Sleep is supposed to be the best form of meditation. It helped to heal the mind and replenish energy but right now her soul desperately wanted to see the stars outside. That's why she was rapidly shaking her best friend who was in deep slumber. "Ragini! Get up. Ragini!"

The pianist lazily removed the hand on her shoulder hiding further in the sleeping bag. "Divi, let me sleep."

"No, get up. I want to see the stars. And I am hungry. Let's go."

Ragini peeked from under the covers to cast a quick glance at her watch. She sighed seeing as it was well past midnight and yet Divya wasn't sleeping or letting her sleep. "Bukkhad. It's 1 in the morning. You need to sleep. We will see them tomorrow. Now don't disturb me."

"Tomorrow is our night hike. please. 20 minutes tops. Please."

"If I was planning this camp, I would have included slipping sleeping pills in the food so students like you actually get sufficient sleep."

"Please, Jaan."

"Lucky is by the clearing, go ask him to gaze with you. Let me hibernate in peace. Good night."

"Fine," she conceded, standing up to grab a torchlight and water bottle. If Ragini wasn't going she might as well keep Lakshya company until it was time to let the locked human out. "Goodnight Jaan." she gave her a quick peck on the head before heading out.

Stepping out of the tent, she momentarily stretched and breathed in the cool stale air. From her position, she could see Orion's belt clearly so there was no way she could miss an opportunity to watch the stars when they were in the middle of the jungle. It's not something you do every day.

There was another reason she needed to do this. To clear her head and sort out her thoughts. Normally she would have asked Ragini but it was kept and they had one pending conversation left. She didn't want to risk having the talk stir in that direction.

After the hospital, she didn't speak to Miss Sharma about what she wanted either. She knows that they need to talk. Maybe to apologise for what went down in the locker room or to know why Divya called her that day. She remembered a hasty version of Miss Sharma finding her first in that room and she was asking her something. What was she saying?

Above all, what does she feel towards her? Was she angry? But she saved Miss Sharma from Harshad. Thankful? But she was rude to her after that. She wasn't her friend or family, then why is she so affected?

This person totalled her headlight, risked her best friend's life, commented on her personal life wrenching a memory buried so deep within out of her head. She was supposed to be angry but she wasn't...or was she?

To add to her irritation of conflicting feelings, the class parent was in front of her to get warmth from the campfire. "Why does she always have to rain on my parade? It's 1 am, go to bed. If you catch me, I can't get too lucky and admin matters are going to be irritating," she waited for a few seconds to see if Miss Sharma would move but it didn't happen. "There's no argument, you are a pain in the ass. I don't like you and am pissed at you.'' She huffed.

Seeing the opportunity, she carefully sneaked past the teacher keeping her torchlight pointed at the ground.

---broken promises---

It's been a long time since Lakshya had the chance to sit alone and think. The past week has been hectic at best. He was thankful for the peace of water flowing by the lake. Even Harshad for once seemed like helping him by quietly waiting for someone to let him out of the coffin.

When he first stopped making sounds, Lakshya thought he was dead. He knew it wasn't likely since they had made little holes in it to ensure air circulation but it didn't hurt to check. The cameras confirmed that nothing was wrong. Harshad was just lying there trying to keep the worms out of his mouth. Laskhya had to admit his defeated form did give him satisfaction.

Turns out, the man in the coffin was indeed alive. Lakshya let himself smile at the irony of the situation.

With nothing but the trees for company, he slowly put his small world in order. Shifting his thoughts to his initial ones, he sighed. He wanted- needed to help those kids. He had been in his own way, donating money every month and it was helping them in the funding and providing an education for those unfortunate kids. The possibility of them and himself needing more than that never occurred to him. Maybe it had, but the denial was an easier way out. Ignorance is bliss.

Now, he realised how wrong he was. Yes, they might have found a family like his band but there are others who don't. It is hard to trust a stranger again after what happened to them. "I never saw it that way."

Ragini was right, if he wanted to help, really help, he needed to talk to them. To tell them that it was okay to ask for help. It was okay to trust again. He wished he could say that to his best friend. "But you know what they say, it's easier to talk to a stranger rather than someone you know." and he knows that topic won't even be entertained.

"Who's the lucky stranger?" Divya chirped as she appeared from the bushes. She laughed as Lakshya jerked, hearing a human voice after hours of just wood chipping. "I come in peace, lucky donkey."

"Shut up," he lightly whacked her up the head when she sat beside him. "Don't call me that."

"Nope, can't do," before he had the chance to retort, she continued. "You didn't answer my question."

The thirsty guitarist took a long swing from the bottle Divya had brought along with her. He wasn't sure if this was the right time or place to be having that conversation. Well, it didn't matter 'cause it was going to be a one-sided talk either way.

"I was thinking about going to the orphanage with you guys after camp. I am going to talk to those kids and help them. They are strangers to me." he finished drinking and capped the bottle.

Divya curiously scanned his face for any signs of playfulness. After confirming he was indeed serious she shrugged her shoulders.

"That's it?" Lakshya gave a confused expression. "I am serious," he added, thinking maybe she did see how much he meant those words.

"I believe you and I Kinda expected it. And before you ask why, it's because you have been acting weird since the chem lab thing."

The guilt he previously got overcame rushing back as she spoke those words. He lowered his head and whispered. "I am sorry."

It was barely audible but she heard him. "For what? It wasn't your fault."

"I don't see it that way."

"Laksh," She sighed and waited for him to look at her. She could see the layer of moisture in his eyes and it hurt to see him suffering. Never once did she blame him for whatever happened. She even told him that at the hospital. "Laksh, it's not your fault. I mean it. None of this is your fault. I went into that room of my own will. You did nothing other than asking me for the truth. That had nothing to do with me going there. Look," she said pointing to the wooden coffin a few feet away from them. "The one responsible for this is there in that coffin."

"I made a mistake by asking you. You weren't ready and..."

"It wasn't a mistake. In fact, I want to say thank you...and sorry about that." When he creased his forehead she continued, "That day when Ragini stayed the night at the hospital, we had a talk and I realised that I should have told you guys all this; cause you are my family. And family is supposed to help one another. I didn't let you guys do that for me but I held the expectations that you tell me when something is wrong. I was a hypocrite and I am sorry for that." By now, she was looking down, unable to meet his eyes as the shame overwhelmed her.

"You're not a hypocrite divi. you were right in your place. And we would have been there or asked for help no matter the circumstances. No questions asked. It's just what friends do. But we cannot force you into something you don't want. That is wrong. That's where I went wrong."

"It wasn't wrong. I would have never been ready. hell, I never wanted to tell you guys. At least now, I will when the time is right. I couldn't do it without you, lucky. Thanks."

Lakshya pulled her in for a hug, taking this moment to try to get over the guilt. Maybe it really wasn't his fault and the next question was going to make him fully understand that.

"Lucky, what made you ask me?" Lakshya pulled her in closer and she gladly returned the squeeze. "Why was this time different from any other?" she asked. She already knew why it was but maybe lakshya had a different reason.

"You were just sitting there. It was almost like- like you weren't there. It just scared me I guess. I knew it was related to that but... I just freaked out and made a mistake."

She pulled away from him and wore a stern look. He immediately understood what was coming next, "lakshya, for the last time. It wasn't a mistake. You did it out of goodwill and I am so damn thankful that you care so much to know when it was time to get me talking. And look at me," she gestured to herself. "I'm fine and I am not going anywhere. So get this into your tiny brain. It's. not. Your. fault." She punctuated every word with a sharp glare that left no room for argument.

"It was still a mistake."

"Fine. It was a mistake. We all make mistakes. Me, you, Ragini heck even the Mr perfect of our class Nikhil makes mistakes. What matters is learning from them and forgiving yourself. "

He laughed and pulled her in for another hug. "In that case, no more forcing you to speak. no matter the situation."

"Good."

"I am so lucky to have you guys."

"Yes you are a lucky donkey." she ruffled his hair to annoy him further.

"Will you quit calling me that?" Lakshya huffed.

"Nope."

"It's annoying."

"You are annoying and I put up with it every day. And you chose to get onto that bus."

"It wasn't exactly a choice," the statement killed off any snarky remark she had the tip of her tongue waiting to be voiced. They stayed quiet for a moment taking in their surroundings. "This town isn't that shitty anymore," he added.

She leaned her head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her. "Not so shitty after all."

Lakshya's backpack had enough rations to survive before he found a home, the ticket was in his hand, the bus in front of him. He had everything he needed, but he couldn't bring himself to board it. Something or rather someone was missing. He couldn't-wouldn't wait for that someone, he needed to leave. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced the disgust crawling beneath his skin for taking a cheapshot to get rid of his responsibilities away.

But it's survival. He couldn't survive with the weight of them crushing him.

He gave the world around him a long hard look. This town only brought back pain and misery. The air smelled like blood, the food tasted like salty tears, his vision only saw sobbing families whose screams of wanting the one they lost back were muted; every surface he touched scratched against his soft porcelain skin. It was a hell hole and he needed to get out. Now.

"Hey kid, are you waiting for someone?" the driver asked, bringing him back to the colour-filled world around him.

Without giving an answer or second thought to the ones he was leaving, he got up from the bunch heading to the four-wheel vehicle.

Just as was about to board the bus, a smaller pair of hands pulled him back and buried him with a bear hug. "Sorry, buddy. I can't let you go." little shikar whined.

"Shikar let go. I'm leaving."

While he did leave the hug, Shikar didn't let the firm grip surrounding his biceps falter. "You promised you weren't leaving. Ever."

"Things have changed now. Dad- that man is in jail and is a criminal. Mom is always off somewhere doing something. I told you to follow me but you didn't want to. I can't stay here. This town is a shitty place."

"Mom and that man are not here anymore so why are you leaving me alone." pain-filled each word along with his tear stricken face growing more and more paler.

"I told you to follow me. It's still not too late. We don't have to stay here."

"I'm sorry to interrupt but Mr Donkey," Divya intervened, turning to lakshya. "Where exactly are you going to go? May I remind you that you are only eight."

"One, apology not accepted. Two, how dare you call me a donkey. Three, it's none of your business."

Raising three of her fingers, Divya counted as she covered her points. "One, I don't care. Two, I have the guts to say and do whatever the hell I want rather than run away. Three, it is my business when it involves him."

"Why do you care about him?"

"Why don't you care about him?" she countered. He is your brother and you are leaving him because you can't deal with what's happening." She knew the words were harsh but she needed to say them. Harsh for him anyway, she thought.

He crossed his arms and shifted all his weight to one foot. "My family has nothing to do with you. And I don't need your opinion on how to deal with my problems or my brother."

"But I do," Shikar spoke, breaking up the bickering pair. "Lucky you are my brother and I love you. Whatever it is, we can deal with it together. We can't change what he did but it's not your fault. we can talk to mom. The three of us can be there for each other. We don't need him."

"It is my fault. He was greedy to give his kids a good life. It is my fault because I am that kid."

"So it's my fault too then. I am the second kid, in fact, it's more my fault than yours."

Lakshya shrunk into himself at the implications he just made. "No. shikar. I am older. I wasn't supposed to let this happen."

"It's none of your fault. It's your father. He chose this, not you guys," Ragini interjected. She didn't like the blame game. It never ends well. It was also very illogical. How can what their father did be their fault?

"What about the people he hurt? Can you handle their stares, insults, bullying?" The news of their father being the human trafficker had recently been covered by the media but the vicious students at school were already targeting them and using them as their punch bag. He couldn't do it.

"I can if you are there with me. I know you won't let that happen. I trust you with my life. So let's go home. We are in this together."

"I can't stop it. You know what happened last week. Those kids nearly gave you a concussion for asking a question! I don't want to deal with this. I want a clean slate away from the chaos waiting for us in the corners of this place."

Ragini who up till now has been deciding how to help shikar, stepped in his place to talk to the older sibling. His stand was right by him, but the decision was hurting both of them. she could see that on his face. "This isn't about you lakshya. It is about both of you and your mom. You guys are family. Your leaving is going to hurt all three of you."

"It's the best way to..."

"Run away from your problems. Best doesn't mean right. Running away only delays the inevitable. If you take that bus, you are going to hurt everyone, including yourself. And all three of you are already in so much pain. Do you really want to add to that?" The rhetorical question put the Maheshwari brother in deep thought as Ragini continued. "Yes, staying here is going to hurt like hell. But it will hurt less when you go through it together with the people who love and care about you. Don't leave your brother when he needs you most." From the look he gave her she knew had somewhat convinced him but he was still unsure.

Divya softened her hard demeanour and cautiously approached him with a sympathetic smile. "We are going to meet bullies at every turn of our lives. We can't run forever or give in to them. We just gotta fight back," she placed shikar's shaking hand into his older brother's. "Home is where your family is. He is your family. So don't run away from home,'' The last part was softer than she intended it to be. "It's gonna hurt, it always will. Some Days will be harder than others but you will make it." She could feel a sense of numbness overcoming her moist eyes but all she vocalised was sincerity and concern for a friend-not a friend just another human.

Shikar was already crying, thinking he was about to lose the most important person in his life. Somehow, he salvaged whatever courage he had left along with the desperation and he tried one last attempt to stop his life from shattering into tiny pieces that could not be pieced back again. "El mayarah. Strong together. Right?" the younger boy asked, fear evident in his voice.

The two kryptonese words stopped any and all intentions he had early on. He couldn't do this to his family, to himself. They were in this together. After what felt like eons, the elder brother dropped his bag and pulled his brother in for a bone-crushing hug. "El mayarah." he nodded against shikar's shoulder.

Parting away, shikar launched a punch to his brother's stomach. "Don't you ever do that again, lucky."

"You mean donkey." Divya tried correcting him. Any concern or delicacy previously present was replaced by a nonchalant stance that depicted an almost goth-like aura.

"I am not a donkey." Lakshya glared, getting up into her face.

She pushed him away, giving him a strange look. "You behave like a donkey. Anyways, it rhymes. Lucky donkey."

"Only he calls me lucky and I am not a donkey. Who the hell are you anyway?"

"Someone that just stopped you from making one of the biggest mistakes of your life." she deadpanned. "You're welcome by the way."

Lakshya didn't want to retort because it was true. If he had left today, he would have hurt the ones he loved the most. No one would be happy. Shikar would be lost and lonely having to deal with the mess their father had created. Their mom would have to deal with losing both her husband and son. He himself would have been a train wreck, trying and failing to live without them. He turned to the two new strangers he just met and tried to give his sincerest face. "Thank you."

"It's fine lakshya." Ragini patted his shoulder.

"Welcome donkey. You are lucky we found your beloved brother. Oh, that does make you a lucky donkey."

Lakshya sucked in a sharp breath trying to keep his cool. "I am not a donkey. I just made a mistake."

"A dumb mistake. Donkeys are known for being dumb. Suits you, doesn't it?" she wore the signature smirk her parents always got after doing something notorious.

"Shut up you monkey."

"At Least I have the ability to swing from tree to tree so you can't catch me."

Lakshya gaped at Divya before deciding to ignore her. He turned to Ragini, extending his hand for a shake. "Lakshya Maheshwari but you can call me Laksh, friends?"

Without hesitating, Ragini shook his hand and accepted the offer. "Ragini Khanna, Friends," she confirmed.

Just to spite Lakshya, Divya forwarded her hand to shikar in the same manner. She realised how stupid that was when the words caught in her throat. "shikar, will you be...I mean do you wanna be...frien...?"

Shikar immediately accepted, not waiting for her to complete. She saved his life, twice. How could he not be friends with this person? "Friends."

Ragini and shikar watched as the two newfound enemies stood glaring at each other. Not wanting a war at the bus station, they dragged their respective friend and brother back home as they both complained.

"You are such a pain." Lakshya teased coming back from the memory.

"You are such an idiot. One that uses his brain too much. To the point where it is strained."

"At least my brain is not rotting away. I make use of my brain cells."

"You mean your imaginary brain cells that you think you have."

"If they didn't exist, I wouldn't have come up with brilliant plans."

"The plans you come up with are the ones that get us into trouble."

"Really, which one of my plans has ever gotten us into trouble?"

"Remember when Rajat fell down the stairs?"

"That was a miscalculation." He tried defending himself.

"Yeah, a miscalculation that got us detention and Rajat in a cast," she knew she had won this round so without waiting any further, she stood up and pulled him to his feet. "It's 2. Time to let him out."

Nodding his head, Lakshya went to release the man from his miseries while his friend hung back at the tree. The awful smell that escaped the wooden box was enough to make him recoil whilst pinching his nose. The sight of Harshad would have made anyone tear up but he barely even lifted his toned shoulders to shrug. It sounded inhumane, but that was the identity they had created for themselves. It was easier.

He dragged half-conscious Harshad by the collar onto the ground beside the coffin. As fast as he could, he slammed the cover shut, not wanting the creepy crawlies to escape.

"I will call the guys to clear this up tomorrow morning," Divya informed, sending a message to the cleanup guys they had recruited before camp. No matter how mean they were perceived as they were not cruel to nature. "Is he dead?" she inquired, trudging to the pair.

Lakshya didn't get enough time to check before they heard a frightened shriek from the entrance of the clearing. The two musicians immediately spun their heads in the direction the cry came from to see the most irritating teacher they met, standing with her hands covering her mouth whose lips were probably trembling.

"It's not what it looks like." lakshya immediately supplied. taking what their positions and Divya's words sounded like, he didn't want to give her the wrong idea. They were pranksters- bullies even but not murders and he wouldn't allow anyone to think otherwise.

Divya exaggeratingly rolled her eyes at her class parent. "Why do you always have to be at the wrong place at the wrong time?"

Typical. Drishti noted. "Okay. One, what the hell? Two, what the actual fuck is this?" The words were shrill and deafening.

"Oh, it's two in the morning. We just thought of having a nice little picnic. See there's a lake nearby for freshwater." came her snark filled reply.

Drishti ignored the younger girl and marched up to the boys.

"He is fine."

She pushed Lakshya out of the way to check Harshad over for herself. "You guys are far from trustable," she carefully looked over the beaten teenager. "You two should thank god he is fine. Other than a severe case of dehydration. Is that rat bites?" She was about to further question them but her eyes fell on the coffin in front of them.

"You can go down there to check if you want."

Her mind recalled the sorry excuse of a prank they played on her with rats in the storeroom. Hers were apparently robotic but Harshad's were real. "You put rats in there. Real ones."

"You can quit glaring, it doesn't suit you. And yes we put rats in there. He deserved it." Divya told her nonchalantly. She brought the water bottle back to the body lying between them and emptied it on his face. He jolted up and whacked his hands uncoordinatedly, almost taking out Drishti's eye. 'There, he is fine. Welcome back to the living Harshad."

Lakshya restrained his hands to prevent any further inconvenience for him while Drishti tried to calm him down." Harshad, Harshad. You are fine. It's okay," once he was a little more relaxed she turned to the band members. "This is sick. You guys have no morals or conscience. I know what he did wasn't okay but what difference does this make between the both of you."

"We don't care about the difference it makes. In case, you haven't realised we are not the best people on earth. Besides, he screwed with Ragini, me and many other people. And by other people, I mean some of your students," she emphasised the word 'your' to make sure the class parent was listening carefully. "We are just doing them a favour."

Her condensing nonchalance was irksome. "You are doing yourself a favour. Feeding your ego. No one gave you the right to do this."

"Spare us the lecture, Miss Sharma. We know what we are doing.'' The female camper gestured something to Lakshya that the teacher couldn't understand. She didn't pay much attention, however.

"Doesn't seem like you know what you are doing."

"We have a plan so yes we know what to do."

"This was your brilliant plan? Lock him up with rats so he learns his lesson. Well, let me burst your little bubble. It's dumb and dangerous..." She stopped chasing them when Lakshya slung one of Harshad arms over his shoulder and held him up. "wait, where are you taking him?"

The guitarist didn't bother with a sarcastic comeback. He was tired and wanted to sleep. Trusting Divya could handle this, he gave his teacher a simple reply of taking Harshad back to the campsite and left.

Drishti was stuck with a similar debate in her mind. Should she follow him or stay with her other student because it didn't look like she was moving anytime soon.

"He will be fine, you know. We thought this through," Divya assured, taking her spot under the tree again. The moon had decided to come out of hiding and shone its rays in the glistening water bay ahead.

"Forgive me if I don't jump in and believe that. After All, the semi-conscious state he was in begs to differ." Drishti scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Don't be so dramatic. Lucky is going to fix him up at camp. We know first aid. I told you before, we are not that bad. We knew the rats were likely going to bite him so we came prepared. Bandages, medication, even painkillers."

"So? That doesn't change the fact that you just dumped him into a coffin for...hours," she gasped. "He wasn't at the campfire because he was dumped in here for hours. Divya Singhania!"

"Yep, that's me. Oh and the campfire was fun wasn't it. I guess now you know who composed someone you loved."

"I am talking about Harshad, not your damn song no matter how nice it was," she revealed before mentally slapping herself for admitting she liked the song. As much as she intensely disliked the band, the composition was touching. The soft rift provided for a relaxing evening by the campfire. The lyrics were the best part of the whole piece. She was shocked at how they could come up with such meaningful lyrics.

Divya gave her a knowing smirk but quickly replaced it with a look of annoyance. "Don't be shy to admit that you like it. Anyways, Harshad will be fine so you can leave me alone now."

"I am not leaving you here. We are going back to the campsite. I am sure ms Malhotra will love to hear about your little stunt in the morning."

Divya groaned, this time really annoyed. "For the love of god...ms m will just give me detention again. It was not threatening then and it wasn't threatening now. And we still have that video of you. Unless you want it publicly released, shut up."

Drishti pursed her lips into a thin line. "Fine! But we are going back now."

"No," she put down, keeping her gaze to the stars and newly appeared moon.

"I could drag you back, you know." stated as a matter of fact. "That sounded more legit in my head."

"Under normal circumstances maybe yes. But with that sprained wrist," she gestured to the carefully wrapped area, "I highly doubt that."

"Divya...why do you want to stay in this jungle when you have a nice warm tent waiting back at the campsite?"

"I like it here. Reminds me of someone close," she blurted in a daze.

Drishti had to double-take to see if she was looking and hearing right. This rich spoiled brat, liked stars and it reminded her of someone close? She would have rolled her eyes if the conversation from the locker room didn't come back to her.

"The feeling you just said. Yeah, I know the feeling. I get it!"

Divya understood the feeling of losing someone so close to you. This, someone, was probably who she was thinking about. She studied the rockstar for a couple of seconds. It reminded her of her younger self a few years ago. The one who would stare at the stars for hours wondering where her shining star was.

She couldn't help but turn her own eyes to the star. They are beautiful. She sighed, sitting a few meters away from the girl. It took a while to recognize but she finally did. Today the stars didn't look like they were mocking her.

"Who?" This didn't feel like a question she should be asking but something in her told her to do so.

Still dazed, Divya answered, "Di."   

A/N: Don't forget to R&R!

what did you think of lakshya and Divya's conversation?

how do you think Drishti is going to react?