In or Out
Raanav returned an hour later as Viveka sat in her spot and applied for jobs
When the car pulled in she assumed it was Satyen, Raanav’s bedroom had a clear view of the front courtyard and the paved driveway
When she spotted him get out, she ran barefeet on the cold marble, jumping over the grass clutching her long flowing silk skirt in her hands
“The guard politely handed the flashlight to Raanav and went back to the gate
The property lights was not quite enough
“They moved her car” she said sadly
“How are you he asked shining the light on her head
“Main theek hoon” she mumbled
He set the flashlight on the hood of her car and gently pulled her toward him
“I am fine yaar” she mumbled
She felt his thumb caress the back of her hand
“Rough day?”
She felt tears threaten to rush out from behind her eyeballs
“Umm… you know…” “Umm” she swallowed multiple times and pushed her glasses up hoping the darkness will help hide her eyes
He leaned forward and held her chin and lifted her face up, the bright flashlight
Her eyelashes sparkled like jewels
“Kya kar rahe ho?” she tried to push his grip off her chin
“Do you want to go out to dinner?”
“Aage mein car mein kabhi nahi jaa paaoongi” she giggled lamely
His lips twitched softly
“Andar chalo” her teeth chattered
“Where are your shoes?” he looked at her feet in shock
“Mujhe laga Dad hain, tumhe dekha to I came out running
“Were you waiting?” he asked shocked
“Haan shaayad”
She sprinted on the cold moist grass he watched her run
“Its SO COLD” she grumbled grabbing one of the many throws on the bed
She was reticent and not trying to take over his room, but she coordinated the sheets with the throws in his spartan “all male” room
The art on the wall was modern and original
The light fixtures chrome
There was an electric fireplace by her nook he had showed her how to operate it one night
She needed it the number of times he was taking off her clothes every night
She turned it on
He shut the doors and drew the curtains and leaned on the bed and went on his phone
“did you see a doctor?” he asked placing the phone on his ear and begging for a minute
“Yeah, sure” “Tomorrow”
“RAANAV I AM FINE” she hissed
“You know whiplash don’t you?”
She nodded
“Yeah” he mumbled
“My insurance agent couldn’t come tonight, is it OK I leave it on the drive way for the night?”
He looked at her intensely
“Spoiling for a fight Viveka Mathur?”
“Genuine sawaal tha” she said glumly
“I don’t care about the driveway”
“Tum maante ho main achhi driver hoon?”
He was confused
She explained what happened he listened carefully and nodded
She was a bit more composed now
“Ive NEVER… I mean NEVER had an accident, this was so unfortunate”
“Its no big deal” he sighed
“Ghar ke andar hua…. I wish it had been out on the street” she said finally
“How would that have been any different?” he was confused
“Ghar ke driveway mein Lekha ki puppy ke saath” she shook her head cringing
“Don’t worry about her” he said firmly
“She thought I killed her dog”
They both were silent, they heard the puppy in the front yard
“Well you didn’t” he said viciously
“I am old enough to know better Raanav, to slow down for a puppy”
“If you knew when it was going to appear” he mocked
“I was beginning a friendship this morning, and it went in reverse this evening” she said sadly
“With lekha?” he was shocked
She nodded
“Lekha will be OK, you need to focus on yourself”
“MUJHE KUCH nahi hua Raanav”
“You are still clearly shaken up”
“Uski gaadi ko hit kiya maine Raanav” she was distraught
“She has INSURANCE” he was irritated
“I DO TOO but you don’t get it”
“What do I not get?”
“I don’t think she will forget this”
“Why should you fear that?”
“Tum kahin par kabhi naye reh chuke ho? Do you even understand how hard it is to build a relationship? To gain familiarity with strangers, to take those first steps?” she was agitated
“Give it time… one accident is not going to make or break your life”
“Think about it from my vantage point”
“I did and it’s the same” he said flippantly
“If you weren’t married to me if you just knew me and I had hit your car on Bua’s driveway?”
He shifted uneasy
“Raanav I am not ashamed of who I am or where I come from but if I have to live here I need to be careful”
“You are crazy” he was upset now he turned toward the bathroom
“You think I am paranoid
He didn’t answer
He showered stepped out
“You are going to try and be someone else? For how long?”
“Aisa nahi kaha maine…. I said I need to be careful not be stupid” she shouted
“It makes you SO uncomfortable because subconsciously you AGREE I am right Raanav, I don’t have the privilege of an equal footing friendship with lekha
“You.. are”
Rakshit walked in
“Not now” Raanav was mad
“Nahi ruko Rakshit” Viveka needed an endorsement
“Out” “Man” Raanav warned
Rakshit left with a shake of the head pretending to be afraid
“
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