Dedicated to Vvvvv00011111
May Allah ease your burden and hardships, and grant you peace and success. Aameen ❤️

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"Ehan... Where were you?" Ira repeated her question, pulling Ehan's tee sleeves, who was furiously typing in his laptop, his face devoid of any expression.

Ehan left the campus as soon as he spot Ira and Hamlet together. Amber followed him behind but he shooed her away by an angry glare. He directly went home, not wanting to deal with anybody with his sour mood.

When it was time for lunch, Ira called him again and again but there was no response. He switched his mobile off and went to the gaming room to remove his anger by playing those violent games. His anger didn't subside but his eyes surely turned itchy. He freshened up and went to pick Ira from school. Since then, she has been asking him the same question and he has been quiet.

"Ehan...." She yelled, pulling his hand.

"Does it matter?" He finally asked, pulling his hand back. His angry eyes looking at hers, which held the same emotion.

"Yes, it does. Where were you? Your house was locked, your mobile was off. Neither Lily nor nor I had any idea. I was worried" she yelled.

Ehan sighed, letting out a bitter laugh. "I was with Amber. We were on a date" he said, his words sounding surprise to his own ears and mind.

Where did that come from? He thought hearing himself.

Ira's face, which was angry a moment ago, twisted and turned hurt in a second. Her expressions mirrored the one Ehan had when he saw her with Hamlet.

"You're kidding, right?" She asked in a soft voice, not believing what she heard.

A small smile tugged his lips at the way she was looking at him, begging to say it was joke; a terrible one.

"Ofcourse not" he said, stabbing her heart. She kept looking at him with the same look, as if her eyes were still hopeful that he'll crack up any moment.

He thought for a free second and made up a story.

"You know, she asked me out yesterday. And I thought, why not? We went to a nearby cafe, remember that 'Love birds' cafe at the street next to our campus? That one" he narrated, looking at her face all the time. She surely was trying very hard not to dash out or yell at him to shut his mouth.

"My God! Amber is witty and hilarious. I had a nice time with her" he laughed, pretending to recall the time he spent with Amber. But in reality, he was laughing at Ira's face, which was an epitome of confusion and anger.

"No. You... you're lying. You don't even like her" she yelled, pushing her book away. She sounded like she was telling that to herself more than to him.

"I thought so. But it's you, who told me she is a nice girl, remember?" He asked in an excited tone, looking at her with a delighted face. She clenched her teeth and tightened her fist, shaking her head as no. Her eyes looking in his, as if they were ready to eat him alive.

"But I do. And you were absolutely right. Amber is such a nice girl" he commented, looking at his laptop screen with a wide smile.

She remained quiet, which made him look at her from the corner of his eyes. She was staring at the open book infront of her, her expressions unreadable.

"Hurry up, Ira. You should complete it by today" he said, pulling her out of her thoughts. She gave him a blank look and nodded. Picking up the pencil from beside her, she silently resumed solving the math sum.

Ehan pressed his lips together, restricting the smile from spreading. Never did once he would have thought that seeing her confused, hurt and uneasy would ever give him this much of peace. The pain in his heart which was making him feel uneasy, settled, subsiding with a satisfaction of her being as possessive for him as he is for her.

---

Holding the strap of backpack, Ira walked absentmindedly. Her heart still not ready to accept that Ehan went on a date with Amber. A part of her still hoped that he was lying.

Only if he had any idea, how much pain his delighted face and excitement filled fake story caused her.

She remained awake for a long time previous night, thinking of the possibilities of losing Ehan if he'll get close to Amber, until her eyes gave up and sleep consumed her.

But for Ehan, it was entirely opposite. He was mentally dancing since last night. He don't know why Ira was having coffee with Hamlet and didn't even let him know anything about it but he have every idea that the reason will be something silly. He know her childish self too well.

"Ira, Where are you lost? I have been calling you" Ehan appeared from behind, flashing a wide smile at her, who wasn't in a nice mood. She forced a smile and looked elsewhere.

"What's wrong? You look disturbed since last night. All okay?" He asked, trying hard not to smile.

She gave him a murderous look, which made him a let out a laugh, despite trying hard not to.

"I'm fine" she said, turning back to walk away but he held her hand.

"You don't look so".

"Hehehe... Do I look fine now?" She showed him all her clenched teeth, forcing a laugh, which made him burst out laughing.

"You're hilarious" he commented, in between his laughs. She was in such a bad mood that even his whole hearted laugh failed to make her smile.

She turned and started walking. Ehan ran behind her, "you know what Amber texted this morning?" He asked, not wanting leave a single chance to make literally boil in anger.

"No, I don't know. Nor I wish to know" she whisper yelled, increasing her walking speed.

"But I want to share this with you" he blocked her way by standing infront of her.

"She said..." Ira tried to walk from his either sides but he didn't let her, blocking from both the ways.

"I'm getting late, Ehan" she tried not to yell, glaring at his sweetly smiling face.

"It won't even take you a minute. Just listen to me"

"No. I'm getting late. Lemme go" she pushed him aside to walk ahead but her steps halted coming face to face with Amber.

Ehan turned back with a smirk, which disappeared as soon as Amber's face came in sight. He coughed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He glanced at Ira from his periphery, who was mentally murdering Amber.

"Hi, Ehan" said Amber, flashing him her killer smile.

"Hi" he smiled back uncomfortably. She looked between him and Ira, and Ehan panicked. He just hoped Ira don't ask her about the never happened coffee date and text messages he lied about. How was Amber even supposed to text him when he has blocked her number.

"You were getting late, Ira" Amber reminded, faking a smile at her.

"Not anymore, Amber" Ira's smile was as fake as hers.

Amber let out a mocking laugh and turned to Ehan, "Ehan, can I talk to you? Alone?" She said the last word eyeing Ira, who was standing beside him. Ira rolled her eyes, folding her hands across her chest.

Letting out an uncomfortable laugh, Ehan said, "You can talk here. She won't mind"

Ira smirked at Amber, whose face fell, hearing Ehan. She thought there wasn't anything right between Ira and Ehan after yesterday but they both looked all fine. She mentally cursed, masking a smile over her face.

"I... I wanted to ask you on a date. Will you have a coffee with me?" She asked, looking in Ehan's eyes. Ira looked between them. Her eyes narrowed in confusion along with anger.

"Co.. coffee? No" Ehan said in hurry, draining the colour from Amber's face and making a smile appear on Ira's. He looked at Ira, who was smirking at Amber, which made quickly add, "Let's have lunch together"

Amber gasped frightfully and Ira's eyes widened. Her expressions turned hurtful in a moment and she looked as if she was going to break down crying. So Ehan said, "You, Ira and I"

Amber wanted to argue, but let it go. He atleast agreed to share the table with her, which definitely was an improvement.

Ira silently walked away, leaving Ehan to regret his words. He shut his eyes, sighing. He had no intention of hurting her but there was no way he could make her understand what everytime she makes him go through, without causing her a little pain.

---

Once the last class of the day was over, which was indicated by the bell, everyone started making their way out, except Ira. She sat still on her chair, staring at nothing ahead of her. Her eyes lowered she hands clasped together. There was a hurricane bubbling inside her and she couldn't even understand what's exactly happening with her.

She looked at the diary in her lap, which Ehan gave her. She stared at the single syllable she wrote in it, at the first page first line; Ehan. Her fingers traced the four letters.

The unknown pain, the unnamed feelings and the unrecognisable reason was killing her within.

She took in a deep breathe, hoping to feel better, taking in the things happening with her, easy.

"Don't think of it" she whispered to herself, which only brought the memories of Ehan's changed attitude towards Amber again, making her heart heavier than it already was. She bent, resting her forehead against the cold desk, when her heart squeezed and clenched within her.

There were many things running in her mind, which was making it hard for her to relax for a bit.

"Ehan" she whispered, shutting her eyes. Her body trembled as she clenched her fist, trying not to break down. She hide her face in her arms, pulling herself closer.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

How's Ehan's plan of making Ira understand his problem?

You think he'll succeed in it?

Give Ira some tips to stop this lunch date ( which isn't exactly a date).