[Flashback]

Aarushi was advertently searching the vast library of their school for another part of her latest novel series interest, Wings of Fire. The wooden racks stood against each other concealing the sight of one another. Ceiling fans were hanging down from high roof bestowing feeble blows of wind around the magnificent room. High walls were covered in memorandums and replicas of famous paintings, streaks of sunlight were flooding in through the translucent window panes dissolving the shade lingering around. The ancient books with taped and soggy pages were stacked throughout the murky shelves giving off a bonny scent of parchment which tickled every book lover's senses, inviting them to explore the delicious land of wordy imagination.

Faraway whispers of few students within the narrow inter passages could be heard by Aarushi slicing through the mysterious tranquil of books and papers. She recounted the titles inside her mind as she searched through the endless sea for her desired novel. Side by side she was arranging the misplaced books in their respective shelves; somehow it particularly irked her to see a wrongly placed novel. Aarushi could circumvent from arranging her room or cupboard but when it comes to bookshelf, it would be spick and span with books stowed away according to interests, sequence, preference etc. In fact, her books' arrangement was one of the most extraordinarily thoughtful and meticulous arrangements one could come across.

'I wonder why all of them love to torture these innocent books by forcefully throwing them from their homes to some foreign land? It is nothing but another cruel assertive abdication imposed by insensitive humans', Aarushi sighed irritably pitying the innocent books.

Her search through fantasy and adventure section had been evidently futile. She furrowed her brows slightly resuming her search in shelves packed with historical fiction but to no avail. The discontent and annoyance of haphazard sequence and her failure to get her desired book was clear in her expression as she dragged her feet back to pick out a random book to kill time. Someone else must have picked the book before her and she couldn't help feeling frustrated over it although she knew it was an inadvertent set of events.

'Are you looking for this novel?', an amicable voice made her retrace her steps. Dejectedly, she took a heedless glance at the book in the person's hand. The glitter of excitement quickly sprinkled in her black doe eyes as the title of book processed through her mind. It was the same one she had been scouring for past half an hour or so.

'Yup! I had turned over nearly whole library for this and still couldn't find it! Thank you for finding this', she gushed with a happy smile. Her exhilaration was quickly dissolved as soon as she realized the identity of her golden koi being none other than Ajay, standing there with a crooked smile.

'You?', she exclaimed with bare astonishment. It was the most unexpected piece of surprise for her. The boy who loves to pull her leg or mock her on smallest of things had actually offered a novel to her.

'Yeah, me', he replied with slight bafflement over her reaction.

'No wait a second, it was you who got this book', she continued with same amazement. He nodded with a skeptical expression. Aarushi squinted her eyes trying to place everything in an explainable plot. Her eyes opened wide as she came to a reasonable explanation for his oddly nice behavior.

'I got it! You must have hid away this book to ridicule me!', she said with a tint of anger. Ajay stared at her with evident disbelief. He opened his mouth and closed it immediately taking in a deep breath.

'Do you think I'll offer it to you if I wanted to mock you?', he stated the obvious fact with a composed calm. Aarushi thought about it and realized the legibility of words.

'How did you know I was searching for this book?', she asked dubiously. It was still hard to believe that he was offering some genuine help.

'I saw that you were interested in this series, I found this book by chance so thought about giving it to you', he quickly put together a legitimate reply. Aarushi narrowed her eyes scrutinizing him for any signs of mockery. He was oddly flustered up but she turned negligent to it when she didn't find any hidden jokes.

'Well, thank you then...', she said with a small amiable smile. He nodded as he handed her the book. Aarushi filled in the details for issuing that novel in library card and left for her oncoming lessons.

Utterly amazed at the recent encounter, she could not deny the butterflies that erupted inside her at the moment. She was rattled by her own mystifying elation, that too because of a trifling act of an insignificant classmate. It wasn't in her definition of correct behavior. Aarushi shook her head, erasing the unruly thoughts running across her mind. She consoled her restless self with a valid explanation letting the matter slide away for good.

For a fourteen year Aarushi it was a small act with almost no significance but her feelings were saying otherwise. Sometimes the smallest of moments engrave an unforgettable piece of story within our hearts, it's just that, we are too ignorant and naïve to understand the significance of that little trivial moment. At that instant, she couldn't have imagined the turn her life was standing on neither could she untwine the complex mystery destiny had planned for her.

[Flashback ends]

She was standing in front of the massive stone structure of NTI, which gave off intense academic vibes with its sophisticated glass entrance and towering shelves completely packed with an ocean of books. Aarushi crossed the doors entering into a humongous off white room with long wooden tables and rows of imposing bookshelves. The desk for librarian was situated in a far most corner; she could see a lady in her early fifties working on her computer while sitting in her comfy office chair.

It was still early in the afternoon; most of the students would still be working with some lectures or exempting themselves for a power nap at this hour as a result most of the seats were vacant around the area. Aarushi crossed over to an almost empty table with a few chairs lying around haphazardly. She seated herself at the farthest corner considering options to kill off her leisure time before her scheduled meeting. Ajay had asked to arrange their work in NTI's library for time being as it provided a wide access to coding and mechanical works. Aarushi had acceded proposal.

Today, she had finished a bit early with her classes; it was still some time before their appointment. Aarushi had decided to take this fair chance of going around the vast book room while waiting for him and her expectations had only been exceeded by the layout of huge study.

Placing her bag on table top, she proceeded to absorb herself in the immense pool of knowledge before her. Books ranging from origin of universe to modern AI technology were stacked in neat piles in polished wooden shelves taller than her.

Aarushi flipped through random pieces admiring the books before her. Soon enough she entered the farthest section of library, hidden from the view of human eyes by the towering shelves around it. It was completely stuffed with book about universe and space theories. An alluring title caught her attention promising an interesting read.

Aarushi extended her arm to get the book off but it fell short to reach over it. She stood on tip toes stretching herself to her maximum strength. Her fingertips brushed against the polished surface of shelf. The activity of her hand was way out of her vision. Relying on her sixth sense she tried to get hold off her desired book while trying to extend her hand beyond its limit. Her attempts went down the chute as even after her umpteenth attempt she wasn't able to get the book. She decided to try for another once with brows knitted together in frustration; she wasn't too tall but her height was at least respectable, she should reach the book by hook or crook this once.

Aarushi caught the edge of shelf, stretching her fingers to reach the book. Her fingers touched the binding of it and a prideful elation swept over her. She hurriedly tried to get the final hold of the book when suddenly the book flew away from its position; Aarushi's eyes widened in surprise and annoyance as she saw a hand abducting her book. She had been trying to reach this piece by putting herself through intense torture and now all her attempts were drowned away by someone effortlessly sweeping away the book in a single flow.

She got down on her feet swirling around and nearly toppling off her balance stumbling into the bookshelf behind as the identity of irksome individual hit her. Her eyes left their sockets in amazement as an intense woody scent paralyzed her thought process; Ajay's hand swiftly wrapped around her wrist dragging her back to a steady position.

Aarushi could hear her ragged heartbeat and faltering breathing as she became hyper aware of the close distance between them. Just a few inches and their bodies would be cladding against each other. He stood like a statue, his hand still holding hers, waiting for her to regain her startled senses.

Aarushi closed her eyes momentarily, swinging wildly between hyper realistic imagination and reality. Her hurtling heart rate gradually reduced a staggering pace. Her senses slowly came out of the befuddling smoke making it a bit easier to think and analyze the recent events. She blinked back to reality to find him still standing before her with his hand gripping around hers tenderly yet firmly as though fending her off from collapsing another time. Aarushi's eyes snapped upwards meeting a fusion concern and amusing derision lining up around the corner of his eyes.

'Wh...What a-are you doing here?', she managed to stammer in a low whisper with her eyes frozen in a state of horror and humiliation.

'This is my college campus, where do you expect me to be if not here?', he questioned her with eyebrows arched in contempt.

'I mean, why are you in library at this hour? Don't tell me you are here for the appointment, it's still an hour and a half for it and you are not the enthusiastic kind to reach before time', Aarushi hissed back in a muffled voice narrowing her eyes at the counterfeit innocence masking his face.

'Tell me, did you leave your brain in your dissection room this morning or you have always been this dumb?', he replied with a scoff. Aarushi bit inside of her cheeks at his snarky remark.

'I was here for some books related to lectures when I came across a jumping rabbit probably trying to climb up the bookshelves', he said with a matter-of-fact tone. Aarushi narrowed her eyes at his jibe.

'I was not climbing up the bookshelves'; she said through clenched teeth and furrowed brows.

'Oh really, then what were you doing? We have a sprawling game arena for practicing stretching exercises, I can guide you there so you won't mistake library for gym next time', his jibing offer was met with a death glare from Aarushi.

'I was trying to get that book off the shelf, but it was out of my reach; I was just an inch from my success when you intertwined', she replied briskly indicating towards the topmost shelf from her other hand as her right hand was still under the grasp of his.

'If dismantling the whole library is definition of success then I am glad I intertwined or you would have drowned this whole place in heaps of books', he retaliated.

'What does that mean?', she asked with restrained calm.

'These shelves aren't stuck to ground with super glue. If I had not interrupted your jumping cum stretching session they would have definitely toppled over creating a huge mess, as a result of your hard work', Ajay pointed out with bored tone. Aarushi was left short of words; his words were galling yet true. She just glared at him for a few seconds before realizing their closed position. Blood filled her cheeks almost instantly. She tried to increase the limited space but her efforts were to no avail with her right hand locked under his and rest of the room blocked by impending racks around them. Ajay just stood his ground without moving an inch. Aarushi shot him a glower which was met by a dumb look from his side. Aarushi huffed annoyingly at his blunt attitude.

'Move', she commanded him.

'And let you stumble over again?', he asked fervidly. Aarushi's heart nearly halted as she gazed back into deep black orbs burning under unsettled mixture of thoughts and feelings. She blinked back to senses with her heart jumping back to galloping pace. She quickly looked away from him.

'This boy will be death of me!', she gave herself a mental exclamation as her heart refused to become quiet rushing around at breakneck speed.

'Th-That was because you startled me', she blurted out her thoughts staring everywhere except into those seductively bewitching eyes.

'Sorry, I'll let you know next time; you won't go lumbering around dangerously then, will you?', he asked in a low mocking whisper. This was the breaking signal for dam of her patience.

'You-', her ferocious sentence was left hanging as soon as she twirled her head facing him; Ajay was leaning over with their faces inches apart, smiling alluringly. Aarushi could felt her heart threatening to burst out as she forgot the act of breathing.

'Me what?', he breathed softly. Aarushi could feel her senses muddled up by intense fragrance of his cologne; she gazed back wide eyed, speechless and puzzled.

'Don't jump around next time rabbit or people will cage you up', he said with a contorted smile. Aarushi blinked, wordless at his confounding phrase. He chuckled softly at her dumbfounded expressions. Aarushi glared at his daring laugh, thinking about a perfect comeback.

'I guess, you were searching for this?', he asked producing two books in front of her eyes. The title of second one worked like a bucket of icy water on her vexation.

'This is latest edition of mythological fiction, how did you get it? I had been trying for past two months or so', she purred excitedly, taking the book from him. Her eyes glinted with childlike animation as she admired the novel as though it was the most precious long awaited treasure.

'Got lucky I guess'; Ajay smiled at her elated response. Aarushi nodded happily, skimming through the pages.

'Can I read it?', she pleaded putting up her best fetching and innocent look. She saw his mouth twitch around corners as he bit back a grin. He straightened up looking away from her iridescent expressions.

'You can keep it, someone gifted it to me; I am not interested in it anyways', he said nonchalantly. Aarushi noticed slight blush edging around his ears and neck, she disguised the smile that appeared on her face as she realized she wasn't the only one blushing and enraptured.

'Thanks! I'll pay you back for this', she gushed.

'It's a gift, no need to pay back; besides I don't know how much it costs', he closed the matter, stating the words casually. Aarushi hesitated a bit before agreeing, it was meant to be his gift after all.

'Just keep it, it would go into waste otherwise; you surely don't want that, do you?', he asked perfectly aware about her answer.

'Nope, it's better this way; books are not meant to go into waste. In that case, thank you!', Aarushi was too quick to answer. Books in trash were her worst irksome spots; she had always rooted to preserve every piece of work as all of it had its own beauty. Ajay smiled at her nodding approvingly.

Aarushi looked down at their hands clasped together, Ajay's gaze followed hers as he untangled his fingers stepping back to create more room between them.

'Sorry I just-'

'It's okay, I didn't mind it much; thanks for the book', Aarushi interrupted his nervous apology, making her way through the narrow passage out into the open.

'Now that you are here as well, shall we start with our original work?', Aarushi asked in a business like voice. Ajay nodded as he settled in the seat beside her.

Other than their occasional banter, they were truly the best partners when it comes to working. Being skilled in their respective areas they had completed the work in hand in nearly no time. Aarushi summarized the final outlet for their day's work with an appreciative smile.

'It was a piece of cake, tomorrow same time?', she asked him.

'Come early, its weekend tomorrow, we don't have classes for following two days let's cover up the rest of things in these couple of days', Ajay replied thoughtfully. Aarushi nodded in compliance.

'Let's meet at my work shop then, that way I can cut off the travel time and fulfill my working hours as well', she logically said. Ajay agreed to the arrangement. The sun had already settled down for night by the time they crossed the glass doors. There weren't many students lingering around at this hour as a result they were one of the last occupants to exit the library.

Aarushi gasped as her eyes fell on the hands of clock pointing at half past nine. She had taken a day off from café today to catch up on her studies after an early dinner. Unfortunately it didn't seem to work out according to her original plan. The canteen won't be serving anything by now; she has to go on foodless for another study night. Ever since her jammed up schedule had begun, she couldn't remember the last time she had a full three meal day. Managing all the activities was tiresome and indulging, as a result she had relied on cutting her meal times.

It hadn't been an issue for her who had ensured to fill in enough food required for unhindered functioning of human body, but she couldn't help craving to enjoy a hearty and delicious meal and not just eat the food for staying alive. Tonight, she had planned to realize her longed wish; unfortunately her desires had been extinguished once again.

'What happened? If you are running late for work or something, I can explain it for you, you know...', Ajay asked puzzled by her frightful gasp. Aarushi shook her head in negative, knitting her brows together with apprehension.

'Dinner would be off by now, I have to spend a meal less night studying today; I had especially taken an off today to enjoy some tranquil hours and cover up lectures, looks like my agenda has been ruined completely', she finished her explanation with a long sigh. There was a moment of silence before she heard Ajay clear his throat bringing her out of her sulking.

'Well... Why do you have to spend a meal less night when you can eat outside?', he asked with a confounded look.

'Have you heard about the word "curfew" or you have always been this liberal ever since you entered college?', she implied the obvious with her eyes giving him a "can you be this dumb" look.

'Oh right, but you usually return late from work, so I thought it wasn't a big deal...'

'Bro, life isn't as simple as it seems; I had to beg in front of my warden's office before she gave the permission to return late', she rolled her eyes at his simplicity. Ajay stared at her lost at words. Aarushi started going through multiple solutions to spend a dreadfully hungry night.

'Umm... In that case, I have an idea which can turn your misery into delight, but I don't know if you will agree', Ajay suggested meekly.

'Can it save me from starving?'

'Definitely'

'Then go ahead, I don't mind breaking in a restaurant right now', Aarushi answered. She was at the end of her wit by now with her stomach growling for nutrition. Hunger really makes the sanest person go wild.

'Don't worry it won't be that extreme', he said reassuringly. Aarushi widened her eyes at the word "that extreme".

'So it means that it is extreme', she asked with slight nervousness. Ajay wasn't a usual troublemaker in others life but for her his mere presence was enough to cause a turmoil, but right now her thoughts had hit a dead end.

'At least it won't get you behind the bars like your original breaking into restaurant one, at most you will just receive a disciplinary warning that too if you are caught', he said with a wicked smirk.

'What's your plan?', Aarushi was visibly apprehensive by now.

'Let's sneak out', he answered simply as though it was his daily job to sneak around receiving disciplinary warnings.

'What do you mean "let's sneak out"! If we are caught you know-'

Ajay placed his hand in front of her mouth remembering to maintain a distance of few inches between their skins and signaled her to stop her rant.

'Do you want to wake up whole college with that pitch?', he said. Aarushi shot him a severe scowl, his idea was worse than a crime. If she is caught, her impeccable image would definitely be tarnished.

'You haven't ever been in a mess, your reputation is next to perfect, so it won't be a huge issue; that's the words from experience', he told her. Aarushi opened her mouth to retaliate but stopped when he gestured her to let him complete his full words.

'Besides, I assure you that you would get back without any trouble', he said. Aarushi stared at him skeptically.

'Trust me for this once, I won't let you get into unnecessary trouble', he pleaded with a convincing look. Aarushi bit her lower lip, turning over all the other options. At the end she gave up; believing his words was really the best option, she definitely could not get a word in her head with empty stomach.

'Okay, I trust your words, if anything happens, believe me, that will be the end of your happy days as well', she completed her words with a severe threat.

'I don't want to see my doomsday at this young age, so rest assured', Ajay winked at her with an impish grin.

'Okay, let me inform Sarthak-'

'Why do you need to inform him?', sharpness of his voice made Aarushi glance up from her screen. She had to inform her friends at least before doing something out of the place at the dead of night.

'I cannot inform Harshita and Anjali, they would be asleep by now catching some actual rest after a long tiresome week, Sarthak was planning to pull an all nighter so he would most probably be awake', she explained calmly. She could feel his hard gaze on her but she was at the bottom of the sea when it comes to deducing reason behind it. His not so unfamiliar mood swings on hearing Sarthak's name were not a new sight for her. Aarushi switched her eyes back to her screen opening Sarthak's chat.

Before she could type a single word, her cell phone flew out of her hands.

'Hey!', she cried trying to reach her phone with was hanging in mid air held by Ajay over his head. Aarushi jumped up and down trying to reach the device way out of her reach.

'Give... it... back', Aarushi tried to sound intimidating as she landed back after another unsuccessful attempt.

'Take it if you can', Ajay said raising his eyebrow mischievously as he moved it further away from her. Aarushi glowered at him launching in air once again. She missed her step as she hit the ground stumbling backwards. His hand swiftly held her wrist steadying her. Aarushi stopped jumping unsuccessfully and relied on glaring ominously at him.

'I told you, if you enjoy jumping I can show you the way to gym', Ajay said to her with a knowing look. Aarushi responded with a severe frown.

'Sometimes I couldn't get it; you are brilliant in everything but when it comes to obvious things you are thicker than those novels you read; I just told you, we are sneaking, don't tell me I need to repeat the definition of this word to you', he told her with exasperated annoyance.

'But Sarthak won't go around revealing about sneak out, he is my friend after all', Aarushi tried to reason but stopped after seeing his look, which hinted the end of discussion.

'I don't know if he is your friend or if he will not utter a word, I have taken the responsibility for your safety so allow me to fulfill it', he ended his words with an intensity which was enough to drive her to silent agreement.

'So, now do I have the permission to fulfill my responsibility?', he asked her with special emphasis on last two words. Aarushi nodded her and he smiled delightedly.

'Let's go then, let me show you the wonders of a new world', he said with a smile brighter than the moonlight falling around them. Aarushi admired the beauty of moonlight illuminating his sunshine smile; it spelled the most captivating charm on her very insides. Aarushi beamed joyously, agreeing to explore this adventurous new world of wonders with him.  

A/N:

Are you excited for the sneaky night out? 

Will he fulfill his words of responsibility or the memorable night would be overshadowed by the dark past once again?

What do you think about the special bonding of Aarushi and Ajay over books and literature?