secrets woven in moonlight

chapter 13

Purvi was doing the dishes as she stood by the wash basin, where everything from plates, spoons, cups, bowls were all piled up for her to wash. She seemed to be have just done with a cooker and sauce pan, only to reveal some knives and glasses as well in the pile of utensils. It seemed like the chore would never end, as the water was left running on the tap. 

Purvi wiped the sweat off her forehead, as she continued with the chores, turning back to reveal the wall clock of the living room, only to realise it was just 9am. She sighed as she just confronted the mundaneness of her life. Only for her glance to fall back on the dishes, that were still not done. 

                                                                     ***

Kavin seemed to be working on his laptop with intense focus, as he sat on his desk at the office, and typed vigorously, not at all seeming to stop. A man, of his age, arrived to his desk with an amused look. 

"kya baat hai! itna seriously kaam kiya jaa raha hai..kya baat hai!" he exclaimed, as kavin only smirked, not looking upto him. 

"lagta hai tumhare baaki ke dost nahi aaj...toh joh mil raha usse le jaana lage ho saath coffee break pe, huh?" remarked kavin, still continuing to work. 

"arre yaar kya karein...ab akele thodi jaaya jata hai, manager befaltu mein piche padh jaata hai...saala khadoos.." he replied, as kavin only barely managed to hide his chuckle, continuing to look at the screen. 

"yaar woh na bas interview ke din acha banta hai...asli roop phir onboarding ke din hi dekha deta hai..." agreed kavin with him, as even the guy couldn't help but shake his head. 

"toh chalein phir...mera bada mann kar raha hai yaar coffee peene ka...bore ho raha hoon..." stated the guy, as kavin finally looked up to him, passing a cordial smile. 

"yaar...i'm so sorry, but aaj na mujhe kaam khatam karke na, ghar thoda jaldi jaana hai...toh main toh ab bas kaam khatam kar raha hoon, phir bas jaane ke liye uthunga.." declined kavin awkwardly, as the guy raised his brow. 

"kyun bhai? aisa kya hai aaj ghar pe?" asked the guy curiously. 

"uhh, actually, mera college best friend haina...woh uski engagement party hai...toh bas, ghar pahaunchke, taiyaar hoke, pahaunchna hai time pe..." stated kavin excitedly, as the guy nodded. 

"yaar kaunsa college tha yeh! graduation ke baad saare shaadi kar rahe ho! ek humein dekh lo...sala aisa lag raha hai, paida hi bhramachari banne ko hue the.." joked the guy, as kavin chuckled. 

"pura college toh nahi...haan kuch log mile college mein, pyaar hogaya..ab kar rahe hai shaadi...par meri biwi toh nahi thi mere saath college mein...hum actually bachpan se jaante hai ek dusre ko..." stated kavin, as he couldn't help but look back upon his childhood memories with purvi. 

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Purvi was sitting on the living room couch, as she listlessly watched the TV in front of her. She was almost close to falling asleep, as she yawned yet again. Only for the doorbell to ring, as she looked at the clock, realising it was barely 6pm in surprise, wondering who could it be. 

She walked over and opened the door, only to be surprised to find kavin in front of her. 

"tum? itni jaldi?" asked purvi, astonished, as kavin chuckled, only for purvi to give him the way to enter and he got inside. 

"haan..." replied kavin awkwardly, as purvi locked the door and followed inside, while he had sat on the couch, to remove his shoes. 

"actually...aaj kahi jaana hai..." stated kavin, as purvi's mouth formed on o. 

"umm, mera best friend tha na college mein...uski engagement hai..." informed kavin, as purvi could only nod at receiving the information. 

"toh 7:30 tak nikal jayenge...taiyaar hojana.." stated kavin with a tight lipped, cordial smile, as purvi was left even more surpised. 

"main bhi chalo?" asked purvi in surprise, as kavin nodded. 

"haan...kyun, koi dikkat hai?" asked kavin, chuckling. 

"nahi..." replied purvi, as a smile crept up on her lips, and kavin nodded, getting up and keeping his shoes in the shoe rack. 

"uhh...mummy ji...unka khaana banake jaana padega na..." posed purvi a query, as kavin looked at her in disbelief. 

"arre  unke liye main khaana order kardunga, tension mat lo, tum bas taiyaar hojao..." instructed kavin, as purvi happily nodded, and got inside their room. 

Meanwhile, kavin went ahead to the kitchen, to fetch himself a glass of water. 

                                                          ***

Purvi was fixing her makeup, putting on the last bit of touch ups, as she then went ahead to apply her perfume and set her hair. She looked at her reflection in the mirror for one last time, to make sure that she was ready. She was about to turn to step out, when kavin arrived in the room.

They both stopped, sharing a glance as they looked at each other carefully for a moment. 

"uhh...achi lag rahi ho...bahaut..." admired kavin, a surprised smile creeping up on his face, making purvi smile too. 

"woh...uhmm, mummy ne kaha tha ki tum agar yeh pehen lo..toh unhe acha lagega..." informed kavin, revealing a diamond necklace, making purvi look. 

"uhh, so, may I?" asked kavin, pointing to the necklace, signaling to let him make her wear it, as she nodded politely. 

He now stood behind her, as she placed her hair to rest on her left shoulder. He touched the necklace from both of its ends, as he traced the necklace from her collarbone to her neck, and ended up tying it at the back of her neck. She nervously looked on his reflection, as she felt his presence around her so closely. He took another look at her, giving her a smile, as she too smiled back seeing him. 

"chalein?" asked kavin, placing a hand on her shoulder, as she nodded in agreement. 

They both walked out to leave the room, but purvi couldn't help but feel something strange inside of her, which oddly felt like something she would have wanted to feel.