"One minute and thirty-seven seconds", gasped Anushka, looking at the watch.

It was the new game they had invented - how long can they kiss without taking a breath.

"We can do much better than that", stated Prabhas, wrapping his arms more tightly around Anushka, who was lying on top of him.

"Wait for some time, lemme catch my breath", said her as she laid her head on his bare chest.

It was a cloudy afternoon and the couple had chosen to stay indoors and focus on the "indoor games" as Rana had said.

"Ready?", Sweety raised her head and challenged Prabhas. He gladly accepted it with a grin.

And they kissed. Again. And again. And again. Soon, the game was forgotten and sweet moans echoed in the suite as the rest of the noon slithered by.

* * * * *

In the evening, both decided to take a stroll around the resort. They went to different sides of the vast building, admiring its uniqueness and beauty. There were different paths leading to various views of the ocean. What was marvellous was that when they passed through each ways, it felt like entering into another magical world altogether.

Prabhas and Anushka had reached an open space at the east end of the island. It was a huge space intended for outdoor sports. A basketball court along with a medium badminton court was at one side, while a large volleyball court took the centre space.

Along the sides were grown beautifully pruned trees, under whose shade, an easy chair and a small teapoy was placed. A few people were napping there while others were sitting and enjoying a drink and the game of volleyball that was going on.

Prabhas and Sweety reached there and the game instantly captured his attention. Sweety nudged him to join the team and she went to sit under a tree to read a book of poetry that she had taken from their suite.

Prabhas was welcomed to the team and soon, the game had commenced and he was totally into it. Volleyball had always been his favourite and he often played it with his friends back home. But since he had been so busy with shoots, there was hardly any time to play. It was exhilarating to him to play after so long.

Anushka relaxed herself and read a few poems from the leather-bound book.

'A moment of happiness,
you and I sitting on the verandah,
apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.
We feel the flowing water if life here,
you and I, with the garden's beauty
and the birds singing.
The stars will be watching us,
and we will show them
what it is to be a thin crescent moon.
You and I unselfed, will be together,
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.
The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar
as we laugh together, you and I.
In one form upon this earth,
and in another form in a timeless sweet land.'

Anushka lifted her face to look at Prabhas. He was laughing out loud with his teammates, his hands on his hips. His nose crinkled and the sound of his laughter deep from his heart came to her ears as music. As the evening sun shone at his face, sweat beads gleamed on his forehead and his eyes twinkled in happiness.

Anushka's heart filled with a mystic warmth that she had never felt before. As she looked on, the warmth spread over her, blending in her blood and in her very atomic being as an intoxicating drug. He had become her addiction, her drug, her being.

She sat there, clutching the book on her lap, her eyes never leaving Prabhas. At that moment, his eyes met her's and Prabhas broke into a soft smile and she smiled back at him with the same tenderness of love.

Anushka finally resumed reading the book. She was so indulged in it that it was only when she heard someone clearing the throat beside her that she looked up.

"Oh hi!", Anushka said surprised.

Sanjay had come and sat beside her. He was dressed casually in tracks and Tee.

"Enjoying some alone time?", he asked, eyeing her.

"Actually Pabsu is playing, so I thought I would just sit here and read something as well as watch the game", said her, pointing her head to the volleyball court.

"Ah! I see! I can give you company, if you don't mind", suggested Sanjay.

"Why not! So, do you stay here?", asked Anushka, attempting to start a conversation.

"Yeah! Pretty much... My parents are settled in Bangalore. I do visit them occasionally. But this is my home, practically"

"Okay... Don't your parents visit you here?", asked her.

"My mom is a very busy doctor and she's not a travel enthusiast, unlike my dad. But she won't let my dad come here alone as she thinks this place as the ultimate stop for beach parties and bikini girls", laughed Sanjay.

His green eyes crinkled into a line. Anushka joined him, finding his parents adorable.

"So she doesn't have a problem in letting her bachelor son live in such a sinned place all alone?!", asked Anushka, controlling her laughter.

"She had branded me as "hopeless" when she lost count of my girlfriends list", winked Sanjay.

"That list must be of pages, if I'm not wrong..."

Sanjay shrugged as a response and they both laughed again.

Prabhas had not missed this scene. He had tried to ignore it but soon the green-eyed monster in him had gotten his best. He jogged to Sweety, who was still talking with Sanjay.

"What happened?", asked Anushka as Prabhas approached her.

"I just came to drink water. Oh hi Sanjay!", said Prabhas faking a smile and took a sip of water.

"Game over?", Sanjay asked.

"It has just started", said Prabhas.

"Why don't you join as well? Anyway you are sitting here simply. You'll get bored. Join the game!", insisted Prabhas, eager to distance him from Sweety and also to give himself an opportunity to channel his unpleasant feelings at Sanjay.

"No that's ok. Me and Sweety are having a good time", said Sanjay smiling at Anushka.

Anushka half-smiled and looked at Prabhas. She gulped and said to Sanjay,

"You should join them. I bet you'll enjoy it"

"If you say so, I'll go", smiled Sanjay as he got up.

"Don't worry, we'll be easy on you", patted Prabhas.

"Dude, it's my favorite sport! You better watch out", and with that, Sanjay joined the opposite team.

The game had commenced. It was almost sunset and a chill breeze wafted through. Anushka sat watching it unfold. Prabhas was gaining points and their team was in the lead.

But things began to change. In the opposite team, Sanjay, after some initial laid-back shots, had come into full form. And soon, he was scoring as well. The game was getting intense.

Anushka had long abandoned the book and was sitting on the edge, gripping firmly at the end of her chair. She looked around at the small crowd that had gathered around the place to see the game.

Prabhas was fuming from within. Sanjay was giving him a tough competition. But he was not letting him get on with his way. He put all his volleyball skills out and played on. It was no more a mere game. There was an air of challenge sparking in Sanjay's eyes. This was a game of proving who was better. And he had to win.

The other team members of each team had rarely any chance of action in the game. It was now played mainly by Prabhas and Sanjay, against each other.

Anushka's heart beat faster. A queasy feeling engulfed her. She felt uneasy, seeing them play. That look on Prabhas' face was unsettling.

The game went on and both the players were drenched in sweat. They were huffing without breath, but were still not giving up. Ultimately, Sanjay gave a hard shot and Prabhas missed it and the victory was for Sanjay.

There was a mixture of groans and cheers from the crowd. Anushka couldn't believe that Prabhas had lost in a volleyball match. All her unpleasant thoughts were materialising. She wished that this match had never happened. However, she clapped, forcing a smile on her face. Prabhas had kept a straight face in the failure.

When Prabhas turned to look at her, he saw Sweety clapping and smiling at Sanjay. His throat felt dry and exhausted. Sweety walked towards the court to him when Sanjay joined her. He said turning to Prabhas and patting his shoulder,

"Don't worry Prabhas, next time I'll be easy on you"

Anushka felt Prabhas' body going rigid and she prayed silently that Prabhas does not lose his cool. However, he clenched his teeth and smiled at Sanjay.

"Let's go", he said silently to Sweety and pulled her away with him, without saying another word.

* * * * *

Prabhas had hardly spoken anything to Sweety even when they reached home. Anushka knew that he was upset. She knew he was this much disturbed because of the fact that he had lost to Sanjay, whom he's not a great fan of.

"Pabsu, it's just a game! And it's just one game. I know you are the best. But it happens sometimes" She tried coaxing him, but to no avail.

"I'm going to take a bath", he said and shut the bathroom door.

They had their dinner in silence. Prabhas had not regained his spirits back. And Anushka knew better to leave him alone in his bad temper.

After the early dinner, Anushka went and stood on the balcony. She closed her eyes and sighed, with the poetry book clutched to her chest. She wanted her old Pabsu back. She didn't like when he didn't talk to her.

"That's okay. Everything will be alright tomorrow", she said to herself.

But soon, her eyes fluttered open and she marched into the room. Prabhas was sitting there on the rocking chair, smoking a cigarette.

"Pabsu?", she called him silently.

He slowly looked at her. Though Prabhas smoked, he never did it when Anushka was around. He knew that she didn't like it, even though she never complained about it.

"Pabsu..." She kneeled near him. The smoke filled her nose and she tried to take short breaths.

"You don't need to get so upset about this evening. Just let it go! Please?", Anushka pleaded as she extended the ash tray towards him.

Prabhas slowly took it from her hands and placed it back on the nearby table and continued to puff.

"Just leave me alone for some time Sweety, I need to be by myself now", he said calmly, but with finality.

Anushka was taken aback. Tears threatened to escape from her eyes. She stood up without saying a word and went out of the room, closing the door gently, as Prabhas continued to smoke.

Anushka walked aimlessly through the corridors. The voice of Prabhas echoed in her ears. Her throat felt dry and stiff.

She walked through a winding passage that she had never seen before. The walls and the steps were cobbled and cold. This passage, just like many others, opened into a small garden as well.

As she looked around, she saw honeysuckles covering one high wall while other sides were covered by white Bougainvilla trees. The grass beneath her feet had mist of the night and the view of the ocean welcomed her from the opposite side.

She stood there, immersed in the beauty of the place. She forgot everything for a second as the soft smell of some unknown flower cleansed her mind. The power of nature was indeed magical.

"My heart, sit only with those
who know and understand you.
Sit only under a tree
that is full of blossoms."

Anushka turned and saw Sanjay standing there, smiling at her.

"You read Rumi?", she asked in surprise.

Sanjay walked towards her and took the book from her hands. He turned the pages and gave her the book back, with the lines on the page open. She took it from him and smiled.

"This book is one of the rare collection of Rumi's poetry that I came across on a travel", he said.

"It's from your personal collection that you kept the books in the suite?", asked Anushka incredulously.

"I don't do that for anyone. It's because you were coming to my resort and I knew that you loved poetry. So I thought you might enjoy it", said Sanjay smiling.

"How do you know that I love poetry?"

"Fanboy, you see. I've done my bit of research", he laughed.

* * * * *

Prabhas was about to light the second cigar when he stopped himself. There was silence all around him. Even the crashing of the waves seemed distant. He didn't like it without Sweety.

He sighed and thought to himself,

"Why am I behaving like a child? As Sweety said, it's just a game! One cannot win every game he plays. From when did I started to sulk in losing?"

He knew Sanjay was the reason.

"He plays really well. But it's not about the game. It's the look in his eyes when he speaks with Sweety that bothers me the most. She is mine and only mine. No one has the right to speak to her like that"

He was trying hard to retain his calm.

"But that doesn't mean that I should be over-possessive. I should give her her own space. She loves me and that's what matters. Why did I take my irritation for Sanjay on her?!"

He was mad at himself and walked out of the room to find Anushka, to apologize for his immaturity and just set things right as before.

He looked around but couldn't find her. He asked some staffs whether they had seen Anushka and one of them directed him to the winding passage.

Prabhas froze at the entrance of the garden. His palms curled into fists and his jaw clattered together. His face was burning red with anger.

Sweety and Sanjay were talking and Sanjay was reading something from a book. She was listening carefully at what he was saying, and nodding her head in appreciation. Her face was relaxed unlike how Prabhas saw her as she left their room.

Prabhas abruptly turned the other way and stormed out, anger and despair welling up in his eyes.

* * * * *

Author's Note : Okay...I feel terrible for Pabsu😭 But what's a relationship without a few ups and downs?😇