reached the flat back, the sun was almost up now. The birds were chirping loudly and his head was banging. He desperately needed a cup of chai and then some sleep. He liked the after party look of the flat, it became so silent it almost felt like home. His mind shifted to the girl he had left and knew she was long gone.

He couldn't help but feel disappointed at the thought, and for the first time he felt bad for missing the party. He walked in, tossing the bottles he found in his way. He would sleep and then help Munna clean all this mess, they were grateful he didn't complain to his father.

He walked to his room and twisted the doorknob, before frowning. How the hell was it locked? He twisted it again before knocking. Who the hell was in his room and why? If either one of them was fucking inside, he would lose his mind.

The door jerked back and opened and Karna felt angry curses already crowd his mouth but as soon as he saw the confused eyes looking at him the words melted their way back in his stomach.

She was equally confused to see him as he was to see her. She turned her head back to look at the room and then back to him. "I needed a bed to sleep and this was the cleanest room."She spoke, rubbing her eyes softly as she moved back inside his room. He could only watch her as she quickly pulled the sheets, tugging them back to the neat crisp bed he liked, her body moving quickly as she frantically took her glasses and slipped in her slippers.

"Samira is with Aarav bhaiya, so I couldn't leave her alone."She explained before he could ask as he leaned on the doorway, just looking at her all flustered. Her top was tugged out of her pants, her long hair moving with her body before she collected it and twisted it to the side.

After undoing what she had done, she walked to the door to leave but his body stopped her from running away. He couldn't help but smile, his tired eyes finding their way to hers. "Do you want to have a cup of chai?" He asked and she frowned, her eyes examining him. He wanted to tidy himself up but he resisted the urge as she smiled nodding.

Mridula carefully walked next to him, he walked fast and her morning body could barely keep up with him. "I am sorry I left so abruptly last night, she is a close friend and she really needed my help." He spoke, as they walked on the side of the broken road. Mridula nodded, her mind oscillating between the uneven road and the way the sun reflected off his face. "Friends are important. "She answered softly, as they reached the chai stall. With the sun just up, the old man was just setting the stall. He looked at them and smiled, quickly wiping the bench before pulling back.

"Two chai, kadak ya doodh (dark or light?)" He asked, as Mridula sat on the cool bench. "Kadak." The two replied together, before the man nodded smiling even more. Mridula watched his hair fall over his face as he leaned into his hands, before suddenly pulling back his body, his face turning to look at her. The suddenness of being caught looking at him made her fidget, as she looked away.

She could feel him laugh softly, the vibration shaking the bench and reaching her skin as she stared into the sun and the clouds that absorbed all of its lights. The birds were chirping too loudly, filling all the silence between them. That was until Karna started to talk.

The more chai went inside, the more stories came out. Mridula rested her legs on the side of the bench, her elbow resting on her knee. She shook her head at his story, as she finished her third chai.

The chai Wala bhaiya had left to bring some biscuits for the day and it felt like the stall was booked for them alone, like how some billionaires book the entire restaurants for dates. At least in her head, she approved the theory.

"Do you need more chai?"He asked, leaning forward. Mridula looked up from her empty kullad and shrugged. He leaned ahead and slowly pecked her lips before pulling back. Mridula felt her cheeks flame, his face blocking any sun from falling on her. "Do you want more?" He whispered smiling mischievously, his eyes twinkling as he asked for her permission. "Can't get enough of chai." She whispered, smiling back as he chuckled softly his lips meeting hers. She could taste chai but so much more, something so different that never had touched her tongue before.

The kiss was soft and slow, the birds playing like those Bollywood violins. She gripped his shoulders for support, as his hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. When she couldn't breathe anymore, she pulled back as she felt his breath fan her face. He leaned ahead and kissed her cheek before pulling back as air replaced him. She never loathed oxygen more than that moment but his touch didn't leave her waist.

Just then the chai Wala bhaiya returned, as he looked at their empty kullads. "Do you need more chai?" He asked and Mridula couldn't help but laugh, before shaking her head. "Had enough chai."She answered, looking up at him as he smiled. "Are you sure?" He whispered, his fingers touching her nose and just then her phone vibrated.

She fished it out, cursing softly as she saw the caller ID. She inhaled loudly before taking the call as the caller yelled. "Where are you?" She could sense the tone of worry and anger mixed. "I am so sorry I forgot to tell you- I am at a chai stall- no, no I am not alone. "She answered, looking at him as he fished out a cigarette to her direction. She nodded lightly with a smile. "I am with Karna. Hm, hm, okay I'll wait." She couldn't believe she actually forgot to text Samira where she was before practically leaving with a stranger.

It was their number one rule. Yet here she was, her mind not thinking and her lips craving. She licked her lips, before taking the cigarette from between his lips. He looked at her surprised as she took two quick puffs.

"You are not the only one who can steal."She smirked, as he laughed.