It doesn't take more than ten minutes to get ready .. Flipping the partially wet hair , I prance the steps to the basement...

There he is!!!

He shows up his hands to me smiling ...As I close him , he opens the rear side door of the car ...

Well , does he own a car?

I stand in double mind, whether to get in or to say - I can manage ..

He snaps to my face . His forehead creases deep in query... As I shake my head in decline , his eyes inquires me - what's it..

To my surprise , his look roots deep into my thoughts where I gulp unable to handle his piercy eyes ....

Sumo ... Get inside... That seems better idea..

Without second thought I get inside.

" Good "He closes the door appreciating...

" Good morning Sam... How do you feel now...?"

He asks , turning the steering to the main road...

" Much better... "

I shift my hair to the other side ...

I really want to ask him if he's stalking me ... somewhere I stuck and remain quite pretending to see through the window...

" By the way ... you didn't tell me that you have a car..."

I am dare enough atleast to ask this...

" You didn't ask me..." He bursts into laughter..

." it's not my car...I am not a Richie Rich to buy a car in abroad... But, I own a bike..." He leans to see me through the rear view mirror...

" Mr. Richie Rich... May I know why have you brought your friend ' s car ? Did I ask you to pick me up ? Why you are bothering about me even ?"

The insecured nature of me peeps out all of a sudden to shout at him..

His smiling face turns gloomy in a wink ...

He is quiet and concentrates on driving without taking his eyes off the road...His firm hold on the steering wheel resonates his inner turmoil...

I'm insulting him..! He is in pain...!!

I feel the heaviness more than him that disturbs me ...

I close my face in embarrass..

Frankly , I am going good with Shravan .. Still , something takes me away whenever we meet... Perhaps ,in subconscious mind , his name makes me to be off guarded ... Contrarily , my conscious mind keeps on poking him by my thorny words... Now a days , I have been living a double life - a Janus complex...

His silence makes me to feel bad again...

I cough deliberately..." It is very calm here..."

I look for his reaction...

His eyes clench for a second .. Huffing out in a slow pace , he mutters " I thought you like this silence..."

I am numb of his one line...

He is hurted .. I have hurted him...

I try to console him again.

.. " Shravan..."

He doesn't turn to me...

" Shravan..."

He doesn't turn...

" Shravan...."

He doesn't...

" Shravan ..." This time I am louder to grab his attention...

He stops the car to the side park and turns to me...

I am shocked to face his reddened eyes...

" Shrav...." I can't speek as my voice disappears..

His face twitches as he tries to calm himself...

" Sam...I know , to trust a boy for a girl isn't easy and that doesn't mean that you can suspect everyone you meet in your life... I just wanted your friendship not more than that ... I don't know why this f* ing mind comes along with you though you don't care about me... "

" Understand one thing... I want a friend like you... A girl bestie from South India as I am driven by the karma... I am wondering why it is and I have no explanation honestly... "

" And , obviously you didn't ask me to pick you up... But , I felt that you may need someone by your side for your big day... "

" You're disturbed about the previous day's accident... I thought I could help you... I have hired this car only for you because you won't be comfortable in bike with me.... "

" And , Sam... I am telling you ... If I want a girl only for physical relationship I would opt a damn foreign girl over the Indian girls..."

" I am telling you Sam... I don't have any intention to hurt you but the way you treat me hurts a lot... I can't take it anymore... Let's be friends or else , we will say goodbye ... Atleast ,I will cherish the happy moments we shared together.. "

He spits out his mind in a stretch.. And , he is hundred percent genuine...

I am speechless to know how he has tolerated my wrath over him by time ..If someone is there in his place they would have kicked me off...He is right in his point .

My eyelids shut in pain , as he is still looking at my face ...

I get down from the car in a determination...

I can see his face turns white disappointed , to my reaction that I am quitting his friendship..

I walk to the front ...

Opening the door ,I sit at the passenger seat ...

He is still in a trance, continues to stare at me...

I snaps at his face...

" What...? .A/C is not that good at the back side..."

I adjust my bag to wear the seat belt...

He squints his eyes at me , so mean...

" Now ... For God sake , will you drive?"

I show my wrist watch...

" No...I need few promises..." He extends his palm to me...

I roll my eyes in disbelief...

He looks like a six-packs model and behaves like an exciting kid...!!! I like his this side... Somewhere like my little Shravan!!! Behaving kiddish...!!!

" Tell me," I act like annoyed..

" You have to accept me as your friend... No doubts in it..." He is specific...

" Done....but I need a clarification..." Finally I think to give it a try...

" How did you find my apartment ? Are you stalking me? "

I manage to ask him if suppose I am going to accept his friendship truly...

He curls his lips to one side , showing his sickening look...

" So... This is why Madam is so angry...?!" He knocks at my forehead softly.. " idiot... Do you think I will leave you in a cab at midnight simply by talking with you over phone... ? I was right behind you in another cab...I waited and I went back after your apartment lights went off... I know you're disturbed and I want to make sure that you are out of it... Thats all... "

His casual disclosure makes me to feel foolish...

" So sorry Shravan..." I apologizes..

He nods ..." Sam ... Don't you think it's too much for you...? By the way , you aren't that much beautiful to stalk... don't overestimate your look..."

He mocks where I rise my hand to hit him..

" Cool...cool..." He settles to continue with his next set of rules...

" I will keep on annoying you... Don't give up on me..."

" I knew it " I say with a firm nod...

" If I call you for dinner or shopping ...you have to come and same goes with you .. I will accompany you in your outings... Of course ,if we are not engaged with our work... "

" And , no one should interfere in our privacy ... We are friends and not for a cause but to share our thoughts and love.. "

" Seems good..." I appreciate his open talk... " Shravan... I thought you're quirky but not bad... We are friends..."

I extend my hand for him to shake...

" And , the last rule....!" He states as my hands await for him to shake...

" Sometimes I will drink , you have to accompany me.. "

I immediately pull over my hand...

" Beta... Is there any other rule?" I ask flipping my eye lids..

" This isn't rule...If you wish ...you can console me whenever I am in pain by hugging me and..."

" And..." I restates his words...

" Kissing me.."

" What?!" I roll my eyes

" only on my forehead..."

He mumbles like a scared kid...

" Shravan... Don't worry beta... I will hug you and kiss you whenever you need..." Pretending to be sweet ,I curls up my fist to punch him...

" Hey... Not everytime..." He affirms...and covers his face to yell as I forward to punch him..." Wait Sam... This is the very important rule . You shouldn't hit me or punch me.. "

I grab his styled hair to make it untidy...

" Oh...no... Sam..never ever touch my hair.. it's important to corner the girls... You know..."

I laugh out until my eye gets teary...

" Shravan... You are really a weirdo"

He joins with me laughing...

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