Raavi stood in the kitchen, brewing some lemon tea for herself and Gaurav. She was having a splitting headache, and decided to take a break from her books and treat herself.

Since they were just chilling at home while Shashank and Shiva had stepped out for a couple of minutes, Raavi decided to make some for Gaurav as well, who was currently studying in his bedroom.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Raavi wondered who it would be, since Shiva and Shashank had just left a few minutes back.

She wiped her hands and opened the door, to be greeted by a pretty, petite brunette.

"Hello!" Raavi greeted her with a smile.

"Um hi?" She asked, glancing inside the house and then back at Raavi, who was standing at the door in her denim shorts and loose t shirt, hair in a rough bun.

"Aap kisi ko dhundh rahe ho?" Raavi looked over her shoulder, and then at the girl again. She hadn't seen her before, she didn't know who she was.

"Haa. Gaurav hai kya?" The girl asked.

"Ji. Par aap kaun?"

"Mahi. Uski girlfriend."

Raavi smiled wide as she realised who it was, and invited her in, walking to Gaurav's room and knocked on the door thrice.

"Gaurav? Gaurav! Mahi aayi hai. Bahar aa." She called from outside, and almost immediately he stepped out and greeted his girlfriend with a hug.

Raavi smiled and stepped into the kitchen to bring the lemon tea, and handed over one cup to Gaurav. "Tum peeyogi lemon tea? I didn't know you were coming over."

"No, thank you. Tum kaun ho?" Mahi returned a tight lipped smile.

"Mai Raavi! Inki brand new roommate." She chuckled, sipping on her tea, sitting down on the bean bag.

"Roommate? Kabse? Maine toh tumhe aaj tak yaha nahi dekha."

"Oh, bas abhi ek mahine se. It's a very nice place, I love it." Raavi looked around, and then at Mahi, who had a scowl on her face whil simultaneously staring at Gaurav.

"Okay then!" Raavi quipped, sensing the tension and getting up , "Mai andar baithi hu, kuch chahiye hoga toh bata dena." She said to Gaurav, taking her cup and moving towards Shiva's room.

"Tumhare dost kaha hai?" Mahi asked Gaurav.

"Woh dono zara bahar gaye hai. Itne din baad aayi ho, talk to me na!" He smiled, holding her hand.

"No wait!" Mahi frowned, moving to stand in front of Raavi. "Tum ho kaun?"

"Arre, abhi toh bataya. Inki roommate!" Raavi smiled at her, setting her cup on the dining table.

Just then, the keys clinked and the door opened as Shiva and Shashank stepped in.

"Oh hey, Mahi! What's up?" Shiva greeted her, setting the keys on the table.

"What's up is that this girl was in the house, all alone, with MY boyfriend!" Mahi screeched, and Raavi was taken aback.

"Excuse me, maine abhi toh kaha ki roommate hoon, I sleep on the damn sofa you were sitting on a few seconds ago." Raavi crossed her arms in front of her chest, nodding towards the sofa.

"Mahi, relax!" Shiva walked to stand beside Raavi, "Humare saath rehti hai, Raavi. What's the problem here?"

"Tumhare saath? Really? Toh ye kyu lemon tea banake pila rahi hai Gaurav ko? Uske haath nahi hai khud ke?" Mahi stepped closer to Raavi.

"GOD DAMN IT, WOMAN!" Raavi yelled, "Mujhe tumhare boyfriend mein zara bhi interest nahi hai. He's not my type! Mera type toh-" She caught herself before she said any further, "That's not the point. Lemon tea? Tum woh baat leke baithogi? It's called courtesy. Okay? Happy?" Raavi frowned at her unbelievable behaviour.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Mahi said sarcastically, "Tum toh 3 ladko ke saath rehti ho. You won't have 'one' type. You have 3!" She glanced at Raavi from top to bottom.

"Oh dear lord." Raavi muttered under her breath. "For the last time, Mahi, sharam karo aur apne boyfriend pe zara sa trust kar lo."

"I'm not taking advice from a slu-"

"SHUT UP. JUST SHUT UP NOW!" Shiva roared, standing in between the two girls, his eyes burning with fury.

He saw red. Blood red. Teeth gritting, hands fisted as he stepped closer to Mahi, dangerously close to smashing anything in there vicinity.

"Himmat kaise hui teri, Raavi ke baare mein aisa bolne ki. HAA?!" Shiva yelled, and Mahi flinched.

"Shiva, mai baat kar rahi hu na-" Raavi held his arm to pull him back, but he jerked it out of her hold.

"Raavi, chup!" He told her, without turning.

"Aur tum," He pointed his finger at Mahi, "Dare you open your mouth to call Raavi whatever you just did again, toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga, understand? Bhool jaaunga ki ladki ho, Gaurav ki kuch lagti ho. Am I clear?" Shiva went dangerously quiet in his tone, which sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

"I said AM I CLEAR?!" He yelled, which almost got Mahi to tears.

"Shiva, stop it. Aise baat nahi kar sakta tu usse." Gaurav pulled her behind him.

"Stop it? TELL HER TO STOP IT, GOD DAMN IT! Kaise baat kar rahi hai Raavi se, suna nahi tune?!" Shiva argued, and Raavi pulled Shiva behind her.

"Gaurav, tum leke jaao Mahi ko. Shiva, mere saath chal. CHAL!" She tugged on Shiva's arm and dragged him to the kitchen.

"Woh kya tha, Shiva? Rula diya tune usse!" Raavi said, exasperated.

"Rone de usse, ussi ke laayak hai woh, tune suna nahi what she called you? Tujhe farak nahi padta kya?" Shiva retorted.

"Nahi padta. Usse mai 10 minute pehle mili hoon, usse jaanti bhi nahi, mujhe kyu farak padega, haa?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"Mujhe zara bhi nahi pasand, kaise words use kiye usne tere liye. Himmat toh dekho-" He motioned for a punch at the kitchen door.

"Relax, Shiva. Relax." Raavi said calmly, holding his hands in hers, her fingers easing off the fist his hand had made, caressing his knuckles, "Mujhe pata hai tujhe bilkul pasand nahi aaya, but uska bhi soch na. Her boyfriend is with a girl she's never seen before, Gaurav ka track record kuch khaas nahi hai. She's probably feeling insecure in her relationship, toh gussa mujhpe baras gaya."

Shiva shifted his feet and looked away. Damn Raavi for making so much sense when he wanted to knock some into others....

"Look at me." Raavi nudged his arm, standing closer to him, their entwined hands at their sides, "Let me talk to her, girl to girl. Uske baad bhi woh nahi samjhi, toh tujhe jo sahi lage, tu kar. Okay?"

When he didn't look at her, she placed her palm on his cheek and turned him to face her, "I asked okay?"

Shiva nodded his head, murmuring 'okay, my foot', but agreed only for his chipkali.

"Okay." Raavi whispered, and brought him out, where Gaurav was standing with a much calmer Mahi.

"Mahi. Tumhara gussa jaayaz hai. But give me 5 minutes to explain why I am here. Uske baad tum dekh lena." Raavi said slowly, hoping she'd understand.

Mahi nodded, but didn't move. "Akele mein, Mahi."

Raavi and Mahi walked to the kitchen, where Raavi narrated her story, the reason she was here, and why she felt safer here than anywhere else.

In return, Mahi opened up a little, and apologised for the way she behaved, she had been feeling insecure, like Raavi had guessed, and when Gaurav reassured her, she felt better, but equally horrible for how she judged Raavi.

When they stepped out, Mahi hugged Raavi, and decided that they'd be good friends, and left with a wider smile than what she came with.

"Kya baat ki tune, jo woh angry bird se shantibai bann gayi?" Shiva asked, looking at the door.

"Girl code. Nahi bata sakti." Raavi winked and patted his cheek.

Shiva watched her settle back on the sofa with a novel, and just couldn't believe her.

His chipkali was something else only.