66.
"So, how does it feel to be kicked out by your husband in the rain?" Yug asked, leaning against the car, arms folded.
Ravi didn't respond. He just took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around his face.
"I'm serious," Yug continued. "I don't think Shaurya meant it literally. You look... traumatized."
"You don't know what he can do," Ravi muttered, voice low.
A beat of silence.
"You going home?" Ravi finally asked.
"Nope. I was thinking of hitting the bar. Good weather for a drink."
"Get in the car. I'll drop you."
Yug nodded and slipped into the passenger seat.
"Is Roy's condition that bad?" Yug asked once Ravi started the engine.
Ravi nodded. "He's hanging by a thread."
"He seemed like a good guy," Yug murmured. His eyes drifted to the dark road ahead.
Out of nowhere, Ravi pressed down on the accelerator. The car lurched forward.
"What the hell? Why are you speeding?" Yug snapped.
Ravi glanced at him with an unreadable expression. "It's fun."
Yug frowned.
"Anyway," he said after a moment, "how was your sister's wedding?"
"Not bad. Made me want to get married," Ravi replied casually.
Yug snorted.
"What was that for?" Ravi asked.
"Nothing. It's just funny you still think about that. No offense, but aren't you too old for that?"
"I'm a year younger than Shaurya."
Yug's eyebrows shot up. "No way."
"Thanks?" Ravi muttered just as he braked sharply—the traffic ahead had slowed to a crawl.
"Waise..." Yug leaned back. "Tumhe dekhke lagta hi nahi hai ke things are serious right now. You're joking about your age. You're a damn good actor."
"I'm not joking about my age. And what do you expect me to do? Cry?"
"Well, people usually get upset in your situation. Roy was a good friend, right?" Yug asked.
"It hurts, yeah," Ravi admitted, eyes fixed on the red glow of brake lights ahead. "But what can we do? It's fate. Today I'm alive, tomorrow I might not be. Hell—maybe we get into an accident on the way. Who knows?"
Yug stared at him, speechless. "I always lose some of my brain cells when I talk to you or Shaurya. I just can't decide who influenced whom".
Ravi didn't respond to Yug and instead shifted the conversation.
"What was the name of that friend of yours?"
"Who?" Yug raised a brow.
"The one who takes care of Aarya," Ravi said casually — then abruptly rolled down the window and glared at a random traffic police officer as if the man had personally offended him.
Yug blinked, unsure what universe he'd stepped into.
Ravi rolled the window back up just as calmly and looked at Yug again. "So?"
"Oh... uh, yeah. Her name's Eve. Why?" Yug asked.
"No reason. She looks... good," Ravi replied.
Yug muttered under his breath, "Eve would faint if she heard that."
"Did you say something?" Ravi asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Nope," Yug said quickly.
The traffic finally began to ease. They drove in silence for a few minutes until they reached the bar. Yug stepped out of the car and stretched a little. Ravi walked around the vehicle to join him.
Yug started toward the entrance but paused.
"Don't you wanna come?"
Ravi shook his head.
"Oh, come on now." Yug walked back and patted his back — instantly regretting it because it felt like patting a cement pillar. Ravi's eyes narrowed, and Yug snatched his hand back like he'd touched fire.
"Let's go inside," Yug said awkwardly, scratching his head.
Ravi motioned with his hand.
"After you."
They entered the bar. The manager and staff greeted Yug warmly, their tone shifting politely when they noticed Ravi trailing behind him. Yug led the way to the VIP lounge upstairs.
"Not too full today, thank God," Yug muttered, settling in.
"What do you want to drink?" he asked.
"Just water," Ravi replied.
"Seriously?"
"Yep."
"Alright then."
Ravi sat on the couch, his arms stretched across the backrest, gaze fixed somewhere downstairs on the crowd. Yug ordered his scotch and took a slow sip.
"You seem heartbroken," Ravi said suddenly, still watching the crowd.
Yug gave a faint smirk. "Mm, not really. Honestly? I don't even know what I feel anymore." He let out a quiet sigh and looked away, getting lost in his own head for a moment — something very unlike him.
Ravi observed him for a few seconds. The silence stretched, unfamiliar and strange coming from Yug.
"You're thinking too much," Ravi said.
Yug looked at him briefly, took another sip, then shook his head.
"Yeah... let's not talk about that. Tell me about you, then."
"What about me?" Ravi asked, turning his attention back to him.
"I don't know. You said you wanted to get married—what's your type?" Yug asked, swirling the scotch in his glass.
Ravi shrugged. "Hmm... I don't think I have a type. Maybe someone not too young. Someone who'd be okay with my flaws."
"What flaw?"
"You know... my past." Ravi sounded like it was obvious.
Yug rolled his eyes. "Dude, that's not a flaw. And I don't think anyone would even care about that."
"Try telling that to girls," Ravi muttered.
"What do you mean?" Yug leaned forward.
"Why do you think I'm still unmarried?" Ravi countered.
"They rejected you? That's insane." Yug snorted, genuinely baffled.
Ravi sighed and took out another cigarette. The flame flickered against his sharp features as he lit it.
"Well, if not girls, why not try guys?" Yug teased.
"I can't marry a guy. I'm not allowed to," Ravi said flatly.
Yug stared. "...Wait. Don't pull that 'Abba nahi manenge' thing with me."
Ravi looked at him—expression blank, unimpressed.
"Don't tell me you didn't get the 3 Idiots reference," Yug groaned.
Ravi shook his head.
"You seriously have no brain," Yug said. "I mean—Abba nahi—"
"I don't have a father, Yug," Ravi reminded quietly.
Yug froze.
And then wished the earth would swallow him whole.
How could he forget that? On top of it, he knew Ravi never had a good relationship with his father. The man had been abusive. Yug buried his face in his hands.
"I need to stop drinking," he mumbled.
Ravi didn't reply. The silence between them stretched for a long minute.
Then—unexpectedly—Yug heard a soft laugh.
Ravi's.
Yug looked up, confused. "What?"
"Nothing. It was funny," Ravi said, still chuckling.
Yug let out an awkward laugh too. But he couldn't help staring for a moment—Ravi's laugh was strangely warm, completely at odds with his usual intimidating face.
His teeth were almost too white and those sharp, eagle-like eyes still made him look like he could commit homicide on a weekday, he looked pure evil—but Yug kept that observation to himself.
"Yug! Hey!" a bright voice called.
Both of them turned.
Eve.
Yug closed his eyes for a second. Great.
Beside him, Ravi immediately killed every trace of his smile, back to his stoic self, throat clearing subtly.
"It's going to be a long night," Yug muttered under his breath.