Alisha

I was peacefully sleeping in my room when I heard a familiar voice.
"Alisha, wake up."
Jayant? No way. It had to be a dream. There was no way he'd be here this early.
"Wake up, Aalu."
"Let me sleep, Bhalu. At least leave me alone in my dreams," I mumbled, my eyes still shut tight.

But then-suddenly-I felt my blanket being yanked away.

"Who's there?" I snapped, annoyed, still half-asleep. When I finally forced my eyes open, there he was-Jayant. Standing right in front of me.

"What the hell are you doing in my room this early?" I groaned, still not fully awake.

Jayant folded his arms, his expression impatient. "I came to wake you up. I knew after staying up late for Rishi's birthday, you wouldn't get up on your own."
"Exactly! So let me sleep," I muttered, turning my face away.

"Get up, Kumbhkaran. It's your first day of college."

I heard him rummaging around my room, and before I could protest, he was pulling out clothes for me.
"We can go on the second day," I argued lazily.
"If it were up to you, you'd never leave your bed," he muttered, exasperation clear in his voice.

And before I knew it, he had dragged me-literally-out of bed and all the way to the bathroom. Then, with a final push, he shoved me inside and locked the door.
"Your clothes are already there," he called out from outside.

I leaned against the bathroom wall, my eyes still begging for sleep. Maybe I could steal a few more minutes-
"Alisha, if you're not out in ten minutes, I swear I'll never take you to college with me. Ever."
The warning in his voice was enough to send a shiver down my spine. Within exactly nine minutes, I was out-fully dressed, wide awake, and ready.
Jayant took one look at me and grinned, a victorious, teasing smile stretching across his face.

The ride to college was a long one-forty minutes from home to the Institute of Technical Engineering. But for me, it felt like seconds.

With the wind brushing against my face, I leaned against Jayant's shoulder, my eyes drifting shut. Sleep clung to me stubbornly, refusing to let go. His one hand gripped the bike handle, steady and firm, while his other arm rested against my back, offering support.

I had no idea why I was this drowsy. My head throbbed slightly.

"Bhalu... did I drink something last night?" I murmured groggily.

"No. You just tried 2ml of vodka, that's all," he replied casually.

"Wait... WHAT? I drank last night?!" I shot up in shock, my sleep vanishing in an instant.

Jayant's voice softened as he reassured me, "Yeah... just a little."

I groaned. "If Papa finds out, he's going to kill me!"

That's when I noticed his expression-his lips twitching, eyes gleaming with amusement. And then, he laughed. Loud and carefree.

"What? What's so funny?" I demanded, suspicious.

He finally caught his breath and smirked, "Uncle already knows."

My heart nearly stopped. "What?! How?!"

Jayant shrugged, still grinning. "You, my dear, said something to him last night. While you were... you know... slightly intoxicated."

Panic bubbled inside me as I tried to recall anything-anything-that might support his claim. But my mind was blank.

"No way. If something like that happened, I'd at least remember a little," I insisted.

Jayant shook his head, laughing again. "That's the thing. You get tipsy with just a few drops... and then you forget everything."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. This was going to be a long day.
As we entered the campus, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The place was massive-tall buildings surrounded us like silent guardians, each one holding countless stories and dreams.

We made our way toward the Civil Department building, our footsteps echoing in the quiet morning. I glanced at Jayant and smirked, "You know, you look way too tall. Walk a little further from me, will you? I look tiny next to you."

Jayant didn't say a word. Instead, he pulled me close in one swift motion, wrapping one arm around my shoulder like it belonged there.

"That's not my fault," he said with a teasing grin. "And I'm not walking away from you, ever."

Don't say things like that, Jayant... I whispered in my mind, feeling my heartbeat go wild. You have no idea what your words do to me.

Trying to act cool, I said, "Fine. Let's just join a gym together, maybe I'll grow taller too."

But he shook his head, completely unfazed. "Whatever was meant to grow, already has."

I instantly turned toward him. "Then it's not my fault too."
He shrugged casually. "I was just saying it for fun."
Annoyed, I pushed his arm off my shoulder and walked ahead, pretending to be mad-though I could still feel the warmth where he had touched me.

Suddenly, Rishi popped out of nowhere, grinning like a fool. "Hey Alisha! Did that 20ml from last night wear off yet?"
"Wait, 20ml?" I repeated, my eyes widening.

I turned to look at Jayant, who was now walking toward us, slow and steady like he already knew this was coming.
"Did I really drink 20ml?" I asked Rishi again, half-hoping he'd say no.
"Oh yeah," he confirmed with a mischievous smile. "And after that, you were ready to finish the whole bottle!"
I smiled awkwardly, trying to hide my embarrassment. My cheeks were definitely turning pink.

Jayant reached us by then. He and Rishi did their usual guy-greeting thing-a mix of handshakes and shoulder bumps like they were in some secret club.

I didn't bother asking Jayant what had happened last night. I already knew he'd brush it off or sugarcoat everything.
But Rishi... that guy had no filter. If I wanted the truth, I knew where to go.
Without saying much else, we headed straight toward our classroom, the day finally beginning-one awkward memory and one skipped heartbeat at a time.

The desks here were bigger than in our old classrooms, so thankfully, Rishi and I wouldn't have to fight over who gets to sit next to Jayant. Obviously, he would sit in the middle-our unofficial neutral territory.

But as we slid into our usual spots, I noticed Jayant's expression fall. He didn't look too thrilled about being stuck between us. It was subtle, but I could see it-like he really didn't want to be the creamy layer in this awkward sandwich.

Well... too bad. He had no choice.

Class began, but my focus? Gone. And from the look on Rishi's face, he wasn't paying attention either.

Back in school, I used to be super attentive-raising hands, answering questions, highlighters, the whole nerd package. But here? I couldn't even pretend to care. Maybe because this course wasn't even my choice.

I still remember the day after our 12th boards when Jayant had casually asked, "So, what's next?"

I had blinked at him, completely blank. What's next? I hadn't thought that far. I did science because... well, everyone was doing it, and now here I was-floating in this engineering ship without a compass.

So I threw the question back at him, "And what about you?"

He replied instantly, like he'd known it forever: "Engineering."

Of course. Engineering. I sometimes wonder if half the male population is born with a default setting that says: 'Become Engineer.'

And now look at me-still trailing after Jayant like a lost puppy, even into this course.

Jayant, by the way, looked super focused in class. Probably because this was his dream.

But Rishi? What was he doing here? I swear, no matter where I go, this guy pops up like an unskippable ad.

Midway through the lecture, I leaned over and whispered to Jayant, "Move a bit. I want to sit in the middle."
He raised an eyebrow, confused. "We can switch after class."
"No, I want to do it now," I insisted. And without waiting for his approval, I started squeezing between them, ignoring all sense of personal space.
Jayant looked seriously uncomfortable. His jaw tensed.

And then-plot twist-just as the teacher turned around unexpectedly, I panicked... and sat right on Jayant's lap.
Yep. Full sit. No hesitation.
Luckily, the teacher didn't notice anything. With 69 students crammed into one room, and two people sitting "overlapping" each other, the odds were in our favor.

The moment the teacher turned back to the board, Jayant wrapped his arm firmly around my waist and gently shifted me between him and Rishi.
It wasn't the first time Jayant had held me like that-but every time, it felt brand new.

There was something about his touch... always a mix of warmth and gentleness, even though his hands were always cold, like he kept them in the fridge for fun.
But me? My skin? My whole soul? Caught fire every single time.

Rishi and I had started whispering during class, completely ignoring the lecture. Jayant, sitting right beside us, was clearly irritated. His brows were furrowed, his fingers tapping the desk restlessly. He finally snapped.
"Alisha, Rishi-stop it, yeh class hai!" he hissed.
We both muttered a half-hearted "Thik hai," but of course, we didn't stop. Instead, we slyly lowered our heads and continued our secret conversation like undercover agents.

"Did you like my gift?" i asked, trying to sound casual.
"Your gift? You mean those Nike shoes? You gave those?"
I frowned. "No, no... Jayant gave those. Think harder-mine was special."
Rishi went into deep thought, squinting like he was solving a murder case.
"Oh! You must've given me that Demon Slayer T-shirt!"
I gave him a flat look. "Rahim gave that."

"Then... that study lamp? The one with the cool adjustable neck?"
I smacked his arm. "Pagal ho kya?( Are you crazy )Don't you read the little notes that come with gifts, hmm?"

He looked exhausted, like his brain was failing him. "Then what did you give me? I really can't remember."
I pouted and made my cutest face. "Aww, you forgot my special gift? Uhh? Uhhh?"
He suddenly lit up. "Special gift... wait, THAT was from you?" he blurted loudly.
I couldn't help it-I burst out laughing.
"Kitni buri ho tum," ("you are so mean") he muttered, but by then, half the class was staring at us. Jayant had his palm over his face, looking like he was regretting every life choice that brought him to this bench.

The teacher turned sharply. "You two are talking, aren't you?"
Rishi instantly lied, "No, sir!"
I stood up boldly. "Yes, sir. We were."
Rishi panicked and pulled me down. "Kya kar rahi hai tu?!" ("What are you doing?!")

Jayant, still annoyed, muttered, "Tumhe bahar jaane ka mann hai, kya?" ( "Do you just want to get kicked out?")
I ignored him completely.
The teacher narrowed his eyes. "And who were you talking to, Miss...?"
"Alisha," I answered quickly.
"Miss Alisha," he corrected, now fully invested in our drama. "Who were you talking to?"
I casually pointed at Rishi. "Him."
Rishi shook his head like a malfunctioning fan. "No sir, she's-"
Jayant interrupted with perfect timing, "Yes sir, they were definitely talking."
Rishi glared at Jayant with eyes wide enough to scare a cat, but I just giggled like I was watching a rom-com.

The teacher snapped again. "So? Are you two done talking now, or should we give you more time?"
Without missing a beat, I replied, "We'd like some more time, sir."
It was like I'd set the man's blood on fire.
"GET OUT OF MY CLASS!" he shouted, probably waking up two classes next door.

I immediately grabbed Rishi's hand and dragged him out like it was part of the plan all along.
Outside, Rishi looked at me, part annoyed, part curious. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
I smirked. "Did what on purpose? The gift thing?"
"No. All this. In class."
"Of course I did," I said, grinning. "Because what I'm about to ask... I couldn't ask in front of Jayant."
His eyebrows shot up. "Now I'm really curious. What is it?"
"Come on. Let's talk in the cafeteria."

We walked off, side by side, with Rishi throwing me suspicious glances.
"So tell me in detail... what exactly did I do after I got drunk?" i asked to rishi, my expression suddenly turning serious-well, as serious as i could manage. His brows were drawn together, lips pressed, like he was preparing for a crime report.

I stared at him for a beat, then he rolled his eyes. "Wait, that's why you dragged me here? To interrogate me?"
Before i could answer, he leaned in, voice sharp. "First you tell me-why the hell did you send me that creepy doll with glue and scissors? Huh?"
I blinked, caught completely off guard. "W-what? That? That was just... a joke!"

"A joke?!" he shot back, full drama mode. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"But you didn't die, right?" i quipped instantly, trying to act innocent.
He narrowed his eyes. "Still could've!"
"Okay okay, I'm sorry!" i said, hands up in mock surrender.

Now, anyone who knew me knew I didn't hand out "sorries" like freebies. I never say sorry unless it's absolutely necessary. But that moment? Worth it.
"Fine. Sorry," I said, half-muttering, half-smiling.
Rishi's entire face lit up like I had just confessed my love.
"You really feel sorry? Like, genuinely? Say it again!"
Ugh. If murder was legal, I'd have thrown my tray at his head. But I held back, took a deep breath, and with the smallest, fakest smile I could manage, said sweetly, "Sorry, Rishi."

He looked like he was floating in the seventh sky. The guy was glowing.
"I'll tell you everything now," he said, practically glowing. "Ask me anything."
"Okay, then tell me. In full detail. What exactly happened yesterday?"
I leaned in, curiosity bubbling inside me, ready to hear.

Rishi began to speak, his voice just a bit lower than usual-like he was hesitant to bring it all back.
"We were all just having fun at the club," he said. "Dancing, laughing. Then this girl walked up to us... her name was Radhika. And man, she was-"
"Excuse me," I interrupted, raising a brow. "I asked you to tell me my story, not give a full description of some other girl."
He shot me an irritated look. "Do you want to hear it or not?"
"Okay, okay! Tell me," I said quickly, trying to calm him down before he bailed on the whole thing.
He continued, this time without detours.
"Radhika walked up and asked Jayant to dance. At first, he refused-but we pushed him to go.
Well hard to denied that hot.. beautiful girl. You... well, you didn't take that very well. As soon as he started dancing with her, you looked like Your smile faded as you watched him laugh with another girl, jealousy burning quietly in your chest."
I blinked. "What did I do?"
"You," he said, pointing at me like he was narrating a suspense story, "grabbed Jayant's vodka, thinking it would help. And just like that-you downed it in one go. Then another. And another. Next thing we knew, you were the one on the dance floor... dancing with Jayant like nothing happened. It was like one of those movie scenes-jealous girl goes wild."
He stopped for a second, waiting for my reaction.
"That's it?" I asked. "That doesn't sound like something I'd do."
"Oh, but you did," he replied, sipping his coffee calmly. "Every bit of it."
I slapped the table lightly. "Then who's going to tell me what happened after that?"

Still holding his cup, he snapped, "Didn't you say you wanted to talk while we had coffee? Let me at least finish my drink!"

I pouted, not saying a word, and he smirked in victory.
"Just then, Jayant came running over to us, eyes wide with concern. "Did Alisha drink?"
Before I could say anything, Rahim blurted out, "Yeah, out of jealousy-"
*"She thought it was water!"* I quickly cut in, giving Rahim a hard look. "She drank your glass by mistake."
Jayant's expression shifted into worry. "And none of you thought to stop her?"
I took another slow sip, trying to sound casual. "It was just a little. She can handle it."
Jayant looked unconvinced but didn't argue."He brought you from the dance floor to our table, but you couldn't stop throwing questions at Jayant, your curiosity refusing to rest."-'Why did you go dance with her?'"
I watched Jayant's face closely as he spoke.
"She approached me," he said quietly. "So I went."
"And you'll just go dance with any random stranger who asks?"

I remember asking him, half-drunk, half-angry.

"She wasn't a stranger. She was a classmate."
"But still! You're not supposed to dance with anyone else," you said clearly and loud. "You're mine. Only mine."

There was a stunned silence after that.
Even now, Rishi and I exchanged surprised glances, remembering the words that had left my mouth.

After some pause "All of us quiet, Jayant had gone quiet too.
Maybe that's why he called the night off after that. Told everyone the party was over."

"We stepped out of the club. The rain was already falling outside, cool and steady-like it knew the heat that had just passed between you two guys.
Without thinking twice, you walked straight into the rain-no umbrella, no music, just you... dancing. Completely lost in the moment. Your arms stretched out, eyes closed, that carefree smile on your face-it was like the rain had become your rhythm, your escape.
You dragged Rahim and me into it too, laughing like a child, making sure we all got drenched. And just when we thought the moment couldn't get more surreal, you turned to Jayant.
At first, he hesitated. But when you reached for him, something in your eyes must've pulled him in. Without a word, he removed his shirt, folded it carefully, and left it near the entrance of the club. Then, shirtless, he walked into the downpour with you.
There he was-drenched in the rain, his skin glistening under the streetlights, and yet, his eyes only on you. There was no music, no crowd cheering, yet the air felt like it was burning... like something unspoken was passing between the two of you. The way he held your hand... the way you both danced in silence-it was electric.
After a few magical moments, Jayant quietly stepped away.
He said he was going to get the car.
You tried to stop him, calling out, reaching for his arm-but he kept walking. And just as he was about to disappear around the corner, you whispered it, barely above the sound of the rain-
*"I love you..."*
But he didn't hear it. Or maybe he did... and chose not to show it.
A few minutes later, he returned with the car. We all got in, wet and shivering. Except him-he'd managed to keep his shirt dry. He climbed into the driver's seat, pulled out the shirt, and without saying a word, leaned over to you.
Not only did he hand it to you-he gently helped you wear it, pulling it over your head, smoothing it down your arms. It wasn't just an act of kindness-it was something softer, deeper. The way he looked at you while doing it... it wasn't just about warmth. It was about care. About love.
No one said anything after that. The car started, and we began our journey home.
But something had already shifted in the air.
Something had been said without words.
And it was beautiful."
I was smacking Rishi back to his senses-he had drifted off into some dreamy flashback like he was narrating a K-drama.
"It wasn't that romantic, alright? Stop exaggerating," I said, rolling my eyes.
He blinked back to reality, still grinning like an idiot, then placed his hand dramatically over the spot I had just smacked. "Romantic enough," he teased.
I groaned, clearly annoyed. "There was nothing romantic about it! You're just making it up as you go."
After a pause, curiosity got the better of me. I lowered my voice and asked quietly, "Wait... did I really say I love you last night? Or are you just adding masala for fun?"
Rishi leaned back like he was enjoying the suspense, then leaned forward again and whispered, "Yes. You did. But not to Jayant... more like... to yourself. Like you were telling your own heart. Softly. Barely above a whisper."
I froze. "So now everyone knows I like Jayant?" I asked in horror.
"Nah," he replied quickly, "Just Rahim. And me. But I already knew."
My eyes widened. "How did you know?"
He smirked. "It's in your eyes. They scream it louder than your voice ever could."
I smacked his arm again. "Liar!"
He hit back, playfully this time. "Liar? You're the one lying to yourself. If you love him, just say it. You whispered it last night. Now scream it if you have to."
Before I could toss a comeback, I noticed Jayant walking toward us. Panicked, I motioned wildly to Rishi to shut up.

He zipped his lips and sat straighter, like a kid caught talking in class.
Jayant sat beside us, completely unaware of the storm he'd just walked into.
Jayant looked furious. His voice was sharper than usual as he turned to me and asked,
“Alisha, why did you want to leave the class?”
For a second, I was genuinely startled by his tone. I hesitated, then said quietly,
“I just… wasn’t feeling it. Didn’t feel like being there.”
He sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment like he was trying to calm a storm within.
“It was the first day, Alisha. You should’ve made some impression. You walked out on the very first day.”
Before I could respond, Rishi jumped in, trying to lighten the mood.
“Come on, man. Let it go. There are so many classes left—we’ll make up for it.”
But Jayant snapped, “You stay out of it, bhai,” the words landing like a slap.
His tone was harsh—too harsh.

Rishi and I both murmured a quiet “sorry,” but he wasn’t having it. He wasn’t ready to forgive.

“It would’ve been better if you two hadn’t come at all. At least Rahim and Dip made the right decision choosing a different college,” he said coldly.
Without another word, he picked up his bag and walked off to the next class.
We followed silently, heads low. And for the next four hours, we attended lectures one after another—no jokes, no glances, not a single word spoken between us.

After college, as we rode back home, Jayant still wasn’t talking to me. I gathered the courage to ask,
“About yesterday… after dropping off Rahim and Rishi… did I say something to you? Something weird?”
He didn’t turn around. He just spoke calmly, as if he was describing the weather.
“No. You fell asleep. I carried you home in my arms… and I told your parent you’d had a drink.”
I gasped, smacked him lightly on the back from behind. “Why would you tell him?! You’re evil!”
But he simply said, with so much ease it almost made me feel guilty,
“So that next time, before drinking, you’d think about your father. How he’d feel.”
“Seriously, Jayant?” I muttered.
And then his voice softened. Almost like a whisper.
“I just don’t want you to drink.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Something about the way he said it made my heart ache a little.

Just then, Rishi’s bike came riding up beside ours. He called out cheerfully,
“There’s a waterfall nearby—just a short ride from here. Wanna go check it out?”
Jayant and I looked at each other for a second, and then both nodded.

We followed Rishi through winding roads and quiet trails until we reached it.
And there it was—hidden, serene, magical. The sound of rushing water filled the air, and something in the atmosphere just melted the tension away.
It was beautiful.

And for the first time that day, I felt something shift. Not just around me, but inside me too.
Jayant was sitting alone on a large stone, a little away from where the water met the rocks. His eyes were lost in the view, calm yet distant. Meanwhile, Rishi and I were splashing around in the cool water below, laughing and soaking in the beauty of the place.

Out of nowhere, Rishi leaned closer to me and whispered with a mischievous smile,
“Propose to him here. It’s a beautiful place—it’ll make the moment unforgettable.”
My heart skipped a beat.
I looked up at Jayant, then back at Rishi. He gave me a quick wink and a thumbs-up. Something about the peace in the air, the fall’s mist on my skin, and Jayant sitting quietly by himself gave me courage I didn’t know I had.

I took a deep breath and started walking toward him.

Jayant noticed me struggling a bit with the slippery rocks, and without hesitation, he reached out his hand to help me climb up. His grip was warm and steady, just like him. With his help, I sat beside him on the stone, the waterfall roaring gently behind us.

From down below, Rishi was watching, giving me an encouraging nod, mouthing, “All the best!”
I turned to Jayant and softly asked,
“Are you still upset with me?”
He replied immediately, not even looking at me—his eyes fixed on the fall,
“Not at all. I’m just… concerned about you.”
Then he glanced at me and added, “You haven’t been focusing on your studies like you used to…”
He kept talking, his words full of care, but honestly, I wasn’t listening anymore.

My heart was pounding in my chest. My mind was screaming with every word I’d rehearsed, but my voice—my voice was stuck somewhere deep. Still, I gathered all the courage I had, we both stand up, looking towards how water falling over stones, and slowly bent one knee down, trembling inside, and stretched out my hand toward him.
I was about to say it. The words were right there on my lips.
And then—he looked at me.
For a moment, I swear the sound of the waterfall faded. Time stood still. My breath caught in my throat. His eyes met mine with a mix of confusion and something else… something I couldn’t name.
Panic surged.
In an instant, I dropped my hand, pretending to reach for my shoe like I needed to fix the laces.

Coward, I cursed myself silently.
But then Jayant did something that nearly shattered me.
He bent down in front of me, mirroring my position, and without a word, started tying my laces himself. His fingers moved gently, carefully. My breath hitched. I couldn’t look at him, not like this.
Down by the water, Rishi’s expression said it all—his disappointment was impossible to miss.

I had missed the moment. Or maybe… it wasn’t the right moment yet.
But sitting there with Jayant, his hands brushing mine as he tied my laces like it was the most normal thing in the world… somehow, even in silence, something was said. Something soft. Something real.
On the way home, my head gently rested on Jayant’s shoulder.

I could feel him—his warmth, his calm heartbeat, the steadiness in the way he rode. And in that quiet, simple moment, I realized something crystal clear... maybe I didn’t want anything more than this. Just him. Just this closeness.
Maybe I didn’t need grand declarations or perfect timing. I just wanted him to always be beside me… near me… like this.
I didn’t know if he loved me back. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe he never would. But that didn’t change how I felt.
Because I loved him.
And I wanted to keep loving him—without conditions, without expectations.
Just… love him.

I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder like this for the rest of my life, to have that one safe place where I could forget the world and just breathe.
When we reached my home, he gently brought the bike to a stop in front of my gate. Neither of us said much. There was a softness in the air, the kind that speaks louder than words.
He waited until I stepped inside, then drove away—slowly, fading from my sight.
But even as his silhouette disappeared down the road, I knew… he might be out of my sight, but he would never be far from my heart.
Not now.
Not ever.

________________

Jayant pov

Alisha was asleep in my arms—completely carefree. Or maybe it was just the alcohol doing its work.
And there I was… standing shirtless at her door, with my shirt wrapped around her to keep her warm. I somehow managed to ring the doorbell, trying not to wake her.
Her father opened the door. The moment he saw me without a shirt, his eyes widened in shock. But then he looked at Alisha, passed out in my arms, and concern quickly replaced the surprise.
“What happened to her?” he asked, his voice low but alert.
“She just had a little too much to drink… that’s all,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, respectful.
We walked inside, into the hall, unsure where to lay her down. Her father glanced at me and asked, “Why didn’t you stop her?”
Without meeting his eyes, I said quietly, “I didn’t even realize when she drank. But I promise… next time, she won’t do this again.”

He looked straight at me, a mix of concern and curiosity in his eyes. “And what if she wants to drink next time?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “She won’t want to,” I said firmly.
He stared at me like he was trying to read a future I already believed in.
“How do you know that?” he asked.
As I gently laid Alisha on her bed, I whispered, “I just… know.”
But before I could even finish tucking her in, her eyes suddenly fluttered open, and like a switch had been flipped, she sat up on the bed with wild energy.

“Happy birthday to you… happy, happy birthday to you!” she began to sing—no, shout—while bouncing on the bed like a little kid.

Uncle and I both rushed to calm her down, panicking because if she kept this up, the whole Aashiyana Society would be outside in minutes.
I quickly covered her mouth with my hand and signaled Uncle to bring some lemon water. He nodded and walked off.

Alisha looked at me with pleading eyes, promising with a nod that she wouldn’t scream again. I hesitated, then slowly moved my hand away.

And then she looked into my eyes—deep, unfiltered, and full of something pure—and asked, “Jayant, do you know who sent you into my life?”

I smiled gently, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I do… God did.”
But she shook her head, her words slurring slightly, “No… my mom did.”..."stay with me till my last breath."
I froze.
She rarely ever talked about her mom—only when she was really sad, and even then, barely. Hearing her say something like that caught me completely off guard.

Uncle returned with a t-shirt and handed it to me. I slipped it on quickly. After Alisha drank the lemon water, I softly asked her to change out of the party clothes. Uncle stepped out of the room, giving us some space.

Alisha clung to me the whole time. She wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t even listen to me properly. She was so intoxicated, giggling one moment, pouting the next.
Eventually, after convincing her like a hundred times, she agreed to change.
She was coming out of the bathroom, barely steady on her feet, when she tripped—and I caught her just in time. Her body collapsed into mine once again, fragile and warm.

Looking up at me, she whispered, “You always save me, Jayant… You’ll keep saving me, right?”

I tightened my grip around her and replied softly, “Always. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

Her head rested on my shoulder, and then came another whisper… quieter, but it hit deeper.

“You have your own life too… What if your wife comes one day?”

I smiled gently, running my fingers through her damp hair. “Even then… you’ll always be my first priority. I made myself a promise—to always keep you happy.”

She looked up, her eyes glistening even in that dim light. “Then make me your wife… end all this confusion.”

I chuckled, teasing her, “Yeah, sure. Definitely.”

But her next words weren’t playful.

“I love you, Jayant…”

I paused.

There was something so real in her voice. Maybe it was the alcohol… or maybe it was just her heart finally speaking out loud.

Still running my fingers through her hair, I whispered back, “I love you too, my Aalu.”

And just like that… she fell asleep in my arms.

I slowly laid her back on the bed, tucking her in like she was something precious I needed to protect.

I watched her for a while. There was such innocence on her face. Like a child who trusted the world would never hurt her. Like she believed, truly, that I would always be there.

As I turned to leave, I noticed Uncle standing at the door.

Maybe he heard everything. Maybe not.
He simply looked at me, said, “Good night.”

“Good night, Uncle,” I said softly, then stepped out into the quiet night.

I didn’t let my mind wander too much about what she said… after all, she was drunk. Maybe she didn’t even mean half of it.

..*.*.*.*.________
🫶🫶