Part 13 : The Rules We Never Made
Hours passed...Neither Vedha nor Sarang made an effort to text the other. No casual check-ins, no silly messages.
By late night, Vedha finally opened Zozo.
Sarang was already there.
And he wasn't exactly being quiet.
Sarang: "You're trouble, you know that?"
Kiara: "Only for people who can handle it."
Sarang: "I'd enjoy finding out."
Kiara: "Confident, aren't you?"
Sarang: "Always."
Kiara: “Maybe I should find out for myself.”
Sarang: “And what if you end up liking what you find?”
Vedha stopped scrolling.
"Oh. So this was what he was doing tonight."
A few more messages followed.
Sarang: "See Kiara, some conversations are better when they last beyond midnight."
Kiara: "Are you inviting me to one?"
Sarang: "Would you say no?"
Kiara: "Depends on how convincing you are."
Vedha stared at the screen, her expression changing.
Yesterday, he couldn't stand Ayaan making her smile. Today, he seemed perfectly comfortable making someone else blush.
She typed.
Vedha: "Quite the entertainer tonight, aren't we?"
Sarang: "Look who's finally here."
Vedha: "Don't stop on my account. I was enjoying the show."
Sarang: "Were you?"
Vedha: "Thoroughly. Very educational."
Sarang: "Glad I could teach you something."
Vedha (In whisper): "Oh, I learnt something in the moening too. Apparently, flirting is perfectly acceptable when you're the one doing it."
But Sarang dint bothered to whisper back.. Instead he send the message in the wall..
Sarang: "Ah. There it is."
Vedha: "There what is?"
Sarang (In whisper): "Jealousy."
Vedha (Breaking the whisper): "Don't flatter yourself, Sarang."
Sarang (In whisper): "You sound exactly like me yesterday."
Vedha (Breaking the whisper): "And you sound like a hypocrite today."
He sent a laughing emoji. She didn't.
**********************************************
A few minutes later, her private messages lit up.
Sarang: "Come on, Vedu. Don't be like that."
Vedha: "Like what?"
Sarang: "You know."
Vedha: "No, please explain. I'm enjoying this educational evening."
Sarang: "You're jealous."
Vedha: "And you're enjoying it. That's the annoying part."
Sarang: "Maybe a little."
Vedha: "You didn't like Ayaan flirting with me."
Sarang: "I didn't."
Vedha: "But you can flirt with someone else?"
Sarang: "I can. Doesn't mean I should have."
Vedha: "Convenient realisation."
Sarang: "Vedu, I was trying to get a reaction."
Vedha: "Congratulations. You got one."
Sarang: "I noticed."
Vedha: "Don't do it again."
Sarang: "Is that an order?"
Vedha: "Consider it a warning."
Sarang: "Then I have one too. Don't make me compete for your attention."
Vedha: "I never asked you to compete."
Sarang: "I know. That's what makes it worse."
For a moment, neither typed.
Then Sarang sent:
Sarang: "Can I call you?"
Vedha hesitated.
Then replied.
Vedha: "Call."
The call connected after a few rings.
"Hello, jealous girl."
"Hello, hypocrite."
He laughed.
"Still angry?"
"Wouldn't you be?"
"Probably."
"Then why did you do it?"
His voice softened.
"Because I wanted to know if you cared enough to get jealous."
Vedha was quiet for a moment.
"That's the dumbest way of finding out, Sarang."
"I know."
"And irritating."
"I know that too."
"And it worked. Happy?"
"Not particularly. I don't like hearing that you're upset because of me."
She shifted comfortably, holding the phone closer.
"Then don't give me reasons."
"I'd never ."
A small silence followed.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm."
"Vedu."
"Hmm?"
"Do you actually like it when other people flirt with you?"
She smiled faintly.
"Sometimes it's funny."
"And when it's me?"
"That's different."
"Different how?"
"Not everything can be said."
He chuckled.
"All right. I'll take that as a compliment."
"Take it as whatever helps you sleep."
"Not sure I'll be sleeping anytime soon."
"Why?"
"Because there's a certain girl on this call who's been occupying my thoughts all day."
Vedha went quiet.
"You're being unusually sweet tonight."
"Would you prefer I go back to being annoying?"
"I'd appreciate either versions.. But onky when it's with me."
He laughed again, then lowered his voice.
"Vedu?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't want to share the little things between us with everyone."
She understood what he meant.
"The flirting?"
"That. The late-night conversations. The way we talk when it's just us."
"You want all the special treatment?"
"I want it to mean something when it's you."
She didn't answer immediately.
Then, softly, "I don't like seeing you give someone else the same attention either."
Sarang paused.
"Then perhaps we're both in trouble."
"Looks like it."
**********************************
The conversation slowly drifted away from jealousy.
They talked about the day, exchanged a few silly remarks, and laughed over things that wouldn't have been funny to anyone else.
Eventually, Sarang said, "Vedu, can I tell you something?"
"Go on."
"I wish this call had no end."
"That's a very inconvenient wish. I have work tomorrow."
"I know."
She smiled.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound between them was the quiet rhythm of their breathing.
Vedha had always found something strangely intoxicating about hearing Sarang breathe. Even in the silence, his presence through the phone had a way of making her feel closer to him.
She wanted to ask him something, but she couldn't quite find the words or the courage to begin.
She hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts, until she finally took a breath and asked...
"Sarang?"
"Tell me Vedu"
"Can I have a kiss?"
Sarang felt like his whole world has become merrier...
"Donno if I can stop with one... "
Sarang kissed Vedha..
He sent a soft kiss through the phone. She returned it, and for a moment, neither spoke.
"Another?" he asked.
"Please."
He kissed her again.. This time not a soft peck.. But a rather deep, intimate and long one.
She was giggling and blushing like anything.
"Sarang.."
"Don't stop me today Vedu... Let me have this moment framed...!"
"Vedu, I wish I could be there right now."
Vedha's teasing expression faded.
"What would you do if you were?"
"First, I'd ask if I could hold your hand."
"And after that?"
"I'd probably pull you a little closer, brush that stubborn hair away from your face and kiss your forehead."
She smiled.
"That's all?"
He chuckled.
"You're making it very difficult to behave."
"Who's asking you to behave?"
He paused, then asked gently, "Can I kiss your earlobe?"
His voice sent a warm shiver through her, stirring butterflies she couldn't quite tame.
"Yes." She said.
The next kiss was slower, lingering a little longer. His lips brushed her earlobe, followed by a gentle, teasing nip.
"Vedu?"
"Hmm?"
"I really wish that wasn't through a phone."
"You're not the only one."
"Come a little closer to the phone."
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
She did.
"Close your eyes," he whispered.
She followed his voice as he sent another gentle kiss, then another. His kisses wandered from her eyelids to her cheeks, her nose, and finally her forehead, each one softer than the last.
When she opened her eyes, his voice came through again.
"Still there?"
"Not gonna leave you any time soon."
He laughed.
"Good. Because I have no intention of ending this call yet."
"Don't."
To be continued...
Hours passed...Neither Vedha nor Sarang made an effort to text the other. No casual check-ins, no silly messages.
By late night, Vedha finally opened Zozo.
Sarang was already there.
And he wasn't exactly being quiet.
Sarang: "You're trouble, you know that?"
Kiara: "Only for people who can handle it."
Sarang: "I'd enjoy finding out."
Kiara: "Confident, aren't you?"
Sarang: "Always."
Kiara: “Maybe I should find out for myself.”
Sarang: “And what if you end up liking what you find?”
Vedha stopped scrolling.
"Oh. So this was what he was doing tonight."
A few more messages followed.
Sarang: "See Kiara, some conversations are better when they last beyond midnight."
Kiara: "Are you inviting me to one?"
Sarang: "Would you say no?"
Kiara: "Depends on how convincing you are."
Vedha stared at the screen, her expression changing.
Yesterday, he couldn't stand Ayaan making her smile. Today, he seemed perfectly comfortable making someone else blush.
She typed.
Vedha: "Quite the entertainer tonight, aren't we?"
Sarang: "Look who's finally here."
Vedha: "Don't stop on my account. I was enjoying the show."
Sarang: "Were you?"
Vedha: "Thoroughly. Very educational."
Sarang: "Glad I could teach you something."
Vedha (In whisper): "Oh, I learnt something in the moening too. Apparently, flirting is perfectly acceptable when you're the one doing it."
But Sarang dint bothered to whisper back.. Instead he send the message in the wall..
Sarang: "Ah. There it is."
Vedha: "There what is?"
Sarang (In whisper): "Jealousy."
Vedha (Breaking the whisper): "Don't flatter yourself, Sarang."
Sarang (In whisper): "You sound exactly like me yesterday."
Vedha (Breaking the whisper): "And you sound like a hypocrite today."
He sent a laughing emoji. She didn't.
**********************************************
A few minutes later, her private messages lit up.
Sarang: "Come on, Vedu. Don't be like that."
Vedha: "Like what?"
Sarang: "You know."
Vedha: "No, please explain. I'm enjoying this educational evening."
Sarang: "You're jealous."
Vedha: "And you're enjoying it. That's the annoying part."
Sarang: "Maybe a little."
Vedha: "You didn't like Ayaan flirting with me."
Sarang: "I didn't."
Vedha: "But you can flirt with someone else?"
Sarang: "I can. Doesn't mean I should have."
Vedha: "Convenient realisation."
Sarang: "Vedu, I was trying to get a reaction."
Vedha: "Congratulations. You got one."
Sarang: "I noticed."
Vedha: "Don't do it again."
Sarang: "Is that an order?"
Vedha: "Consider it a warning."
Sarang: "Then I have one too. Don't make me compete for your attention."
Vedha: "I never asked you to compete."
Sarang: "I know. That's what makes it worse."
For a moment, neither typed.
Then Sarang sent:
Sarang: "Can I call you?"
Vedha hesitated.
Then replied.
Vedha: "Call."
The call connected after a few rings.
"Hello, jealous girl."
"Hello, hypocrite."
He laughed.
"Still angry?"
"Wouldn't you be?"
"Probably."
"Then why did you do it?"
His voice softened.
"Because I wanted to know if you cared enough to get jealous."
Vedha was quiet for a moment.
"That's the dumbest way of finding out, Sarang."
"I know."
"And irritating."
"I know that too."
"And it worked. Happy?"
"Not particularly. I don't like hearing that you're upset because of me."
She shifted comfortably, holding the phone closer.
"Then don't give me reasons."
"I'd never ."
A small silence followed.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm."
"Vedu."
"Hmm?"
"Do you actually like it when other people flirt with you?"
She smiled faintly.
"Sometimes it's funny."
"And when it's me?"
"That's different."
"Different how?"
"Not everything can be said."
He chuckled.
"All right. I'll take that as a compliment."
"Take it as whatever helps you sleep."
"Not sure I'll be sleeping anytime soon."
"Why?"
"Because there's a certain girl on this call who's been occupying my thoughts all day."
Vedha went quiet.
"You're being unusually sweet tonight."
"Would you prefer I go back to being annoying?"
"I'd appreciate either versions.. But onky when it's with me."
He laughed again, then lowered his voice.
"Vedu?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't want to share the little things between us with everyone."
She understood what he meant.
"The flirting?"
"That. The late-night conversations. The way we talk when it's just us."
"You want all the special treatment?"
"I want it to mean something when it's you."
She didn't answer immediately.
Then, softly, "I don't like seeing you give someone else the same attention either."
Sarang paused.
"Then perhaps we're both in trouble."
"Looks like it."
**********************************
The conversation slowly drifted away from jealousy.
They talked about the day, exchanged a few silly remarks, and laughed over things that wouldn't have been funny to anyone else.
Eventually, Sarang said, "Vedu, can I tell you something?"
"Go on."
"I wish this call had no end."
"That's a very inconvenient wish. I have work tomorrow."
"I know."
She smiled.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound between them was the quiet rhythm of their breathing.
Vedha had always found something strangely intoxicating about hearing Sarang breathe. Even in the silence, his presence through the phone had a way of making her feel closer to him.
She wanted to ask him something, but she couldn't quite find the words or the courage to begin.
She hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts, until she finally took a breath and asked...
"Sarang?"
"Tell me Vedu"
"Can I have a kiss?"
Sarang felt like his whole world has become merrier...
"Donno if I can stop with one... "
Sarang kissed Vedha..
He sent a soft kiss through the phone. She returned it, and for a moment, neither spoke.
"Another?" he asked.
"Please."
He kissed her again.. This time not a soft peck.. But a rather deep, intimate and long one.
She was giggling and blushing like anything.
"Sarang.."
"Don't stop me today Vedu... Let me have this moment framed...!"
"Vedu, I wish I could be there right now."
Vedha's teasing expression faded.
"What would you do if you were?"
"First, I'd ask if I could hold your hand."
"And after that?"
"I'd probably pull you a little closer, brush that stubborn hair away from your face and kiss your forehead."
She smiled.
"That's all?"
He chuckled.
"You're making it very difficult to behave."
"Who's asking you to behave?"
He paused, then asked gently, "Can I kiss your earlobe?"
His voice sent a warm shiver through her, stirring butterflies she couldn't quite tame.
"Yes." She said.
The next kiss was slower, lingering a little longer. His lips brushed her earlobe, followed by a gentle, teasing nip.
"Vedu?"
"Hmm?"
"I really wish that wasn't through a phone."
"You're not the only one."
"Come a little closer to the phone."
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
She did.
"Close your eyes," he whispered.
She followed his voice as he sent another gentle kiss, then another. His kisses wandered from her eyelids to her cheeks, her nose, and finally her forehead, each one softer than the last.
When she opened her eyes, his voice came through again.
"Still there?"
"Not gonna leave you any time soon."
He laughed.
"Good. Because I have no intention of ending this call yet."
"Don't."
To be continued...
Coz part 14 is gonna be a rideeeee you'd never forget
please...
nthaandraaaaa
