Had the day turned out to be the best one for Anuradha?

Yes.

Her dreams of bringing her college drama team to the finals came true. Winning the third place, best backdrop and ...... best couple performance gave her the satisfaction of doing her responsibility in the best way.

Tossing and turning Anuradha couldn't find the right position. A lingering haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of her mind but too far to reach. She had been feeling unlikely different ever since the play of Radha-Krishna begun.

Just one thought kept hovering in her mind. She just couldn't get out of it, no matter how many times Anuradha had tried to avert her mind into something else.

It kept coming.

Manohar.

What was in those eyes that kept pulling hers to look at his? An eye magnet or something?

Brushing the thought off, she pulled up her duvet wrapping herself in it, Anuradha sat on the balcony. Sadly, she wasn't given the view of the streets but the back view of boys' hostel. Anuradha sighed and relaxed leaning her back on the wall.

Out of all balconies in the opposite building, one balcony in particular still had the lights on. Checking the time in her phone it was half past three, a silhouette from that particular room came into visibility, leaning on the railing.

Anuradha counted the level of the floor, it was the seventh floor. The silhouette waved at her as she sat unresponsive to the gesture.

She was still figuring out who is it, her mobile started vibrating.

Manohar, the display flashed.

A beat skipped. 

Why? Why is he calling at this hour? She thought and picked up the call.

"Not sleeping yet?" the voice came ringing like a melodious song all of a sudden.

"How do you know that I'm not asleep yet?" she asked not bothered to look up at the seventh floor of the opposite building.

"Because I see you wrapped in blanket sitting in the balcony so, thought of giving you a company"

Anuradha now looked up the seventh floor, the silhouette waved again. She was sure by now it was Manohar, she waved back as a smile stretched her lips upward.

"And why are you still awake?" she asked looking at the silhouette who sat down, Anuradha barely could see his figure now.

"Sleep is too far to even think about"

"Maybe jumping from the seventh floor will help you catch some sleep soon" she clucked.

"What?" he gasped, holding the railing in one hand. "Why do you always wish the bad for me?" he asked, pouting like a kid.

"I don't know" she let out a laugh.

"Fine, I'm getting used to it anyway."

"hahaha... you better be" 

"You know people say having a cup of hot tea in this bewitching hour helps you sleep" Manohar looked up the dark sky.

Anuradha kept mum for a moment, "well, I have something else that might do the job"

"What?"

"A glass of cold CHILI SMOOTHIE made by me specially for you" she let out a devilish laugh.

"Not funny"

"Fine, go get 'the people said' hot tea, I'm hitting the sack now. Good night and thanks for the midnight company" she waved at him as he did the same.

Anuradha felt a little better than how she was a few hours ago. That feel was somewhat chocking her making her go numb, unable to think.

Maybe it wasn't bad at all, just something new.

*_*_*_*

Assignments, semester end projects and exams had been keeping all six of them  extremely occupied that they did not even have enough time to talk to the others who were in different faculties.

Just a quick 'hey, how things is going' and that's it they would bid goodbye and never see again for the next two days. It's some day that one of them would call the rest for a quick tea at the canteen or forcefully drag out of the campus compound for a nice lunch or dinner.

Days went off like a sky rocket, barely leaving a couple of days to finally bid goodbye to the hectic semesters. Everyone was excited to the leave for home except Anuradha, she didn't want it to end nor was she even interested in going back home.

It's the final day, all gathered at their famous hang out spot, the lawn.

"I can't wait to go home" Shika squealed.

"Me too" Manohar joined.

"Not me, I have been staying at home all the while so nothing exciting" Cameron said flatly.

Christopher stayed quiet, he knew that it would hurt his friend if he had said he missed home too and his mother. Even though Anuradha had denied that those words doesn't affect her, as a friend Christopher had seen many times how Anuradha missed being loved by her mother.

He stayed quiet, so did Anuradha.

"Why are you two so quiet today?" Manoj asked with hands on his hips.

"Because we gonna miss you all" Anuradha glumly said, curving her lips downward.

"I will take that" Manoj took a seat next to Anuradha.

"Have you said it to her?" Anuradha whispered to Manoj.

Widening his eyes, Manoj shook his head side to side. "Not yet" he mouthed.

"Fine, take all the time you have but remember next semester is industrial training and we won't be seeing each other for one whole semester. Who knows she might get someone else in mean time." Anuradha wiggled her eyebrows twice with a smile.

One by one started to leave, Manoj and Shika left together as Manoj promised Anuradha that he would tell Shika what he feels for her today.

Leaving Manohar and Anuradha seated at the entrance of the campus waiting for their respective cars to bring them back to heaven and hell respectively.

"It's been a great semester throughout" Manohar started.

"Half. Half semester to be precise" Anuradha corrected him.

"Correct, half it is. So, where have you decided to do your industrial training?" Manohar asked tapping his fingers rhythmically on his luggage.

"I haven't thought about it yet but most probably somewhere countryside"

"Countryside for production design?" Manohar laughed.

"There must be at least one..." she said. "... and if I find one, I will make sure I prepare my chilli smoothie specially for you in the next semester and make you finish drinking it." Anuradha looked more to the deadlier side than her usual calm nature.

"No! I'm taking back my words. There is surely going to be at least one for your profession in countryside." Manohar gulped.

"Alright, so.... All the best for your countryside job finding. Will see you in the sixth semester." He said as they stood up once his car halted in front of them.

"Thank you and wishing you the same" Anuradha extended her hand for a handshake but taken aback when Manohar chose to hug her.

Giving a friendly hug wasn't new to them, they did that to Shika, Manoj, Cameron and Christopher but a very unusual sensation passed through them. An electric chill run down the spine.

Both sensed it but chose to react otherwise properly bidding goodbye like they did for others.

Manohar jumped into his waiting car and quickly indulged in talking about his family and what's happening in his place with the driver, a reason not to get any thoughts about what happened just now.

The conversation slowly faded as they hit the highway to Scotland, Manohar's hometown. The electrocute that he felt earlier made its way back giving him the reason to remember those brown orbs.

What magic does those brown eyes hold? 

Another set of notes harmonised within giving a perfect continuation for the tune he got months ago.

For the third time the brown eyes flashed and each time it flashed he got a new set of continuation tune. And with that each time, as he mentally assembles the three pieces of tunes it grew stronger.

As CONSOLIDATING HARMONY.

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