"Your loud speakers have arrived." I told him, buttoning up his shirt. 
He let out an excruciating groan. "Fuck them and their timing."
I straightened up my top as well and stood up. "Well then, I shall leave-" 
"Stay." He cut me off, coming around to take my hand in a firm grip. His piercing gaze towered above me, rooting me on the spot. "Come on, Nat, we barely met this week. Just wait, while I'll get rid of my pests for you. They can entertain me tomorrow."
"Fine," I replied, surprising myself as well. He smiled, letting go of my hand. It was true that we didn't met the whole week since we were busy with upcoming presentation and assignments. I decided to wait.
Only to regret it, twenty minutes later.
I didn't know why I fucking bothered. I had an inkling this would happen. Rithik had the tendency to nearly erase my fabulous existence in the presence of his puny free loaders. He threw Yash in my direction just so I could waste my sorry ass by talking while Rithik guffawed with his boy-friends. It was as if he wanted to say- Bros before hoes. 
"I'm leaving!" I announced loud enough for the jackass to hear. Within no time, Rithik started pestering his friends to leave. They started throwing snide jokes at us, refusing to leave. Everyone was talking, simultaneously. It seemed like a war of words between the politicians at a parliament assembly. I caught his gaze in the midst of it, his eyes silently pleading me to stay but I shook my head, determined this time. His thick brows furrowed. He looked away, his lips puckering. 
Fuck.
I didn't know what came over me, or my body but then I sauntered my way towards him. Probably had something to do with having the last word or how adorably cute he looked sulking like that. I sat on his lap, leveled my flirty eyes with his confused ones, and pressed my lips against the tip of his nose. 
The commotion faltered right there and then. 
I opened my eyes to see him,
stupefied. For a while we just stared. The getting- lost- in- each- other's- eyes kind of stare. I leaned my forehead against his, almost closing my eyes, "Bye, Rith. See you around."
With one quick peck, I got off him, trying incredibly hard to avoid everyone's eyes on me. To ease out the stinking awkwardness from the room, Snorlax asked who was hungry, followed by some shouts to order food. Rithik's eyes followed me all the way to the door. I craned my head back one last time but he still didn't falter. Not even when someone shook him. I hurried outside, biting my lip. 
What the hell? 
Heat flooded my cheeks as the scene replayed torturously in my mind. What was I thinking? Did I took off weed or what? I was busy spewing curses at myself but then, I recalled Rithik's starstruck like face. Inadvertently, my hands rose to my mouth, covering off my helpless smile. 
Maybe it was worth it. 
~ 
The following Saturday, Mister Aashish Patel (my father) celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday with his dysfunctional family. It wasn't too bad, actually. He took all of us out on a lavish dinner. I didn't remember when was the last time we went outside and returned without a single argument. It was like a spell cast on the family to behave themselves.
But that was the thing about spells. They never lasted forever. 
Since I was staying home for the weekend, I decided to meet Abhishek on Sunday. I accompanied Mitali, appearing like I was accompanying her for shopping. I met Abhishek on the way and parted from there. We just started  walking towards a clothing shop where Mitali was when we stumbled across some ugly faces. Two girls and one boy. And I wasn't saying it from the face value either.