Bit Broken.

Late Night.

We had quite fallen into a routine. We would get to college together. I would still sit in the last bench. She would sit in the first with that moron, Vijay. I would stare at her. She would sometimes look back and smile. After the classes, Tara and I would get to the market, roam a bit and eat the usual ice-cream, I the cheapest and she would take the Double Decker Tooty fruity, from the same ice cream parlor. We would sit for a while and then get back. Three days a week, I would go to her room and make her learn the classes, take quizzes and answer her stupid questions. I told you...she was not so smart. Also we would chat about anything and everything. I usually didn't talk much, she was the one who did most of the talking and I just listened.  I didn't want to blabber anything that would ruin what was going on between us. Let's say I was afraid to confess my feeling...I had no idea if she was into girls or not.

"This is really confusing..." Tara played with her hair, tangling and releasing the strands in between her fingers in slow circular motions. She was sitting on the gaming chair, staring at the notes I sent her on her computer. I was sitting on the bean bag, my foot in the colorful huge jute carpet.

"Yeah...it is but I suggest, you watch some good videos on game theory. I have some links I'll sent them to you." I had just bought a new laptop and  a new phone. It is actually simpler to study when you have good gadgets.

"Ugh...strategies, players, equilibrium....I hate studying!"  She scooted the chair towards me and brought her lips close to my left ear. "Do you want to sneak out?" She whispered.

Chills ran down my spine. Her warm breath falling on my ear was enough to get me excited.

"What...What do you mean?" My throat was all dry. My voice cracked in between.

"How about a late night movie?" She put her hands on my shoulders and bent to bring her face closer to mine. Her eyes sparking, her lips had a naughty smile, a golden chain dangling from her neck and then my eyes fell on her chest. My eyes were glued at the perfect black line that peeped from the space between her skin and the round neck tee shirt. She wore a pink bra with a lacy little bow and a shiny stone attached to it. I wanted to look away but just couldn't. I couldn't resist.  My ears went hot again. I quickly shifted my gaze to her eyes. I hoped she didn't notice my nervousness. She was not that smart.

"But Tara..." I shrugged off her hold and got up. "Sir would not ..." I few steps away from her. Her scent was making me weaker. I needed to get away.

"Who said we need permission?" she said folding her arms across her chest.

"But you do need permission right?" I sighed. "And I don't think I can take the risk. I have taken up a responsibility. I cannot ..."

"You are a coward...It's just a movie and dad won't find out!" She snapped.

"Coward?" I scoffed. She shouldn't have said that. "You are privileged." I should have stopped at that. But the tension and the s****l tension was building up.  I went up to her, "There a line between being brave and being foolish..."  I gritted my teeth, I exhaled from my mouth. "A really thin line that you rich people would never understand!" f**k! What did I just blabber! Instant regret. Well...what was done was done. What was said was said. I took my bag and packed all my stuff. "Enjoy your f*****g late night movie!" I uttered and stormed out of her room, closing the door with a bang behind me.

I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. I thought about what happened. Tara's lips, her eyes, her body, her scent and then her blanched face when I talked so rudely to her. I looked at the watch. It was close to 2 AM. I wondered if Tara was asleep. I hoped she did get good sleep, I ruined my sleep but I would feel really guilty if Tara....The notification bell rang. The dark room lit up with a faint light. 'Tara Malhotra just uploaded a photo.' Read the notification bar.

There she was in a blue mini dress. Golden heels. Wavy hair. The same golden hoops in her ears. Vijay's one hand on her waist, the other with a victory sign. Both of them smiled ear to ear. Under the photograph the has-tag 'chilling-late night movie-childhood friend-new cravings.'

Fuck! That moron. Why did I let it happen. I should have gone with Tara. Tara and Vijay! My fear is coming true. Vijay is the villain to my story...All these thoughts entertained my mind while my body wanted to sleep.

I promised myself never to deny any offer from Tara....Also I promised myself not to check any notifications  at sleep time.