Piya was staring absently into the car’s side mirror as the dense forest blurred past.
Suddenly, a blindingly fast shadow darted across the glass.
“Wait, wait, Kabir!” Piya shouted, her heart leaping into her throat.
Kabir slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to an abrupt halt on the dirt road.
He turned to her, alarmed.
“What happened, Piya?”
“Kabir… someone is out there. In the forest.”
Kabir peered through the windshield into the dark tree line.
“What? I don’t see anybody out there. Are you sure?”
“Yes, Kabir, I’m sure!”
Before he could stop her, Piya threw her door open and stepped out into the quiet woods.
Kabir quickly jumped out of the driver’s side and rushed around the hood to intercept her.
“Piya, where are you going?” Kabir caught her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
“Okay, wait.
“I’ll” go look.
But you don’t move from this spot, understand?”
Piya nodded, staying close to the safety of the car door.
Kabir walked a few cautious steps toward the thicket, his eyes scanning the deep shadows between the trees.
After a tense moment, he let out a breath and turned back.
“Piya, there’s no one here,” he said, his voice calm.
“I think you’re just exhausted. Your eyes are playing tricks on you because you’re so tired.”
But just as he spoke, something shifted in the corner of Kabir’s vision.
Deep in the brush, he saw it—someone “was” watching them.
Piya sighed, rubbing her eyes.
“Maybe… maybe you’re right. It’s probably just because of the tiredness. I’m sorry, I think I just need some rest. Let’s go.”
“Okay,” Kabir said, forcing a reassuring smile while stealing one last, uneasy glance into the forest.
“Let’s go, Piya.”
During the rest of the journey, Piya kept staring out at the passing forest, her eyes occasionally darting to the side mirror.
Her mind was entirely consumed by one thing: that mysterious man and his hypnotizing blue eyes.
Kabir glanced at her a few times from the driver’s seat but didn’t say a single word, letting the quiet hum of the engine fill the silence.
Piya rested her head against the cool glass of the window and slowly closed her eyes.
Miraculously, the deep sting of Tina’s cruel insults had completely faded from her mind.
All she could remember now were those piercing blue eyes and the terrifying weight of his harsh command: ‘”Leave.”‘
Eventually, the car rolled to a gentle stop outside the gates.
“Finally, we arrived,” Kabir announced quietly.
But when he looked over at the passenger seat, he realized Piya was fast asleep.
Her soft, curly hair had fallen loosely across her face.
Kabir’s expression softened, a pure and gentle smile touching his lips as he watched her sleep peacefully.
Slowly, he reached his hand out, gently brushing the stray curls away from her face and tucking them behind her ear.
But just as he began to pull his hand back, Piya shifted.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Kabir quickly pulled his hand away and looked straight out the windshield, suddenly feeling a little awkward.
He cleared his throat and looked back at her with a nervous smile.
“Actually, Piya… we arrived. I, uh… I was trying to wake you up, but you couldn’t hear me.”
“Oh… I think I just slept very deeply. That’s why.”
She offered him a tired but grateful smile before reaching for the door handle.
Piya opened the car door and stepped out, the cool night air instantly rushing over her.
Kabir stepped out of the driver’s side as well, standing over the roof of the car.
“Ahh, thank you, Kabir,” Piya said softly, offering a genuine smile.
“For what?” Kabir asked, leaning against the car door.
“We are friends, and in friendship, there is no sorry and no thank you, so…” He stopped abruptly, looking over at her.
“But…” Piya crossed her arms, tilting her head with a teasing glint in her eyes.
“When did I ever say that we were friends?”
Kabir blinked, completely caught off guard.
“What? It means we’re not friends? I mean, we are in the same college, the same class, so I just thought…” He trailed off, looking down at the ground with a deeply disappointed expression.
Piya burst into a soft laugh.
“Aww, look at that puppy face! I’m just joking, Kabir.” She stepped a little closer, her tone softening into something much warmer.
“By the way… can you become my friend? Actually, I think I really need a friend like you in this city.”
She raised her hand toward him, a gentle, hopeful smile on her face.
Kabir’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“What? Seriously? I mean… really?”
“Yes,” she laughed softly, waiting.
A massive grin broke across Kabir’s face as he reached out and grabbed her hand, shaking it warmly.
“Friends.”