𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-8

Rudraksh slowly opened his eyes, wincing as a sharp pain pierced through his skull like thousands of knives. He groggily lifted his head, only to let it fall back onto the pillow with a thud. The room spun around him, and his mouth felt like the sahara desert.

His vision cleared, revealing unfamiliar yet familiar surroundings, confusion etched on his face. "Sid... darth's room? What in the world am I doing here?" he questioned in a whisper, his voice laced with panic.

He gingerly sat up, holding his head in his hands as if his mind might shatter under the weight of confusion. "Ugh, damn it! My head is going to explode." He let out a pained groan, his eyes scanning the room for any clues about the previous night's events.

Just then, the door swung open, and Siddharth walked in with a tray bearing a steaming bowl of hangover soup and a glass of water. His bright smile was a stark contrast to Rudraksh's miserable state. "Good afternoon, Sunshine!" Siddharth chimed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Rudraksh, still clutching his head, looked up at Siddharth with pleading eyes. "Sid... what... what happened last night?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Siddharth set the tray down on the side table, folded his arms against his chest, and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's what happens when you try to drink entire bar dry, my friend," he commented with a chuckle, his tone laced with amusement and a hint of concern.

He let out a deep sigh, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. He walked over to his cupboard, pulled out a fresh set of clothes, and handed them to Rudraksh. "Go, freshen up. We have a lot to discuss," he demanded, his voice firm but gentle.

Rudraksh nodded silently, understanding the unspoken message. He took the clothes and trudged towards the bathroom. The sounds of running water and muffeled groans filled the air as he tried to shake off the lingering fogginess.

Around thirty minutes later, Rudraksh emerged from the bathroom, looking slightly more human, wearing grey-coloured trousers and a white-coloured full sleeves shirt. His damp, slightly long hair clung to his face, covering his eyes and nose as he wiped it back with a towel. The bloodshot eyes added a hint of intimidation to his appearance. With his grown beard, which was nearing ascetic lengths, Siddharth couldn't help but notice the resemblance to a mystical sage.

Siddharth gazed at him with a mixture of empathy and amusement. "Okay?" he asked softly, his brows furrowed in concern.

Rudraksh nodded again, this time with a hint of gratitude. Siddharth nodded back, his expression softening. "First, have this soup. It'll help with the headache." He handed Rudraksh the bowl, and Rudraksh took a seat beside him on the couch, his movements still a bit stiff.

As Rudraksh took the first sip, his eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, Siddharth! I had no idea, you could cook this better. This is amazing." He took another sip, the flavors dancing on his taste buds.

Siddharth chuckled, a warm smile spread across his face. "Thanks, I learned from Maa. She wants me to be self-sufficient, so I wouldn't have to depend on anyone," he said with a chuckle, shaking his head in amusement.

They sat there in a comfortable silence, and Rudraksh felt a sense of gratitude towards Siddharth. He realised that his friend had been taking care of him, nursing him back to health, and now was offering him a lifeline to confront the events of the previous night.

After a while, Siddharth placed a gentle hand around Rudraksh's shoulder, his voice calm and measured, "Rudraksh, we've been best friends since childhood, haven't we?" Rudraksh nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding his questioning gaze.