Swarnima reached her home and quickly changed her clothes. She just wanted to sleep and forget everything that happened today. Until evening things seemed so dreamy to her. Things were settling between them but by the end of the day, they were back to square one.
Swarnima could not think of any solution to their fights or misunderstandings whatever was the correct term, she could not decide. So, to sleep it off was the best thing to do she thought.
A new day would bring new hopes and the sun would rise to shine for them.

Swarnima was sleeping when she heard her secret elevator ding. Swarnima never experienced a peaceful sleep after her parents passed away, so even the slightest sound would awaken her. She got alert, pulled out her gun from the bedside drawer and reached the living room. It was dark and only a zero watt bulb was the source of light. She could see a man walking with wobbly steps. She went behind him, pointed her gun and threatened, "don't move else you will be dead."

"You are killing me, already." Swarnima was shocked to recognise the voice.
"Abhedya sir!! What are you doing here? at 2 in the night!"

"I came to check on you. Are you alright?" Abhedya's voice was still shaky but laced with concern.

Swarnima softened her tone and asked, "what will happen to me? I reached home safe. What makes you so worried."
Abhedya turned on his phones torchlight and flashed on Swarnima's face. No specs, no lenses, no braids. The real Swarnima. She closed her eyes as a reflex to the sudden light. After seconds when her eyes adjusted to the light she opened her light green-grey eyes.

"It is a good day today. I saw these eyes after years. Where were you gone? I missed you so much." Abhedya joined his forehead with Swarnima's and a drop of tear fell from his eyes on her cheeks.

"Hey!! What's wrong? Are you alright? I may be gone but I am here now! Right here, with you, just for you." Swarnima wiped his tears and spoke in a sweet voice.

"I know!! But the world is going to separate us again. That son of bitch Ashwin wanted to spike your drink and... I am sorry I was not around. I drank to kill my guilt. I just want your reactions. Be it anger, be it anything. I just want you to react and be close to me."

Abhedya held Swarnima from her forearms and got her close to him. Looking directly into her eyes continued, "I hate it when you run away from me. You know me na! I am a fool since childhood... I say something... I mean something... I do something?But don't ever leave me, again. That Ashwin had such cheap thoughts about you... I would kill that bastard and any goddamn person who tries to harm you. You are special, so so special. Please never leave..." Abhedya passed out pouring his heart out and fell on the sofa.

Swarnima's heart was pounding and her eyes were filled with tears. She could not understand what Abhedya was going through. He kept pushing her away but wanted her close. He kept saying rude things to her but also said beautiful words to her. She did not have a normal teenage life and didn't know the complications of a relationship. She just had bookish knowledge that was imparted to her and no personal experience in any matter. Swarnima sat next to Abhedya and looked at their hands which Abhedya entwined. Their hands looked so perfect. But will they be perfect for each other?
Swarnima was sure about her feelings but Abhedya was not. Maybe? His behaviour and emotions were contradictory. Thinking about themselves Swarnima slept on the bean bag not leaving Abhedya's hands.

It must be around 8 in the morning when Abhedya got up with a jerk. He opened his eyes and saw different surroundings. It took him a while to realise that it was Swarnima's house. But how did he land up here? He tried recalling last night's events but his head hurt bad.

So, he got up only to see the breathtaking view. Swarnima sleeping on a bean bag holding Abhedya's hand with one of her hands and her other hand was under her chin. She was not wearing her specs and he could see exactly how she looked... 'gorgeous'. Some of her hair got loose and kept coming on her face and disturbed the sleeping beauty. So, automatically Abhedya's free hand went to put them behind her ear and a smile formed on his face. His heart wished to have every morning as blissful as this one.

Abhedya then saw their entwined hands and had the same thoughts that Swarnima had.. 'their hands looked perfect together but were they perfect for each other.' Abhedya had unbearable pain in his head and tried to free his hand to hold his spinning head but Swarnima held it tighter and made a sound "mmmm" which indicated that she was not liking it. Abhedya's smile grew wider but so did his pain. So he tried waking her up.

After calling her two-three times she opened her eyes and immediately shut them. She covered Abhedya's eyes and said, "don't look." And ran to her room. She came back wearing her lenses and specs and questioned, "How are you?"

"My head hurts. But why did you run like that? Why are you again wearing specs when they are not required?" Abhedya questioned her.

"I'll get you black coffee till then just go and freshen up. We have to go college as well." Swarnima ignored his question and instructed him.

Abhedya got up quietly and went to the room. He was in the washroom when he heard a knock in his room. He went and opened it and saw Swarnima with coffee in her hands. She turned around. "What is wrong with you?" Abhedya asked her.

"Where's your shirt?" Swarnima was not prepared to see the Adonis without his shirt.

"God!! Such a chicken you are!" Abhedya took the coffee from her and went into 'his room'. He took the tablet kept in the tray and gulped with liquid. 'Uhhhh!! I swear I am not drinking like that anymore.' Abhedya told himself and went to take a bath. When he came out he was sure his clothes will be there and they were there.
This time however there were no new set of clothes but clothes from his wardrobe. His hairbrush, his gel and his perfume. He called up and his mother confirmed that she sent them with the driver but he has a lot of questions to answer to his parents.

Abhedya dressed and came out to find Swarnima in the kitchen. Dressed in her regular jeans and polo T-shirt with an apron and rolling the parathas she looked so adorable.

"Hi! Masi sent a change for you and your college bag. They did not appreciate you coming here last night though. You owe them an explanation. Anyways I made parathas with potato and cottage cheese fillings... hope it's okay with you." Swarnima asked Abhedya while cooking.

Abhedya sat down at the dining table. Swarnima brought a plate with parathas and curd on the side for herself and Abhedya.

Abhedya took a bite and said, "you seriously cook well."

"Thank you. Glad you liked it." Swarnima responded with a smile.

After eating four parathas Abhedya opened the casserole and asked, "do have more?"
Swarnima's eyes widened in surprise how can he ask for more? Maybe he didn't have his diner last night or maybe that's his diet.
"Umm... sorry I thought it would be sufficient but wait I will make more, in just 10," Swarnima said getting up from the table.

Abhedya replied, "Relax I don't want more. I don't eat that much. They were so tasty that I didn't realise how much I ate. I am full."

"Are you sure? Because it will take me just 10 minutes to make more?" Swarnima didn't want Abhedya to leave an empty stomach... well almost.

"I rather eat you instead?!!" Abhedya told more to himself.
"Sorry! Did you say something?" Swarnima was not sure what she heard.

"Yes! How are we going? Did mom send a car?" Abhedya asked her keeping plates in the kitchen and washing it.

"Hey! I will wash them." Swarnima said taking the sponge from Abhedya.

"You did the other day. I will do it today." Abhedya took the sponge back.

"No!! It's okay there are too many utensils I will do it. Your car is waiting downstairs you should go." Swarnima took the sponge back and some dishwashing liquid squeezed on Abhedya's shirt in the process.

"Sorry!! sorry!! I am so sorry!" Swarnima apologised but Abhedya took the sponge from Swarnima's hand and pulled her towards himself and squeezed the sponge on her.

"What are you doing? Haha! STOP!! Haha no! no!! Don't do that!! You are spoiling my dress.." but Abhedya had other plans and turned on the water and started splashing water on Swarnima.
"Just wait now!" Swarnima got out of Abhedya's grip and squeezed the whole liquid bottle on his hand and started laughing. "Hahahaha! Serves you right!"

Abhedya's hands were all sticky and soapy but he was lost in Swarnima's laughter. It had been years since he saw her laughing like that. And, just then an idea struck Abhedya. He took Swarnima's hand in his soapy sticky hands and rubbed the utensils.
What started as fun soon turned to a different genre. The rubbing of hands and the closeness of their bodies created a beautiful sensation in them but before it could cultivate to something more, Swarnima released herself and said, "fine! You clean the mess also. I'll go and clear the table."

Abhedya also didn't argue further because the feeling of a different kind of sensation was mutual.
A memory from last night flashed Abhedya's mind 'are your electricity? Coz whenever you touch me I get shocks.' Abhedya shut his eyes and said to himself 'you are one big fool Abhey!! You must have said more.'

Swarnima cleared the table and mopped the floor with liquid.
"Sorry! I increased your workload." Abhedya apologised wiping his hands.

"At least this house got alive," Swarnima replied wiping the floor.

"Umm... I wanted to know... what did I.. how did I.. who dropped you home last night?" Abhedya asked.

"The photographer, Shrey. Chachu told him to drop me. Don't know what's on his mind. He let me go with a complete stranger." Swarnima was clueless about Rudra's plan.

"That's because dad is considering him to be the PROTECTOR, a prospective candidate in case I refuse," Abhedya informed Swarnima.

"He said what?? A prospective candidate for PROTECTOR? And you believed him. You surely were drunk last night." Swarnima could not believe what Rudra told him.

"I was. But after you left I also left the party and ordered lime juice and took a tablet to control my hangover. Soon, mom dad came and took me to their room for 'a talk'. Their dad told me that I was highly irresponsible today and how Ashwin tried to spike your drink and the photographer boy's 'alertness' saved you. He said that boy was under consideration for the post of THE PROTECTOR." Abhedya narrated the entire story.

"No one but it's me who has the right to decide who shall be THE PROTECTOR," Swarnima said in a firm tone.

"So, you mean to say... what dad told me, he cooked up a story?" Abhedya could not understand why his father lied to him.

"He surely must be having a reason for the same. As far as I understand him, he, masi must have not liked the fact that you over drunk at the party and indeed you did. So, maybe to make you realise your responsibility they told you that Shrey might take your place. You did misbehave last night, Abhedya sir." Swarnima told him her honest thoughts.

Abhedya left from there and banged the room door. Swarnima could not understand the reason for the sudden outburst so she went after him and pacified him, "They only want your best. No need to be so angry. You can sit and talk..."

Abhedya pulled Swarnima from her forearm and cut her in the middle and shouted, "I am angry because you are on a first-name basis with that... that photographer boy... and ME?!!!! You know me since the time you were born, but you only consider the relation made out of compulsion that I am your senior and you are my junior. What about the relationships we made out of choice... I know I said that we are not friends, yet, yes I did... but have you taken a step in building that bond between us? No! You don't even address me by name how will you become my friend?"

Swarnima got scared by the outburst. She took a deep breath and when they both were silent she thought that she was also responsible for this weak and shattering bond between them. She did not for once think that if they were not friends now, but they were once... she should have given a chance for the sake of old times.
When Swarnima was busy thinking Abhedya came close to her and pinned her to the nearby cupboard. He hovered over her and told her, "I am ordering you to call me by my name from this moment onwards... you get it?"

Swarnima nodded her head because that was the only thing she could do.
"I need words... accept in words that you will call me..." Abhedya's finger almost dig in deep in Swarnima's elbow.

"Yes, I will call you by your name from this moment onwards." Swarnima's voice was shaking.

"Then call me..." Abhedya did not move an inch away from his position.

"Please leave my hand... it's hurting," Swarnima tried to free herself.

Abhedya leaned in more and whispered, "I don't understand until I am addressed by my name which is..."

"Abheyyy!! Leave my hand!!" Swarnima pushed Abhedya and rubbed her elbow.

Abhedya rubbed the back of his neck and said, "sorry!"
Just then a microchip came out of Swarnima's elbow and Abhedya was shocked to see it...

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Dear readers,
The joy of hearing your name from your beloved makes you hear the heartbeat of a lifetime.
But does this justify Abhedya's behaviour? Maybe, maybe not.
The bigger question here is how can a microchip come out from a human? Find out soon.
Stay hooked
Lots of love!