Cold winds blew light rains on exposed legs as she sat on the edge of the veranda. Changing the song on her phone, she leaned her head on the pillar. Tiny puddles collected on the road, reflecting the orange-yellow of the streetlights, ripples formed by the wind. The din of frogs croaking in the distance dimmed by the patter of the falling rain.
Perfect- she thought to herself, feeling warm yet cold at the same time, why couldn't it always be like this?
But the sound of approaching footsteps made her realize the silence would soon be gone.
"Hey" Aarav sat beside her, rolling his pants up to his knees and exposing them to the rain, with a grin much like that of a child.
"You okay?"she asked, noticing his face properly for the first time. Innocent in its own way, a few freckles on his nose, big brown eyes that were almost always playful yet held something else in them today... Was he sad? Or in pain?
"I'm fine" he looked down at the small streams on the grass pavement.
"You're not sad by Madhav bad mouthing you?" She asked softly leaning so her shoulder touched his arm.
"Little, he does this a lot nowadays" he mumbled.
"Its okay...he's just being bitchy" she shook her head and nudged him.
"its not that...its... " turning towards her, he inhaled deeply and then turned away.
"What?" She asked
"Nothing..." he sighed "so how was the show? liked it?" changing the topic he tried to seem a bit more cheery
"Yeah was good...nice solo" she smiled "i saw you lose your sandal in the middle"
"Oh God, you did? was it noticeable?" He asked genuinely appalled. It had managed to catapult itself away and it was indescribably awkward to get it back
"All of us backstage had bets on whether or not you'd reach " giggling As she dodged the smack he was trying to give, however it made her laugh harder. He simply pouted, fighting the urge to laugh.
A pair of eyes watched from the window with rather conflicted emotions. Biting her lip, Nagma watched the pair laugh and splash rain water on each other.
"They're cute" she muttered to the figure that had walked up behind her.
"Yeah" Madhav mumbled snaking his arms around her hips and leaning his chin on her shoulder.
"You were a donkey today Madhav " she said in a monotonous voice.
"I know... I'm not sorry" he kissed the tip of her ear "I was annoyed"
Everyone else was fast asleep, the house was blanketed in darkness and warmth, cold drafts seeping in through the windows.
Nagma sighed and turned around to face him, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Take these off" she sighed and pulled his glasses off placing them in his pocket.
"Careful I'm blind without them" he chuckled
The corner of her mouth turned up in a lopsided smile "don't be this way" she said softly.
He nodded and kissed her lightly on her forehead before hugging her. She smiled , her head resting on his chest, rhythmic breathing and the mild thumping of his heart seeming to be the only sound she could hear.
"He will see" she whispered causing him to sigh and let go of her.
"You have to tell him you know " he muttered, rolling his eyes as she silently nodded in response. She watched him go back to bed and curl in before looking back at the window, a ghost of a smile gracing her face as laughter emanated from the pair. They seemed happy indeed.
Shutting the window she went back to her room and cuddled into her bed, facing the door., the steady beat of the rain slowly increasing. She heard laughter, the maindoor opened and a drenched figure entered pulling another in.
"You ass! You made me wet!" Jp laughed, rushing to the her shared room ,where Nagma lay- pretending to sleep- she grabbed a towel and ran back, handing it to the boy. Nagma watched through hooded eyes as their could barely contain their laughter, much like children- she thought to herself.
"Shhh" Aarav giggled "everyone's sleeping...go sleep we have to travel"
Jp chuckled "okay...bye! Goodnight " she smacked him and ran quickly to her room and shut the door.
"Nagma?" She whispered "are you awake"
"Hmm " Nagma pretended to stir
"Sorry...please turn away? I have to change" she whispered.
quietly obeying, Nagma turned to the off white wall, splattered by the shadows of the rain pelted windows. She felt Jp lie on the bed and the House was blanketed in silence again as her eyes began to shut . A buzz of her phone startled her and she quickly checked it.
"Goodnight...I could see you were awake...sleep" - Aarav.
sigh- she turned off the phone and cuddled into her sheets for a night of restless sleep.
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