When the time was 10 O' clock, Shreya finally messaged Lakshya. She did not want to disturb his time with his friends, but it was quite late.

'When will you be back?'

On the other side, Lakshya waved his phone in Deepak's face.

"See? She messaged me!"

Deepak opened his eyes wide, yet what he saw on the screen did not ascertain to his brain that Lakshya was saying the truth. "Really?" He was as drunk as Lakshya was.

"Yeah! See, I will call her."

Lakshya's call was lifted on the first ring. "Lakshya, did you start?"

"See?" The drunk dork he was, was not yet done showing off in front of Deepak.

"Hello?" Shreya was confused. She felt he just slurred.

"Are you drunk?"

"Yeahhh!"

He was completely drunk, definitely. She sat straight up. "I'll come and get you back."

"You're coming? Here?"

"Yes. Wait for me." Shreya knew he was a lost cause.

Shreya booked herself a cab after trying to get the location with a lot of difficulty. If she was still under her father, she would not even dare to think of picking someone up from a bar at night, even if it was someone she personally owed to. But that was no longer the case, and she had an unusually strong belief that the world was a beautiful place.

She kept Lakshya entertained throughout the way so that he did not cut the call. She gathered Deepak was also there, probably in the same state.

When she got down, she could not help but feel tense. For one, she had never been to a bar full of men.

Shreya put the hood of her jacket up and she was no longer that anxious.

She whispered into the phone, careful not to get any attention on her, "Lakshya, raise your hand up."

He was quite obedient. She saw a hand in the air soon. "I raised my right hand!"

He had raised his left hand though.

Shreya quickly made her way and sat down as she put her phone down. Finally she could calm down a little.

Lakshya looked surprised when he saw Shreya. As if to check, he said hello into the already disconnected phone.

"Hello," Shreya replied. She understood his drunk pulse over the journey.

"Shreya, hi."

"Hi. Do you know where Deepak lives?"

"Auntie will kick his ass and not give him chocolate!" He laughed.

Shreya did not understand his words but what he meant is probably that Deepak could not go home so drunk.

"We will go home now." Shreya booked a cab and it arrived soon.

She requested a waiter to help Deepak and tried to pull Lakshya all by herself. She fumbled.

"You can't carry me. You stop and sit even before half a trek!" Lakshya steadied himself holding her arm.

Shreya guided them all to the cab and got them in. They got down at Lakshya and Shreya's home. Lakshya sobered up quite a bit.

He did not speak much and his head was aching. He slapped Deepak across the face twice. Then both guys supported each other to get inside.

"No room for you, bro. Guest room is Shreya's, her hair clips are there. So you be here." He dropped Deepak on the couch.

As if he sensed Shreya's bewildered look, he said to her. "I'm clear now. Do you think I will look nice with those cute little things?"

Shreya nodded. Next time she styled his hair, she would decorate it with those.

Lakshya stared at her for a long time.

After a while Shreya felt awkward and asked if we needed something.

Lakshya stared on for another minute before silently going into the bedroom. He plopped on the bed and turned towards the edge.

There is no way. No way to not let out a chuckle throughout that evening. Even if Shreya was not someone who would enjoy simple jokes, she did find his humour funny in the past. She would softly laugh at his words and behaviours.

Any more thinking shot up sharp aches in his head. He had too much to drink. They had ordered two standards later on and drank everything on empty stomachs.

∼•∽

In the morning, Deepak rushed back home. Just before he passed out, he had dropped a message to his parents not to worry for him that night and that he was with Lakshya.

Never in his life had he drunk so much.

Shreya insisted on a light breakfast, but he rushed saying he had a very important patient to check on on his way home. If he had to give a reason for his crazy drinking the night before, that little patient was.

∼•∽

Lakshya walked into the kitchen after seeing Deepak out.

"Sorry for all the trouble yesterday."

"It's nothing. Your bike must still be there."

"I'll get it in the evening."

Shreya nodded.

"Shrey, is something going on?"

She looked confused. "No."

Lakshya had nothing else to say. He tried, but closed his lips in the end.

That morning Shreya went to the lab on her own. She pecked Lakshya and he told her that he'd pick her up.

At the lab, the morning passed by with routine work. Shreya ate half of her lunch and felt full. The rest she fed to the cats.

There she unfolded a piece of paper that she had just grabbed at work.

"No, I will write when I am actually alone." She put it back and petted the cats for some time.

Conveniently, Zahra said there was a function going on at her house, that she had to be there and left two hours early. Shreya opened the paper.

She wanted to write just one sentence.

The more you ask if I am okay, the more guilty I feel.

But her pen did not stop.

I should have put in some effort in the beginning for you and rejected you like you wanted.

Right and wrong won't matter now.

I don't want you to remember me, but feed the cats we met now and then.

If you can, tell my mother that nothing is her fault.

You don't have to team up with my brother, but have a chat with him now and then. He became quite close to you.

I want to tell you this:

Lakshya,

Thank you so much. I was very happy. Empty, but happy. You did nothing wrong. We haven't been married for long. I hope you can recover soon and move on. Treat me as a bad dream.

I love you.

Shrey.

Her fingers slackened and the pen fell out of her grip. Shreya rubbed her eyes, but she found no wetness. She thought she was crying.

She folded the paper and put it in her bag.

She shook her head and took a quick nap.

∼•∽

Lakshya sped up his bike to the lab. Going and getting his bike was such a hassle and it took so much time. He knew Shreya was waiting.

He first stopped at the cats' alley. Work had already ended and he guessed he could find her here and he was right.

"You bought them curd?"

"Yeah."

There were only three cats licking and eating.

"Pet them," Shreya said.

If she had already asked him, how could he say no? He crouched down and petted all three.

In the evening, even if they got home late, Shreya insisted that he let her comb his hair. She used every hair clip Lakshya had pointed at with a shy frown.

He was embarrassed thinking back to how he acted last night. Who knew she'd 'fulfil' his wish so soon?

At night, they were fiery hot for each other. If only it was the weekend and they could sleep in, both thought.

A few days later, Shreya wanted to meet Shreekant.

"Why so suddenly? Everything okay?" Lakshya asked. Shreekant said made a nice friend and that both would eat and study together. In fact, whenever he asked the little guy about his day, he only got to hear about this friend. Lately, he was not even talking about tests, labs and exams. Basically, the boy was having a great time.

"Yeah. I just want to meet him. It's almost 10 months."

"When do you want to go?" Lakshya was itching to apply for a leave, anyway. His manager would agree without a word and that would make the team lead cranky, which the team lead deserved.

"Flight is on Thursday night, eight fifty P.M."

"Oh," Lakshya was a little disheartened. He wanted to say that she could have asked him and they could have gone together and that this was too short of a notice for him to prepare. But it seemed the siblings needed some time by themselves, he told himself. It was acceptable. Afterall, Lakshya was always there in the game chats and he did not see Shreya on the phone that many times after he told Shreekant not to bother her too much. Bigger reason was that, if she did not tell him soon enough to prepare, it was clear she did not want him around.

"When is the return flight?"

"Friday night."

In the end, when she left, he could only bid farewell and say with some humour, "Planes and airports are safe, but don't fall asleep anywhere else." As uneasy as he felt about all of this, he had to send her off.

∼•∽

Shreya did not tell Shreekant anything about her arrival.

One afternoon, he received a phone call telling him that he had one visitor. Shreekant's mind went blank. His father would never come unannounced and his mom would not come there without his father. Shreya? She might... He sped up his steps and found her waiting at the college entrance.

Shreekant rubbed his eyes and took a better look.

"Hey? What now?" Dhriti was dragging herself behind him. Why were they going opposite from the dining hall when they were so hungry?

Shreekant ran a few more steps and confirmed it was indeed Shreya.

He turned around and ran in the other direction.

"Why are you running like a headless hen?"

He stopped and turned to Dhriti. "My sister is here and I have a black eye. I can't let her see me like this."

She slit her eyes and smiled. "Don't worry, I will tell her personally. Mabbe then you won't jump in impulsively."

"Is it very clear?"

Dhriti pouted. Her threat fell on deaf ears. She shrugged. It always happened.

"I have some foundation in my room."

"Let's go!"

"Are you going to keep her waiting? Dorms are on the other side. Do you know how long it will take?" Dhriti was not serious. She thought as always he would come up with a better plan and call her stupid.

"Then run!"

Dhriti helplessly started running behind him.

Luckily, she found a girl who was much nicer to her.

"Shreekant! Wait! I'll go ask her."

Shreekant paused as he caught his breath. Dhriti ran to the girl and asked if she had any foundation on her. This girl was always prim and proper. She always had some light makeup on. That was what Dhriti's bet was on.

The girl was startled but she was kind hearted and took her foundation out. "It may not match your skintone..." She did not want to flaunt, but she was indeed very fair.

Dhriti grabbed it. "Then I'll mix soil in it. I'll buy you a new one!" Dhriti did not want to tell her that she was going to use it on a guy. Would any girl want it back then?

The girl was helpless as she watched Dhriti run back to Shreekant.

She frowned. Even if it was an established fact that those two were isolated and roamed together all the time, she still smiled as if she uncovered a hidden treasure.

Dhriti came back and drew circles with a foundation stick on Shreekant's face after making him wipe his face clean. It was good that she borrowed it. Hers would have been visible since it was a darker shade. Even if Shreekant was not as fair as the girl, it blended well with some effort.

"Perfect."

"Thanks! I owe you one!"

Shreekant ran towards the gate but soon came to a stop.

"Dhriti, do you want to tag along?"

"I?" She pointed to herself with wide eyes. "Why? No!"

"Come on, I owe you after all."

Dhriti was a little flustered. "I don't want to run anymore."

"Alright come quickly. We'll be waiting."

Dhriti felt it was inappropriate. But even if she wanted to say that to him, she had to go and tell him. She ran behind.

∼•∽

"Shreya!" Shreekant reached the gate and hugged Shreya.

Shreya smiled. "How are you?"

"Why did you come like this? You didn't even tell me." Shreekant stepped back.

"Surprise!"

He smiled. "You came alone?"

"Lakshya was busy."

Shreekant frowned but soon eased his countenance. "I know his gameplay better than his face. I forgot how he looks."

Shreya spoke, rather misspoke, without a beat's delay. "I have many photos of him."

Shreekant tilted his head.

Unable to withhold his gaze, Shreya covered her eyes. "Let's go. You must be hungry."

Shreekant teasingly smiled at her. "Dhriti will be here soon."

Just as he said, Dhriti walked over to them slowly. The women awkwardly greeted each other. Both had heard about the other from Shreekant.

"I'm glad I got to see you... But I don't think it's a good idea for me to join you guys."

Shreekant looked at Shreya. His eyes asked her to assure his friend.

Oddly, Shreya made no effort to ease Dhriti.

"When we meet again, we'll definitely have a blast!" Dhriti ran away.

Shreekant shrugged it off and the siblings went to a fine dine restaurant nearby.

"What new hairstyle are you putting on?"

Shreya twirled her hair with her fingers. "Nothing. Just didn't get the time for a haircut."

Shreekant frowned but his mind was back on remembering how that guy looked.

"Give me your phone!" Shreekant snatched it and within seconds, unlocked it and opened the gallery. He indeed found pictures.

Lakshya was sleeping in most of them. In some he was getting about his business. He scrolled through quite a few when he finally found a picture that was not taken secretly. Finally a photo where the subject was looking at the camera.

"Have you turned into a simp for that guy?"

Shreya let him scroll to his heart's content.

"What's wrong with that? He is my husband."

"Nothing at all..." Shreekant's voice softened. "Nothing at all. Even so, stop caring if it's right or wrong... It's not like you have to please dad even now."

Shreya looked into his eyes without a word.

"Do whatever you want, Shreya. Does not have to be right. If you ask me, our definition of what is right is pretty warped." Perhaps it was because he was also far from home, he spoke without a sliver of fear.

"It's not warped. We... no, I... my fate was warped enough that I came to be. Moreover, I did whatever I wanted." She grabbed her phone back and scrolled further down to reveal the pictures of Lakshya with his hair braided, to which Shreekant did not pay much attention.

"Come on... what are you saying?"

"Usual shit, I guess. It's been so long since I spoke of this." Shreya stretched her arms. "Leave about them. How's college?"

Shreekant let loose. Barring his embarrassment when he confidently said the wrong medicine name and any fist fights, he shit talked every dude he had a beef with.

Then he talked about all the new anime they were into. Shreya listened on with a smile. He was her baby brother, after all.

"Here," she put an exotic looking box on the table.

"Tissot? For me?" He recognised the logo straight away. He opened up the box and a glistening black watch with a slight golden shimmer met his eyes. It had a very sophisticated vibe.

"This kind... I did not even graduate. It will be perfect if you give it to me when I get my doctor title."

"I have no doubt about you getting there. Try it on."

Shreekant still felt unsure. His finger trembled when he touched the dail as he took out the watch.

He carefully put it on. "It's amazing... But it's a little too much."

"Do you like it?"

"Of course I like it!"

Shreya smiled.

The meal was enjoyable.

Suddenly, Shreya asked, "Shreekant, do you like her?"

"Who? Dhriti?" He widened his eyes. Soon after he laughed and wheezed. "Not at all! I told you the kind of guys there are in my class. That's why my best friend happened to be a girl. If you see how dumb she is, you'll know how absurd your question is."

Shreya nodded. She really had no idea. She just... wanted to have a conversation like that with her brother.

"What about you? Completely in love with Lakshya?"

"Yeah..."

Shreekant smiled wide. "He also loves you very much, doesn't he?" He remembered Lakshya's offer to talk to him instead of his sister if things went bad. He was grateful and he made full use of it. At this point, he was chatting with Lakshya at least once a week, almost every time he got into a fight. All of this was because of Lakshya's care for Shreya

He was happy for Shreya.

"Nah." She had hoped Lakshya would love her one day. But lately, she just did not feel that way. The only thing that mattered was that she was not sad.

Shreekant smiled and did not pursue it. She can be quite shy sometimes.

He opened his chat with Lakshya and types in, 'Do you not like my sister? She does not think you like her.' He sent it along with a confused face emoji.

∼•∽

Moksha pursed her lips as she sat through the meeting. She did not understand why every team member had to be involved in these department meetings. It was more than enough for the managers to meet and discuss.

She always disliked these, but now she dreaded them. How much she hated sitting across from her ex-boyfriend, only she knew. Especially after trying to speak to him through his buddy and being left out cold, her anger doubled by the minute as she controlled herself not to glare at him openly.

Just as she tore her eyes from his damned face, the phone on his desk lit up. She caught a rather interesting text.

She had already turned away, but her mind did not stop. 'Do you not like my sister? She does not think you like her.'

What on earth... was that? It had to be his wife's little sister.

She rolled her eyes with contempt and snorted silently.

His wife thought he did not like her because of course he did not! At least at one point, he did not! The little girl wanted to know why. It seems this bastard's face she had to see right now was hiding a few things, after all.

She unlocked her phone under the table.

She opened Instagram. She was yet to block this bastard. Instagram even suggested to her Shreya's account a month or so before her break-up. That meant he followed her. That bastard! At that time she thought he was trying to keep things civil with Shreya, but who knew he would turn around and stab her in the back instead. She has cried enough over him. Now she only felt angry and disgusted.

The only reason she held back was because she had not overcome her shame and told her friends about it.

She started checking his followers. Most of them were their mutual friends. Then she saw Shreya's username and pursed her lips. Soon she found her target, it seemed, as her mind concocted a little gift for all of them. The name was similar. What stood out particularly was the way their usernames were formatted. One was _shr.t_ and the other was _shrk.t_ and she clicked on the latter.

It was just that the sibling turned out to be a brother. Does not make much difference, probably.

She clicked on the blue follow button.

This will answer his question.

She wondered if she was going overboard, but then she remembered that day. His rudeness was out of this world. Truth to be told, she was more upset by how they broke up than the fact itself.

∼•∽