Day 4
14 November
Today I feel like I'm sinking into deep, cold water... extremely cold and dark...
Slowly, inch by inch, I'm getting consumed by it. My body is going numb, as if this is the passage from life to death... But amidst that darkness, a faint light begins to appear. And from that light, a hand emerges, reaching out toward me...
I didn't reach back. I just closed my eyes.
Suddenly, Prakhar jolted awake. He looked around in panic. He was still in his room. Maybe it was just a dream.
Shaking his head, he stepped out into the balcony. It was cold. Chilly winds brushed against him, his hair fluttered in the wind, and his whole body felt the bite of the cold. He was lost in deep thought when a sound from inside broke his reverie—Diamond was awake too.
Prakhar walked back in and gestured for Diamond to stay quiet. The dog let out a soft sound and lay back down.
Prakhar quietly took off his shirt and looked at himself in the mirror. His back was marked with old, deep scars—still terrifying despite the years. It was clear someone had once beaten him cruelly. There were some fresh marks too. On his chest was a lion tattoo—his symbol of strength.
He stared at himself intently.
"Don't forget who you are. Don't forget why you exist."
Thinking this, he rested his forehead on the mirror. Diamond came over and snuggled against him. Prakhar hugged him tightly.
After a while, he calmed down and went about his usual tasks.
Shrey's Room
Early morning—Shrey was burning with fever. The guilt from what he had done and Prakhar's coldness had shattered him.
Prakhar, as usual, prepared breakfast and got on with his work. It was already noon, but Shrey hadn't come out. Prakhar began to worry. Shrey's phone kept ringing inside his room, but he didn't answer.
Eventually, Prakhar gave in and went to check on him. Diamond followed behind.
Shrey was curled up in bed, his entire body shivering.
"Shrey… what happened?" Prakhar said softly, and as he touched him, he exclaimed, "You have a high fever! Why didn't you say anything?"
He quickly picked up his phone to call a doctor, but then heard Shrey's weak, pained voice—
"What difference does it make to you…?"
Prakhar knelt down and placed his hand on Shrey's shoulder. His voice was calm and firm—
"No one cares more than I do."
Shrey just stared at him.
Moments later, as if snapping out of a trance, Shrey pulled away and walked out of the room.
Soon after, Prakhar returned with a bowl of cold water and a cloth. Quietly, he began placing compresses on Shrey's forehead. The burning body began to find some relief, and slowly, Shrey's eyes closed on their own.
A little later, the doctor arrived and gave him medicine. Prakhar immediately got them delivered. He couldn't risk leaving Shrey alone in this condition.
As he got up to make food, Shrey suddenly held onto him.
"Don't go…" Shrey's weak voice stopped Prakhar.
Prakhar was surprised at first, but thinking it might just be the fever talking, he shook his head and gently stroked Shrey's hair—
"Shrey, I'm not going anywhere… just going to the kitchen. You haven't eaten anything since last night… you'll need food before taking the medicine…"
Shrey shook his head — "You're not going anywhere..."
Prakhar sighed deeply and said, "Shrey, try to understand... I just need to go for a little while. I'll be right back."
Shrey began to sob softly and let go of his neck.
Prakhar was stunned to see him crying.
"What happened, Shrey?" he asked, confused.
"You don't like me... That's why you don't want to stay with me... I know it... That's why you didn't even ask anything last night..." Shrey was mumbling. Prakhar looked at him in disbelief.
"That's not true, Shrey… I just don't want to interfere in your life," Prakhar tried to explain.
Shrey covered himself with a blanket and continued sobbing softly.
"Has the fever reached his head?" Prakhar muttered to himself.
He pulled out his phone and dialed someone.
A voice on the other end answered, "Yes sir, what's the order today?"
"Simple home-style khichdi… deliver it to my place."
From under the blanket, Shrey peeked out and said – "I want it with ghee tempering…"
Prakhar looked at him and repeated the order.
"And mango pickle..." Shrey added again.
Prakhar repeated that too.
"Chocolate too…"
"No way," Prakhar snapped.
"But I want it…" Shrey said, hiding himself under the blanket again.
"Fine, chocolate too," Prakhar muttered and ended the call.
Shrey smiled to himself beneath the blanket.
As Prakhar was about to get up, Shrey once again wrapped his arms around Prakhar's neck and buried his head in his chest.
Diamond began barking at the scene.
"Oye heera-chandi… shut your mouth, my head is hurting," Shrey yelled.
Prakhar glanced at Diamond, and with a signal, the dog obediently left the room.
Prakhar sighed and started running his fingers through Shrey's hair.
Soon, hot khichdi was delivered to their home. Prakhar fed it to Shrey and gave him his medicine. Whether it was the medication or the comfort, Shrey soon fell asleep.
"No… I can't get attached to you. If I allow myself to feel, I might never be able to let go… I've stolen these few moments from life after losing everything… but now they feel like a burden..."As he thought this, his eyelashes turned wet.
When evening came, Shrey woke up, and all his earlier actions started replaying in his mind. Embarrassed by his behavior, he couldn't believe how he acted in front of Prakhar… what must he be thinking?
He got out of bed and headed toward the hall.
Soft music was playing—
(Lyrics as written in Roman script)
Prakhar was in his room. The sound of boxing echoed—he was likely practicing for the next fight. Shrey stepped toward the room but couldn't bring himself to face him… and turned back to his own room.
"What's happening to me…? Why is he becoming my comfort zone? It's only been four days… just four days, and yet it feels like I've known him for years… There's a pull in his emptiness that draws me closer… I just can't stop myself…"
He was deep in thought when his phone rang.
Pranay…? 201 missed calls? Since when has he been calling me…? He was shocked.
"Hello…" Shrey answered softly.
"Shrey are you okay? Don't worry—I've brought bhai with me… We're reaching your flat right now…"
"Wait, you're at my flat? Why? What happened…?" Shrey asked.
"You tell me, idiot! I've been calling since morning. You weren't answering, and the watchman isn't letting us in. So I called bhai from Mumbai. We'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Oh… I just had a fever, that's all…" Shrey scratched his head.
"What fever? And now you're telling me?! I should've brought a doctor… you probably haven't eaten either, have you?" Pranay ranted.
"Take a breath, will you? I'm fine now, ate food, took meds… fever's gone, so just chill…"
"Wait, but you don't know how to cook… don't tell me it was outside food—"
"No no, Prakhar cooked it…"
"Who's Prakhar?" Pranay asked.
A long silence followed.
Some time later
Everyone was gathered in Shrey's flat—Pranay, his elder brother Ajit, their trusted bodyguard Samay, and a few others. Shrey sat in front of them.
Breaking the silence, Pranay asked, "Where's Prakhar? And who is he?"
"My roommate…" Shrey pointed toward Prakhar's room.
"What? But you were supposed to live alone. That's why you didn't come home…"
"Well…" Shrey couldn't find an excuse.
"Don't tell me he's your boyfriend and you've been lying to all of us?" Ajit's deep voice echoed.
"No… no… he's nothing like that…" Shrey stammered.
Prakhar, who was sitting just behind the door, listening to it all, closed his eyes. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"Then why is he here?" Ajit asked, staring into his eyes.
Shrey took a deep breath and told them everything about Niranjan uncle.
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier? We could've arranged another room for you…" Pranay was angry.
"I'm fine here…" Shrey murmured.
Ajit looked at him deeply. Shrey was an introvert—he preferred to be alone. Him wanting to stay with someone was unusual.
"You really want him to stay here?" Ajit asked.
Shrey nodded.
"Say it in words," Ajit insisted sternly.
"Yes… yes, I want him to stay here…" Shrey replied in a low voice.
"Where is he?" Ajit asked.
Shrey looked into Ajit's serious eyes and walked toward Prakhar's room. But Prakhar quickly rushed into the washroom and washed his face. Moments later, he sat at his study table with earphones on, pretending he had been there all along.
Shrey stood outside the room for a while, calling him, but got no response. So he slowly pushed the door open—it was unlocked.
He entered to find Prakhar busy working—or at least pretending to. Taking a deep breath and hiding his nervousness, Shrey walked up and tapped his shoulder.
Prakhar turned, removed his earphones, and said, "Need something?"
"My… my brother's here… he wants to meet you…" Shrey's words fumbled.
Prakhar looked at him for a moment, got up, and walked out. Diamond followed behind.
Prakhar entered the hall, his expression neutral. Seeing Ajit, he gave a respectful nod. A glint appeared in Ajit's eyes. He gestured for Prakhar to sit.
Prakhar sat down.
"Apologies for calling you like this. Shrey is my younger brother. He's very particular about people and places. Now that you're staying here, there might be times when you'll need to adjust for him. I'm really sorry for that. I hope you understand…"
"I got them…" Prakhar nodded.
Ajit's smile widened. "I have a request—please look after him. He's still like a child in many ways…"
Prakhar nodded again.
By then, Shrey had also come out.
"Shrey…" Ajit called.
"Yes, bhai…" Shrey replied.
"Study well…" Ajit said, patting his head.
Shrey nodded and smiled. Ajit hugged him and handed him some gifts.
Ajit signaled his team, and they all left.
Outside—
"Bhai, how could you let him stay with that guy? We don't even know anything about him…" Pranay protested.
"Pranay, focus on your studies. I'll handle everything else…" Ajit scolded him.
Pranay sulked and walked ahead.
"What happened, boss? You were about to throw that guy out, and now…?" Samay asked.
"There's something different about him, Samay. He's not normal… there's something else. Unlike others, he didn't do a casual hi or hello—he just bowed, like royalty… but without arrogance. His face had fire, but his eyes were hollow. I didn't even hear his footsteps… he was royal, yes… but what kind, I couldn't figure out…" Ajit said, gazing at the setting sun.
"Maybe it's just habit…"
"And habit only forms when something is repeated…"
Samay stayed silent, simply watching the sun go down.