"What happened?" Parijat asked over Rishi's shoulder. They had been standing in front of Rishi's door for five minutes. "I think the do.." Rishi turned his face to reply when he suddenly saw an enlarged version of Parijat's side profile. He was looking over Rishi's shoulder at the scanner on the door with a frown. The words stuck in Rishi's throat. Their faces were just two inches apart. If he had by any chance moved his face a little to his right while turning around he would have brushed his lips on Parijat's cheek. Rishi gulped. Swiftly turning his head he said, "Wh.. what are you doing?"
"Hm?" Parijat leaned his head sideways and forward to get a better look at Rishi who was looking away. There was still a gap between them even though Parijat's face was so near Rishi's. "You were taking so long to unlock the door so I wanted to check. You're placing your finger in the wrong place." Parijat explained. Rishi turned his head towards him confused but soon he realised what an enormously big mistake that was. Now their faces were opposite each other with an overwhelming little gap in between.
The two lights in the hallway were enough to enable their vision. Rishi held his breath flustered by their close proximity. "Place it here." Parijat took his finger and moved it to the left. Rishi very slowly turned his head ahead. He did not understand what was happening and what Parijat was saying. All he could sense was the goosebumps on his back and the current passing through his finger where Parijat touched. Fortunately, as an idol, he was trained to maintain his composure in extreme situations. So he did not do anything embarrassing yet.
After the door opened with a click he walked in like a robot. After that, he did not remember what he went through. It was only when he was lying on his bed he recalled everything. It was like he could see everything in front of his eyes like in a movie. He opened his Board and gave Parijat the number. Parijat saved it on his watch and thanked him. And, "Welcome handsome." was what Rishi said.
"Aarrgh!" He screamed into his pillow. "What in ballet's world was I THINKING!" His ears turned red as he recalled how Parijat chuckled hearing him. And his entire face turned red when he remembered how Parijat spoke near his ear in an irritatingly charming and sexy deep voice "Hello Rishi, I'm Parijat Mallick." After that, he just stood like a statue and did not see Parijat leave. He almost stood like that for ten minutes. The like a lifeless body walked up to his bed and fell on it. And here he is now suffocating himself with a pillow.
"Why did I have to say out loud that I found him to be handsome? And did he deliberately speak near his ear? And how come he knew my name?" He suddenly sat up with a start and thought out loud. And obviously remembered Parijat calling out his name in that low deep whisper. "Ahhh!" He plopped face down on his pillow and screamed again. If anyone saw him right now he or she would think he dropped ketchup on his face.
Parijat chuckled "What a funny guy!" and whispered "A little cute too." when he recalled how Rishi called him handsome instead of his name. "Now the matter at hand." He looked towards the bush where Rishi earlier wanted to go and ran his hand through his little hair strands. "Argh second sister! Couldn't you just keep your eyes on your minions?" He groaned. "Hey, kitty come here." Parijat squatted down and called out extending his hands forward.
A low growl came from behind the shrubs. Seconds later two sparkly amber eyes came into view. "Roar" a big black cat stepped out. It sat in front of Parijat and looked straight into his eyes. "Dude, what are you doing here?" Parijat the animal. "Growl" it looked towards the dormitories. Parijat sighed. He was thinking about his next action when a white flash zoomed past him and dropped to the ground.
Ritutandra was wearing a white shirt and trousers and with her hair undone she looked like a pile of snow on the ground. She hugged the big cat and said in a worried tone "Pace, why are you here?" In the darkness only her white arms and the amber eyes of the animal were visible. She seemed to be hugging the vacuum. "I'll leave you two alone." Parijat prepared to get up when Ritu stopped him. "Go and turn off the lights for two minutes." Seeing her furrowed brows he did not question her and went to do as told. Within seconds the entire area turned dark. Ritutandra picked up the animal and dashed to her room. She effortlessly jumped on the balconies and directly reached her window through which she got inside.
Inside Ritutandra's room.
Under the bright light, a Panther was lying on Ritu's bed. "Pace, turn around dear. Let me clean the wound." Ritutandra said carefully lifting the Panther's hind leg. Pace growled. Ritu patiently cleaned and bandaged her wound. Pace brought her paw on Ritu's lap. Ritu caressed her black furry paw and gave her a belly rub. Pace licked her friend's face and slept soundly on Ritu's lap while enjoying her caress.