Ritik's POV:

"How is college going?" Dad asked as I sat beside him on the couch. I don't know what was dad trying to do but for few days he was asking for our photo albums and now that he got all of them, he was chilling with them.

"Good. I'm enjoying it as usual." I replied as I took one album from the table. As soon as I opened it, my heart jumped in excitement. Kia! It was the picture of Kia's birthday where her dress got stuck into something and I was the one to help her. What a cute picture it is! Whoever clicked this picture surely has my heart. I immediately felt the urge to send it to Kiara but considering everyone's presence here it was a little risky and so I decided to do it later.

"Enjoying huh? Nice. Also, I heard last night you were awake till 3 to complete your assignment, is it true?" Dad enquired further. I knew there were two reasons behind this question, the first was because I rarely stay awake to complete my notes and the second reason was none other than Aashika chirping everything to him.

"Yeah it was important so I had to complete it."

"He is lying. There was no assignment, he was talking with some girl." Aashika stated.

"I'm not lying dad, I was actually working on my assignment and how does she know whether I was talking to a girl or guy?"

"I heard it," Aashika replied boldly as if she has not done anything wrong.

"Which you were not supposed to!" I stated.

"Not my mistake. You were loud enough for anyone to overhear your conversation."

I was willing to argue more because I knew she was wrong and dad will definitely make her understand that but before I could say anything, Mom came and stopped both of us.

"For once act like grown-ups, please." She said as she sat beside dad and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Fine. Afterwards don't tell me that I didn't inform you." Aashika said and took one photo album from dad. What the hell?

"Mom, whatever she did yesterday is wrong. She is not supposed to keep a watch on me."

"I'm sorry on her behalf. She won't repeat it. But first tell me, who is she?" Mom teased. I felt like I was going to smile widely at her question but I stopped myself immediately.

Who else the girl would be, it was Kiara being all cute and funny. I stay awake only when I'm out with my friends or have any football match to watch. This staying up late is not my usual thing and on the other hand, Kiara is definitely a night owl. Yesterday we both were busy with our work and didn't get time to talk so when she called me last night, obviously, I was going to talk with her. Honestly speaking, when she asks me, 'Do you know what happened today?' and then starts telling me about her day. I find this thing super cute.

Last night I was talking with her only but then I don't know how Aashika heard me.

"I'm not telling you," I said and changed the topic immediately.

"Dad, what are you doing with all these?" I asked pointing towards the four photo albums.

"Nothing much. I missed your childhood days, so was just reminiscing them." He replied. Fine. I took out my mobile and saw Kiara's reply to my message.

'Good Morning idiot.'

Followed by a red heart and a rose.

Her profile picture was different this time and so I clicked on it. It was the picture from our family trip, where she was feeding a cat she found near the house. Cute.

Whenever I look at Kiara, I feel happy. Just a thought of her makes me feel lively. Her name never fails to make my heart skip a beat and her smile, it is the best thing to look at. All her antics and non-stop talks are something I always look forward to. The way she not only tells me about herself but also tries to involve me in everything makes me realise in every sense that she is the one for me.

'You are crazy' I replied to Kiara's message and saw her typing immediately.

'Yeah, in love with you.' She replied while highlighting my previous message and as much as I tried not to smile, I failed.

"She makes you so happy, doesn't she?" Dad asked. I could have refused to answer but my heart denied doing that.

"She does," I said proudly.

"That's what we want," Dad said and then went away from there. Mom didn't say anything but neither there was discomfort in her behaviour nor any questions.

***

"Where is Kiara?" Sakshi asked.

"Must be on her way."

"You don't know exactly?" She enquired.

"Nope. We didn't talk about that."

"So you don't expect her to tell you where she is or what she is doing?" Sakshi asked again. I know she was trying to tease me but I was not in a mood to play along.

"You know me already, Sakshi. I would never expect her to tell me every single thing that she does. Yeah, she is my girlfriend but she is also a human who has all the rights to live the way she wants. If she is willing to tell me, I'm all hers but I will never force her to tell me all these things, they are so toxic." I stated.

"I got bored," Sakshi said once I finished. I slapped her hand which was on the table and called Kiara to ask where she was.

"She will be here in two minutes," I announced.

"How do you deal with her daily man?" I asked Viraj.

"I'm helpless. Once you are stuck, there is no going back." He replied sadly and now it was my turn to tease Sakshi.

"Ritik, what if Kiara expects you to tell her everything?"

"Well, I know she won't expect that but if she does, I would like if she respects my personal space."

"Hey hey hey, hi guys," Kiara said as she came and sat next to me.

"Hi, Good Morning." Viraj greeted her followed by Sakshi.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had some work to do and now I'm super tired." She said moving a little towards me. She then took the hold of my arm and rested her head on my shoulder just like mom did this morning.

"Ritik, I'm so tired." She murmured.

"I'm telling you. Quit that night patrolling job." I said and immediately saw her glaring at me.

"You don't talk to me." She said and moved away but I wrapped my hand across her shoulder and brought her near me.

"I'm sorry, I was joking," I said and made her head rest on my shoulder again.

"What are your plans for today?" I asked.

"You know what, I actually forgot to tell you," Kia said excitedly as she looked at me.

"Anika's parents are going out of town so she will be staying with me and today, I'm going to complete her one of the fantasy." She said further.

"What fantasy?"

"I'm taking her to a pub." She replied.

"Idiot, it is too risky. You know her parents will freak out if they come to know about this."

"I know but we can not always live in fear of getting caught right? Sometimes we have to take some bold decisions and enjoy life."

As much as I wanted to stay her away from all this, she was right and so I didn't oppose her.

"Yeah true but with whom are you going?"

"Will you come with us? Please! I mean I know its a short notice but..." She tried to explain.

"Shut up idiot. Why are you being so formal? If you want, I will definitely come. These two cuties will come as well." I said pointing towards Sakshi and Viraj.

"Ok, then that means, You, me, Anika, Sakshi, Viraj and Veer. We all are going to the pub today."

"You know what Kiara, I'm very proud of you. The way you try to make everyone happy is truly the best thing but while doing so, take care of yourself." Viraj stated.

"Yeah, sure buddy," She replied happily. Viraj considers Kia as his sister and so they share a great bond now.

"Where is Anika?" I asked and came to that she was going to be here soon.

"Hi, guys." Nia greeted us and for the third time, I felt Kiara move away from me. I don't know what is she trying to do but whenever Nia comes, she moves away from me. First was when we were at her home for dinner, second was two days back and now! Kia is highly wrong if she thinks I'm not noticing all this.

"Hi Nia, how are you?" I asked.

"I'm good. What's going on?" She asked. I was about to reply but Sakshi did the honours and even invited Nia to join us.

"Huh, I'm not sure if I can come but let's see," Nia replied and went away as she was getting a call. I was too occupied with Kia's strange behaviour that I didn't speak anything after that.

"Am I too late?" Anika asked. Kiara made her sit beside us and then they started talking about their outfits.

"I don't have any such outfit." Anika cried.

"I told you not to worry about that. I will help you." Kiara assured.

"Even you don't have any," Anika stated finally making me laugh because Kia really changed herself a lot.

"Shut up. Just because I don't wear them, doesn't mean I don't have them." She replied and turned to look at me.

"Why are you so silent?"

"Nothing," I replied. She tried to enquire more but I assured her that I was fine.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, but please don't be sad because of me."

"I'm not sad or angry. I was thinking about something." I said pulling her cheeks. She whined but smiled in the end.

We decided our meeting time and then went to attend our classes. As the first lecture was off, Viraj and Sakshi went to the library whereas I decided to go and meet Riyaaz sir.

"No lectures?" Sameer asked.

"Yeah. What about you?"

"I came to meet the coach but they all are having some meeting." He replied. That means I will have to wait.

"Ok," I answered. What next? We do talk now but not as much as we did before and so things always turns awkward between us.

"Thank you." He said after few seconds. When asked why he said he is grateful because I saved him.

"Come on, we already talked about this and you thanked me enough. Please don't start again."

"Thanking you is not enough but ok and also, I'm sorry." He continued. When asked the reason behind his sorry, he simply gestured towards Nia and I got my answer.

"Well, if you really want to thank me, answer my questions. I have been dying for the answers for a long time now." I replied. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and then turned to look at me.

"Go ahead."

"Why did you stopped talking with me? You knew I was never in love with her."

"You were not but she was! I was jealous, Ritik and immature as well. I hated to see her going behind you again and again when I always wanted to be in your shoes." He answered.

"But as we grew up, you realised you never loved Nia. You got over your feelings, yet you ignored me...why?" I asked. When we were in school, I knew about Sameer's crush on Nia and maybe that was one of the reasons why I used to stay away from her but yet Sameer stopped talking with me.

"Told you, I was immature."

"And then later you had a girlfriend yet you never thought about clearing the misunderstandings between us, why?"

"By that time I was ashamed of my foolishness and immaturity. I wanted to apologise but was unable to do it."

"Ego issues, right?" I asked teasingly and even he answered immediately saying that I was right even though we both knew that it was me who always had ego issues.

"I'm sorry Ritik, for everything." He said further.

"Chill dude, we calm," I answered.

"By the way, the girl to your right is looking at you," Sameer said however not for even a second I felt the need to see who it was.

"I love my girlfriend," I replied and decided to move from there before Sameer could ask me about it.

***