When you Say Goodbye

Secret

The only way to beat Monika was somehow driving past her. Ditiya knew all of Monika's moves. Ditiya began to dribble the ball glancing at the basket, thinking she was going to try a long shot, she ran toward the basket saving the ball to be snatched by other girls as she came close to the basket, she jumped and put the ball in the basket and the whistle went. 'A basket.' Instead of landing smoothly on the ground, her ankle twisted and she fell, pain seized her ankle and refused to let go.

"Let me see." Aisha examined the injured leg, causing Ditiya to cry out in pain. The ankle was swelling rapidly. Her throat burned but the girl didn't move. Instead, Ditiya felt arms around her, they were encircling her and then she was pulled into warmth but now she couldn't see anyone. She was being dragged, moved, and embraced but there was no one else here.

"Ditiya, wake up. Why are you crying.... you are home, you're safe. Wake up." That sounded like Dhruv but he could not there, Ditiya could not see him anywhere.

"You're safe, I'm here. I've got you, Ditiya." She opened her eyes to find herself sweating badly and surrounded by Dhruv. By his arms, his chest, and his smell, his stubble was tickling Ditya's face and his arms were holding him in place. For the first after a nightmare, she felt anchored.

Her body stopped shaking; Dhruv was still holding her tight. Ditiya's face was nestled into his chest and his arms circle around her back and his big hands are grounding her. She stayed like that for a moment before pulling back.

'You're not allowed she is your friend's boyfriend.' The voice inside her head sneered at her.

"Sorry, I'm sorry I didn't—"

"No, hey. No, don't apologize." Dhruv said, soothing her with his voice.

"Thanks."

"Let me get you some water." she stayed on the sofa while Dhruv was gone, pulled herself together. She had not let anyone see her like this, it would give them power over her - a power to destroy her. It made her feel vulnerable. However, for some reason, she didn't feel like she had lost anything right then.

"Here." He sat down next to Ditiya but didn't bring up the dream or didn't start offering her advice, Ditiya thwarted the urge to reached over and touch him. Just touch his arm or lean into him or anything really.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." That was all he said before turning back toward the TV. She looked around in confusion for a moment before she realized that she was still in the sitting room and must have she had fallen asleep on the couch.

Ditiya felt that familiar tug in her chest, she just wanted to reach out and tangled their fingers together but she knew he has no right. So she settled for quiet thanks.

"Thanks, Dhrubu." The name slipped out without her consent, she didn't want to call him by his nickname but Dhruv's lips twitched into a small smile so she let it be.

The evening had the quiet, lazy feel of a winter, but it slipped into a comfortable banter as Dhruv mixed rice and dal for making khichdi. They were in no mood to eat daily's pasta salad after all something Indian is always good. Dhruv made Khichdi while Ditiya interrupted him with funny stories that made him bend in half and slap his knees while laughing like a lunatic.

Ditiya was really enjoying this, she never thought but Dhruv was appreciating her sense of humor and was not laughing just for the sake of it. Dhruv kept complaining about how she was letting him cook but then every time there was a new joke, he stopped stirring the rice and hunched over giggling.

"I wanted to punch her in the damn throat. I mean, who she thought she was, acting like it was no big deal... And no it is not a joke,"

"I never said it is a joke," Dhruv giggled