Taraksha’s POV
(Same day when she visited Kaushiki’s hostel room for the first time)
There was something addictive about Kaushiki’s room. It smelled like cardamom, old books, and quiet stubbornness.
I hadn’t expected to enjoy it this much the vibe, the banter, or the oddly soothing way Kaushiki organized chaos.
And then there was the walk. I hadn’t planned for that either. I was simply restless and felt like Kaushiki might understand restlessness without asking too many questions.
When we saw the girl on the bench Ira I hadn’t thought Kaushiki would walk up to her. But she did. Without hesitation. As if drawn by something.
And then the conversation flowed like water between stones soft, deliberate, oddly poetic and comfortable.
I didn’t know Ira, but I saw something in Kaushiki’s eyes when she spoke to her. A kind of recognition.
|Next day| evening|
~♡ Kaushiki's POV♡~
The sun was beginning to soften, dipping toward the horizon, casting the hostel courtyard in a honey-golden hue.
I adjusted reading glasses and slung my tote bag over my shoulder.
I had spent the afternoon reading a case file on workplace harassment, annotations peppered with highlighters, and my head was throbbing just slightly.
I didn't expect company when a knock landed on my door.
Taraksha.
"Hey," she said, nonchalant, arms crossed. "Got a minute? Or a few? I swear it's not a debate."
I blinked in amusement. "You asking for truce or tea?"
"Both. And maybe a little help with this module breakdown. Our professor speaks faster than my pen can run."
I smirked, gesturing inside. “Come in, warrior.”
Taraksha stepped in, tossing her backpack to the side.
Her presence filled the room not with noise, but a sort of energetic buzz that I had come to associate with her.
A vibrant contrast to my structured calm.
We spread out papers, cross-referenced acts, and discussed sections with a rhythm that felt surprisingly easy.
Where before we had spoken to win, today we spoke to understand.
There was laughter real, relaxed laughter.
Taraksha glanced around during a break. “Your room's so…you.”
I raised a brow. “Organized, spiritual, and addicted to sticky notes?You already saw my room last time Didn’t you?"
“Basically, yeah,but can't get enough of your room,how about i shift in yours since you don't have any roommate till now?” she chuckled
I paused for a some seconds because it was nit like i didn’t like anybody company but the thing is my last roommate was disastrous like literal disastrous.
I have a habit of waking up early she was opposite.
I have a habit of staying with cleanliness and maintaining hygiene she was exactly opposite in this too.
And no I don't have OCD
Sometimes I considered murdering her she was that infuriating.
And no I'm not exaggerating.
But the thing is I know i can survive with Taraksha because she is not clean freak but is way better and maybe best roommate to be with.
"You can shift in my room in really don't have any issue the only thing is if we survive without killing each other" I shrugged.
"Are you sure? Then i will shift by next week since i am fed up with my last hostel and the bond will end soon" she said
"Yeah, I am sure" I replied because I really was
Then she pointed at the small framed photo of Shiva on my bedside. “Is this Bholenath?”
I nodded, voice softening. “My anchor. When everything felt like it was shattering, he was the only constant only support only believe i had or i was left with.”
Taraksha looked at me, expression unreadable for a moment.
Then, with an unusual gentleness, she said, “You’re deeper than you look.”
I tilted my head. “You say that like I look shallow.”
“I said what I said.”
We burst into laughter.
It was nearing twilight when Taraksha left.
But instead of heading back to her hostel, she suggested, “Walk with me to the park? I need air before I drown in precedents.”
"As usual, you can't survive without roaming around? Can you"
"No my coconut darling" she cheekingly replied
What coconut? C-O-C-O-N-U-T
"Coconut?"
"Yeah soft from inside and tough from outside" she simply shrugged
I couldn’t reply why i don't know maybe because she saw too much or maybe because I didn't want to.
◇◇◇
~♡ AUTHOR'S POV ♡~
The next afternoon, a surprise college event had everyone buzzing an open mic and art-and-legal fusion fest, where students from all streams could come together.
Music, spoken word, legal slam poetry, courtroom dramatics, and art exhibitions were all part of the experience.
Kaushiki and Taraksha arrived together, mock-complaining about the heat and the crowd.
“Remind me again why we agreed to this?” Taraksha muttered.
“Because I had a gut feeling. And because you’re secretly a social butterfly.”
“In your dreams.”
They wove through students, clapping for a mock courtroom skit, rolling eyes at a failed guitar act, and cracking jokes that had them both wheezing.
And then Kaushiki stopped in her tracks.
Ira.
She stood by a canvas display of her work. There was a painting one that captured the courtroom in an abstract style.
Kaushiki moved toward it, Taraksha trailing behind.
Kaushiki whispered, “That’s… brilliant.”
Ira looked up and smiled. “You both came.”
Kaushiki stepped forward. “How could we not?”
Taraksha cleared her throat playfully.
“Your painting’s got fire. If you weren’t an artist, you could’ve been a rebel lawyer.” Taraksha completed with a grin.
Ira laughed, the sound like a soft chime. “Only if I had Kaushiki’s courtroom glare.”
The three of them stood there, in the middle of chatter, light, and distant music a lawyer, a fighter, and an artist all beginning to orbit each other’s lives without quite realizing the gravity of it.
On their way to the café, Kaushiki suddenly stopped mid-step, eyes lighting up like she’d seen salvation itself.
A golgappa stall.
“Chalo, pehle golgappa khate hain!” she declared with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for religious pilgrimages.
(Let’s first eat golgappa)
Ira blinked. “Abhi? But… we were going to the café?”
Kaushiki turned to her, scandalized. “Hawww! How can anyone say no to golgappas? Imagine this” she began dramatically, moving her hands in circles like a TV chef, “that one perfect golgappa bursting in your mouth, tangy, spicy, sweet… ekdum balanced! Bas soch ke hi muh mein paani aa gaya!”
(Even thinking about it makes my mouth water)
Her eyes shone dreamily.
Ira broke into laughter, clutching her stomach. Taraksha just rolled her eyes but the corner of her mouth betrayed her a reluctant smile.
“Seriously, Kaush,” Taraksha said, “ab mere bhi muh mein paani aa gaya.”
(Now even mouth is watering)
“Mere bhi!” Ira chimed in, bouncing slightly like a kid volunteering for roll call.
Kaushiki grinned, triumphant. “Toh chalo meri sena, shubh kaam mein deri kaisi!”
(So let's go my army, what are we waiting for)
Moments later, the trio stood by the stall.
“Bhaiya, teen plate golgappa!” Kaushiki ordered with authority.
The first one touched her tongue and she closed her eyes, almost moaning.
“Bhaiya, teekha aur khatta badhaaiye,” she said casually, licking her lips.
(Bhaiya increase the spice and sour)
The words dropped like a bomb.
The vendor froze. Taraksha and Ira gaped at her like she’d just declared she drinks lava for breakfast.
It was already spicy enough to make anyone cry anyone normal at least.
~♡KAUSHIKI’S POV♡~
Who will tell them I’m from Uttar Pradesh Banaras, to be precise jahan log thekhe khane ke saath bhi alag se mirchi khate hain.
(Where even with spicy food people eat chillies separately)
Yeh toh bas warm-up hai, abhi toh game shuru hua hai.
(It's just a warm up, the game has just begun)
I couldn’t help laughing at their horrified faces. I flashed a grin that said “brace yourselves.”
“Sach mein, didi?” the vendor asked, unsure if I was joking.
(Really sister)
I just nodded. “Bilkul sach mein.”
(Really)
He hesitated, then served me another round and ah, finally this was it. The comfort zone.
The others watched, half impressed, half terrified, as I downed golgappas like holy prasad.
~♡AUTHOR’S POV♡~
“Behen, tu insaan hi hai na?” Taraksha finally blurted, watching her as if she was an alien from another planet.
(Sister, are you human)
“Haan, 100% human,” Kaushiki replied proudly, giving a thumbs-up.
“Par seriously, itna teekha kaise kha leti hai yeh ladki! Ek aansu tak nahi aaya!” Taraksha shook her head.
(But seriously how can you eat such spicy food. You don’t even have tears in your eyes)
Kaushiki just grinned. “North Indians, darling. It’s in the genes.”
Ira still sat gaping, eyes wide, mouth slightly open in awe.
“Muh band kar lo, Ira,” Kaushiki teased, “warna golgappe ki jagah makkhi chali jaayegi.”
(Close your mouth ira, otherwise instead of golgappa a fly will go inside your mouth)
That did it Ira snapped out of it, laughing hard. “Now I know where the fire in you comes from.”
Kaushiki raised a brow. “Where?”
“Simple. From the food,” Ira replied with a dramatic shrug.
And that was it all three of them burst into laughter along with the golgappa wale bhaiya, loud and unfiltered, the kind that echoed down the street.
Later, when they sat in the café near the park.
Sarcasm flowed like coffee.
Kaushiki rolled her eyes as Taraksha recounted how she once humiliated a senior who plagiarized a moot.
Ira giggled. “You two are ridiculous.”
Kaushiki leaned in, mock-offended. “Ira, darling, we are legends in the making.”
“And you?” Taraksha asked. “What’s your rebellion story?”
Ira thought. “I once replaced my art professor’s prize winning painting with a sketch of a duck and blamed it on his lack of skills.”
Both girls stared.
Then burst out laughing.
The table shook.
"Hey that's mine" Ira chided since Taraksha was taking her cinnamon roll
"It's called sharing" Taraksha replied unfazed while eating it
"No It's called theft" Ira said
"Ok let's ask the coconut darling what do you think"? Taraksha said
"First my name is Kaushiki and second it depends on how good the food is" Kaushiki replied teasingly with a undertone of quiet firmness
"Coconut girl?" Ira asked confused
"Yeah since she is a softie inside but would have a fierce and tough exterior" Taraksha clarified
"Hmm even i accept this because when she talked to me I was surprised as well as shocked because according to others she was a attitude driven women who won't approach herself but she did" Ira agreed
"Dude I'm right here and about approaching I have attitude but not for everyone" Kaushiki shrugged
The café lights glowed.
And somewhere in the midst of jokes and soft smiles, a trio began to form of unlikely bonds, unspoken safety, and a quiet promise that
They would be each other’s anchor in thick and thin no matter what storms await.
◇◇◇
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Your lovely author ♡ Kaushi ♡
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