30/11/2019 - Saturday - At Chennai.

Aparna's P. O. V:

I rechecked my packed bags and closed the room door silently as my room mate was still in her deep sleep.

I wrote my out time in the PG entry notebook and dragged my bag outside the PG.

Hari and Shwetha told me that they would be here by 6 in the morning, but they started an hour late.

As I walked to the bus stop, A black car came into my view. Shwetha was waving at me from the front seat.

They parked the car near me and helped me place my bag in the trunk. I sat on the backseat and I was already worried about who would sit beside me.

Hari then drove to Shiva's street, I took a sharp breath looking at the familiar houses. Shiva waved to us and Hari drove to him.

Shiva placed his bag with ours and sat in the backseat beside me.

" So, told your parents? " Hari asked Shiva after we came out of the area.

" Yeah, yeah. I felt like a school child begging parents for the school trip. I don't know when I will be treated my age. " Shiva said laughing.

I laughed at his words.

He made sure to not look at me at all. I was supposed to feel relieved at that, but I wasn't.

Hari started playing his crap playlist and I shut out the music with my muffler.

" Aparna, you have to bear it for the next six hours! " Hari said laughing.

" Play all you want until my ears start bleeding! " I said and closed my eyes again.

We had crossed all the traffic and finally reached the highways. It was not sunny, but the climate was very pleasant. I felt relaxed and calm after a very long time.

Shiva's phone rang and he got busy talking. I made sure to keep up the act that I was sleeping and was trying to eavesdrop on his call.

" You are mad! " He said in a loud tone.

My mind was running a list of people that he could call mad.

Only one name popped up, Anjali.

" I am not going on some family trip to invite you along with me! , you are not even married to me yet! Do I look like a joke to you?" He said. And I smiled inwards as my guess was right.

" No! If you want to go somewhere, just go with your friends! Do you get me?, fine, whatever, bye! " He said and placed his phone back on his pocket.

" Why are you so rude to Anjali? " Hari asked Shiva.

" Rude? She wants to come along! Is this some family trip or what? " Shiva asked.

" Excuse me! " Shwetha asked from her front seat.

" I didn't mean you sister! " Shiva laughed off awkwardly.

" I am hungry, can we stop for breakfast? " Shwetha asked.

" Okay, sure. I know a good one along this road, might reach there in ten minutes! " Hari said.

I was pretending to sleep all the way. The car finally stopped.

" I will check if they have table for us, Shwetha you coming? " Hari said.

" Yeah , Shiva ,Please wake her up! " Shwetha said and walked out with Hari.

I heard the door shutting.

" You should be given an oscar award! " Shiva said to me. I was confused about his words.

" You act so well! " He said. And I bit my tongue and finally opened my eyes.

I smiled at him awkwardly.

" Sorry! " I said.

He shook his head and smiled at me.

" Come on, let's go in. They got the table " Shiva said and opened the door on his side.

I got down and walked behind him.

We sat together and started eating.

After completing the food, I walked to the restroom with Shwetha.

We washed our faces and adjusted our hair.

" Why do you look so tired? " Shwetha asked me.

" I didn't sleep well last night " I said.

" Did that Michael call you again? " She asked.

" Yeah, he did. It was the same shit. I started reading the rules of the association to find something that could help me. Unfortunately, all my ways seem blocked by Michael. He has submitted everything against me. Sometimes I wonder, if he could show this passion on his own carrier, he would be at the top now! " I said laughing.

" What about your carrier then? " Shwetha asked.

" Of course, if everything goes as per Michael's plan, I won't be allowed to practice as an Architect. I would be very broken. But I would find some way. I know " I said with fake confidence.

" We all won't let that happen. Come on! " Shwetha said and dragged me to the car.

As Hari started the car, Shwetha fought with him and finally got the control of the speakers.

I placed my head on the side of the windows and looked at Shiva sideways.

He was seriously looking out through his window.

After an hour, I started feeling nauseous. I tried to sleep it off, but couldn't. My head was floating and I could feel my eyes blacking out.

" Hari, can you stop the car for a minute! " I said from behind. He stopped the car instantly and I fell back on my seat.

Shwetha rushed out to me and splashed water on my face.

I finally came back to my conscious mind and sat up straight. Shiva was blowing air on face with some booklet. I drank some water and shook my head.

" Are you okay? " Hari asked.

" Yeah, just nauseous! " I said.

" You could have told earlier! " Shiva said.

" Should have been because of your sleeplessness! " Shwetha said to me.

" Yeah! I am okay now!" I said and drank some more water.

" Are you sure? " Shwetha asked me.

" Yeah! " I said and sat back on my seat.

Shiva sat beside me and Hari started the car again.

" Can we just have some fresh air? Can I pull down the windows? " I asked.

" Of course! " Hari said and lowered all the windows.

I rested my head near my window. The warm wind on my face, I wished, I could enjoy this completely.

I slowly turned and looked at Shiva. He was back to his old position and staring outside. I was looking at him through my half closed eyes.

His hair was dancing on his forehead, His fingers were lightly tapping to the music on the speaker. His face was lit with the sunlight from outside. His stubble looked more clear with the subtle light.

He turned to look at me and he smiled.

I smiled back at him. It felt like a dream. As if he was some Greek god from mythology, with features so perfect. His crinkled shirt suddenly looked more cool and his unruly hair was the best hairstyle that would suit no one else. Even the simplest of things looked so beautiful when they were near him.

For that moment I wanted to forget that he was someone else's. For that moment, I wanted him to be mine.

Maybe this is what Shiva is longing for too?, but I would loose myself if I give in to this illusion.

Even if it breaks me from within, I am going to face my reality. I looked at him again and wished that he would give up on us too.

I slept off seeing his face.

Shwetha woke me up slowly and i sat up rubbing my eyes.

" Hello! Sleepy girl! We are here!! " Shwetha said.

" Did I sleep through the entire way! "I asked her, I looked at my watch and the time was nearly 3 in the noon.

" Yeah, come out" She said.

I slowly got off from the car and she locked the car.

" Boys have already taken our bags. You can go to our room, fresh up,eat lunch and sleep again. " She said.

I walked behind her to our room.

The hotel was a converted Chettinad house. They had kept all the old furnitures.

Hari walked to us and handed the keys to Shwetha. He waved at me and locked the door.

The room was big enough for the two of us. It had huge wooden windows and the old furnitures.

Our bags were already placed inside and I plopped on the soft bed.

" Won't you ask me what happened after you slept? " Shwetha asked me.

" What happened? " I asked her sitting up. I wasn't able to guess anything.

" I don't know how you will react to it! " She said.

" Tell me! " I asked terrified.

" While you slept, your head was nearly slipping out of the window. Shiva just wanted to adjust the window, he moved closer to you. You caught his arm and started sleeping on his shoulder.

You were also sleep talking and murmuring something. Hari told Shiva if he could use a pillow. But Shiva said he was fine with your heavy head. " Shwetha said all smiling from teeth to teeth.

My jaws were on the floor. All the blood from my face had drained out. I should die out of embarrassment. What have I done! I don't even remember what shit I blabbered !

" Kill me! Now! " I shouted at Shwetha.