The stars seem to shine a bit brighter today and a shooting star streaks across the dark sky. Memories of us holding hands while you looked up at the twinkling diamonds as I looked at you , flashes through my mind. Beautiful moments that'll always haunt me as painful memories.

The chilling winter night was when I kissed you for the first time. It wasn't perfect. It was beautiful. You then hugged me and asked me to never let you go. I never did.

Tonight was one such night and after a lot of broken promises , empty wine bottles and sleepless nights , my loneliness finally became my solitude and for the first time in a while , I felt happy , I felt free , I felt complete.

KK

Do you know
The story of
Gracy and Murugan ;
A guy who jumped
Into the lioness's cage
And somehow survived
By divine intervention
Or plain luck
I wouldn't know
And I didn't care ,
I scrutinize
Murugan's past
And dig out
Some dark secrets
That appeal
To the story-starving
General public
And my editor ,
For I need
My bonus so bad
That I don't care
If it was his ex
Or his mom
Who drove him mad
Or if he was
A Jihadi too ,
Then I add
Some Sugar
Some Spice
And stir the story
Real nice ,
Then you read
My story ,
A fiction
Worthy to sell
the paper too ,
The truth
Still lies buried
Somewhere ,
Waiting to be
Found by none ,
While I walk
with my bonus
Into the setting sun.

KK

She is a feminist. At times she takes things a bit too far and is branded a ' Feminazi '. But she doesn't care. All the judging glances that pierces her soul never affects her. She wants to be treated as an equal. That's all she wants.

But in the darkest of nights , when she is a slave of her desires , she craves to be tied up and dominated. She wants to be blindfolded and helpless. She loves the ecstasy of pain.

The next morning she is a feminist once again.

KK

4 : 30 PM
College Cafeteria

" I was meaning to ask you " , She says and sips her coffee. " Why did you change the theme of your writings ? "

" I guess I eventually grew tired of cheesy romances " , I say and look at her. She was wearing a black T - Shirt that hugged her curves perfectly.

" Eyes up here , Idiot " , She says and smacks my head playfully. I chuckle. " What's wrong with the new theme ? " , I ask.

" I don't know. It just seems too erotic , and I took you for a hopeless romantic kind of guy , the one who buys chocolates and flowers , not one who pins a girl against a wall and kisses her hard ". She says.

" Don't the chocolates and flowers finally lead to sex ? ", I ask and look at her quizzically. "

" It might , but you don't have to write so explicitly about it " , she shot back.

" See Shreya , everyone's their true selves in their bedroom , no masks , no façades , just wild desires. Absolute Lust. That's what I want to write about. Pure unadulterated emotions "

" Fine , Portray yourself as a sex starved asshole and let me see which girl would be stupid enough to fall in love with you. Alice did the right thing by breaking up with you " , Shreya says and storms off.

Next Day
9 : 35 AM
3rd Year English Classroom

" Excuse me ma'am " , Shreya says standing at the door. She was wearing a blue T - Shirt , Jeans , matching earrings and my hickey from last night.

KK

" What's with your obsession with black lingerie ? , Shreya asks , a smile playing on her lips. " Everyone's got their kinky desires and I guess this is mine " , I say and slowly undress her.

It had been a hectic day at work and I wanted her so badly. I take off her T-shirt and slowly kiss her shoulder and work my way towards her neck. I breathe softly on the nape of her neck. She shudders.

She turns back and looks at me , her innocence consumed by desires. She kisses me. I kiss her back.

I struggle with her bra. She giggles and takes it off. " You always struggle with those " , She teases. " I don't know , I fumble when I'm excited " , I say and silence her with a kiss.

The lovemaking was wild. I lie back , exhausted and satisfied. She places her hands on my chest and starts tracing circles with her perfectly shaped long nails.

" Why don't you write nowadays ? " , She asks , " You used to spam my news feed with your write-ups. What happened ? ".
" I don't know , I don't feel like writing these days. Nothing inspiring I guess " , I reply.
" Don't tell me you're still not over her , She says , " It's been nearly three months ".
" 84 days "
" What ? "
" It's been 84 days since the break up " , I say.

" God , Move on already " , she says with a sigh. " You still think about her ? ".
" I'd be lying if I say that I don't. She still creeps up in my mind sometimes and drowns me in melancholy. But then I shut away those memories. Enough talking about her , You read those write-ups ? " , I ask.
" Yeah " , She says , " But most of them are sappy romances and clichéd garbage "

I laugh , " I know , but people love such stuff and it's easier to write them. All you've to do is find some romantic words , string them into sensuous sentences and you get a write-up that makes people feel happy "

I sit up and reach for the cigarette packet on the bedside table. I take one out , light it and take a long drag. She motions for it and I give it to her. She takes a puff.

So , what makes you write ? , what do you think of when you're inking your thoughts ? " , She asks.
" I think of her " , I say.
" You are a hopeless romantic , aren't you " , She teases.
" I was "
" So you aren't one right now ? " , she asks surprised.
" Nope , I mean look at us , we're friends..... "
" Friends ? " , She asks and raises an eyebrow.
" Okay " , I laugh , " Friends with benefits ". She punches my arm.

What was that for ? " , I ask.
" I don't know , I think my feelings got a bit hurt when you stated that we were fuck buddies " , She shot back.

That's what we are , aren't we ? , just two people who have sex with each other , with no commitments , with no fear to share our feelings or our bodies , a perfect no strings attached relationship with no fear of getting our emotions hurt. The perfect relationship " , I say. " Don't you agree ? "

Hmmm , if you put it that way , it seems okay , I guess I felt a little bit hurt when you objectified me , but that's what we are , aren't we ? , just objects to satiate each other's carnal desires ? , She asks.
" Yeah " , I say and take another puff.
" Dinner ? " , I ask.
" Yeah , I'm starving " , She says and puts on my shirt , ties her hair in a bun and orders Chinese takeout.
.
.
.
I look at the phone. 2 AM. I turn to look at Shreya. She  is sound asleep. I climb up from the bed and make my way towards my desk. I take a pen and  paper. Tonight I write about Shreya.

KK

"So , How are you dealing with your breakup ?", She asks and drinks her Coffee.The scent of caffeine tinged with Coldplay music reminds me of the Coffee shops I used to frequent. It's strange how places , songs and even fragrances can remind you of the person whom you're trying to forget.

I glance behind her. Degrees of honour in Psychology adorn the light blue wall. Her table is impeccable. There's a writing pad , a pen and a photograph of her husband.

" You still haven't answered my question", She says and looks at me. Dr Sarah Mathew, She was beautiful. Those eyes seemed to know the darkest desires of my heart. I felt safe and vulnerable at the same time.

" Well , What do you think ?", I ask her. She smiles and gets up from her chair and walks towards me. She stops in front me and waits for a moment , then leans over and whispers, "I think you're ready to move on". I turn my face and kiss her. She kisses me back.

I grab her by her shoulders and push her towards the glass table. She responds willingly. I kiss her neck and undress her. "I really missed this", She says. "Me too", I reply.

After some time I sit back in my chair. She rearranges the contents of her table and then leans back against her chair, smiles and says, "Well , this was fun".Her mobile rings. It was her husband. They talk for some time and she hangs up.

" I can't wait for your next session", She says flirtatiously. I smile back.
"If I ask something , Will you answer truthfully ?", I ask.
"Yeah", She says , surprised at my abrupt question.
"Do you love me ?", I ask.
"Yes", She says.
"Do you love your husband", I ask again.
"Yes", She says.
"Then why this ? Is it the thrill of a new affair or Is it the sex ?", I ask. "I...I don't know", She says." And you are a relationship expert ?", I tease her.

She was the vulnerable one this time. Her confidence was replaced by a sense of uncertainty and doubt. She couldn't meet my gaze. I stand up and walk towards her and hold her face in my hands and say, "I love you". "I love you too", She whispers. I hug her. She hugs me back.

That's the thing about love , you think that you finally understand it after falling in love , but you never really do , ever.

KK

I notice her sitting across the bar. She gulps down another glass in a futile attempt to drown her sorrows in alcohol. I make way towards her and within minutes we are engaged in a conversation. Her eyes resemble yours , a sort of warm brown that reminds me of hot chocolate.

All I had to do was say the right words at the right moments and provide a shoulder to cry upon. She confides her sadness to a stranger like an open diary and I provide solace with empty promises.

Every night the stories were different. Each story was a colourful thread , woven into the canvas of melancholy , waiting to be written.

A couple of drinks later , we go back to her apartment. I kiss her passionately and she kisses me back. I slowly undress her , admiring her beauty. I bite softly on her neck. She closes her eyes.

Tonight was wild. I lay back exhausted and look at her , she smiles. After a while she slowly drifts off to sleep in the arms of a stranger.

I make way to the balcony and light a cigarette. I look at the starless sky and smile. On such nights , when I'm drunk and happy , sometimes I think of you , sometimes I don't.

KK