Chapter 17
Kajol could feel Shahrukh's arms wrap themselves lovingly around her waist as she fluttered to sleep. Shahrukh watched Kajol sleep. Her face was innocent. A slight smile was spread on her face and her breathing was soft and gentle. He kissed her lightly on the side of her face then rested his head between her shoulders and head before he too fell asleep.
** ** ** ** ** **
Shahrukh slowly crept into the room he had shared with Kajol last night. She was still sleeping. He looked back outside and nodded. That was the signal. He inched towards Kajol with the water pipe. One…two…three!
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!" Kajol screamed.
"Happy HOLI!!!" Shahrukh yelled spraying Kajol with the colour. Kajol was soaked in red. The bed sheets were soaking of a shade of light green. Shahrukh burst out laughing.
"You idiot!" Kajol yelled, chucking an oddly fluorescent yellow pillow in his direction. "Is this some way to wake someone up?!" Shahrukh dropped the pipe and fell to the floor.
"Did…you…see…your face?!!!" Shahrukh gasped, panting for breath.
"Shahrukh!!! It's not FUNNY!!" Kajol shouted. Shahrukh slowly stopped laughing and caught back his breath.
"Yes, it is!" he replied. "And anyways, it's Holi! Relax!" Kajol shot a dirty look in Shahrukh's direction and got out of bed. She was just about to exit the room when she suddenly turned around, picked up the pipe and sprayed the colour straight in Shahrukh's face!
"ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGH!!!" Shahrukh shouted, trying to escape the stream that was coming towards him. Now it was Kajol's turn to laugh.
Shahrukh stared at her, dumbfounded. Kajol looked at him with a mockingly sorry face.
"It's Holi!" she said in an innocent voice. "Relax!" she grinned and ran off.
Shahrukh stared after her, smiling.
** ** ** ** ** **
As soon as both Kajol and Shahrukh had put on some new clothes they hurried off to the temple.
"Happy Holi Didi! Happy Holi Shahrukh!" Adhi called as they entered.
"Hi, dahling. Happy Holi to you too, my dear!" Kajol said giving him a peck on the cheek. "Where's Chachu?" she asked.
"Right here!" Chachu said, coming out of the kitchen with a plate full of sweets. "Happy Holi, princess. Hey, Shahrukh! Happy Holi!" he said.
"Thanks, uncle." Chachu took a sweet from and shoved into his mouth.
"Haff shum." Chachu managed to say with his mouth full. He offered the plate to Kajol and Shahrukh. They took one each.
Suddenly the plate was taken from Chachu's hand. It was Chachi.
"What is this?!" she exclaimed, looking at Chachu. "You're eating sweets? Have you not had explained clearly enough to you what exactly diabetes is?" she said.
Chachu made a sad face. "Come on, Vidii! It's Holi!"
"Holi, choli, whatever! I don't care what it is! You're not allowed to have sweets and that's THAT!" Chachi stubbornly took the plate and went back into the kitchen. Kajol and Shahrukh looked at each other and Kajol giggled. Chachu looked at the sweets plate longingly. Kajol looked at her own sweet. She grinned and held it out for Chachu. Chachu's eyes widened as he took it gratefully and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Kajol, babe… we better hurry. It's nearly 9am." Kajol nodded. She touched Chachu's feet as usual and with his blessings left for college with Shahrukh.
** ** ** ** ** **
"Hey Shahrukh! Hey Kajol" Raj, Shahrukh's friend from college met them at the gates.
"Hi!" Shahrukh and Kajol said.
"How's your Holi so far?" Raj asked. Kajol and Shahrukh exchanged glances at the memory of last night.
"Oh." Raj seemed to get the hint. "I'm going to STOP asking stupid questions now." Kajol laughed and decided to change the subject.
"Where's Simi, Raj?"
"She's coming. Just gone to get some breakfast for us."
Suddenly, they heard Shahrukh's name being called.
"Shahrukh!! Shahrukh!!" They looked around. Shahrukh saw who it was. Gauri.
"Hey Shahrukh!" she said catching up to them at the gates.
Shahrukh forced a laugh. He couldn't help but think that this was certainly not the right time for Gauri to be talking to him. "Hi Gauri." He said, shooting nervous glances towards Kajol. Kajol ignored the jealously rising up inside her and smiled.
"Gauri, right?" she said.
"Yeah. And you're obviously Kajol. Shahrukh is always talking about you. Especially yesterday at lunch. Oh, by the way Shahrukh. I'm really gald we could get that head start on your assignment yesterday at lunch. "
Kajol looked at Shahrukh and then smiled at Gauri. "Yesterday at lunch? Really? I wasn't aware that you and Shahrukh were such good friends." She said sarcastically.
"Kajol." Shahrukh said slowly. "She's trying to be nice." Kajol looked at Shahrukh.
"So am I." She shot back.
"KADZ!!!!!" Kajol looked up. It was Simran. She was glad she had an excuse to leave.
"I have to go. I'll see you Raj! Bye Gauri."
"I'll come with you!" Shahrukh offered.
"That's okay." Kajol said. "You seem to be busy as it is." She shot a fraudulent look towards Gauri and left.
** ** ** ** ** **
It was 10pm. The wind blew strongly through Kajol's hair. She sat down on the beach and stared at the ocean. The reminiscences of last night tingled her skin. She felt as though she could still feel his touch in her hair. She could still hear his breathing in her ear. She could still feel his kisses on her neck. Yet she couldn't shake off what she had seen and heard today. Why was Shahrukh talking to Gauri? Kajol knew how much Shahrukh hated Gauri so why was he talking to her?
"Hi." Kajol looked up. It was Shahrukh. She smiled softly.
"Good evening."
"Hmm… lovely formal language you got going there…" Shahrukh said, sitting down next to her. Kajol simply smiled and looked back at the ocean.
They sat in silence for a while.
"Kajol?"
"Hmmm?" Kajol said peacefully.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" Kajol said, not diverting her eyes from the ocean.
"I lied. And I'm sorry."
"Not so easy. Tell me why at least."
"I was afraid you'd get all angry."
"Shahrukh, I've told you before. I'm not a possessive person. I don't care that you hang out with Gauri or do your assignments with her or whatever. But I hate lies. I tolerate everything but lies Shahrukh. So why did you lie?"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I promise… I won't ever lie to you again. About anything."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
"Good, so we're friends now, right?"
"What?! Just friends?" Shahrukh exclaimed contemptuously. Kajol laughed. Shahrukh leapt onto Kajol and began licking her neck. Kajol giggled.
"Shahrukh, we did this last night!!" she laughed.
"Oh come on! I don't mind a repeat!" Shahrukh said. "You know you want to, Kajol!"
Kajol just laughed as she wrapped her arms around Shahrukh.
"Give in to the temptation, Kajol." Shahrukh said majestically. Kajol giggled and pushed Shahrukh off her. She stood up and walked away. Then she suddenly turned and ran straight into Shahrukh's arms. Shahrukh swung her around and let her go gently.
"Good night." Kajol whispered in Shahrukh's ear. She parted with him and walked back to the dorm, her thoughts full of Shahrukh.
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