At night, I was strolling on the terrace of our new house in Mumbai. It was right beside the seashore. I felt the salt spray on my face. I, Vaidehi Bharadwaaj, along with my family shifted to Mumbai last week. Had it not been for my father’s business, I would have never left Ahmedabad. I saw the waves rising and falling against the rocks surrounding the sea. We had moved into an opulent 3 BHK in a society near marine drive. My Dad brings in 7 digits per year. I am a juvenile girl, in my early twenties, studying music. It has always been my passion.

Thud…..

I see the door to the terrace open and a hooded black figure moved in. According to the physique, it should be a man, lithe and muscular. He seemed to be a little over 6 feet tall, his each step was alert and his stride confident. He strode straight to the edge which overlooked the sea. He stood there for a while, unmoved. I then watched him take his hood off the face. The moonlight shimmered on his bronze face. His eyes were glimmering brightly under the moon. He held one of his hands out and took off his hoodie. I could admit that he was athletic and sporty. His muscles were well built and I observed that his gaze was steady.

Right in the moment of animation, he saw me. To my surprise, he stared back at me. He looked away. For a moment, I relaxed. But then, he walked straight towards me with the same confidence. I stood there.

He stared at me blankly. “Hi”, he said. “Hello. What’s your name?”, I asked. “I am Bhairav Nair. And you?”, he said. He held out his hand and I shook it. I told him that I was Vaidehi Bharadwaaj and that I had shifted recently. We further had long chats and I had forgotten what the time was. I was happy that I finally found a new friend in this new environment.

I got to know that he was actually a martial artist and was trained in kalaripayattu and silambam for several years. I was telling him about my schooling and told him that I was a national level volleyball player as well. I felt as if Bhairav was not a stranger and that I knew him since ages. Suddenly, his phone rang. It was his mom, asking him his whereabouts. In the meantime, even I checked my phone. I had got a message from my dad. The message said that for an emergency, my parents had to go out and that they would be back in a couple of hours.

As for me, this had become a practice: staying at home alone without my parents. Bhairav put his phone down. As we were about to piss off again with our conversation, it started raining. In just a matter of few seconds, it had started raining drums and gush of water. Bhairav told me that we should immediately get back to our houses. We climbed down the stairs. At tenth floor, we stopped right before the door to my house.

I started searching my pockets one after the other. There was not a single sign of my keys. Startled, I searched even more. Then I remembered that I had not taken the keys while going to the terrace. I panicked. I told myself that this was the worst thing that could happen to me in my first meeting with a new friend. I stood there, with a clue of sadness in my eyes. I felt helpless. More helpless than I had ever felt in my life. Bhairav saw me. He asked me what happened. I told him all the scene. He kept looking at me for a while. He then looked away as if thinking something. He continued to look calm and composed.

His phone rang. Again. It was his mom. Again. He told her that he had come to my home to drop me and that I happened to be so reckless that I had forgotten the keys. He talked to his mom for a little longer than the last time. He chuckled and giggled. Then he heard his mom say something, looked at me and laughed heartily. Something distracted me from all these worries. It was my favourite smell. The smell of the wet earth after the downpour.

I was busy breathing the smell when suddenly I heard Bhairav say,”Yes Maa hold on, I will ask her,”

then he asked me, with sincerity in his voice, his tone gentle, ”My mom is asking you if you would like to come to my home till your parents come. We will have some coffee together and also my mom is excited to meet my new friend.” It took some time for me to absorb all that he had just said. I was baffled. Should I accept the offer or decline politely? I was utterly confused. I was confused till the skin of my teeth.

After a lot of thinking, I told him, ”Bhairav, if you don’t mind, I would like to ask my parents first.” “Ya sure. I shall wait for you here”. Then on the phone he told his mom that he would let her know about my final decision. I called my Dad and I told him about my whole evening. Initially he did not, or rather, could not trust Bhairav. But then, as I told him that I had forgotten the keys, he told me that he did not mind if I went with Bhairav. He repeatedly kept telling me that they would not take long as they were already returning.

I kept the phone down. I turned towards Bhairav. He looked quite desperate and it was then that I noticed that he had cinnamon brown eyes. His hair was silky and a lock of his hair ceaselessly brushed near a spot near his eyes. He held a welcoming gaze while waiting for my reply. “So? What did Uncle say?”, he asked. “He told me that he did not mind if I come to your place.” He was so glad that I was going to his place. He did a little dance before taking me to his home.

As we were climbing down the stairs, I did not know how I should actually feel. My stomach did a quick summersault as all of a sudden I realised that I was roaming in my night suit. We reached the threshold of his home. It was decent and did not know how to behave in front of his family. He rang the bell and I felt so bashful that I almost choked on my breath.

Aunty opened the door. She welcomed me with a warm hug. I relaxed. She did not judge me based on my clothing. The door opened just to unveil the luxurious couch and carpet inside. We set there. I noticed that the interior of the house was very intricately crafted. It had been set up like that to give off vintage vibes. The television table was made out of an old fat black and white television, the clock was like one of those in the king’s cross station, and the landline phone was kept in an old PCO booth.

Everything was in its place. The house, overall was picture perfect. Aunty served us water. I accepted it reluctantly. “So what’s your good name honey?” She asked. “I am Vaidehi Bharadwaaj aunty. I met Bhairav up in the terrace just a while ago.” I replied. “Bhairav told me. I know that he has grown up quite a lot but I cannot live without him so I call him often.” Aunty replied. “Would you have tea or coffee?”

“Neither”, I told her, “I don’t like either of it.” “Great then. Maa please make us both some hot chocolate and could you please get it to my room?” Bhairav said. Then pointing gently to a door to our right, he said, “That’s my room. Come. You first.” We went in his room. This room had a very different energy. It held a soothing vibe. It calmed me down. Bhairav brought a chair for me and signalled me to sit there. I did.

This room was quite exquisite. It had all the martial arts weapons all around its walls. On the wall opposite the door, was a mirror which had something written on it with white ink. It read: Fear is a reaction, COURAGE is a decision. It perfectly gave off the vibes of a martial artist. Bhairav kept the door open. He is a young man who definitely respects women and cannot tolerate their insults. “I hope you find yourself comfortable in here.” He said.

“Of course I do. Thank you so much for bringing me here. Your mom is a darling. And it is a pleasure meeting her.” I said. “Actually I have never had a friend in my life.” He said. “Oh I am sorry.” I said. “You need not be. I believe that having no friend is better than having a bad friend.” He said. Just then Aunty entered the room with two mugs. It smelt nice because it smelt chocolate. Having something warm while it is raining outside felt so good. I took a few sips and put my mug on a side table. Bhairav did the same as he saw his phone vibrating on the bed.

Bhairav’s picked up his phone and listened carefully. I observed that his saintly face got many furrows as he heard about something that really bothered him. He told me that he went to freshen up. I was quite concerned as it was the first time I saw him rushing hurriedly with a wrinkled forehead. I was thinking about this when I heard the front door open and in came my parents. I breathed a sigh of relief. As they came in, aunty turned on the television. There were news that a bomb had been found in a local train station in our neighbourhood.

The reporter said that they found it difficult to diffuse the bomb. My parents were anxious. The chocolate in our mugs were now cold. My dad booked a cab to the airport. The told aunty to come along. They panicked. My mom and aunty rushed to pack the our bags. My dad called his managers and travel agents to arrange for tickets. Bhairav was still in the washroom and I kept watching my elders scurrying worriedly, still in my night suit. I felt my presence to be most annoying at that point of time.

Soon the headlines flashed on the television that a scout from the Indian security Forces came like a thunderstorm, diffused the bomb, and returned speedily. There were blood stains on the floor near the bomb. The reporters believed that the scout cut the wire with his bare hands. We were all relieved. I felt drowsy and I wanted to get back to my hot chocolate. However, we all retreated to our homes and slept soundly. After the ruckus, no one had energy enough to sit and have long chats.

The next week went fine. I filled my admission form of the college. At night, I went to the terrace again, hoping to find Bhairav. I had not been with him for a long time, but still I wanted him to listen to all that I wanted to share. I opened the door to the terrace, strode straight to the spot that overlooked the sea. It was beautiful.

Thud….

I turned around, hoping to see Bhairav. I closed my eyes, I did not want to see someone who is not him. I slowly opened the shutters of my eyes, it was…….him. I was happy to see him. I don’t know what for. I waved at him. He waved back at me. I saw some cuts on his fingers.