84.
"I can't believe we've been out together for nearly five hours," Yug said, glancing at his watch. Evening had already settled in, and they were still outside. Ravi had practically shown him the entire Amritnagar—places Yug had never been to before.
"My ass hurts from sitting so long," Yug muttered as they finally headed back toward the mansion.
"I hope I wasn't troubling you," Yug added after a moment.
"Well... actually, you were," Ravi said lightly. "I had some work, but Shaurya took care of it for me."
Yug stared at him, half-embarrassed, half-awkward. Ravi caught his expression and snorted.
"Not funny, alright?" Yug said.
The car slowed and then stopped near a slum area. Yug looked out of the window, confused.
"What are we doing here?"
"My back hurts," Ravi said casually. "Let's take a walk."
"Here?" Yug asked.
Ravi nodded.
Yug sighed but stepped out of the car. Ravi stood beside him, stretching his arms before starting to walk.
"Come on," Ravi said.
They moved through the narrow lanes of the slum market. Yug had never been to a place like this before. Small shops spilled out onto the streets, vendors calling out, children running past them.
"Ravi bhai!" someone called.
Ravi waved back instinctively. Yug noticed a few others smiling at him as they passed.
"You know these people?" Yug asked.
"I spent my teenage years here—until I met Shaurya," Ravi replied.
"Oh," Yug said softly, unsure what to add.
"Well, if you have a problem with that—"
"No," Yug cut in quickly. "I just... didn't know what to say." He hesitated. "Were you born here as well?"
Ravi shook his head. "Nope. My family was doing pretty well once. Then my dad got into gambling and sold everything we had." He paused briefly. "After that, my mum and I moved here with my siblings."
Yug nodded.
"We didn't even know what the real world looked like until we came here," Ravi said quietly. "Everyone you see around us... they're pieces of my past."
Yug glanced around, taking in the narrow lanes, the faces, the noise.
"You're bored, aren't you?" Ravi asked.
Yug shook his head. "Not at all. Your life is actually quite interesting."
"If that's a synonym for depressing, then sure," Ravi said with a short chuckle.
What Ravi noticed—and liked—was that Yug didn't look at him with pity.
No sympathetic frown, no awkward silence.
Even after seeing this place, after stepping into Ravi's world, Yug hadn't judged him.
That was rare. That was exactly what Ravi wanted.
Unlike the other relationships he had, when Ravi only about his past, they'd look at his as if he was the was the unluckiest guy ever.
But now, there was only one problem.
Yug wasn't his date.
"Chai?" Ravi asked, gesturing toward a small tea stall. Earthen cups were stacked beside the kettle.
Yug glanced at it and grimaced. "It's already too hot. I can't."
Ravi sighed, shaking his head.
"Fine," he said, pointing at an ice-cream cart nearby. "Ice cream, then."
"Are you five?" Yug asked, folding his arms.
"You're a complete mood killer," Ravi replied. "Come on."
He handed Yug a cone and took one for himself.
"I don't even know how many calories this has," Yug muttered. "It's very unhealthy."
"Shut up and take a big bite," Ravi said.
Yug obeyed, instantly flinching at the cold. Ravi immediately pressed his cheeks together.
Yug glared at him, barely managing to swallow.
"Are you fucking insane?" Yug snapped.
Ravi just laughed.
Yug rubbed his cheeks while Ravi calmly took a bite of his own ice cream.
"So," Ravi said casually, "if I bite you... do you think you'll get rabies?"
Yug stared at him, thoroughly weirded out. "Why would you bite me in the first place?"
"You never know," Ravi replied with a shrug.
Yug rolled his eyes even though he got a shiver down his spine.
Once they finished, they walked back toward the car.
"So why is Kabir in charge of me now?" Yug asked.
"I told you," Ravi said smoothly. "I've got work. I'll be busy."
Yug huffed. "Right. And here I was, thinking I'd annoyed you all day."
"I was joking," Ravi said casually.
Yug hesitated. "Even if I don't trust you much, I want you to be in charge of me," he admitted. "Plus, you're the head bodyguard. Special privilege."
"Kabir is very well trusted," Ravi replied.
"I don't know him well," Yug said.
"You don't know me well either," Ravi countered.
Yug looked at him. "I know you enough. You're Ravi Elbaaz Haider. Shaurya trusts you more than anyone in this world. You have two sisters and a brother. You had a depressing past." He paused, then added dryly, "You're weird. A creep. And do I really need to elaborate on yesterday's events?"
Ravi smiled faintly. He lifted his hand toward Yug without thinking. Yug instinctively leaned back. Ravi sighed—but didn't pull away. Instead, he gently placed his palm on Yug's head, fingers sliding softly through his almost growing hair, his thumb brushing Yug's temple.
Yug swallowed.
Kabhi kabhi hume lagta hai ki mere Khuda ne aapko mere liye chuna hai.
Aur Khuda ka faisla kabhi galat nahi hota.
Par hamara dharm... yeh mumkin kahan ke hum aapko qubool kar lein.
Allah reham kare.
"Ravi," Yug said quietly, "back off your hand."
"Is it wrong?" Ravi asked.
"Yes," Yug replied. "You're a guy. And people are watching."
"They don't really care," Ravi said lightly. "And I thought you liked guys too." A smirk tugged at his lips.
Yug's throat went dry. "I don't like you," he said.
Ravi chuckled softly and withdrew his hand, clearing his throat as if shaking something off. "Get inside the car."
Yug didn't reply. He got in, buckled his seatbelt, and stared ahead. Ravi started the engine. Yug absently touched the spot where Ravi's hand had been, then glanced at him. Ravi's eyes were fixed on the road, jaw tight, unreadable.
The silence stretched.
Ravi turned on the music.
Ranjheya Ve filled the car. Ravi seemed to relax slightly, humming at first—then singing along when the lyrics came.
Mera jism te jaan, imaan vi tu
Mera Rab, Rasool, Quran vi tu
Sir kadman te dharangi, Ranjheya Ve
Jivein kavega, karangi, Ranjheya Ve
He was a little off-tune, but Yug didn't say anything. He just listened.
Are you feeling something for me, Ravi? Yug wondered, staring out the window. Why are you acting like this?