I Won't Tell if You Won't

Between the Lines

Prathibha looked thoughtful for a second. She wasn't suspicious, thinking. She could always think clearly around Devi and let her guard down.

"I dunno. Gotta say I haven't but.. it's a cool thought to ponder over, isn't it?" she replied with a smile.

"Yeah." Devi mumbled in response. "Maybe it's easier to fall in love with a girl because it feels familiar, doesn't it?" she found herself saying. Prathibha swiftly turned over to look at her friend calculatingly. Devi regretted what she said but her worries were short lived when a loud voice interrupted them.

"There you are!"

They turned to see Sana with a triumphant smile on her face. "hey." she finally said, occupying the space between them.

"Speak of the devil." Prathibha laughed. "Finally decided to come down, have you?"

"As can see." she replied with a smile. "Hey, I was wondering.. since you both obviously aren't playing badminton and since there obviously aren't any boys to fawn over.. accompany me to the library?"

Devi sighed. This was very much expected of her. "Yeah come on, I've gotta return a book too. It's well overdue."

"Seriously? You're leaving me here?" Prathibha exclaimed with a frown.

"We're giving you a choice." replied Sana, cocking her head to the side.

"Fine." Prathibha replied helplessly. There was no point arguing with Sana. You'd usually end up surrendering even if you were right.

And so the three of them walked back up, Sana well ahead of the other two.

"Hey, you've got an eyelash." said Devi, pointing at Prathibha's cheek.

She extended her hand and her long, slender fingers met Prathibha's inched face. The warmth of Devi's skin made Prathibha erupt with a strange feeling. She found herself fighting back the urge to blush.

"Here." Devi smiled, placing the eye lash in Prathibha's hand. Their eyes met for a second. Prathibha, star struck and unfocused met Devi's perplexing gaze, unsure.

"Make a wish." Devi prompted, only an inch of distance between them. Prathibha managed to nod and closed her eyes, unable to formulate a single thought and eventually blew the eyelash away. Devi didn't have to know she couldn't make a wish.

There was a prolonged second of silence. "We.. we should head upstairs.. Sana'll be waiting." Devi prompted, her face evident of puzzlement. Swallowing her thoughts, Prathibha nodded hastily and made her way up, eventually falling into step with Devi.

It was as though she'd been enlightened by a new revelation. Something about herself that she didn't know. She looked up at Devi for a split second and it was as though she was looking at a whole 'nother person.

Prathibha always loved hanging around Devi, perhaps more than anyone. It was more than her charm. Her jubilant smile would be enough to fill a room and it was always so easy to talk to her. She always understood. No matter what. Something Prathibha had been lacking from the other people in her life.

Devi made her feel a way no one else had before. But she couldn't point her finger onto what exactly it was. Surely, it was a normal feeling? A feeling that came with every friendship? But in her heart of hearts, Prathibha knew it was wrong. It was more than that, it always had been.

Sana had disappeared into the Library corridor by the time Devi and Prathibha reached the floor.

"Wanna return to class instead of going to the library? Sure she won't notice." Devi suggested. "Only another five minutes left for the next period anyway."

Prathibha nodded, eyeing Devi carefully. Whatever it was, she had to get over it because it wouldn't be reciprocated by her best friend; that much, she was sure of.

She continued walking, her eyes glued on Devi. Suddenly, she slipped. And before she could think, she'd lapsed into a fall. Well, almost, Devi caught her and held her back, balancing her back onto her feet.

There it was again. The parts of her that Devi touched were overcome with electricity.

"You okay?" Devi questioned quizzically.

"Yeah." Prathibha responded in an attempt to sound normal. "Tripped, that's all."

The both of them entered the class. It was empty, as was the corridor. "Where is everyone?" Prathibha questioned as she took her seat. Devi took the one next to her. Prathibha could practically feel the heat radiating off Devi's body but she ignored it.

Devi looked at her watch. "Oh good lord. We actually have ten minutes left you know." she said with that joyous demeanor of hers.

"Seriously? Oh man. Came up this early for nothing." Prathibha replied exasperatedly.

"Well, we still have time to return to the ground, you want to go?" Devi asked, getting up. But something in Prathibha clicked.

She reached for Devi's wrists, closing the distance between them. "No. Stay." she said, her voice so low she was surprised Devi could even hear it.

Devi's eyes traveled from Prathibha's inviting gaze to that of her wrist. It was as though all the butterflies in her stomach soared through her body.

"Prathibha..." she asked, her expressions faltering.

"What are we.." she started but Prathibha silenced her with a short kiss. It was magic. It was as though Devi found something that was complete, something that had been missing all this while.

One kiss turned into two and before they knew it, Devi was seated on the desk, Prathibha's hands running through her well plaited braids. Devi kissed her back, her hands resting on the nape of her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

They pulled back for a second, both of them panting and out of breath, confused but elated.

"I won't tell if you won't." Prathibha managed.

But Devi didn't care. At that moment, she just wanted Prathibha. The rule abiding girl could care less about the consequences and kissed Prathibha's forehead in response.

"Okay." she replied.

They both dispersed to their seats as they heard footsteps approaching. No one could know. They looked as disheveled and out of place but their minds were whizzing a million miles an hour for them to care. They were content, for once in their life, happy.

The next teacher came in and wrote the topic on the board.

"Stages of Embryo genesis.. Globular.."

Though it all, they flashed each other knowing, unsuspecting smiles. The moment was theirs and theirs alone.