Yeh Dil ♥️ - Love Like This

7

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Sunlight streamed through Rudra's window, chasing away the remnants of a restless night. He winced, his head pounding in rhythm with a dull ache in his lower back. Glancing around the unfamiliar room, he took in the disarray - empty beer bottles, discarded clothes, and a faint trace of Sonia's perfume clinging to the air.

Memories of the previous night flooded back. The stifling party atmosphere, Sonia's relentless advances, and the strange sense of unease that had settled upon him. The kiss, a desperate attempt to drown out the confusion that had gnawed at him, now left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He quickly disentangled himself from Sonia's sleeping form, her heavy breathing a counterpoint to the pounding rain that had lashed against the window throughout the night. With a silent sigh, he crept out of the apartment, the cool morning air a welcome relief.
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Coming Back in his own room, Rudra showered, the hot water washing away the lingering feeling of grime. He threw on a fresh set of clothes, a sliver of his usual confidence returning. Today, he decided, he'd clear the air with Rohit.  He needed to apologize for his abrupt departure and the lingering confusion he might have caused.
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He made his way to Rohit's dorm, a hesitant rhythm forming in his steps. Reaching the door, he raised his fist and knocked.  A muffled shout came from within.

The door swung open, not revealing Rohit's familiar face, but a guy with kind eyes and a friendly smile.  "Hey, you must be Rudra!" he exclaimed, extending a hand.  "I'm Kunj, Rohit's friend. Come in!"

Rudra blinked, surprised.  "Uh, hi," he stammered, taking Kunj's hand in a firm handshake.  "Is Rohit here? I was hoping to…"

"He's resting right now," Kunj explained, ushering Rudra inside.  "He took a nasty spill yesterday and his leg is pretty banged up. But come on in, I can tell him you were here."

"Antibiotics?" he echoed, his voice rough with concern.

Kunj nodded, oblivious to the turmoil within Rudra. "Yeah, the doctor said it was an infection. Nothing serious, thankfully." Just then, the door creaked open, revealing Anjali, an armload of bags clutched in her hands. Her eyes wide in surprise at the sight of Rudra standing there.

"Hey! Rudra?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with confusion. "What are you doing here?" Before Rudra could answer, Kunj jumped in.

"He came to see Rohit, Anjali," Kunj explained, gesturing towards the closed bedroom door. "But Rohit's sleeping."

Anjali's gaze darted between them, the pieces slowly clicking into place. "Oh, right," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Of course. Visiting the sick and injured, is that it, Rudra?"

Rudra shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. "Uh, yeah," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "Just checking in."

"Well, that's very kind of you," Anjali said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But like Kunj said, Rohit's zonked out. Rain must have woken up the pain again, poor guy."

Rudra felt a pang of sympathy for Rohit, the image of his bruised leg flashing in his mind. "Let me know if there's anything I can do," he offered, his voice sincere.

Anjali and Kunj exchanged a surprised look. This wasn't the usual Rudra they knew – aloof, arrogant, and generally unconcerned with anyone's well-being.

"Uh, thanks, Rudra," Kunj stammered, unsure of how to respond. "We'll manage."

Rudra nodded curtly, a wave of awkwardness washing over him. "Alright then," he said, his voice tight. "I'll...see you around."

With that, he turned and left, the weight of his unspoken concern heavy in his heart.

He needed to understand what was going on with him, why a simple freshman like Rohit had managed to pierce through his carefully constructed facade.

As he walked away, lost in his thoughts, he didn't see Anjali's playful smile or hear her whispered words to Kunj, "This is getting interesting..."

Back in the dorm room, Anjali settled beside Rohit on the bed, her earlier teasing forgotten. "Hey, sleepyhead," she said gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead.

Rohit stirred, a groan escaping his lips. "Anjali?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"

"Don't worry about the time," Anjali soothed. "Just rest. Kunj here took quite the hero turn, rushing you to the hospital in the middle of the night."

Kunj, who had been perched on a chair by the window, chuckled. "Hey, it was nothing. Anyone would have done the same."

Rohit's eyes fluttered open, a wave of gratitude washing over him. "Thanks, man," he said, his voice weak but sincere. "I don't know who I would have called at that time."

Kunj grinned. "That's what friends are for, right? Helping each other out. No need for thanks."

The conversation flowed easily, filled with concern and lighthearted banter. Finally, after a comfortable silence, Rohit's eyelids began to droop again.

"Just get some sleep, okay?" Anjali whispered, tucking the blanket around him. "We'll be here when you wake up."

Rohit nodded, a drowsy smile gracing his lips. Just as he drifted off to sleep, Anjali leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Oh, and guess who came to see you this morning?"

Rohit's eyes flew open, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "Who?" he managed to ask before sleep claimed him once more.

Anjali, a mischievous glint in her eyes, simply winked and left him hanging, the name "Rudra" unspoken but a secret promise of future entertainment.