𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-16

Bhangra: Lively Punjabi folk dance/music.

Changu‑Mangu: Playful term for two inseparable pals.

-*-*-

Ira emerged from the bathroom, clutching her abdomen and walking with heavy steps. Her puffy eyes, evidence of another late night, fell on the pendulum clock hanging on the wall, and they widened.

"1:15 p.m."

"Oh, you're up, beta." Vaidehi's sarcastic tone made Ira turn toward her. "Why bother getting up at all? Just sleep through the day and wake up for dinner. That's your routine now, isn't it?"

Ira's expression soured as she limped toward her room. "Papa's not home, so she wants to argue with me," she muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?" Vaidehi snapped.

"Nothing," Ira whispered, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Where are you going?!"

"Please don't shout," Ira pleaded.

"Don't shout? Don't shout! You sleep till 1:30 p.m. and then tell me not to shout? You've been sleeping all day, every day, for a year now! If you had studied for that medical exam, you'd be taking it this year!"

Ira’s teeth gritted at the mention of the medical exam, the cramps in her abdomen making her feel worse. Furrowing her eyebrows, she stormed toward the stairs, her firm footsteps echoing as they drowned out Vaidehi's continuous yelling in the background.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

"Yep, yeah. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Rudraksh paced back and forth in his room, pressing the phone against his ear. His grey nightwear were rumpled, resonating with his stuck out dark hair in every direction.

He chewed on the corner of his mouth, listening to the voice on the other end. "Hm... hm... yeah, of course, man. I'm bored too; been stuck inside these four walls for a whole month."

With a grin that reached his ears, he hung up and walked toward the wardrobe, whistling a cheerful tune. His fingers trailed over the rows of shirts, until he pulled out a coffee-colored shirt and a pair of dark black jeans.

With a satisfied smile, he tossed the clothes onto the bed. Then, gathering his innerwear and towel, he finally headed into the bathroom.

About ten minutes later, he emerged in his innerwear, rubbing his wet hair vigorously with the towel. Quickly, he slipped into his jeans and shirt, the fabrics clinging lightly to his still-damp body.

Opening the wardrobe once more, he began searching for something warm to wear before stepping out. "It's not that cold, and I'm already hot," he murmured with a smug smile, winking at himself as he moved toward the dressing table.

As he dried his hair with the blower, his gaze drifted to the stitched mark on his forehead. Every muscle in his body tensed, his thoughts inexorably drawn to her. His fingers moved on their own, tracing the scar—

The shrill ringtone of his phone made his eyes squeeze shut. He jerked his head once before answering. "I'll be there in ten minutes," he said, his tone neutral.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Rudraksh walked toward the main gate, twirling his bike key around his forefinger as his footsteps followed the tune humming from his lips.

"Where are you going, beta?" Anusuiya's eyes, warm with maternal worry, searched his face as she stepped closer.

Rudraksh's facial muscles twitched with a hint of annoyance. Without turning around, he replied in a detached tone, "To a friend's. I'll be back by eight."