Arav :
As I sat beside Prem, the sound of the waves echoed the distant memories of my parents. I could sense his presence close to me, a warm contrast to the evening's breeze. Prem sat quietly, his eyes tracing the horizon.
"Do you like watching the sea?" I broke the silence, my voice soft but curious.
"I love it," Prem replied. "I watch it when I'm lost in thought, or when I'm happy. It cleanses my mind."
I nodded, feeling the same pull toward the water. "And now? What's the reason?"
His eyes shifted, his voice lower. "The reason is you. I wanted to sit beside you... and watch the sea."
The words hung between us, a silent confession. My heart skipped, but before I could say anything, I saw someone approaching from behind him. Without thinking, I grasped Prem's hand, stopping him from turning around. He tensed slightly, but didn't pull away.
Manju's voice broke the moment, and I saw the subtle shift in Prem's expression. His gaze, which had been deep and serene moments before, now seemed distant, shadowed by something he wasn't sharing.
Prem:
I sat beside Nani, gazing at the sea. It felt different watching it with him. On my own, the view was normal, but with Nani there, it was as if the sea transformed. It felt like diving deep into its depths, encountering a mix of creatures—fish, sharks, whales, jellyfish. Some creatures brought me joy and peace, while others stirred up worry and fear. It was a play of emotions, and I found myself enthralled by the shifting feelings.
When Nani asked why I wanted to watch the sea with him, I remained silent. I didn't want to explain the turmoil happening in my mind. The truth was, I doubted anyone would believe it. Even if someone claimed to experience similar feelings, I'd find it hard to believe.
I could feel the fire burning inside me as Manju's voice hit my ears. The urge to lash out overwhelmed me. Before I knew it, Nani had stopped me, his grip firm on my face. For a moment, I was forced to look directly into his eyes—his expression calm, unshaken—before I wrenched his hand away.
Manju stood there, gun in hand, but that didn't last long. I charged toward him, my fist colliding with his liver. The gun slipped from his grasp, landing in the sand at my feet. Without hesitation, I grabbed it, fingers curling around the trigger. This was it. I could end this.
But then Nani stepped in, right between me and Manju. His eyes locked onto mine, unwavering.
"Will you give me a chance to deal with this?" His voice was steady, pleading without weakness. "If it doesn't work, I promise... you can do whatever you want."
For a moment, the fury in me dulled. My hand, which had been gripping the gun so tightly, slowly relaxed. Before I could stop myself, I lowered the gun.
I watched as Nani pulled Manju away, guiding him about ten meters from where I stood. They began talking, their conversation hushed by the waves, but my mind focused on Nani. His emotions flooded into me—clear, sharp, brimming with confidence. Whatever he was planning, he believed in it completely
Arav:
I pulled Manju aside, away from the others.
"I'm asking you seriously—what do you want?" I demanded, my voice stern.
Manju, nonchalant, responded, "Who are you? Why should I answer you?"
"I'm trying to resolve this once and for all for your own good. If I leave you here, Prem will definitely make a scene," I said, noting Manju's nervous gulp.
"I just need money," Manju admitted.
"How much?" I pressed. "But it has to be a permanent settlement."
"Twenty-five lakhs," Manju replied.
"Fine," I said, "I'll arrange the money. But once you receive it, if you ever cause trouble again, every rupee will turn into a thorn, piercing your body until the last drop of blood leaves you."
I pulled out my phone and called Indu.
"Indu, I need twenty-five lakhs urgently. Please arrange it for me; I'll repay you once I return."
"Slow down. Why the rush? Are you in trouble?" she asked.
"No, everything's fine. I just need the money. I'll explain everything when I come back."
"Okay, send me your bank account details, and I'll transfer the money."
I took Manju's phone, asked for his password, and copied his bank details from his payment apps. I sent the details to Indu, who transferred the funds within ten minutes. I called her to thank her.
"If you come here again, it will be your last day," I warned Manju. He left without even glancing at Leela, Prem, or Chotu.
I walked back to them, feeling their curious gazes as they tried to piece together what had happened between me and Manju. I avoided meeting their eyes, trying to keep my identity concealed and the situation under wraps.
"I didn't do much. I just showed him what would happen if he ever came near Sis or this restaurant again. I took all the details from his phone and sent them to a friend of mine who works as a cop. If he shows up here again, he'll face third-degree torture until death, and the police won't intervene. They let the person die from it," came the response, underscoring the gravity of the threat.
With that assurance, I picked up Chotu and we went inside the restaurant.
Chotu and I were engrossed in a game with a cube when Sis brought over a plate of fruit and placed it in front of us. Despite my reluctance to eat fruit, Sis persisted, urging me to try it.
Prem approached and placed his hand on the chair next to me. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "If you want to stay safe tonight, eat the fruit. Otherwise, I'll will eat you to night."
Annoyed, I shoved him away, grabbed the plate, and fled outside. I sat on the sand, watching the waves, and slowly ate the fruit, glaring at Prem from a distance.
After finishing, I put the plate aside and began to gaze at the stars. When I turned around, I noticed Prem was no longer there. I went back inside and requested a bedspread, a sheet, and a pillow, intending to sleep outside. Leela, appearing confused by my request, went inside and brought what I needed. I arranged the items on the sand and was about to settle down when I noticed that the lights were still on in Prem's room.
Prem:
I returned to my room, lying on the bed and scrolling through my mobile. After a few minutes, I headed to the balcony and noticed Nani had arranged a bed on the sand and was sleeping peacefully.
Quietly, I gathered the sheets and pillows and went outside to join him. I carefully set up the bedding beside him and lay down, gazing at Nani's serene face as he slept. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I closed my eyes, falling asleep beside him under the open sky.
******************************************************************************************************
When I opened my eyes, it was around 5:00 am, and I saw that Nani was still sleeping. Gently, I ran my finger along his arm to wake him.
Startled, Nani opened his eyes and looked at me in shock. "Huh...? Why are you sleeping beside me?" he asked, his voice tinged with fear.
"Why are you sleeping here?" I countered.
"I didn't feel safe in the room, so I came out here to sleep," Nani replied quietly.
"And you being alone out here isn't safe either, which is why I followed you. Now wake up before it starts getting busy and come inside," I said firmly.
"But I want to sleep until noon; it's my vacation after all," Nani protested.
"Are you crazy? Even Chotu wouldn't ask for that," I replied.
"I just want to rest until I've had enough," Nani insisted.
"Alright, you can sleep until 11:00 am, but no later. Now come on," I said, gathering up the sheets and pillows. We went inside together, and Nani headed straight for the bed. I lay down beside him, and as soon as I settled in, I fell asleep once more beside him.