Few days later

“Akshit! Yeh tere pocket mein bracelet mila hai.” I heard mumma say and I rushed towards her. “Oh this- this- it's my- mine!” I uttered.

“Oh really? And since when have you started wearing a female bracelet beta?” She asked, more like teased me. “Aree mumma don't give me that look, actually it's one of my friend's.” She again gave me a look which meant ‘spill the tea already’.

“Actually a few days ago, Manav and I had planned to go out but he ditched me after I reached there. There I found one of my friend and…” I rambled what all happened that day.

Flashback~

“Good night” said Ms. Govind as she went inside her home. Just when I was about to start my bike I saw a piece of accessory lying on the ground nearby.

I got off the bike to pick it up and it was a bracelet. I assume it was Ms. Govind's. I thought about returning it to her but before I even called out her name, I saw that she had gone inside her house.

‘Guess I'll return it some other day.. ’ I thought while sighing as I drove back home.

Flashback ends~

“Ohoo baat ghar chorne tak pohonch gayi aur Maa ko bataya bhi nahi, hmm hmm.” She started to tease me yet once again.

(Ohoo, dropping at home and all? Yet you didn't even let your mother know about it.)

“Oh come on Maa, it's not what you are thinking ok.” I said dodging all the teasing looks she had been passing. “Then why haven't you returned it to her yet? Tell tell.” she said as we settled on the sofa.

“I don't know, I had literally forgotten about it. Now don't tease me anymore.” “Thik hai thik hai, achha batana kaisi dikhti hai meri hone wali bahu.” She said, nudging my shoulder. “Mumma yarr!” I whined going back to my room not forgetting to take the bracelet with me.

(Ok ok, btw tell me how my ‘to be’ daughter-in-law looks.)

‘Kal he wapis kardunga school mein.’ I kept the bracelet inside my bag.

(I'll return it to her tomorrow at school.) 

March 16th 2024

“Akshit tujhe pata hai event mein DJ NYK aane wala hai, like it's gonna be a lit holi party yarr.” Said Manav. “Cool.” I replied shortly as I had been looking for a certain someone in the canteen. “Hey guys!” Yukti joined the table.

“Hello ji, Kya haal chaal~” Manav asked while I was still looking for her. “All good, btw why haven't you guys started eating?” Yukti asked. “We just came, and were waiting for you guys actually.” Manav informed. 

“Achha isse yaad aaya! Waise aaj Aarohi nahi aayegi, Akshit.” She said in a ‘teasing’ tone? “KYUN NAHI AAY-? I mean.. achha ok, no problem.” I covered my inner turmoil quickly also being sad because she won't be joining us today.

‘Wait, why does it affect me so much? Ugh Akshit you have gone mad.’

Few minutes later, a girl sat on Ms. Govind's seat which was beside mine. It was Ronika I guess and I could sense something was not right. 

“Why are you here Ronika?” Yukti asked with an annoyed look. “To eat with you guys! Aur kya?” She said in chirping like the annoying bird she is, followed by 2 audible sighs from Yukti and Manav.

When I was about to get up, having no interest in eating, the Ronika girl held my hand and asked me to eat something first and then head towards wherever I was going. I quickly refrained my hands out of her hold and went out. “Akshit wait~” I heard her call my name but I didn't stop.

‘Yeh samjhti kya hai apne aap ko? Akshay Kumar ki beti??’

(What does she think of herself? Akshay Kumar's daughter??)

After school.

“Karu ya nahi? Kar he leta hun..lekin kya bolunga?” I have been fiddling my phone to text Ms. Govind for the past 15 minutes now. 

(Shall I do or not? Just go for it…But what will I tell her that I texted her?)

“Babu 100+ steps ho chuke hain ruk jaa mera sar ghumne laga hai tujhe chalta dekh kar.” Mumma said, putting her glasses on the table. “Hehe sorry.” I said, smiling sheepishly.

(Dear you have been walking here to there for a long now, just stop before it gives me a headache.)

“Thinking about my daughter-in-law or what?” “Yes- I mean no- mumma she is not your daughter-in-law.” I said giving her a 'done' look. “Ok ok but whatever it is just go for it, overthinking will only give you a headache.” She said and went to her room when she heard her phone going off.

I picked up my phone and dialed her number. Just before I tapped on dial my intrusive thoughts offered me to drop a text first, so I did.

Ms. Govind
+91 xxxxxxxxxx 

Me 
Hey :)

Later that evening.

I checked my phone once again after I came back home from my piano classes. 'No reply? Is Ms. Govind ok?' I thought while sighing.

Time skips to a week~

It's been almost a week since I last saw Ms. Govind. I've heard from Yukti bhabhi that Ritu ma'am has recently given her the duty to take care of the decorations and colors that are going to be used in the event. 

‘Pata nahi unhe Ms. Govind ko itna pareshan karke kya milta hai.’ 

(I don't why she likes to trouble Ms. Govind so much.)

It's not like I miss her or something but-

[Sushi: All men do is lie~
Akshit: Hey stob it!
Sushi: -wheezes-]

“Excuse me miss, may I come in?” a voice that I've been longing to hear, that cheered up my whole mood said entering our classroom. 

[Sushi: Simp-
Akshit: Main Akshit hun Manav nahi.
Sushi: Exactly, SIMP.]

“Ma'am I have a small announcement to make, so may I?” She continued after getting a small nod from Miss Joshi.

“Can a few volunteers assist us tomorrow, as we still have some work which aren't finished yet?” She asked sweetly (while I was secretly admiring her- umm nvm) and few of my classmates along with myself and Manav raised our hands to help as volunteers.

“Great! Please reach school by 10 am tomorrow. Thank you ma'am” She said leaving the room, still paying zero attention towards me. Ouch.

‘Yeh achha hai inka, ek toh itne dino se dekhna naseeb nahi ho raha upar se- wait why do I care!?’ I ducked my head trying to calm down my mind who's behaving all nuts today.

(So nice of her, it's been long since I even had a sight of her and above that-...)

“Zyada matt soch, kal main car le aaunga fir mil lena bhabhi se.” Manav whispered near my ear. “Bhabhi what bhabhi?” “Aree Yukti, teri bhabhi- woh bhi aayegi na.” He said smiling and I could sense some mischief through his smile.

(Don't think much, I'll pick you up in my car so that you can meet bhabhi…

I mean Yukti, your bhabhi- she'll also come tomorrow right.)

‘I just hope she is doing alright. I wish to atleast have a conversation with you tomorrow Ms. Govind.’ The class continued. This time I paid full attention along with taking the notes.

♡

Sushi's note: Hey readers, hope you liked and enjoyed this chapter!

Keep on voting and commenting. And don't forget to take care of yourself and drink loads of water. 

Will Akshit be able to untangle the mess going inside his heart and mind?

Or will there be more twists waiting for them?

Stay tuned!

With love
《Radhe Radhe》