Dev rolled his eyes thinking she’d leave once the weather got bad. An hour passed. Two hours passed. It started raining heavily. He sighed thinking that she might have left.

Still wanting to confirm whether she was home or not, he dialled the guard house again.

“Sahab!”

“Gyi wo ladki?”

“Pata nhi sahab. Mai toh andar baith gaya tha. Chali hi gyi hogi. Itni tez baarish mai kaha rukegi yaha.”

Dev pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“Check kro.”

“Jee sahab! Ek minute.”

The guard opened his umbrella and carefully stepped out because of the slippery floor. He looked outside the gate and was shocked to see Sakshi sitting against the wall. Her knees up to her chest and head resting against her knees. She was completely drenched and was shivering.

“Aye! Pagal ladki! Wapas kyu nhi gyi tum? Itni baarish mai yaha baithi ho, dimag kharab hai tumhara?”

The guard yelled. Dev could hear the faint noises but couldn’t make out if he was talking to someone or it was just rain.

“Dev se mile bina nhi jaaungi mai.”

The guard shook his head and rushed inside to tell Dev about the mad woman drenching herself in this thunder.

“Sahab! Bahar baithi hai wo ladki. Sar se paao tak bheegi hui hai aur thand mai kaanp rhi hai-”

That was all he heard before he cursed loudly and ran outside carrying two umbrellas. The guard saw him approaching and opened the gate.

“Dimag kharab hai tumhara? Yaha marne ke liye baithi ho itni baarish mai? Haalat dekhi hai apni? Pakdo isse!”

He yelled and handed her the umbrella. She shivered and took it from him with shaking hands. He held her forearm and pulled her inside along with him.

She stopped at the threshold and he gave her an irritated frown.

“What? Andar aane ka invitation bhijwau special?”

“Umm…mere kapde geele hai. Ghar ganda ho jaayega.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and she reprimanded herself for finding it hot. He was mad at her God’s sake.

“Sakshi! Mujhe already gussa aa raha hai, aur dimag mat kharab kro. Andar aao chup chap!”

She silently followed him inside. He took her to his room’s bathroom and gave her a towel and some of his clothes to change into.

Then he left her to change while he cleaned the mess created because of the water from her drenched clothes.

He then went back to his room and waited for her to come out. When she did, it took everything in him not to burst out laughing. She looked like a hanger in his clothes.

“Ye kapde kaha sukha du?”

“Mai daal dunga rehne do.”

Her eyes widened and a red hue covered her cheeks.

“Nhi! Mai…mai daal dungi. Bas bta do kaha daalne hai.”

He didn’t argue much and showed her the drying rack. She put her clothes to dry and then came to stand before him.

“Karna kya chahti ho? Kya prove krna chahti ho Sakshi?”

“Ye ki mai tumse sachme bhut pyaar krti hu Dev. And I will do anything to earn your forgiveness. Bas mujhe ek chance dedo Dev. Please!”

She whispered earnestly and he felt his resolve breaking. He had always pictured her in his home some day. And seeing her in his room, in his clothes, awakened a primal possessiveness in him.

“Ek chance dedu? Jisse tum phirse dokha de sko? Ya koi aur scandal aaya hai mere baare mai jispe tumhe bheja hai. Sting operation krne?”

He spat angrily and she lowered her head.

“I know maine galti kri hai. And I am ready to repent. Mai kr bhi rhi hu Dev. Tum khud bta do ki aisa kya kru jisse tumhari maafi mil ske.”

Tears formed in her eyes. He looked away and muttered angrily.

“Peecha chhod do mera!”

“Tum…tum pyaar nhi krte ab mujhse?”

He heard her broken whisper. He was so hurt that his mind didn’t work and he uttered anything that came to his mind.

“Nhi!”

He heard her gasp and then a constrained sob. He left like someone had squeezed his heart. Tears fell from his eyes too. They were both hurting. And he knew that only he could soothe their pain now. Everything depended on him now.

When he heard her trying to contain her sobs, his resolve broke. He turned around and pulled her in his arms. Her sobs broke free and she clutched him tighter while crying in his arms.

“I’m so so fucking mad at you.”

He whispered as he held her crying and shivering form.

“I…I am…sorry…please mujhe…maaf krdo Dev…ek…ek mauka aur dedo…please…I…I really…really love you.”

She said in a broken whisper. The excessive crying and the cold from getting drenched made her shiver uncontrollably. Dev noticed it and rubbed her back. He made her sit on the bed.

She clutched him tighter when he tried to get off to get her some warm blankets.

“Let me get you some blankets. You’re shivering.”

“No! I just want you. Mat jaao please.”

He made do with the quilt that he had on the bed and covered her with it. She clung to him and he rubbed her arm and back as he snuggled her to his body. They stayed in silence for quite a time. He made sure she was covered from head to toe and got the warmth of the quilt as well as his body.

“Dev?”

He heard her hoarse whisper and hummed.

“Please forgive me.”

He kissed her head and he held her closer.

“Do I take this as forgiveness?”

She asked hopefully. He looked at her and smiled. And then with a small chuckle, he hummed.

She hugged him and hid her face in the crook of his neck.

“I love you so much Dev.”

“I love you too.”

“I promise I’ll never hurt you again.”

“I know.”

He whispered and that’s how they spent the night cuddling into each other and whispering cute confessions.

Sakshi was a little disheartened when she woke up next morning. Dev wasn’t in bed with her. She picked up her phone to see the time and saw his message.

I had no heart to leave you but I had practice early. Didn’t want to wake you up. 

Not a breakfast guy but I made you some sandwiches. 

You’ll probably have to reheat them but don’t leave without eating.

I know you must have work today.

I’ll see you at your place when I get free.

Don’t miss me too much.

I love you.

She smiled seeing his messages and sighed clutching the pillow. They had his scent. God! She missed him already.