The sky darkened, like black cloth being draped across it.
The building and shops outside the window blurred into streaks of light.
A gust of wind swept across Akhil’s face like water cascading down a waterfall.
Today was truly exhausting.
His body felt like a fan that had been running nonstop from morning until evening.
His eyelids felt heavy as he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into dreamland.
His head rested against the headrest, his face looking peaceful and innocent at the same time.
The car fell into a comfortable silence.
Divya glanced at him, her gaze lingering on him as she slowly memorized every part of him.
She took her phone from its phone mount and parked the car near the curb.
A flash of light captured Akhil’s face and Divya saved the photo to her archive.
She didn’t stop there as she took several photos of Akhil from different angles, and a strange glint appeared in her eyes, accompanied by a broad smile that somehow seemed frightening in the darkness.
Only after she was satisfied, she drove to Akhil’s house.
Today had been a fulfilling day for her.
A date with Akhil.
Photos of him.
She couldn’t ask for anything more than this.
For today.
Her heart felt strangely delighted as she thought about how she could continue spending her days with Akhil.
She stopped the car at the entrance of Akhil’s house.
She tilted her head a little and glanced at Akhil.
She stroked his cheek with tenderness and affection, her feelings almost overflowing from her eyes.
Her gaze landed on his lips and she couldn’t help gulp audibly.
Her mouth watered involuntarily.
The idea of devouring him right here and right now in front of his house sent a strange thrill and excitement through her.
She leaned her face toward his lips and gently licked his lips with her tongue.
Her heart hammered against her ribs inexplicably.
Before she could continue, the lights in Akhil’s house suddenly turned on, snapping her back to her senses.
Her face turned bright red as a wisp of smoke seemed to rise from her.
She subconsciously touched her mouth, and a roller coaster of emotions surged through her.
She shook him gently and called him.
“Akhil”
But he didn’t seem to have any intention of waking up.
Suddenly, a finger tapped against the driver’s seat window.
The glass slid down, revealing Ramesh standing outside the window.
His gaze slid toward the sleeping figure of Akhil and a helpless smile appeared on his face.
“I’m sorry.
“It’s no trouble.
After all, he is my friend.”
Ramesh nodded with a smile as he already knew what she meant by friend.
“You mean your crush, don’t you?”
He thought with a barely contained smile.
He reached the passenger seat and struck Akhil on his face.
Akhil jolted awake, his face a mask of fury and frustration.
He froze as he saw his father glaring at him with unconcealed anger.
Ramesh could not help but cried inwardly.
“You brat!
How can you be this careless in front of the woman who loves you?
What if she loses interest in him?”
“No, I can’t allow that.
His dream of Akhil marrying Divya wasn’t going to be destroyed just because of his son’s embarrassing behavior.”
He barked at him.
“What are you staring at me for?
Can’t you see you’re troubling her?
Get the hell out.”
Akhil snapped out of his daze, quickly got out of the car, and nodded at Divya.
“Okay.
Bye, Divya.
Good night!”
Divya gave him a gentle nod and drove to her house.
Ramesh couldn’t help but give him another smack on the head.
Akhil wore an offended look, his face a mixture of indignation and annoyance.
“Dad, why are you hitting me?”
Ramesh couldn’t be bothered to explain, all the frustration and anger inside him churned wildly as he gave another glare to his son before he walked into the house.
Akhil stomped his feet in anger, followed him and muttered to himself.
“I should complain to mom about this.”
“Hmph!”
They entered the house as Akhil’s voice rang across the house.
“Mom”
“Dad smacked me on my head.”
Ramesh stared at his son, or more accurately, at a traitor.
How could he have raise such an ungrateful son?
Moreover, he was the one who had been worried when Akhil hadn’t arrived home.
Rhea stepped out of the kitchen.
She glared at Ramesh as if he had personally offended her.
“Why did you hit him?”
“And at his head.”
“He just recovered today.”
Her voice carried motherly concern and full support for her son.
Ramesh sighed dramatically.
“It’s true.
A man’s status in the house only diminishes as his son grows older.”
He grunted in annoyance but didn’t answer his wife’s question.
Instead, he sat on the couch to watch television, completely ignoring them.
Rhea couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
She gently rubbed the spot on his head where Ramesh had hit him, her expression worried.
“Did he hit you hard?”
Akhil shook his head.
“Not really.
But he smacked me twice without even saying why.”
Rhea raised an eyebrow, and a strange glint passed through her eyes as she probed him.
“Did he go outside to pick you up?”
Akhil nodded.
“Yes, I was sleeping in the car.
Dad was the one who woke me up.”
Rhea’s expression turned slightly unnatural and asked him with a forced smile.
“So, you slept while you were with Divya?”
“Yes.”
Rhea’s hands twitched as she suddenly felt a strange urge to slap him.
But when she remembered that he had been discharged today from the hospital, She stopped herself.
“You see, when you’re alone with a girl, you should show basic respect such as staying awake instead of sleeping in the car.”
Akhil sighed, and shrugged with a nonchalant expression.
“Why should I?
Divya and I were friends.
It’s not like we are dating.”
Rhea was struck speechless.
She just remembered that Divya and her son were friends.
But this idiot…
She shook her head in resignation.