Shining Fragments of a Heartbeat

Drive

The drive began in comfortable silence, the familiar hum of the engine blending with the faint strains of a popular Hindi song playing softly through the speakers of Anaya's i10. As the melody filled the small space, she began to hum along, her voice flowing like warm honey. Each note seemed to weave into the song's fabric, blending effortlessly, and for a moment, Ranath was captivated. He knew Anaya had always been fond of music, but he had never heard her sing in all their interactions. She sang beautifully.

Ranath found himself stealing glances at her, mesmerised by how her lips moved perfectly harmoniously with the melody and how her fingers gently tapped the steering wheel. The tension between them all day seemed to melt away briefly, replaced by this simple, shared moment of peace.

When they finally reached the medical store, Anaya parked the car smoothly, the song's last notes trailing off as she turned off the engine. They stepped out, the mundane task of buying medicines, pulling them back to reality. Inside the store, Anaya quickly handed over the prescription for her grandparents, and they waited as the pharmacist prepared the necessary medications. Before Anaya could even reach into her wallet, Ranath had already paid the bill and collected the bag of medicines.

"You know I can pay for them, right?" Anaya said, her voice laced with annoyance as she glanced at him.

Ranath shrugged nonchalantly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Consider it done."

Anaya shot him a mildly irritated look but decided not to argue further. She turned her eyes away from his smug expression, and as they stepped out of the store, something else caught her attention—a small ice cream shop across the street. Anaya's mood immediately lifted, and a smile spread on her lips. "Cornerhouse" she whispered excited. 

Ranath watched her in amusement as she made a beeline for the shop. Inside, she didn't hesitate to order her favorite dessert—DBC, a decadent chocolate ice cream concoction she had loved since her college days. After instructing the shopkeeper to pack it all in one large box, she turned to collect the bag, only to find Ranath handing over cash again.

"You don't need to pay for everything," Anaya protested, clearly exasperated.

But Ranath shrugged again and walked out of the tiny shop. He didn't say a word, which only irritated her further. Anaya took a deep breath, grabbed the ice cream box, shook her head, and followed him, determined not to let him get under her skin. As she walked out of the ice cream parlor, Ranath glanced at her, noticing she wasn't eating any of the ice creams.

"Aren't you going to eat?" he asked, puzzled.

Anaya flashed him a sly smile. "You don't want me eating ice cream in public," she said with a wicked glint in her eyes.

Ranath raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Why not?"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," she teased, tossing the car keys in his direction with a playful flick of her wrist. "You drive, I eat."

Ranath caught the keys effortlessly, his eyes narrowing in suspicion, but he couldn't help the grin that crept onto his face. He climbed into the driver's seat as Anaya settled into the passenger side, immediately opening the box of DBC and digging in with a small spoon.

Before he could start the car, Anaya gave him a serious look. "Eyes on the road and put the music on high volume if needed. But don't crash or scratch my car," she instructed the authority in her tone, almost making him laugh.

Ranath frowned, turning to look at her. "I'm a good driver. You already know that."

"I'm sure," she replied casually, scooping up her first bite of ice cream.

"And take the long route home. I want to finish my ice cream in peace."

Shaking his head, Ranath chuckled under his breath and decided to humor her. He pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the highway, which stretched to Mysore, offering a scenic and quiet route. The music played in the background, but her a moan caught his attention.

Startled, Ranath turned his head to see her savoring a mouthful of DBC; her eyes closed in pleasure as chocolate sauce dripped tantalizingly from the corner of her mouth. His throat tightened, and he quickly returned to the road, feeling an odd heat rise in his chest.

But then she moaned again, the sound sending an unexpected jolt through him. He swallowed hard, gripping the steering wheel tighter as his imagination ran wild. All he could think about was Anaya making that same sound—but in a different place and situation. For the next half hour, the car was filled with the sound of her soft moans, each one pulling his attention away from the road and toward her. He was acutely aware of her movement as she brought the spoon to her lips. It became harder and harder to focus, and finally, he'd had enough.

Taking a sharp turn, Ranath veered off the highway and into a secluded clearing hidden from the main road. No one would venture here, especially not at this time of the day. The car came to a stop, shielded by trees, and Ranath switched off the engine. Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Anaya was still licking the chocolate off her spoon, her eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.

He turned to watch her, his pulse racing as she let the spoon glide between her lips, savoring the last remnants of chocolate. The sound of her moan echoed in his mind, and for the first time, he didn't want to stop himself from imagining where this could go. Silence stretched between them, thick with the tension they both seemed to be ignoring.

Anaya's eyes finally fluttered open, cat ching his gaze. "What?" she asked, her voice innocent, though her smile said otherwise.

Ranath's heart pounded in his chest, his mind whirling. He knew he shouldn't be doing it, but suddenly couldn't resist.