"Mark!!" Lakshman snapped. "Why are you sleeping with your eyes wide open when I'm explaining such an important topic" everyone is glaring at Mark.
"Just leave him be. Let's continue" Vidya smirked at a Mark who's feeling wronged.
"I'm not sleeping let me join from here" Lakshman sighed "Alright, I'll explain this topic later"
Mark smirked at Vidya " Why are you taking his side?" she pointed her pencil at Mark
"Well why can't he? Please stop wasting our time, we have a lot to do"
"Pfffttt" Nag is giggling.
Once they start fighting, they never stop until Nag snaps, yet now he's laughing. It's Lakshman's turn to stop them, he cooked up a perfect plan "Guys, how about we celebrate with drinks after exams?"
"Drinks? I've never seen a bar, I'll come" Mark said with sparkling eyes
"That's not an amusement park kid"
"Well Miss!" He roared "I am not a kid"
Lakshman facepalmed "Only if everyone gets a C"
"What the hell! Nag and you always get an A+ and I change between A and A+" Vidya gave Mark a side glance "where did the 'C' come from"
"Lakshman!" their eyes met "Where is the punching bag" Mark gritted his teeth.
Finally Nag spoke up before its too late "I'm in"
Lakshman added "Great. Now Vidya will you be coming?"
Their attention is diverted "Of course I am. I'll decide the place" she winked.
Lakshman smiled knowingly
Mark is still fuming "I'll mark everything for you. As long as you memorize I'll guarantee you a B" Lakshman said with a soft smile
Mark took a deep breathe "Alright!"
They studied seriously since there's only a few days left for the exams.
If it was Mark from the past he would've continued to argue with Vidya, but she knows when to stop and being with her for three years changed his stubbornness. During their early days of friendship, they didn't get along well because they were waiting for the other to backdown or someone to stop them. But eventually they accepted the way in which the other person reacts and took turns to be the one to shut up.
It changed over time, on the surface it seems like they hate each other but actually they like teasing each other.
Nag understands this very well. So he always gives them a reason to end their argument.
7:30 pm
"Ahh it's over" Vidya stretched her hands. Mark stood up from the couch and laid flat on the floor.
Nag looked at the wall clock "It's late. The last bus is at 8:00 I should be going"
Ram arrived from the kitchen carrying a large pot "Eat first. I'll drop you"
"No. I'll be fine" Nag doesn't want to impose on him.
"Set the table" he placed the pot on the dinning table.
"Ok" like obedient kids everyone started helping.
"Did you cook this all by yourself?" Vidya couldn't help but ask, it almost tastes like the food her mother cooks
"Yes" he looked straight in the eye at the girl.
"Hm. It's far better than what my brother makes, to be exact it's perfect" she showed him an ok sign. Ram smiled.
Mark is busy stuffing his mouth, he didn't even hear what they were talking about. Then Vidya received a text, it was from her brother
"Hey Vivi, Dad came home you know"-read
She hurriedly typed
"I didn't lock my room" - sent
"You have spare key, Hurry lock-" - typing
"He came an hour ago"- received
She stopped typing and dialed him
"You wanna die?"
Suddenly everyone stopped and looked at Vidya, Mark's spoon is still in his mouth
"Uh. Excuse me" she walked into the hall. The people at the table stared at each other.
"let me tell you something don't get shocked" said her brother while holding his laughter.
"What is it? Quick or I'll come home and beat your ass"
"Dad went to your room and he apparently saw your work uniform"
Vidya lost her words
"Vivi, I covered it up for now, you better don't come home tonight"
"I understand" she hung up.
At the table
"Nag, tonight can I stay at your place?" it's yet another shock to the spectators
"Geez. Let me eat my food peacefully" Mark complained.
Ram interrupted "I was about to ask Nag to stay over. If you don't mind, you can stay too"
"Okay. I'll stay" Nag is shocked.
"Vidya, what's wrong with you. He asked out of politeness"
"Yeah I know. I accept his politeness" Lakshman laughed "Yeah. Just stay over, your place is so far"
"Hm. You have to conserve your energy man" Mark tried to convince him.
In the end, everyone decided to sleepover. As for Mark he said that he doesn't want to be the only one to return home.
"So, I'll sleep with Lakshman, Nag will sleep in Ram's room and Vidya will sleep on the couch" Mark said rubbing his nose.
"I'm okay" said Vidya
"What man are you? Letting a lady sleep on couch" Nag said fumingly
"What lady? Didn't you hear how she talked with her brother? Don't rub that lady thing on me" Mark didn't think that he's wrong.
"Alright. Stop it you guys. I also don't like the lady things. I'm happy that you're letting me stay" Vidya is not in the mood to argue. Tomorrow when she returns, she has to give everyone a proper explanation.
Mark didn't expect Vidya to take his side, he felt overwhelmed "Okay, let's do this. I'll sleep with Lakshman, Nag will sleep on the couch, Vidya will sleep in Ram's room. How is that?" he looked at Vidya, she doesn't have any words to say. He looked at Ram "I don't mind" he said with a nonchalant face. Vidya and Nag exchanged glances.
"Vidya! You sleep on the couch" Vidya nodded to Nag and hopped on the couch
"Good night" with her palms beneath her head she said in a comfortable way as if it is her own house.
"Lady huh" Mark murmured. Everyone dispersed to their rooms.
Nag felt awkward to sleep with Ram, when he was given a blanket, he was tucked. Nag felt quite surprised by it, Ram then patted his stomach and said "Sleep"
Nag was speechless for the affection he was receiving but he closed his eyes anyway. He felt uncomfortable at first but when he closed his eyes, he felt as if it was his mother that is with him at the moment. He soon fell asleep. Ram then went to Lakshman's room, he was reading a comic book
"Oh! Mark is bathing, I'm waiting for him to come"
Ram said closing the door "Sleep early"
He then took a pillow and blanket to Vidya. Although it's not convenient, she fell asleep real quick. He lifted her head, placed the pillow under her head. He noticed that she's sleeping with her hair under her back, he lifted her head and gently pulled her hair to tie a ponytail. He then covered her with the blanket, he wanted to remove her kajal but he might wake her up so he placed the makeup remover near the couch. Later he returned to his room.
10:00pm
In Lakshman's room
Bathroom door was opened, the odour of shower gel spread all across the room. He saw Lakshman reading a comic book "Still have the energy to read?"
"Yeah. A secret is about to be revealed" he said laying on his stomach reading his favorite comic book.
"What should I wear?" Mark asked with wet hair
"You should've thought about it before" he doesn't want to be interrupted.
"Ah come on man! Don't be mean now. Your friend is naked now, he might catch a cold" Mark said in a pleading tone.
"Cut it already. Just go pick what you want. Why are you asking me suddenly? It's creepy"
"You got me" Mark made a gun shot sign with his hand.
10:20pm
"So when are you gonna sleep? Hadn't the secret been revealed yet?" Mark asked while yawning.
"I'm not sleeping until it's over. You should sleep, you overexhausted yourself today" Lakshman said.
"Say" Mark asked lying beside him in the same exact position.
"What?" he answered without even moving an inch.
"You've been like that for so long, don't your stomach hurt?" he asked casually
"No, I'm good. It's a habit"
"When did you get this weird habit?" Mark is puzzled.
Lakshman threw a pillow at Mark "Shut up and sleep"
"Nah. I want to cuddle" said Mark pouting.
"What the hell you mean cuddle?" he was shocked.
Mark said seriously "You've changed Lakshman" he added "You are hiding something from me"
"What are you saying?" he placed the book away and looked straight at Mark.
He continued "I can feel it. You- something about you has changed. You know even if you don't tell me yourself I can figure it out by all means"
"There is no such a thing" Lakshman assured him.
"If there isn't then it's alright but if there is you know I'm always here for you" he said closing his eyes.
"Yeah I know. You changed a lot too Mark" said Lakshman with a smile on his face.
Lakshman can't sleep in dark, so his bedroom is always lit up even when he's sleeping. Because of this, Ram and Mark can also sleep in a lit room. He dozed off, the room is filled with harmonious breaths. He extended his hand and touched Mark's face. It feels just like how he remembered. He bent forward towards his neck, his scent intoxicating, he felt as if his heart is about to burst.
He placed his head over that man's wide shoulders, intertwined his left hand with the other man's right hand. He moved his head to his heart, closed his eyes, he could hear the heartbeat of the person he loved, feel his hands that he always wanted to hold, feel his warm breathing over his head, feel the scent of the man. Isn't that the shower gel he always uses, why does it smell different now? Why does it feel so heartwarming? Why?
He filled his all five senses with the man he always wanted to hold dear to. He couldn't hold back his tears, the words escaped his mouth before he fell asleep "I'm sorry Mark"