The only way to beat Monika was somehow driving past her. Ditiya knew all of Monika's moves. Ditiya began to dribble the ball glancing at the basket, thinking she was going to try a long shot, she ran toward the basket saving the ball to be snatched by other girls as she came close to the basket, she jumped and put the ball in the basket and the whistle went. 'A basket.' Instead of landing smoothly on the ground, her ankle twisted and she fell, pain seized her ankle and refused to let go.

"Let me see." Aisha examined the injured leg, causing Ditiya to cry out in pain. The ankle was swelling rapidly. Her throat burned but the girl didn't move. Instead, Ditiya felt arms around her, they were encircling her and then she was pulled into warmth but now she couldn't see anyone. She was being dragged, moved, and embraced but there was no one else here.

"Ditiya, wake up. Why are you crying.... you are home, you're safe. Wake up." That sounded like Dhruv but he could not there, Ditiya could not see him anywhere.

"You're safe, I'm here. I've got you, Ditiya." She opened her eyes to find herself sweating badly and surrounded by Dhruv. By his arms, his chest, and his smell, his stubble was tickling Ditya's face and his arms were holding him in place. For the first after a nightmare, she felt anchored.

Her body stopped shaking; Dhruv was still holding her tight. Ditiya's face was nestled into his chest and his arms circle around her back and his big hands are grounding her. She stayed like that for a moment before pulling back.

'You're not allowed she is your friend's boyfriend.' The voice inside her head sneered at her.

"Sorry, I'm sorry I didn't—"

"No, hey. No, don't apologize." Dhruv said, soothing her with his voice.

"Thanks."

"Let me get you some water." she stayed on the sofa while Dhruv was gone, pulled herself together. She had not let anyone see her like this, it would give them power over her - a power to destroy her. It made her feel vulnerable. However, for some reason, she didn't feel like she had lost anything right then.

"Here." He sat down next to Ditiya but didn't bring up the dream or didn't start offering her advice, Ditiya thwarted the urge to reached over and touch him. Just touch his arm or lean into him or anything really.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." That was all he said before turning back toward the TV. She looked around in confusion for a moment before she realized that she was still in the sitting room and must have she had fallen asleep on the couch.

Ditiya felt that familiar tug in her chest, she just wanted to reach out and tangled their fingers together but she knew he has no right. So she settled for quiet thanks.

"Thanks, Dhrubu." The name slipped out without her consent, she didn't want to call him by his nickname but Dhruv's lips twitched into a small smile so she let it be.

The evening had the quiet, lazy feel of a winter, but it slipped into a comfortable banter as Dhruv mixed rice and dal for making khichdi. They were in no mood to eat daily's pasta salad after all something Indian is always good. Dhruv made Khichdi while Ditiya interrupted him with funny stories that made him bend in half and slap his knees while laughing like a lunatic.

Ditiya was really enjoying this, she never thought but Dhruv was appreciating her sense of humor and was not laughing just for the sake of it. Dhruv kept complaining about how she was letting him cook but then every time there was a new joke, he stopped stirring the rice and hunched over giggling.

"I wanted to punch her in the damn throat. I mean, who she thought she was, acting like it was no big deal... And no it is not a joke,"

"I never said it is a joke," Dhruv giggled

"Oh, you are making fun of me now, you really are!" The scowl she gave him made suppress a smile. How would she feel if she learned that her cute angry face was more, a turn on for him, and that little scowl of hers just made him want to kiss her again and again?

Dhruv lessened down the flame on the stove and covered the pan; he walked to the other side of the counter and stood in front of her. "I will never make fun of you," he said, bringing one hand up to brush her hair out of her face, he gave her a look of such tenderness the room seemed to warmer. It hit him exactly what he was doing when a photo frame on top of the fridge caught his eye and he dropped his hand immediately. Ditiya seemed too caught on as well but she did not say anything, so he went back and started stirring the khichdi again.

"But you always do," Ditiya murmured

They finally get the Khichdi done, well Dhruv did. All Ditiya did be sitting on the counter and told jokes. They plan to watch Hindi movie 'Piku' as they settle on the sofa.

By the time she put the movie in the DVD player and switched the system on, they were both half a can beer down and the dishes were unceremoniously dumped in the sink. They were ready.

There is nothing better than grabbing a bowl of popcorn, two cans of beer and sitting down to watch a movie about a unique father and daughter relation. The entire movie had covered a lot more than even they had realized, they had managed to watch the movie with both laughing aloud and crying with emotion, but in the middle of this Dhruv forgot everything, mainly Shreya.

At the end of the movie, they were both lying exhausted and dead on their feet. Dhruv had not had a proper movie night in a year and even then he couldn't remember the last time a drama movie was this much fun, maybe it was the light buzz from the three beers he just had.

Ditiya proposed they should lie down on the sofa little more as the next day was a Saturday and they could share another beer between them. Dhruv wondered when he forgot how to say no to Ditiya.

As they were lying around staring at half-lit chandelier hanging from the ceiling, Ditiya was talking in her slow voice, something stupid and Dhruv did not have a choice but to listen.

Because she talked in this way, it commanded your full attention, as if every word was important and you needed to be listening lest you miss something important.

"I know why you don't want about your dream. I mean, I think I do. When I was younger like eighteen, I just had my driving license and was taking my friend home in my father's old car. I pulled out to overtake a bus and suddenly saw the light of a fast car coming toward me. My friend screamed. Before I could react there was a terrible crash. I felt like I was ripped out of the car and I was lying on the ground, with my leg was turned at an impossible angle. Someday after my friend Vishnu, he was in the hospital for 18 months after the accident. I was fine, just had a broken leg.

You know, I didn't go see him in the hospital. Actually, I never saw him after the accident, until I ran into him at a mall in India last year. He recognized me and he didn't even hesitate for a second before throwing his arms around me. I stood there dumbfounded. I told him why I never went to see him; I told him I felt guilty for him and that he missed his 12th board exam because of me.

As like, I spent so many nights thinking if I hadn't tried to overtake the bus he would also be going college with us. He hit me upside the head and then pulled me into another hug.

He told me something then, he said 'I don't blame you, I don't blame anyone. Because that made me who I am and I'm never changing who I am.' He said that to me and it took me a while but now I understand what he meant."

Ditiya was so lost in those words that she did not catch when Dhruv shifted a little closer to her and his hand came to rest on Ditiya's arm. There was that feeling again, being anchored.

Words started flowing out without her permission and Dhruv's hand was gently drawing circles on her arm as he listened attentively. Ditiya told him everything about that day, more than she had told anyone else. The plan that fate had for her was an accident, that would never let her play basketball again

Ditiya didn't realize she was shaking until Dhruv was sitting down next to her and pulling her close. Warm arms were encircling her and she feels like felt she was drowning.

"Ditz, you have to stop thinking like that. Because that made you who you are and at least you should never be changing yourself"

They stayed like that for minutes or hours maybe, Ditiya wasn't sure. Eventually, Dhruv pulled her to stand up and guided her to her room. Ditiya felt like she was drowning as well as floating, everything around felt so surreal.

Dhruv tucked the blanket around her and was turning to leave when Ditiya clutched his hands tightly.

"Stay."

Nothing made sense at that moment; it was all an illusion or a sweet dream.

Dhruv lied down next to her and Ditiya burned with the need to reach over and pull him close. It was killing her but she turned and lied on her side and whispered goodnight before falling asleep. It was one of the most peaceful night's sleep she had in years.

...................

He was lying awake in Ditiya's bed, the clock on the bedside table said it was 5 am. Ditiya was softly snoring next to him with her lips parted slightly and her chest heaving with every breath. It was like looking at an art piece in a private viewing.

He reached out and touched her cheek with the softest fingers just to assure him that she was real. That she was not someone Dhruv had made up in his mind.

She was indeed real. And he has a girlfriend back in India.

Dhruv shouldn't be in bed with her, much less be looking at her in the middle of the night. However, the need to protect her and defend her against the world was overwhelming. She looked so small like that, with her hair messed up and sticking in all directions. And she was so beautiful like that he thought he wouldn't find anyone like her in the world but Dhruv knew it was not true.

Dhruv wanted to pull her into himself and hold her close until she knew she has someone. He wanted to be there for her, always. But he wouldn't. Not while he was with Shreya.

And this was different, he knew this was bad. With Shreya, it was perfect friendship and chaste kisses. But he had felt more emotions than he had in ages. It was like Ditiya's presence unsettles him, stirred up every hidden desire and urge. It was like they were in a separate field of gravity because he was feeling like he was being pulled toward Ditiya every second.

His eyes found Ditiya across the bed every time, the itch to touch just once was becoming insatiable. Moreover, it was not just the physical element of it, he was attracted to everything that made up Ditiya.

And he wondered if he really is in love with Ditiya. If he is not then why did Ditiya made him feel like spring with every word out of her mouth?

He wondered if he in love with Shreya or it is just a comfortable partnership that he has mistaken for love? Is he in love with Shreya or is it that he loves Shreya like he loves his friends Vishnu, Meghna?

A quiet shudder ran down his spine as he thought of the possibility that he might have been lying to Shreya and to himself.

Ditya stirred next to him, he couldn't stay here anymore. Throwing away the covers, he got out of bed and rushed out to his room. Nothing has changed, he still did love Shreya.