Siddharth didn't take much time to freshen up and arrive at the living room.
"Wait! Where is your sweater?" I stopped him as soon as I saw him. "And you socks? And your slippers? Go back to your room and wear them."
Siddharth glared at my questioning face and stomped off to his room.
"This is the first time seeing Siddharth acting like a child." Lalith said while stirring his khichdi.
I laughed and poured some for Siddharth on a plate.
"What are you laughing about?" Siddharth hugged me from the back.
I slapped his arms and said, "Sit and eat."
"You should be here more often." Lalith took a glass tumbler and poured some water for himself. He accidentally ate a pepper.
"I would love to, but he doesn't want me to come." I pointed at Siddharth and pouted.
"There are too many idiots here. I don't want anyone eyeing her." Siddharth sniffed his nose due to the spice hitting his olfactory receptors.
"I am perfectly capable of protecting myself." I said, and stared into his soul.
"We'll see about that." Siddharth said and buried his face in his napkin.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Let me clean up the dishes." Lalith took the dishwashing soap and scrubber from my hands. "You're our guest. Just sit on the sofa and chill."
"Ok," I said and sat on the sofa with a tumbler of water and sipped.
Siddharth was sent back to his room to sleep. He had curled up in his blanket like a cat bread loaf. We measured his temperature once and closed the door to his room.
"Some tea?" Lalith offered.
"That would be lovely. Anything will do." I replied.
Lalith came to the living room with two cups of tea. He gave me one and sat opposite to me.
"If you don't mind, can I ask you something?" Lalith blew on the tea to cool it.
"I don't mind at all. Go ahead." I said and kept the tea on the table.
"This can be a bit uncomfortable to ask someone you barely know, but for my friend's sake I am going to ask you, are you interested in women?" Lalith crossed his legs and arms and sat up straight.
I looked at him. I looked at his posture. His facial expression that screamed 'please be a yes'. His lips that were pursed in fear and expectation.
I took a deep breath and said, "I don't know."
"I don't know what I feel about women sexually. I really like the idea of having a girlfriend, but the consequences of having one scare me. Well, the idea of having a lover itself scares me."
I saw how Lalith's face crumbled into that of a sad, worried friend who has to tell someone terrible news.
"But my confusion and fear don't mean I am not welcoming of the idea. It's just I haven't met or found someone who is willing to make me come out of the shell."
Lalith looked at me with a serious expression and said, "I'm not going to hide it. It's Kriti I'm talking about. As her friend for three years, I know she is not good with expressing her interests. I may come off as someone too nosy and intrusive, and it's not my position to talk or reveal someone's feelings. However, Kriti is in love with you. Deeply in love with you."
'Kriti is in love with me.' I blushed. My ears turned beet red, and my face flushed. I sipped the tea and tried to clear the imaginary sore throat.
"Her love has reached another level of craziness. There's nothing new about Manaav's behaviour and the need for probation. There is a separate pile of complaints and hushes regarding him. You are no stranger to this. This has been an issue of student council since the day he joined. Kriti has been ignoring the issue because he was your boyfriend. After yesterday's showdown, she has been searching for evidence for his expulsion nonstop. So,"
Lalith sat next to me and held my sweaty palms tightly. "Can you please be clear about your feelings? Like, clarify with her if it's just a one-night stand or a genuine relationship."
"H-h-h-how did y-you know... about last night?" My voice faltered.
"You gave her hickeys on her neck. Anyone from last night's party can connect the dots." Lalith said.
I covered my flushed, embarrassed face in my palms and groaned, "I am such an idiot. I should have been more careful." Then, carefully turned my head towards him and asked, "Does everyone know?"
"Well, they have seen a mosquito bite-sized hickey." Lalith said, amused at my embarrassment.
"Uh, I shouldn't have done that. Kriti must have been super upset about it, right?" I wailed.
"Well, I doubt she has seen herself in the mirror properly." Lalith said, "So, can you please be ready with an answer?"
"I thought she wasn't into me. I thought she was too good for me." I mumbled.
"Well, she is definitely into you, and no, she is not that perfect you think she is." Lalith said.
"How do I tell her?" I looked up and said, still embarrassed and flushed from all the madness.
"Just tell her. That would do. She is super chill about such stuff." He said.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Pretty much." He shrugged.
"Can I do it over text?" I offered. "I don't think I can say this in front of her. Like, I'll look so uncool and stupid. Probably pathetic too."
"Girl, first off all, you're gorgeous. Looking like a new shy bride while confessing isn't pathetic. It's literally the cutest thing you can do while confessing. Get that inner goddess ready and march forward to confess. I don't want to see fifteen chapters of slow-burn romance. Life's short, so get done with it." Lalith said with vivacity.
"Can I ask next week? I need a week's worth of time to get ready to confess. I have never done this before." I begged.
"Looks like I have to do Cupid's work." Lalith said and continued, "Wait for me. I need to get this done as quick as possible."