Rudra was staring at Richa's sleeping face, she was looking so beautiful n peaceful while sleeping, her head tilted to her left side, slightly leaned on the window of his car.
He offered her a ride back to her house after the dinner and she fell asleep on the way. They reached Richa's house 10 min ago but he didn't wanted to wake her up. It was so long for him to get a chance to look at her this closely. His fingers were itching to touch her face, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath his fingertips.
But he was restraining himself from doing that. he had to work very hard to be close to her as a friend, it took a month for her to acknowledge him as a friend. He didn't want to lose her trust.
He was trying his best right now to keep his hands to himself but his body was not listening to him, slowly his hand was raised to trace the outline of her beautiful face, from her temple to her chin,his fingertips barely touching her skin. he tucked a lose strand of her hair behind her ear.
Suddenly Richa's face scrunched up into a frown, she started shaking her head slowly, her fingers were clenched in a fist, so hard that her knuckles became white.
Rudra knew she was having a nightmare. Richa always have them whenever she was stressed and upset or lonely.
Now he has no other choice but to wake her up. He tried to call her name...... but she remained sleeping, restless.
He called her name again, louder this time but she didn't wake up.
He shook her shoulder slightly and called her name repeatedly.
Richa jerked awake from her nightmare, panting heavily and slightly shaking. She looked around her, to be aware of her surroundings.
Rudra called her name again, soflty..
"Richa.... Richaaaa...... please look at me"
He asked her to look at him, cupping her face in his palms. his thumb is tracing soothing circles on her cheek.
"It's ok Richa, it was just a nightmare. Don't worry I am here, you are not alone Sona, I m right here... Shhhh....."
Richa looked up into his eyes. she stopped shaking after a moment, she just kept looking into his eyes and....... suddenly she bend forward and...... threw her arms around his neck holdig him tightly. She started sobbing on his shoulder, uncontrollably.
Rudra was taken aback by her sudden closeness, his hands froze on his sides. Her painful sobs break his trance, hesitantly he closed his arms around her waist and held her tight, closer to his chest. He felt complete with having her back in his arms after so many months of emptiness in his heart.
Tears filled his eyes, as he stroked her back lovingly. he wanted to prolong the moment, the closeness but he knew Richa was going to regret it as soon as she will realize her actions.
And his thoughts were proved right when suddenly Richa's stiffend in his arms and backed away from his embrace, her eyes widened with disbelief. She put both of her hands on her mouth and started to sway her head back and forth saying sorry again and again.
Rudra was torn between his desire to engulfing her in his arms again or consoling her by maintaining a distance as a mare friend.
"It's ok Richa, there is no need to apologize, you were not fully awake from your nighmare"
" but I... I am.. I... I don't know..... "
"Richhhaaa..... I said it's OK, you didn't do anything wrong, we are friends....right, and friends can hug each other sometimes..... Okay... "
Richa didn't said anything, she just nodded her head.
Rudra ruffled her hair playfully and smiled assuringly.
"I should go now, it's late. Good night Rishi.... "
Richa said looking down, avoiding his eyes.
"Yes it is, Good night Richa... "
Richa got down from the car and walked towards her house without having even a glance back at Rishi.
Rudra watched her getting inside the house, he waited for the lights to go on before starting his car.
Richa couldn't believe what she had done .....
She was dreaming that Rudra was going away......... far away from her. She was running behind him calling him again and again, begging him to stay, to not leave her alone. But he didn't stop.
suddenly he turned his head back and smiled at her.....
'I m not far from you Sona, I m there, just look closely you will find me near you '
He said and walked away.
She started running fast, following him in the dark when she heard his voice again
' It's ok Richa, it was just a nightmare. Don't worry I am here, you are not alone Sona, I m right here......Shhhhh...... "
When she opened her eyes she felt as if Rudra was there with her, she hugged him tightly, afraid that he will leave her alone again.
But..... but soon she realized that it was Rishi whom she was hugging not Rudra.
She hugged someone else......
Other than Rudra......
But why it doesn't feel wrong.....
Why she felt comferted and content when Rishi was stroking and patting her back......
Is she falling for Rishi.......
NO...... Nooooo.......
It's not possible..... She loves Rudra and only Rudra. He is her life and life partner too.
Few days later
Richa was working on her computer in the library. Today, she was in a very depressed mood. Her eyes were tearing up every few minutes but she didn't let them fall, because She didn't wanted to be weak.
There was a tapping sound on her desk. she looked up and there was Rishi, smiling Charmingly at her.
Her eyes teared up again and she couldn't hold back her tears this time. she didn't know why she felt so vulnerable after seeing him in front of her. Why every barrier broke out so easily when he was close.
She stood up from her chair and dashed towards the washroom. She closed the door behind her back and kneel down on the floor, leaning her back on the closed door. Today is her Mother's death anniversary. Today is the day when she was left all alone in this cruel world, 3 years ago. and today she is all alone again because Rudra is not here with her anymore.
She didn't wanted to meet Rishi today, specially not after what has happened few days ago in his car. But when she looked into his eyes she felt as if she was waiting for him unknowingly.
She wanted to hold him again and pore out all her pain building up in her heart for so long. She was afraid of her own feelings. She wanted to remind her heart that feeling like this with Rishi, she is betraying Rudra. But her heart is not ready to believe it, her mind was telling her that it wasn't wrong to feel better with a friend.
A Friend......
Was Rishi just a friend to her......
She was so worn out from the battle inside her heart and soul.
She collected herself and stood up, she washed her face and walked out.
Rishi was waiting for her there.
Her steps faltered upon seeing him there, but she regain her composure and smiled timidly at him.
"I m sorry, something got into my eyes"
"Oh,are you okay now?"
"Yeah, I m fine "
Richa replied and walked to her desk.
Richa sat there and Rishi sat down in front of her.
"My boss apologized again and invited me at his house for a dinner "
"Okay, I think, you should go "
"I don't want to, I m going to cancel it on the last minute as him also"
"It not right to hold grudges like that"
"I know, but he wasted all our efforts and hardwork that day"
"It's ok, but it wasn't intentional "
"Hmmmmm.... "
"just go"
"OK, but just because you are asking me to "
Richa just smiled and started to work back on her computer.
Rishi remain seated and got busy playing with his phone.
After some time, when Rishi didn't show any signs of getting up from his seat, Richa asked him
"Rishi don't you have to get back to your office, it's way past the lunch break"
"No, I took a half day today "
"For...?? "
"Wasn't feeling good today, just wanted to distract myself so I came here. What's better than a good book and a good friend to lift up your mood, han.. "
Richa didn't reply, just gave a smile and got back to her work.
Soon it was time to close the library.
Richa got up from her seat and asked priya to check all the entries for today then she walked out of the library, Rishi was walking just behind her.
"Bye Rishi, see you later "
"Hey wait, I will drop you on my way "
"its ok, I will manage don't worry "
"I know you can mannage, but I m free today and just wanted to spend some time with my friend, don't know why but I don't want to be alone today"
Richa didn't say anything after that. Together they walked towards the parking and got into the car.
Richa was silently looking outside, lost in her thoughts.
Surprisingly Rishi was quite too today.
Richa came out of her thoughts when she felt that the car was not moving anymore. She looked around and got surprised hugely, because they were outside of an Orphanage.
She looked at Rishi and raised her brow in question......
" I wanted to visit here for quite some time but didn't get the chance, don't know why but today I felt like coming here with you, I hope you are ok with that "
"Yeahhh...."
Richa replied back but her mind was so confused.... Because from last three years she is coming to orphanage on the day of her Mother's death anniversary.
It was Rudra's idea to spend this day like that, distributing sweets, clothes and toys among the kids. He told her that she will feel better after helping others who are in need of it and she will definitely feel content with these kids who are left all alone in this big vast world. and he was right she always felt happy with the kids in orphanage.
She wanted to come today too but couldn't find the strength in her, because this year she was alone herself, she couldn't find the will power to chase away the loneliness of others.
But Rishi again did that, what Rudra would have done for her if he was awake, if he was by her side......