Page 81 of Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar

There’s a knock on the door as I run my fingers through my hair, easing the knots out. Rudra walks in, freshly changed into a pair of loose black tracks and a half-sleeved gray T-shirt. His hair is wet again—in its current state, it’s barely combed and damp, sticking to his chin. He leans against the doorframe, watching me watch him.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you in an angarkha kurta this trip,” hesays without a beat of hesitation. “You look pretty.” I turn back to the mirror to avoid looking at him, untangling the last of the knots from my hair.

“Thank you,” I respond, pushing my hair behind my shoulders. It falls in a sheet, draping down my neck. I don’t let it show, but I’m giddy from his compliment. “You look good too.” A pause. “You always do.”

“I doubt that, but okay.”

I turn to him, surprised. I’m not used to hearing that sort of a response from a guy as good-looking as him. Does he not see it?

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you doubt it?”

“Because...” Rudra looks awkward all of a sudden, hands shoved into his pockets. “I don’t know. I’ve just never had anyone say that to me before.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Priti has.”

Rudra snorts. “Priti keeps saying it. Doesn’t count.”

“Well, you do.” I drop my eyes to the ground. “You’re nice to look at.”

“Not as nice as Amrit, I’m sure.”

I snap my head up. “Why would you say that? There’s no comparison.”

“Oh.” Rudra seems surprised. He steps toward me but then hesitates.

“It’s fine. You can come inside.” I point behind him. “But shut the door.” Rudra’s eyes widen, and I hastily add, “The AC’s on.”

He closes the door, and then it’s just us in here. The space between us doesn’t feel as large anymore. Memories float back into my mind: his thumb resting on the hollow in my throat, his hand gripping myhip. The way he looked right up at me and saidYou look like you’re about to kiss me right now.

I turn on my heel, pressing my palms to my cheeks to cool the heat spilling in. I sit on Charu’s bed, leaving enough space before me so Rudra’s not as close when he joins me.

For a moment, I think he’s about to broach the topic of whatever happened between us last night and today, so I decide to speak up before he has the chance to. “Are you sure you’re not too tired to drive straight to Goa?”

“I just need coffee. I’ll be okay.”

“We don’t have to leave today, you know.” I grab Charu’s beige satiny pillow and place it in my lap, fiddling with the hem. “If you’re too tired. We can leave early in the morning tomorrow.”

“It’s a nine-hour journey,” Rudra says, sighing. “We’d be cutting it too close. Especially since we planned on having Mansi and Priti meet around noon so Mansi can havesometime before probably making the most important decision of her life.”

“And Priti will flip if we suggest leaving tomorrow,” I add. “She practically ran out to pick up the car in her eagerness to leave for Goa. What beats me is how she thinks she’s being slick and secretive with all this. It’s so obvious.”

“She’s always been like that,” Rudra says, smiling fondly. “And trust me, I’m fine to leave. That way, we won’t have to rush tomorrow. We might even have a chance to actually take Goa in, between everything.”

“You mentioned having been to North Goa before,” I say.

“Yeah, loads of times. It’s a good getaway.”

“With your friends?”

“Yeah?” He says it like a question.

“I just—” I’m blushing again, shamelessly, and I’m hoping mysunburn helps cover for it. “I just wondered if you went with an ex.”

Rudra ducks his head, and I’m shocked to find he’s even redder than I am. We’re pathetic, both of us. When he looks at me, his face is lit up, the apprehension from before gone. “If you were curious about my past relationships, you could’ve just asked.”