: The Glass of Water and Glowing Eyes
The next morning, the harsh buzz of the alarm tore Aarav from sleep. It was six. He opened his eyes, shut off the alarm, and buried his face back in the pillow. Then, with a jolt, he sat straight up.
"Oh crap! I have to meet Nayan today!"
He remembered Nayan had messaged him to come over to his place today and stay for lunch. Aarav got up swiftly, got ready, and hopped on his bike, heading straight for Nayan's house.
---
Nayan's house was in a quiet colony. Aarav rang the gate bell. After a moment, the door opened and Nayan's mother, Seema Aunty, appeared.
"Oh, Aarav beta! You came? Come in, come in!" Her face held a warm, welcoming smile.
"Namaste, Aunty," Aarav said. "Where's Nayan?"
"He hasn't even gotten up yet! Go, wake him up."
"Yes, Aunty."
Aarav went straight to Nayan's room. Nayan was curled up under a sheet, fast asleep. A mischievous grin spread across Aarav's face. He tiptoed to Nayan's bed, lay down beside him, draped his leg over Nayan's, and whispered in his ear, "Oooh baby... yes yes... please... yahhh..."
Nayan's eyes flew open. He jerked upright and clamped a hand over Aarav's mouth. "Aarav, bro! What are you doing?!"
Aarav burst out laughing. "See? Woke you up, didn't I?"
Nayan checked the clock. "Bro, it's only seven! Let me sleep, man. I don't even feel like going to college today." He started to lie back down.
Aarav got off the bed and made to leave. "Alright then, I'll just tell Karishma that Nayan is busy today... sleeping."
"Karishma?!" At the sound of her name, Nayan shot up and came over to Aarav. "What about Karishma?"
"Yeah, Karishma. She's bringing the list for the college annual function prep to the library today, about who'll do what. If you don't feel like coming, I'll go alone and tell her Nayan won't participate in the dance. Okay, I'm leaving. Sleep well, son."
"Bro, bro! Wait, wait! I'll get ready and come right now. Just two minutes! You sit here. Just wait, I'm getting ready."
Nayan got ready in record time a mere thirty minutes and was all set. Just then, Seema Aunty's voice called out, "Come on, kids, have some breakfast. I made fresh, hot poha."
"No, Mom, we're getting late. We'll grab something on the way," Nayan said.
"No, Aunty, I'm hungry, I'll have some," Aarav said.
"Come sit. Nayan, you come too. See, I don't know what hurry Aarav has."
"Oh Aunty, what hurry? He's the one in a big hurry. What can I tell you?" Aarav said. At this, Nayan gave Aarav's foot a light kick under the table.
"Oww!"
"What happened, beta?" Seema Aunty asked, concerned.
"Nothing, Aunty... just... a stomach ache from hunger, but it won't happen now that I'm eating this poha."
"Alright then."
Both ate the poha and headed out. Nayan got on the back of Aarav's bike, and Aarav started it up.
"Bro, so what's the plan? Are you gonna dance?" Aarav asked.
"Man, but how? Will Karishma agree to the dance?"
"Your bro's got your back. Watch how I convince her."
Talking like this, they reached college. Once there, they started waiting for Karishma. After a while, Karishma arrived at college on her scooter. Seeing her, Nayan brightened up.
Karishma saw Aarav and said, "Hey, Aarav."
"Hey, Karishma," Aarav said and started walking toward her.
"So you two finally showed up. Come on, tell me, who's doing what?"
Nayan spoke up, "Me! I'll participate in the dance too."
"Oh, Nayan? Yeah, I know, Aarav already told me," Karishma said.
Nayan shot Aarav an angry look. Aarav just smiled.
"Let's go to the library. I have a book to return. After that, we meet in the garden."
Everyone went to the library. While Karishma went to return the book, Nayan gave Aarav a light punch in the stomach and said, "When will you stop messing with me, huh? You told Karishma everything, why didn't you tell me?"
Aarav started laughing. "I was just pulling your leg."
Karishma returned and the three headed toward the garden. Karishma said, "Guys, so be prepared. We three will dance, but we need one more partner. And right now, no one else wants to dance. What do we do?"
Aarav thought for a moment, then said, "I'll handle it. Okay guys, I'm leaving now. I have some work. You two talk here on the phone." Aarav winked at Nayan. Nayan understood.
Aarav left, got on his bike, and headed toward his hostel. He was riding when suddenly a boy started crossing the road in front of him. Aarav slammed the brakes. "Hey! Are you blind? Ever heard of a horn?"
Then the boy turned. Aarav's breath caught.
Kiyan.
Aarav looked at him, then without a word, turned his bike in the other direction and sped off toward the hostel. Kiyan just stood there, watching him leave.
---
Back at the hostel, Aarav lay down on his bed. "Won't even talk, and then this idiot shows up in front of my bike. Would've turned into roadkill under my wheels. Man, the day was going so well, and Mr. Stranger had to ruin it. Whatever, the day's still young. It's only one o'clock anyway. What to do, what to do..."
Just then, his doorbell rang.
"Now who's here?" he grumbled and opened the door.
Kiyan stood in front of him.
Aarav said angrily, "Kiyan. I don't want to talk to you."
Kiyan gave no reply. He just stepped forward and held out a bag toward Aarav.
Aarav opened the bag. Inside were the same clothes he'd given Kiyan to wear that night.
"Oh, you came to return my clothes. Want some water?"
Kiyan nodded.
Aarav went to get water and came back with a glass. He placed the glass on the table in front of Kiyan. Just as Kiyan reached out to take it, Aarav pulled his hand back.
"No water for you. Got it?"
A moment of silence. Then, in a swift motion, Kiyan grabbed Aarav's hand, reaching for the water. The glass slipped from Aarav's grip and fell to the floor. Aarav lost his balance and stumbled forward falling right on top of Kiyan.
Both were on the bed. Aarav on top, Kiyan beneath him. Aarav's breaths quickened. He tried to get up but couldn't seem to move. His gaze got stuck on Kiyan's eyes. And then it happened again that golden glow in Kiyan's eyes slowly kindled to life, like an inner lamp being lit.
This glow didn't feel frightening this time. It held a strange warmth, a magnetism that was hard to look away from. Aarav's breaths seemed to stop. His anger, his irritation, everything blurred in that moment. He just kept looking into those eyes into that deep, mysterious golden depth that no longer scared him, but pulled him in.
Kiyan was silent too. His breaths were warm against Aarav's face. He didn't try to move either. Maybe he was also caught in the same spell—the spell of this Aarav, who stood like a wall against his powers, whose eyes now held not fear, but a deep, confused curiosity.
The room was silent, save for the echo of two heartbeats and the sound of water dripping from the broken glass.