Courage

7: The Truth

Devdutt didn't think he had ever seen Dhruv so gobsmacked, so surprised, or even quiet for so long - even as the electricity in the air around them felt charged, it did not dissuade the smile that crept onto Devdutt's face at finding Dhruv so silent. Reluctant to let go of the adrenaline that had spurred him to come here or Dhruv's waist, Devdutt decided - it was now or never.

"Dhruvi."

Dhruv hmme-ed.

Devdutt did not wait.

"I played good today, didn't I?"

Dhruv continued humming.

"I deserve something meetha, don't you think?" he asked, cheekily.

After a beat, Dhruv finally understood what he was getting at, and Devdutt would have burned nations to the ground for the beautiful blush adorning Dhruv's cheeks.

He tried wriggling out of Devdutt's grasp, to which, an exasperated Devdutt replied, by pulling Dhruv impossibly closer,

"Dhruvi - stop moving - I am not letting go."

Frustrated beyond belief, he put a hand under Dhruv's chin, forcing him to look into his eyes.

"Thank you, thank you so much for being my rock all these days - all I could hear today was your advice, all I could see today was you, cheering me on, and all I could think was, when will I finally be able to tell Dhruvi, that yes, I am going crazy ever since the night you picked me up and called me sunshine - I cannot sleep, I cannot think - and it's making me crazier that I haven't yet told you how absolutely beautiful you are, my north star."

Exhaling, he moved his forehead closer to Dhruv's until they touched. They stayed there for a few moments - everything went quiet, and Dev was perfectly content to let everything be.

(Un)fortunately, Dhruv had other plans. He stood on his tiptoes, and placed a sweet kiss on Dev's forehead.

"You did good, and yes, you absolutely deserve something meetha."

Devdutt laughed at the sudden response, and Dhruv responded with a smile of his own. Dhruv stepped a little closer, and placed the smallest kiss near Devdutt's lips, which stole the breath from Dev's lungs.

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Yash could not stop looking at Dhruv - and Dhruv knew he had a good reason for it.

Dhruv, for the last three days, was unable to wipe the constant smile from his face, courtesy of a suddenly bold Devdutt.

Ever since that day of the match, Devdutt, instead of hiding, sought out Dhruv on his own - not doing anything; just, happy to be in his presence. Devdutt's presence, for Dhruv, meant a constant smile on his face, which meant Yash got curious and more curious as Dhruv's smile refused to leave his face. One day, he had enough.

"Dhruv, are you on drugs? Sach sach bata."

The question was so absurd, that Dhruv laughed at first. This only seemed to confuse Yash further, who was getting seriously worried for his friend. He tried holding Dhruv and checking his eyes and mouth, but this spurred Dhruv even more, and he laughed till his stomach hurt.

"Dara mat yaar!"

Dhruv tried to subside his laughter, and consoled his friend.

"Aise kuch nai hai Yash. Why do you think I am on drugs?"

"Because....because your mouth is doing that weird thing!"

"What weird thing?"

"Smiling....with, with your mouth!"

"That's how you smile, Yash."

"Not you, you shark! You show your battesi all the time, what's with all the lip widening, huh? Bata kya chaalu hai!"

"I smile all the time, it's not that difficult to believe, is it?"

"Dhruv."

"Yes?"

"What's happened?"

Dhruv sighed. He scratched his forehead. Should he......should he tell Yash?

Yash was one of his closest friends, he knew that, but how would Yash react?

At Yash's inquisitive eyebrow raise, Dhruv decided, fuck it.

"It's...someone."

Yash's frown deepened.

"Someone what?"

Dhruv rolled his eyes and asked the heavens for a little patience.

"I am smiling because of someone, Yash."

Dhruv could literally see the bulb above Yash's head turn on as he finally understood what was going on. He could also see the moment when Yash went from confused to smirking, all in the blink of a moment.

"Ohhhhooooo, who's the lucky lady?"

Dhruv felt his smile dim. Should he lie? What will Yash think? Will he lose a friend?

Apparently, he took too long to answer, because Yash began to panic again.

"What, what is it? Is she giving you drugs? Is she a fan of LSG?"

Dhruv gave a short laugh.

Licking his lips, he started.

"Yash, uh, she's....notreallyashe?"

"Kya bol raha hai thikse bol!"

Turning sheepish, Dhruv said, "She's not really a she."

It must have been a lottery day for the electric company, Dhruv thought, as he saw bulbs going off above Yash's head.

"Oh. Ohhh."

Dhruv stared at Yash's face as it went through mixed emotions.

He was terrified of Yash's response. After a beat, Yash responded.

"I am going to have to put the fear of God in him if he hurts you then."

Dhruv smiled until his face hurt. He enveloped Yash in a quick hug, and Yash hugged back, probably noticing Dhruv's rabbiting heart. He gathered Dhruv even closer.

"Hey, it's okay. You're okay. As long as he makes you happy - otherwise I am going to have to kick his ass!"

Dhruv smiled, despite the tears down his face. Once he moved back, Yash's smirk was back.

"So...have you told Rinks yet?"

At Dhruv's horror-filled expression, Yash punched the air.

"Yes, now I know something he doesn't, woohoo!"

Dhruv laughed at his antics, his mind freer that it had been, once he had confessed to Yash.

Now, he thought rather smugly, how to get Devdutt alone?