KariLa One Shots

15 - You Belong With Me

Special Changes: Veyoshma are flatmates, both unmarried

Extra Characters: Dev (imagine him as Shaheer Sheikh)

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VS: Yeh teri...(counting on his fingers) 4th date hai naa?

KS (while combing her hair): Haan...toh?

Karishma and Veyom were in their shared apartment as she got ready for a date with her one-month boyfriend Dev. Dev previously lived in America so he wasn't all that appreciative of many Indian things, neither did he eat much Indian food because he was vegan. All three of them were colleagues in the same office, and Karishma had been attracted to him for a while now. Veyom, being her best friend, had launched 'Operation Dev' to to get his attention and make them a couple. It had worked out well at the start but sometimes Karishma wasn't sure if she was really happy with Dev, and if this was even a real relationship.

VS: Maine suna hai 4th date pe pehli kiss hoti hai, muh mein perfume lagake jaana nahi toh subah ki khaayi chicken ki badboo aayegi

KS: Ama tum do minute ke liye chup rahoge? Aadhe ghante se sar pe chadhe ho ki date pe aisa hota hai date pe waise hota hai

VS: Haan toh tumhara best friend hone ka farz nibha raha hun, tujhe toh thank you bolna chahiye

KS: Kabhi nahi (looked at herself in the mirror then decided she wanted to change her top) aye, bahar jaa

VS: Kyun?

KS: Yeh top accha nahi lag raha, badalna hai merko

VS: Nahi mai tumko akela nahi chhod sakta, agar uss kiss ki baat se tune atmahatya kar li toh?

KS: Dimaag kaa ghunton mein chala gaya hai tera? Chup chaap bahar jaa aur mereko change karne de

VS: Nahi

KS: Peeche toh mud jaa kamsekam! (muttering) ladki ko change karte dekhna chahta hai besharam kahinka

Veyom turned around and the two continued bickering until Karishma left the apartment. She reached the restaurant they had decided, and not long after, Dev arrived there too. It was just a typical date, nothing special, nothing new. Karishma had taken a few bites of her meal to be polite but from the inside she absolutely despised it. But that wasn't the highlight of the night.

It had been merely seconds since the waiter took away their plates when Dev began gazing at her intensely. Karishma wasn't used to this and felt slightly uncomfortable, but she assumed it was just part of a relationship and said nothing. But then, Dev leaned closer over the table and titled his head to kiss her. Karishma freaked out and stood up quicker than she meant to, resulting in the scratching noise of her chair to resonate around the room.

She smiled at everyone else, not wanting to attract attention, then turned back to Dev with a concerned expression.

KS: I-I'm really sorry, I'm just not ready for this...I mean....we've only been dating for a month...so...I'm sorry aapko bura lag ho toh...but I just can't. Aur...kaafi late bhi ho chuka hai so...I'd better go...I'm-

D: It's okay...I understand. Toh...kal milte hai?

KS: H-Haan...bye

Karishma left the place hastily as Dev looked at her with a quizzical expression, clearly not understanding what he'd done wrong. She somehow found a ride home almost immediately and rushed back to her apartment with thousands of thoughts swarming around her head. She pushed the door open, kicked off her shoes, and bolted straight for her room.

Veyom was in there, shuffling through her notes, but turned towards the direction of the noise when she opened the door. Without a second thought, Karishma wrapped her arms around Veyom and buried her face in his chest. Veyom was startled by the sudden action, but sensed there was something wrong, and rubbed her back to calm her down.

VS: Kya hua?

KS (breaking the hug): Dev...usne..usne mujhe kiss karne ki koshish ki

VS: Maine kaha tha na! 4th date pe sab kiss karte hai, tu perfume lagake gayi thi na?

KS: Kitna kamina dost hai re tu, poori baat toh sunn le! Usne merko kiss karne ki koshish ki par tab merko bohot uncomfortable lag raha thha. Main...main inn sab ke liye taiyyar nahi hu...yeh commitement woh-

VS (putting a hand on her shoulder): Koi baat nahi, tu usse keh de tu inn sab ke liye ready nahi hai

KS: Woh baat nahi hai...merko lagta hai...yeh rishta hi galat hai

VS: Matlab?

KS: Matlab...tum yeh samajhlo ki usse Kuch Kuch Hota Hai nahi pasand (assuming KKHH means a lot to VS)

VS: Whaaat?! Phir toh tum breakup hi kar lo.

KS: Wahi main soch rahi thhi

VS: Really? (surprised)

KS: Haan...matlab...agar roz roz bhookha sona pade, pav bhaji aur KKHH se permanent break lena pade, aur dinner ke paise deke kangaal hona pade toh kaahe ka rishta

VS: Yeh bhi sahi hai. Agar tum iss rishte se khush nahi ho toh bejhijak breakup kar do, main hoon tumhare saath

KS *nodded appreciatively*

The next day Karishma really did break up with Dev. She asked him to meet at a coffee shop, and in the politest way possible, told him she wasn't comfortable with this relationship. Dev didn't seem sad or heartbroken, but he accepted her decision without any commotion. Karishma wasn't sure whether she should be happy or sad but she was glad he understood. She left the coffee shop and met Veyom at their favourite pav bhaji stall, according to their deal of him taking her their after breaking up with Dev.

VS: Kaisa raha?

KS: Woh sad hi nahi tha yaaarrr ☹ breakup ke baad bhi muskura ke bye bola

VS: (laughing) single hi reh tu

KS: Bhakk! *sniffed dramatically* main na bohot sad hoon

VS: Bohot sad ho? (dramatically)

KS: *nodded* aur mera abhi abhi breakup bhi hua hai (dramatically)

VS: Chaar plate pav bhaji toh banti hai (dramatically)

KS: Extra spicy (pouting)

Veyoshma dug in to their pav bhaji as soon as it arrived, gulping down water after each bite because of how spicy it was. They laughed, talked, and even cried (due to the spice) as they enjoyed the food. Karishma wasn't exactly sad about the breakup because it was never a real relationship, but looking at Veyom she realised she didn't even want a real relationship. She didn't want to go on formal dates or cuddle with someone every night. All she wanted was for her nikamma kaamchor and wannabe hot roommate to be with her forever.

It was dark outside by the time they finished eating. Veyom paid the vendor and put on his helmet when he saw Karishma staring at him.

VS: Kya?

KS: 😏

VS: Theek hai chal, bohot time hai

He removed his helmet and handed it over to Karishma, who wore it and started the bike. Veyom climbed onto the bike behind her and they zoomed off for a long drive. Once they were off the busy highway, he slipped an earphone into Karishma' ear and the other into his, starting their favourite playlist. Once they turned onto a quiet road, Veyom placed his hands on her hips for support. He could feel her hair blowing the other way as he leaned sideways to get a good view of her. In that moment, he felt something different, something better, but something he didn't usually feel around Karishma.

As they continued driving, rain began to splatter down on them. Karishma looked at Veyom through the rearview mirror, grinning.

KS: Chhata laaye ho?

VS: Nahi (grinning back)

KS: Shabaash! Chalo

They parked the bike on the side of the road and ran across to the grassy area. They spun around in the rain and shook tree branches on each others heads, getting drenched in rain by the end of it. There was no one else there, so Veyom took off his soaking wet shirt and threw it right at Karishma's face. She ran after him for revenge, but couldn't help staring at his muscular upper body. She'd seen him shirtless before- it was his fault he walked into her room without a shirt- but this time she felt as if she had butterflies in her stomach. Scratch that earlier statement, he really was hot.

Veyoshma reached home a while later, completely drenched in rain. They showered and changed into comfortable clothes before sitting back down on the sofa with a bowl of Maggi in hand. Karishma turned on their all-time favourite movie- KKHH- and rested her head on Veyom's arm, eating away without thinking of her reputation or looks. And that was probably the best thing about their friendship. They finished eating when Veyom spoke up.

VS: Pyaas lagi hai yaar

KS: Ruk paani leke aati hun

Karishma brought the water, handed one glass to him kept the other for herself, and settled on his lap. They continued watching the movie, until Veyom realised- the movie depicted their story. He and Karishma were such close friends everyone thought of them as a couple, but now they might really be a couple. That feeling he got during that bike ride- it was love. And not just some teenage attraction, he really truly had fallen in love and he was confident that Karishma had too.

He hesitantly put an arm on Karishma's hip, but she just smiled at him and went back to watching the movie. Veyom took a deep breath before trying again. He slid his arm from her hip to her back, turning her towards himself in the process. Karishma had about a second to look at him, before she felt his lips on hers. It was a shock for her but she wouldn't deny that she wanted this too. Their lips moved in sync as Veyom pulled her closer, pressing their bodies against each other.

They drifted apart with their foreheads still touching and chuckled silently, until Karishma lifted her head and kissed him again. Veyom slid his hands under her sweatshirt and held her waist as they enjoyed, what both could agree on, the best moments of their life. 

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