Vinaya

I think it's time I should leave. Dad said he would send a cab back home and it must be here soon.

As am I am on my way to say goodbye to Allysa, Mr Ryan is rushing back from the rooftop onto the the party room, and to his own room. The door slams behind him.

Oh my gosh. Woah he must have some anger issues.. What must have happened? Anyway it's not any of my business. I head out and get in my car.

Later that night~

Hah. Finally I get to sleep.

"Vinaya"!! Mom screams.

" Y-yes what is it now mom"? Urgh no.. I'm tired.

"You're not going to sleep before you finish your school work. You know you're not going to take the day off Tomorrow".

" You're expecting me to study now! At this hour seriously mom"?

"You need to finish everything on time. I won't take any more complaints about your performance".

" I'll. I'll manage on my own. You won't get any complaints okay. I'm studying now".

"Fine. Wake up an hour or two earlier than school and study okay".

I just nod. I don't understand why she's always way too clingy to my personal studies. I know how to manage my tasks. I hate being ordered to do it one way or another. It's always easy to say but not easy at all to do.

She doesn't care about me at all..

I fall asleep while being frustrated about the whole situation. . .

Morning~

The first thing I do in the morning is not so appealing, I check my phone. I need to get rid of this habit Asap. But again who cares? It won't take more than a minute or two...

Allysa has texted me in the midnight.

Allysa: vianyaaa how could uuu jst leabe without sayingg b-bbye....

What the hell is this... I call her and she's having a hangover from drinking last night urgh.

"Vinaya are you up? you got a parcel" Says dad.

There's a parcel with my name...!!.

"Comingg".

The box is wrapped in such a beautiful covering that I don't even want to remove it. I check the address and to my surprise it's from Mr Ryan. And there's another box inside of it along with a note.

"Thanks for the lovely gift Ms Vinaya, consider this as a small return gift from my side".

Mom and dad are right next to me, telling me to not waste time and open it. They seem to look more excited than I am.

And it's a dress!!?? What??

"Wow. This looks expensive". Says days.

"This is not any expensive as compared to the guitar. But I would mention,this looks so pretty". Says mom.

"What are you guys talking about? I'm not keeping this". I say in a serious tone.

"What do you mean you won't keep it"? Asks mom.

Ofc I am not going to keep this gift. I feel odd to keep it. I should return it back. There wasn't any need to gift something like this to me..

"No mom it's not very decent of me to be keeping this it's better that I return it back. The fact that he thought of gifting this is nice but I don't think there's any reason to".

"You're not wrong.. Okay then return it to Allysa at the library later". Says dad.

"Yes that'll be fine".. I say.

(At the library)

Today I came here half an hour earlier since Mr Ryan is only at the library around 4. I am going to directly return the return gift to him since Allysa won't come today due to her " Hangover".

I order a cup of coffee today and wait until I see him around carrying this bag everywhere. I could have contacted him through a call or text but again I don't wanna keep connections through phone. It just feels better in person only.

And it's been sometime and my coffee is finished. I still didn't get a hold of him. I guess he's just not here today.

The bell of the front gate opening in this cafe jingles and I look up hoping it must be Mr Ryan or something but it wasn't him. It's a girl, a customer obviously since it's a cafe. But the thing is, she looks familiar. Like I know I have seen this face definitely somewhere.

She's pretty, her clothes and bag looks branded, a model like figure and she's wearing makeup. And that's.. Similar to the girl I met at the party! The one who asked me for Mr Ryan. It's her. It took a moment for me to realise but I'm glad I did cz these deja vu feelings always get the best of me.

She's just looking around as if again looking for someone. Mr Ryan perhaps? Is she his girlfriend? Wow. She suits being with Mr Ryan. They definitely do make a good couple. I keep sitting at my table looking at her when she sees me, oops. Now she'll recognise me too.

That maybe that has happened cz she is making her way onto my table now. Ugh. I didn't want to talk with her. I am sure she's going to ask me for him again.

"Hey,We met earlier". She says.

"Oh yes we sure did". I smile.

And she seats herself across the table starting to converse.

"Aanya".

" I'm Vinaya".

"Do you know what time Ryan usually comes here"? She asks.

"Uh I think he's here around 4. But not today".

"And how do you know that? When he's here I mean".

"I regularly visit the library. So I noticed that".

"Visit the library? Why? To see him"?

"Huh. What does that mean"??

" I mean you're always around. If you're just a regular visitor of the library there's no way you would be at his place that day".

Wow. That's so rude. Her demeanor is so unpleasant.

"His sister--. You know what I don't think there's a need to explain everything to you". Why should I answer everything she puts up.

"Okay. Never mind". She gets up and walks out.

Why is she being so rude? I have no ties with Me Ryan or anything and I don't need to explain that. If she's his girlfriend just ask him. Why being so rude to a stranger? I don't care hah.

I grab the gift bag and start to head inside through the library gate, only reading and getting some fresh air through the window in peace can change my frustrated mood now. As I reach for the handle, I bump into someone. I would be honest I wasn't looking around.

It's him.... Aarav.

"Oh hey".. He says.

"Yes hello. Sorry I wasn't looking".

" No problem. I'm sorry as well".

"Let's head inside"

"Oh yes haha"!

We head inside together and I take my seat as usual where I do. But it's crowded today and his seat's taken. He'll probably sit in some other row that's what I thought but doesn't. He takes a seat next to the one next to mine.

Great now I don't think there will be anything I can read today cause whenever he's near it's so hard to focus on anything.. I don't know why..? All I think is what he's doing or thinking..

And our eyes meet. Once. Twice. Once again. Oh no.

Aarav

Ever since she sent that photo to me and asked me for suggestion, I have been looking forward to actually see her. I want to know what the event was but again it's not my place to ask anything yet.

But one thing is certain. I have decided I'll start to make my moves. I'll put efforts to get a little close. Atleast if not anything I want us to be friends and feel comfortable talking our stuff with each other while keeping a hope it could turn into something more with time.. Hah.

I've never tried getting close to any girl before, no one made me attracted to them as Vinaya did. She sure is different. And that's what makes it harder for me. But still I can't miss my chance. I'll try to get closer to her without being nosy or clingy.. That would be fine I think.

And here we are. I didn't sit in any other row but tried to sit somewhere closer to her.. And thankfully that girl isn't here today which makes it more peaceful for me to try and find an excuse to talk to her.

We keep accidentally making a few eye contacts, which makes me nervous. But looking at her body language I think she's feeling that too. She's not even turning the page from a while when I know she's a fast reader. That indicates she's not able to focus too.

I suddenly notice she's having some kind of a bag with her today, she usually never carry anything here so that's unusual.

Time flies and I've just no idea about that until Vinaya gets up with that bag. I get up too.

"You're leaving too"? She asks.

"Yes. Let's head outside together ".

"Sure". She walks out quickly before I can say something.

"Uh Vinaya how's your school going"? I'll put an effort to keep this conversation alive no matter what.

" School. She sighs. Don't even ask. I am studying literally all day except this time"..

"How about you? It must be so tough to manage both school & work together. I can't even imagine doing that". She asks.

" Well yes. It is. But it's fine now that I'm a bit used to the work". I say.

"That's good to hear".

" Btw can I ask what's this bag you're carrying today"?

"Oh this? It's a gift. I came to return it"..

"Gift"?

"Yes.. You know Allysa? She's the owner's sister. She invited me over to his birthday party and I got this return gift".

"The owner's her brother"!?

"Yess haha"..

" And why are you returning it then"?

"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right to keep it. It's a dress and I feel it's better to return it".

The owner gifted her a dress? So she must have attended his party that day when she sent me the photo.

"That's okay. If you don't feel good about keeping it then don't".

"Yes. I guess I'll just return it to Allysa tomorrow".

The conversation is coming to an end..

" Why didn't your friend come today"?

"She's having a hangover from the party haha".

" Oh I see. If I knew she wouldn't come today I would have asked if I could sit next to you".

My first move.

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TO BE CONTINUED...