adrenaline • calypso • adage

three

adage

15 May, 9:09 am

"We met again at a park?" asked Aditya.
Chaya nodded. "Yes."

"How?"

She was going to answer it, but then noticed his knuckles almost turned white because of the tense pressure he was putting on it. Sighing, she reached out for his hand. He frowned but when she touched his hand and coaxed his fingers into unfisting them and relaxing them, he felt himself exhaling. She didn't say much, except for massaging his hand. Looking at him, Chaya realized his eyes were actually bloodshot and his body actually ached exhaustion. He must've not slept, she thought. Though she was freaking out just a few minutes ago, she missed on how shocked or shaken Aditya must be.

"Do we have to do this now?" she asked him softly.

He didn't speak but kept his gaze on her.

Chaya sighed. "Listen, I'm not saying I won't tell you or anything. It's just you seem really tired and -"

"The park," he reminded her.

She understood. He was not going to stop listening. "When I went back the first time, I decided to not go to the club. But I couldn't stay home after I realized what happened. I was just too freaked out and I really wasn't thinking properly. I hoped going out somewhere else would take my mind off you, so I went to the park that is at least a fifty minute drive from the club. I thought we wouldn't meet again. But I was so wrong.

"I was standing right there Adi, when you suddenly stumbled into the park. A little drunk, but still sane enough. You could talk properly, you knew what you were doing, you weren't just a little steady that's all. You came to burn your ex-girlfriend... what was her name?"

"Sheetal."

"Sheetal yes. You came to burn Sheetal's photograph at the park because apparently 'Sheetal fucking hates this park' and honestly you were so epic." She chuckled slightly, causing Aditya to smile but still he felt embarassed that he acted a little stupidly around her.

"Did I end up burning it?" he couldn't help but curiously ask.

She grinned. "Oh hell yes you did. You tore that picture into pieces and burnt all of it while yelling that the cheating bitch just got torn and those words coming from the drunk you... trust me, I fell on the sand laughing."

At this both of them were laughing whole heartedly. Such a light moment after tense were always under appreciated. He held her hand softly. Yes, it was upsetting that he doesn't remember all that but he was happy at least she could remember and tell him about it. "And then?"

She glanced at him. "You saw me."

"What - what did we?"

"I was hesitant at first, but I got drawn to you. Again. It was wrong of me. I knew it. I knew it very well. But I couldn't help myself but talk to you again... it's like meeting you for the first time all over again."

"And then?"

"Then this happened. The time lapse. Again. And I have no freaking clue on how many more times I'm going to jump around this whole time." She was frustrated.

"Two more times," he muttered without realizing. Once he realized what he said he prayed Chaya hadn't heard it. When he looked at her he understood his prayers haven't been heard.

"How do you know?" She raised an eyebrow.

He smiled sadly. "I told you. I came back from time myself."

"Why?" She almost whispered.

He couldn't bring himself to answer that. Without saying anything, he took the plates and the mugs to the sink. He knew he needed to tell her something, but he himself didn't have any clue on what. Aditya sighed.

He felt two arms crept upon his sides and slowly they were wrapping around his waist and he felt a front on his back.

"Why all of a sudden this back hug?" he asked Chaya, smiling weakly.

"Can't I?"

"Of course you can."

"I love you."

He felt his heart stop for a second. "I love you too."

They stayed just like that, not willing to move at all. Her warmth comforted him and her racing heart calmed him.

"Can we go on a date?" asked Aditya.

Pulling back from the hug, Chaya frowned slightly. "Date? Now? Why?"

He shrugged. "I just - want to go on one with you. I don't think we both went on a proper date at all. Just want to go." Before I lose another chance.

She smiled. "Okay. But what about my dress?"

He almost cursed when he realized she had no other clothes to wear except for the dress from the previous night, which he was sure Chaya didn't want to wear.

He scratched his head, wondering what to do.

"I really have no clue about it."

She laughed. "So how about we do this? There is a really good brunch place right around the corner that I know. And to our luck, they have take away."

He frowned. It's a great idea but -

"I can't leave you alone," he said.

"What?"

"I can't leave you."

She smiled. "Of course you won't now that we have expressed we love each other why do -"

"No! I mean if I have to go for the takeaway you will be alone... and I don't want that."

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you that sort of a guy?"

"What sort?"

"The sort where they are so possessive that they feel their girlfriend shouldn't go or speak to anywhere or anyone without them. You can say control freak. That sort?"

His eyes widened for a second and the next he found himself vigourously shaking it. "NO! Not at all! It's just..."

How could he tell her that the reason he is so scared to leave her alone is because he saw her die two times?

He exhaled miserably. Aditya just couldn't bring himself to tell her the terrifying truth.

Maybe she noticed how troubled he looked. "Adi..." she said softly.

"I want to tell you the truth," he admitted. "I really do. But I just... can't. I fucking can't and I - I don't know how..."

Chaya wiped a tear that escaped his eye. He didn't notice he was crying.

"Let's just order something. No mood for a date, Chaya."

-*-

It was twenty seven minutes later that Chaya got herself to ask Aditya one more time.

"It's not fair," she started.

"What isn't?" This is the first thing both had spoken after placing an order for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

"I gave you answers. You asked, it was difficult for me, but I still did it. It's not fair how you're hiding things from me."

He just looked at her.

"Come here," he said softly as he scooted to the side on the couch, and signalled her to sit beside him on the loveseat. She sighed  but still came over to the seat and sat beside him... technically she was half-sitting on his lap. Though his mind was occupied she still saw him smirk slightly at the contact.

She couldn't believe it. She scoffed. "Are you smirking? Just cause I'm sitting - technically half sitting - on your lap? Even after -"

She blushed. He laughed whole heartedly. "After what?" he teased.

"Shut up."

"You totally weren't saying it last night."

"Adi!" She slapped his arm.

"Ow, woman. This is abuse. How can you just abuse the guy you claim to love?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Claim to love? Are you doubting my feelings for you?"

He shrugged. "Maybe... maybe not..."

Chaya glared at him angrily, for the first time. Looking at her expression he gulped down the fact that it actually seemed pretty scary. Now I get why guys say their girls are scary! Damn, never try to anger Chaya again... she looks like she is going to skin you alive.

He chuckled nervously. "Kidding, kidding. I know you love me." He thought about her dead body. "A lot."

She slowly smiled, satisfied.

"Good," she said.

"And I you."

"Huh?"

"I love you too. A lot."

She blushed at it again. He cooed and pinched her cheeks. "Your cuteness will be the death of me someday."

She laughed. "You know what? You are pretty good at distracting me from the topic."

It was his turn to turn red.

"Clearly not enough," he mumbled.

Chaya smiled sadly at it. "Hey, this is something that you and me both are in together, okay? I admit, before I thought I was fighting alone but now I realize I have you.

"And to be very honest I am not sure if this is a blessing or a curse. The first time it happened, I felt scared and helpless and misunderstood. I couldn't find myself saying this to anyone, not even Kia. I didn't know anything. I - I had never felt so scared... especially the fact that what I saw right before I had the first time lapse didn't help either. I found myself agreeing with this fate, thinking it's all for good and that we should just stay apart. And then you came again the second time... and then the third. I realized I can't just stay away from you no matter how hard I tried. Adi, I know it sounds funny but I think our meeting is inevitable. We can't not meet. We can always try to stay apart... but it'll just be of no use. So please, please give me answers. I just need to know something. Please."

Aditya just stared at her. He felt guilty. He knew she deserved answers rightfully. But how could he just tell her that the reason of his time lapse is her death?

Chaya didn't wait for any answer. She buried her head into his neck, almost like smelling it. When he felt something warm of his neck, he realized she was crying.

He didn't wipe her tears, nor did he asked her to stop crying. He knew she had been through a lot, and that she had every right to be crying and making a tantrum. It was her second lapse too. She is unaware of why she is even going under this. And then her deaths. He shuddered at the thought. He tried to block the images of a fallen and bloody, and a broken and bloody images of Chaya's dead body. Why did she even do that?

Clearly, there are too many questions unanswered.

When he shuddered, Chaya stopped sobbing and instead looked up to check if he is fine or not. She touched his face softly. "Are you okay?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so."

"That makes it two of us. Adi, I'm sorry. It's all because of me and -"

"Don't you dare start blaming yourself!"

"But it really is!"

"It's not," he said firmly. He remembered his Dadi's words.

Because you're just like me. Remember Adi. One, four and three will be the numbers to help you. Just like they helped me go back and save your Dada.

He couldn't bring himself to tell her that it's his fate that bought them in the mess.

"Can you just fucking tell me how and why you had a time lapse too?!" It was clear Chaya was frustrated by now. He sighed. If he was in her place, he too would've been like that.

He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a deep kiss. At first, Chaya was hesitant as if she knew what he was trying to do. But three seconds after she found herself responding to the kiss with equal enthusiasm. Minutes later, the kiss was broken and their forheards were touching each other, panting.

She chuckled. "It's not that I didn't like it -"

"I'll give you answers."

"Huh?"

"Yes, Chaya. I'll give all of your answers. There is no point in hiding it from you as I see."

-*-

It was twenty three minutes later that Aditya finished his story - that is until his second time lapse when he ended up on his bed beside Chaya again.

Aditya couldn't make himself look at Chaya the whole time. He knew he was pretending to look at her when he was looking everywhere but. He was afraid of Chaya's reaction. He felt like he couldn't face her especially when he was explaining her about her death twice: once, when she jumped from the terrace, and the second time, when a car was rushing to her yet she didn't move and finally got hit. In both cases she had killed herself. And after telling her this, he had one question that he was dying to ask.

Why?

Why did she jump? Why did she not move when she saw the car? Why was she willing to take out her life after she had found him? Is she taking her life because she found him? Or was it her plan already? Why did she want to get away from him life so cruelly?

But he swallowed all of his questions and -

"Are you okay, Chaya?"

She seemed to be out of her daze and if he was not wrong, those were tears threatning to come out of her eyes. She bravely held it in and smiled at him, but she couldn't fool him. He knew it would disturb her. Who would want to listen to their own deaths?

"Yes," she answered quietly, "I'm fine. It's just... a lot to take in."

"I told you I'd rather keep it myself."

"No. No. I'm - I'm happy you told me. It's just... I'm a bit shocked that's it. You time lapsed for a reason too, I see."

There was an awkward silence between them.

Aditya began to regret his decision slowly. Maybe I shouldn't have told her...

"I'll just use the washroom," she said.

"Chaya..."

"I'm fine, I swear. I just really need to use the washroom."

His expression still remained tense.

Chaya put her hand on his.

"Adi," she started, "please. I know what happened must've really, really scarred you but you have to trust me now. I - I might've taken my life maybe because I was alone that time. But now I got you. I can talk you about this... but it's just... I need five minutes for myself. I swear I won't slash my wrist or anything."

She chuckled bitterly as he frowned.

Chaya left for the washroom leaving Aditya wondering on what to do now. He wanted to scream, yell, break things but held it all in as he knew they wouldn't be a solution in those.

He couldn't take it anymore.

He needed answers, either from Chaya or from his Grandmother.

Exactly thirty minutes later, Chaya stepped into the hall, her face washed clean. Little did he know, she washed her face to clean the tear stains.

"Chaya," he called out.

Without saying anything she hugged him. "Yes?"

"Why did you kill yourself?"

Her body tensed at the question. Aditya expected her to loosen her grip or break the hug but was surprised when she held him tighter. His grip on her back also tightened.

"Please tell my why," he pleaded.

Chaya could sense how broken he sounded. He was afraid. But so was she. "Adi... I - I..."

He waited.

She sighed, not finding it in her to complete the question. Instead she kissed him once more. Hard. Passionate. Yet full of love.

He chuckled once he pulled away. "You always kiss me when I ask for answers."

"I'll give you answers," she said with a tone of urgency in it. She removed Aditya's T-shirt she was wearing. "Make love to me now."

She once again pulled at his t-shirt and kissed him.

"Baby..." he grunted between the lips.

"Shh..." she said. "I promise I'll give you answers. Just make love or have sex or fuck me, whatever, right now."

And before he knew both their clothes were off and the two stood naked, kissing and groping.

The sex was more passionate than the previous night's. It was rougher, more possesive, and more of love. They made love for two whole hours continously, not caring about the time or their fate. Last night's work seemed nothing compared to right now.

Finally, when both of them were seemingly done with each other, the two lay beside each other on the floor. They had made love and claimed each other in almost every room and every surface of the apartment. Both were heavily panting and sweating.

"That was..." she started.

"Amazing," he chuckled. "You're so beautiful, I don't think it's healthy for me."

"You surely are not good for my health."

She chuckled, and kissed him softly. "You're really amazing, Aditya. I hope you'd never forget that."

He grabbed her waist and snuggled her closer into his chest, smiling. "You better remind it to me again and again."

She didn't say anything but just nuzzled into his neck, almost kissing it.

"Stop it's tickling me," he deadpanned.

She blowed air into his neck.

"Oye stop!"

She stopped and both were laughing. She just threw her arm around his waist and stuck her body to his. He kissed her head and hair.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Are we going to get some if I say yes," he answered.

"Probably."

"Then yes."

They had a superb late lunch from the same nearby restaurant they had discussed. The two didn't realize how hungry they were until they had finished the biryani, naan, butter chicken, and the two cooldrinks. The food was amazing.

Chaya checked her phone for the first time since waking up, and had tons of missed calls from Kia. Shit, she thought, I forgot to inform her. She must be worrying.

Ready to get a good scolding from Kia, she called her back. She picked her phone up on the first ring itself.

"ARE YOU CRAZY, WOMAN?" was the first words that greeted her.

"Hello, Kia," she said meekly.

"Hello? Hello? I keep trying to call you since morning after you spend a night at a stranger's place and worry about you like crazy, and then you finally decided to call me and all you say is fucking hello?!" she screamed. "Do you have any freaking idea how batshit crazy I was going here? How scared I was that that stranger had killed you or kidnapped you? I was this close to going to the police! I know you must've been really busy with that guy buy how hard or time consuming it would've been for you to text a small 'I'm going to be home late' to me, huh?!"

Chaya felt guilty. All the time she was thinking about the situation but she forgot to at least inform the person who had cared for her since a long time. Her best friend.

She thought about what Aditya said. She had a fat chance of dying. Unknowingly, at the thought she kissed her phone.

"Huh?" confused Kia.

"Kia I'm sorry," she said.

"Are you trying to seduce me Chaya?" Chaya could literally hear her smirk.

"Is it working?"

"Maybe."

"My best friend won't even acknowledge my awesome flirting skills."

"They're bad."

"Shut up."

Kia laughed. "Great. You changed the topic and now anger is all gone."

Chaged the topic... She seemed to be doing that a lot.

"Are you alright?" asked Kia.

"Yes, yes. I'm really good."

"Where are you anyways?"

"I'm in Aditya's apartment."

"Who in the world is Aditya? Wait... don't tell me... is he the one from -"

"Last night? Yeah."

She was silent for few moments.

"Kia? Kia? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah... just... damn. Girl you getting it."

Chaya laughed. "Oh baby, I'll call you later. Love you."

"NO WAIT, we have to talk about him -"

Laughing, she cut the call.

Turning around, she saw Aditya looking at her curiously. She raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"Who was that?"

"Who?"

"On the phonecall? The... baby."

It took a moment for her to realize he sounded really likely to an emotion known as jealousy. She ended laughing out loud. "Oh baby. That's Kia. My bestfriend."

He looked blank for a second and the smiled, sighing out of relief (maybe).

"You were jealous?" she laughed. "You were actually jealous."

"Shut up," he mumbled.

She giggled once more. "I need a shower badly."

"May I join?"

"We were done after hours just forty minutes earlier!"

He laughed. "I'm kidding. You go and take a hot nice long shower. I... have a phone call to make."

She nodded and happily and went into his bedroom. He stared at her walking from him, unhappily. No matter how much ever he touches her, until this whole situation is clarified and done he can't be at peace.

Through out the whole day, he understood Chaya didn't want to tell him everything. To be honest, he doesn't know if she will tell him or not. He felt uneasy.

He really needed to call his Grandmother.

After making sure Chaya was in the bathroom, the shower was on and that she couldn't hear him, he picked up him phone and called.

"Dadi," he greeted once his grandmother picked his call.

"Adi! My bachcha how are you?!" she replied happily.

I wonder will the happiness remain when I tell you what is happening to me right now.

"Dadi, I need to talk to you."

"Go on, go on."

"Do you remember... when I was twelve... you told me something."

"I did?"

"Yes... something about..."

"About what?"

"1, 4 and 3."

There was a pause on the line, but Adi could make out a faint gasp from his Dadi's side. He could've sworn that her face must've gotten pale.

"Dadi? Dadi you there? Dadi please I need you right now."

"What - what do you even remember? How do you even remember that nonsense I spurted so long ago? Why do you need it right now?"

"Dadi I can't - I can't... she can't die..." His voice couldn't help but falter. "I'll tell you everything. Everything what ever has happened to me, please help me save her. I can't lose her. Not again," he almost whispered the last part.

"Who's your her?" she asked in a voice full of sadness.

"Her name is Chaya."

"Is she pretty?"

"Very. I - I love her."

"You clearly do or else this won't have happened to you."

"Are you telling me you know what is happening to me?"

"I think I do. But I really pray I'm wrong."

"Dadi what is all this? I'm clearly jumping in time and trying to save her life!"

"ADI!"

"What?"

"You really did that? You really went back and forth in time because you have to save someone's life?! Did you? Tell me really! I swear if this is a joke or a prank to fool me I will make your parents disown you," she threatnened, clearly hoping it's a prank.

"It's not!" he almost yelled. Realizing, Chaya might hear him he lowered his voice. "It's not."

"Adi..."

"I saw her die, Dadi. Twice. It feels like she is going to die again in front of me and I feel like killing myself. I don't know what to do at all."

"Don't cry," she told him softly as she could tell he was about to.

He sniffed. "I won't."

"Good. Adi what you're going through is a time jump. You're jumping back and forth in time.
Remember Adi, every jump and every lapse has a reason always. Something major, something almost impossible causes for it. After what incident did you jump?"

"It - it was the next morning after I spent the night with her in my apartment. She left before I woke up. But she left a note for me saying... she loves me. I went out after sometime and my neighbour said she saw her go upstairs to - to terrace. I went and - and -"

He couldn't continue.

"Adi please, if you don't tell me, I can't help you. So calm down and tell me."

"I looked down, and she was dead. She jumped, Dadi. She jumped. She took her own life. And I still don't know why. It was horrible. She layed there, still, bleeding and dead. Police and ambulance were called. Aunty - Aunty didn't tell them anything about me and went back home to sleep. And when I woke up, it was the previous day."

He heard a light gasp. "Your first leap."

"Yes."

So now you are in the day before she died? Okay listen Adi -"

"No, Dadi!"

"What do you mean no?" she asked sharply.

"That's not all?"

"That's... not... all?"

"No."

"Don't leave me hanging, Adi."

"Okay, so I somehow figured out that I came back in time even though I freaked out quite a bit. I - I realized I could save Chaya. I needed to save her. I wanted to know why would she kill herself. I began to search for her with Rehaan and Justin. I love her, Dadi. I searched for her so much, the whole city. I finally found her. Finally did."

"Thank god. And then?"

"She - she died."

"Once more?"

"Once more," he confirmed sadly. "I - I couldn't do anything. I've never felt so helpless before as I saw her get hit by the car."

"Adi, please don't cry. My grandson please."

"I - I just... it was too much for me. I got a beautiful chance to save her. A chance that no one ever gets, and I completely ruined that. Completely."

"Adi..."

He didn't reply.

"Was that a car accident?" Dadi suddenly asked.

"The second time?" he kind of sniffed.

"Yes. The second time."

"Hmm. Yes. But she didn't move. She could've moved to save herself but she stood on the same spot, waiting for the car to rush against her. Waiting for it to kill her."

"So you mean..."

"That it's a suicide? Yes. Fuck it all but yes. She never gives up, does she?" he chuckled bitterly. "She never gives up, does she?"

"You can't just blame her," he heard his Grandmother mumble quitely.

"Don't take her side. I'm suffering too."

"I'm sure you are. I'm really, really sorry about this Adi. I - I don't think I can say anything more than this, can I?"

"I was hoping you would."

"Where are you right now? Huh? Where? I'm coming to get you. Your Dadi is coming to get you."

"No, Dadi... Chaya is with me."

There was silence from the other side.

"Dadi, Dadi!"

"You're beside her dead body?" she asked him slowly.

"God no!"

"What do you mean?! You just told me she -"

She couldn't finish the sentence.

"There's more."

"More?" She seemed exhasparated.

"I took a time leap. Again. After her... body, was taken away. I ended up taking another leap. But Dadi that's not the strange thing."

"Then what is?"

"It's not just me. It's not just me who had a time lapse. She too had one. Not one, two. This is her second lapse. In her next two lapses, she dies. She kills herself."

"Wait. In the next two lapses... meaning she doesn't in this one?"

"I don't know. She is not giving me any answer. But Dadi, she seemed surprised when I told her about the times she killed herself."

There was silence on the other side.

"Dadi you there?"

"Yes, yes. It's just... I think... I'm not sure exactly but there is a possibility."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You told her about her deaths? The two times she killed herself? Did you?"

"Yes," he said slowly. "What - what's the problem?"

"See... Adi. I - I have a feeling, that she killed herself because of you."

There was silence on both sides.

"No," he said softly. "No, no, no. That's impossible... how - how is that even possible? Why - why - why would she do that? I just - just met her a few hours ago -"

"No you guys didn't," she said firmly. "You both met at a very unfortunate circumstance and not just one but many times. What you guys have is not a normal story, but a fate twisting one. You said it yourself she was shocked when you told her about her deaths. What if she actually never did want to die? What if she decides to die because you told her she will kill herself?"

"No," he gasped, unable to believe what his Grandmother was saying.

"Yes, after you told her she will die she probably understood there is no other option for her. So whenever she has a time lapse and she still ends up with you, she decides that she will stop this whole mess by killing herself, poor girl."

He could feel tears pool in his eyes. His heart felt heavy and his chest was hurting.

"It's not true," he choked out, barely believing it himself.

"I hope so."

He wiped a tear away. "But what is the mess?"

"I don't know. That's your job to find out."

"Dadi please. Help me."

He knew his Dadi's heart was breaking, but he couldn't hide the desperacy and sadness from his voice.

"Adi," she croaked. "My grandson, my bachcha, my life... I - I can't do anything. I'm sorry - I'm sorry I hate myself right now because I really can't."

"So Dadi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry please please don't cry. I - I spoke nonsense, please Dadi I love you."

"Ask her, Adi. Ask -"

"Chaya."

"-Chaya for answers. For all of them. You have a right to know. Ask her."

He was about to reply, but he heard Chaya coming out of the shower. He said goodbye to his grandmother quickly and watched her come out in her black dress, shoes and bag.

"You okay?" he asked.

She sighed. "I think so."

He thought hard about what his Grandmother had said to him. "You are thinking about it, aren't you?"

"What?" Chaya asked confused.

"What I told you... about why I got a time lapse... you're thinking about it, aren't you?"

She visibly stiffened. "Will you believe me with my answer?"

"Depends."

"What?"

"It... depends on your answer."

"Why don't you trust me?"

"I trust you, just not your answer for this."

"W - what?"

"You see Chaya, I'm pretty sure I already know your answer for it." His anger was slowly developing since he heard his Grandmother tell him about why she killed herself. The anger was directed to whom... he had no clue.

"You suddenly seem cold," she said folding her arms upto her chest and looking quite annoyed. "What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"I need an answer."

"Yes. I am thinking about it."

"If I ask you to do something, will you do it?"

"Depends."

"Why can't you just agree?"

"Because it depends on what you're asking for."

"Can you not think about it? Can you try to forget that I ever said that?"

Now, she seemed mad. "What the fuck, Aditya. Do you even hear yourself?! How in the world do you expect me to forget the fact that I will be killing myself! Are you freaking kidding me?"

"Listen, I know you sound mad but -"

"NO, I am not listening to you."

"If you can't listen to me, at least talk to me then!"

"What?"

"I have been asking you answers since morning. You haven't given me any. You asked me and I gave you my whole story because you deserve to know! But not one proper answer have I heard from you! You - you distract me, demand more answers from me, you keep listening to me like you don't want me to stop talking, you get emotional, you do everything except giving me the answers I expect and deserve. Because you won't give me any, I feel like you shouldn't have known about it."

Chaya stood there still.

"I never said I won't give you any," she said softly.

"Yes, but still haven't given me any. How much longer am I supposed to wait?"

"Fine. What do you even want to know?!"

He didn't speak as she had asked sarcastically. He frowned clearly not appreciating that tone of word she used at him. He folded his hands, and stared at her. Though her anger didn't seem close to disappearing, she spoke. "I don't know what got into you during the time I was in the shower, but I clearly am not understanding why you're so mad at me. And your anger is making me angry too. I would rather not speak right now since I am sure we both will say things we will regret in the future. I think I should leave your apartment right now. I'll call you later."

Aditya couldn't believe it. He scoffed.

Chaya began to move towards the door, but as she crossed him he held her arm and dragged her back in front of him. "What. Do. You. Think. You're. Doing." He said biting his teeth and trying to control his anger.

"You're mad, I'm mad - technically I'm going crazy - and honestly I don't want to be here right now."

"You're leaving me?" he asked in a softer voice.

"Oh for gods sake no Adi. I just want to go home because I'm full of too much information."

"But why does it seem like you are running away?"

"I don't know."

"Because you want to leave whenever I want answers. Can you please give me any answers? It already hurts that we have memories that I don't even remember."

Both of them didn't speak and his grip loosened on her arm. He felt bad, and he moved a little indicating to her that she could leave.

"An accident."

"What?" he asked.

"Right before my first time lapse, we got into an accident."

"Oh."

"Before my second lapse, we were in between of the road across my place."

"So that's when you jumped time."

"And now."

Though he had demanded answers, now that he got them he didn't know what to do with it.

"I... have to go," she said. "I'll call you later. Maybe if I leave right now, then this whole lapse thing will finally take some rest."

He just nodded and watched her exit the building. He sighed. He knew she was angry and upset. He started feeling bad that she left the apartment with negative feelings.

Even though it has been only few seconds since Chaya left, he began to feel empty .

He sat on the sofa, clutching his head. What in the world is even happening?

Time travel and jumping in time should only be in stories, books, shows and movies. It is a fantasical theme that has quite a few fans for it across the world. It is supposed to exciting, thrilling, done in a box or something, along with a partner, should be easy to come back to the original time, and should NEVER happen in real life! Why happen to the two when there are billions of people in the world? Life is not fair, it never is. But that doesn't mean that it plays with their lives, not even feelings. But why would even go back and front in time out of everything? And also -

Wait. Wait.

Aditya stood up all of a sudden. He remembered what his Grandmother told him in the call. She had told him to find out why she had a time lapse. What triggered her time lapse, starting this whole mess in the first place.

Chaya told him where they were when she had the two time lapses, but didn't tell him what triggered the time lapse.

He's sure that's the important part.

He groaned. His anger caused him to miss that out. Groaning once more he ran out of his apartment. He was sure right now she must've been on the ground floor. He was hoping she hadn't left the building yet. And that's when he realized she actually didn't have any transport to go home. He started to feel guilty. He let his anger get the best of him and almost left her alone. She must have either booked a cab or must be looking for an auto.

By the time he reached the ground floor, he was turning his head franctically across the parking lot searching for his favorite girl currently in a black dress.

"Chaya!"

He found her. She was near the egde wall of the apartment where the construction was happening above. She was waiting with a blank expression and arms crossed. When she heard Aditya, she turned her head. She frowned at first, but slowly smiled.

"I'm sorry," were his first words.

"No, I'm sorry."

He sighed, not able to find his anger anywhere anymore. He hugged her, ruffling her hair slightly. "Where are you going?"

"Home," she answered.

"How?"

"I need to book a cab."

He unclinged himself from her and smiled.

"Can I ask you just one more thing?"

She seemed a little unsure, but nodded.

"What triggered your time lapse?"

Her eyes widened and her palms began to sweat. This was the question she was afraid of the most.

She began stepping backward and unconciously he stepped forward. It was clear she wasn't keen to answer. But he too wasn't keen in not knowing the answer.

"Tell me..." he muttered.

"Why aren't you answering Chaya? ..."

"Don't - don't move away..."

"Answer love, what's wrong..."

"Hey..."

"Baby what's wrong..."

Unlike before, he wasn't angry but concerned.

Her vibe was scaring him.

He stretched his hand towards her and that's when he heard the cry. A shout. A yell.

It all happened in a span of two seconds. He didn't understand what actually happened but all he knew was that someone pushed him really hard and he fell on the ground. He groaned, his hand aching slightly. He blinked trying to focus his eyes back. When he looked at where he was standing before, he hated his life at the moment.

Chaya was lying on the ground, with a very dangerous looking injury on her head.

"Chaya... Chaya... Chaya... no, no, no!"

He hurried towards her, panicking and worrying. He couldn't believe it. It's not possible. It's not possible. Please God let this be a rather horrifying dream. I'll - I'll do anything, I'm ready to give up anything except her.

A huge concrete slab had fallen from the neighbouring building which was undergoing construction. And the fallen slab was in such a position that it would've fallen on Aditya's head and surely killed him... if not Chaya had pushed him and took the hit herself. He began sobbing as he knew that she pushed him because she knew she would take her own life. If he hadn't told her, she would've just stood there with wide eyes.

He picked her head on his lap. Her eyes were open with difficulty amd she seemed to want to say something. She was struggling and a sobbing Aditya kept his ear near her mouth.

"It's - It's -" she muttered with her remaining ounce of strength.

"Chaya..." he muttered, almost losing hope.

And then she whispered her last desperate words in his ear.

"Your. Death."

-*-

It was immediately after she spoke her last words - and her last breath - Aditya had his third and last time lapse.

The second Chaya had told him that his death was the trigger for her time lapse, everything started making more sense.

"Right before my first time lapse, we got into an accident."

They got into an accident which killed him, causing her to jump time the first time.

"Before my second lapse, we were in between of the road across my place."

The two were standing in between of a road (for god knows what reason; and that was so stupid to be honest), when a car or any other vehicle rammed into him and killed him on the spot. And she jumped time the second time.

And now, she died by getting hit on her head severely and will jump time. In this lapse that he begins to remember. It is in this lapse that he meets her in the club and the next day she dies and his first time lapse happens.

And her fourth and last time lapse or jump is when after she jumped killing herself for the first time, and he met her in that cafe near the park. And she killed herself the second and last time by not moving when the vehicle was coming at her.

And she killed herself both the times because he had told her about it. She died because of him.

The girl he loves had killed herself to save him.

Reality hurts. But he had never expected it to hurt this bad. She loved him so much that she had readily sacrificed her life for him. He clutched the steering tighter and -

Wait.

As his mind was running through such thoughts he hadn't taken notice of where he was.

He was in a car - his car - and the shotgun seat was occupied by none other than Chaya. His breathing hitched. He began to stare at her and gripped the steering wheel tighter.

This was before the whole time lapse had started. Before their beautiful story was ruined. Before he died in an accident.

"I love you," he said. No matter how many times he said it, it never seemed enough.

Chaya - who was seeing outside the window - turned her head towards his direction so quickly that he was afraid it must've hurt. Her eyes were surprised but there was a bright smile playing along her lips.

"What did you just say, Adi?"

"I said. I love you, Chaya."

She smiled so bright that the sun seemed to radiating off her. She looked so happy that he couldn't move his eyes off her. "I love you too. Oh my, I love you so much Adi!"

He took her palm and kissed it.

But fate was cruel.

As Aditya wasn't looking forward instead to Chaya's side and Chaya, instead of looking out of her window side, was looking at his window side this time it was who spotted the danger.

"ADI!"

Chaya quickly turned the steering wheel such that her side of the car was the one that took the actual hit.

A huge truck rammed into the car causing it to topple and shatter.

Adi groaned. His arm, the skin near his eye and his left leg was bleeding. His eyes searched for Chaya and panicked when he actually saw her. Half of her face had cuts due to the glass pieces from the window, her right hand was crooked in an impossible way, her legs seemed stuck, and she seemed to be bleeding from almost the whole left side of her body. She was unconscious.

Because Chaya had spotted the truck instead of Aditya, she had unknowing or unconciously turned the steering such that the car turned and her side took the blow. She had protected him without even thinking about it.

Aditya wanted to scream.

He wanted to immedietly scoop Chaya into his arms and hug her. He wanted to kiss her till she was alright. He wanted to ask her if she was alright. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to see her eyes open and her alive.

But he couldn't move, he couldn't speak. He could just helplessly see and listen to the commotion happening out of his car.

Aditya didn't understand why it had to be them. He didn't understand why destiny had fun while ruining the lives of two lovers. He wanted to judge the whole process of life and its unfairness. He wanted to ask why he couldn't have died instead of her.

An ambulance came rushing.

He was conscious. Barely, but when it came to her he took feel and see and hear everything.

He didn't miss the shake of the nurse's head when they took her pulse. He was sure.

Chaya was dead.

And this time, both of them stayed just where they were.