*Aslesha*

I'm in love.

Yes, seriously! I'm in love with Viraj Singhania.

It's been a month since that trip to Chaddha's farmhouse. And my feelings are getting stronger and stronger day by day.

The first few days, I tried to deny it. Bass attraction hoga, liking hogi ya sirf ek simple crush develop ho raha hoga. But that day I knew it was not just a simple crush. I knew it was so much more.

~•Two weeks back•~

"Achhi movie thi. Varun Dhawan kitna hot hai na" Pari says dreamily and Rudra scoffs.

"Totlaa hai vo" Rudra says and she punches his arm. I try to laugh at his joke but stop when my eyes land on Viraj, walking in front of us.

During the movie, pura time uska phone bajj raha tha. I had peeked a glance and saw that it was a girl named Divya calling him. He kept declining it and it was irritating him a lot.

Jab se theatre se nikle hai, vo phone pe baat kar raha hai. Divya se hi obviously. And by the sound of it, it seems like they're arguing.

I feel like taking his phone and then continuously banging it with a hammer. Or just throwing it in the gutter. Or better yet I could just kick his ass and snatch his phone and scream at that girl to hang up.

Jealous jealous!

This is not jealousy. But friends ke saath ghumte time bhi kya girlfriend se phone pe chipke rehna. I hate such people. I mean Rudra aur Pari toh saath me hai.. and... ugh whatever!

They are walking behind me hand in hand doing all their lovey dovey stuff. Viraj is a few steps ahead engrossed in the phone call. Itni bhi kya baat kar raha hai? Irritate ho raha hai usse fir bhi phone nahi rakh raha.

We reach an intersection on the road and I see Viraj crossing the road without looking sideways. The road is fully empty and dark at this hour. The only light coming from the street lamps.

And due to that, I see the light of headlights that flash on him and the sound of a vehicle speeding from the other direction.

Shit!

I loudly call his name and run towards him as my heart rate gets doubled. He doesn't seem to notice. Rudra and Pari also start running behind him and I reach him exactly on time and pull him back as the car misses him by just an inch.

The car driver slurs some curses at us. He was drunk I guess.

My heart is beating so fast, I guess it will break free from my chest and jump out. Viraj ka abhi accident ho sakta tha. He could've gotten injured so badly or worse...

No no no no...

I look at Viraj and take a deep breath as he looks at me with his mouth slightly open and his eyes alarmed.

I can hear a girl's voice coming from his phone. "Hello Viraj? Viraj.. VIRAJ!"

Bloody blind idiot.

"Phone kaato" I say in a low voice.

"Huh?" he says in a daze.

"PHONE KAATO!" I shout at his face and he gasps and quickly ends the call.

I stand there glaring at him as he stands there toying with his lower lip.

Don't look at his lips. Stay angry!

"Um.. hum log thoda aage jaate hai" Pari says and starts walking ahead with Rudra.

"Um vo.." Viraj starts speaking.

"Shut up! Just shut up. You are so bloody dumb. Or should I say blind and deaf. Phone pe baat kar rahe ho aur vina aaju baaju dekhe road cross kar rahe ho. Dimaag me hawaa hai kya bass? Ghar pahochne me kitna time lagta yaha se? Kitna time lagta?" I shout at him.

"15 minutes" he answers looking down.

"15 minute ruk nahi sakte tum? Ghar jaa ke baat karo na. Raste pe baat kar rahe ho like a stupid idiot. Fod do vo phone ko. Jalaa do" I say.

I see the corners of his mouth twitching up into a smile but he is trying hard to suppress it. He has the nerve to laugh?

"Hasste raho. Sab mazak hi hai na. Yaha raste pe let jaao. So jaao yaha beecho beech aur phone pe baat karo. Bye" I say and push him aside.

I look sideways and cross the road angrily.

"Arre sorry sorry sorry" Viraj runs behind me and I fold my arms in front of me and quicken my speed.

"Vo phone fod dene wala part. You said it just like maa. Toh thodi hassi aa gayi" he says.

"Hasste raho fir" I snap at him and he grabs my arm.

"Stop stop. Please. I'm sorry paglu. Mujhe kuch hua kya? Tumne mujhe bachaa liya. I'm totally okay. See" he says and I let out a sigh.

I look at him from head to toe, searching for any sign of injury. Why is he so reckless. Kuch ho jaata toh isse? What would I do? I don't even wanna imagine it.

"Aslesha I'm okay. Come here" he says and pulls me into his arms.

"Promise me that you won't be so careless the next time" I say pressing my face in his neck.

"I promise" he breathes.

"And agar next time you're drunk or anything, you won't drive. Call me and I'll pick you up and drop you home" I say.

"Sachhi?" He asks.

"Muchhi" I smile.

"Even if I call you around 2am" he asks.

"Anytime. Anywhere" I answer.

His arms tighten around me and he buries his face in my hair and inhales sharply.

Oh sweet lord in heaven.. I so love it when he hugs me. I love being in his arms. I love his smell. I love the feeling of his arms around him. I love him. I lo..

Whoa wait what?

Did I just say that.. I.. I love him? I love him? I love him.

I love him.

Of course I love him. I am in love with him. I am in love with Viraj Singhania.

Just the thought of him being injured and hurt is making my heart clench in pain. And I love being in his arms. I've never felt like this when someone else has hugged me. My heart doesn't beat so fast when it's not him. And nor do I get so intoxicated with someone else's scent.

Oh Viraj.. I'm in love with you.

~•Present day•~

I can't stop thinking about him. Here I'm sitting in the library, filling the pages of my book with his name. I'm gone crazy. Totally crazy.

Or maybe this is just called being in love. I smile to myself and sigh. Viraj Viraj Viraj.. damn boy how did you do this? So easily.

And day by day it's just getting so clear that I love him. And it's something which is not just physical.

Aaj kal sab kuch itna change ho gaya hai. I mean jo thode se messages humare beech exchange hue hai, I keep reading them again and again. Aur whenever I'm walking with him, I just walk so slow like I don't want us to reach and end our time. Aur baat karna toh dur ki baat hai, bass uske baare me sochne se hi my heartbeats get faster. And that deep raspy voice of his, always brings a smile to my face. His scent literally gets me high. I love the way he smells. And also, I've started listening to so many soothing slow love songs these days. And suddenly all the love songs have become about him.

Damn I have it bad!

Kabhi kabhi toh darr lagta hai ke usse pata na chal jaaye. Pari just automatically came to know about my feelings. That I like him. Love him.

She says that when I look at him, I literally have 'i love you' flashing on my forehead. Kuch bhi bolti hai yedi ladki. But sach me itna obvious hai kya? Hopefully not. She's my best friend, my soul sister, isliye bass vohi samajh paayi hai.

But seriously I just can't stop looking at him. And when I'm looking, I feel like telling him - I really love you.

Vo bass notes likh raha hoga, kisi se baat kar raha hoga, gaana gungunaa raha hoga.. ya hass raha hoga aur maze se lunch kha raha hoga and it's just.. like even in those simple moments, there is something about him that makes me think, I really love you.

"Hey Aashi. Kab se aawaz de rahi hu. Ma'am nikal gaye hai. Chalo hum bhi nikalte hai" Saumya says and I blink a few times to erase my thoughts and quickly close my book.

"Um yes.. tum jaao mai library lock vagera kar ke jaati hu" I answer and start packing my bag.

"Okay. Bye" she says and I wave her goodbye. I switch off all the lights and fans and lock the door.

When I turn I directly bump into a chest and yelp in surprise. "Viraj yaar stop doing this" I whine putting my hand on my rapid heart.

He is laughing loudly and I push him aside. How could I fall in love with this dumb idiot. He knows how to give me a heart attack. Kabhi baato se, kabhi looks se, kabhi daraa ke.

He walks beside me and slides an arm around my shoulder. "Itni der library me karti kya ho?" he asks.

"Chane bechti hu" I say giving him a fake smile.

He rolls his eyes and says, "Exam kal hi khatam hue hai fir bhi kya library me rehti ho".

He makes a face and I shake my head. "Kal ke kya plans hai tumhare. Mere saath chalogi ghumne?" he asks casually.

I try to maintain a neutral unaffected face but on the inside I'm screaming like a fan girl. Viraj mujhe kal uske saath ghumne jaane ke liye puch raha hai? Omg!

The last time we actually spent time on our own was a month back.

This is not a date! Bass yuhi puch raha hai vo tujhpe daya kha ke. Din bhar library me rehti hai isliye.

I slap my inner voice and look at Viraj. "Um.. kal na? Free hi hu. I'll come" I smile and give submit the library keys in the office.

"Cool. I'll text you the details" he says and ruffles my hair. "Ugh go away" I say and push him as we reach the parking. He laughs and goes away. I get on my scooty and leave college.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god.

When I reach home, I'm dancing and skipping everywhere. After dinner when I go back to my room, I have a message from Viraj..

*I'll pick you up at 10 in the morning. Good night paglu ;)*

The grin that appears on my face, literally splits my face in two. Kal subah 10 baje. I thought ke shaam ko milna hoga. But jitna jaldi hai utna achha hai.

We've been out together before but this seems different. Pehle uske dimaag me meri galat image thi. But ab sab clear hai and usne mujhe khud milne ke liye kaha hai.

I do a happy dance on the bed. Yayy!

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Viraj*

"Oh finally you and Aslesha are dating now. Bring her home na. You've never brought a girlfriend home before. And Aslesha is such a sweet girl" maa says and I face palm myself.

"Maa it's not a date. Bass ghumne ja rahe hai hum. Vo bahot padhti hai and exam ke liye she really helped me a lot toh just.. letting loose. She needs a break" I say remembering the last few days when she tutored me. We used to sit in the library after college and she helped me with my studies. She is my favourite girl honestly.

"Oh" maa says sadly like she's really disappointed that Aslesha is not my girlfriend.

"Maa! What's with that face? Mere aur Aslesha ke beech waisa kuch nahi hai. She's my precious little girl and my best friend but uske aage kuch nahi" I tell her.

"But why? Don't you like her? Usne toh complain bhi nahi ki thi" she says and I sigh.

"I like her.. I like her a lot. But she's so different you know. Not the dating material. She's the girlfriend material. And I don't do girlfriends" I state and maa scoffs.

"Ya right. Single hi rahoge tum life time ye soch ke saath" she says.

"It's better than getting my heart broken and my life ruined".

The words leave my mouth before I register them in my head and maa winces.

"I'm sorry.. Maa I didn't mean it like that" I say guiltily. She gives me a weak smile.

"Yes I know. But someday some girl is going to sneak past all these walls that you've built around you and into your heart. And you're gonna love her so much ke vo tumhari life ki sabse best feeling hogi" maa says and I smile.

"Kitni filmy ho maa aap. Chalo mai nikal raha hu. Aane me bahot late hoga mujhe. Bye" I say and kiss her cheek and leave.

I first go to the petrol pump to refill the tank and then go towards her house. Aaj bahot ghumna hai. I hope she likes the plans that I've made for us.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Aslesha*

10 bajj ke gaye hai. And as always he is late. I look at myself in the mirror again.

Thik hi lag rahi hu. Viraj ko jaanti hu mai. Chup chap garden me baith ke ducks ko daane khilane ke liye toh milega nahi. Kuch outdoor si chiz hi plan ki hogi.

So I guess this outfit is appropriate. A checkered shirt above a plain white top and denim shorts and white shoes below.

I sigh and look at the clock again. 10.15. Just then I get a message. It's Viraj.

*Jaldi bahar aao*

I grin and take my sling bag and leave the house after saying a quick goodbye to papa. I told him ke aane ka timing fix nahi hai so he doesn't wait for me.

I see him sitting on his bike in front of our house and a smile forms on my lips. Soooooooooo handsome.

He's wearing a sky blue shirt and black jeans. He, on that bike, with his Ray-Ban sunglasses on, is a sight to behold.

Can I just grab him and smother him with kisses?

Okay no! Ye outing yahi end ho jaayegi fir.

"Sirf 15 minute late. That's progress" I say when I reach near him.

He looks at me and removes his glares. I literally fold my hands behind my back to stop myself from grabbing him and kissing him. His eyes are the exact colour of the shirt. Kitni uth ke dikh rahi hai uski aankhe wow!

"Smartass! Chalo baitho ab peeche. Hume dur jaana hai" he says and I sit behind him.

"Kaha?" I ask.

"It's a surprise" he grins and I roll my eyes.

He starts the bike and I gulp looking at his back. Pakdu? Nahi pakdu? I've sat on his bike before.. but then I didn't love him. Now I do..

My thoughts are broken when he takes both my hands and places them on his stomach. "Kya soch rahi ho itna. Aaj kal apni hi duniya me rehti ho tum hamesha. Kaha khoyi ho?" he asks chuckling and we hit the road.

'Tum me', I feel like answering but I just tighten my hands around him and stay quiet as he speeds up.

God, I love him..

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Ye kya? Where the hell are you taking me?" I ask looking at the ferry in front of us.

This ferry goes to Divar island and Viraj just smoothly rode his bike on the plank and inside the ferry.

"Bahot sawaal karti ho tum" he says. I get down and stand near the railing of the ferry and he comes and stands beside me. I gaze at the vast blue ocean in front of me and then look at Viraj.

He looks great today. First this blue shirt and now this blue ocean. Both the colour of his beautiful eyes. The sunlight is kissing his face and I feel like taking a picture of him to capture this moment forever. But bina photo liye bhi mai ye view itne jaldi bhul nahi paaungi. He looks like a model straight out from a high end magazine.

"Don't worry. You'll have fun" he says placing his hand above mine on the railing and a sweet current passes through that hand and to my whole body.

I am so whipped!

Within 15 minutes we reach the island and we get on the bike again and hit the road.

"Have you ever been here?" he asks.

"No."

"You can't be Goan." he states pressing his lips together.

"Tum mujhe kisi jungle me le jaa ke mera khoon karna chahte ho kya?" I ask looking at the lush green trees around us. There are some old colonial houses on the way. They're beautiful.

"Do paise ka bharosa nahi hai ha tumhe mujhpe" he says and I see him smile in the rearview mirror.

"Bilkul nahi" I say smiling myself.

Bahot bharosa hai. Nahi hota toh bina koi sawaal kiye aise hi aa jaati kya tumhare saath? Sawaal ki but he didn't answer. So that doesn't count.

After a few minutes he stops the bike at a little clearing. There are some other bikes and cars parked nearby but not many.

Where the hell are we?

He takes my hands and starts leading the way through the trees. Puch ke bhi faayda nahi. Bataayega toh nahi.

"Okay now you have to close your eyes" he says after a few moments and I frown looking at him.

He grins evilly and I make a nervous face. "Arre daro mat paglu. Come on now" he says laughing and steps behind me and places both his hands on my eyes.

He starts walking behind me and I stumble every now and then, cursing him again and again whenever I miss a step.

"Okay bass bass. Stop. Ready?" He asks.

"Yes. Ab haath nikaalo!" I say getting anxious by the second.

He removes his hands and I open my eyes and blink a few times to adjust my vision.

A lake?

"Um. Nice" I say unsure of what else to say.

He brought me to an isolated lake in the middle of an island? That's so weird.

"Upar dekho" he says.

I look up and my eyeballs literally fall off my sockets as my jaw touches the floor.

"No way".

~•~•~•~•~•~•

Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry... Really sorry for the late update. College is keeping me really busy guys. I'll try to update faster now but then too I'm not sure. Btw chapter kaisa laga? Aslesha has finally accepted her feelings to herself. Aur Viraj... Um.. lets see.. hahah! please keep reading.. and keep supporting me.. I'm trying my best to keep up with your expectations. And did you like the new cover for this story? Aaj ke liye itna hi.. So happy weekend.. I love you all :)