PLEASE READ THE AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END 

February 2006

"Alright, could you please just try and arrange the forms in ascending order?" I asked politely. The politeness I would have never used if it would have been someone else – but her.

"Okay, I would try my best to do that." Anika smiled at me, making my heart dance in excitement. The brain of mine, taunting me for being a pussy and my heart only smiling like a lost puppy.

Nothing can be done about me, this stupid heart and brain of mine along with this project which was going nowhere – about six months now.

But that was what I had thought six months before, when it was the month of January, we started to work, Anika helped me in such a splendid manner, that those things which I could only visualize she made them a reality.

I could never believe that the project about which I was so happy to do with Anika would be such a beauty. But then it wasn't as bad as Arohi had put it in.

'you would cry by the end of the year, thinking where the hell have I landed myself? Why was I even born, and even after that your senses would be alive you would look at this person here and ask her, what you were doing when the lord was giving brains to people?"

But no these all things didn't happen. Yep I would agree that at the beginning of the project, we were worst. Anika wouldn't have any idea what was to be done; I had so many Ideas that I didn't realize what was actually to be done.

And when we realized what was to be done, we didn't know how it is to be done!

Confusing much?

It was more frustrating when we have actually gone through it. But every time Anika would walk in through the library, with the huge smile on her face, things would be solved, I would easily take up a topic, work on it and though she didn't do much work, her presence and support, and smile would do what none of the project partner had done to me till now.

I corrected some spelling mistakes, edited a paragraph or two and then bordered the posters while Anika arranged about 25 feedback forms in chronological order.

"Anika are you done?" I asked, knowing very well that she wasn't.

"I am really sorry, but..."

"Hey it's okay, I don't mind you have helped me way more than anyone else could. If it would have not been for you I would have never been able to get these many feedbacks from people around different sections... thank a lot Anika."

"Okay now you are really making me feel a stranger." She smiled at me lovingly.

We laughed and then I taught her how to arrange the forms and then packed our belongings.

"Sameer?" Anika called me.

"yeah?" I asked, the way she called me I would never get tired of that, a lot of hope and belief.

"Have you ever gone to the Aquarium?"

"yeah... many times... but why?" I asked picking up my belongings and giving her my complete attention.

"Would you come with me to the aquarium? I have never been there." She said, her eyes sparkling at the thought of exploring that huge place filled with fishes.

"When do you want to go?" I walked closer to her, I wanted to touch her cheeks, cares them, and hug her and comfort her.

"wh- en w- ould it be fine with you."

She was getting affected; I smiled and then moved even close and whispered "whenever it would be fine by you."

She smiled, shied out from me and looked down, her lips have now started to be assaulted by her teethes, sometimes licking them with her lips, chewing them and leaving a sigh of relief.

"so when do we have to go?" I asked trying to break her torture on me.

"how about tomorrow, just after the project submission, because after that we are starting with our exams, and my mom won't allow me."

"alright then tomorrow it is." A huge smile formed on her lips and she started to jump in her place, he hair kissing her face completely, her cheeks going red and her smile that would make any man so happy – to know he is the reason for it.

And it made me happy ... just a lot more than happy.

I was still in a whole lot of shock, when she all of a sudden hugged, kissed my cheeks and started the chain of thank you.

But that was just what my ears heard, my brain acknowledge – and trust me then rest of me was in a lala land.

A land when I kept on repeating the scene where she kissed me, she hugged me... and wishing for it to be something that would be a lifelong thing.

I thought like every other time this would be awkward when we would break the hug, instead it only depicted our happiness – mine for getting the first ever kiss from her, and hers may be the conformation for a trip to the Aquarium.

We walked out of the library, relieved that our project was finally over, and we have got new friends.

The way out of the college was something I had never known, I was soo lost wondering what I would be wearing tomorrow, what I would say, what I would do and above all that worried me was – why did she asked me out and not anyone of her friends?

"Anika?" this time I called her, pulling her arm as she was just about to walk a step ahead.

She looked at me and raised her eyebrow still smiling at something.

The sun had already said a bye, we were about to reach the station and were just about to climb the stairs to reach the platform.

"why did you asked me of all people?' I asked her walking closer, so that the passer's by would get a place to walk by.

"may be because I didn't wanted us to just depart on this project, I would like to be your friend." That statement made me soo happy.

It didn't matter that it was just friends... and as it is said that it is always great to be friends before being each other's companion for life – something I have meant Anika to be mine.

"I would love to be your friend Anika, but then we don't have much time.. within few days our finals would start, our parents won't allow us out and above that from within a month's time we would be in different parts of worlds, how would we be friends?"

"distance never matters if we want a relationship to be intact, I want you as my friend, and that you would be and you are ... so now suck it up you are stuck with me for life long."

I smiled at her, and this time it was me who engulfed her in a hug, not that out of the moment hug, but a well-planned, well prepare one.

Inhaling her smell, feeling her and meaning a lot more feelings!

we walked up the stairs and waited for the train to come, still sitting at the bench there were so many questions I wanted to ask.

"Anika, how come you never went to an Aquarium?" I asked, looking at the slow trains coming and going around.

"to put it straight, my mum and dad were always busy, we didn't had time for these trips, and I would love to tell you that I have never been to the national park."

The laughter which boomed around them went around didn't at all sound enthusiastic or happy, it was something which one could call a laughter of longing.

I quickly opened my arms and gathered her in my arms, the tears that came down were something that were piercing my heart, but at then same time made me happy that though her parents weren't the ones to complete these small dreams of theirs than it would be me to complete each and every dream and her every small need.

'Anika I have a plan, so just remember that you need to be free from 1 of April 2006.'

An early morning update for you all, do tell me how it is...

and i have started something new...

a new page on facebook, called the numbs tales

where me and my sister we write wonderful sort stories, and to involve our readers we have a special campaign called 'for every sentence has a story' 

where yoou readers through out the week send us any kind of sentence and we frame stories on them and dedicate it to you.

all those who are on facebook a humble request please please please like that page

you cant write in search bar 'the numbs tales' or @thenumbstales you will get it 

or can visit my profile yadni bagwe on facebook or even here on wattpad i have posted the in my conversation box along with the announcement of this chp.

as well as in the comments below...

please please like the page and support me and my sister.

and how could you not tell me how the cap was.. so do tell me that 

and dont forget to add this story in your reading list 

as well as pl give my other book a chance as well

see soon 

happy reading!!!