K A B I R P O V :-Boarding off the plan, I slung my laptop bag tighter around my shoulders and listened to the announcement vibrating above me.Belt 5.There I would get my luggage. My eyes were weary from the lack of the sleep. When I had woken up, I had made up my mind to sleep in the flight, but all thanks to the person sitting next to me who had forgotten to bring his headphones. Being polite, I had even offered my headphones but he had looked at him as if I had done a crime.Whatever.Rubbing my fist against my closed eyes, I followed the directions to the belt 5 and waited for my luggage to come.I should at least call Alina, but wouldn't it be early? She must be getting ready for the college, or still sleeping, as far as I knew her. How would she get to college?College is within walking distance.Yeah, but. I shook my head, endeavoring to shake off the worry laying behind them. It wasn't like she was all alone in Bangalore, and she couldn't handle herself. We were fightin
"Where is Dhruv?" I asked the house taker, and she pointed her finger to his room. Muttering weak thanks, I climbed up the stairs, jumping one after another. Forgetting all my manners of knocking the door, I opened it with a grin. "I'm bac—Fuck! Damn it! Dhruv yaar! Darwaza toh lock kr lia kr.!" Two bodies scrambled out of the bed. Cursing further, I stepped out of the room and took a deep breath to clear my vision of the horror I had just witnessed. I had seen Dhruv shirtless, but this damn it. Huh! I was going to vomit. "Don't vomit all over the floor." A voice interrupted my thoughts. Pulling my gaze, I saw a lean boy standing in front of me. "Rahul. Hey. You were here?" He nodded. "Left to the living room when I heard the moans. Didn't you hear them?" I shook my head. "I was too excited to meet him. Fuck my eyes." He laughed out loud, slapping my back. I glared at him, shoving his hand off my back. I wonder what his reactions would be to find almost two naked bodies. "I sho
[ A L I N A ' S P O V ]"You should've called your dad." Meenu Auntie chided me as soon as she caught my luggage bag. A frown settled on her face, disappointment covered her whole face, but I ignored it and stared at my wrist and traced the path of the bandage."I did," I said emotionlessly. "He didn't pick up."Called him after a month, called everyone after a month, conveying I would be next week because I was going worried sick about Kabir's mother because I was scared staying alone in the hostel among few girls. I had thought of staying in Kabir's apartment, but then let the thought sail away.See them once and get over it. Get over because you need to.Putting my luggage at the back, she sat back with me and told the cabbie the address to home."What about this secrecy?" She demanded.When nobody had picked up the call, I had called Meenu Auntie, informing her and she was delighted I was coming back. I had told her I would catch a cab, but she hushed down my plans and informed s
"Kabir, where are we going?" I caught his hand to stop his movements. The street was strange to me, no doubt every street in Bangalore was strange to me. I didn't get much time to wander around. Kriti had said we would explore the city on the weekend in her activa.He rolled his eyes, grinning. "Remember we played twenty questions once and you told me you love Punjabi food after South Indian?" I nodded. "And last night you were complaining that you're sick of sambhar." I nodded along with his words, growing restless. "Damn woman, stay calm." He laughed. "This street has best Punjabi food.""Is it?""Of course, my foodie girl.""I'm not a foodie.""You are." He slung his arm across my neck, pushing us inside the restaurant. "You ate the whole pizza last weekend.""I was hungry," I argued. "I'm never coming to your apartment again."To my reply, he smirked and pulled the chair back. "My lady. Shall we?"I sat down and gleamed at his side. "Do you realize we've never gone out like a date?
A knock interrupted me from the reading. Pushing my glasses, I stood up, unlocked the door and opened it.Dad was standing outside with a tray in his hand."You were hungry." I stepped aside, letting him enter. He had changed his clothes to casual. Placing the tray on the bed, he waited for me to join him. Sighing, I settled opposite to him as he revealed the dishes and the mug of hot chocolate. "Sorry, you had to hear that.""Papa." He levitated his gaze upwards. "I'm sorry for not picking your call.""You must be busy," He didn't mean it as a taunt or snide remark. He hoped I was busy."I wasn't," I squeezed my eyes tightly."Oh." Happiness wore down his face. "Then why? I thought everything was okay between us.""I'm sorry." I shook my head rapidly, curled my hand on top of my thigh. "I was mean. Forgive me.""Nothing to forgive, Alina. Just don't ignore my call again, okay? It worries me. When Kabir told you weren't coming, I was going to fly to Bangalore.""When you met Kabir?" I
"Akshay, this is Alina. Alina, this is my partner in crime," Kabir introduced us. "We used to play pranks on Nisha."Akshay dipped his head a bit, his face crackled in the glowing lights."You're the topic in our relatives." He grinned, and Kabir's look turned to tensed from playful. "Some guts you both have admitted your relationship and putting us all in danger. You should've kept it secret. These oldies won't let you live. Twenty-one and they'll be forcing you to marry."My eyes widened at his words, and frantically, I searched for Kabir's face, who shook his head at his brother."Don't scare her like that," Kabir hissed. "Alina, don't listen to him. He's mad." I nodded because accepting that was much better than the word his brother had pushed inside my brain. Marry? Was he absurd? I was just eighteen.Excusing myself, I engaged with Nisha and her cousins. It was much better than meeting with Akshay, but it wasn't for long they started asking me about Kabir. God, was this the only
[ K A B I R ' S P O V ]"Thanks for the gift." Nisha beamed beside me, but her whole attention was on the bracelet strapped to her wrist. It had cost me a fortune and I had no idea how dad would react to finding I had used too much from my debit card. He had set a limit for both me and Nisha, but I had overdone it this time. I could've gotten her a new dress, but it wasn't worth it. Her closet was filled with them, and she had all the supplies for her paints.And I was running late. So, in the end, along with Mom, I had gone to the jewelry shop. I had to give her something on Bhai Dooj."It must be expensive," She whispered, tensed."It's okay. You loved it. That's what matters.""But dad—""I'll handle it. Excited about England?" Dad informed her yesterday. She had been in shock but then jumped on the couch, screaming she was going to England and teasing me because I couldn't go.Some devil she was. She was getting back on the car thing."A lot." She smirked. "I'm going to miss y
Tugging my hand, she took me to the room, situated behind the stairs and closed her door."Alina!" Her mom shouted."Come in and I'll burn this room as well." And that stopped her mom. She turned around and gave me a look, a hard look. "What are you doing here? Who told you? Are you stupid?""I am?!" I raised my voice. "You burned your room. Have you gone mad? Why did you do that?""I had to!" She screamed back. "You don't understand." Her voice weakened. "You think I'm mad too, don't you? You must be scared of me.""Did you take your medicines?" I asked carefully.However, she had a whole different response to it. "I'm not sick! Will everyone stop asking for pills?!" She clutched her head. "I'm not sick.""Hey, hey." I removed her hands from her head. "Of course, you're not sick."She slipped past me, resided on her bed and covered her face with her hands. Giving a look at her slightly burned hand, I caught it and brushed my thumb across it."You should apply paste." Standing up, I lo