Elysian

Priceless smile

Aditi

"Why don't you talk much, Aditi?" Nandini asked me during our game.

Her question made me even more quiet; I had no answer. Did I really dislike talking? What did she want to know? Was she some spy trying to dig up secrets and then leaving college? I glanced at her, and she seemed genuinely sweet. Why would she do that? But what if I was onto something...

"Aditi...!!!" Nandini broke my thoughts.
"Uh, y-yes..."
"You seemed lost in thought. Did I say something wrong?" She looked at me with curiosity.
"N-no, it's nothing. I just prefer not to talk," I sighed and turned my focus back to the game.

___________________________________________

Raghav

"Come on, Raghav. Hurry up, or we'll be late!" Saksham nearly yelled at me.
"Bro, chill. I'm coming," I replied as I combed my hair.
"Dude, if you have done with your sajna sawarna, let's leave, we need to leave to pick them up."

He practically dragged me to the car, excitement bubbling over as he giggled and blushed all over the way to Aditi's place. MEN IN LOVE, RIGHT? We arrived at Aditi's place, and Saksham hopped out before even parking properly.

"Just park the car and catch up,"

He said gleefully, sprinting towards the corridor, just to catch a glimpse of Nandini. I shook my head, smiling like someone had just lit a spark inside me.

"Excuse me?" the watchman inquired.
"Uh, yes?" I replied, lowering my tone.
"You need to park in the designated area; you can't leave it here," he instructed.
I sighed, parked the car, and made my way to Aditi's apartment.

To my surprise, the gate was open, and I saw Saksham already inside. He and Nandini were locked in a blushing gaze, while Aditi shot them a disgusted look. The room was thick with silence.

"WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, GUYS?" she suddenly yelled, breaking the tension.
"Raghav..." he murmured, not breaking eye contact.
"Oh, I'm here..." Aditi said, looking at me.

___________________________________________

Aditi

As soon as Raghav spoke, I stared at him, unable to look away. His brown eyes held mine, and he wore a black shirt and formal jeans; his hair was perfectly styled, just a bit damp, and it suited him. My mouth parted slightly as I saw him in, he smiled as he tilted his head.

"Hi Aditi!!" he said cheerfully. Suddenly, I felt my mysterious persona slip away, and I smiled back, responding, "Hi..."

Oh no, why did I smile? I blinked rapidly, trying to process the moment by looking away. Raghav had already caught me blushing he just smirked and changed the topic.

"I think we should leave now, it's already 11."

Nandini and saksham stood up as saksham took 2 bags out of 4 and asked Raghav to bring the other 2 and they left. I was looking towards the floor as Raghav picked up the bags and walked towards the door, he turned back towards me...

"I think you should smile often, you look priceless while smiling,"

He smirks as he proceeds to leave the room. Hearing that, made me skip a beat, his sentence made me blank, I gulped and sighed as soon as he left the room. I stood up locked my apartment and left. I saw the car and walked to it, I saw Raghav there and got nervous immediately, realizing just a single action could embarrass me. I sniffed as I hopped into the car. Nandini sat beside me, while Raghav and Saksham sat in the front.

Now it was about midnight, we had already crossed Delhi, Nandini and Raghav had already slept, I was playing games as usual and Saksham was driving as he was having gusts of sleep but still he was trying to drive, I noticed this twice but didn't say something. I looked at Raghav, who was just looking so innocent like a kid while sleeping, his skin was looking so soft as cotton and his hair was now dried, as soon as I caught myself admiring him I just looked away from him and turned my face towards the window. And that moment I jerked from Saksham's seat because of his gusts of sleep, we were about to collide car. He looked back towards me, as Nandini and Raghav were in so deep sleep that bumping didn't work for them. He nervously smiled at me and I stared at him. After some time, I was driving and saksham was snoring at the back.

"Itni neend arahi thi toh why didn't he say something," I murmured, he snored even harder and I sighed.
After some time saksham woke up, "where are we?"
"Crossed Uttar Pradesh..."
"What??? Itni jaldi??? What time is it?"
"4 am I guess."
"Don't guess, it's actually 4, but Aditi do you have super powers?? How'd you cross Uttar Pradesh??"
"Over-speeding.."
"Oh, btw, aage there will be a dhabha, restaurant or something, please gaadi rok dena I'm hungry." I nodded

After some time, there was a restaurant, I stopped the car as Nandini woke up, she blushed seeing saksham beside him.

"Good morning nandini." Saksham smiled.
"Good morning..." Nandini blushed even more.
"Are you hungry?" I was disgusted by my face hearing that.
"No actually."

Nandini denied him, if would be at her place, might've slapped him but okay. I think I should accept some sweet people do exist. Saksham got out of the car came to Raghav's window and tried to wake him up but he didn't, he slapped Saksham's hand and went back to sleep.

"Aditi, do you want something?"
"Water."
"Okay, I'll get you."
"Wait, take this." I gave him a note of 100.
"Oh no why, paani he toh hai I'll get, we're fine you don't have to wo-"
"Cut crap and take this, or else I won't be drinking it."

He gulped as he took the money, he was disgusted by my actions but I didn't do something wrong. I sat straight as my one hand was on the gear and the other was on the steering wheel. Raghav who was sleeping, put his hand on my hand in sleep, I widened my brows and eyes cause, what in the world does he have to hold my hand in that way? Nandini saw this and got nervous thinking of something else about us.

"I- I think I sh-should use the restroom." She ran like literally, ran. I was shocked as I removed my hand from there.