Safe haven [Yourstoryindia]

chapter 14: Mere promises.

Someone was taking her to her bed. She could feel that, how gently that person carried her and tucked her in. She tried to open her eyes but it felt too heavy, to obey her weak command. So she lay there, with closed eyes. The person who carried her, was sitting on her bed now, so close that she could smell his faint cologne. It was lavender or musk she wasn't sure.
Then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
'Do you have any idea how hard I fell for you..?' he was asking or talking to himself in a barely audible voice. Then he sighed heavily and with a small pat on her shoulder, he was gone...

Anusha jerked awake, sitting up with her heart pounding.
'What happened? What was that?' she touched her forehead involuntarily, her skin was tingling under her fingers or was she imagining things.

She looked around and felt bit disoriented and her head was hurting like a train was running over her head. She rubbed her forehead and her throat was dry. She got her phone from the side table. It was past 9. She got up from the bed and walked to the kitchen. Poured some water for herself and tried to make sense of everything.

Her kitchen was clean except for the wine bottle, burned candles and two glasses.

Suddenly everything made sense. She had fought with Ansa and drank the wine and she even lit the candles. Then what happened??

She tried to remember the night but her head was pounding and she felt like throw up.
She ran to the sink but nothing came out. She washed her face. Her face was still flushed, and eyes were puffy. She looked disheveled, out of her usual self.
She quickly showered and dressed in a skirt and striped top. Her head was still pounding but she felt a bit oriented now. She took her phone and walked to Rashi's.

Rashi was about to call Anusha when she appeared in the kitchen door with bloodshot eyes and flushed cheeks.

' Oh.. I was about to call you. Good morning' Rashi greeted her while placing Ninnu on her small chair with some finger chips.

'Good morning Rashi' Anusha replied while trying to sound normal but failed terribly.

'Oh god..what happened to you Anusha?? You look kind of strange??'
Rashi raised her eyebrows while scrutinizing her friend.

Anusha squirmed under her friends narrowing gaze.
They were of same age, and close friends but Anusha felt like a kid got caught by her mom, while trying to steal a candy.

'Uh.. nothing Rashi. Just tired a little...'
She said without meeting her eyes.

'Then why are you wobbling Anusha? Did you drink the wine last night?'
Anusha chewed her lip.

' How did you know?'

'God Anusha.. Arlene told me yesterday about her gift for you. It was an expensive wine. She told me to go and party with you on Christmas.'

Anusha felt her cheeks getting hot in shame.

'I just got upset with Ansa for something and drank wine. I was out of my mind I think. '

Rashi smiled at her. 'that may be true. So are you feeling good about a drunken night??

'No.. I feel worse. My head is hurting and I want to puke every second but nothing is coming out. '
She sat down on a chair and rubbed her head.

Rashi handed her a cup of water and some toast which she tried to eat but her nausea feeling kept her away from actually eating anything. So she drank some more water and gulped down the ibuprofen tab Rashi gave her.

Anusha was still thinking about her weird dream. She tried to recall what happened in the night. The two used wine glasses on her kitchen counter mocked and confused her. She was drinking with someone...and her instincts and probability pointed it was none other than Alvin and that made a clutch in the pit of her stomach.