A Lot Like Moon & Stars | ✓

06 | rigel

vi.

R I G E L » the foundation

Tara flashes me a smile as I walk into the car with two cups of coffee fitted into the holder. "Hey, here it is. Your coffee."

She tugs onto the coffee cup from my hand, and inhales the smell of coffee. The smile on her face tells me that she simply loves the smell of it.

A sigh escapes my lips as I finish the last sip of my coffee, when I see Tara wrapping her arms around herself. I realize that the temperature of the place is unusually low. "Are you cold? You can take my hoodie for a bit of time because it's getting too cold, and the last thing I want is you catching a fever or cold because of me."

Tara laughs, shaking her head a little. "Why are you babbling, Virat? Chill, it's not like I'm dying." She turns around, and grabs the hoodie, and pulls it on. It's a little large for her, and she tugs at the hem of her sleeves and pulls it to cover her palms.

"I know but there's a part of me... always worried for you. I can't help when you are a living magnet for danger."

"Maybe that I am." she states simply, and tips her head against the headrest. She doesn't look at me, and closes her eyes, silently breathing. Tara has been quiter than usual, which amuses me a little.

"Tara, why are you so quiet and submissive today? Are you feeling okay? "

"Yeah." she smiles at me, her eyes twinkling back to her normal self which reminds me of the stars every now and then. "It's just not a practice for my friends to wake me up at four to ask me to accompany then on a drive." I wave her off and mutter a whatever. "If you're tired then I can drive you, you know?" Tara suggests sounding serious.

I laugh, "Tara, you seem to be the driving sister of Lewis Hamilton. So not really, thanks."

Tara's jaws drop to the floor, as she fakes a gasp, "Excuse me, I am a very, very, very capable driver. Don't talk shit."

"But I am not allowing you to drive. Sorry." I shake my head in denial.

Tara sinks into her seat, and puffs her cheeks in exasperation. "Fine. I am turning on the stereo then." she taps the button, and turns on the volume to its maximum. A small smirk forms on her lips, knowing that I hate this type of music. But somhow, her laughters melts into my heart, matching my heartbeats.

I shrug, "Remind me why I am driving since five hours for you?" I ask. Instantly, Tara's laughter dies down, and the trace of her beautiful smile becomes invisible.

She looks out of the window. "Why are we driving to Himachal?" I ask again, secretly hoping we aren't going to the place I never want to.

"We are driving to Kasauli." Tara simply states, and the horrors of that incident unfolds in the front of my eyes. I hadn't faced that night, but somehow whatever I felt feels more real than the reality itself.

I shake my head, and almost add incredulously, "Don't tell me we are driving there to see them."

"Virat, I just want to tell you that trust me, you want this. You need this closure more than anyone else. Do you really think your best friend would be happy thinking that his death is the reason for your nightmares?"

"That night... I can never forget how the bus upturned because of that horrifying landslide. People call it miracle that I was alive, but I feel so empty on the inside. It's been three extremely excruciating years, Tara, and I don't think they would even forgive me for not turning up when I was needed the most. And why are you doing this to me? This is not a jigsaw puzzle. We are not supposed to find its pieces and fix them together to pass our time." As I say it, I feel like I'm shrinking onto my skin.