To Rohini's Apartment, Bangalore

The drive to Rohini's house was covered in silence. There were thousand questions running through Nikhil's mind, but he let her be. She now sat listless in the passenger seat, staring outside at the pouring rain and the moving vehicles; but Nikhil knew that her mind was somewhere else.

She had not initiated any conversation, once Nikhil had nudged her into the car. A slight murmur from her, when he had reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers, once they were settled in, had been message enough for him to leave her alone. For time being.

The car skidded to a halt in front of Rohini's apartment building. Rohini nodded at NIkhil as she proceeded to get down; only to be stopped by Nikhil, his hand warm on hers.

"We need to talk" he said.

"Now?" Rohini seemed to be a bit disinterested. "You are totally wet. You need to change, before you catch a bad cold"

"I won't catch anything ... don't worry about me" he assured her.

Her gaze travelled from his hand to his eyes "But I do. I do, Nikhil. I can't let anything happen to you ..."

"Nothing will happen to us" he took his hand away. Rohini missed the warmth already. "You go. I will park and come up ..."

...

When Nikhil walked into her apartment, a short while later, he had a duffel bag with him. He noticed that Rohini was still in her wet saree, her hair hanging limp around her face.

Rohini looked at the bag questioningly.

"I am not leaving you alone tonight Ro ..." he held his breath.

"Nikhil ... ?" her voice was full of questions.

He walked towards her, dropping the duffel on the floor, and pulled her to himself. Pushing the wet hair away from her face, he smiled

"I will take the couch. But, I need to be with you tonight ... "

And every other night. He whispered to himself.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, hiding her face on his chest, as she sobbed silently.

"I don't like it when you cry Rohini. You are my guiding light. I look forward to see you smile every day ...." he uttered helplessly.

"What am I? Your personal smiley?" her voice was small now, muffled against his chest.

Nikhil forced himself to smile "Yes. You remember that smiley you sent drawn on a Post It Note, pretty long ago? I still have it on my pin board. It reminds me of you ... always"

Rohini sniffled "I have a round face?"

This time, Nikhil grinned ear to ear "And those round cheeks. Gotta love 'em ..."

"Ouch" his words were cut short as she whacked him lightly on his head.

...

A While later

"The shower is not working in this bathroom" Rohini stated as she locked the door of the bathroom in the hall. "You go and take a bath first. You will need hot water. Let me get a towel for you first"

She turned around, her brows puckered in concern - "But I don't have anything to offer you to wear ..."

Nikhil zipped open his duffel bag, pulling out an old pair of cotton trousers and a worn down shirt.

"You are the goodest Boy Scout I have ever seen" Rohini was now inquisitive, as she approached him.

"Always Ma'am" Nikhil grinned, making her heart lurch. "Though I could use a towel ..."

Rohini nodded her head as she walked towards her bedroom. He followed her

"But Rohini, you should go first. You were shivering a short while ago. I will wait ..."

He was now on the threshold of her bedroom, the sanctitude of the place and the enormity of the moment stopping him. She was now standing in front of the dresser, taking her ear rings off, her back to him. His heart galloped at the intimacy, but he forcefully tamped down his emotions. This was not time for being needy, he knew. This was the moment when she needed him to be  her support. Her everything. 

His heart however chose to rebel; his eyes darkening with desire as they followed the graceful movements of her limbs as she reached around to take the necklace off. She looked immensely desirable and absolutely lovely in that baby pink saree, innocently clinging on to her curves.

"Please help ..." her words broke his trance and he mentally chastised himself for letting his thoughts go haywire.

A step forward and Nikhil knew that from this moment on, everything was going to change. He stepped forward and looked at Rohini, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror, and he knew that she was also thinking the same.

Few seconds later, he was standing behind her, their eyes still locked onto each other's. His fingertips were warm against her partly clammy skin as he pushed her hair to the side. His fingers were nimble as they pried the hook of the necklace away from the entangled tendrils, his eyes burning a trail on her exposed skin.

"There you go ..." his voice was sensuous as they caressed her bare skin. He stepped away. But not before he had looked at her through the mirror again. Her eyes deep with desire, her breathing a bit shallow, the blushing shades of pink and red spreading across her face and neck.

"I will go first" Rohini said, after a while, finding her voice. "I will be quick"

Nikhil merely nodded as he left the room.

...

Half an hour later

Nikhil stepped out of the washroom, rubbing his hair vigorously as he went and stood in front of the dresser. He turned slightly to the armoire on his left to pick up his watch and stopped ...

... Everything seemed perfect. Just perfect. His phone, his watch, the partially drenched wallet, his sunglasses resting beside her jewellery, her watch, her lipgloss ... on the armoire together. side by side. 

An epiphany for sure as Nikhil stopped himself from picking up his watch. The items looked complete together, like they belonged. Since times immemorial.

As if on cue, he heard Rohini humming a tune, as she flitted around her apartment, and the smell of food filled the apartment. His stomach growled and Nikhil smiled happily, looking all around, taking the room in, committing it to his memory.

"Nikhil ..." she called out for him, and he happily trotted outside.

End of Part 38