Rudra pulled Maya from the hall and made her sit inside the car avoiding all the paparazzi.

"Maya, are you okay?" He asked in a concerned tone. He was getting so many phone calls. He had declined Ritwik's call as he would pose the same question but the second call of his made him anxious.

"Rudra, MJ had spiked her drink. I heard him speaking that he had drugged her!"

He cut the call soon and tried to feed her some water. Knowing that getting her to the hospital was the only solution, he drove to the hospital. She wasn't responding much and it made me anxious. Once he felt she was asleep, he confessed

"Maya, I love you but I still don't know if we match. All of these things, your age, my age and everything is a mess! You are my best friend and you will always be Maya. Trust me, I love you but not as a life partner. Let's stop all these thoughts here because if we don't stop this now, it will depress you more and I don't want to see that. "

"Why can't you see me as a partner Rudra?" She asked in a raspy tone and he was shocked to hear it but he felt happy that she was a bit concious.

"Is it because I haven't done anything for you? Is it because I was an addict? Is it because I had a boyfriend before? Is it because I was raped or touched by someone else? " Rudra looked at her after she had completed that in a voice that was so tired! Her voice slurred in between and he knew that it was something much more intense than what he used to give her.

"Just Shut up Maya! " He shouted and didn’t speak anything further. He called her doctor and informed her about Maya. As Rudra reached the hospital, he made her wrap his arm around her. Taking her to the casualty, he saw doctor aunty who examined her!

"Shit! She was been drugged with something serious!" Rudra heard her mutter and his heart skipped a beat.

"Rudra, just go home. Don't stay here. Media will crowd once they get to know and it will create unnecessary theories.." She warned while he murmured sarcastically under his breath," As if nothing was created!"

"Rudra, please move out." Rudra heard her commanding him and he obliged. He heard her barking orders," Prepare for a stomach wash quick! Give her.."

As he went out, he decided to go home! More than Maya needed him, he needed himself! Arching his head backward onto the seat, he just rewinded her conversation on what was the problem she possesed. After a few seconds, his eyes opened as his phone rang. It was his mom!

~~~

As Rudra reached home, he was welcomed by Rishi who was sitting in front of his laptop. He had already informed Iyer sir that he wouldn't be back.

As he walked in and sat next to Rishi, Ashwin asked through the video call," What is your answer to her proposal?"

"It's a no dad! We just have a good friendship..." He was not allowed to complete while his mother intervened and said,

"No need of that friendship also! Just leave her. I am proud that you drove her out of depression. Would you have told us this if the doctor hadn't told us about her depression? It's better that you had 'no' as an answer for her question otherwise you too would have been spoilt!"

"Mom, what happened to you? Is it because she had an instability before?  What would have happened if he had accepted her love?" An angered Rishi asked and Ashwin reprimanded,

"Keep your mouth Shut! You don't have any role in this! This depression towards alcohol can return back anytime and if you go and check her now, she must have already satisfied her mind by taking it!"

~~~

As he sat on the bed, he rewinded her questions of his reasons on why he didn't  want her. Was it because of rape or anything else? No! He would have crossed that reason right away!

Was it because only he was helping her but he hadnt been any help? No because he still remembers how she had helped him in his insecurities and even about the day when he was about to receive his magazine.

5 MONTHS BACK

As he walked into the office with his shoulder bag, his steps were slow. He felt scared, he trembled and his body was heating up due to the tensed atmosphere.  He was very late for the office today and everyone knew the reason.

Wishing everyone with a gloomy face, he went to his cabin and saw his diary on the table. He smiled at his diary which contained her photos. Each photo of hers made him smile as he turned the pages.

Soon enough, at the last page, he found a note. It wasn't his handwriting. He knew that it belonged to Maya. But how?

"It's our one month anniversary! Wow! I mean so many things have changed right? Yes! Do one thing! Check your drawer!"

He was amused and confused at what it would have been. It contained her photo of their first eyelock during their first meet.

He smiled as she remembered! He turned the photo back to see another note!

"How arrogant was I ? I insulted you like anything. But 'My Rudra' was much more than  that? "

"Anyway, check your office table to find a box somewhere! "

He checked the office to find a box filled with rose petals.

" Red and white roses. You tamed the black woman and turned me into a normal human with no extras!"

He saw a folded paper to find her photo which included her photo of him and her speaking. Both of them had smiles. It made Rudra smile in the present.

He checked back of the paper to see her handwriting yet again,

"Rudra... I miss your talks very badly. And I miss the coffee dates and the conversations. I will be coming very soon to be soothed by your energy! I hope you have stored some extras for me! Love you lots but for now turn back!"

"What?" He was amused and confused at that. Her sentences indeed made him smile and relive! Turn back? He turned back to receive a big hug from his friend.

"Congratulations Rudra! Your interview has been published. " Ritwik squealed and he was surprised. He took a look at the magazine to see that his interview had been published. Everything in the way he had wanted.

He squealed while he heard her voice from somewhere. He looked at Ritwik as he played the recording,

"Congrats my man! Your passion is your life! By the way, I hope everything brought a smile on your face. Love you lots! Waiting to see you and by the way, there is a surprise waiting for you.."

He heard her saying as Ritwik had made him hear her audio clipping. 

He smiled upon that memory. She had indeed made him feel lighter even when she was in her own share of troubles. He was refreshed with many such memories.

Getting up, he opened his cupboard and  took the jacket. He remembered the scenes as she gifted him this jacket.

It was customised for him with his name printed on it. Inside the hoodie,  there was a label which no one could see from outside. "Maya"

He kissed the name. .

~~~~

As Maya opened her eyes, she knew she wasn't well. Hospital wasn't a place for stable people to come in. She had been drugged by MJ and she hated to accept the fact that she loved him. Whatever she had inside had come out and she didnt  know how she would face him! Yeah, she was bipolar. Sighing, she looked at the drip! She just had a headache but looking outside, she knew sun rays were just preparing to peep in. If she had to wake up after seven-eight hours or more than that, she knew it was severe!

Her eyes darted towards the room as she saw Ritwik coming in! What about Rudra? She didn't dare to ask.

"Are you okay now?" He asked to which she replied," Much better than before."

"Ritwik, Rudra? Is he...?" She trailed her voice and Ritwik spoke as he stood next to her," He is scared. He is insecure. I just wanted to tell you that he loves you more as a best friend. This is his share of words. Even I have been a spectator of your talks when you were in Manali..."

Manali. ...

It had been 2 weeks since she had been in Manali. It had one of the best weather and she was excited to wake up and shoot at a wonderful locations. She even took her sweet share of time in sight seeing.

As she took out the phone from her bag, she noticed that she had received any missed callers from Rudra. It was late at night. Calling him, he picked it at once.

"Rudra, is there any problem? " She asked with a concern and he smiled from the other side. He asked in a slurred voice," Hi! Maya! How are you huh? "

"Are you drunk?" She asked hearing his slurred voice. 

"You are enjoying, visiting places and enjoying.. (hiccups) You told me that you will miss me. How many times havw you called me in these 2 we(hiccups) eks?" She facepalmed herself as he was hurt. She had recognised her feelings for him and she would have shown affection if it wasn't for her back to back schedules.

"Rudra, I am really sorry." Her voice cracked a bit and she heard them calling her for a shot. After shouting '2  minutes', she spoke,

" Rudra.." She said and he muttered," Rudy is better. You know Maya.. (hiccups) you are more than a friend.. I love you in that Way.. (hiccups) But you don't love me anymore..."

She froze at those statements. She blushed at his usage of sentences and said as the director was calling her, " My dear Rudy, I am at shoot now. "

"Oh So, you don't want to talk to me? You got everyone! You used me right?" He asked and she gasped in shock. She covered her mouth...

"If you are missing me, I don't know how much I am missing you Rudy.. These shoots and everything is hectic. I miss those touches and assuring kisses. I will soon be there to keep my head on your chest and for you to soothe me..." She kept her phone away from ears and spoke again,

"I have... never used.. you Rudy. I love you and I will be back." She cut the call as she wiped her tears.  Accusations didn't matter to her but his accusation hurted her. She used him!

She sent a voice message "Rudy, I am sorry if you felt that. I wish I was really there. Love you lots.."

Keeping the phone back, she went for the scene and the director asked if she was okay to which she said that she was okay.

She said," I miss you Rudy and I will make sure that you will never feel like that!"

...

As his morning alarm rang, he left the pillow onto which he had hugged and slept. Switching the alarm off, he rubbed his eyes and looked around! It was his time to get up but beyond feeling fresh, he was concerned about Maya due to which he hugged the pillow again. He hadn't even called her or enquired about her condition.

Picking his phone, he dialled her number to hear that it was switched off. Calling the doctor's number, he only waited impatiently for it to be answered. Groaning in frustration, he got up from the bed and  looked himself in the mirror.

Red eyes, eyelbags under it and what not! He wore the jacket she had gifted him all night long!

He said looking at the mirror,

" I love you Maya but I am sorry."

~~~