The Love Voyage

Chapter 8

"Life is a tapestry of experiences, where every thread, whether good or bad, weaves together to create a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty."

Adhrit's pov

Let me tell you, my face couldn't believe what just got spilled on me. Calling it the most colorful Holi ever would be the understatement of the century. I mean, seriously, thank you, God, for blessing me with such a *vivid* life. It's like every pun out there is green with envy, wishing they could have a Holi like mine. No, really, they're probably dreaming of it in their technicolor sleep.

"OMG, I'm so, so sorry. Like, really, really sorry," she kept repeating those words as if they were some kind of magical incantation that would miraculously fix everything.

"Oh, do you think your sorry can just magically fix everything? Are you five years old?" I retorted, my sarcasm dripping like honey.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again, her voice filled with dejection.

Her gloomy demeanor somehow managed to irk me, though I'm pretty sure it's just because of her beguiling face. Obviously, I don't like her at all; her pretty face is the only reason.

I released an exaggerated sigh, feeling her still clinging onto me, which was making my situation even more unbearable. I mean, sure, it's not the perfect time to think about it, but the proximity between us always feels like a ticking time bomb.

"Could you, like, please get away from me now, or are you planning to lick your own trash?" I said, dripping with my usual icy tone.

"Um, could you maybe remove that kurta?" she hesitated, her words stumbling over each other.

"What?" I exclaimed in disbelief and utter shock.

"I-I don't mean it like that. I-I just meant it's basically trash now and might give you an infection or something. And just so you know, I absolutely couldn't care less about you. I'm just feeling guilty, and I just want to..." I cut her off by placing my hand over her mouth.

"Shh, shh, you talk way too much. I got it in a few sentences; no need to over explain," I said, muffling her incoherent rambling.

"Shut up means shut up," I said, still covering her mouth as I snaked my arm around her shoulder and started walking back to our train.

"Wuuu, caboo?" I heard her saying something in that muffled voice, but do I look like I care to listen to her? That's when she bit my hand so hard it started bleeding.

"Bit—" I immediately stopped myself, realizing what I was saying wasn't the right way. No way—

"Well, beware, bitches bite the hardest. Oops, already did," she said sarcastically, eyeing my palm which had been on her mouth earlier.

I swear to god I'll kill this woman. Here I was, feeling guilty for speaking ill to her? This woman doesn't need anyone; she's literally enough for herself. People need to be protected from her, not vice versa.

"Then do me a favor and go back to that dog shelter from where they adopted you?"

"Why don't you go to the dry cleaners first and ask them to dry clean you with some dhobi pachad?" She retorted.

I'm done with my part of the shit tolerance for today, so I just shut myself and started striding faster.

I glanced around, and everyone at the station eyed me like I was that creepy neighbor from 'Savdhaan India.' The most disgusting eyes ever to exist were thrown my way.

"Mumma, see, I found the trash can!" a little girl on the station clapped her hands in excitement as if she found Santa's are real.

"Hey, uncle, open your mouth and take this," she literally threw that packet on my face.