Kiara's POV:

"What is our today's plan?" I asked excitedly however both my best friends ignored it royally.

"Stop acting like you are very happy when you aren't," Anika stated. I glanced at Veer to see if he was angry as well however once our eyes met, he raised his hands in surrender.

"I have no complaints from you but I'm going home. My family is going out so I will have to take care of my grandmother."

"Goodbye," I said and waved at him. Anika did the same and started to move from there.

"I don't know what made you angry but trust me I'm alright," I assured. I agree I was a little disturbed when Ritik left the hall in the middle of my performance but I soon composed myself. We had a childhood memory of this thing but now we are grown-ups so it was better not to go back to that phase.

"Really? Didn't it took you three hours to be alright?" She snapped at me.

"You know what, I love you so much. Let's go to canteen. I'm hungry." I said and took her with me, no doubt she continued with her mutterings about how bad I am but she kept walking with me.

"Where should we sit?" I asked scanning all around us. The place where I usually like to sit was occupied so I was finding a better option. Somewhere away from everyone and more peaceful.

"There we go," Anika said happily.

"Where?" I asked but instead of answering me, she took me towards an already occupied table and to my disappointment, it was none other than Ritik and his friends. Viraj and Sakshi were sitting on the one side, whereas Ritik was alone on the other.

"Hi, Ritik." She greeted him like every other time.

"Hey, Anika. Good morning." He greeted her, only her. I was non-existent to him again.

"Are you guys searching for a table? If yes, please join us." Sakshi invited. I already guessed that Anika was just waiting for someone to say it and once she heard that, She literally pushed me inside so that I was beside Ritik. When Ritik felt my presence he moved towards the extreme corner, almost going and sticking to the wall. However, when Anika she sat next to me she made sure not to leave any space between Ritik and me. Girl stop it, Ritik will go and stick to the wall like a lizard now. I giggled at my own thought and concentrated on maintaining my sanity. I wanted to ignore Ritik just like he was ignoring me.

"Hey Kiara, yesterday's performance was good." Viraj complimented.

"Thanks and I'm sorry about everything." I replied because I genuinely felt bad for leaving the performance half way and then not giving caring to go back.

"Yeah it was nice but I wanted to see the full performance. Why did you left the stage out of sudden?" Sakshi asked. Because I was sad to see Ritik go. I wanted to follow him like our old times but then I remembered something and I had to stop myself.

"You left the stage?" Ritik asked immediately as if he was shock to hear that. Gone were his rude expressions, he looked curious.

"Yeah, I had to make an urgent call," I replied and saw his face soften.

"Liar," Anika whispered in my ear. Of course, I was lying. My mobile was with Anika and I didn't even take it with me when I went out. I saw Ritik typing something in his mobile and even Sakshi started doing the same It looked like they were chatting with each other. By the time Ritik kept his mobile down, he was back to his 'smiling like joker' self.

"Would you like to have something?" Ritik asked looking at me and then at Anika.

"No Thanks," I replied immediately. I was hungry but I didn't wish to sit with him.

"Hey guys, We are going for movie. How about you join us?" Sakshi asked. Sometimes when I look at her, I honestly have thoughts like how can someone be so cheerful and excited about everything. Her enthusiasm is something which motivates everyone around her. Unable to control my curiosity, I ended up asking her the same.

"A person always look happy and cheerful when treated well. So yeah, all the credits goes to me." Viraj replied on behalf of her. Sakshi glared at him but with that glare, there was so much love in her eyes. Giving a quick peck to him, she turned to look at me.

"You don't worry. Once you find someone like him, you will also experience this. Right Ritik?" She asked. Ritik choked on his drink however composed himself very soon whereas idiot Anika started laughing like always. Damn, This teasing thing always lands me in trouble.

"Anyway coming back to the topic. You both are coming with us, right?" Viraj asked.

"She won't. She doesn't like movies in a theatre." Ritik replied. I was delighted to know what he still remembers about this but on the other hand, I was also occupied with a question, If he keeps doing this thing, how will I forget him?

"Yeah. Kiu is not a fan of watching movies and you guys know about my family." Anika stated.

"I don't mean to hurt you but can't you like to convince your family for giving you little freedom?" Sakshi asked.

"I tried, it was of no use. Now my only hope is my future husband." She said and giggled to herself. Not only Anika even I'm praying for her future husband to be someone who will make her experience all the things which she doesn't get to enjoy now.

"But yeah you guys can go and enjoy. Kiara will join you." Anika said further. I tried to say no but she didn't allow me to do that.

"Yeah I know she will and if not movie, we will go somewhere else," Viraj stated.

"Ok." I agreed as it would have looked rude to deny.

"Ri, eat fast. We need to go." Sakshi said just like Aashna aunty yells at Ritik.

"But I don't feel like eating." He replied innocently. Such a babie. I don't know why but whenever Ritik gives his innocent look, I feel like pulling his cheeks and giving him a very tight hug.

"Yeah of course. Why would you care about filling your stomach when your heart is full?" She teased him again.

"Of course my heart is full. I'm happy." He said causing me to glance at him again however when I caught him looking at me already, I had to turn my gaze. As he said, he looked happy and had a contained smile. I still have time, should I change my plan?

"Anyway, I will leave you." Anika said while getting up from her seat.

"And I trust you guys but still take care of my baby ok?" Anika asked obviously referring me. How sweet.

"I will."

Ritik was the first one to answer. His reply made my heartbeat raise. Taking care of me is something Ritik always did during our good old days. Now I'm not used to get his love and care. The fact that I was going to break my heart later was killing me from inside.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"Doing what?" He questioned.

Making everything difficult for me.

"Nothing." I replied and looked away.

"Listen guys, we will go on a long drive...stop by to have a cup of tea and then we will return." Sakshi said explaining her plan. When she said long drive I thought we will go by a car but to my utter disappointment it was bike. Why is it that when I'm trying to ignore Ritik, things are bringing me more closer to him?

"Don't drive like a bullock cart but also take care." Viraj said as he waved at us and drove away.

"Let's go." I said to Ritik because he was not starting the bike.

"If I promise not to tease you, will you smile again?"

"Can't you see I'm smiling already?" I answered giving him a forced smile.

"Genuine smile Kiara."

Not again man, I will start crying now.

I again looked at Ritik and gave him one of my widest smile.

"Idiot." He said as he shook his head and finally started driving. As the bike moved forward I had only one question in my mind, what was I doing here? Ritik heard everything that day, he knows that I feel something about him which is more than friendship and yet I'm here with him like nothing happened.

Doesn't he have anything to say about it?

If yes, why didn't he do it yet?

If no, why does he keep teasing me?

Letting go of my thoughts I decided to concentrate on the nature.

"Should I ask something?" Ritik asked. I signalled him to continue.

"You didn't answered my question that day. Why did you stopped talking to me?"

"Why didn't you asked this question to me at that time?" I asked back and regretted it immediately. When I stopped talking to him, I wanted him to ask me the reason but he never did.

"Leave it. I don't want to talk about it." I said and looked away. Luckily he didn't say anything after that. We both were quiet for sometime until he spoke again.

"That's Shriya's home." He said showing me a building. Why in the world would he think I'm interested to know where she stays?

"Oh so now you are keeping track of a person's address as well."

"Shut up ok. Firstly I just said it casually and secondly, I know it's her home because I have been there." He replied.

"Why have you been there?" I asked immediately. I know I sounded like a possessive girlfriend but I was helpless, I wanted to know why Ritik went to her home, that thing was killing me.

"Because we are good friends and her parents know me." He replied sincerely.

"Ok." I replied and prayed this to be the end of this conversation however knowing Ritik, I knew it was not going to happen.

"Why are you so jealous?"

"Why would I be? I'm not." I replied.

"Of course you sound jealous and isn't it because something you said that day. What was it? Oh yeah, loving someone since...."

Big bad monkey, donkey, idiot and everything else.

"Hey, you promised you won't tease me." I asked angrily.

"Stop hallucinating things. I never said that." He said replied. If it was possible for me, I would have loved to smack his head but because he was driving, I kept my hands to myself.

Coming with him is a mistake I did however I won't repeat it again.

Frankly speaking I was not angry at Ritik, he was always so playful with me. I was afraid of heart break.

"Now why are you smiling?" I asked as I caught Ritik looking at me through the side mirror.

"The mirror says, 'Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear', So I was seeing how close they are." He replied. I tried very hard not to blush but ended up doing exactly the same. No doubt, we were on a empty road and I was the only object in the mirror.

Cliche much!

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