"KAVACH???!! What kind of name is that? You are Indian? You don't look... sorry. But auburn hair, blue eyes are rare for Indians." Abhedya was still under the effect of the drug.

"I am Indian. My hair is dyed but my eyes are magical." Kavach explained to him with a smile.

"You are very pretty and your smile is very... amicable. I am hot." Abhedya suddenly took off his blazer and shirt.

"What are you doing?" Kavach asked him. She got a little nervous.

"I am hot... very hot." Abhedya took the water bottle and drank in one go. He splashed some on himself.

The dripping water from his hair, to his face, to his chest, to those perfect abs and lower was epic level sexy, tempting and heavenly.
Kavach could not stop gawking at the enchanter. She dropped her gaze when Abhedya whipped his face with his hand.

"Could you drop me home?" Abhedya asked her.

"No! I can't enter the city. You will have to stay in the jeep for tonight. If someone is waiting for you, make an excuse." Kavach told him.

Abhedya half-heard her and rested his head at the headrest.
"Wait? I don't know if she will ever wait for me. I broke her heart again today. I doubt she will speak to me? See my face. I hate myself. I feel my coming to the world was a mistake. Huh! Sorry! Don't bother. I am just..." Abhedya stopped speaking. He was only thinking of Swarnima.

"Since we have the whole night, you may talk to me. Sometimes strangers are good for talking and sharing stories. They don't know you or people around you to pass their judgements. Go ahead. Try me." Kavach lent him an ear to narrate his story.

Abhedya looked at her for a few seconds and said, "You have a very captivating face. No! I am not flirting. So, my story is... was a fairy tale. I loved a girl from the day she was born.
Our parents were best friends and the day she was born I knew she was in this world for me. I was just about one but was obsessed with her. My mom said, my crying, tantrums everything stopped at her sight.
We were kids but made promises of a lifetime to...
love each other
Remain Best friends forever
Never keep secrets from each other
Never say anything that would hurt the other
Fight all fights together
Share our toys and chocolates
Be with each other on happy and sad days
But, fate separated us.
I met her again but didn't recognise her. She was in front of me for three whole years but she didn't bother to come to me. She broke the promises. I was and still am angry with her for hiding. But, I was ready for a fresh start and we did. I guess, someone cast an evil eye on us.
We are grown-up but are poles apart from each other.
She is the miss always right. I am the arrogant jerk. She sees the world from a perspective that is not acceptable to me and I guess, vice versa.
She is a different girl. Different from all angles and for all reasons.
With her around I say something, I mean something and I do something.
I hurt her, say mean things to her, scold her, but she remains quiet. She never registers her objections. I want her to fight back, shout at me... but I fail to get any reactions from her.
She is the sweetest, prettiest and purest soul alive. She makes me feel like a devil's reincarnation.
You know, sometimes you should fight and finish off everything but she never says anything, keeps to herself, is lost in her world, her silence kills me. And provokes me!! Damn, I hate her!
Today... I said something so hurtful and mean to her but she didn't say anything. Had my friend done anything like that, I would have fought and made him apologise. She needs to understand friends get closer with fights too. She is distancing herself from me, but, I will just hold her and keep her to myself. I am not letting her go... not this time." Abhedya stepped down from the jeep and banged his hand on the bumper of the jeep.

Kavach came to his side and said, "Hey, it's okay! You can sort things out."

Abhedya turned around and hugged her tight. Kavach stiffened. Abhedya's bare body which was already so enticing was now glued to her.
Abhedya kept hugging her for a couple of minutes until kavach wrapped her hands around him. It was perfect. The hug brought peace and happiness to their heart and mind.
A hug from the right person could take all your stress and worries away.

"You know she doesn't even mind me going so close to anyone. Numerous times I have tried to get that one reaction from her, which tells me that she still is that possessive cat who would scratch any girl who was found in a centimetre radius from me. Hahaha... she looked so cute, so adorable, so just mine when she treated me like she owned me. Hell! She owns my existence.
But now, I hug someone, I kiss someone she just doesn't care. Maan told me maybe she has moved on. Even if she did, damn!!" Taking a deep breath at that thought Abhedya continued, "if she does or has moved on... which I highly doubt because the way she gets lost in my eyes and the way her eyes enchant me, it's magical. I could stare into her eyes till eternity. Crazy! Right? But she has and still does cast a spell on me when she is around me and I am spellbound by her."

Abhedya held Kavach's shoulder and revealed, "You have any idea how heavenly she looked today?  Plain White Anarkali looked extraordinary on her. Wonder how she wore it? Considering she didn't have 'proper garments' for wearing underneath it. Her face when bhui revealed it... hahaha... I just wanted to pull her puffed and reddened cheeks and tease her. But, we don't share that bond now.
When she was making my tie knot with so much dedication I was just looking at her through the mirror. When she was this close to me tying my tie I wanted to pull her close to me and kiss the hell out of her. I swear! But, we don't have that spark!
I flirted with that Raina... not out of choice but just to make her realise what a MAN she is missing... I wonder if she even misses me?
Damn!! I miss her. I miss everything about her. About us! I don't know how to mend things between us. She wants time and seeks patience. I am wild and impatient. How will we work!" Abhedya ended his long speech with a deep sigh.

Kavach was just listening to him patiently. "What kind of relation you want between you two now?"

Abhedya turned his head looked into kavach's eyes. It was very dark and they were on a deserted road with only moon's light as the source of light. He could not read her not that lights would have made any difference, his state was not right.

"I... I don't know, honestly. I want her in my life. Forever. Term it my need, requirement or selfishness, but she has once gone for long and now, not a moment I want to spend without her. You know when she smiles it lights up my life and if I am the reason for her smile I feel I have achieved victory. What do you think? About us?"

"Me? My opinion should not be counted. I don't know you both. Besides, I just know your side of the story to pass any judgements. But, I do know one thing, that you both should be with each other. If that gives you happiness." Kavach shared her thoughts.

Abhedya stepped out again and vomited.
Kavach helped him again.
"What's your story? Why are you helping me? Why were you there at the party?" Abhedya raised his suspicions.

"Finally you asked the question. I was wondering how come you still didn't ask about me. So, just like you I came there to get a friend out of the party and found you, helpless and in a sorry state. I knew you were here by mistake. So, I decided to help you." Kavach answered him.

"I am sleepy. My head is spinning. What did that bitch inject in me?" Abhedya regretted holding his head.

Kavach put her hand on his shoulder and enquired, "Hey, are you okay? Need something? Water? Food?"

Abhedya looked at her and with a spark in his eyes asked, "Food? You have food?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Kavach opened a box from behind and gave him a packet of chips and a burger.

"Yummy!! Burger!! Wow!!" Abhedya took it from her hand and started eating it.

He wore his shirt and said, "It's so cold. Aren't you cold?"

"No, I am fine." Kavach answered looking everywhere but at Abhedya. The way his muscles flexed while wearing the shirt was very tempting.

The medicine Kavach gave him didn't seem to be helping because Abhedya started crying like a child and said, "She is so unhappy. I want to make her happy. Her mummy papa left her when she was just eight. On her birthday. She does not celebrate her birthday even. I ruined her birthday this year. I ruin her every day. I don't deserve her. I don't deserve anyone!! Mom dad, I love them, they love her and think she is happy with me. But she is not!"
Abhedya cried more loudly now.

Kavach put her finger on his lips and wiped his tears and pacified saying, "shhh!! It's okay. You are not bad. Everyone makes mistakes. Some realise it some don't. But you are brave, you not only realise but accept them and say sorry. You are a good boy. Now, Stop wasting these precious pearls and smile. Maybe she wants to always see you smile and therefore doesn't say anything to you. Give time... to yourself and her. Figure out what you feel and how you feel. There's no hurry! She is not going anywhere now. She won't be able to go leaving someone like you. Never."

Abhedya closed his eyes and went into slumber.
Some strangers make us believe the world is not that strange. Kavach's soothing words brought peace to Abhedya.

Abhedya got up by the chirping of birds and morning breeze. He was wrapped in a stole. His head hurt bad. He saw a paper stuck on the dashboard which read... 
"Dear stranger,
Last night was the best night I have spent in years. You might not even remember me by morning, probably just some blur and faint images.
You are a gem of a person who is just lost between what he wants to do, what he does and what he means. Don't worry. Choose the path your heart leads you to.
Life is beautiful and so are you.

If you love someone accept them the way they are. If you change them as per your requirements and moods then you are just striking a deal. And, the love you have for her, is above all these gaps that are between you two.

God forbid! If ever you choose or want someone else in your life other than the 'she' you described to me yesterday...  I would love to be a contender for your love. If at all, you have any left after that.
PS: there's some raw milk on the side... drink it. It might help.
This jeep is all yours.
I have a spare key. If the jeep is lost, take it as a hint that I have stolen it and probably the hope for us meeting again, is lost too.
Yours truly
Stranger
Kavach!!

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Dear Readers
Heart to heart talks with strangers helps. sometimes, more than talking to the people we know.
Kavach gave Abhedya an ear that heard all his rants, feelings, hatred, frustrations and love narrations.
But, will Abhedya remember anything after the drug dose-effect nullifies?
Kavach proposed her future in Abhedya. She said she would wait for him if he and Swarnima separated. What's the mystery?
Stay hooked!
Lots of love.