Chapter 6 - CHAPTER 6

Like always with calm and bold brown eyes, almost emotionless, she sat in the cafeteria with her group, observing others without much expression, more a listener than a talker.Ridhan suggested talking to her, catching Vihan's attention, but he dismissed the idea, accepting that she wouldn't ever see him the way he saw her. He believed his feelings for her would always remain a secret. He'd always remain a stranger to her, someone who just admires her from afar. And that was more than enough for him."It's better this way," he told Ridhan with a serene tone, prompting bitterness in his heart, questioning Vihan's lack of self-confidence.However, the still water of his hopelessness swiftly faced a wrinkle when he met her through Saanvi for the first time. His belief of never truly knowing her shattered as he found her dazzling, her voice, honey, up close as she conversed with him, somehow showing interest."She hasn't slept well," Vritti said, refusing to join them at a cafe. "Take care!" Vihan worriedly responded, momentarily forgetting the missed chance to spend time with her. All he remembered was her not being well, prompting him to search for insomnia remedies on his phone while everyone chatted in the cafe.Even after reaching his apartment, he dedicated hours to learning how to give head massages, momentarily forgetting that he didn't expect anything in return for his feelings, overlooking his lack of hope.However, a powerful wave of sorrow crashed over him when she walked by him the next morning, ignoring him as he conversed with someone about Cala lilies. His heart sank, questioning his own thoughts: What was I thinking? Getting to talk to her was just a bit of luck, nothing else."Why do you look like this?" Ridhan noticed the pain in Vihan's eyes, his face down in demeanor as they were sitting in the cafeteria during recess. "Nothing." He simply responded, not expecting her to suddenly appear before his eyes and ask him for help, sitting beside him.When she asked for a book, it felt to him as if he were giving her his heart, irritated by Saanvi's attempts to intervene.Why does she have to interfere? Walking to their next class, Vihan was thinking about Saanvi's interference when Ridhan's sudden words pulled him out of his frustration. "Don't you think Leena is getting closer to you intentionally?""No. I don't think she's thinking that way," Vihan rejected, reaching the class, focused on helping without expecting anything more. "Maybe, but I feel like she's doing it intentionally." Ridhan's words had no effect on Vihan, although Ridhan kept wondering about her for days.Ridhan, sitting beside him in an English class, whispered, again picking up the topic. "She looks at you very differently," noting her curious and passionate expressions, a departure from her usual still face."We've been around her for so long willingly, and I never noticed her looking at you. But now it's different. Her eyes are always on you. Don't you think there's something going on in her head?" Ridhan remarked, sowing the seeds of curiosity in Vihan's mind.Yet, he didn't want to take it seriously. He simply wished not to give himself hope, only to watch it crumble before him. He repeated to himself that it was nothing, again and again, until the next day arrived and she suddenly asked for his help to buy books."There is something going on. Trust me!" Ridhan stated passionately, standing beside him in the washroom. "Why would she ask you for help if there is nothing going on? This is the second time." He accused, prompting Vihan to delve deep into his curiosity, which had finally taken root in his mind."We're going to her place. Be prepared and get to know her." Washing his hands, Ridhan added, noting the troubled look on Vihan's face as he stood with both their bags in his hands, close to his chest."Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with trying. And how would you know what she feels if you don't even try? You don't want to regret it in the future, trust me." Patting his shoulder, Ridhan took his bag from his arms.Ridhan was right, and now even Vihan couldn't deny it. Why would she ask him to come to her place? It was Saanvi who included a lot of people in the group; otherwise, she only wanted him to come to her place. But everything was happening so fast for him to believe anything."Do you read other books as well?" Standing by his side in front of the bookstall, she asked, her eyes peering through his gentle features in the dim light of the store."Yes. Do you?" She nodded. His eyes landed on her composed face, the sight of her focused eyes on books making him crave them against his skin."Thanks for helping me." Her eyes suddenly fell on his face, prompting him to quickly focus back on the shelf. "Are you interested in reading this book?" She asked, noticing his intense gaze on a romance novel."I usually don't read romance," she stated in a subtle tone, picking up the book to the cashier. "Then why are you buying it?" he questioned, walking behind her."For you. You can read it and tell me the story. I might like it then." Her words sent a whirlwind through his stomach, confusing him."You don't have to waste your money on me!" he suggested restlessly, prompting her to turn around and respond with subtle words. "I don't think anything is a waste on you, and if I did, I would never buy it.""You kissed!" Ridhan's feet stopped on the road, his eyes wide open as Vihan stood, shy and red-cheeked. They were going home after the group study at his place. "I told you! I told you there was something!" Grasping his shoulder with excitement, he questioned, "You know what this means, right?""It means she likes you!" he added, shaking him. "Are you not happy?" A dim reaction on Vihan's face halted his hands. "it's a big thing. She likes you back.""I don't think so." his calm yet hurtful words wrenched Ridhan's heart, prompting him to ask why he thinks like that. "She was sitting far away from me after the kiss, ignoring me. She didn't even say that she likes me or anything when we were leaving.""Why would she kiss you then?" Calm at his question, Ridhan questioned, leaving Vihan to wonder about it. "I don't know.""Okay, why don't you talk to her? Like real talk. Not like asking for help or something. Ask her why did she kiss you." As Ridhan had suggested, he tried finding ways to have a talk with her but found no way.It felt as if she was ignoring him, always busy and with her friends. But it soon changed when she visited his house for group study, asking him why he always ignored her."Of course. If you would do this, how would she talk to you? She might have thought you didn't want to talk; that's why she didn't come to talk. How would she know that you don't know how to react in front of her? And you thought she might have made a mistake by kissing you." Ridhan, once again, stirred his heart, making him rethink his choices as he stood by the kitchen counter, preparing a meal for everyone."You need to clear everything. Today is the best chance." Vihan chose to try, as he was taught by Ridhan through little acting sessions in the kitchen, talking to her after everyone had left, and sitting by her side on the couch.But his stumbling words were halted by her lips, kissing him with tenderness. Her lips shunned his head and made his body warm up, making him pull back from excitement."I think it's time to sleep. I'm really tired," he retreated, feeling shy and flushed, unsure of what to do or say, making yet another mistake.She quickly got up and left, leaving him to watch her walk away. He cursed himself, falling onto the couch, bewildered by his actions. Why would I ruin such a great chance? I could have asked her everything I wanted, as Ridhan suggested!But a chance presented itself again in the darkness when she woke him up with her lips and made him even shyer as every piece of fabric got pulled away from his skin."Dream?" he questioned as she lay on the couch, causing him to rest his head on his chest, covered in the blanket after their steamy session. "What do you mean by your dream?""Nothing." She simply whispered, caressing his hair as he looked at her with his wondering eyes. "I want to ask you something," He added another question, prompting her to ask what is it that he wishes to know."Do you like me?"*****END OF THE CHAPTERConnect with me and early and exclusive work: https://queenbeewritess.carrd.co/----Love, author! ❤️