"Bhai mein bol rahi hoon na this isn't a good idea at all" Meera sighed in frustration, raising her voice a little. Thabal sighed at it and smiled at her.
"Kyu itna soch rahi hai. Koi baat nahi. Jaldi aajawungi na mein" she tried to convinced her with a little smile. But Meera wasn't 'convinced' at all.
"Ahgg! Uss buddhe ko tumko hi bhejna tha kya tutoring karane!!" She groaned in irritation. Thabal couldn't help but let out a laugh hearing her.
"Aab ismein mein kya kar sakti hoon" she shrugged innocently.
"I am warning you again for the upteenth time. Agar uss tara sitara se jyada chipki na toh dekhna. Uss din bhi tu uske saath police station gayi" Meera fumed. To which Thabal pointed at Shreya.
"Isko bol. Yahi mujhe boli thi jane ko" she said in her defense. Shreya quickly answered to it.
"Aare meine toh woh- uss reason ke liye bheja tha" she corrected her sentence in mid. Meera rolled her eyes in return.
"Haan haan jo bhi hai. Meri baat samaj gayi na?" She pointed a finger at Thabal, making the latter smile at her antics.
"Hmm, chalti hoon" she said, hugging Meera. And then Shreya. They patted each other's back before Thabal climbed up the bus. She waved at them with a smile.
"Dhyan se jana. Kuch bhi ho call karna" Shreya shouted, making Thabal nod in return. As soon she entered in, her smile vanished. She sighed and took an empty seat at the back.
Her cheeks were hurting due to smiling. Which wasn't really much genuine. She didn't wanted to trouble her friends anymore with her depressive behaviour, hence she started to act all happy and cool in front of them. She took the window seat and sat facing the window. Her eyes watching the scene of the world, from the small window. A hollow feeling erupted inside her. An empty sigh escaped her lips. She felt tired, without even doing anything.
The trees out there sprinted along with the bus. She placed a chin on the window and closed her eyes. Enjoying the feeling of the wind hitting on her face. The summer heat wasn't doing any justice at all.
After a few moments of the bus running, it suddenly stopped at a stop. One by one few people entered it, searching empty seats and settling on them. A minute or more later, the seat next to her was occupied too. But Thabal didn't bother to see the person. She still had her eyes closed.
The bus again started to run. The wind hitting on her face again. She let out a breathe of relief and enjoyment. The driver played a Kishore Kumar's song. Pal pal dil ke pass. One of her favourites. A small smile tugged on her lips as the song played.
This song. This damn song. Always hits her. The soft melodic lyrics of it manages to cool her down. Only if he was there. She silently wished. A wish which can never come true. Yet so dreamy.
Her dreamy state was pulled into life when she suddenly felt a hand on her thighs. Her eyes snapped open and turned to the person sitting beside her. She scowled at the man sitting who look in his 20s. Eyes glinting with mischief and lust. Lips in a grin, as if wasn't guilty or ashamed of his action.
"Oh sorry madam. Lag gayi kya aapko? Galti se hogaya" he said, his apology nothing but sincere. Thabal made a face of disgust and turned away. Her jaw clenching in anger.
"Madam mat bulao mujhe" she gritted her teeth, not facing him. But the man didn't stopped.
"Oho! Akar bohot hai. Mere saath bohot jamegi. Kabhi mille?" He asked leaning towards her a little. Brushing his shoulder against hers. Thabal visibly cringed away from his touch. She was about to push him away hardly when out of nowhere a tall figure from behind marched towards them and delivered a perfect punch over the man's jaw.
Thabal whipped her head towards him to get more surprised.
There stood Vikram. In his glory. Eyes filled with rage, jaw clenched in anger. He look like he was surely there for a few kills today.
What was Vikram doing here? That too all of a sudden. Her lips parted in shock.
Vikram whereas look completely in rage, he kneeled towards the man and punch over his face thrice, clutching by his shirt's collar, causing blood to ooze out of his nose. The man didn't even got to react or cry as the punch continued to shower upon him without any pause.
"Aare aare bhai mar jayega woh. Chordo" some people came and stopped him, grabbing his arms. Vikram quickly snatched his arms away from them, as if disliking the touch from his heart's core. He hissed underneathe his breathe, a glare settling on his perfect face.
"Dobara dikhe toh jaan se mar dunga" he pointed at the bruised man lying half unconscious on the bus floor. With a harsh glare, he turned away from him, dusting off his green tee.
And turned to face a surprised Thabal. Who had her eyes widened and lips parted in shock. Vikram said nothing, just sat on the empty seat beside her. Thabal couldn't process anything at all. She had many questions in her mind. Numerous running all together. She stared at him stunned as he sat casually near her as if nothing happened.
"Kuch kehna hai?" He asked, looking straight infront of him. His voice now softened. Not the dangerous growl. Thabal was caught offguard by his sudden question. Yes she wanted to. She wanted to say and ask many things. But didn't know where to and what to.
What was she even supposed to say. She was completely speechless. But nevertheless, she managed to open her mouth to question him her doubts.
"Aap idhar tab se the?" She asked the first question. To which Vikram just hummed. Thabal paused listening him. After a good few seconds, she again asked.
"Kyu?" Vikram didn't answered it immediately. He took a moment then answered. Taking the time to inhale a breathe in.
"Pick up aur wait karne ko mana kiya tha. Chupke dekhne ko nahi" was all he said. And hearing him Thabal couldn't control the smile that slipped on her lips. She bit her lower lip to control the smile but couldn't, hence she moved her neck towards the window. A happy smile decorating on her face. Her heart did a dance inside her chest.
"Kitne din se aap piche the?" She asked, still looking outside. Vikram outstretched his arm and settled it lazily on her seat, behind her neck.
"Har din" he answered, surprising her. She snapped her head towards him in surprise. Her eyes widening a bit.
"Har din aap mujhe follow kar rahe the? Par mujhe dikha kyu nahi?" She asked in confusion. Vikram turned to her this time. A small lazy smirk playing on his lips.
"Ase hi SP bana hoon kya?" Thabal couldn't stop the smile hearing him. She smiled in amusement, proudness, happiness and maybe more?
She looked at him then at her front, then again at him slowly. Then without thinking much, she inched a bit towards him and layed her head over his arm. A small smile tugging on her lips. His strong bicep provided her the comfort which even her favorite pillow can't. Being in his arms felt warm and cozy. She never wanted to move away from it. Her heart fluttered softly at the smell of his familiar cologne filling her nostrils.
"3 stop pe utarna hai. Utha dena" she informed, her voice came low and gentle. Vikram said nothing, raised his hand in which she was laying at and caressed her hair softly, as if luring her to sleep.
And that was enough, more enough than any other words. The gesture was enough for both to understand better. Thabal sighed softly and nuzzled her head in his shoulder. Vikram controlled the urged to pulled her closer to him, to hug her tightly in his arms, until he was all she could remember. He leaned back on his seat and looked at her dozing figure gently. Maybe this was finally over. Maybe?
🦋🦋🦋---------------------
"Thabal. Thabal. We are here" Thabal felt her shoulder shaking a bit. She frowned and squinted her eyes open just a bit to see Vikram leaning close to her. Calling her gently to wake up.
Her eyes widened slightly at the closeness, the tip of the ears slightly red. She lowered her gaze and looked away. The events earlier played inside her head.
"Chalo. Stop aagaya" he reminded her. She look up at him slowly and then nodded. A soft yawn escaped her mouth. She grabbed her bag and stood up from her seat. Walking towards the door, she was about to pay the conductor when he stopped her.
"Madam, woh bhaishab ne de diya hai aap dono ka. Aap ja sakte hai" he informed. Thabal looked towards Vikram who was behind her.
"Aapne kyu diya?" She asked him with a frown to which he just shrugged his shoulders in a careless manner. Thabal let out a sigh and walked out of the bus, followed by Vikram behind her.
They both entered a narrow way where many houses lied by. Both of them walked quietly, no talks, nothing. Thabal suddenly stopped, making him stop in his steps too.
She turned back to him slowly. He stood still, making an eye contact with her. None uttered a word. Just stayed silent for few seconds.
"Aap ase hi follow karenge?" She finally asked. Vikram paused for a moment before answering.
"Until you go in" was all he said. Thabal didn't said anything, she turned back and started walking again. A smile playing on her lips this time.
Cycles and scooters, passed by them as they entered in the narrow way more. The leaves of the trees on each side of the small road fluttered slightly. Swaying according to the direction of the wind. Providing them a cool and calm air. As they passed various houses, shouts and yelling were heard.
After few minutes of walking they stopped infront of a house. Thabal turned back and looked at him.
"Aap jawo" she said softly. But Vikram didn't move an inch. She sighed at herself at his stubborn behavior and entered inside the gate, standing at the door. She was just about to press the door bell when the next sentence he said made her hand pause in the air.
"Fhir aana hai ki nahi?" She whipped her head to him in confusion.
"Huh?" She reacted with a frown.
"Tumne toh pick up karne se mana kardiya. Wait karne se bhi. Toh ijajat hai tumhe fhirse stalk karne ke liye?" He asked with a raised brow. Thabal felt a mixture of guilt and sadness hearing him. Yet couldn't sideline the happiness too. Nevertheless she smiled at him.
Her usual soft, shy smile.
"Bas thoda hi" she responded slowly and that was enough to bring a big, fat smile on his face. He grinned, a boyish one. Seeing him Thabal couldn't help but giggle.
"Sham ko 4 baje aajana lene" she informed. Vikram just smiled at her.
"Under jawo" he commanded softly. Taking a last look Thabal turned and rang the doorbell. The smile of shyness fading away, but the smile of determination taking place on her lips.
She has accepted her fate. With him. Whatever happens, she was ready to face the consequences with him. She would fight for him, till the last. With anyone coming on their way. She had done a big mistake pushing him away, which she was never doing it again.
Fuck the society's rules and norms. She would deal with it later, now what matters was just Vikram. Nothing else.
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Hope you liked it
Stay safe sweeties ☃️✨
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