K A I R A

[ the next day, evening ]

I was drawing a random sketch of a design stuck in my mind for a long time when my phone beeped beside me. Raising my eyes off the piece, I kept the colour pencil away and picked up my phone.

It was a text from an unknown number.

Heyy!
6:08 PM

I stared at the number for a long time. It was unknown and unfamiliar. I finally replied back.

Hi, sorry who's that?
6:10 PM

My phone instantly beeped with the reply from the texter, as if he/she was waiting for my reply desperately.

Itna jaldhi bhul gayi mujhe ;)
6:10 PM

I mean you could have atleast remembered me for a whole 24 hours. I just bought you coffee last evening
6:11 PM

An unknown smile formed on my lips as I texted back.

Krishh?
6:11 PM

He replied back:

Yup. How many other boys bought you coffee? ;)
6:11 PM

I couldn't stop smiling.

Me:
How did you even get my number?
6:12 PM

Krishh:
I told you, I have my ways, sweetheart.
6:12 PM

Me:
And the reason you messaged me is...?
6:12 PM

Krishh:
Try again, sweetheart. You could be politer.
6:13 PM

I rolled my eyes as if he could see me.

Me:
May I know the sweet reason why you decided to text me at this odd hour? 😀
6:14 PM

Krishh:
Wow, I liked that. And the emoji made it even politer.
6:14 PM

Me:
I still didn't get my answer?
6:14 PM

Krishh:
It's simple. I missed you.
6:15 PM

My eyes almost bulged out of their socket in shock. That escalated... quickly.

Krishh:
Don't freak out yet.
6:16 PM

I'm kidding.
6:16 PM

I just thought we could meet again, hang out sometime, you know?
6:17 PM

If you don't mind that is.
6:18 PM

I couldn't stop staring at the spam of messages he'd sent. Even though on text, I could just hear his voice and picture his expressions.

Was he.... nervous?

I was just going to reply back when my mom entered. I swear Indian parents just couldn't knock.

"Hey," she smiled. I greeted her back.

"Everyone's coming over for a dinner at Aryamman Uncle's house. It's a last minute plan and we leave soon. Get ready." She informed.

My breath got stuck in my throat.

"Uh... Mom," I called her when she was leaving. "Could you... could you arrange something at home for me please? I've got a bad throat, little fever. I think I'd rest. I don't want to come."

She looked a little taken aback. And I didn't blame her. "Okay," she murmured before she left.

I'm sure I left her shocked. I was the kind of girl who loved my friends according to her so much that I could even go a mile to meet them when I was on my death bed. And I chose the silliest reason ever. I was healthy as a horse.

God.

I went back to texting Krishh when another message beeped on my phone.

Abeer:
We meeting at Ruhaana's?
6:22 PM

There were immediate replies.

Myra:
Mom just informed us. I guess we are.
6:23 PM

Aarav:
Abeer, could you come and get your girlfriend from here please.
6:24 PM

She wouldn't go back to her room.
6:24 PM

Ruhaana:
Myra, don't move.
6:25 PM

Do this like a boss. ;)
6:25 PM

Myra:
Ofcourse. I love troubling my baby brother.
6:26 PM

Aarav:
Just for the record, I AM TWO MINUTES ELDER TO YOU.
6:27 PM

Ruhaana:
Guys, please everyone be there.
6:28 PM

Even those who are reading the texts and not replying. 🙄
6:28 PM

@Ishaan @you @Abeer
6:29 PM

Abeer:
Don't know if I can make it.
6:30 PM

I already made plans with an old school friend.
6:31 PM

Ruhaana:
Then get him along. If you have other plans, get your plans along. But please be there!!
6:31 PM

Ishaan:
I don't have plans. I think I'd come.
6:32 PM

Myra:
What about Kaira? She's ghosting us!!
6:33 PM

I opened my keypad to text something but couldn't bring myself to type anything.

Abeer:
Kaira, where you at?
6:35 PM

I finally texted out.

Me:
I have other plans. Will see if my friend can join. :)
6:37 PM

Ruhaana:
Please ask her to join. I'd really like if you come. Any company is welcome!!
6:38 PM

God, she's so sweet to me. Why?

Shouldn't she be mad and expecting me to come ahead and apologise first?

And be even more mad when it's been weeks and me like the shameless person I am, didn't go ahead and do that at all?

I switched off the group text and reopened Krishh's to see a bunch of more messages.

Krishh:
I know you've read the messages.
6:26 PM

I'm sorry if I intruded.
6:27 PM

Just don't ghost me, I didn't mean to overstep my lines.
6:27 PM

I'm sorry if I said something wrong.
6:28 PM

Oh God.

I immediately texted out.

Me:
Krishh. Chill. I was just busy with something. You didn't overstep at all.
6:40 PM

How about dinner tonight?
6:41 PM

Before I could think about it, I had already sent the message. I was about to unsend it when he replied back.

Krishh:
Oh God, I was scared.
6:42 PM

Also, are you asking me out for a date?
6:43 PM

Me:
It's going to be at Ruhaana's.
6:43 PM

And out oatents would be there and my other friends (Myra, Abeer, Aarav, Ruh, Ishaan).
6:44 PM

Is it still considered as a date?
6:45 PM

Krishh:
It'll be odd for me to come.
6:46 PM

Me:
Won't. I promise. Abeer's bringing his friends along too. Company's always welcome in our gang.
6:47 PM

Abeer:
Okay.
6:48 PM

I'll come only if you call this a date.
6:49 PM

Me:
It's a hang out.
6:49 PM

Krishh:
DATE!
6:50 PM

Me:
Have it your way then.
6:51 PM

Krishh:
Yay it's a date!! 😎
5:52 PM

In presence of my ex. Who's not really my ex.
5:53 PM

Me:
And my ex. Who's not really my ex.
5:54 PM

Krishh:
Coolest date ever!
5:55 PM

Yeah. Coolest date ever.

~~~~~~

At eight, I paced around my living room.

"Mind telling me who's this friend of yours?" Dad asked.

"You sure he's not your boyfriend?" He asked impatiently. Mom showed him her eyes. After what had happened, me having a boyfriend was a very sensitive topic.

"No!" I said, resisting rolling my eyes. "He's just a friend. And you know him."

"Aarav? Abeer? Ishaan?" He asked again.

I looked at mom for help.

"Zubin!" She showed him her eyes. And then he kept quiet. I chuckled. Dad was still scared of mom.

And just then, Krishh entered.

"Where were you?" I said impatiently, but didn't wipe out the smile on my face. Mom and Dad looked stunned.

They knew Krishh ofcourse. But what they remembered last was that I wanted to do nothing with anyone that kept me holding onto the bad memories.

"I got late picking up some beautiful flowers for the beautiful girl," he said handing me a bunch of white daisies. My favourite. I smiled, taking them as I murmured a thank you.

"Mr and Mrs. Singhania, it is nice meeting you again," he said formally as he went ahead to shake hands with my Dad and then my Mom.

"It's nice meeting you again too, Krishh," Mom smiled, overcoming her shock.

"We're glad it's you," Dad smiled, passing me a secret wink and I showed him my eyes. Uh parents!

"Would you both be driving with us?" Mom asked.

"I have my car, we can follow. If you don't mind, that is," He asked. Mom and Dad looked at each other before nodding and after giving me a final smile, left ahead.

Just as they left, he turned towards me. "You look good," he gave me a smug smile. I glanced consciously at the plain dark blue dress I wearing, ending a little above my knees.

"Thank you," I smiled, "You don't look bad yourself." White made him look super good. Couldn't deny.

"Did you... by any chance know that blue was my favourite colour?" He teased.

"If I did, I would have never worn blue," I smiled sweetly as we left my house.

"Oh!" He teased back. "I knew white is your favourite colour though. Keep up, Kaira."

He led us to his car standing outside as he got into the Driver's seat and me into the passenger seat.

"Do you like cars?" I asked. Pure curiosity. I put in the address into his GPS. Just three minutes away.

"I love my cars. They're my babies. Why?" He answered, driving off.

"Just noticed you had a different car when I met you yesterday," I shrugged. And both looked brand new, not a single scratch on either.

"Atleast you noticed me," He smirked. I gave him an eye roll.

"In your dreams, Krishh," I replied.

"Oh, we do better things in my dreams," he winked.

I couldn't help but let a smile form on my lips as I looked out, not letting him see it.

"You're such a dork," I had to say.

"Only for you, sweetheart," he played along.

"Don't call me that," I said.

"Okay," He creased his eyebrows, "How about baby?"

I looked at him with wide eyes.

"No?" He self answered, "Then is darling okay?"

"Krishh," I glared at him, "Call me Kaira."

"Boring!" He showed me his tongue as we parked into the parking lot of Ruhaana's house.

I got out of the car and so did he.

"You promised not to leave me alone and let me get bored," he reminded as we walked in.

"I remember Krishh," I whispered, suddenly stopping. I held his wrist, making him stop too. He looked taken aback, but didn't pull away or drop his playful expressions.

"Thank you," I murmured, "To agree to come with me."

"I've been nothing but rude to you ever since I've met you and you're being nothing but kind. Unknowingly, you made yesterday and today a lot better. I don't think I would have been able to face everyone alone. Thank you, for... being there," I whispered, smiling softly.

He finally let his teasing face go, turning serious. "Face them alone?" He asked, "Everything's okay right?"

Concerned laced his voice. It felt like ages after I shit people out that I felt someone being concerned about me except my family.

"Yes," I nodded. "Now let's go inside?"

"No," He said, "I want you to know you could talk to me."

"It's nothing..." I said, trying to push it away.

"If it's upsetting you, it's not nothing. It's something and I don't want to push you, but you can tell me and I would never judge you," he pushed a hair stand behind my ear, and I felt his left hand on my cheek, making me shiver.

"I just made a mistake," I said, barely murmuring. "I make a lot of mistakes," I laugh sarcastically, "And I made another one. I hate it. And now I need to apologise."

"No you don't!" He said, stepping ahead. I looked at him, confused. He didn't even know what happened?

"You don't hate the mistake you've made. I know you, Kaira. Everytime I see your smile, and I think of how strong you are. Your smile... it's made of every mistake you've ever made. Your smile makes you look prettier, and your mistakes make you stronger. You've been thought a lot, sweetheart. And you've come out of it, powerful, strong, trying to smile and spread love. It's not easy yet you make it look like it is," He said.

"Thank you," I whisper, nothing but admiration in my eyes, "But you're wrong. I'm not that strong. I'm weak."

"Why would you say that?" He whispered back.

"'Cos all this while, my heart just needed a place to belong. I wanted a place to belong," I confess, ashamed.

It doesn't turn him away, or make him uncomfortable.

"No you don't," he whispered.

"Then what do I need to find my peace?" I say.

"You'll find out," he said.

"When?" I beg, "I'm so tired." I was done showing the I'm strong and happy facade. In all honesty, I was just a tired kid, tired of life, tired of making mistakes. I wanted to find peace. I wanted to find true happiness, not the fake one I wear all the time.

"When you'd fight back," he says. I look at him, confused. "You'll know when the time comes."

"I'll wait," I try smiling.

"You're strong, Kaira. I appreciate you, so much for that," he said as I wrapped my arms around his shoulder and gave him a small hug.

"You make me much more than I am. Thank you," I say.

"I know," he teased, hugging me tighter. "Now are we going in or do you want to stay out all night?"

I playfully hit his bicep as we entered. The servants opened the door and I could see everyone. Mom and Dad had naturally reached before me but so had everyone else. Every. One. Else.

"Ah there she is!" Dad said, and the elder's attention turned towards me. Nandini Aunty gave me a smirk while Manik Uncle scolded her. I could practically make out the words, 'she's our daughter too. don't... encourage...' He was always the possessive Uncle, more like my Dad.

Krishh walked a little away from me, engaging in a conversation of something Nandini Aunty asked him.

Cabir Uncle walked to me. "So, he's your boyfriend haa?" Cabir Uncle smirked.

"No!" I said quickly, embarrassed, "Ofcourse not. I would've told you otherwise."

"Sweetheart, you promised not to leave me and you break your promise in like ten seconds?" I heard Krishh brag from behind. And if I herd him, so did everyone else.

"Sure he's not, sweetheart," Cabir uncle mocked, walking away.

I closed my eyes, cursing mentally as we turned towards the younger group, my friends, all staring at me with wide eyes. Myra's eyes looked they would pop out any moment. Abeer smirked. I could see another girl standing beside him, didn't pay attention to her. Aarav was deciding how to react. Ruhaana tried giving me a teasing smile. Ishaan didn't look at me at all.

I have a nervous smile and an even awkward hand wave.

This was going to be one hell of a night.

~~~~~~~~~