Episode 8
The ride
Karthik woke up at 5 am the next morning. He had barely fallen asleep last night, in anticipation of what was to come this morning. He would get to spend more time with her.
He reached her hostel by 5.45 and waited until it was 6. When she wasn’t there by then, he started panicking a little wondering if she was ok. At 5 past 6 he saw Naira running towards him. By the time she reached him, she was so short of breath that he had to hold her by her arms to steady her.
“hey hey hey! Why’d you have to run? I wasn’t gonna go back. Come on, let’s sit down for a while.” Karthik said.
They sat by the side of the road as the watchman of the hostel kept looking at the two of them, suspiciously.
“what’s he gawking at? ” he asked.
” oh nothing in particular. He stares at every boy and girl who talk to each other. He thinks they can’t be just friends, they have to be dating and stuff. ” Naira said.
” yeah. I wish! ” Karthik said, with a straight face.
Naira winced at his tone.
” are you sure this is gonna be okay? ” Naira asked.
” what? ” Karthik asked.
” me and you, being friends. Is that okay? ” Naira asked.
” yes. I’ve told you before and this is the last time I’m telling you, I can’t stop talking or hanging out with you. So, you’re gonna have to deal with me, for the rest of your life. ”
” okay then. Let’s do this. ” Naira said running towards Karthik’s bike.
Karthik couldn’t help but smile at her childlike innocence.
Karthik first sat in the front and they rode up to their favorite spot. He thought it would be easier for her to start on an empty road. Then he got down and let her come up to the front.
She was already trying to get on top of the bike, losing a little balance because of her feet.
” Oi two feet. This is my baby, okay? She’s very important to me. So, no scratching her up, okay? ” he asked, looking all stern.
” yes sir! ” Naira said, faking a salute.
” okay then sit. ” he said.
As she managed to sit finally, Karthik went to sit behind her. She was too busy trying to maintain a balance while finding the right position to sit, that she didn’t notice him sitting behind her until she began to lose balance.
” hey get down! What are you even doing? I can’t ride with you behind me!! You’re a feet taller. How do you think I’ll be able to manage your weight? “she yelled.
” now whose fault is it that I’m taller? ”
” yours. Now get down. “Naira was squealing by now.
” alright. But what if you fall down? You’ll scratch her up. You’re just learning Naira. I need to sit behind you to make sure you don’t fall down.”
“oh come on. I’m not gonna fall down. Just let me ride no? Please? Pretty please? ” Naira was now making her classic puppy dog face Making sure that Karthik would see her through the mirror.
” alright alright. No need to make that face now. You knew you’d get what you wanted either way” he said as he got down from the bike to stand next to her.
“thank you so much” she said. She kissed his cheek in all her excitement without realizing the effect it would have on him.
A pleasant shiver ran down through Karthik’s spine. This was the first time she had ever kissed him. How he longed to tilt his face and claim her mouth, To kiss those soft lips until she ran out of breath and was clutching him to hold on for dear life, to run his hands through her hair and all over her body, to make every inch of her body feel the love that he had for her.
He was brought out of his fantasy by her almost falling down after kissing him.
“Woah Woah. Calm down. I know I’m very handsome and you were dying to kiss me. Doesn’t mean You have to fall down. Just give me the word and I’ll let you kiss all of me! “he said, winking.
Naira blushed at that.
” who told you, you’re attractive? ” Naira asked.
” oh you know, I have lots of fans. I’ll introduce you to them sometime. Okay now, let’s get on with these riding lessons.” Karthik said.
Naira was now sitting comfortably and feeling the balance.
“start with neutral. Then you can start the engine. ” Karthik said, showing her how to switch gears.
When the engine was revving, he said “yes. Just like that. Now slowly change the gear to first. ”
She changed the gear.
” now slowly raise. Just apply a little pressure on the accelerator otherwise you’ll end up flying and my baby will get hurt. Remember, no scratching her up! ” Karthik said.
Naira started raising the accelerator. Her palms were all sweaty now from all the excitement and she ended up raising it too much. The bike zoomed forward to reach the end of the road where Naira lost her balance and fell down, a big scratch on her forearm, bleeding slightly.
Karthik quickly ran up to her and was by her side in no time.
“I told you to be light with it. Why did you have to show your strength now?” Karthik asked fuming.
” Karthik I’m so sorry. Your bike! I’m so sorry I scratched her up. I know you love her a lot. I’m so sorry. I tried to maintain my balance and not dr.. “she was stopped by him
” oh screw the bike. Yeah, I love her. But I love you more. Look at your forearm. It’s so badly scratched up. We need to get it cleaned and find you a bandage. ”
Naira was kind of thrilled that he wasn’t mad at her for scratching his bike up, but she was also surprised. He actually loved his bike a lot, and couldn’t tolerate it if it would even have a tiny speck of dust on it. He loved his bike so much that he had named her JAANEMANN. And yet, today he was okay with her crashing it.
She sat behind Karthik as they rode to the nearest medical shop. He quickly ran in and got a bottle of antiseptic solution, some cotton and a roll of Gauze.
He cleaned her wound with a bottle of water and then started applying the antiseptic. She winced in pain and clutched him by the arms as he did that. She hated that part every single time as she got hurt. The antiseptic stung like crazy.
Karthik noticed her pain and tried to be as gentle with her as possible.
When he was done with bandaging her up, he looked up to see her keeping her eyes tightly shut, her forehead scrunched up at the Centre. Before she could open her eyes, he kissed her there.
Naira instantly opened her eyes.
“let’s go ” Karthik said. Standing up and extending a hand towards her.
” yeah I’ll be careful this time. ”
” oh no no. Where do you think you’re going, miss two feet? You think I’m gonna let you near Jaanemann again? No chance! ” he said.
” and don’t even think of the puppy face. Not gonna work “Karthik said.
Despite of whatever Karthik said, Naira made her puppy dog face anyway. She sullenly sat behind him as he rode back to her hostel.
She knew he was worried about her scratching herself up rather than Jaanemann. He loved her a lot more than she had ever seen him love anything or anybody. He was handsome enough for girls to come throw themselves at him, and yet he was here letting her demolish Jaanemann. He did love her a lot. She was sure of it.
Oh what was she going to do?
Precap: jealousy
————-author’s notes – – – – – – – – – –
Hey guys
So this the Episode for today. The story is going to take a short leap now. Will bring in some more characters.
Hope you guys are liking the story.
Keep reading and commenting.
Have a great day 🙂