[a desi bus romance] Vijay and Nila have only one thing in common - they take the same bus at the same time everyday. What if this mere commonality steers their life into a whirlpool of uninvited feelings, wholesome conversations and unexpected conn...
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"So, how did you know I was there?" Nila asked, sitting on Vijay's lap as she speared pasta and put it in her mouth. "Did Krish tell you?"
"They were in on this?"
Nila chuckled. "So, they kept their promise. That's nice to hear."
"I can't believe they didn't tell me. Those traitors. Farah even told me I was hallucinating," Vijay grumbled and took a bite of pasta that Nila fed him.
"You never answered my question."
"I just knew, silver. Call it boyfriend instincts."
"Sure. That makes a lot of sense," Nila said. "You expect me to believe that you relied on your instincts and came all the way to my flat?"
"For that, I might have had some help," Vijay said and told her about Kayal's message. Her sister was someone who disliked meddling in others' business but the fact that she'd done it for her made her feel somewhat special. Nila made a mental note to bring it up and make Kayal admit her undying love for her. "I also called her. A while back. I was worried---"
"Yeah, I know. She told me."
"I'm sorry. I kinda panicked that day."
"It's fine. We had a long talk. I told her everything. The conversation went much better than I expected."
"When Nishanth used to talk about her, I thought he was exaggerating. But your sister is actually pretty fucking cool."
"I know right?" Nila grinned.
She placed the empty bowl on the table and leaned back against Vijay's chest. Vijay slid his arms around her and pressed his lips against her shoulder. She brought her hand up to card through his dark curls. "Are you talking to your mother now?"
"Yeah. I couldn't stay mad at her for long. But I think it worked to an extent, you know. Apparently, Pa had been talking to her about us a lot and somehow, he changed her mind. She sat me down and talked to me about the entire thing one day. It's not that she didn't like you. She really did. But she also liked your sister when Nishanth brought her home. Ma had judged Kayal to have a rebellious air around her. But even she chose her family over Nishanth in the end. In you, she didn't see that rebellious nature. So, she assumed you wouldn't fight for us. That you would let me go in the end."
Nila felt guilty. "I almost did," she whispered.
Vijay released a weak laugh and held her tight. "You could've tried all you want, silver. You wouldn't have succeeded."
"I wish I was as confident as you."
"Nila, listen," he said, grabbing her face by the chin and making her face him. "I don't care about that. I just want you to talk to me when you're not confident. I want you to tell me so that I can give you the security and strength you need. I can remind you that there is nothing I wouldn't do for you in this world."
