I was sitting in the living room not knowing what to do. I felt bad that I talked about Samira's parents. I mean, it was not a nice thing to talk bad about anybody's parents.

Harsh and Kashi walked in, holding hands. Kashi freed her hand as she saw me. "Shiva..." She addressed me.

"Oh... Shiva. I was supposed to get you a chair, right?" Harsh said, embarrassed. Yeah. Even I forgot about changing the bulb. "Let's get this one..." Harsh turned to the nearby chair.

But we saw Samaira walking out of her room with her huge bag. "I am changing rooms." She said. "Because of the lights issue."

"Shiva will fix it." Harsh told her.

"No thanks. I don't want Shiva in my room or anywhere near me," She walked off struggling to carry her big suitcase. I felt bad. As she disappeared Harsh turned to me. "Did you guys fight again?"

I scratched the back of my head. "Yeah..."

"Why?" Kashi asked me.

I looked at her. I was reminded of the image of Harsh kissing her. It began to hurt again. I wanted to hug Kashi and bury my head into her neck and hair and forget all troubles.

"She was being an asshole. As usual." I mumbled.

"Was she?" Harsh asked. "I am sorry if she said something. I apologise on her behalf."

Kashi turned to Harsh. "Why are you apologising on her behalf? You should not even have brought her on this trip after what she did to me." She looked angry.

"I know... But It's Sammie. She is my childhood friend. And you guys don't know. She is not that bad. She can be very nice when she means to."

"But she does not seem to have friendship on her mind for you." I reminded Harsh.

"I know that too." Harsh looked disturbed. "But... she is just misunderstanding." He sat down on the chair. "I have supported her a lot when her mother passed away a few years back. Sammie was really attached to her mother. Since her dad was always busy with work and had no time for family, her mother was her world. And her death left a big hole in Sammie's life. She is trying to fill it up with me. I feel I am more like a brotherly figure to her. She is misunderstanding that feeling as the feeling of love. I have told her a few times that she is like a sister to me."

"Her mother passed away?" I asked now feeling more terrible than before. Why did I even talk about her parents?

"Yes. Cancer. When we were in class 11. Aunty spent almost a year in the hospital... It was very difficult for Sammie."

We all stood in silence. I felt crappy inside. I could hear Samaira humming a song in the room inside. I looked in that direction... Does she recover really fast, or is she acting as if nothing is wrong?

I got my answer in the next couple of days. She ignored me. She walked around as if she owned the place. And seemed to still hate Kashi. But completely ignored me. I felt I should apologise for what I said. More than anyone, I should not have said something like that. I tried to talk to her, but it was difficult to get her alone. And I did not want to make a scene in front of everyone.

The last night we were there, we had a bonfire night. I helped harsh to set up the bonfire. I was looking at Samaira who was standing talking to her friends. She was draped in a blanket as it was pretty chilly outside. She was still wearing shorts instead of pants.

When everybody sat down around the bonfire, I somehow ended up on the opposite side of Samaira. It felt awkward. I tried not to look her in the eyes. It was easy since she was ignoring me.

Harsh sang a song with his guitar. There was drinking. Beer was passed around... JD offered me some. I politely refused. I don't like drinking...

Samaira drank a lot. Like a lot. By the night she was wasted. And she was singing songs... Her friends got her to bed. For some reason, I was feeling even more guilty. She was acting as if she was hurting inside and acting all happy outside.

The next day, we all were supposed to drive back home. I was putting my luggage into Harsh's jeep when I noticed that Samaira was standing clutching her head.

"You okay, Sammie," Harsh asked her. She shook her head. "Hangover?" Harsh asked.

"Massive headache." She said. "I don't know how I am going to drive." She said.

"Oh, do you want me to drive you back?" He asked. He turned to me, "Shiva, can you drive my jeep. You can take Kashi home."

I looked at Kashi and saw that her smile faded a bit.

"I can drive Samaira," I said. "You should be with Kashi..."

Harsh looked at me a bit thankfully. He even looked happy, "Will that be okay?"

"I don't want him to drive me," Samaira said.

"But Sammie..."

"You can go be with your beloved Kashi," she told him. "I can drive by myself. I am not getting into a car with that guy."

I sighed. I just went to her car opened the driver's seat and sat down... "I'll be silent on the way," I said. Samaira stared at me. "I won't bother you."

Samaira hesitated and got in the car. I started it... Harsh looked relieved and went to his jeep with Kashi. Samaira watched them go. "Now they can have their drive date." She told me in a whining voice.

I drove the car ahead.

"You have a license, right?" She asked me.

"Yes," I said.

"And you know how to drive properly, right?"

"Yes..." I sighed.

"Good. If anything happens to me or my baby, I am going to sue you." She said.

"Your baby?" I asked.

"The car." She explained.

"The car is your baby?" I asked.

"Yes," she said as if I am the one who does not make any sense here. "Now shut up and drive quietly, I am going to get some sleep."

She turned her head away and settled on the car window. I drove quietly.

Samaira woke up when a car cut past us and I had to step on the breaks quickly. She jerked awake as she lunched forward... "What the Hell?" She asked.

"Just a car..." I told her, shielding her with my hand so she does not hurt herself "Are you okay?"

She turned to me. And looked at me curiously. "What?" I asked.

"Why are you being nice to me?" She asked.

I had no reply. Apologising was awkward. How do I start this...?

"Hm... Listen, I should not have said what I said.... About your parents. I am sorry." I managed to say. Great. I apologised.

She blinked at me.

"I did not know about your mother," I said.

"That does not make an excuse...." She said.

"I know... I am sorry." I said. "My parents are no more either. So I should never have..."

She looked at me. And sighed...

"I am hungry." She said.

"What?" I turned to her.

"I am hungry. Isn't there any place to eat? And if you are sorry, buy me food."

This was an unexpected turn of events. I looked at her confused.

"What? You can't buy me food?" She asked.

We were already in the city. So it was easy to find places that sell food. Just that... "I can't afford the type of food you may eat," I said, not feeling bad about it.

"Who told you to buy Starbucks? I want vada pav..."

I turned to look at her surprised.

"What? Can't I eat vada pav?" She asked. "Stop the car."

"Huh?"

"Stop the car." She repeated. I drove the car to the side of the road and parked it. There were a few street vendors on the side. Samaira jumped out and went to a vendor, "Bhaiyya, one vada pav. Extra spicy." She said in Hindi. I had not expected this from her. I had thought that she would only eat from five-star hotels. But I guess I should not have judged someone so easily.

I bought a vada pav myself and munched on it.

"So tell me," Samaira went on, "You live with Kashish's family because your parents died?"

"Hm," I said.

"When did they die, I mean...pass away?"

"When I was very young. Six years old."

"So you might not have many memories about them."

"Hm," I nodded. "I remember bits though."

"Like?" She asked.

I don't know how Samaira and I are having this friendly conversation. I don't talk about my parents much. Not even to Kashi. But at this moment I felt this weird kinship with Samaira.

"Like.... My aayi making me food." I said. "Her home-cooked meals were the best."

Samaira nodded. There were traces of tears in her eyes, "Mom's food is always the best," she agreed. I understood that she was missing her mother. I realised that it might have been more difficult for her to lose her mother. Since she was older. She had all memories of her.

"My mom used to make pancakes for me." She told me. "And her French toasts were the best," she smiled. I nodded. Understanding. "I was fifteen when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was really difficult..." She was now struggling to talk. "God, why am I telling you all this?" she said, rubbing her tears off.

"It's okay..." I said.

"If it is okay, buy me some coconut water as well," she said.

"Okay..." I laughed. Damn, she was cute!

Wait, what?

No. No... Scratch that... I should not be thinking of Samaira Agarwal as cute.

But it was nice seeing her sip the coconut water, enjoying it like a kid. I was smiling too.

I left her in front of her house and got out of the car.

"How will you go?" She asked getting down.

"I'll walk and get a bus home," I said.

"Wait. I'll tell my driver to drop you home."

"No. No. That is okay..."I said. "I'll just go."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay, Hon... See you later." She said, giving me a wave. She turned to go...

"Eh... Samaira..." I called her. She turned to me. "About Harsh and Kashi...."

"I won't try to break them up." She said, "Happy now?"

I nodded.

"And anyway, it is not like I can do anything to make Harsh hate her..." she said, "I am not a character from a Hindi serial. You know those vamps in serials who are always plotting against the heroine?" She chuckled. "I do wish if I can be the heroine for a change. But I guess I am just the Vamp in the story," She sounded sad. "And that is why I can't be happy and bless them. Since I am not an Angel like you." She said.

"I am not an angel," I said. I am not. Deep inside, I wish Kashi breaks up with Harsh and come to me.

Samaira was looking at me as if she understands. "It hurts doesn't it?" She asked. "It hurts for me too."

I felt a strange connection with Samaira at that moment. We were looking at each other, and I felt maybe Samaira and I could be friends. Close friends. And that is such an absurd thought because I used to hate her. But she is not that bad.

"Bye, Shiva..." She said and turned around to go inside.

I walked away, with my hands in my pocket.