Marked By Darkness

Chapter 15- All The Best

Next day...

In College...

Esha waved as she approached Ruhi. "Hey, Ruhi!"

Ruhi glanced up with a faint smile. "Hey."

Esha tilted her head. "Which class do you have now?"

"Economics," Ruhi replied.

Esha nodded, but then added, "Oh, I have a different one now."

Ruhi smiled knowingly. "I know."

Esha raised an eyebrow. "So, how is Sounak?"

"He's nice," Ruhi answered, her tone neutral.

Esha chuckled. "He's not very talkative, huh?"

"Yeah, actually," Ruhi agreed.

Esha grinned. "But he's an introvert like you."

Ruhi paused, considering this. "Ouuhh... I see."

Esha's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "If I asked you to rate him out of 10, what would you say?"

Ruhi raised an eyebrow, her voice teasing. "Esha, who went on a date yesterday? You or me?"

Esha laughed. "We are."

Ruhi's lips parted in surprise. "What?"

Esha shrugged. "Yeah, we are. Look, I like someone else, so if you like him or he likes you, then all the best."

Ruhi blinked in confusion. "What the hell? I don't even know him..."

Esha leaned in, her voice dropping to a playful tone. "He's a good guy..."

Ruhi shook her head, now laughing. "Esha!"

Esha winked before rushing off. "I'm late for my class, sweetheart, so bye!"

Ruhi sighed dramatically. "Offh..."

---

At Night...

Ruhi sat at the dinner table, poking at her food. "Mom, I don't want to eat more," she muttered.

Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Did you eat anything?"

"No, Mom, I'll become fat," Ruhi responded with a frown.

Her mom's voice softened but with a hint of amusement. "You'll become fat? Just eat quietly."

Ruhi groaned in frustration. "Ugh!"

Just as she was about to push her plate away, a message popped up on her phone screen.

It was from Sounak.

"Hi, dinner done?"

Ruhi quickly typed back, "Yeah."

"What are you doing now?" Sounak's message appeared almost immediately.

"Nothing," she replied, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.

"Today's temperature is very low, huh?" he sent next.

"Yeah, so you need some hot temperature?" Ruhi teased, a smile playing on her lips.

"I think so," he replied.

Ruhi's grin widened. "Ouhh! Then you need some fire?"

"I don't want to burn, actually," he texted back.

Ruhi chuckled to herself, the conversation light and fun. Her mom, who had been watching her, suddenly asked, "Do you like someone in your college?"

Ruhi froze for a moment. "Nah."

Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Then who are you texting and smiling?"

"A friend," Ruhi said quickly, her tone evasive.

Her mom raised an eyebrow, curious. "And who is that unlucky boy?"

"Mom!" Ruhi's cheeks flushed.

"What?" her mom teased.

"Nothing," Ruhi muttered, looking down at her phone to avoid further questioning.

Her mom leaned in with a playful grin. "Ohho, tell me. If you like someone else, tell."

Ruhi rolled her eyes. "I don't like anyone. And it will never happen anyway."

Her mom looked at her with a knowing look. "Why?"

Ruhi sighed, "I'm not interested in these things."

"Okay," her mom replied, nodding, but clearly unconvinced.

"I'm going to my room. Bonne nuit," Ruhi said, standing up from the table.

Her mom smiled. "Good night."

Ruhi quickly retreated to her room and started texting again.

"So, how was your day?" she typed.

Sounak's response came after a few moments. "Difficult."

"Why?" Ruhi asked, intrigued.

"Don't ask," Sounak replied, his tone hinting at something serious.

Ruhi tilted her head, her fingers hesitating over the screen. "Okay, then I'm not asking."

"Oh shit. You took it seriously," he texted, and Ruhi could almost hear the laughter in his words.

"Yesh," she replied, smirking.

---

For six months, they maintained constant communication. What had started as casual messages gradually turned into something deeper. They became good friends, the awkwardness gone, and the bond between them growing stronger with each passing day. Ruhi had wiped away all the misconceptions she had once had about Sounak.

Then one day, out of nowhere, Sounak messaged her.

"Wanna meet?"

Ruhi's heart skipped a beat. "Hah! Yeah, sure."

"That's great. So let's meet," he texted back.

Ruhi frowned, her fingers hovering over her phone. "So, are you asking me out on a date?"

Sounak responded quickly. "Hahh! Nah, not like that. Just casually asking."

Ruhi let out a small laugh. "No problem. Where do you want to meet?"

"Do you like movies?" Sounak's message came with a hint of uncertainty.

"Umm, yes and no," Ruhi replied, unsure of how to answer.

Sounak seemed to consider it before sending another message. "Okay, so?"

Ruhi typed, her fingers tapping on the screen thoughtfully. "We can."

Sounak was confused. "Hah?"

Ruhi smiled to herself. "We can go for a movie date."

"Okay," he responded, clearly surprised.

"So when?" Ruhi asked, already feeling a flutter of excitement.

"Tomorrow?" Sounak suggested.

Ruhi didn't hesitate. "Fine..."

___