Bit Broken.

What?

Tara and I didn't talk about that evening. We never mentioned it ever. I knew we couldn't just forget it but I guess we both really wanted to forget it. The internship was about to end. We had our final exams after which we were to apply for companies. The companies would come for the on-campus placements. It was stressful but exciting at the same time. Papa was just holding on, I think. I still wanted him to get the surgery, the doctor didn't give me any hopes though. I looked at papa, each day he seemed becoming weaker, more breathless, more swollen. His feet were swollen, then his stomach and his face seemed puffy too. The doctor had told me about the progression. I knew he wouldn't be there for long but I hoped he would make it till I made it big. 

I went through the scanned data. Yes, the stolen data. turned out I was a thief but the king was a robber, looting money from everywhere. The accounts were wild cocktails of theft, corruption and illegal commission. In one word...scam. The company was making scams along with the useless products.  I saved the data securely. I didn't know how and when to use the mighty weapon.  

"Tanvi..." Tara called me one evening. We had just got home from the park. 

"Tell me..."I was monitoring papa's blood pressure. I was putting on the cuff around his arm. 

"Are you busy?" She inquired. 

"No...just checking papa's blood pressure." I replied. Papa looked at me with a faint naughty smile. He would read my face when I would talk to Tara. 

"Okay..I'll call you later."

"No...tell me."

"It's really very important and this can take long. Maybe we should talk face to face..."She uttered with a sigh. "Yeah...we should talk about it...maybe tonight. Dad will go out. Come to the terrace..."

"Okay I'll be there."

Tara's voice was never so low when she talked over the phone. Her energy seemed less too. Something was bothering her for sure. Maybe she was tensed about the results, they were to come out any day in that week. But we had a discussion about that, she had done pretty well. I couldn't get the frown off from my forehead all the evening until I met her on the terrace. 

It was a bit chilly outside. I had to put my hands in the pockets of my jeans. The wind was biting my face. Tara came with a shawl wrapped around her, though her legs were open. She wore shorts. Her hair open, the lengths now touching her buttocks. She lacked one thing that night, her usual smile. 

"Princess?" I went closer to her. "Are you alright? You seem..."

"I am tired." She said, her voice was broken and heavy. Her nose was red. Her eyes were puffy.

"Have you been crying?" I took her face between my palms.

She hugged me tight. "I am afraid."

"Why? I am here. Tell me what happened, did anyone do..."

"Just stay still for a moment." She hugged me tighter. Her arms around my neck. My arms around her waist. Her breath on me and mine on her. We stood still holding each other under the moon, the stars and the dark night. I don't know why I cried but I cried. "Let's run away!" She broke the silence. My spine straightened at once. 

"What?" 

"Let's get away from all this...I just need you."

"Please tell me what happened..." I made her sit on the swing placed in the corner of the terrace. The plants in the pots danced with the wind, the smell of the flowers scattered in the vicinity.

"Dad...Dad was talking about my marriage today." She looked up to me.  Her tears sparkling in the moonlight.

I gulped. My heart sunk. "What did he say?"

"He told me that Singh uncle and he had a discussion..."

"Vijay's dad?" 

She nodded. She had hiccups. 

"They want Vijay and me to get together...I don't know what to do!" She sobbed holding my hands. 

"Vijay knows about you right? He knows then why would he..."

"I had a talk with him this evening. He had no clue. He is quite pissed too about this." 

I sat beside Tara with a sigh. 

"What are you thinking? We cannot be silent anymore."

"But your dad won't let us together. He doesn't even see me as your friend!"

"I know!" she yelped. "That's why I think we should just get away somewhere..."

"Won't he come after us? Do you think it's even practical to leave like this? What about our jobs? Papa's health!" I tried processing the situation. "Vijay can do something. If he denies then..."

"Dad wants business. Singh uncle wants to expand...This would be a collaboration of their lifetime." Tara took a deep breath and wiped her face with the shawl. "We have to talk to Vijay. He's the only one who can help us."

"Can we trust him?" I wasn't too sure but we didn't have a better option.

"I'll die if I do not get you....Do you understand that!" Tara had something in her eyes which was really intriguing. I don't know if it was fear or passion or madness but it looked dangerous. 

"Why are you saying that? Don't you trust me?" I took her in my arms. "Never say that again."

We kissed. We cried. We sat on the bench for long enough to see the rising sun. 

.............................................................................................................................................................

The university results were finally out. I was the best in the university. Tara did pretty good. Vijay just passed. I was confused about the companies approaching me. Papa was really happy. I made him proud. He even distributed sweets among the servant kids. 

The college organised a small party for the students. Tara was a bit sick so she couldn't attend the party. We hadn't talked to Vijay yet. We decided that we would tell him the truth. We had to risk it. 

"Hey!" I approached him. "I need to talk to you about Tara and your..."

"Tanvi...I was looking for you. I have something really important to tell you."  The noise was loud. There were people around. We too had to be loud.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" I literally shouted. 

"Yeah.."He looked around. "Are you free this evening? Can we meet at the park near the Malhotra Mansion?"

"Yeah, sure." It seemed convenient.  Tara might also be present if she felt alright. He smiled and turned around greeting his other friends. 

I waited at the gates of the park for Vijay alone that evening. Tara was still not feeling well. The winter was approaching. It was quite chilly, I had to put on a shrug over my denim shirt. The stupid Vijay didn't turn up on time, I had to wait for thirty f*****g minutes. I was  about to leave when I saw the lights of a bike at the corner of the street.  Vijay came in his flashy new bike. 

"Hey," He removed his helmet. "Sorry for keeping you waiting." He gestured to his new bike, "Dad gifted me this new hottie!"

He came close. He smelled of the aftershave. His watch flashed as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt. It was cold but he was sweating. "It's good...I...Vijay " I opened my mouth to speak. 

"Aahh..."He took a deep breath. He laughed and brushed his hair back with his fingers. "For so long I was thinking of telling you this..."

"About the...marriage.." I started the conversation, but I was finding it hard.

"Yes...I cannot do it. Tara is lesbian and...."

I nodded. I swallowed. "And the most important part is.."

"I am in love with you.." He uttered with an unusual thirst in his eyes. He came closer and held my hands.

 I was taken aback...quite literally. "What?"