Within in two minutes of entering their flat, the awkwardness turned into comfort and joy when food was served, jokes were shared and so many old memories.

Shrey kept glancing at Sakshi, observing how caring she was towards her friends. She removed Aditi's heels, made her sit and prepared the plates for all of them. Aarush helped her out with serving and pouring Cokes and beers but she looked like she didn't need any help. She was so good in making it look all easy.

". . . and I thought I would be having fun with her Labrador since Sakshi was away at Chandigarh. I took him to the park and he run away to God knows where," told Aarush, laughing hard. "She cried for days and made me search him like everywhere."

Shrey smiled goofily at her, watching her opening her mouth to respond when Aditi giggled. "Since then, Aarush is her dog."

Sakshi burst out in a laughter as Aarush's face turned priceless. Shrey too had a good laugh when Aarush made some points on both girls, embarrassing them by telling some of the stories.

They talked and laughed together through which Aarush told some of their funny episodes, their unlucky days and much more. Shrey couldn't stop his tears that emerged from laughing so much. He was wholeheartedly dissolved with them.

Even Aditi, the birthday girl made him feel welcomed as she asked for the cake to be brought for him. Eventually, Sakshi brought it for everyone and surprised him by confessing that she had baked it.

He couldn't stop smiling all the time he ate the cake while they talked about many things. He too described as them asking about his education abroad, his friends and everything he missed.

At last, he realized that he took the right decision by following that car and ignoring the idea of turning it away towards his way to home. His mom had called too and it took him ten minutes to convince her how he was meeting an old friend from abroad or she wouldn't have agreed.

"So, Shrey? Did you had fun with foreign chicks there?" asked Aarush while sipping his beer.

Shrey glanced at Sakshi, catching her swallowing slightly. He nodded. "If I said no, I would be lying," he said quietly.

Aarush chuckled, pointing at him. "I too tried hard for the program and I even got selected. But my mom. Man, she is so possessive of me. I am the only child and she gets too scared by the mere thought."

Shrey chuckled. "Same. My mom too didn't talk to me for two weeks until she finally did and I tell you, it wasn't a good conversation. She cried all the time and when not until I finally returned." He smiled to himself, making Sakshi smile too.

Aditi groaned. "My mom curses me when I am only two states away. So boys, it is understandable what your mum would be feeling."

Sakshi shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I never really felt the need to go out of the country for education. Not that I even want to. . ."

Aarush rolled his eyes. "Yeah, not everyone has businessmen lined up in their homes like you, who would provide internships easily and let you learn the practical knowledge easily. Even if you hadn't opted for professional degree, you would still be handling your family's reputed business."

Sakshi smiled knowingly at Shrey who nodded in agreement. "Why are you so jealous? It's not my fault that I was born in the home of rich businessmen," she smirked, irking Aarush to the core.

"Besides," interrupted Shrey. "It's not always advantageous. Sometimes, the business suffers a downfall and things change." His smile faded slowly.

"So, it's better you never rely on it and get degrees," replied Sakshi.

Aarush too nodded with a smile when all of a sudden, Aditi put down her beer can. "Come on, now. Don't talk about studies and degrees. I wanna dance."

She got up from the couch and went towards the portable speaker lying on the table. "Get up all of you and dance with me."

Aarush bit his lips, getting up when Aditi played some of their favourite EDM tunes. "Come on, guys." He yelled while holding Aditi's waist and swaying along.

Shrey looked at Sakshi hesitantly and was ready to tell her that he would just sit and watch when she said, "It might not felt as great as those hang outs with your foreigner friends-"

"Sakshi." He smiled. "Don't fret over it. I am enjoying. The food was amazing and now, dance could be too if only you want to," he offered his hand to her nervously. "Just like the old times."

Her lips parted as goosebumps risen on her skin at his words. The flashbacks from their past relationship filled her mind but they all felt only painful when she recalled that they were all shallow memories.

Shallow. . .

His hands stretched as he yawned sleepily. Observing her night clothes, he finally smirked.

"So, what did you tell your mother?"

Sakshi sighed dramatically. "Just told her that I am staying with Prachi for this assignment. I never did a night stay at someone's home before, not even relatives but strangely she allowed me."

She put the remote on the bed as she lowered her eyes on her lap. "But if by one chance, Bhai get to know that I am here in your house with you. He will kill me. . ."

He walked towards her, cupping her cheeks to make her look up at me as she was sitting on the bed. "Don't worry. He won't be able to know," he looked in her dark eyes, "Unless you put those stupid pouty photos of mine on your social accounts with those captions."

She gasped and slapped his stomach. "I never do that."

He chuckled and gasped when a romantic song started playing on the screen. "Hey! This one's my new favorite. Come on." He pulled her hand, making her stand, horror shining on her face.

"I don't dance," she lied.

Shrey looked at her, smirking slightly. "And I don't shy away."

She blushed, still pleading him with her eyes when he slowly stepped closer to her. Picking the remote, he raised the volume and left it on the bed. Holding her waist, he pulled her closer, swaying slowly as his tall figure towered over shorter one.

Sakshi's hand reached his forearms as she swayed along hesitantly, smiling shyly when he looked at her with the familiar look in his eyes.

"You look cute."

She smiled, shaking her head. "I am shaking inside. Both from fear and nervousness."

He chuckled and pulled her closer, hugging her while moving slowly on the sweet tune. "You won't be fearful as long as you feel you are doing nothing wrong. And nervous? Well, I won't deny that. I love you like that. Blushing and squirming," he whispered in her ear, tickling her waist.

Slowly the tune raised as a peppy rhythm pulled through song, making him squeal. "Come on. Copy that."

He showed her moves, just like they did in the screen while she laughed amusingly at him, adoring him from far. She slowly tried to copy him innocently while he sang along, shaking his head, making her swoon.

It took a lot of efforts for her to not taunt him about how those old times were nothing but play times for him.

As if he had understood immediately, had read her face and accepted the bitter truth lied beneath his true words. He sighed while smiling tightly.

"I didn't mean. . ." He gulped, blinking in confusion. "It's alright," he smiled, collecting his hand into a fist and pulling it back slowly. Shutting his eyes, he felt his heart melting in the extreme embarrassment. He stepped back slowly.

Sakshi gulped, feeling bad at seeing him getting conscious like this. When he had broken her heart, for many times she had imagined herself moving on and meeting him at a point of life, just to show him how great and strong she had became without him in her life. She was so sure of how painful it would be for him to observe that. How embarrassing it would be for him to suffer such rejection.

But it all was just an illusion. The reality was far different. She couldn't feel a sliver of satisfaction at seeing him getting so unsure of himself. Her heart ached so much that she thought, she might truly such a great human. She had a great heart that she couldn't see him like this.

The truth was how she craved to be with him, at every chance that life was throwing at her. Maybe, it was a sign of God. Sign of this upcoming great time. She could just dissolve and pull out the fun, rest would that God take care himself.

This man was already suffering hard. Not that we always have to answer hatred with hatred but rejection with rejection? She still wasn't sure. But at last, her heart ached.

So, she blinked and forwarded her hand. "For the new times?" She asked, watching him looking at her in surprise.

An understanding smile came upon his lips and guilt was all over his face. There was an unreadable emotion lingering in his eyes that Sakshi avoided to notice at all cost or she would have hugged him any moment.

She smiled when he finally took her hand and chuckled when he too smiled widely. Aarush had changed the song to a peppy Punjabi hit. They both could feel the pace of their heart beats rising. Aarush whistled as both Shrey and Sakshi joined him and Aditi laughingly.

Shrey did some cool steps, making her remind of how he never stopped being the great dancer. She danced along, chuckling nervously when he held her waist and did the lip sync, pointed some lines at her and coordinated with Aarush. Four of them did the steps together in round, laughing together as beer worked it's way into their system.

Sakshi moved her hair wildly, zooming into the music, not caring how Shrey was living each second of it, watching her long legs doing the wonder on amazing beats. He held her hand again, singing the song, holding her close while she swirled around and swayed in front of him, moving closer to him.

The time passed quickly with his professional and attractive moves, impressing Sakshi to the core. While Aarush too made the environment by doing wild steps, bursting out in a laughter when he carried Aditi in his arms.

Finally, they all lost the stamina to dance anymore and ended up on floors, gasping. Aditi giggled to herself, getting up while muttering, "Happy birthday to me." She grunted while finally waving her hand and walking towards her room.

"Good night, guys." She turned her head and smiled at Shrey, "You can stay for the night. Don't bother leaving, okay."

Shrey chuckled as Aarush gasped at her. "I wasn't expecting that. She is always a bitch to outsiders, I tell you." He got up, swaying himself while following her. "I'll help her getting to the bed," he suddenly turned around to look at Shrey, "Sakshi will give you my clothes."

Shrey opened his mouth while shaking his head. He checked his phone, muttering, "It's half past one. I can go home easily."

Sakshi was about to request when Aarush clicked his tongue. "Bro, if you don't like my clothes, sleep naked. But stay. Even if you had coke, I won't let you go. The cars are too fast at night and you are sleepy."

Shrey chuckled in disbelief. "I am not a kid." He looked at Sakshi." I appreciate his goodness but I still have to go, Sakshi. Mum would be worried."

She was in a big dilemma. Letting him go at this hour at night, wasn't satisfactory for her heart. She didn't even want him to leave so soon. She knew that he might be feeling awkward and everything but after enjoying so much, he couldn't behave like a guest anymore.

"There is AC, blanket, thin sheets, a free bed, everything. Auntie will be worried if you go this time at night. . ." She reasoned, making him shake his head.

Aarush suddenly said, "Besides, you don't want people noticing you go out during your case period. I will leave you to the gates tomorrow myself."

Shrey smiled at his sweetness but still felt too cheesy to stay. He was just feeling too shy to sleep under the same roof as Sakshi. His eyes fell on her, trying to observe if this fact somewhat mattered to her. But she was all cool.

"Sakshi, give him my clothes. And you sleep with Aditi, while Shrey will take your bed. I'll go with the couch. . ." Aarush said thoughtfully, making Shrey's eyes wide.

"Her bed? Wait. No . . ."

Sakshi gave him these cute puppy eyes, stealing the sanity in him. His eyebrows raised as she blinked slowly, "Then, take Aditi's. If you want, just leave at five in the morning. But in this much dark," she breathed slowly. "Don't you remember what happened in those streets that night?" She whispered.

Shrey had gotten quiet as the night of those hooligans flashed in his mind. His lips parted as recognition hit his mind. He thought finally how traumatizing it still was for her. She was scared of going alone in the nights and couldn't see him leaving.

"Stay," she whispered, quietly.

Aarush watched them with his eyes all narrowed as he caught the keyword 'that night' and observed them silently. Shrey finally glanced at him and sighed heavily.

"Okay. Fine." He looked at Aarush. "Don't bother the girls. I'll take the couch."

Sakshi was again puzzled with the formalities roaming in her mind. Should she ask him to take her bed? Would it be too much? She kept biting her lip as Aarush shrugged his shoulders and shut the door after him.

"Are they together?"

Sakshi shook her head, watching Shrey observing the closed door. "Almost. But Aditi is comfortable with him. This isn't the first time they will be sleeping together."

Shrey raised his eyebrows at her casual tone, thinking the environment Raghav Singh Rathore's sister was living in when Sakshi looked at him sternly.

"Wait. By sleeping together, I meant just sleeping. Aditi is hard to get and Aarush is not that kind of a guy." She muttered, looking at him while passing him Aarush's bag.

"What if they don't tell you?" Shrey asked while picking out a loose Tee from his bag and a boxer. He nodded to himself while leaving the bag on the couch.

"They do. I mean, they will." She crossed her arms across her chest, not liking when he smirked to himself. "If anything had happened, I would've gotten the idea. I am not a kid anymore."

Shrey gave her an amusing smile. "Sure, you aren't." Shaking his head, he straightened his eyebrows. "Should I change here only?"

Sakshi widened her eyes. "No. I am just leaving. I have to change too." She said while picking her heels from beneath the couch, absentmindedly, letting Shrey get a view of her perfect ass. He only looked away quietly, and waited for her to leave.

Sakshi closed the door and fanned her cheeks, feeling her face warming up. It all was so overwhelming despite being so normally done. It was all going smooth unbelievably but she still was affected brutally.

His mere talk would give her a round full of thoughts and so much admiration to how different he had become. How mature and soft he looked now, she thought. The arrogance was truly gone and now, how cooperative he was being.

She gulped while wiping her sweaty face. Moving towards the bathroom, she hurriedly removed her clothes, showered and changed into a loose spaghetti and shorts.

Just as she got out of the bathroom, she gasped. Watching herself in the mirror, she bit her lips thinking that she was exposing too much. But I used to wear same style at home.

She twitched her lips. Then, why it still felt as if she had wore less clothes. She should have worn a sleeved tee instead of straps. She nodded to herself at deciding to do the same. She didn't even have toweled her wet hair and was only picking out her tee from the cupboard when a knock came upon her door.

She immediately hurried and opened it only to gasp at a half-naked Shrey who was trying his best to cover himself with the t-shirt in his hands. "Um," he gulped. "This is tight." He zig-zagged his jaw, feeling too awkward. "Either give me a sheet or. . ." He chuckled nervously, watching her observing him.

Sakshi swallowed while looking away. Her eyes had only caught his broad chest and those hair on his belly. Fu.k. She clenched her jaws. This was so weird. She could already imagine herself getting stabbed by her brother.

She gasped when suddenly, she remembered. "Wait! I think I have this T-shirt. . ." She rushed towards the drawers of her closet and searched in another after checking one. "Ah! This one."

She picked it out, a light-yellow T-shirt and handed it to him.

Shrey opened it immediately, smiling when he asked her, "Really?"

She nodded. "We take part every year. This club of our college does these rallies for diseases awareness and organ donations. So, this eye donation rally, we took part in the second year for the first time. But since then, I am coping up with this big size that they handed me randomly. I always tuck it in. . ."

He nodded in amusement and stepped back, turning away to wear it. "Thanks," he was only leaving her door for the couch, when all of a sudden her worried call stopped him.

"Shrey?"

It came out shaky. He immediately turned around and looked at her in confusion, furrowing his eyebrows when she gulped and pointed her finger at his covered chest.

"What are those marks?"

The sleepy eyes of his had widened when some cruel flashbacks filled his sight.

______

So, I was writing this chapter and was on 560 words when instead of save button, I tapped PUBLISH.

Hurriedly, I unpublished it and got back to my studies when damn, my phone beeped fifty-sixty messages asking about why they can't see the chapter.

Well, I couldn't study then. I was able to understand how of a tease it was for some people as same happened with me when fav authors did the same by mistake. I started writing and couldn't stop then. Within an hour or more, I finally ended up with tapping on the PUBLISH button.

Now, it is all yours. (Ignore the mistakes as I didn't read. I am sleepy.)

And remember these early updates if by chance I am not able to update during exams. XD

_____

"What do you think about these moments of the night?"

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