"You don't do it that way." She giggled.

"Then how do we do it?" He asked with his hands covered with color.

"You're like those nursery kids who doesn't know how to paint. You're all covered in colors." She laughed.

"Mhm, is that so?" Kartik said taking slow steps towards her. She nodded controlling her laugh.

"Stop right there, your hands are all covered in paint." She said pointing towards his hands.

He smirked and pulled her closer holding her hand, and smearing it with paint.

"Yikes, leave my hand."

"Okay." He said pinched her cheeks, now dirtying her cheeks even.

"What are you guys doing?" Viyaan asked as he just entered the drama club and saw Kartik holding Naira's hand.

Naira snatched her hand away.

"Nothing. We're just trying to work." She said and glared at Kartik, getting back to work.

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"You like her, don't you?" Viyaan asked Kartik as they were driving to sports club.

"Who?"

"Naira." Kartik didn't say anything.

"Is it something more than liking?" Viyaan asked Kartik.

"Nah. It can never be."

"Well, I won't mind if it gets more than liking. You see I always had problems with your girlfriends, but seriously I would love Naira to be your constant."

"Constant? What the fuck does that mean?" Viyaan rolled his at eyes at his best friend.

"You're still seeing Liha, aren't you?" Viyaan asked.

"So?" Kartik raised his brows.

"What so? You're with Naira-

"I'm not with her."

"You spent almost all your time with her, I saw you so many times even chatting with her."

"Its nothing, we are not into a thing." Kartik rolled his eyes.

"But I doubt that, the way you're so soft and protective around Naira shows everything. I saw how you were teasing her during the all time at drama club." Viyaan exclaimed.

"So what about that?"

"Well you being goofy and caring around girls is something rare to watch. You even ditched your friend for a girl." Viyaan taunted him when he left him and ran behind Naira that day.

"Oh c'mon." Kartik said and changed the gear, taking turn towards sports club.

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Getting back from practice, he straight went to his room. He was hungry, but who would check on him at 1 am? No one could, except his mom who couldn't be here to stay awake waiting for him, to knock at his door and ask about his day, to feed him with her own hands. That warmth, that peace was missing so was she.

Taking off his jacket, he dropped himself on bed feeling exhausted. He was about to go to sleep when his phone pinged.

With sleepy eyes, he checked his phone and got Naira's message.

You there? -N

If it was someone else, he would've ignored, but it was her.

Always for you. -K

She smiled at his message.

Whats up with you? -K

He again sent her message, when didn't get her response.

Laying, what else. What about you? -N

Was going to sleep. Why are you still awake? -K

Not feeling sleepy -N

Talk with me? -K

Aren't you sleepy? -N

Not anymore -K

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Name the chapter, pls.