Neti
The next morning...
The soft rays of sunlight creeping through the window are enough to make my eyelids flutter open. But the moment I do, a wave of exhaustion crashes over me. I feel like I haven't slept in days, like every muscle in my body is screaming for rest. My head is still heavy from everything that happened last night - the tension, the confusing moments, and the overwhelming feeling that I don't even know which way is up anymore.
I pull the blankets over my head, burying myself in their warmth. I should get up. I should do something. But all I want right now is to close my eyes and let the world go away for just a few more hours.
"Five more minutes," I mutter to myself, curling deeper into the pillow.
The silence of the room is calming, and before I even realize it, my body is drifting back into sleep. The thoughts of everything that happened - Adolph, Pranav, and the mess that my life has become - slowly fade away as I succumb to the peace of unconsciousness once again.
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Adolph
I stir awake, the soft sheets tangled around my legs. I blink against the sunlight filtering through the blinds, but I'm not in a rush to leave the warmth of the bed. I stretch lazily, letting the sleepiness linger a little longer. The night had been... interesting. Not exactly restful, but certainly... eventful.
I glance over at the clock, noting that it's still early. A sigh escapes me. I don't have much to do today, but I know the chaos of the day will eventually catch up to me. Still, for now, I let myself enjoy the rare quiet.
Pranav, on the other hand, is snoring away in my office. The guy passed out on the couch last night after one too many drinks. Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't end up in my bed like a lost puppy.
I chuckle to myself, getting out of bed and stretching once more, enjoying the solitude of the morning. I could go over to him and wake him up, but... what's the rush? It's not like he'll do anything productive anyway.
I grab my phone off the nightstand and scroll through some messages, but my thoughts wander back to last night - to the way Neti looked, the way she seemed to be struggling with everything happening around her.
I should probably check in on her. Make sure she's okay... or as okay as she can be with all this. But for now, I let the peaceful silence linger, thinking of how the day will unfold.
I'm not in any rush. Not yet.
I glance toward my office again, where Pranav is still sleeping soundly. Maybe I'll leave him to his ridiculous dreams for a while longer. After all, he needs rest if he's going to keep annoying Aliya today. And it all applies to me too,
Neti
Annoying her is entertaining
Toying with her is entertaining
Using her is entertaining...
Guess I'll just start my day now
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(Author: so this is Pranav's pov and its a bit odd to write side character's povs but because we love him,here it is)
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Pranav
The first thing I notice when I wake up is the pounding in my head. It's like a drumbeat, relentless and unforgiving. My mouth feels like I've been chewing on sandpaper, and every little movement seems to make my skull throb harder. I groan, blinking against the sunlight seeping through the blinds, and immediately regret the decision to get up.
I sit up on the couch, rubbing my temples, trying to fight the headache that's trying to tear me apart. What the hell happened last night? I can't remember much beyond the drinking, the bad poetry, and probably texting Aliya a million times, annoying the hell out of her.
Shit.
I wince, squeezing my eyes shut as I try to recall what I said to her. I'd been so lost in my feelings-so sure she'd be swept off her feet by my words-but now... now I feel like an idiot.
Maybe I'll just hide under the couch and never come out.
With great effort, I manage to stand up, but it feels like the world is swaying around me. I grip the edge of the desk for support and shake my head, trying to clear the fog. When I finally get my bearings, I drag myself to the door, stopping just long enough to glance at the bed in the corner of the room.
Adolph's still asleep, huh?
I could swear I heard him stirring earlier, but now he's just sprawled out, probably enjoying his quiet morning.
Lucky bastard.
I take a deep breath and stumble my way out of the office, hoping I can find some aspirin to dull the pain. But first, I need to remember one thing: Aliya. I still need to figure out what to say to her. I can't keep acting like this, like a love-struck fool who doesn't know how to handle rejection.
But right now, all I can think about is how my head feels like it's about to explode. God, I need coffee.
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Adolph
The door creaks open, and I glance over, not surprised to see Pranav slowly dragging himself into the room. He's got that look on his face-the one that says he probably regrets every drink he had last night.
I smirk, leaning back in my chair, my fingers tapping idly on the desk as I watch him stumble in like a wounded animal.
"Morning," I drawl, already amused by his pathetic state. "Looks like you've learned the price of a good time, huh?"
Pranav glares at me, a hand pressed to his forehead. "Don't start," he grumbles, squinting like the light is physically attacking him. "I feel like I got run over by a truck."
I chuckle, grabbing my coffee and taking a slow sip, savoring the moment. "I told you not to drink so much. But noooo, you had to act like a poet in love. How's that working out for you?"
Pranav mutters something incomprehensible, clearly more interested in making his way to the bathroom to find something to dull the pain. I can't help but find amusement in his misery. If only he knew the chaos I'm juggling... but then again, he wouldn't understand.
"Anyway," I continue, leaning back in my chair with a smirk, "You're lucky you're still alive after that drunken disaster. Aliya's probably sharpening a knife with your name on it after your text storm last night."
Pranav lets out a weak groan, clearly not in the mood for my teasing. "Shut up, Adolph. Please, I'm begging you. I don't need your crap right now."
"Oh, don't worry," I say lazily, taking another sip of my coffee, "I'll let you off the hook for now. But remember, you've got a lot of making up to do if you don't want to end up as her personal target practice."
Pranav groans again, and I can't help but chuckle.
He stumbles into the bathroom, leaving me to enjoy the moment. This is what happens when you drink too much and text people you should probably leave alone.
I lean back in my chair, thinking about everything that's been going on. Things are getting more complicated with Neti, and I can't quite shake the feeling that she's slipping away. Maybe it's because she sees the mess I am-the one I try so hard to hide.
But for now, I have to deal with Pranav's hangover and the chaos he's created. That's my priority. Neti can wait.
At least for a little while.
He's fucked and
Neti is still sleeping
What a chance
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Pranav
I stagger back to my room, feeling like every step I take is a battle. My legs are heavy, my head is pounding, and my mouth is drier than the Sahara Desert. Why did I do this to myself?
The door swings open with a soft creak, and I'm hit with the scent of fresh linens and something faintly floral-probably the air freshener Adolph insists on keeping everywhere. My eyes squint against the light, the world still spinning like I'm on some kind of amusement park ride.
I sink into the plush chair near the window, running a hand over my face as I try to fight off the nausea creeping up on me. My room is just as luxurious as Adolph's-of course it is. Everything is oversized, elegant, and ridiculous. The bed is practically a small kingdom of its own, with silky sheets that look like they were woven by angels. A velvet chaise lounge sits by the window, and I'm pretty sure the curtains are more expensive than anything I've ever bought.
But none of that matters when I feel like I'm about to die.
I drag myself toward the bathroom, barely making it there without tripping over the carpet. The bathroom is... well, it's a goddamn palace. The walls are lined with marble, and there's a massive bathtub that could probably fit an entire family. Not that I care about any of that right now.
I grab the bottle of water from the counter, drinking it as if it's the last thing I'll ever get. My stomach churns, and I can already feel the effects of the alcohol trying to push their way out. Nope. Not today. I'm not going to throw up in Adolph's bathroom.
I finish the water and lean against the sink, staring at my reflection. My hair's all over the place, my shirt's wrinkled, and my eyes look like I just survived a natural disaster. What the hell was I thinking?
I glance at the mirror for a second longer, taking in my disheveled appearance. Maybe this is why Aliya doesn't take me seriously.
I sigh, pulling myself together as best I can. The headache is still there, gnawing at the back of my skull. But I can't stay in this room forever. No more hiding.
I make my way back to the bed, sinking into the sheets and instantly regretting the movement. I roll onto my side and pull the blanket over me, trying to ignore the persistent buzzing in my head.
For now, all I can do is sleep it off. Hopefully, by the time I wake up, this mess will be a little more manageable. Or, at least, I'll have some idea of what to do next.
Until then, I'll just try to survive.
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