"You go to cafeteria, I'll get my bag" Ira said, once she was out of auditorium with Ehan.

"No. Let's go, get it together" he joined her and they both made their way to the junior's block.

"How did you do it? Did you bunked Miss Maslow's class after attendance?" Ehan asked impatiently. As much happy as he was, he wanted to make sure Ira didn't land herself in any of kind of trouble which may affect her studies.

"No. She herself asked me to leave" Ira replied with a tint of pride in her voice, making him suspicious.

"And what did you do that she herself asked you to leave?" He inquired, narrowing his eyes.

She smirked, climbing up the stairs and he followed her, waiting for her reply.

"I told her that I forget my note at home" she said, getting inside her empty classroom and grabbing her bag.

"Such a lame excuse, Ira" Ehan sighed, shaking his head in negative.

"You should have thought of something else. You completed your homework with difficulty yesterday. You shouldn't have let your efforts go in vain" he clicked his tongue and gave her a disappointed look.

"Don't you be sad, I have everything planned" she winked at him.

"Really?" He raised his eyebrows, bewildered.

"Yup!" She opened her bag and took out the chemistry notebook.

"Would you like to accompany me to the staff room?" She asked him, hanging her bag over her right shoulder.

"Sure. Are you going to apologise?" Ehan walked behind her, who nodded with a mischievous grin.

---

"I don't have this whole day. So don't waste my time and come to the point" Miss Maslow said, her grey eyes glaring at Ira, who stood like an innocent kid, wearing a puppy face.

Without speaking a word, Ira forwarded her notebook, looking at the floor. Miss Maslow was not easy to convince, so Ira gave her an innocent and pitiful expression that would melt anyone.

Miss Maslow snatched the note from her hand and opened it. She did the homework under Ehan's guidance. So, there was no chance that there'll be any kind of mistake.

"I really forgot my notebook at home, Miss Marshmallow. I wasn't lying. I went home as soon as the bell rang and got this" Ira spoke in a small voice, not meeting her eyes.

Miss Maslow groaned, rolling her eyes.

"It's Maslow. Not marshmallow" she semi yelled, couldn't able to control the frustration she was feeling hearing her name mispronounced.

"What should I do? You look so soft, fluffy and beautiful like a strawberry marshmallow that I just couldn't stop myself from calling you that" Ira whined in a childish tone, meeting Miss Maslow's eyes and pouted.

She could notice a tiny smile making its way to her lips. An easiest way to melt any women is to praise her and call her beautiful. No woman would dislike it for sure. Ira used the weapon, hoping it to work.

Maintaining a stern face, Miss Maslow said, "being cheesy, are we?"

"I'm just being truthful" Ira replied, looking back at the floor.

Miss. Maslow sighed, finally smiling a bit. She faced the other side, suppressing her smile as Ira looked at her from the corner of her eyes. She gave a her toothy grin when Miss Maslow picked up a pen from her table and signed her note.

"I don't like people who repeats their mistake. Got it?" Miss. Maslow handed her note and Ira nodded, pressing her lips together to control her giggle.

---

Ehan stood looking at the door of staff room, waiting for Ira to emerge out. He was somewhere upset that she did everything for him and he couldn't do anything to help her out. Miss Maslow was not an easy going women and she never spares the students who dares to disobey her. Ehan was scared that she'll decrease Ira's internal marks.

He stood straight as Ira made her way out, grinning. She forwarded her note to him and he was quick to grab it and check for the signature. He chuckled and looked at Ira, who stood proudly with her chin high and hands folded across her chest.

"How did you do it?"

She unfolded her hands and said, "you know, I realised a few days ago that I have a charm. Though it never worked at people back in India but it never fails to work here"

"Somebody is growing smarter" he commented and she flipped her imaginary hair from her shoulders and patted herself, making him let out a laugh.

"Let's go, have lunch now. I'm starving" she said, recovering from the pride fever.

They both went to cafeteria, Ira narrating Ehan the whole thing which happened in class that morning and the way she irritated Miss Maslow. 

They settled on a table, grabbing their orders from Lily. Ira was still speaking and Ehan kept stealing glances from her every now and then, which didn't go unnoticed by Lily. She smiled, feeling content to finally find Ehan spending time with someone instead of shutting himself from the world.

"I'll see you in the evening. Bye" Ira waved at him, once they were out of cafeteria. She made her way towards the staff block, while Ehan stood smiling at her back. She took merely three steps and stopped. She ran back to him, making him frown.

Removing the medal from her neck, she handed him that, giggling. He took that from her, smiling back. She ran back, leaving him smile like an idiot. His black orbs twinkling with delight, making his handsome features look more handsome. His eyes were fixed at her, unknown of the pair of green eyes fixed at him, looking at him just the way he was looking at Ira.

---

"How come you reach here before I come out? When do you actually arrive?" Ira wondered, finding Ehan waiting for her out of Miss Bella's cabin when she came out. He has changed and looked fresh, unlike Ira, who was a mess after cleaning Miss Bella's old dusty drawers.

He just shrugged in reply, dismissing her question. She sighed, bending her head to her right.

"Let's go" he said, leading her the way. She silently walked behind him. They made their way out of the campus and walked towards Ira's apartment. After walking a little distance, Ehan noticed Ira stopped on her tracks. He turned back to find her standing still, looking at a glass walled footwear store. He walked to her and followed her gaze, which was fixed at a pair of hello kitty slippers on display. She was looking at it like it was a chocolate cake and she wanted to eat it right then. She was literally drooling over it.

Ehan's frown deepened when she giggled and closed her eyes, smiling. He quietly stood observing her until she opened her eyes and giggled again.

"What was that?" He couldn't help but asked.

"You already think I'm crazy. If I explain this to you, you'll feel you were absolutely right" she replied, slowly walking ahead of him.

"No. I won't judge you. I have seen you do it earlier too. I wanna know why do you do this?" He asked, following her.

"Promise me that you won't laugh" she stopped walking and forwarded her hand. He instantly kept his hand over hers and said, "I promise"

"Whenever I see things I couldn't afford, I close my eyes and imagine that I bought it. I make myself believe that I have got it and it gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction" she laughed, palming her face with her left hand whilst with other hand, she held her bag strap.

Ehan looked at her with a blank face, without even blinking. He couldn't even think how does she do it every time, just imagining the things she wish to have and being happy with it. He had everything since the beginning yet he was never happy with that. Infact, he had been complaining all the while.

"If you want to laugh, you can do it. I'm know I'm silly..."

"No. You are silly, nor you are crazy. You are the most amazing person I have ever met" he honestly spoke, looking at her black orbs fixed at him. For a moment, she forgot to blink and breathe. The way his stormy black eyes looking at her, was taking her breathe away.

She heaved a sigh, averting her gaze and held his hand, "Let's go" she said, dragging him.

They went to her apartment and Ira went to change, stuffing the clothes which fell over her, back in the cupboard. Ehan sat on the bed, looking at Hunny bunny and wondering how does Ira talk to that toy. She came out in a few minutes and they both made their way out, grabbing Ira's bag and books.

"Bye, Hunny bunny" Ira said closing the door behind her and took out the keys from her bag to lock the door. As she twisted the key in its hole, Ehan noticed there were two keys in the keychain.

"Are both the keys of this door?" He asked curiously, pointing at the door.

"Yup!" She nodded and put the keys back in her bag, after the door was locked.

He frowned at her answer, "Do you know why do we keep two keys of the same door?" He asked.

"If we lost one, we could have another to open the door" she answered, standing by the elevator after pressing the button.

"You know it. Great" he sarcastically said but she didn't realise he was being sarcastic and nodded. The elevator door opened and they both stepped in.

"Ira, you understood what I'm trying to tell you?" He asked.

"No" she shook her head.

"Why are you carrying both the keys in the same keychain? Aren't you supposed to keep one key safely somewhere incase you need it sometime"

"Yeah, right" now she realised what he was trying to say. She pulled out the keys from her bag and removed one from the keychain.

"You keep it. I'll get it from you if I need it" she forwarded him the spare key.

"Are you even for real?" He asked, giving her an unbelievable look.

"What did I do now?" She whined, slumping her shoulders.

"How could you give your apartment keys, where you live alone to someone, that too a guy?"

"What's wrong with it? I'm gonna get it from you whenever I need it" she reasoned, shrugging. The elevator doors pinged open and they both made their way out.

"You shouldn't be trusting anybody in such cases, Ira. Don't be so naive, Ira. This world is not so safe"

"That is why I gave it to you, not somebody else"

Not knowing whether to smile or feel guilty at the trust she has placed over him, he pulled out his wallet and shoved the key in. She was being too naive and trusts people easily. What hurt Ehan the most was, she somewhere trusts him much more than shut trusts others and he had been lying to keep his real status hidden. The worst of all was, he had no idea of disclosing it. He was hoping for things to go on the way they are, forever.

---

After the first class, Ehan made his way to the third floor for his mathematics class. He took a seat next to window, from where he could directly face the junior's block. His eyes went to the botany lab at the forth floor, knowing it was Ira's botany class then. His class started and he averted his gaze from the window.

After about four to five minutes later, his eyes again went to the window and he spotted a girl standing outside the lab, leaning on the wall. Her back was partially facing him. Looked like she was punished for coming late. It didn't took more than a second for Ehan to realise that it was Ira. The way she was happily rocking back and forth, and playing with rope like something was enough for him to make out that it could only be her, who dances even when she was punished.

"What did you do now, Ira?" He groaned inwardly.

He tried to concentrate in the class but all his attention was on Ira, who was carelessly enjoying the punishment. He was looking at her every now and then, but she wasn't aware of it, being too busy in running her hands over the plain white wall in zig zag motion.

After few minutes, he noticed her taking out a candy from her pocket. Ehan shook his head, sighing.

"You are unbelievable, Ira" he whispered under his breathe and kept his eyes fixed at her. The excitement on her face to eat that candy made him keep his eyes glued at her. She peeked through the door, making sure that the Mr. Henry wasn't looking at her.

She quickly unwrapped the candy and in hurry, she threw the candy away and partially shoved the wrapper in her mouth, making Ehan suppress his laughter. He noticed something else too flew with the candy and fell at the other side of the railing. He pressed his lips together, trying hard not to laugh.

It happened in a nano second and Ira's eyes went wide as she realised what she just did. She removed the wrapper from her mouth and threw that away. She quickly searched for the candy and realised it fell at the other side of the railing.

Ehan chuckled lowly at her hilarious face; wide eyes and mouth agape. He shut his eyes and pressed his hand over his mouth, not wanting to be thrown out of class for laughing without reason.

Just another look towards her and his own eyes went wide. She was trying to climb the railing and grab her candy, lowering half of her body towards the other side. Just a little slip and she may fall down from the forth floor. He could see her strech her hand even more, which resulted in an yell from Ehan's mouth, "Careful".

He didn't realise he was standing and the whole class, including his teacher was looking at him like has gone crazy. He looked at Ira again and noticed her stepping down with a pout.

"I'm sorry" he whispered, looking at Mr. Kim, his mathematics teacher.

"It's okay, sit down" Mr. Kim spoke in a monotonous tone, gesturing him to sit. He glanced at Ira lowering himself and stood up even before sitting back.

She was trying to reach her candy again, lowering more than half of her body to the other side of the railing.

"I'm sorry, please excuse me" Ehan mumbled stomping out of the class like a flash. The distance between two blocks seemed the longest as he ran as fast as he could.

"A little more" he heard her mumble, stretching her hand even more when he finally reached her. She has shoved one leg in the gaps of the railing while with the other, she was trying to climb higher.

"Have you lost it?" Ehan yelled his lungs out, pulling her down, which made her scream.

"You scared me" she complained, keeping her right hand over her heart.

"I scared you? Seriously Ira?" He threw his hands in air, letting out a breathe.

"Ofcourse, I'm serious. Why would I joke?" he gave her an unbelievable look, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Do you have a thing called brain? Do you have the slightest idea what would have happened if your leg would have slipped?" He roared, making her flinch.

"I was holding the railing for support" she spoke in a small voice, defending herself.

"What for? A tiny candy?"

"No. It wasn't only about the candy. My identity card flew with it and see, it's hanging there" she pointed at the pipe attached by the small space on the other side of the railing.

Ehan let out a huge sigh, rubbing his temples.

"Wait, how do you know about the candy? And how come you are here at the time of class? Were you watching me from somewhere" she asked him, who stood beside her shutting his eyes to calm his unevenly beating heart.

"How did your ID card went there?" He asked, completely ignoring her question.

"I was playing with it. When I threw the wrapper, it flew along. But that wasn't the wrapper, that was my lollipop" her voice rose as the said the last sentence, hands waving in negative, her eyes wide and tone sadder.

Ehan looked at her for a few seconds as she said, "I just reached it but you pulled me back. I was this close" she showed the minute difference with her fingers.

He looked at the card which seemed distant and wondered, "your hand reached that far? It seems distant". She followed his gaze which was at her identify card.

"No, no, no. I'm talking about the candy. I was this close to it" she clicked her tongue, pointing the minute difference again.

Ehan rolled his eyes and said, "you are impossible"

She shrugged, curling her lips and stood looking down.

"Do you have a ruler?" He asked, looking at the identity card.

"Yes" she nodded and removed her bag from her shoulders. Rummaging through a few things, she pulled out a long size ruler. He grabbed that from her and climb through the gaps of the railing.

"Careful" she said, realising how risky it was. When she climbed up, things looked simple. But now she felt the danger as he climbed for her.

He tried and pulled the card through the ruler and somehow managed to hook the lanyard in it and carefully brought it up, while Ira was holding his uniform jacket from behind. She only released her hold on him once he stood on the floor, forwarding her identity card and the ruler.

"Thank you" she smiled, which obviously was not returned. They heard the bell ring and Ehan's mobile beeped with a message. Her pulled his mobile out of his jacket and checked the message.

In my office, right away

- Mr. Kim.

He pocketed his mobile and turned to leave but Ira blocked his way. "Are you angry?" She asked, looking at his unreadable face. Without replying or giving any kind of reaction, be crossed her and went away, leaving her stunned and confused.

---

Dropping his bag on the sofa, Ehan sat on it with force, bouncing a couple of times. He let out a tired sigh, lowering his head and holding it with both the hands. He wasn't feeling good. Something was nagging him and he he couldn't make out what's actually wrong.

After the mini stunt Ira pulled, he obviously was angry. But more than anger, fear crept his heart and mind; a fear he never experienced before. The fear of losing the one, you never wish to lose.

All his childhood, he lived with different kinds of fears dominating him. The fear is of being scolded by his mother, the fear of getting another slap from his father, the fear of being blamed of something he hasn't done by his brother, the fear of never taken back home. But nothing felt this painful.

He fell back on the sofa, letting his head rest over the headrest.

"This is not right. I don't wanna feel this way. It's scary" he whispered, shutting his eyes.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

Is Ehan beginning to realise his feelings?

Will realisation bring them closer?

Or

Will it make Ehan distant himself from Ira, scared of getting hurt?

An advice for Ehan, try to make him understand what he's feeling.