Free After All This Time by Nikita Singh Page B

happened, Bhaiya, are you okay?’
    ‘Of course. I forgot something. Be back soon.’ Shourya hurried out of the corridor and into the elevator. He felt stifled. He needed air.
    Engaged
.
    He dashed across the parking lot towards the car. He needed to run, but his legs suddenly felt heavy, restricting his motion. He slammed the door and floored the accelerator, speeding away into the dark.
    Shourya drove around the city for over an hour, aimlessly looping around in circles, cursing the vehicles stalled at traffic signals, honking incessantly. He knew he should not be so bothered, that the news should not affect him, but at the very least he had thought Deepti would have the decency to tell him about it rather than let him find out from Facebook. Pictures of the happy couple on a holiday cruise showing off bright smiles and an even brighter diamond—not what he had expected to see when he logged on.
    When he had exhausted his adrenaline burst, he found himself slowing down in front of a familiar house. He kept sitting in the car, breathing hard, trying to get his chaotic emotions under control. This was the end. Things had been over between Deepti and him a long time ago, but it was official now. Their lives were going in different directions, and there was no way they could go back to being what they were once no matter how good it was or how much he wished they would. They were independent of each other now, free.
    Then why did he not feel free? Why did he feel so trapped?
    He honked one more time before getting out of the car. The front gate was locked. ‘No. No, no, no,’ he muttered, before yelling, ‘LAVANYA!’ He was lost. He did not know where to go from there. He knew he could not go back home; Shreela would grill him for hours till he told her what was wrong and then she would treat him differently. He did not want to take away from her pre-wedding bliss. And if he got back on the road again, he would probably kill someone or get himself killed. ‘Lavanya!’ he shouted again.
    He shook the metal gate, making it rattle.
    ‘Lavanya!’
    The small porch light came on and front door opened. He saw Mrs Suryavanshi search the source of the commotion in the darkness. ‘Who is there?’
    ‘Aunty, is Lavanya home?’
    ‘Shourya? Is everything okay?’
    ‘Yes. Is Lavanya home?’ he asked again.
    ‘Lavi!’ Mrs Suryavanshi called, turning towards the upper floor balcony. ‘I’ll go get her.’
    A minute later, Lavanya appeared at the door, wearing a black sweatshirt and grey sweatpants. She padded towards the gate on bare feet and unlocked it.
    ‘Shourya? What’s going on?’ she asked. She looked up at him and examined his face. ‘Are you all right?’
    He pulled the gate open and took a step towards her. The words were caught in his throat. He was not the type of person who cried, but the concern in Lavanya’s voice brought him dangerously close to tears. He pursed his lips and shook his head.
    ‘Hey, Sho—’
    Before she could finish, he had pulled her into a hug. They stood like that for a long time—Shourya resting his head over her shoulder, his eyes closed, leaning on her, his breath coming in short, crisp gasps. Eventually, he could feel some of the tension exiting his body. He felt Lavanya’s arms tighten around him before she let go.
    ‘Shourya?’ her voice was muffled.
    ‘Hmm?’
    ‘As much as I love standing here out in the cold and dark with you, I can’t feel my toes any more.’
    Shourya snorted and released her.
    ‘Seriously. You need to learn how to hug someone a head shorter than you; you’ll choke someone to death some day. Can we go inside now? I am freezing here.’
    ‘You, melodramatic creature, you,’ Shourya returned, his lips curving slightly.
    ‘I did make you smile though.’ She looked very pleased with herself.
    Shourya let her drag him inside with her.



6
    Lavanya shut the door to her bedroom and turned to Shourya. She had seen him this agitated before, and it