VAANI'S POV

Finally I can breathe.....I can still feel his intense gaze on me. Throughout the car ride he kept on glancing my way thinking I did not notice...but I am too clever...thanks to my addiction to Wattpad, I have read enough books to know.

He is quiet annoying and rude but also a softie at heart i guess else he would have not taken the ice cream nor he would have let me drive his car. I noticed how his eyes softened when he looked at me .....though he enjoyed teasing me while I made joke out of me on our way to hostel....he looked damn handsome with the smirk and that small smile that played on his lips ,can it be love at first sight. No.....he is way too handsome to get attracted to me.

Him being 6'2 Greek god and me a 5'7 potato sac

I shook my head trying to stop thinking about him but in vain.

I couldn't forget the perfect dark green armaani suit clinging to his perfect body. The way his rough hands rested on my waist was too warm.

I can make him my crush right?? I always wanted to have one....let's have someone worthy enough to cry upon.

He looked......good....no actually great....

should I stalk him on Instagram? that's a good idea.

I logged in my insta I'd and searched for him and bingo

.it's a public account.....may be managed by his official people.....he must be too busy to use instagram after all he is "HUKUM SA".. doesn't it sounds like those fictional books...

godddd....he has quite huge fanbase...like 1.2 M followers is a lot...but my attention was caught by his post.

Just 3.

the first one was in a black graduation gown...he looked boyish...clean shaved...cute...but he looks better with beard ....I always had a think for those trimmed beard .....okk...so mr. Dark green has studied from STANFORD UNIVERSITY,US. Not bad...of course he would....he has good money...

The next one was in a black business suit from a board meeting...that screams luxuryyyyy......he gives off those royal vibes...good personality....

the last post was from 6 months back of him playing polo game.....o man.....he looked.....sexily handsome I must say, the white polo tshirt tugged in black trouser with black long boots....riding a horse while flexing his veiny arms...okay..... that's..... intimidating

Good candidate to have a crush on.

Target locked

he is my crush now..no guilt.

He is worthy to be drooled at.i hit the follow button and went in deep slumber ,his thought still lingering in the background of my mind.

CHIRAG'S POV

My car came to hault as we stepped out

. Kartik and chaitanya was already present when I entered the hall followed by shreya.

she looked different.....not gloomy,she did not seem stressed like she always would when she knew their father would throw few harsh word at her....rather she looked calm.

She hugged chaitanya and he was as shocked as I was in the afternoon as Shreya was not usually the one to show her emotions..... chaitanya smiled at her as he reciprocated. Kartik too shook her hands as they passed sincere smile at each other.

Chaitanya: bhai sa.....I missed you so much....kitne time baad.....acha hua shreya aayi...nhi to aap diwali pr bhi nhi aate

(After such a long time...I am glad that shreya came else you would have not come on diwali as well)

I nodded as he gave me a side hug followed by kartik.

Dadi sa entered the hall followed by baba sa whose face softened as they looked at shreya and me. I know baba sa doesn't hate laado...he is just too sad to let go of his grief.I and Shreya touched dadi sa and baba sa's feet as she patted mine and Shreya's head .baba sa gave a slight nod at me asking about my well being while ignoring shreya .

She too did not look at him with pleading eyes rather settled beside dadi sa surprisingly linking her arms with dadi sa as she leaned on her shoulder.

Even dadi sa was taken aback by her sudden behaviour but later lovingly stroke her head thinking she missed home when she stayed at hostel.

Shreya: aap kaisi hai dadi sa? Hume yaad Kiya ki nhi?

(How are you dadi sa? Did you miss me?)

Dadi sa: humne aapko bahut yaad kiya....kitni patli ho gyi hain aap...khana nhi khaati?

(I did miss you ....you are looking so weak....did you not eat?)

Shreya: bilkul khaate hai dadi sa...infact Vaani ke ghr se jo naashte aate hai mumma ke haath ke woh bhi khaate hai.

(I have absolutely eaten...infact....I had all the snacks that Vaani's mumma sent)

Dadi sa: mumma?

Baba sa,dadi sa,kartik, chaitanya and even I looked at her with questioning look

Shreya: Vaani ki mumma....meri roommate and meri friend....wo bahut pyaari hai....infact papa bhi bahut ache hai....wo to bole hai iss baar diwali ke baad aayenge. Humne to keh diya hai hum hi unhe jodhpur ghumaayenge....aapko pta hai uski badi behen aur jiju bhi doctor hai...wo log itne cute hai....bilkul chaitanya bhai sa ke trh......bahut shi comic time hai unki...aur vibhor....uska chota bhai....wo to humare saath ludo bhi khelta hai....kitni baar to chaitanya bhai sa haare bhi hai usse

(Vani's mom...my roommate and my friend...she is very sweet...in fact Papa is also very nice...he has said that he will come this time after Diwali. We have already said that we will take him to Jodhpur...you know his elder sister and brother-in-law are also doctors...they are so cute...just like Chaitanya Bhai...they have a great comic timing...and Vibhor...his younger brother...he even plays Ludo with us...many times he has even lost to Chaitanya Bhai.)

Everybody could feel the happiness in her voice as she happily narrated the story.

I could not avoid baba sa's expression that displayed wave of emotions may be jealousy that she was calling some other people mumma and papa with ease, may be his upset mood did not affect shreya now,may be that she was happy with some other family but I was happy seeing my laado expressing her emotions. She looked less burdened of emotional baggage that she has been carrying all this year.

Dadi sa: beta....aise kisi pr visvas nhi Krna chahiye...sb ache insaan nhi hote...aur kitna hi jaanti ho unhe ?

(Dear...you should not trust anyone....not everyone is trustworthy....and how much do you even know them?)

Shreya: kisi ne humse kaha hai dadi sa....jo humara hoga wo hume mil jaayega....I should stop begging for something that I deserve and invest my emotions where in could be reciprocated equally, selflessly. Zaroori nhi ki khoon ke Rishtey hi sache ho...kuch log bina khoon ke Rishtey ke bhi apne hote hai

(Someone has told me that if something is mine, I will get it anyhow...it's not important that all relations are blood bound...few are important even without them)

She went upstairs to her room to change while everyone was stunned. Shreya was not wrong ....she has always chased baba sa for his love , yet he never gave it back....she was finally letting go of things she can't change and living the life she deserves. Baba sa too looked stunned....she never said anything , always endured and now she was letting us see the burden she has been carrying on all these years.

May be everyone was right.....

Vaani really had changed something in Shreya that was good.

Later we all retired to our room when my phone pinged....

a notification....

I opened and there she was....

miss sparkle....Vaani sharma followed me.

Okay...so she is stalking...she really has some confidence that's intriguing.

I followed back flipping my phone on bed as I went in washroom to change.

PATNA

Shreya woke up before the train pulled up at patna station,she shove the phone in her pocket and got of the train with her luggage when she was taken in a bone crushing hug by Vibhor

Vibhor: di....I missed you so much...humara to tumhare bina din hi nhi kt rha tha...safar kaisa rha....koi dikkat nhi na hua...hum aapko lene aana chahte the pr humare exams the aur papa ko bhi gaao jana tha

(I missed you .... my days were incomplete without you.....we were planning to come to receive you but then it was my exams and father was also suppose to go to our native town)

Vaani: koi dikkat nhi hua...shreya aur uske bade bhai chorne aaye the station pr Puri paltan ke saath

(I did not have any problem .... Shreya's elder brother came to drop me at station with his security)

Vibhor: kon.... chaitanya bhai?

(Who?)

Vaani: nhi...uske sbse bade bhai...hukum sa...

(No....her eldest brother....hukum sa)

Vibhor: o hooo...hukum sa....kaise the...bilkul book serial jaise?

(How was he....was he like the one in books and serials?)

They stopped when shivaay ji approached them and took Vaani in warm embrace.

Shivay ji: kaisa hai mera chota bacha?

(How is my little baby?)

Vaani: hum bahut ache hai papa...aap kaise hai...humne aapko bahut yaad kiya

(I am all good dad.....how are you?....I missed you so much)

They left for her home while Vibhor and Vaani chatted non stop about school,cricket academy,college and what not.

As shivaay ji pulled up at his door, sandhya ji came rushing taking Vaani in warm hug muttering sweet words asking about her well being and took her inside with her.

She changed in new set of comfortable clothes when sandhya ji asked her to call and inform shreya that she has reached safely.

as she took out her phone to put it on charger, her eyes widened when she saw the notification

friend request by chirag.

No way....this can't be happening...why will he send me friend request.....was not his people suppose to handle his account.

And wait...he follows only his family member and kartik bhai...why will he follow me. Does he like me back?

As she accepted the friend request feeling tons of butterflies in her stomach when she saw new post on his account

Him in dark green armaani suit with caption " mr. Dark green ready"

Her cheeks flustered as she looked at the caption...2 hours ago and 883K likes already....this man was doing things to her and she can't help but feel giddy...she took liked it kept on smiling like crazy and dialled Shreya's no.

CHIRAG'S POV

Shreya was having her breakfast at dining table as she fascinatingly spoke about her experience in campus while chaitanya and kartik too involved with equal enthusiasm while chirag nodded once in a while. His entire focus was still on his phone since last night as he waited for his request to be accepted

How could she not accept mine? I have only followed 5 people till now, my family and kartik and the sixth one suppose to be her but know...she is too full of her....I won't follow her now.

His phone pinged as he saw his friend request being accepted and a like...he grinned like idiot for some reason as he looked at her posts

1 st one

It was her pic from her graduation day of 12th class....white saree with golden boarder....smiling brightly with 4-5 awards in her hand....she is quite meritorious woman....cute

2nd one

It was from her last day of 12 of scribbling day....her in her normal school uniform...she looked adorable

3rd one

It was of holi....her white kurta full of colours while a young boy rubbed some more colour on her cheeks as he squeezed it.... looks like it's her brother...the have beautiful bond....there was pic of two couple one old and the other young one maybe her parents and her sister and brother in law ..they looked so much in love....proper display of affection

4th one

It was of her from 1 st day of her medical college....yellow kurta....hair tied in a pony with sly smile, her arms locked around shreya.

They looked beautiful together

Just 4 post....she should have uploaded more

I kept smiling like an idiot looking at his phone... everybody on dining table was looking at him in confusion. The one who never smiled more than what was needed was smiling all wide.

Chaitanya: bhai sa....aap thik hai na.....khi humari bhabhi se to chat nhi kr rhe hai...kya hume ab apni bhabhi dhundne ki zarurat nhi hai

Are you okay....or you are chatting with my sister in law to be....should I stop searching now?)

Kartik: ha bta dijiye chirag....aap aise kyu muskura rhe hai...khi pyaar to nhi na ho gya kisi se

Yes..please tell us.....why are you smiling....are you in love?)

Chirag : kuch nhi...ek meme dekh liya tha..

Nothing..juta a meme)

Chaitanya: meme....aur aapke phone pr....kaisi baatein kr rhe hai..ek baar ke liye pakistan India ek ho jaaye....aap aur meme...huhhh

Before chirag could lie more... Shreya's phone pinged and chirag mentally thanked whoever was on call

Shreya avoided but later on dadi sa's insist, she picked up....it was a video call from Vaani

PHONE CALL

Vaani: hiii meriii jaannn....kaisi ho shrey...hum ache se ghr pahuch gye...tumhe bahut miss kr rhe hai yaar

CHIRAG'S ear alerted as he heard her voice.

Chaitanya and kartik chocked on their food .

Dadi sa and baba sa stared at him in disbelief.

Dadi sa: kaisi larki hai...bolne ki tameez nhi hai...aise kon baat krta hai dost se

Shreya: Vaanu....I am all good....and hum bhi aap log ko bahut miss kr rhe

Sandhya ji: to aa jana tha na beta....tum bihar ka chhatt puja dekh leti....aise bhi choti to diwali ke 6-7 din baad hi jaayegi....tumhe akele rehna parega hostel mein...beta....jb tk choti na jaaye....ghr se hi college aaya jaaya Krna....akele rehna thik nhi hoga

Everybody's heart twisted with guilt when they saw the motherly love of Vaani's mother for shreya and we felt relieved that she had so many people who cared for her .

Shreya: ji mumma...aap chinta Mt kriye....hum ghr se hi aana jaana krenge....aane ka to Mann bahut tha pr bhai sa bahut din baad aaye the isliye...pr thekua zaroor bhejiyega

Vibhor: shreya di...hume miss nhi kr rhi hai aap

Shreya: tumhe to sbse zyada yaad kiya vibhor

Chaitanya: ha bhai...tumhe bahut yaad kiya....khud to Ludo mein hume hara nhi paayi hai

Shreya: bhai sa...please

Everybody giggled at their cute little banter.

Vibhor:acha shreya di....meri di ka bed thik hai na....uske weight se tuta to nhi na

Shivaay ji: vibhorrr.....maar parega...badi behen ko Aisa bolte hai

Shreya beta....kaisi ho tum....tumhari seer drd to thik hai na beta....abhi mausam bdl rha hai beta....grm kapre pehnna....pichle baar ke trh tabiyat bigad jaayegi nhi to

Everybody stilled at dining table when they heard that shreya was sick and no one knew . Chirag glared as he was angry no one knew. Everybody was ashamed that this strange family was so concerned for her and her own knew nothing.

Shreya : ji papa...aap fikr mt kriye...aur Vaani thi na....to thik to hona hi tha...

Vaani: tum khana kha rhi ho...pehle khao phir baat hoga...chl take care...bye

Shreya: bye vaanu

Chirag stood from his seat throwing daggers at shreya

Chirag: shreya....aapne btana nhi zaruri smjha ki aapki tabiyat thik nhi thi...hum yahaan nhi the pr chaitanya, kartik wo to the na...unhe to bta skti thi

Chirag was angry at himself that he was unable to take care of his younger sister

Shreya: aisa nhi hai bhai sa....aapko pta hai na...ma sa ke trh hume minor migraine ha ....bs wo Thora trigger ho gya tha to seer mein kaafi drd ho gya tha...pr vaanu thi...usme mst champi kiya tha aur humne dawaai li thi to thik ho gye the hum

Chaitanya: ha laado...ye glt hai...tumhe pta hai na...Bhai sa tumhe le kr kitne sensitive hai..

Shreya: sorry Bhai sa

Dadi sa too agreed and left to her room while baba sa glanced at her way and to went away

Shreya: ab naraaz mt hoiye...hume market lekr chliye..hume shopping Krna hai...aur aap sb humare saath chlenge....hum khud sbke liye apne psnd se kurta lenge

CHIRAG'S eyes finally softened as he agreed and they planned to go for shopping.

His thought lingered to the curvy woman he met this afternoon....a full package of chaos who care like no one and was a ray of hope in Shreya's world.