Dushyant Shergill

He smiles. Priyanka really does make the world's best coffee. It tastes good but her smile is what he needs more. It's his duty to see she's smiling. And he will do that.

Look at her. He's here sipping his coffee while she's finished hers and picked up her mentor's guitar and moved to the recording room where she usually keeps all her instruments and stuff.

'Jab itna lagav tha, toh choda hi kyu?"

He shakes his head and sighs.

Then his phone buzzes.

It's Mahi.

This is rare. Mahi hardly phones him. They text each other often though. They were college mates. But have been friends even before that and still are.

"Mahi?"

He moves out of the kitchen into the veranda.

"Hello, Mahi... kya hua? Sab thik na?"

Mahi's voice seems tense on the other end.

"Dushyant, mujhe teri madad ki zarurat hai."

"Kya hua?"

"Wo... humara naya case hai. You know right? Subah nikalna aur... papa ki tabiyat kharab hogayi..."

Dushyant can't believe it. Anvesh Uncle is sick?

"Kya hua? Kuch serious nahi na?"

Mahi chuckles. He still sounds sad though-

"Nahi Dushyant, papa is okay. Par wo aa nai sakte... um... tum... kya sirf is baar k liye tum mere saat chaloge?"

Dushyant frowns. His friend needs him. So he needs to be there for him. He needs to. But what about his oath? He needs to protect Priyanka. He knows she's worried about him vanishing off every now and then. But he can't tell her. He can't tell anyone what he's doing....

Just then, someone comes up behind him.

It's her...

She taps him on the shoulder while Mahi keeps calling his name on the shoulder.

"Kaun hai, kisse baate karre ho Dushyant?"

He smiles at her, "ek friend. Ha Mahi, mere yaar ko meri zarurat ho aur main na au kaise hosakta..."

Priyanka falls silent, gives him space so he can talk to Mahi.

"Thanks," says Mahi on the phone, "I'm sorry ye sab phone pe puch raha tha. Wo... darasal.. Baat nai kar sakta sab k saamne. Aur... please... can you promise me something else?"

Dushyant frowns again. Why is Mahi so tensed?

"Han pucho Mahi.."

"Agar mujhe kuch ho gaya toh... Angel.. I mean... meri team, mere papa sab ka khayal rakhna. Please. Waise papa aa nai rahe lekin fir bhi--"

Dushyant cuts him off, "kya!? Kya bolre ho tum? Pagal hogaye kya? Kuch..."

He can picture the expression on Mahi's face right now... but he calms himself because Priyanka is frowning at him.

"Mahi tujhe kuch na hoga."

Mahi chuckles sadly.

"Kya.. kya hua tujhe?"

Dushyant doesn't get any answer soon. But in the end, "just in case. Thanks Dushyant. Kal SFTU pahunch jana... ya tum seedhe Agarwada me aake milo. Pack your stuff."

"Arey par--"

But the call ends there. He sighs as Priyanka comes again.

"Kya hua Dushyant? Kaun tha?"

"Ek dost...'

Can he tell her the truth? Mahi had already told him a little about SFTU and the adventures they go on. This time he will be joining too?

Is it okay to leave Priyanka behind?

No... he can't...

"Hello?? Kya soch rahe ho?"

She's waving her hands in front of his face now.

"Kuch nahi.. Main kuch din k liye kahi ja raha hu. Tum aaogi mere saat?"

For a moment she smiles then she frowns.

"Par idher kon sambhalega? Music academy nai chod sakte na... aur kaha jare? Kitne din?"

"Arey shant... kinna sawal karti hai..." he sighs, "socho ye ek holiday hai. Mahi mera dost hai. Usne mujhe madad k liye bulaya."

"Acha.. kya karna hoga tumhe?"

Her innocent question catches him off guard.

"Wo... wo.. Kuch talshraha... kuch research jaisa... Agarwada jana hoga. Pehle Mumbai jayenge fir Agarwaada."

Priyanka muses for a while then she dials up some number on her phone. Dushyant looks at her as she presses the phone to her ear.

"Kya kar rahi ho?"

She smiles.

"Back up bularahi... Sanjana ko kahungi wo institute sambhale...i hope wo manage karpaye..."

He smiles, "you know tum yaha reh sakti ho? I won't force you."

"What nonsense? Main tujhe akela nahi chodungi. Ye meri choice hai."

He's happy. He can keep a close eye on her if she follows him to Goa. but..

What if he fails to protect her?

Because Mahi doesn't believe in the supernatural doesn't mean they don't exist.

In fact they do.

Dushyant's eyes take on a golden glow as if to prove that. But then they return to normal as he turns to face Priyanka.

Goa! Here we come!!

***

FIN!

Short chapters! but next one will come soon. Ruu, Angel... thankyu doston... Anamika bhi... thank you, love you all. Agla updt ayega jald hi.... adventure begins soon. I hope ya guys like it hehe  😘😘❤️

stay tuned :)