"I saw you and Amber speaking after second class today" Ira carefully said, hoping Ehan would tell her what they were actually speaking which was so funny that he smiled.

Ehan chuckled, walking beside her, which made Ira's eyes go suspiciously narrow.

"What did she say?" She desperately asked, not being able to contain her curiousity.

"Nothing" he shook his head, smiling.

Her steps slow down and expressions turned into an unpleasant one as Ehan's own words played in her mind.

I prefer keeping things that matters to me, to myself. I don't share it with a soul.

He unknowingly walked ahead, leaving her behind. He turned back to find her standing eight to ten steps away from him, thinking.

"Ira, what's wrong? Let's go" she looked up breaking her thoughts and ran to him. They went out of the campus and on the way, Ira kept looking behind them to make sure Amber wasn't there. They had lunch at the same place they visited a day before. All the while, Ira kept glancing at Ehan, wanting him to tell her what Amber told him.

When they were on the way back to campus, Ira stopped him by holding his arm, "Are you really not going to tell me?" She asked, more like pleading.

"Tell you what?" He frowned. He didn't understand what she was asking about.

"Whatever Amber told you"

He couldn't help but laughed at her curiousity, which made her clench her teeth, "why are you laughing? What did she said so funny that you were smiling even then?"

"You're still stuck with it?" he let out another laugh. Her face looked so hilarious that he felt like teasing her even more.

Composing herself, she replied, "I'm just curious"

"Curiousity killed the cat" he neared his face to hers and said with a serious expression.

"I'm no different. Tell me, what did she say. I won't let you leave otherwise" she spread arms and stood blocking his way.

"You're crazy and so is that Amber" he pinched her left cheek, flashing his heart melting smile. She didn't realise when her hands turned down and came to rest by her side. Her anger disappeared and she smiled back, watching him leave.

Once he was out of sight, she frowned, "What does that suppose to mean?"

---

"Ira, people are watching us" Ehan hissed, glancing at people walking around give them a strange looks; some were frowning whereas some were laughing at the way she was hugging a pole of street lamp.

Ira shook her head as no, facing the other side. Her eyes closed and face angry.

"We can talk about this at home" he gently tried to pull her away but she didn't let go of the pole.

"I won't move an inch until you tell me what Amber told you" she demanded, still facing the other side.

"God! Ira, you're too much" her pulled her again and this time, she threw him a very very angry glare which made him sigh in defeat.

"She was apologising for fracturing my nonexistent pet's legs. Happy? Now let's go" she remained in the same position and asked, "What were you smiling on?"

"Jumbo, a rat's name. Seriously, Ira?" She looked at him this time, with a wide smile.

"And to top of it, you've told her that she fractured it's legs. Too much" he shook his head with a chuckle.

"She believed it so easily. Wasn't my story amazing?" Ira giggled, letting go of the pole.

"Yes. As amazing as you. Now let's get going"

They moved towards her apartment, talking and laughing at Amber's hilarious reactions.

"What else did you shared about me?" He asked, once Ira freshened up and they were on the way to his house.

"Your phone number, your address and your favourite cake. That's it. Actually, I was in hurry that day. Ms Belly asked me photocopy some documents quickly. So I didn't found enough time to share more about yo..." She stopped, biting her tongue. Ehan sighed, throwing a not so serious glare at her side.

"Sorry. I was stupid. I won't ever share about us to anyone. I promise" she mumbled, looking down.

He smiled at the way she stood, like a punished student who was masking innocence to melt a strict teacher.

"You told her about my allergy?" He asked, making her look up at him.

"No, I swear" she held a tiny part of her skin at her throat, between her index finger and thumb and replied immediately.

Nodding satisfactorily, he said, "let's go" and lead the way.

---

The next day, Amber did the same thing of taking a seat next to Ehan and boring him with her blabbers. He nodded a couple of times, clenching his jaw.

When he was out with Ira for lunch, he shared about it with her, keeping his words short that Amber sits beside him in class and talks alot. Ira didn't seemed much bothered about it since Ehan sounded irritated.

Once done, he dropped her back and went home. She made her way towards Ms Bella's cabin and spotted Amber on the stairs, usually waiting for her. Ira thought she'll demand an explanation for not taking her along for lunch but no, she flashed her a widest smile ever.

"Ira... You know what happened today?" She held Ira's both the hands and asked in utter excitement.

"What happened?" Ira found herself uninterested as well as curious at the same time. Uninterested; cause she thought she'll brag about herself and curious; cause she know it'll be somewhere related to Ehan. Afterall, the excitement on her face was screaming it all.

"Ehan..." Amber sighed, dreamily looking at nothing.

"Ehan, what?" Ira roughly shook her by her hands, pulling her out of her dreamland.

"You know, he listened to me today" she replied and Ira gave her a 'what nonsense?' kind of look.

"See, he never responds wherever I try to speak to him. But today, he hummed. Not even once but twice. He's letting me know that he's listening" Amber squealed in joy.

"So?" Ira raised her eyebrows.

"What do you mean by 'so'? This is an improvement. Today he indicated that he's listening to me, tomorrow he'll talk and hopefully he'll fall for me after that. Isn't it's exciting?" Amber giggled, pressing Ira's hands under hers.

Forcing a smile, Ira said, "such a 'Sheikh chilli' you're"

"What chili?"

"Sheikh chilli, the one who.... Dreams high, very high" she dramatically pointed her hands up, as far as their vision could go.

"Ah! That I am" Amber proudly said and Ira let out a laugh, thinking how easy it is to fool her. First she made a story about Ehan's pet and now this.

"Now you better be prepared. I'm gonna steal your bestfriend from you" Amber brought her hand closer and gestured as snatching something from Ira.

The smile on Ira's face disappeared in a split second and she gasped unknowingly. She felt like Amber actually snatched Ehan from her.

Amber laughed at her reaction which only made Ira look at her with fearful eyes. Her heart begun to beat unevenly and she felt a familiar uneasiness spread in her chest. Amber bid her bye and left but she stood still at the same spot, trying to understand what's happening with her.

Her mobile went off with Ms Bella's call and it was only then she realised that Amber was gone and she was getting late for work. She climbed up the stairs with a heavy heart, not even knowing the reason behind it.

---

Lily was on a call, standing outside the cafeteria when she spotted Ira grumpily walking towards her. Her head hung low and she was taking tiny steps.

"Hey dear, what's wrong? You look sick" Lily asked when she neared her.

Looking up from the ground, Ira replied in a low tone, "No, Lily. I'm fine"

"Where's Ehan? Looks like your shift ended earlier than usual today"

"Ms Bella think I'm sick so she asked me to go home and rest"

"You seriously look sick" Lily placed the back of her hand over Ira's forehead and checked the temperature, which was normal.

"Come. Let's go inside and eat something. You'll feel better" she dragged Ira in.

Once she took the seat next to counter, Lily offered her some weafers and cookies.

"No, thanks Lily. I'm fine" Ira pushed the tray away, being in a grumpy mood.

"My treat" Lily said, urging her take some.

"Oh! Thanks" Ira's mood lifted a little and she picked up a packet of wafers.

"Can I take one for Ehan?" She asked Lily, who chuckled at her question.

"Sure, sweetheart. Go ahead" she smiled back and took another one. Carefully reading the ingredients described on the wrapper, she was satisfied that it was safe for Ehan. Lily smiled, admiring her concern for Ehan.

Ira started munching on her wafers and Lily ate a couple of cookies.

"Now tell me dear, what's bothering you? Is it about that new ginger haired girl?"

Ira looked up surprised and asked, "How did you know, Lily?"

"I have seen how she tries to grab Ehan's attention during lunch and even Ehan said that she's the reason you both are not eating at my cafeteria anymore"

Ira nodded, looking at her hands, "Amber said, she'll steal Ehan from me" she said in a low voice.

"Oh my God! She said that aloud?" Lily gasped, increasing Ira's fears.

"Yes. She said that on my face" she pointed at herself.

"That's an open challenge" Lily shook her head with wide eyes, which made Ira think how serious Amber's words were.

"I don't even know what exactly she meant but it didn't sounded right"

"What she meant is very clear, my dear. She will steal Ehan from you. You and him will no longer be together. She'll become a third wheel and..." Lily stopped, thinking if Ira is even understanding her.

"And what Lily?" Ira's panicked face hinted that she was pretty well understanding what she's saying.

"And that's it. You and Ehan would no longer be together. You'll remain his friend for namesake or even worse..."

"No, no, no, Lily. This shouldn't happen. He's mine. I can't let her take him away" Ira panicked and for a second, Lily felt sad for her. Her intention was never to make Ira panick or scare her but she know, Ira was naive, who won't understand easily.

"Relax, dear. You still have time. You can stop her"

Visibly relaxing a little, Ira asked, "Really? How? What should I do?"

"You should be very very alert now. She's trying to find excuses to get close to Ehan. Don't give her that chance. Instead, make sure she wouldn't get a single opportunity to be near him, even when you're not around. Are you getting me?" Lily hopefully asked after completing.

"No" Ira shook her head.

Huffing, Lily explained, "Dear, what I mean to say is, think of a solution and remove her from your way"

Ira's eyes widened and she gasped, "You want me to kill her?"

Now it was Lily's turn to go wide eyes. "Not at all, dear. Why would I say so? All I'm trying to tell you is, be a little evil. Think how you should keep her away from Ehan and do it. That's all" Lily sighed at the end.

Nodding, Ira looked at nothing in particular and nodded again, as if explaining herself what she should do next and stood up, "You're right, Lily. I should do something. Thank you so much for your advise and as well as wafers. I'll get going now" she held Lily's hands and gently squeezed it, smiling at her. Lily smiled back and bid her bye.

She went out and came back within few seconds. Grabbing the wafers she forgot to take for Ehan, she flashed another smile at Lily and ran away.

"I just hope everything goes well with them" Lily silently prayed.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

What will Ira do now?

Give her some tips to keep Amber away from Ehan.