KRISHA

I saw him walking, coming downstairs, passing the corridors of our huge acting institute but I stayed unbothered as I was sure Max was keeping an eye on me. I looked at her and gave her a suppressed smile, but this time she seemed like she was indulging in the magazine that she was holding. So bad, it has my cover on it, along with the man that I despise the most.

As he made his way and turned around the reception table, I quickly held the newspaper above my eyes, in front of my face, making sure I'm not about to make a confrontation with him, which can be highly dangerous as it eventually, all the time, leads us to draw blood of each other quite oh so obnoxiously.

He didn't seem to have noticed me and seemed like he was in a hurry. Why is he bunking his acting class though? Never mind, what do I have to do with it? But there's a saying that the person whom you hate the most is the most you are curious about, and you, heart, just listen, that you couldn't resist that.

"Hey, Maya, I want an early leave today. Please tell the director and the teachers that I won't be available for the rest of the day," he informed her.

"What happened? Any emergency?" She asked him with inquisitive yet questioning eyes, her being the strict and judging lady of our institute to whom every one of us should report about our schedules, arrival, leave, etc. all the time.

"Kritika's got a fever is an emergency for me," he said, winking at her. What a brat, can't even respect and be polite to a single soul!

Maya rolled her eyes as it was not something new for her. Karan is the most popular rising actor from our institute but has a poor attitude and bossy kink, unfortunately with a lot of talent, which is why he is still here, stagnant in his position. The only one to whom he is all soft and giggly, is his girlfriend, Kritika. She is so nice and the exact opposite of Karan's personality, and goodness she is a gorgeous woman! Even though Kritika manages to handle Karan's attitude well overall, I don't know how they end up together and are in a relationship.

He leaves the place and I manage to maintain my posture successfully. Maya comes to us and informs Max and me that our next class is already scheduled by camera director, John. There are separate sections and separate subjects to learn from when you are at the Stars Institute of Acting. There is the Direction section, Camera section, and Art Section. Max is in the Art section where people are junior artists and second-character actors. Then there are two major sections, The Actors section and The Stars section. The Actors section is the actors in making and doesn't do anything else, whereas The Stars section only has a few stars who are promoted from the actor's section and can act, sing, dance, perform, and are models. They are rising in the entertainment industry and work in mainstream movies, series, and albums from time to time. Karan, Kritika, Nihar, Gauri, and I are in this section.

We, from the stars section, have other classes to take as a compulsion from every other section too, plus perform other activities. We would be graduating from here exactly six months from now.

KARAN

Wait, was she there? What did I just see? Was Krisha there? Was she observing me? Ah, I think I missed it, but I'm sure she was the one sitting there. Why does she have to bother me all the time? The rumor stating that I am a bad guy started all from her. She always puts me in a bad light and I still don't know what she gets from it.

I approach my car, parked in the lavish parking center underground of our institute, and open through the keys.

"Where are you? Are you even going to come to see me?" Krithika called me as soon as I sat in the car.

"Guess what, I'm on my way." I chuckled through the phone.

"I knew you won't leave me alone suffering through this. Now, keep talking to me." She has a childish tone that just melts my heart.

She is the one that I have had in my life as my caretaker since last year. I can't thank God enough for sending her to me. She's an angel, a good girl who handles me and my so-called, famous bad temper very well. I would do anything for her and not even hesitate for once and the fact that she knows about it makes our relationship even stronger.

Reaching her house, which is located on the hillside amid the beautiful nature-laden view, I quickly take a glance at her window and she stares right at me through the glass with her lovely smile. It's the most lavish house in the entire city as Kritika's brother is into some sort of business. Her watchman knows me so I don't need to hidingly barge into the gates anymore. Previously it was different when we were new boyfriend-girlfriends as I used to often sneak in at night through her window to see her.

She had kept the door open and as soon as I went in, she shut the door and hugged me tight, climbing up on me like a little koala. I twirl her a little softly in my arms considering that she isn't well.

"I was worried, but you seem okay!" I glance at her big brown eyes.

She wraps her hands around my neck and gets close to my ear, "Actually, Karan, I'm fine. I lied to you."

"Why?" I asked her in a smooth and soft tone, matching her childish one as I already knew her answer. She probably just wanted me by her side and missed me.

"I wanted you with me. I want to go on a fresh date. It's already been two weeks since we haven't been on a date." She whines in a pout.

I look at her in a confused state.

"Why? You won't? Are you angry that I used this method?"

"Never, I was just thinking where to go?" I simply said, smiling at her.

"I'll get ready, quickly." She runs to her closet. What a little cutie!

We rushed through the huge trees located on the small hill at the top of her house. She sneaked out this time. Her family always seemed a little strict about such things, must be elegant or have pretty standards. She seemed rich from the get-go. But her family's business was never disclosed to the media and press and was always kept confidential. I didn't have the knack to know about it even. I only cared about her.

We spent the whole day together. I have known her for only a year now, but it feels like I've known her for years. When she arrived at the institute, she looked so beautiful, and within an instant, we caught up, became best friends, and then lovers.

I took her to the streets as she seldom loved street food and we held each other's hands together for the whole day. Her smile is the one that captivates me the most. After a whole long day, I reached her home, but she didn't want to leave me even then. So I hopped on with her to her house and once again to her room. Her parents and brother didn't arrive home yet as the guard informed us that they will be arriving the day after tomorrow due to some urgent workload.

Inside her cozy-looking bedroom, we snuggled under the white satin sheets on her bed, making us both cherish this memory forever. I stroked her face with my fingers in small circles and kissed her forehead gently. She blushed and squeezed her head under my chest. I held her tight for the night and went to sleep.

THE NEXT DAY

I wish my car was here this time because I left it with my driver last night from the restaurant we ate at and also Kritika and I arrived in the taxi at her house after a gorgeous day. My driver has kids and I can't be so cruel to him as people believe me to be. But should I call him now? It's six in the morning, I think I should just jog straight home as it will only take forty-five minutes for me to get on my legs, plus no need to work out any extra.

My dad watering the plants early morning was a sight to see every day. I was a bit shy that my dad would ask my whereabouts for the night, even if I knew that he knew the answer. But still, I casually greet him with a good morning.

"Look boy, what have you done to yourself! Don't stay out at night so often." He gave me a pat on the cheek.

"I was at Kritika's home, Dad." I slightly rolled my eyes.

He looked my way and said, "Get married to her already and settle down then. She is a great girl."

I looked at him back, taking the water sprayer from his hand, "I don't understand the idea of marriage. You know me. I won't get married to her and never thought about it for my past relationships too. I love her and that's enough and even she is okay with it."

I water the plants on his behalf. He sighs at me a little and I frown at myself upon which he asks, "Yeah marriage is not necessary to define one's love, but it's a sort of commitment, that I would only love that person."

I frown at him this time and he pats my back taking the sprayer back again," Anyways, mom is waiting for you for breakfast."

"Why are you so late as always?"

"What have you made for breakfast?" I ask my mom, directly sitting on the couch, playing the television.

She comes with a plate full of yumminess near me, keeping it on the table in front of me. "You haven't answered me yet, dear." She asks, sitting beside me.

"I was with Kritika yesterday," I answer while pressing the remote channel buttons randomly.

"Ahh, so you bunked your classes!"

I sighed.

"What is this habit of yours? I won't tolerate this every time. Have some responsibility, child! You need to hold on to what's yours for God's sake. It's your career!" She says.

"I am doing exactly as you say, I'm holding on to Kritika, mom."

"Then marry her, what are you waiting for?"

I close the television hearing the same words from my mom, to let out my frustration, "I'm okay with her this way itself, what's always with marriage?" I walked out of there towards my room, having a slice of bread in my mouth.

"I wonder how Krisha never lies about you." I stopped when I heard this from her and turned back.

"She is always right about your attitude."

I go near her angrily, "Mom! you're my mom, not hers. Please stop praising her. This is getting on my nerves. Why do you do this to me? Why is she so precious to my whole family?"

"Because she is. She is praiseworthy!" My mom smacks me with that sentence.

"I'm leaving, I don't want to talk about this." I shut my room's door behind me, sulking loudly.

IN THE INSTITUTE

"Hey, Karan, don't sit on that bench." One of my action classmates whispers.

"Why?"

"Nowadays, Krisha is sitting there. It's her place."

"Why? Has she claimed it? Is her name written here?"

I didn't know about this as for the first time She and I were in the same batch for action class and every day the batch arrangements keep on changing.

"Yes, my name is written there. So get the hell away from my place." I heard her voice. That's so Krisha! I raised my head and popped the chewing gum in my mouth and raised an eyebrow at her as I saw her fuming by the classroom door. For I knew the fun starts now, now the real action class will begin. Hey, heart, it's so difficult to deal with her all the time!

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