The Weekend Secret

The Unusal Request

The steady drumming of rain against the windowpane was the first thing Aditi registered as she woke. She padded out of her bedroom, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, to find Suhas already awake, folding the blanket on the pull-out couch.

He looked up, a sheepish expression on his face. "Good morning. The rain hasn't stopped. I think I should make a run for it anyway."

Aditi glanced out the window at the sheets of grey water. "Are you crazy? Look at that! It's a flood out there, not just rain." She noticed his damp clothes, neatly folded on a chair where he'd left them to dry. They were still visibly wet. "Besides," she added, a playful glint in her eye, "your clothes are soaked. Anyway, it's a long weekend. I have zero plans. Why don't you just stay? We can order in, maybe watch a movie or finally have that rematch in that racing game you always lose."

Suhas laughed, the tension leaving his shoulders. The idea of trudging through a flood in wet clothes was deeply unappealing. "Okay, you've convinced me. But first, a shower. I feel like I swam home last night."

After his shower, he emerged with the towel wrapped around his waist, pointing a thumb at the bathroom. "Uh, Aditi? The clothes are still sopping wet."

"Right, of course they are," she said, not missing a beat. She disappeared into her room and returned moments later with another set of clothes: a pair of comfortable black harem pants and a simple, oversized navy blue top. "Emergency protocol, part two," she announced, handing them over. "My lips are sealed. Forever."

With a resigned but amused shake of his head, Suhas took the clothes and changed. When he came out, he ran a hand through his damp hair, which was starting to curl at the ends and fall over his neck. "Do you have a comb? I need to tie this up," he asked, gesturing to his hair, which he usually kept in a small, neat ponytail.

As they sat with coffee, watching the news, the severity of the situation became clear. The city was grappling with unprecedented floods; roads were submerged, and public transport was halted. They were effectively stranded. The day took on a strange, cozy rhythm. They cooked a simple lunch together, the small apartment filling with the smell of spices and easy laughter.

The doorbell's chime cut through the comfortable silence of the afternoon.

Suhas froze, his eyes widening in panic. He looked down at the harem pants and the oversized top, his ponytail resting on his shoulder.

"Relax," Aditi said, her voice a calm whisper. "Just be cool. It's probably my neighbor."

She peeked through the door's viewer and nodded to herself before opening the door a crack. "Isha! Hi, come in."

A young woman around twenty, with bright, curious eyes, stepped inside, shaking water off her umbrella. "Wow, this rain is something else, isn't it? Mom wanted me to check if you needed any—" Her sentence trailed off as her eyes landed on Suhas, who was doing his best impression of a piece of furniture on the couch.

Isha's head tilted in friendly confusion. "Oh, hello! I didn't know you had company, Aditi di."

Aditi's mind raced for a split second. The feminine clothes, the ponytail, the delicate features of Suhas's face still soft from the shower... an idea, both brilliant and terrifying, sprang into her head.

"Isha, this is my friend, Suhasini," Aditi said, her voice impressively steady. "She got stuck here because of the rain last night. Suhasini, this is Isha, my neighbor."

Suhas's eyes shot towards Aditi, wide with a mixture of shock and a silent scream. Aditi gave him a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.

Playing along was his only option. He offered a small, awkward wave and tried to pitch his voice slightly higher, managing a strained, "Hi."

Isha, completely unsuspecting, broke into a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Suhasini! I love your pants." She chatted easily for a few minutes about the horrible weather and how her college classes were canceled.

Then she got to the point of her visit. "Actually, di, we're having a small Gauri Puja at our place this evening. It's just a traditional thing. We've invited a few aunties and girls from the building. My dad's out of town, so it's just me and mom. You should both come! It would be nice to have more young people."

Suhasini's voice was a little too quick and a little too high. "Oh, that's so kind, but I really must leave as soon as the rain stops..."

Isha laughed, a light, tinkling sound. "Look outside! These are floods. You're not going anywhere tonight. Please, do come! It will be fun. Just for a little while?" She looked hopefully at Aditi.

Aditi, now fully committed to the charade, placed a hand on Suhas's shoulder. "We'll try our best to come, Isha. Thank you for inviting us."

"Wonderful!" Isha beamed. "See you both around seven, then!" With a final cheerful wave, she left, leaving a thick silence in her wake.

The door clicked shut. Aditi and Suhas stood frozen for a moment, before Suhas slowly turned to face her, his expression a perfect portrait of utter disbelief.

"Suhasini?" he whispered, his voice back to its normal register, dripping with incredulity.