Dedicated to flyingdemigod15 and her friends :)

---

"How is it?" Asked Lily, rising her eyebrows in question at Ehan, who was sipping coffee in his favourite mug. His back was facing Lily, who was cleaning the kitchen island whilst Ehan sat at the dining area.

"Nice" he replied, not bothering to turn back and look at her.

"Coffee or mug?" She asked in a teasing tone, quickly walking to stand facing him, just to witness his cheeks changing colour.

"Both" he answered in a whisper, trying hard to maintain a usual face. A grin threatened to break his lips, which made him gulp down the remaining coffee in a go and hurry towards kitchen.

Lily laughed, collecting his plate from the table. When she entered the kitchen, she noticed him washing the mug.

She couldn't help but pinched his cheek, "So cute of you. When are you going to tell her?"

"Tell what?" He grabbed the kitchen towel and wiped the mug dry.

"You know...?" She gave him a teasing look, wiggling her eyebrow.

Ehan cleared his throat, feeling uneasy, "You are taking it all wrong, Lily. There's nothing like that" he whispered, making his way out.

"Come on, you have been wandering around her since you started helping her with studies. She talks about you more than her dear Hunny bunny. You are even pretending to be an orphan and a middle class guy for God knows why, and she thinks whatever comes from your mouth in undeniably true" he gave her a surprised look, thinking how she know about his lie and then realised, it's Ira who must have told her about all this.

"Not to forget the efforts she put to bake that cake for your birthday" Ehan unintentionally turned to face Lily, wanting to hear more of Ira. What she did, how she did, everything.

"Did she told you that she had been saving money for your gift and cake?"

Ehan shook his head as no, a tight lipped smile appearing on his lips.

"She's so sweet, you know? She got all the ingredients for the cake, making me list out the things, though I told her she can use from my kitchen. But she wanted to make your birthday special on her own. And..." Lily stopped, looking at Ehan's face. A wide smile plastered on his face, which she never witnessed before.

"Oh my God! Look at you" she gasped and let out a laugh.

"So this shy cute little boy seems to be in lov..."

"I'm getting late, Lily" he cut her off as fast as he could. Grabbing his bag from the sofa, he made his way out in hurry, not sparing Lily a second glance.

"You'll realise it soon" Lily yelled from behind, loud enough to reach his ears.

He couldn't understand what's actually in his mind but Ira's talks, spending time with her, thinking of her, listening about her was undoubtably beautiful.. until the thoughts of the consequences of his unintentional lies comes to his mind.

---

Days passed and Ehan and Ira's exams were ahead. He prepared himself and made sure Ira was prepared as well.

"I have made a schedule for us. If we go in this accord, our minds will remain fresh and we'll feel less tired of exam preparations" Ehan said, handing Ira a chart sheet, in which he has planned their schedule for exam days.

Ira curiously looked at it and read aloud, "4 am to 7.30 am - revision?" Her eyes went wide and she looked up at Ehan.

"So early?" She questioned.

"Yes. It's the best time to read and fix maximum details in mind" he answered, signalling her to read on.

She looked down and read ahead,

"7.30 to 7.50 am - breakfast
08 am to 1 pm - exam time
1 pm to 1.30 pm - lunch
1.30 to 4.30 pm - rest"

She looked up at Ehan with a grin and stated, "wow! I like this one"

He smiled back and said, "you'll like the next one more"

She excitedly looked down and read, "5 pm to 6.15 pm - basketball. Great!" she exclaimed and read ahead,

"6.30 to 7. 30 pm - revision
7. 30 to 8 pm - dinner
8.15 pm - bed time"

"Isn't that's too early to go to bed?" She looked up at him, questioning.

"Don't forget you should be up by 4 am. So you must sleep early in order to get adequate sleep" he replied and checked time in his mobile and added, "now it's almost time for dinner. Let's get going" standing up, he helped Ira get up and they both went to their usual place to have dinner and called it a night.

---

Waking up early in the morning was a task for Ira. Somehow, she managed to do it. By the time she freshened up, Ehan was at her door step to pick her up. She lazily walked behind him to his place, feeling sleepy.

Ehan handed her a cup of coffee, which worked in driving away the remaining sleep. She noticed him having coffee in the mug she gifted, which brought a huge smile on her lips.

Once she felt fresh, she started pacing revising what she read earlier and Ehan did the same by sitting on the sofa.

---

"Identity Card?" Ehan asked, making Ira check her bag and she said, "Tick"

"Pens?"

"Tick"

"Pencil?"

"Tick"

"Ruler?"

"Tick"

"Eraser?"

"Tick"

"Highlighter?"

"Tick"

"Good!" he sighed and she zipped her bag. He could have asked the above things in one word as stationery but he preferred keeping a check on everything, not to let her forget anything which may become problematic later.

"Let's go" she hanged the bag on her shoulders, pulling her ponytail aside.

"Ira" he held her hand before she could move and asked, "you remember what I said, right?"

She gave him a look which clearly asks 'what?'

"Be calm" his advised seemed useless to himself, since she doesn't looked tense a bit. She was standing like she was going to play in the park.

Still, he went ahead, "Don't panick if you find a question you don't have much idea about. Write something you know, okay?"

She shook her head as okay. He sighed in relief and said, "Good luck"

"Wish you the same. Though you barely need it" she pinched his cheeks, standing on her tiptoes, brining a bright smile on his face.

---

"How was it?" Ehan asked, as soon as he spot Ira on the stair,s after exam.

"Amazing. Yours?" She sounded as cheerful as always.

"Nice. You sure you wrote well?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Look at the question paper" she showed him the question paper she held in her hands and continued as he read the questions, "I know all the questions and I completed the paper on time, as you made me practice".

He satisfactorily smiled looking up at her happy face and said, "Great! I'm glad you did well. Let's go have lunch now. You need to rest after that".

---

Days were passing smoothly and so their exams. They were strictly following the schedule and it seemed useful to both of them. Ehan has lessen his sleeping pills, he was taking only half of it, so he could wake up on time. Things were going as per their expectations and only two more exams to go.

"Little by little, Ira" Ehan said, stopping Ira from gulping down the water in a go, after they were done playing basketball.

She obliged and took a breathe before gulping some more water. They went inside and had the snacks, before starting the revision.

Ira was sitting on the carpet, reading her book when her mobile went off. Taking a glance at the caller ID, she looked at Ehan, "Laura"

"That lady at the restaurant?" He guessed and she nodded in affirmation.

"Why is she calling you?" He asked himself more than Ira.

She shrugged and picked up the call, "Hi Laura"

"Yeah! I'm fine. How are you?"

"Oh!" Ira's lips formed a perfect 'O'.

Ehan's eyes narrowed as he looked at Ira think.

"I'm so sorry, Laura. I have an exam tomorrow. I can't" she spoke in a apologetical tone.

"No. I seriously can't. I'm sorry"

"I'm extremely sorry, Laura. Please try to understand" she went on denying for God knows what and Ehan sat confusedly looking at her.

After a little more denial, she hanged up. She looked up at Ehan, who was looking at her expectantly.

"There's a birthday tonight at the restaurant and she needs some more workers" Ira explained, picking up her book to resume reading.

Before Ehan could say anything, her mobile went off again. Laura's name flashed on the screen. Ira extended her hand to pick up but Ehan stopped her, "Don't pick up. She'll manipulate you"

"Ok" Ira agreed, and turned the mobile silent. When Laura didn't stop calling, Ehan grabbed the mobile and turned it off.

---

After dinner, Ehan dropped Ira at her place. Climbing on bed, she hugged Hunny bunny and picked up her mobile. She turned it on to set the alarm.

Her eyes narrowed at the number of missed calls from Laura. Ignoring it, she set the alarm and placed her head on pillow. She didn't even closed her eyes and her mobile went off.

She groaned, looking at Laura's name flashing on screen. Just to explain her that she can't come, she picked up the call.

"Ira, please try to understand" Laura begged, making Ira sit up slowly.

"I understand Laura, but I have an exam tomorrow. I won't be able to give my best if I didn't sleep well" she tried to explain.

"It's just a matter of few minutes, Ira. They'll cut the cake, eat and leave"

"Why do you need more workers for such a small party?" Ira wondered.

Laura grit her teeth from the other side and spoke in a calm tone, "Ira, forget that and think of your benefits. I'll pay you the amount which used to be your salary for a month. Think of it, you could save it to pay your debt" just by the thought of saving money to pay back the debt made Ira's eyes twinkle.

"Laura..." Ira gulped, thinking of Ehan. He would never allow her.

"Don't think too much. Just come here" Laura's honey coated voice sounded so sweet.

"No, Laura. I can't" Ira told herself, hugging Hunny bunny closer.

"Think again Ira. It's your loss" she heard Laura say before she hanged up with a heavy heart. She would have jumped into the opportunity if it wasn't her exam next day.

She has been saving money little by little to pay the debt, which is an invisible burden over her shoulders. It saddened her that she had to let go of an opportunity to add some more money to her savings.

---

After fighting a battle with her positive and negative thoughts, and asking Hunny bunny what she should do, a thousand times, here stood Ira; in front of Laura, who was instructing her along with others, about the arrangements to be done for the party.

As soon as Ira stepped in the restuarant, Laura welcomed her with a huge sigh of relief. She was asked to join the other workers and start working but Ira assuming herself as the smartest one, demanded the money Laura promised. Being helpless, Laura cursed under her breathe and handed her an envelope. Ira felt so happy and proud of herself, that she didn't even bothered counting the money and jumped to work, thinking she could clear the debt earlier than planned if she take up some more of such offers.

Only if she knows 'Greedy causes great losses'.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

Do you think Ira took the right decision?

How will Ehan react about it?

Do you think Laura was being honest about the few minutes work?

What will happen next? Will Ira be able to give the exam next morning?

What if she'll lose her scholarship?