It's the next night when it begins thunderstorms. Upama was lying on her bed when a sudden crack of thunder makes her jump out of her skin. She never finds the reason why she is scared of thunders. Maybe, the reason was, in her childhood, a boy in her town died due to thunders. It's one of the fears she never told anyone out loud. Only three people know this. Her own mother, Maria, and Karan. The tragedy is no one is with her right now.
Maria because one day she and Upama were having a sleepover and that was a stormy night. And, Karan, because, he's the one Upama ends up calling when she can't take the noises anymore. Also, she'd be lying if she ever says, right now she is not craving the way his arms always wrap around her.
Another Crack. She tries to be brave and goes under the duvet and cuddles her pillow tightly, muffles, trying so hard not to pick up the damn phone and call Karan. She knows, her best friend won't mind but he needs rest, right? A night of proper sleep. She can't call him all the time and ask him to fix her when she is scared or broken. She won't call him. Nope. Not a chance. If she needs it, she'll call Maria but she won't disturb Karan.
The door suddenly opens in a rush. Upama slowly removes the duvet and tilts her head to see what happened just now. A very familiar figure standing and watching her with a worried look.
Crack-
He hurriedly closes the door and sits on the bed, pulling the duvet on him and wrapping his arms around her waist. Without wasting a moment, she melts in his arms and holds him tightly.
'I was expecting you to call me or text me to come.' He says, kissing her head.
'I didn't want to disturb you.'
'Seriously?! Oh please- shut the fuck up, Curly!' He slips those words lazily from his mouth and rolls his eyes, holding her tightly.
He presses some soft kisses on her forehead and plays with her fingers because he knows she likes it. It'll help her to stay distracted. The smell of his skin gives her every comfort. Feels like she belongs here. Just here, in his arms. Soon and slowly, everything goes black-
In the morning, they wake up by 'awwws' from two voices. Maria and Charlie. Upama stutters her eyelashes, trying to open her eyes properly. When she does she finds herself in Karan's arms. Her hands are over his chest, tightly holding the shirt he is wearing. She looks up, watching him sleeping cutely. She watches every single detail of his face. The way his cotton lips are pressed with each other. The way his eyes are closed. His jawline, his cheekbones, everything.
'Done checking me out?' He mumbles and causes her to jump off his arms. He knew she was watching him. Oops! His eyes are closed but still smirking. Her cheeks turn into deep velvet.
'Spent a happy night together, lovebirds?' Charlie says in a girly tone.
She turns red more. Little does she knows, Karan behind her, who just opened his eyes is also crimson like her.
'In case you lovebirds forgot, you two have to go on the set today.' Maria says leaning against the door, holding back a laugh.
'We know.' Upama and Karan said in Unison, making Maria & Charlie laugh. They leave the room, giving the best friends some alone time.
Karan leans in and rests his chin over her shoulder as she is in front of him and backing at him. Upama can feel the shivers running down her spine.
'Call me whenever you need me. You get it, whenever.' He mumbles on her shoulder.
She lets out a 'Yes' but to be honest, she has no idea what he just said as her whole attention is on the way his breath is hitting her neck and the way his chin is laying over her skin as if it belongs to him. Wanting him to move and use his lips on hers instead of the chin- Ugh, here we go again.
*****
'Action!' The Director screams.
Watching her best friend kissing her cousin is a NIGHTMARE for Upama.
Sometimes, she mentally slaps herself for writing too many kissing scenes in her novel. But then who knew? Her novel will break records and end up making a movie. Who knew her best friend will play the main character and her cousin will play his love interest?!
If she could act, she would've stayed in her sister's place and kissed her best friend. It doesn't feel good to watch her cousin's lips on her best friend's lips. She hates how their lips are wet with each other's saliva. She hates how their bodies are pressed. She hates him kissing someone else, even though she is her cousin.
From now on, She'll reduce kissing scenes. She swears to Dear God-
If you are confused, yes, She is a novelist, a curly who loves her best friend who happens to be a famous actor and currently he is acting as the main character of her novel. Her cousin, Tess happens to be an actress and playing Karan's love interest.
Yes, one sister is in love with him in real life and, another sister is in love with him in reel life.
Absurd.
Her life is absurd.
'Cut!' The Director screams again, bringing her back from her other world. She really doesn't have the power to sit and watch her man kiss someone else.
'My house. Tonight.' -Upama
After leaving him a text, she finally can run away from there. She'd rather watch twilight than watch him kissing someone else.
***
'Heyy!' He sits on the couch and rests his head over her shoulder.
'Hey!'
'I want to surprise you.' He gets up and their gazes meet. His eyes are filled with... mischief?
'Really?!'
'Close your eyes.'
'Huh?'
'Close. Your. Eyes.' He literally used spaces for those three words.
'Fine Fine.'
As soon as she closes her eyes, she feels a cold splash of water over her face.
THIS BOY-
'KARANNNN!!!' She screams and he laughs.
He really loves to make her scream. His mischievous soul finds heaven when she screams. She is going to kill him someday-
Before Upama could hold Karan's wrist, he runs away and hides somewhere. She slowly moves, eyeing everywhere cautiously. She sluggishly makes her way to the fridge and picks a cold bottle.
While she is opening the bottle, Karan pours the whole damn bottle of freezing water on her head and then bursts into laughter. Soon she turns around and throws water over his body.
The battle begins...
He wipes his eyes using his hands. But when he opens his eyes, Upama is not in his sight. He picks another bottle and seeks her around the house. He looks over every place but she is nowhere. Soon enough, he hears a giggle behind his back and smirks. He turns around and finds Upama holding a bucket of water. Her eyes are mischievous just like his.
Before Upama could throw at him, he takes her wrist and pulls her closer which causes the whole water in the bucket to fall over both of them, leaving both of them full soaking.
She playfully glares at him, 'Ugh- you made me fully wet.'
'YES. I DID.' He seems like he is proud of himself. After all, he won the water fight.
'I'm going to change.' As soon as Upama turns and moves to go to her bedroom, she loses her balance and almost slips over water.
Karan saves her from falling by placing his arm under her waist. Well, he tries to save. His attempt to save her ends up breaking his own balance and he falls over her body.
Their faces are a few inches apart. Not too far- In another way, you can just say they are breathing the same air right now. Eyes are wide opened, lips are apart- They are close enough to see minor details of each other's faces. An unknown rush of ecstasy runs through their veins. The water drips down from his face making her face wetter. Coincidently, their legs tangle with each other.
May or may not both of them close their eyes and leans a little more at the same time-
May or may not Upama lets her fear go for once and dares to kiss the man she loves.
The tip of their noses brushes with each other. Just a little more-
Suddenly, Karan's phone starts ringing which causes both of them to come out from their little untold world. They both felt something special. But, they will never talk about that special unknown feeling. Maybe those feelings are meant to be unspoken?
'Excuse me' Karan slowly mutters.
'No worries' Upama smiles at him. He runs to his phone and picks it up. While he was talking, Upama decided to go and change her wet clothes.
As soon as she closes the door. She walks in front of the mirror and observes the mirror as if the cure for her pains is hidden behind the object. She unbuttons her shirt and keeps her gaze settled on her reflection.
A thousand thoughts are running through her mind. Yeah, she is a writer of the romance genre, she wrote a hundred love books since her teenage. Yeah, she described love in many languages. But, why everything is overwhelming her now?
Why the word 'Love' is messing with her? Just 4 alphabets but enough to raise a storm in her heart.
She can remember, years ago, she wrote these lines in her story without even realizing she'll relate them one day,
''Love feels wonderful. Love is beautiful. Having someone who will always hold you in the dark and in the light is a blessing. But why there is always a defenseless feeling which keeps every unspoken word away to be free? A great man, in reality, told us that, 'Love is only for the brave.' And, yes, It is.''
Every time, her heart wants to set those three words free, her tongue ties. Every single defenseless thought gathers and makes a ball of insecurity and ties her tongue. Why do her feelings love to stay a secret and she is dying to keep them a secret without even realizing it-
'Upama?' Karan calls her by knocking on the door.
Upama shakes her head and wipes her eyes and slips a T-shirt over her body.
'Yes?' She asks as she opens the door.
'I'm sorry, I have to leave. It's important.' His eyes are telling a different story and his mouth another- His eyes are pleading to spill something and his mouth is not letting them.
'Emergency?'
'Nah, don't worry, Actually, your uncle, my management's boss just called me. I have to go.'
'My uncle? Tess's dad?'
'Yep'
'Oh okay. Go. Drive safely. Good night.' Upama acts like she is not disappointed.
'Same, Ms. Good Night.' He walks out of the house.
Upama sighs, eyes are hurting, and so does her heart. She brings out her secret journal and pen.
Page 45.
'Wish I could freeze this moment in a frame and stay like this
I'll put this day back on replay and keep reliving it
'cause here's the tragic truth if you don't feel the same
My heart would fall apart if someone said your name.'