The next morning we all finished our breakfast and sat on living room couch as we have no plans to do for the day.

All the bunch was catching up on random talks. Meanwhile I was physically sitting there like a living robot between noisy humans.

My eyes were hunting for someone whose presence was not in the room from almost one hour after breakfast.

My eyes almost covered every corner of the room. He was no where.

But I didn't dare to rise that topic. Because these idiots start teasing me again like they have no other work on this earth to do except this.

"Where is Karthik?", Sameera asked Arun.

Thank God someone raised the topic.

"He went for a walk", Arun replied casually biting his Snickers bar.

"Is he fine?", Nancy asked.

"Yeah, he is totally fine. He just went out to grab some fresh air", Arun replied back.

"Oh fine", Sameera sighed.

Kamal brought caromms board and placed on the center table of couch.

Arun, Rupa, Kamal, Sameera were drowned in hitting coins. As Nancy not a big fan of playing indoor games, she kept herself busy in reading a magazine.

Keerthi was fully indulged in her mobile screen like she has no relation with the surroundings.

As I was not interested to play caromms, I went to the library room to continue reading the book I was reading the previous day.

I took the book from its place and sat exactly opposite to the window facing seat I was occupied on previous day. Cause I felt that the view from that window was adding more intensity to the story.

I flipped the pages in order to catch up where I left. And I ended up finding a purple coloured note
having a big smiley on it marked on it.

I flipped the note to saw "Hey pretty lady!!" On top left corner of the note.

My heart picked it's rage reading those two words and a lucent smile curved on my soft lips

I controlled my heart race and continued reading further.

"Thanks for taking care of the lotus flowers I gave. Don't get wondered how I know this. I noticed them passing by your peeping through the slightly opened door🙈

Note continued, "I want to give you something that you hate!! Isn't it sounds weird? I know your confused now. Let the confusion continues till this evening."

I was quite confused as well as astonished reading the note and I had no clue what he is going to to give.

"Will be waiting for you in living room at 12AM. Hope you'll come!!", said by note as last line.

I went to my imaginary world as fast as light to imagine what he meant could be.

Someone's hard laughter peeped into the room and pulled me back from my world of imagination.

I turned to see who it is and noticed Rupa with a big bowl full of popcorn in it.

I clenched the note in my hands quickly to hide it before she notices.

"Hey Idiot what are you doing here?", Rupa asked with the leftover laugh she brought when she enterd the room.

"Uhh...hhh I am reading this book", I raised the book to her.

"You can read that later. Come on Mr. Arun and Mr. Kamal are going to present a stand up comedy for all of us", Rupa said laughing more.

"Stand... up comedy..??", I muttered thinking  whether to go or not.

"Yes idiot, you heard it correctly. Come on", Rupa grabbed my right hand and pulled me from the chair.

I left the book on table sliding the note into closed book and followed Rupa's back like a puppy.

Living room was filled with laughter as Arun and Kamal were imitating movie characters.

But my mind was filled with all the words that I read from that purple note and they were in repeat mode dancing in my mind.

I was often looking at the door as my mind is badly seeking for someone's presence.

What's happening to me? Whole room is filled with laughter and everyone in the room are having fun except me.

Why??

Why he is not leaving from my thoughts? Why am I thinking about him? Someone whom I met and travelled just for a week! Is this really me?!

"What are you thinking so seriously Ishi?", Keerthi grabbed my shoulders from behind.

"Uhh.... Nothing....just thinking about something", I replied with a fake smile on my face.

"By any chance......, is that something be Karthik?", Keerthi asked leaning down towards my face with a teasing smile.

"Urgh NO, Iwas thinking about....... the story I read", I replied as normal as I can.

"Hey!! guys", a sound came from doorside.

I eagerly turned towards the door to confirm it was Karthik. And it was him with his as usual charm.

He came closer to us and sat on a bean bag which was lying next to the couch.

"Hey Karthik!! where were you?", Sameera asked showing all her concern on him.

"I went for a walk", Karthik replied on point.

"You should have called me. I would have given you company", Sameera showered even more concern.

"That's okay Sam. Thank you", he replied with a simple smile.

"Let's join with us in our comedy club man", Arun shouted.

"Comedy club? What's going on here?"

"Yes man, come on!!", Arun and Kamal pulled him from his seat.

The room picked it's laughter again.

********************************

It was eight in the evening. We finished our dinner and ahead to our rooms to catch up sleep.

I was about to close the room door and Karthik wished Good night heading to his room.

"Uhh.....Karthik, that note....?", I whispered in order to not heard it by any of them around him.

"Yes!!, will catch up at 12", he whispered as low as he can and waited outside his room for as moment.

He was so confident that I accept it. In order to pretend that I am not interested I said, "What if I don't come?"

He just smiled and ahead to his room.

I was staring at his back until he tuned back winking at me.

My mouth and eyes were wide opened for his act and it took almost a couple of seconds for me to get back to my senses.

"Did he wink at me?", I asked myself.

"Hey, what happened Ishi. Why are you standing at door", Keerthi asked.

Before I turned back to say something....

"If you want to go to that room so badly, you can babe. Nobody stops you here!", Rupa winked at keerthi laughing.

That Rupa's wink at Keerthi again remained me of Karthik's wink at me.

"Shut up idiot", I throwed a pillow at Rupa before laying on bed.

"Did he really winked at me?", I asked myself again and again staring at the lotus flowers which were in vase looking at me.

Hello readers!!

Sorry for the late update🙁

And it might continue as I am busy in my work

Be patient....and wait for next episodes....

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Love you all💝