Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 18

• a u t h o r •

"How is it?" Palak queried the grumpy man beside her who was looking at the plate of Manchurian as if they were fried worms.

They were currently seated in the grass of the IG park, Bhubaneswar. It was dark and the colorful lights throughout the park were giving sensual romantic vibes, but for the two people, they were mere lights. The big fountain in the middle of the park was glowing with a purple hue and the buzz of insects could be heard.

"It's..." He began but stopped as if trying to find the right words. "Bad." He finished twisting his face a little. Palak was amused. She thought he liked it but his answer was the exact opposite. She didn't say anything through.

"Not as bad as the pani puri but bad nonetheless." Palak rolled her eyes at his snarky remark.

God this man...

She shook her head in dismay but didn't say anything. They ate in silence and after some time Palak decided to speak.

"Let's be friends!" She declared out of nowhere and he looked up at her a little taken aback by her words. Out of everything he had expected her to say this was probably the last thing on his mind.

Even Palak was surprised at her sudden declaration but went with it.

Roshan lifted a questioning eyebrow.

"You know all this..." She motioned her hand between her and Roshan. "This is so awkward. I mean technically we don't have any established.... relations with each other and therefore things are very.... apprehensive between us." She stated and he frowned.

"And I hate when things get awkward. So let's be friends..." Palak trailed off nervously. Roshan looked at her for a few seconds with a little frown before replying.

"Are you friend-zoning me, Ms. Routray?" He cocked an eyebrow teasingly and Palak laughed. He was obviously joking to lighten the mood.

The tension had seemingly dissolved between them and they weren't feeling like strangers anymore, though that's what they were mere strangers. Palak had always been the friendly one who could melt rocks with her charm.

However, this was different. If only she knew it would take more than just her charms to soften the rock named Roshan Kumar Maheshwari. Even if it seemed like Roshan was getting along and being friendly there was still a lot of agony inside him. Because the depths of his past are unexplored for a reason and if Palak decides to dive in there is no going back.

"And what's wrong with that?" She asked and he shook his head in dismay looking away. "Shouldn't people become best friends before becoming life partners?" Hearing this Roshan's smile vanished and he turned to look at her with a serious expression.

Palak was smiling but once she noticed him looking at her intently she stopped smiling and immediately asked in anticipation.

"Did I say something wrong?"

But Roshan was lost in his own thoughts.

That line.

He said to himself suddenly getting a flashback From his past.

"I believe two people should become best friends first before becoming life partners."