Kabir lied down on the bed and shut his eyes. ''A busy night'that was.''
Yuvi closed the door behind him. Every time he looked at Kabir, the image of Ashi hugging Kabir flashed in front of his mind. He looked away. ''I know.''
Kabir tossed sideways, running a hand through his hair. ''I wonder who Ashi saw in the jungle, you know? Must be a wild animal.'' He was trying really hard to make normal conversation with Yuvi. For Ashi's sake. He didn't want to ruin her vacations.
''I don't think she saw anyone. Drama kar rahi thi .. she's always been like that.'' Yuvi snapped. She had dumped him and moved on with Kabir. He had a right to hate her, he wanted to hate her. He knew he couldn't, but he wanted to try his best.
''She's always been like 'what?'' Kabir turned around to look at him. ''You have always been like that, Yuvi. You never understood her, you never knew what she wanted, you don't know what's happened to her in all these years..'' He trailed off.
''What happened to her?'' He asked. His voice was softer.
Kabir got angry this time. ''Why would you care? It's all your fault, anyway.'' He switched the light off, and grunted as he tried to go to sleep.
Yuvi looked at him and blinked. ''What the hell?'' He muttered. ''How is it my fault? She's the one who broke all contact with me.'' Not being able to handle any more pain, he decided to go for a walk outside. Something to help him take his mind off things.
--
''Ashi.'' Tia tried to catch up with her, but she kept on pacing left and right in the room.
''Ab kya chahiye timbet ko?'' She glared.
''Ashi, Tia ke saath tum aise baat kyon kar rahi ho?''
''Main Tia ke saath aise baat kyon kar rahi hoon?'' She snorted. ''Mujhe toh Tia ke upar flowers roses barsaane chahiye, right Tia?''
''Ew! Roses. How tacky! Carnations, please!'' She grinned.
''Argh!'' Ashi continued walking around.
Sanaya came from the washroom. ''Tia, Ashi, kya hua?''
''Vo.. Sanaya..'' Tia paused. ''Ashi Tia se gussa hai ..kyonki Tia ne uska believe nahi kiya. I mean, she was playing a prank with all of us ki she saw someone in the jungle, but vahaan koi bhi nahi tha!''
''Vahaan koi tha, Tia. I am telling you.. Vahaan ek grave thi, and ek awaaz..''
''I think tumne kuch zyaada pee li hai .. Tia doesn't believe you, Ashi!'' Tia said.
''Hold on, guys. Wait a second.'' Sanaya interrupted. ''Ashi, are you sure ki tumne vahaan kisi ko dekha? Must be a wild animal!''
''Koi bhi wild animal invisible nahi hota, Sanaya! And I saw a grave..and I heard someone saying my name.''
Sanaya bit her lip, while Tia snapped. ''Jhoot! Tum jhoot bol rahi ho, Ashi.''
''You know what, Tia.'' Ashi snapped impatiently. ''Jo believe karna hai karo..I don't care. I HONESTLY don't care!'' After glaring at her, she stomped out of the door, while Tia called out. ''Whatever, punk!''
Sanaya just rolled her eyes. ''Yuvi ke friends bhi poore masterpiece hain!''
--
''Even Tia doesn't believe me'.So much for being a sister!'' She muttered. ''And vo Yuvi .. psycho ..how dare he call me a dramaqueen!? If only he had been there, not being able to get up, feeling someone wipe your tears..'' She shuddered involuntarily. ''I don't care. I don't need anyone to believe me. Maine jo dekha, vo dekha! And vaise bhi, whatever it was, it isn't coming back. I hope. I mean, vo job hi tha, ya thi, jungle se mere peeche peeche hotel tak nahi aayega ..'' She sighed and tried to convince herself that it was safe. She was roaming around in a corridor inside the hotel.
When, suddenly, a cold gust of air blew up. Ashi froze. She had experienced a similar unpleasant feeling when she was sitting on the rock, the same cold air everywhere around her, closing in on her..until she can't move.
Suddenly, the lights blew off.
Yuvi, on the other side, cursed. ''Ab main bahaar jaane ka raasta kahaan se dhoondun?'' He snapped. ''I think I should go back to my room. It's too late, anyway.''
As soon as he turned around, he heard someone screaming.
Ashi screamed. She had never ever screamed in her life, but right now, she couldn't help it. The same voice whispered her name in her ears; she felt hands stroking her on her face, her arms.
''S.. s.. saya!'' She whispered.
The thing's grip on her wrist got tighter until it hurt. She shook it off and ran blindly. She didn't know where she was going; she just needed to get away from that thing'from Saya. There were corridors everywhere, and she took a right when she bumped into someone.
She suddenly had a feeling of deja vu. Around three hours ago, she had run into Kabir the same way. She immediately threw her hands around him and hid her face in his shoulder. ''Kabir.. '' She whispered.
Yuvi froze when she hugged him. He hadn't realized how his arms missed Ashi. Before he could help it, he hugged her back. When he heard her say, ''kabir.. '', it was like his whole heart breaking into two all over again.
''Ashi ''' He pushed her away. ''Kya hua?'' He snapped.
She looked at him, and his expressions softened. Her eyes had gone red, and they were beginning to tear up. He wiped one of her tears. ''What happened?'' He asked again, his voice softer this time.
''Yuvi..'' She looked back. The lights had gone on again. ''Koi tha, Yuvi. Vahaan koi tha!''
Yuvi rolled his eyes. ''Tum phir se shuru ho gayi ..Psycho, why are you doing all of this? Can't we enjoy our vacations for once?''
Ashi looked at him, and paused. Suddenly, she pushed him away so hard, he almost lost his balance. ''I am not lying, Yuvi.'' Her hands were shaking. ''I am NOT lying. Saya..she's here.''
Yuvi blinked. He had never seen Ashi like this.. he couldn't even open his mouth to say something. He always liked to make her angry, but, right now, she didn't look angry..she looked scared, and hurt.
Ashi passed him the dirtiest glare she could manage. She took a deep breath as she walked back to her room. While Yuvi stood there for another 20 minutes, watching Ashi's retreating figure. He didn't believe her, alright. But she looked so .. scared.
He inhaled sharply. It must be another one of her pranks, he told herself. With this, he walked back to his own room.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kumkum Bhagya
