02: powerless

Vijay couldn't help but look at her. He had been watching her for the past four days and was rendered powerless every time because this woman seemed to snag his attention like iron to a magnet. He had heard about people describing others as magnetic. He never seemed to understand it until now.

The first day he had seen her, she was in the far opposite corner of the bus. She had asked for a ticket but her meek voice didn't travel through the packed bus to reach the conductor's ears. Vijay had notified the conductor about her and then he'd torn off a ticket. She had been wearing a button-up dirty pink shirt and light blue jeans. Vijay couldn't see her shoes but he could bet she was wearing sneakers. She looked like someone who would be most comfortable in sneakers.

The second day, she was standing a few seats before him, her back turned towards him. For some reason, Vijay could recognise her even when she had switched up her style. She was wearing salwar that day, a printed duppata over a monochrome white salwar. It seemed like she had taken the effort to dress up extra that day because she was wearing oxidised jhumkas and bangles. When she turned around to look for something, he also noticed that she was wearing bindi, which made her look prettier.

The third day he couldn't get a clear view of her because a man had brought his shovel along with him and the shovel was threatening to hit his face if he moved an inch. He watched her get on the bus at her usual stop but he couldn't spot her after that. Vijay could only remember that she was wearing something green.

The fourth day he had been right behind her but she hadn't noticed. Vijay couldn't help but stare at her, watching her untuck her braided hair that had caught between her tote bag's straps and look at her phone with a frown. She didn't smile that day and it bothered him. The thing about her was that she didn't have to have her lips curve to smile at someone. Her eyes were even more expressive; they spoke poetry. Those pools of starless night sky, lined by a thin stroke of eyeliner, spilled words that the lips could not say. Maybe that's why he had been so enamoured by her without even talking to her.

It wasn't just him. Whenever she stepped into the bus, a horde of eyes turned her way. Some were in admiration, jealousy but some were filthy glances. He wanted to slam his elbow into their sockets and make sure they never looked at a woman that way ever again. It was unusual, this feeling of protectiveness for a stranger, and he didn't know what to do with it.

Today, Vijay was standing next to the entry and long before the bus halted at her bus stop, he searched for her. She was in a green kurta again, pushing through a crowd of school kids and muttering something between her teeth. She didn't seem to mind the scowls that the kids were giving her as if she had decided she was going to be rude today and not give a damn about it. He almost laughed at the determination lining her face. So fucking cute and so fucking pretty.

The doors screeched open and she pushed her way in. Once she was in, Vijay turned his head away to not make it obvious that he was staring. One minute he looked away and the next minute she was toppling forward. Vijay couldn't stop himself. His hands took a mind of its own and grabbed her forearms, which were soft and dewy with some kind of cream that forced him to grip her tighter to prevent slipping.

She removed her dainty palms from her chest and glanced up at him like he was her hero. Her black eyes traced his face, leaving behind a trail of warmth. He couldn't stand it when her gaze dropped to his lips. Vijay immediately let her go and turned away.

He shouldn't have touched her. What was this feeling stirring inside him like a foreign storm? Vijay couldn't believe he was reacting to a woman like this. Was he already smitten? After only a few days of knowing she existed?

"Um, thanks," she said and hearing her voice wasn't helping his case. He was mad at him for thinking about her this way. He didn't even know her. He couldn't be smitten with her just by her looks. Vijay wasn't raised that way. Accompanied by this frustration was a wave of fury that shot up his spine because of her carelessness. What if he hadn't held her? What if he had been on the other side of the bus? Would someone else have stopped her from face-planting into the hard and dirty floor of the bus? Or would they have let her fall?

Vijay couldn't respond to her. He was too mad. Mad at him, mad at her and mad at the situation. When he glanced at her, she flinched under his gaze. The look of gratitude was quick to be replaced by hurt and confusion. Once the next stop came, she moved away from him. The distance that she voluntarily put between them caused a turmoil in him. He was partly grateful she did because he was beginning to feel out of breath being consumed by her delicious fruity perfume. On the other hand, it stung that he had hurt her enough that she had physically distanced herself. Vijay hated this war inside him. Why did this woman have the power to turn his thoughts and feelings into such a colossal mess?

He took a deep breath and turned away until her stop came. Vijay watched her as she got down and faced him as the glass doors sealed shut. This time, there wasn't hurt in her eyes but anger and defiance. She was glaring at him with all her might.

The bus lurched forward and Vijay shook his head lightly, cracking a smile.

He'd chosen himself a feisty one.

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Vijay couldn't shake away the feel of that woman's skin or get the picture of her eyes out of his mind. He could still smell her cream on his palms. He was thankful for his practice so that he could run and distract himself by getting into his element, the few moments in his day when he felt absolute peace.

Vijay slowed down into a jog when Krish hollered at him to stop. His best friend halted a few steps behind him, clutching his knees and catching his breath. "I told you to fucking stop, man. You purposefully made me run, didn't you?" he panted, throwing accusing fingers at him.

"You're running behind professors all the time trying to get into their good books. This mustn't be new for you," Vijay said, retracing his steps back to his friend.

"But teachers don't run like fucking lightning."

Vijay grinned and patted Krish twice before pulling him up. "What's up?" he asked, turning around to locate his bag that he must have left somewhere.

"After I tell you, you would wish you would have stopped sooner instead of making me run in the sun."

Vijay rolled his eyes. "What is it, man?"

"Farah is getting married."

"The fuck?" Vijay was shocked. His other best friend, Farah, had been telling him that her parents had begun looking for alliances for her but she hadn't given any other update about it. It couldn't be. Not so soon. "Are you serious?"

"She likes the guy so she said yes. And he has no problem with her studying after her marriage so it's sorted."

"But... she can't get married so soon." Something strange swirled in his chest. His best friend was getting married. Things were going to change. It wouldn't be the same anymore after she had a husband.

"There, she's coming. Hear it from her yourself," Krish said, tipping his chin towards Farah. She walked towards them in her signature skinny jeans, a linen tunic top and a matching shawl covering her head that wrapped around her shoulders. Farah smiled ear-to-ear, speed-walking towards them. She was not even close to them when she yelled at Krish, "You told him, didn't you? I told you that I wanted to be the one who broke the news to Vijay!"

"You were too slow. News like this has to travel fast," Krish said as a matter of fact.

Farah wrapped her arms around Vijay as soon as she was next to him. "Why is there a sour look on your face? Aren't you happy for me?"

"I didn't even know you were considering it seriously," he whispered to her.

"I wasn't. But he is hot, Vijay. Like, totally my type. And he's so sweet. He said okay to all that I wanted and he is from a good family. Rich too. Why would I let this man go?" Farah said, pulling away. "I just gave you a hug when you are sweating like a pig so don't be upset. Please."

"I'm not," Vijay said immediately. He forced a smile on his face and threw an arm around her. "Of course, I am happy for you. I was surprised because it was sudden. I could have used a warning."

"Trust me, I could have too. But life plays by its own rules," she shrugged.

"By the way, you didn't even care to get my approval. How rude," Vijay teased.

"Yeah, my best friend's stamp of approval is important. But I also knew he would approve anything that makes me happy so..." Farah said. "And Krish wasn't supposed to know first. He eavesdropped."

"Hey, it's not my fault my ears are working just fine," Krish protested. "But, show us his picture, no?"

Farah pulled out her phone. Vijay didn't miss the faint tint of pink on her cheeks that was visible on her fair skin. "No nasty comments. Or I'll murder both of you and no one will be able to find your bodies. Got it?" she said and only after they nodded, she showed them the picture.

If Vijay was honest, he would say that guy was good-looking. He wouldn't go too far and call him hot but Farah and him would make a good pair, looks-wise. His eyes seemed kind and he looked like an easy-going guy. Krish glanced at Vijay and he knew he was thinking the same thing. But as if they'd planned it, they pushed Farah away and waved their hands in dismissal. "Nah, very mid. The man looks like a baby. What's his name again?"

"Aadil," Farah grunted, already beginning to look pissed.

"Yeah, he's got a baby face. You could do a lot better, Farah. He's very meh," Krish played along. "And Aadil? Farah Aadil? Nah. Find an Ahmed. Farah Ahmed sounds a lot better."

She smacked both of them. "Shut up, you assholes. He's amazing and I don't need your bullshit opinion. I knew you would say shit like this. Get lost."

"Get lost," Krish mimicked in a whiny voice, earning him another sharp smack on his arm as Farah marched forward and away from them.

Vijay and Krish snickered before catching up to her and wrapping their arms around her neck and shoulders. "We're sorry. He looks decent. We approve," Krish said, barely getting the words out through his laughter.

"Shove that approval up your asses because I don't need them," Farah shot back but her fight was dissolving. Farah's famous dimple-embedded smile was threatening its way up her cheeks.

"Farah, Farah, Farah," Vijay sang her name as she tried to push off their arms. "Come on. We weren't serious. You know that."

"I know but let me go, you annoying pricks. You always gang up on me."

"Yeah, that's true. But that's because we love you," Krish butted in.

"Bullshit," Farah snorted, even though she was already smiling. "Now, come on. We are late for class."

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a/n: thoughts so far? are we liking anyone yet?