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Resting his chin on his palm, Ehan sadly watched an overly excited Ira pack her bag.

If you're thinking she was leaving back to India, then no. She was packing her bag to go camping with her classmates; a trip school arranged. The problem with Ehan was, seperate trip was arranged for senior students and he couldn't accompany Ira nor he could take her with him.

She was too happy to notice the sadness on his face and he was too awkward to express it. It wasn't like she didn't ask him about her going on this trip, but his 'no' wasn't even audible to her.

"Ms Belly is accompanying us. I'm so happy" she chirped and he hummed, like he was doing since she broke the news of her leaving on a week trip.

Collecting all the fallen clothes from the floor, she stuffed in the cupboard and closeded it shut. She turned to Ehan, only to find him sitting still on her bed, looking at nothing.

"Are you not going with your classmates?" She asked, sitting beside him.

"No" was his answer.

"Why?"

"I don't want to. I don't speak to anyone, what would I do with them?"

"Ah! How I wish it was a combine trip for everyone. We would have lots of fun together" she sighed, resting her chin on Hunny bunny's head.

"I wish so too" he thought but didn't said aloud.

"Let's go. Your bus will depart within an hour" he stood up talking lowly, followed by her.

When they reached the campus, the first person Ehan laid eyes on was Honey. He quickly turned to Ira and before he could say something, she said, "I'll stay away from Honey", making a smile appear on his face.

Ms Bella waved at them, standing with a group of students in her casual attire. They made their way to her. She was the only reason Ehan sending Ira on the trip. Otherwise, with Honey being in the same trip and Ira's innocent and careless nature would have never let him let her go alone.

He looked at Ms Bella, who smiled at him, assuring that she'll keep Ira by her side all the time, just the way he requested earlier. He smiled back in satisfaction and let go of Ira's hand, which he didn't realise holding.

"I'll call you once I reach there" she said before getting into the bus. He nodded, forcing a smile. How he wished to get into the bus and accompany her or pull her down and drag her back home. 

---

Shoving another flake of popcorn in his mouth, Ehan blankly looked at the projection screen. It's been a long time since he watched any movie to kill his boredom. But being with Ira all the time in the past few months, he completely forgot what boredom is. Thinking of Ira, a small smile tugged his lips.

He groaned, checking the time. It's just been a couple of hours since she left and he was missing her already.

"God knows how this week is gonna pass" he thought, looking back at the screen.

One by one, Ira's thoughts invaded his mind. The very first time he met, her screams made him want to disappear. He chuckled at the thought. She looked so fierce at that time. He wondered how he started spending time with her, despite her being the complete opposite of him. He leaned back on his seat, drowning deep into her beautiful memories, smiling like an idiot.

His mobile pinged with a message. Before he could check it, Ira's name flashed on screen. He didn't waste a single second in swiping the screen after turning the screen off.

"Hi Ehan" her voice made his smile grow wider.

"Hey! You reached there?" He asked, standing up to walk out of his home theatre.

"Yes. And this place is awesome. I wish you were here with me"

"I wish so too" he thought.

"I have sent you some picture of this place. It's so beautiful here" he could imagine her spreading her arms in delight as she speaks. She went on telling him how happy she is, making him happier.

She hanged up only when Miss Bella called her to help her set up the tent. Ehan checked the pictures she sent him, taking more time staring at the one she was posing, ignoring the ones she wasn't in.

He then played a few games until she called him again after dinner, which reminded him that he has spent a way much time in gaming, ignoring his hurting eyes. She kept on talking and he used that time to prepare a simple meal and have dinner, not wanting to eat alone. When she hanged up, he hit the bed after having his pills.

The next day was even more boring. Ira called him after breakfast just to inform that she was going to play treasure hunt and she'll call him once she comes back to her tent. He made sure she was with a female company, just for his satisfaction.

By the time she called him, he dismantled the vacuum cleaner and spent time in learning what are all the things inside and how he could fit it back, which didn't seemed possible to him. He had tried his hand in that thing earlier and the outcome was as similar as this time.

Lily screamed her lungs out when she came with a few workers to clean this house. He sat innocently looking at the scattered pieces of vaccum cleaner. When she became tired of his silence, she left giving a threat that she'll tell Ira one day what are all the things he had done when she away. It only made him chuckle, continuing his work.

Second day passed somehow and the third day arrived. Ehan was already feeling suffocated. Only if Ira wasn't so happy and excited about this trip he wouldn't have let her go or atleast, called her back in a day. He dropped the table tennis bat he was playing with, all alone.

Playing alone is boring. He thought.

He didn't realise when he became so accustomed to Ira's presence that now he had to kill the time until she comes back.

For a second, he wondered what would have happened if she actually had lost her scholarship. The thought itself made his heart tremble. Pulling out his mobile, he looked at some of her new pictures, forgetting everything else.

She called that night and they had a long talk. He so wanted to ditch his pills and talk to her all night, but she being tired, fell asleep after an hour or so, which made him take pills and sleep.

The fourth day, he decided to try some new recipes, to pass the time ofcourse. Whenever Ira calls, his face lightened up and as soon as she hangs up, he becomes moody. He made a few new dishes and tried it on his own, tiredly looking out of the window. However, he couldn't spend the entire day in cooking, which made him go to gym. In short, he was bored to death.

---

It was the fifth day without Ira and Ehan was going crazy already. Every now and then, he told himself that just a couple of days to go and she'll be back. And to spent this day, he figured out a new activity; fishing.

If you're thinking that he was sitting near a lake for it, then you're wrong. He was fishing in his artificial pond, which is at the right side of his cottage, divided by a fenced wall. Whenever he catches a fish, he was quick to remove the hook and put it back in water. He was feeling this newly tried activity better than playing games and dismantling machines.

His mobile went off, making him keep the fishing rod aside with a huge smile. He swiped the screen and adjusted it between his ear and shoulder, keeping his stinking hands away.

"Hi Ehan" he felt as if Ira's voice echoed. He frowned, without speaking.

"Where are you now?" It echoed again, making his eyes go wide. Carefully holding the mobile with his left hand, he raised his body a little, only upto the point till his eyes could see the other side of the wall. The cottage was built a little lower than his house, which made him peek downwards.

Spotting Ira standing outside his cottage, he pulled himself down. His breathe caught in his throat. He wondered if she heard his mobile ring. He peeked again, only to find her staring at her phone screen, may be trying to know why she couldn't hear anything. He sat down again as she slightly turned to his side. He pressed the mobile to his ear, not knowing what to do next.

"Ehan" he distant himself from the phone as she yelled. He couldn't speak nor he could stand up. Both the things will land him in trouble. Keeping the call on, he crawled away from the pond. When he was satisfied that he was in a safe place where she couldn't spot him, he stood up. He was about to take the way from his main gate and appear infront of her from the cottage side, he stopped and smelled his t-shirt. He scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Yuckkk! I smell like fishes" he thought, feeling awful. Taking steps back, he ran inside his house.

Annoyed by the silence, Ira disconnected the call, only to call again. Relaxing, he picked it up and spoke as casually as he could.

"Hey Ira"

"What's wrong with you? Why were you so quiet when I you called earlier?"

Gulping, he opened his mouth to speak, "I... I was..."

"Where are you? Are you not home?" She asked more like whining.

"Yeah! I came out for a walk. Why?" He acted innocent, leaning against the wall.

"Nothing. When will you come... I mean, go back home?" She questioned cautiously, making him smile.

"In a few minutes. Why?" He was suppressing his smile.

"Nothing. Com... I mean, go back home soon. We'll have a video chat then"

"Ok" he let out a laugh after hanging up.

"So it's a surprise for me" he pumped his hand in air, delighted.

Running upstairs, he discarded his clothes into the laundry basket and took a quick shower. He was in great hurry. He dressed up, partially dried his hair and ran downstairs. He stopped when he was near the main door and rushed back upstairs. Grabbing the cottage keys from the drawer, he went outside.

He was panting by the time he reached the cottage. Ira was sitting on the stairs, busy with her mobile. He couldn't help the smile from spreading over lips. 5 days without her and he couldn't describe how happy he was to have her back. He don't know why she was back earlier then the actual time and being honest, it doesn't even mattered to him. All that is important to him was, she was back.

Wearing a casual expression and acting busy in his mobile, he walked ahead making some noise with his shoes. She quickly stood up spotting him and screamed, "Surprise...."

He looked up, trying to look as startled as he could but there's a huge difference in being suprised and acting surprised. His face showed that difference.

"Hey! When did you arrived?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Just a few minutes ago. Are you not surprised?" She looked disappointed.

"Ofcourse, I am. It's just that... You appeared out of nowhere and I don't know how to react" he let out an uncomfortable laugh. She smiled satisfactorily at that, convinced with his explanation.

"How come you're early?" He asked nearing her.

Instead of answering his question, she touched his damp hair, making him take a step back.

"Why is your hair wet?" She asked, narrowing her eyes in confusion.

He stood blankly staring at her, many lame excuses running in his mind.

It was raining outside. Really? He mentally asked himself.

I took a shower. But where? She's standing right at the door, which is locked from outside.

"I.... Actually, it was...." He was thinking of something when she yelled, "Lily" and ran away from him. He turned behind to spot Lily walking by the street. He let out a huge sigh of relief, wiping his chin.

"Hi Lily" Ira ran to Lily, making her stop on her tracks.

"Hey dear, when did you arrive?" She asked in a surprise tone.

"Just now" Ira flashed her a wide smile.

"How was your trip?" Ehan joined them as Lily asked.

"Ammmmazing" she clapped her hands, her face showing her delightful experience.

"I thought you'll be back by day after tomorrow. That's what you said that day and Ehan also told me the same thing"

"Miss Belly had a family emergency and I was missing Ehan. So I tagged along" she explained, sparing Ehan a glance.

"Ooh!" Lily's eyes went to Ehan, giving him a teasing smile. His ears were visibly turning red, which made Lily laugh.

"Where are you going?" Ira asked Lily, grabbing her attention from Ehan.

"Ehan's place" came Lily's quick reply. Ira's eyes narrowed whereas Ehan's widened. Lily mentally hit her head.

"I mean, the house behind Ehan's place" she quickly covered up, pointing behind the cottage. Ira looked where she pointed, increasing Ehan's nervousness.

"That palace like mansion? Who lives there? I have seen a watchman at the main gate but I have never spotted  anybody else. Whose house is that?" Ehan pinched the bridge is his nose, looking elsewhere. His heart beating fast and throat becoming dry.

"Dear, are you not tired? You have just arrived" Lily asked her, sensing Ehan's discomfort.

"No. It was just a couple of hours journey" Ira shook her head.

"Still, you should take rest. Let Lily go, she must be getting late" Lily smiled at Ira, nodding at Ehan's words.

"Yeah! Sure. Bye Lily" Ira waved, as Ehan dragged her inside.

---

Sitting side by side, Ehan and Ira kept their eyes glued to Ehan's laptop, in which an animated movie called Smurfs was playing. Since school was over, they had nothing much to do, Ehan proposed the idea of watching a movie and let Ira choose one.

"I always wanted to watch cartoons but there was no TV at the orphanage. So I never got the chance" she said, when Ehan asked her what she would like to watch.

As per her wish, he let her decide a movie and she came up the this smurf movie, by ofcourse her 'Inky Pinky Pinky' thing.

He passed her the popcorn cup they were sharing, shoving some in his mouth. Taking it from his hand, she copied his actions, enjoying the movie.

After a few minutes, she realised she got something for Ehan. Unzipping her bag, she pulled out some chocolate bars.

"Ehan, I got this for you" she gave him one.

"This is for me and this is for Ms Belly" she showed the remaining two bars.

"Yeah! It was so sweet of her giving you off during exam days and keeping you safe with her throughout the trip" Ehan commented and Ira hummed.

Tearing the wrapper, they both silently ate their chocolate bars, savouring the rich taste of chocolate and caramel. A few minutes passed and Ehan rubbed his throat, feeling it tightened whilst his neck felt itchy. He scratched his neck, still watching the movie. Rubbing his fingers together, he shifted uncomfortably. His eyes went to Ira, who was very much engrossed in the movie and carefully examined his hands; they were turning pink. A shiver ran down spine as he felt scared of her getting know about his allergy.

He slowly distant himself from her, thinking of the consequences if it turned out to be contagious. Just then, she turned her head to face him, making his eyes go wide and movements stop.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

What will happen now? Will Ira get to know about his allergy?

How will she react?

Should Ehan tell her about his illness or cover it up with some excuses?