"Maryyyyy... O Maryyyyy...,

You were so scaryyyy

I miss your slap,

I hate this crap...."

Ira sang, more like whined. She sat on the bed, keeping some papers on her lap and surfing the net to find some points to write the assignment. But the problem was, she just couldn't. It was getting difficult for her to concentrate without being forced by Mary. Mary was the only reason she used to study before. Now that she wasn't there with her, she found no mood to study.

"Come on, Ira, you can do it" She told herself the same thing again. She started writing with determination but within a few minutes, she found herself singing the same song.

With great difficulty, she wrote about three pages of the 30-page assignment.

"I'll do it tomorrow" she mumbled before sleeping after dinner.

---

The next day, she attended her classes and decided to complete at least a few pages of the assignment before going for a part-time job, which begins at 5 in the evening.

She went to the cafeteria, "Hi, Lily" She waved her hand at Lily, who was busy serving students. She befriended Lily on the first day itself.

"Hey dear. What would you like to have?" she smiled at Ira.

"What is the cheapest thing we have on the menu?" Ira asked, tapping her fingers on the glass counter.

Lily paused her work and looked at Ira for a moment, who was smiling. "Sandwich" Lily replied, passing her a small smile.

"Ok, give me that and a lollipop" As Ira said the last word, her eyes shone with delight.

Lily handed her the sandwich she asked for with the lollipop and she paid.

Taking an empty seat, Ira started writing the points she gathered while munching on the sandwich in between. After eating, she thought of going home and completing the remaining work, before leaving for a part-time job.

She walked out, hanging her bag pack on her shoulders. She held the papers in one hand and the other, she had the lollipop. She tried to unwrap that through her teeth. She took a right and walked near the swimming pool, successfully unwrapping the lollipop. Her eyes were fixed on the candy. She was about to shove that in her mouth when she bumped into Ehan, who was walking to the cafeteria after visiting the library.

The papers she held slipped from her hand; some of them fell into the water and some on the ground. She gasped and accidentally dropped the lollipop next, holding the wrapper tight.

She looked inside the pool, her mouth agape and eyes wide. She slowly lifted her eyes and met Ehan's blank face. He was looking at the floating papers with an expressionless face.

"My assignment" she whined, gritting her teeth which grabbed his attention. He looked at her, frowning. She curled her fingers into a fist and realised that she was holding the wrapper.

"And my lollipop too" she cried, looking at the wrapper.

"I'm... Sorry," Ehan mumbled, though it wasn't his fault. Ira looked at him, confused. She knew it wasn't his fault. 'What is he apologizing for?' she thought.

But to release her anger, she yelled, "What do you mean by sorry? Do you have any idea how difficultly I filled those pages?  And I didn't even taste the lollipop" she whined.

Ehan looked around, people were staring at them with strange looks. "I said, I'm sorry" he repeated, whispering this time.

"I don't need your sorry. My assignment and my lollipop....." she cried again, stomping her foot on the ground. Ehan looked embarrassed from the attention she was grabbing.

"Shhhh! Stop yelling. You are grabbing other's attention" he tried to make her shut her mouth.

"Other's attention? All you care about is that? What about my hard work which is ruined by you... And my lollipop" she whined aloud.

"Ok, ok. I'll do it for you. I'll write your assignment and give you tomorrow morning. Will that be ok?" He asked in a hurry, wanting to get away from there as soon as possible.

She looked at him, stopping her tantrums for a moment.

"What's the topic?" He asked when she didn't reply and stood blankly looking at him, he picked up the paper falling on the ground.

"Sports?" He asked, reading a few lines she had written. She nodded, throwing an angry look.

"Ok, done. See you at 8 tomorrow" he showed a thumbs up and walked out taking long strides.

"And my lollipop..." She whined, looking at his retreating figure.

---

"And then, some of the paper slipped and fell in water" she narrated the incident to Hunny Bunny.

"And that guy, he said he'll write my assignment and escaped. Why would he write my assignment when it wasn't even his fault?" She clicked her tongue, as she spoke.

"I don't know exactly, but that guy looked similar to the one who topped the previous year. What was his name? Ehan Sinha" she said, slipping into a dress.

"Why would 'Ehan Sinha, the topper' would help me? I don't think I should believe him. I probably should start the assignment all over again" She grabbed her bag and combed her hair through her fingers.

"Anyways, I'll think about it later. I'll see you tonight, Hunny Bunny. Bye," she waved bye to the toy and went to work.

---

As promised, Ehan completed Ira's assignment and stood waiting for her at the same spot near the swimming pool, the next morning.

She was very sure that he was kidding, still, she went there and was surprised to find him. He stood with a file in his hand, gazing at nothing in particular.

He straightened himself as she neared. Without speaking a word, he forwarded the file. She hesitantly accepted that.

"And your lollipop," he said, handing the similar candy.

Her face lit up in a Nano second. She opened the file and scanned through the papers, "My God! You wrote it!" She grinned, turning the pages.

"If I'm not wrong, you are Ehan Sinha, right? The topp..."  She looked up, only to find no one in front. She turned back and found him leaving.

"Thank you" she screamed aloud, but he left without hearing her.

"Thank you so much, God! Keep making me drop papers and send him at the right time. I'll probably get all my assignments done" she grinned.

---

Ira submitted the assignment exactly the day they were asked to. She didn't bother opening that and knowing what are all the points he has mentioned.

"Okay, class. That's it for today" Miss. Lorita closed the book, after completing a lesson. Ira closed her book and shoved it in her bag.

"Now, May I know who's Ira here?" Miss. Lorita asked, facing the class.

Ira frowned and stood up, "I must say, girl, you have done a nice job with your assignment. Guys, she has covered the whole topic, not missing any kind of point. It's quite impressive. Dear, if you continue to work hard in the same way, hopefully you'll score as good as Ehan Sinha" Ira's eyes were as big as saucers as the teacher praised her. And when she took Ehan's name, she choked on her saliva.

"I would like you to speak about it to the class" Ira looked at Miss. Lorita with wide eyes. She gulped the lump formed in her throat.

"Come, dear. Come here" she was called in front.

Unwillingly, Ira took a little step. Nervously, she walked towards Miss. Lorita, praying for some miracle to happen and she would be saved.

"Let's start. Don't be nervous. They are all your friends. Speak up" Miss. Lorita encouraged. Ira clasped her hands together and looked at everyone. Every eye was curiously staring at her, making her even more nervous.

"Come on, start" Miss. Lorita gently squeezed her shoulders.

She gulped and opened her mouth, "Hello everyone. I'm...."

Tringgggg....

Ira let out a huge sigh of relief as the bell rang.

"Oops! Our bad! Ok, guys, we'll hear Ira tomorrow. Thank you everyone" Miss Lorita left and others started moving out with their bags.

Ira cursed herself. She thought she escaped but no, she was still stuck. Miss. Lorita didn't return her assignment and she doesn't have any copy of it, nor did she take a glance at the points in it. She groaned, not knowing what to do.

She skipped lunch and stood near the swimming pool, hoping Ehan would pass by like that day. After waiting for about half an hour, she spotted him. Her face lit up, "Hi" she waved her hand to him but he didn't notice. He was walking in the bubble of his thoughts.

She walked ahead and blocked his way, "I said, Hi" she waved her hand again.

He ignored her and walked passed her, only to get blocked again, "This is so rude of you. Just because you are a topper and my senior doesn't mean you'll carry this attitude..."

"Hi" he mouthed, shutting her mouth. He walked passed her, but she followed him behind, "Listen, I need your help. Miss. Lorita is very much impressed by the assignment you wrote for me. She wants me to speak about the topic in front of the whole class" she said following him behind.

He entered the cafeteria and took his usual seat. She sat in front of him and continued, "I don't have any copy of the assignment nor did I read that before submitting it. I don't know what to do" she whined. He didn't utter a word. He opened his bag and took out the laptop.

"I don't know anything about sports. I used to play basketball with my classmates back in India but I don't know about any other game" she said further as he inserted a pendrive into the laptop and busied himself.

"Are you even listening?" She waved her hand in front of him. He didn't lift his eyes from the laptop screen, while she was making attempts to make him listen to her.

"Would you please help me? I'll be doomed if she'll get to know that...." Ehan forwarded her the Pendrive. She frowned accepting that, "Does it have..."

He nodded, not speaking anything.

"Thank you so much" she screamed, making him shut his eyes tight.

"Thank you" she repeated, shaking him by his shoulder. He forced himself to nod so that she could leave.

She walked away smiling and jumping in joy. She went to the library and used one of the computers there. She noted down the points she was going to speak about the next day and transferred the PDF to her mobile for further reference.

The next day, she spoke confidently to the class, earning praise from Miss. Lorita.

After the classes were over, she stood waiting for Ehan at the same spot; near the swimming pool, to thank him and return the Pendrive.

Within a few minutes, she spotted him walking towards the cafeteria, lost in his thoughts. "Thank you so very much" Ira interrupted his thoughts, forwarding the pen drive. He silently took that from her palm and walked away.

Ira stared at him as he went inside the cafeteria and mumbled, "I couldn't understand whether to call him sweet or rude?!" She shrugged.

---

"Maryyyyy... O Maryyyyy...,

You were so scaryyyyyy,

I miss your slap,

I hate this crap...."

That night after returning from work, Ira found herself singing the same song while doing homework. She huffed in annoyance. She needed someone to force her to study.

"If you continue to work hard in the same way, hopefully, you'll score as good as Ehan Sinha" Miss Lorita's words echoed in her ears. A thought clicked in her mind and she looked at Hunny Bunny beside her.

"Are you thinking the same?" She asked the toy, narrowing her eyes.

"Should I ask Ehan Sinha to tutor me?" She asked herself.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

They came face to face. How was that part?

Whose reactions like the most, Ira or Ehan?

Will Ehan agree to tutor Ira?

Do let me know your views via comments and don't forget to vote :)