It was past midnight. Chandni was waiting for Angraj. She had her final year exams in just a few days. Angraj was her only lifeline for help in studies.

He was good at professing. Actually all males are better at teaching than females. Reason was unknown to Chandni, but she truly believed in it.

Angraj and Chandni were now best buddies to be exact. Both of them had complicated lives, they were each other's temporary escape from their lives.

Sometimes they would think about what will happen next. Their lives won't be like this forever. There will come a time when they will have to part their ways. However, they focused more on their present than the unseen future.

In their time together both of them noticed each other's habits. Like, Angraj had a habit of sleeping bare chest. Initially it annoyed Chandni but she let it go when Angraj totally ignored her protest.

Chandni had a routine of dance practice before sleeping, to which Angraj would give stupid comments and imitate those rich men shown enjoying dances in Kothas in those old movies from the golden era of Indian cinema. And the very next moment he would be hiding behind the bed to safeguard himself from his Chanda's chappal, which would come flying into his direction.

Chandni used to hide her favourite chocolates in her cupboard, which became apparently Angraj's favourite as well when she once offered him a bar of it. However she regretted it later. The very next evening Angraj ate all of the chocolates when she wasn't present in the room.

Chandni really liked his Kurtas. According to her those were more comfortable. She even requested him to give one Kurta to her, which he actually did.

The biggest part was they slept on the same bed, but at a good distance. Angraj never even thought to cross any limit, because what he felt for her was far from lust. His intentions were pure.

The clock was ticking and Chandni was pacing in her room. She was worried.

Why he didn't come till now?

A knock on the door broke her trance. She opened the door and found Angraj standing there.

"Finally you came! I was worried for you."

She closed the door after he entered the room.

"I had some matters to handle."

Chandni noticed a slight change in his movements.

Angraj laid on the bed with his stomach pressing against the soft bedsheet.

"Oye! Aren't we gonna study?"

"Not tonight. I am exhausted, please."

"That's understandable. But you please remove your Kurta before falling asleep. You will feel uncomfortable."

Kurta reminded him that Chandni was wearing his white Kurta, which he gave to her on her sincere yet scandalous request.

"You look appealing in my Kurta." He gave a sweet smile.

"That I know very well." She was now used to his harmless flirting.
"But remove your Kurta, Ang. You will be uncomfortable."

"I won't. Let it be."

She moved to him, standing at his side of bed. She was very well aware now that he would be unable to sleep in his Kurta.

She touched his shoulder and he winced.

"You are hurt?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Don't lie, Ang. Remove your Kurta."

"There is no need for that."

"Are you going to remove it or I bring scissors?"

He defeatedly got up and removed his Kurta. She gasped as his back was covered with bandages.

"You are severely injured. You shouldn't have come here, you need rest."

"That's exactly why I came here. I need rest."

He again laid on his stomach. She covered him with duvet and moved to her side of bed.

His discomfort was evident on his face. His eyes were looking at infinity.

"Is it hurting badly?" She asked in concerned tone.

"I am used to it."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not new to me, Chanda."

"Means you were injured in the past?"

"Yeah, it's quite normal."

"Tell me exactly how you got injured?"

"Men of opposition party attacked me."

"Why!?"

"Because I am minister's son."

"Being minister's son is a crime?"

"A kind of. Because then it becomes fate that someday the person will be one of those sinners in the disguise of saints."

"But you are not one of them?"

"I will be someday. Doesn't matter if I want it or not."

She caressed his silky dark brown hair.

"Try to sleep, Ang."

Her fingers were making him drowsy. She kept doing it repeatedly. It worked as a lullaby to him. And he was engulfed into a deep slumber. She at last fell asleep, her fingers still caressing his silky hair.

Next morning she woke up to find Angraj still sleeping.

She moved out of bed to start the day.

It was one'o clock in the afternoon when Angraj opened his eyes. Chandni was sitting at her side of bed while reading a book.

"Good afternoon, sleepyhead."

"Good afternoon." He greeted back lazily. But then he just recalled his words.
"Afternoon? I slept this long?"

"Hardly twelve hours."

"I need to leave. I am already late."

"Don't you dare move! Rest for some more time. You are injured, if you remember."

"I told you it's not new to me, if you remember."

"You were terribly in pain last night, if you remember."

"Night has ended hours ago, if you remember."

"But your pain hasn't, if you remember."

"Enduring pain is habitual to me, if you remember."

"That's the thing I don't want to remember. I wish I could hide you somewhere."

"Hiding isn't a solution for my troubles. Stop sympathizing me."

"If you were a girl and I were a guy then I would have taken you far away from this town forever. And would have done anything to keep you happy."

"Then what makes the difference now?"

"I am not a guy neither you are a girl. I can't do anything about it, even if I profoundly want it to happen."

"Your presence is enough for me. Whenever I am with you I just forget the hullabaloo going on in my life."

His words were doing something to her.
"You were late for something, if you remember."

"You said to rest, if you remember."

"This is a Kotha, if you remember."

"And you are my only comfort, if you remember."

A blush crept on her cheeks.

Their bond was so pure. Something very rare to this materialistic world.
For today's generation love equals to lust. They were never taught the difference between these polar opposite feelings. True love has became an illusion. And lust has been tagged as love.

However, true love still exists in the hearts similar to the ones that Angraj and Chandni possessed, if you remember.

☆☆☆
Next chapter will have a big twist. So be ready to read a very unique and fresh and ORIGINAL twist.

I am excited!