Kiran kicked his bike into gear, and Pragathi hopped on behind him, her posture straight as a rod. She barely touched him, her hands instead gripping the sides of the seat like she was riding with an invisible barrier between them.
As they rolled out of the parking lot, Kiran couldn't resist sneaking a glance at her from the corner of his eye. The breeze tugged at her braid, and there was something so fiercely independent in the way she sat—shoulders square, head high, back unbending.
"So," he began, his voice raised just enough to carry over the rush of wind, "is this the first time you're riding pillion with a guy you barely know?"
Pragathi tilted her head slightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Not really. But definitely the first time with a guy who crashed my best friend's wedding."
Kiran let out a loud, carefree laugh, shaking his head. "Ah, you're not gonna let me live that down, are you?"
"Should I?" she teased. "You burst in like some low-budget action hero… and then got shown the door before the first fight scene."
"Oi! Correction—" Kiran held up a finger theatrically as they paused at a traffic light. "I left before the intermission by choice. Your Arjun was looking at me like I was next on his hit list."
Pragathi smirked. "He should've gone through with it. You deserved it."
"Maybe I did," he admitted, still grinning. "But hey, wouldn't have missed that drama for the world. Legendary day."
The signal turned green, and they cruised forward. Traffic thickened, horns blaring here and there, but their bubble of banter stayed intact. A speed breaker loomed ahead, small but enough to jolt an inattentive rider.
Kiran slowed down. Slower than necessary.
Pragathi squinted at him. "What, are you planning to park on it?"
He kept his eyes on the road, though his voice dripped with amusement. "Just cautious. I value my life, thank you very much."
"Over a speed breaker?" she asked, incredulous.
"After what I saw this morning?" he shot back, glancing at her briefly, his eyes sparkling behind his sunglasses. "I'm not taking chances. That thigh-kick of yours could've been a fatality in Mortal Kombat. One wrong word and wham! I'm a cautionary tale."
Pragathi burst out laughing, clutching at the seat tighter as she nearly lost balance. "Oh my god—you saw that?"
"I witnessed it," Kiran said dramatically. "Live. No replays needed. The guy said something gross. You didn't even blink. Just—bam! The entire college felt that impact, I swear."
She wiped at her eye, breathless with laughter. "You're exaggerating."
"Nope. The senior's soul left his body for a second. I saw it. Floated right past me."
"You're ridiculous!" she said, still giggling.
"And you're dangerous," he replied, glancing at her with mock caution. "I should've worn protective gear."
Pragathi shook her head, unable to stop smiling. The city's chaos blurred around them—the honks, the heat, the crowds—but their easy banter carved out its own little world, light and unexpected.
"Relax, hero," she said at last. "Your vital organs are safe. For now."
"Phew," Kiran said with mock relief, grinning as they zipped forward. "Best news I've heard all day."
They reached a traffic signal, the city's heat pooling around them as they waited. The light glowed red, casting a warm hue on the street. Kiran rested one foot on the ground, drumming his fingers idly on the handlebar. After a moment of comfortable silence, he turned his head slightly, just enough to catch Pragathi's profile.
"So," he began, voice casual but edged with curiosity, "Shruti and Arjun… what's the real deal?"
Pragathi raised a brow, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "What do you mean?"
Kiran shrugged, as if trying to play it off, but the interest in his tone was unmistakable. "They're married, yeah? Everyone knows that now, at least the ones who noticed the way he jumped to her side this morning. But… I don't know. There's something about them. The way they look at each other—it's not what you expect from a married couple."
Pragathi smirked, leaning forward slightly on the bike. "And what do you expect from a married couple, Mr. Love Guru?"
Kiran grinned at that, unfazed. "I don't know. Comfort. Like… inside jokes, secret signals, all that cheesy stuff. But they? It's like they're… I don't know… still figuring out how to talk to each other. Like there's a giant invisible wall, but they don't hate the wall either. It's weird."
Pragathi was quiet for a second, a soft smile tugging at her lips. The kind of smile that held secrets, memories, and hopes all at once.
"They are figuring it out," she said gently. "They didn't choose this. But they're choosing each other now. Bit by bit."
Kiran tilted his head. "You sound sure of that."
"I am," Pragathi replied, her voice firm now. "I've known Shruti since we were kids. She doesn't give herself easily to anyone. But with Arjun… she's trying. And I've seen him—he notices everything about her even when he pretends he doesn't."
Kiran whistled low under his breath. "Whoa. You're like their secret cheerleader, huh?"
Pragathi chuckled. "Someone has to be. They're both so stubborn. They'll probably take forever to admit what's right in front of them."
Kiran leaned back slightly, thoughtful. "And when they do?"
Pragathi's eyes twinkled. "It'll be epic."
He was silent for a beat, taking that in. Then, a slow grin spread across his face.
"Cool," he said at last. "I like surprises. Especially the epic ones."
The traffic light flickered green, and without another word, they sped forward—her soft laughter trailing behind them like petals caught in the wind, blending with the city's hum.
To be continued...