Next morning Rishika woke up and out of gut feel just said

"Alexa, any voice note for me"

Alexa: "One voice note from Mitesh, shall I play it?"

"Yes"

Playing voice note from Mitesh, "Hi Rishika, this is not a message from Mitesh, The stalker, but Mitesh, The friend. Things never happen in life as you plan, but it unfolds in some weird way and I guess that happened with me too. Can we do one thing, can we give friendship a chance?  I am not saying forget everything that happened yesterday, I just want not to spoil that pure friendship we all have now. And for sure I don't want to be the reason to spoil that.
So, hmmm..... I am not sure how you are feeling about this, but if you are ok, then please give me a smile once you see me, ohh... I mean once... as in when you sense me in college today.
Also, one more thing, I am not a stalker, I just don't know why I behaved that way but guess it's difficult for you to understand now. But frankly that's my problem and I don't expect you to understand. So, see ya in college, I mean, ummm, like I will see ya in college, goshhh....".

Rishika heard the message and she had faint smile on her face as if some load has been lifted. She knew it will not be normal but atleast this feel is much better than the heaviness she felt last night. She was too scared to get into that nighmarish feeling of her past. At any cost she didn't want to repeat all that she went through.

Rishika's mom noticed her happiness and asked her but she changed the conversation. Rishika can focus on the regulars now, she was happy that Mitesh sent voice note.

Rishika got ready for college, she heard mom saying something from outside "What mom, I could not hear you" Rishika shouted.

"I said, stalker boy is outside to pick you up" her mom shouted back.

"Mom, you can be a little nicer" Rishika didn't like her mom saying stalker.

"Now you are standing up for him, you have my blessing Rishika and you know it, right?"  her mom was being witty.

"The day you decided to be a cool and frank mom, all my headaches started. You should have the same awkward traditional mom, that would be my dream run" Rishika was pouring all her irritation right on her mom, but her mom was enjoying it fully.

"Dude chill, if you have something to share, consider me available. Problem with your generation is when your parents are maintaining a distance you will crib and when they start taking interest in your life, you start behaving weirdly.
I like that stalker guy, atleast he say what he feel" her mom was on a roll.

"What the f mom, this Ritu I am gonna kill for sure, whose friend is she I am still not sure" Rishika immediately connected the dots.

"So this means I have to ask the stalker boy to get lost, just to prove me nothing is there in your heart you will push him away, right?" her mom was not giving her any chance at all.

"No need mom, we are just friends and I am going to college with him, tell driver to take off today" Rishika stomped her feet and went out.

On sensing Mitesh outside, she gave a fake and wide grin and went back to her angry face. Mitesh could not control his laugh but he knew time is not right. He helped Rishika to his bike and took off to college.

"You could not wait till college" Rishika was still not normal.

"I just wanted to get over with this whole thing as soon as possible, so could not control" Mitesh was being truthful.

"Can we be just good friends Mitesh? You are a good guy, but we are different and I don't want to trouble you at all" Rishika said everything clearly.

"I will always choose your friendship over anything else Rishika, that's most precious for me, even above your love" Mitesh had real tears in his eyes.

"Be truthful, will you be able to be normal around me? Otherwise we should stop being around each other" Rishika wanted a closure.

"I don't know Rishika, I belive so, give me a chance and then decide yourself" Mitesh could not be more honest.

Rishika knew, being silent is the best answer she could give to Mitesh.

"Look MITIKA are here" Powlo shouted after seeing Rishika and Mitesh on bike.
Rads gave her sharp elbow push, Powlo groaned in response to sharp pain.

"Good to see you guys together" Rads broke the awkwardness.

"We are cool now, Mitesh clarified reasons behind yesterday's confusion, we are good now" Rishika kept it straight.

The one who is in love
Is like a moth, exactly same
Without fearing burning at all
It will rush to the flame

~TallGuy