Lakshya took complete work from home that week. Shreya was asked not to go to work. The message did not come from Jatin, but from someone much high above in the chain of command. They said that they were contacted by her therapist, who expressed concern for her safety and did not want her to have access to the chemical laboratory. She had to concentrate on her mental wellbeing. So she was told to apply for a month's leave and Jatin approved it without any question.

Zahra asked her over the phone if everything was alright and joked that Shreya was not taking her seriously and letting her get ahead.

A day went by peacefully, albeit Lakshya's disappointment.

The next day, Lakshya was sitting in the kitchen working on some code on his laptop.

"Why did you come to the lab that day?"

Lakshya looked up and continued with his work.

Shreya stirred the curry in the pot and slowly asked, "I am sorry on behalf of my brother." Shreekant had left the previous day at the crack of dawn to fly an early morning flight and attend his classes. Even at the airport, he had to pick on Lakshya. Shreya did not know what was said between the guys. They both had walked away from her for a private conversation.

Lakshya's hands stopped, but he kept looking at his screen. His eyes lost focus.

Why? Just what was holding her back from telling him off? It definitely mattered to her.

He blinked and concentrated on his work.

"He's young and naive. He's not even turned 18..." Shreya was back to her subservient self.

"I'm upset with you, not him." Lakshya finally looked away from his screen.

In fact, Lakshya felt his chest lighten with those punches. Finally, someone took off a bit of his guilt. Shreekant was a great brother. He was young, indeed. He knew Shreya in and out. Had it not been for him, Lakshya did not know what he would be doing this instant.

Thankfully, he did not call him a bastard anymore. But he did leave enough warnings about Shreya's safety and keeping her happy. Further, Lakshya had to get Moksha to take down pictures with him on her Instagram and any other socials.

Shreekant had also asked him again what exactly happened on the previous day. Lakshya did not tell him. Instead he asked for his trust. He had seen those scribbles too. The old doctor's words were also clear in his mind. So he knows the risk. And he will keep her safe. Shreekant had to put his faith in him.

He asked Shreekant not to ask about that day. He told him Shreya thought Shreekant had no idea, and he wanted to keep things that way. He did not want Shreya to know of Shreekant's fears. Shreekant agreed.

In the end Lakshya told him not to beat up other kids and to study without a worry.

He could never bring himself to be upset with Shreekant.

"Of course! I failed to keep him in the line."

Lakshya wanted to hit his head.

"Shreya, after this week, I want us to take a break. Shall we go somewhere nice?" He was getting good at changing the topic.

"Okay."

"How does an impromptu sound? We just roam around and get lost without a care. No prior plans, no booking, just a vast general area. We should be ready for a hitchhike if needed?"

"Okay... But, is it safe?"

Lakshya almost blurted out, 'Look who's saying that.' He said, "Won't I be with you? Moreover, I hitchhiked many times since college."

"Okay. So we get a car today and shut it in the garage?"

"Well, yes, because it's gonna be a long vacation."

"Okay."

Lakshya closed his laptop when Shreya put the dishes on the table.

"You got four holidays before we set out. What do you want to do?"

Shreya thought for a bit as she arranged their plates. "Read some research articles. I should catch up with what the community is up to recently."

Lakshya smiled. "If it was me, I'd laze around and watch all the movies."

"Should I watch movies?"

"No, you fool. Do what you want to do."

∼•∽

Two of the said holidays went like a breeze.

Lakshya was always in the same room as Shreya. He took away any sharp objects from the bathrooms because trying to get inside with her will give him away. He tried not to bother Shreya with his presence. Sometimes he was on a call. Sometimes he was engrossed in his project, and other times he peeked into her monitor and asked what that intellectual gibberish he saw was.

She would explain to him everything slowly. In fact, that was when Lakshya got the first taste of the passion she had for physics. She did not let him get away before she was convinced that he was as amazed as she was with the subject.

Shreya started sleeping even more with the effect of the medicines.

Deepak said she would get used to them soon and in most cases the SSRIs she was prescribed were completely harmless with zero side effects.

Lakshya brushed her hair off her peaceful face as she slept beside him. Her hand was holding his.

He gazed at her for a few long minutes.

"Fool."

He leaned down and touched his lips to her cheek.

His fingers kept playing with her hair.

Next day Shreya played with the new car key. She changed the keychain at least ten times trying every cute one she owned.

In the end, Lakshya had to step in and choose one. He was worried about her fingertips.

"I need something to keep occupied!"

"Then go read your papers."

"Who studies without a break? Give me my mangas back."

Lakshya had hidden those hideous arts. He did not want her to read anything dark.

"What are you talking about?"

Shreya gave him a big side eye. "There are only two of us in this house. I know you have them," she stated.

Lakshya looked at her with parted lips, feigning a bit of shock and surprise.

But Shreya did not buy it. "Only half of them are Junji-san's. Rest are all cute-happy manga. You can take a look and then give me... Moreover, it's not like I got influenced because of them... they... just gave a.. How do I put it... It was a kind of catharsis."

Lakshya did not want her to think of it at all. He embraced her.

Shreya held his arms too.

"Did I scare you?"

"Did you not?"

"Don't worry. It won't happen again."

Lakshya pulled back and looked into her eyes. "What won't happen again?" His heartbeat was the only thing he could hear.

"I will never think of death again. It's a promise." She said, also looking into his eyes.

Shreya's voice poured in like nectar. Lakshya was stumped and he kept staring.

"It's a promise," Shreya reassured.

Lakshya nodded and buried his face in the nook of her neck. "I'll hold you to it for this lifetime," he whispered.

∼•∽

The last holiday was the review day. Lakshya sat in Deepak's office while Shreya saw the doctor. Deepak had a consultation for which he had to go look at someone very old. So instead of asking the old lady to come up to his office, he went to the parking lot to speak with her.

Almost an hour later, Deepak came back.

Lakshya was zoned out, clearly brooding. This just did not suit his care-free buddy.

"How is it going? You seem on edge."

Lakshya sulked and laid his head down. "Hey, yes. How can I not be? Even if she promised me that she won't even think of it again, I just-"

"Indeed. Do you think she's in the right headspace to promise something so great?" Deepak felt a bit helpless. He never would have thought he would one day see his own best friend on the other side of the table. "Honestly, why do you care this much?"

Lakshya looked up. "What do you mean?"

Deepak took a deep breath. He knew he was violating his oath to 'do no harm' by a patient. Then again, Shreya was not his patient, but his professor's.

"Lakshya, think about it. How long have you known Moksha and how long have you known Shreya?"

Lakshya narrowed his eyes. "What the fuck are you trying to say?"

"A month ago Utpal told me to let you know that Moksha wanted to have a proper conversation with you. He did not want to be the one to tell you after you guys 'fought over the same thing pretty much,' but I did not feel it was right, so I didn't say anything. But now-" Deepak airquoted Utpal's reason, but could not finish his sentence.

"Stop giving me a headache. I have enough to deal with." Lakshya laid his head back on the table.

"Be practical. Just listen. If there was no Shreya, you would have been happy with Moksha now."

The door clicked open.

Shreya came in. She should have knocked, perhaps. But she was eager to see Lakshya. She never knew sitting through a counselling session and sharing things would be so difficult... as well as, a bit relieving. She just wanted to see Lakshya.

"I'm sorry." She took a step back slowly shutting the door behind. Deepak's face was shocked just then. She could not see Lakshya's. And they were speaking about Moksha. She did not know what exactly, but she knew that she was not welcome to hear it.

Before she could, the door flew open from the inside and she lost her balance, falling right onto Lakshya's chest. He held her with one arm, closing the door with the other.

"What did you hear?"

Shreya was quiet. She could feel his chest rise and fall. He was getting angry.

"Shrey, what have you heard?"

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I'm sorry."

Lakshya turned her around and caught her shoulders. Her eyes were red again. "What are you sorry for, you fool?" He barked. "This idiot here is saying idiotic things."

"I was just conveying information. Moksha wanted to talk to him." Deepak said as if he could not feel Lakshya's rage directed at him.

"Why the fuck are you still talking, idiot?"

"I am sorry, Shreya. I have no ill feelings towards you," Deepak said, for himself more than for Shreya. "But I just can't keep two lovers away. Who knows, this might be their only chance."

"Shut up! Who the fuck are lovers?" Lakshya shouted. He caught Shreya's hand, interlacing their fingers and lifted it up in front of Deepak's face. "We are lovers. Drill that into your head!"

"Stop shouting and just think about it!" He really wanted Lakshya to think if it was worth it to live in fear for God knows how long. But he had said enough in front of Shreya. "Shreya, can you wait outside?"

Shreya instinctively tried to pull her back. But Lakshya held it tight.

Shreya gulped before opening her mouth. "You actually should think about it. It's not like I did not think about you at all. I thought afterwards you will naturally get back with her."

The room felt unusually silent after Shreya's words, despite them being barely audible.

"Everything would have been fine. You were not supposed to be there that day."

Lakshya took a few deep breaths. He was angry. He was sad. He was frustrated beyond words. But he did not want to do anything that would worsen the situation. He was angry though, especially with Shreya.

"Then I would have settled for your ghost."

Deepak could not hold back. "It's not worth it to pour affection into a depressed soul, Lakshya. I am saying this for your own sake!"

"We're out of here, Shrey. Next time you come across him, don't greet."

Deepak watched them walk out hand in hand.

Once the door closed, he whispered. "I really hope she gets better."

He held on to Shreya's note just in case it came handy. Just then, he wanted to pull it out and put it in front of the two. The very first line would have been enough. The more you ask if I am okay, the more guilty I feel.

That would have been like a curse. It proved Lakshya failed to take the doctor's advice and that in turn fueled Shreya's nihilistic feelings. Some grand plan he had. To think he would stoop so low to use someone's suicide note.

Deepak crumpled the paper and threw it in the dustbin.

He genuinely wished Shreya keeps that promise and Lakshya will be happy with her.

∼•∽

On their way home, Lakshya drove the new car with half a mind.

He laughed and said, "You said sorry!"

Shreya simply looked out of the window. What should she have done? To be very honest, she did not feel grateful that she was still alive. At the same time, she felt her heart sting at the fact that he had to be the one to stop her, to find out. That made her feel grateful that she could not go through with her decision. That was the only reason good enough to still be here. Because he was the one who stopped her. It was a crazy turn of events.

"You promised me something just two days ago. And today you are talking about how it would have been fine. Do you hear yourself? Huh, Shrey?

"You don't want to say sorry now?"

Shreya could hear his sarcasm, loud and clear, but she found it hard to understand why.

She turned to him. "I'm sorry. I was not thinking about it like that... I was just saying."

"Saying what exactly?!" He shouted.

Shreya reeled back. She still asked, "How did you know though?"

"Answer me first!"

Shreya turned to the window again.

The stalemate continued until they reached home.

∼•∽

Shreya decided to study at her desk. She put the door ajar, silently telling him not to come inside. She knew he would worry if she completely closed the door.

But still, within a few minutes, he pushed the door and stepped inside.

"You want to be here today?"

Shreya did not take her eyes off the paper.

"Fine, I'll bring my laptop."

Shreya sighed. He avoided her twice. She wanted to know not because she could plan better or find fault in her plan. No. Not at all.

The moment she saw him on that sunny terrace, she knew what she was doing was very wrong. That image will never leave her mind. His frown, his exhaustion, his relief, his anger... She will never think of such a thing again. Moreover, like the doctor said, she had to concentrate on her future now, not her past. The moment he married Lakshya and moved out and moved away from her father was the moment she was free. She just had to set her mind free and it was very well within her control, he said.

She had to believe in herself and put things behind.

And she will do that.

It was just a puzzling little thing that he figured out. So she was curious. Him avoiding the question made her even more curious.

But if that makes him think she was going to try to kill herself again, she was fine not knowing.

Lakshya silently sat on the single bed working away.

Shreya took a few glances. His frown was not that prominent, but he was definitely still upset. She lipped out of her chair.

Lakshya's eyes followed her. When he realised she was not going to the bathroom, he quickly stopped her. "Where are you going?"

"Getting us some juice." Shreya softly said. Being upset and not talking to the other did not feel nice. So she wanted to do something for him.

"Okay." Lakshya put his laptop aside typing in a 'brb' into his meeting.

"Why are you getting up?" she asked, puzzled.

"Just like that."

"Just stay here. I will get it." She wanted to do something for him! She ran out after.

Lakshya could not say much. Thankfully Shreya opened the door wide. Although he could not see her, it gave him a sense of awareness as he keenly caught every sound she made.

As she said, she returned within a few minutes with 2 glasses of mixed fruit juice they had bought.

"What else is left to pack?" Lakshya asked as he drank up his juice. They were leaving the next day.

"Anything I ask, you say not to bring."

"Everything you asked until now was unnecessary. It's like an adventure. You should be ready to travel around with your luggage. We don't want extra baggage." He had explained it to her almost 4 times already.

Shreya did not respond.

"What do you want to bring?"

"How will seven dresses be enough for three weeks!"

"Jackets and thermals also count. You will have to carry everything around."

"Those are extras! I always packed full sets including innerwear, one day, one set!"

Lakshya sighed. Why was she connecting those? Is this how girls packed?

"We have other gear to take as well! All in all I packed half of the clothes you did. Your boots are in my backpack."

Shreya had an unconscious pout.

"We can just wash."

"Where will you dry them?"

"We can manage. If you can, please remove some of your clothes."

"So many nice places in just those dresses... Think about photos at least..." Moreover, he made her pack casuals. Nothing among those stood out as pretty. When she protested, he said it would be a huge mismatch if she wore a frock and carried a huge backpack behind, perhaps all strapped up. It made sense. But she was not very convinced. She did not argue too much, though, because she already sneaked in a manga.

Lakshya pursed his lips tight. He did not know what else he could say to convince her. From his experience, half the time their phones are bound to be out of battery.

That was one of the main themes of this way of vacationing. Pure adventure. A little risky and a lot more fun.

"You can buy something if you get that bored."

If she gets used to carrying the backpack and wants to carry more weight, he has no reason to stop her.

Soon they finalised their luggage.

Lakshya added one last item. He had forgotten to take one of his maps when he put his compass.

"What is that for?"

"To come back safe." Lakshya smiled as he hid his face from her. She asked the same question when she saw the sleeping bags. She was in for a surprise!

When it was getting close to their departure, Lakshya's phone rang. It was Deepak. He cut the call and sent a message. 'You are the biggest idiot ever.'

Deepak replied, 'I'm sorry.'

Lakshya rolled his eyes and tossed his phone to the side. Why do people think he wants them to say sorry to him all the time? Irritating!

His phone dinged again. He took a look.

'I'm just worried you're risking your mental health.'

Deepak had eaten his brains out that day absurdly saying he should just get away from Shreya citing this exact same reason.

'If I risk it, I risk it. If it's for her, it's nothing.'

What he got in reply was a clapping emoji. Deepak had never been this punchable.

Lakshya tossed his phone away for real this time.

Their early Dinner was a peaceful affair unlike the past few days with debates about what to take and what not.

Next was to hail a cab and set out to the Mumbai Central station to take their train.

∼•∽

A/N:
Deepak is quite a favourite character for me. His motivations feel warped but very logical and empathetic. I wanted to write him a lot more but we don't have enough scope in this book. You remember a little boy who was an SA victim? One of Deepak's patients? "On a Rainy Night" is his story. (Hell yes, your author is doing universes now!) Even there I had not planned too much for Deepak, but now I am definitely making him an important character although he is mostly going to be old, like late 40s.

Let me hear what you all think of him right here →

How is the story going? Tell me here →

We're in the later third of the 2nd arc. Thoughts on Shreya here →

And on Lakshya here →

How can I forget Sreekanth? Tell me about him here →

So.. here's what's going on with your author:
I'm home in India and decided to break the hiatus again. I won't do this another time, so next update will only be in 2026, sadly. This time I'm serious. After all, I love you so much that I put out such huge chapters (at least by the standards here) and we've pretty much caught up with my gdocs. 

I really have way too much to do with my thesis. Please wish me luck on that.

Love you!