The Life Of An Indian Girl

He Picked Up Her Broken Pieces

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"Sometimes to self-discover you must self-destruct."
― Robert M. Drake

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His head rested on my lap, the TV played a movie in front of us as he watched and I watched him, his soft short hair was messy, sticking out in every direction. His tongue unconsciously ran along his bottom lip, wetting it and awaking a warm feeling in me.

My fingers were tangled in his hair, his hand was holding my other and his long legs were slung over the arm rest of the couch. He was too damn tall. But I liked it.

His particularly long eyelashes frames those eyes of enchanting brown hues.

I was deep in thought, prom was approaching swiftly... I had not yet asked him because of the misunderstanding that happened a week ago. I wanted to do it right.

"What're you thinking about, baby?" We'd laid in silence for a little more than half an hour, so his voice was deep, slightly croaky and incredibly amazing to hear.

My eyes quickly found his, those hypnotizing dark orbs were going to be the end of me.

"Who did you take to prom?" I asked, my voice calm and gentle. His pupils widened, he sucked in a sharp breath and got up. His back was to me as he sat on the sofa and he turned around to face me.

I could see the tears brimming his eyes, I suddenly felt bad for asking him.

"Rahul, it's fine. You don't have t—" I was silenced with a pair of soft lips on my own. My eyes closed and I pulled him closer by the nape of his neck. The kiss was slow, sensual and desperate for comfort. Fervent, his hands were at my waist pulling me closer.

He pulled back, running his tongue on his bottom lip before staring down at his hands that now lay on his thighs.

"What was that for?" I questioned, a small happy smile was on my lips.

"Courage," he answered before holding my hands in his. He bit his now red bottom lip before stealing a glance at me.

He cleared his throat and looked away, I was pretty sure it was to blink back tears.

"Arjun had a girlfriend," he said, I didn't know Arjun personally... Only seen photographs, his smile was dazzling, content as he had an arm slung around  Rahul's neck. He was little shorter that Rahul, his hair was light brown and was cut very short. He seemed like a part of me, since he was a part of Rahul. Never known the man, but the love Rahul had for his late brother moved me. I'd developed an attachment towards Arjun.

It listened, gaze soft and comforting as Rahul tentatively peered at me from under his eyelashes. I brought his hand up to my lips, placing a small kiss on his knuckles.

"He—," Rahul stopped, looking down at our in twined hands. "Arjun always made fun of me, I never really wanted to ask a girl to prom because there wasn't anyone for me... Back then," A contagious smile broke out on his face, my cheeks flushed.

"At that time, he went out with a junior. Fiery little thing she was— had him wrapped around her pinky." He said, a chuckle escaped his lips as his hands squeezed mine gently.

"She wouldn't take his shit, he was tearing his hair out because she refused to go out with him in the beginning of our senior year. Poor guy," he continued, shaking his head a little.

"Months before prom — and the accident," his eyes flashed with hurt and I let go of his hands and pulled him into a hug instead. A long hug, we stayed like that for a while. His once quickened and shallow breathing turned peaceful as he placed a hand on the small of my back.