DEV(i)

5. Just best friends? ~

Dev dragged himself out of bed, the lingering remnants of sleep still clinging to him. His hair was a mess, his eyes barely open, and all he could think about was how much he wanted to crawl back under the covers. But Srinika's message had pulled him out of that comfort zone once again. His best friend was in one of her usual messes—another issue with Aakash, the guy who never seemed to leave her mind.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as he reached for his car keys. "Why does she keep letting him do this?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His voice had that edge of frustration that came with knowing someone deserves better, but not being able to convince them of it...

Dev was an entrepreneur, and time was something he didn't have much of. His days were packed with meetings, calls, and dealing with clients. Every free moment was precious, and yet here he was, about to drive through a rainstorm to pick up his best friend. He knew he could've said no, told her to deal with it herself, but that wasn't who he was—especially not with Srinika.

Still, that didn't stop him from feeling frustrated. He tossed a towel over his shoulder instead of grabbing an extra umbrella, muttering under his breath about how she could be so careless with her feelings. But as he stepped out into the rain, the cold droplets hitting his skin, Dev's resolve kicked in. No matter how many times Srinika found herself stuck in this emotional loop, he'd be there for her. That's what best friends did, even when it was hard.

As he drove, the rain pounded against the windshield in heavy sheets, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. The rhythmic thudding of the wipers matched his thoughts. His mind kept circling back to Srinika and her inability to let go of Aakash. It wasn't just about the guy; it was about her whole mindset, her tendency to cling to the idea of something that wasn't there.

By the time Dev pulled up to the lab, he spotted her instantly. Srinika stood half-soaked, leaning against the gate, as if the rain didn't bother her at all. Typical, he thought. She probably let herself get wet on purpose, just to feel something other than the mess in her head.

He sighed as he stepped out of the car, towel in hand. "Sri, what are you doing?" he called out, his voice louder than usual to cut through the sound of the rain. "You're soaking wet!"

Srinika looked up, a cheeky smile on her face. She didn't look embarrassed or guilty—if anything, she looked amused. "I couldn't resist, Dev," she said with a shrug, her arms crossed casually. "The rain felt nice."

Dev handed her the towel, shaking his head. "You're going to catch a cold standing out here like this." He draped the towel around her shoulders, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

She pouted playfully, pulling the towel tighter around her. "You're always worrying," she teased, leaning into his arm. "I knew you'd come to save me."

He rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Yeah, because standing in the rain waiting for a knight in shining armor is a great plan."

Srinika just grinned, hugging his arm a little tighter. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

Dev couldn't help but chuckle as they walked towards the car. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Srinika pouted, clutching the towel tighter. "I'm not an idiot. I just... like the rain, okay?" Then, almost immediately, she brightened up. "Hey, can we go to a tea stall? I could kill for a hot cup of chai right now."

Dev raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Are you serious? Sri, it's 8:30. Your mom's gonna kill you, and I'm not catching a cold just because you've got random chai cravings."

She huffed, crossing her arms like a stubborn child. "Fine. But you're no fun."

"Yeah, yeah, blame me for having common sense." He gently nudged her toward the car. "Now come on, I'm driving you home."

Srinika grinned, clearly not sorry. "What can I say? I missed the rain. Plus, you came to rescue me, so it's all good."

Dev mocked a scowl. "You're unbelievable. Next time, bring an umbrella."

She stuck out her tongue. "But then you wouldn't have a reason to come save me."

He rolled his eyes again. "Yeah, sure. Because I love dragging myself out of bed at 8 PM, when all I was trying to have was a luxury sleep after a week of professional mishap, to pick up my rain-drenched best friend. Totally my idea of fun."

Srinika laughed, as they walked to the car. "Admit it, you missed me."

Dev shot her a side-eye, "Yeah, yeah. Let's get you home before you catch a cold."

As they got in and shut the doors, the car felt instantly warmer. The rain continued to beat down outside, but inside it was quiet except for the hum of the engine. They sat for a moment in comfortable silence before Dev started the car and began driving. The city streets were slick with water, reflecting the glow of the streetlights like tiny rivers running through the roads.

Srinika stared out the window, the rain blurring the world outside. 'Ajeeb Dastan Hai Ye' came on the radio, and she smiled softly. "This song," she murmured, almost to herself. "It always gets to me. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Dev glanced at her, his chest tightening a little as he watched her lost in thought. There was something about her in moments like this—so quiet, so reflective—that made him forget about everything else. "Yeah," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "It is... like you."

She turned her head sharply, her eyes wide in surprise. "Did you just call me beautiful?" There was a teasing edge to her voice, but underneath it, there was curiosity too.

Dev's face flushed, and he quickly shook his head. "No, I mean, I was talking about the song... Not you. I mean—" He fumbled for words, clearly flustered.

Srinika's laughter filled the car, light and musical, cutting through the tension. "Relax, Dev," she said, still giggling. "I'm just messing with you. You're too easy."

He let out a long breath, trying to recover. "God, you're impossible."

"I know," she said with a smirk, leaning back in her seat, looking entirely pleased with herself.

The rain outside continued its steady drumming, creating a comforting background noise as they drove through the quiet streets. The tension from earlier seemed to evaporate, replaced by the easy companionship that always existed between them. They didn't need to fill the silence with words. It was enough just to be there, driving through the night with nothing but the rain and the occasional hum of the radio.

As they neared her house, Dev broke the silence. "Sri, don't let Aakash get to you anymore, alright? He's not worth it."

She didn't look at him right away, just kept her eyes on the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass. "I know," she said softly. "It's just... hard sometimes."

Dev nodded, understanding the weight behind her words. "I know it is. But you've got me. Always."

Srinika teasingly smiled at him, "I know bestie-"

For now, being her best friend was enough.

At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

~.~

To be continue...