Hello everyone,

Wish you all a very very happy independence day!

Let's peep into the chapter.

SATVIK'S POV

The past few days with Rits were terrible. I so missed her none stop rambling. Those projects days...Those days we were like best friends. I never thought that we will ever act like strangers.

It's my life she is no one to assess me but why her absence is influencing me. I was strolling on the grounds thinking about those days.

Flashback

We all were sitting in class. The professor came inside and announce the first college project before exams. I was nervous because I was pathetic in marketing.

He announced that we have to do the project in the pair of two where we have to make a product. We have to demonstrate it in detail by preparing an article about marketing and finance.

I own a hotel but I just can't work in the marketing department. Some girls are asking me to be their project partners. Abruptly I felt the bench shaking and I saw Rits was tapping the bench nervously.

"Hey! Rits what's wrong?" I asked her keeping my hand on her shoulder rubbing them gently.

"I'm thinking who will be my project partner, I don't know many students yet. I only know you and my basketball team. Zoya and Aadi will be doing the project together..." She said in one breath.

Gosh! This girl can talk nonstop without even gasping air.

"Stop...I can be your project partner but..." I stopped I was weak in marketing. What if she too doesn't like it. I don't want to spoil her as well as my project.

"But what!?" She asked as I saw the worry lines deepen on her forehead.

"I'm weak in marketing. But I know finance well. I don't want to spoil your project, so I will find someone for you. Okay!?" I confessed genuinely. But she was smiling at me.

"What are you smiling at huh?" I asked her getting self-conscious.

"Woh... I'm weak in finance." She said as we both laughed out together.

"We will make a perfect team jointly," I said smiling hard. 

***

We were sitting on the couch in my apartment. The project we chose was to prepare a design of a portfolio for the manager's cabin.

I was comfortable with that project as Rits was the one who gonna design marketing strategies and I was gonna check that the expenses shouldn't go over the board.

Shortly I felt someone's weight on my shoulder and I didn't turn to know as it was Rits. I checked my phone and god it's dinner time already.

Damn it! We didn't have an evening snack as we were busy with a project. Also, Mrs Darcy hasn't cooked dinner for us as it was quite late for her.

"Rits, Rits... Wake up!" I tapped her checks and she looked so damn cute with her hair stretched over her face hiding her beautiful kohl-black orbs.

She opened her eyes slowly and my heart was beating at an unusual speed. She fluttered her eyes adjusting to the light in the room.

"Hey! what's the time now?" She asked in her groggy voice yawning lazily.

"It's 8.30 pm get up, sleepyhead," I announced removing hair from her face.

Her eyes were wide opened as I told the time and she carelessly jumped around. The room was a complete mess.

"Satvik, we have to complete paperwork." She said picking papers.

"Relax! relax! We will resume lagging work tomorrow!" I said.

"Mrs Johnson will be mad at me as I didn't tell her that I will be late." She blabbered searching for something under the pillows and couch.

"What are you searching for?" I asked

"My phone!"

"It's here." I pointed out as it was on the table itself and she didn't see that as she stuffed her belongings without glancing at the table.

"Thanks! I should leave now!" She said and I stopped her by grabbing her hand with a jerk. She stopped by tug and fell on my chest looking deep into my eyes.

Our eyes always talk with each other with unknown emotions. Rits cleared her throat breaking our trance.

"Have dinner with me, then I will drop you," I said adjusting my clothes.

"No, it's okay!" She said but we both heard the growling sound from her stomach and her cheeks turned rosy.

Dang, she must have felt embarrassed.

"It's okay! Let's have dinner, you can help me to cook." I said pulling her to the kitchen. I didn't give her time to think much.

"Rits, just break the eggs in the bowl and I will cut some veggies!" I said and she gave me a confused look which realises.

"What?" I asked again and nodded in nothing.

But that was one of the worst decisions I took she broke the egg along but a shell in the bowl and gave me.

"What's this!?" I asked looking at the bowl which contained eggshells.

"You told me to break eggs so I broke." She said passing the bowl to me.

"Should I do something else?" she asked taking the knife from me.

"No! But can you please keep this flour box on that slab?" I asked her as I don't know what work should I give her taking my knife back.

"Okay!" She said but slipped on the tiles as she has dropped some egg white on the floor and dropped the flour on me.

Ritika was trying to control her laugh but burst out laughing hard. Gosh, she looks more beautiful when she laughs!
Her childlike laughter can make anyone's day bright.

I was lost in her laughter when she gave her hand to me to get up but eventually, I fell again as she left my hand. Her laughter was unstoppable. Can this day become more worst for me? Urgh! My back! I'm so damn frustrated.

"Rits, leave the kitchen right now!" I said trying to control the burning rage inside me.

"Let me help to clean this?" She asked suppressing her laugh.

"No need just leave me and please order the pizza for us!" I told her as I don't have the energy to cook anything.

I instantly cleaned the floor myself and took a quick shower. As I got down from my room I saw Rits was arranging the papers on the table. But some papers fell and spread all over the room. I too went and started picking them.

My hands accidentally touched her when we picked the same paper. I felt a gush of current passed through my body giving goosebumps as we kept looking into each other's eyes. A rosy glow rise on Rits face when our eyes were fixed on each other.

Our trance was broken by the doorbell. I checked the door and took our order. We had dinner silently as no one was ready to have eye contact.

I dropped her to her PG. Her landlords were seating on the bench outside the apartment.

"Ritika, what's the time now huh? If you were gonna come late you must have informed us at least." An old lady chided her and she kept looking down as it wasn't her fault.

"Mam, I'm sorry we were completing the project that's why we are late and her phone's battery was dead so that's why she doesn't call you," I explained to them.

"Well, who are you, gentleman?" The old uncle asked me.

"I'm her project partner, I live in the next lane only," I informed.

"We were worried as she is our responsibility." The uncle said.

It's nice of them that they care for Rits like her family. We haven't ever talked about each others family as she will ask about mine too, which is shattered.

***

We worked hard on the project and were used to spend more time with each other. I used to love her company. She always used to talk about her father when we were having free time but she never told a single word about her mother.

I always thought about what would my life be if my father hasn't deceived me and my mom.

***

"And the best project was if Ritika and Satvik." The professor announced and we both hugged each other in excitement.

Indeed our project was good but it turned out to be the best and our friendship too deepened.

"Rits, you know what we are best together, so let me ask you in advance will you became my prom partner?" I asked.

"Prom partner!?" She asked with a doubtful expression.

"Yeah! After some days we have prom night and it's for couples, so I'm asking you in advance. Now answer me quickly. Will you be my partner?" I asked forwarding my hands hoping that she will say yes. I don't know why but I feel at peace when I m with her.

"Umm... Okay! I'll be your partner." She said taking my hand in hers and  I pulled her into a tight hug.

Flashback ends

"Satvik be my prom partner?"

"Satvik come with me?" Few girls came running behind me.

I shortly ran towards the corridors. Holy shit! Rits is standing there. I don't know whether she remembers that or not. As I was galloping in the corridor and Rits suddenly asked me.

"Umm... Satvik will you be my prom partner?" My steps halted and I stood there in concussion.

End of POV
_______

Third-person pov

Satvik was stunned as he heard what Ritika announced. He opened and closed his mouth blinking confusingly.

"Ahem Ahem!" Ritika cleared her throat as Zoya's expressions were identical.

"Did you say something to me?" Satvik asked as he thought he heard her wrong.

"Umm... I asked whether... you would like to be my... my prom partner." Ritika said hesitantly.

"You decided to go with Aadi na? then why are you asking him, Rits?" Zoya said and Satvik turned to Zoya.

He thought that this will be their fresh start but here Rits already decided to go with Aadi and asking him doesn't make any sense.

"Yeah! But I want you to go with Aadi as you always go with Aadi and I will go with Satvik." Ritika confessed.

"Well, I don't want your favour, Rits, I can find my partner. Umm... Satvik if you haven't decided partner whom will you choose? Me or Rits?" Zoya said.

She somehow got the idea because a few days back Rits and Satvik were close friends and then they stopped talking all of sudden. She thought that Rits is trying to rebuild the friendship so it's the best way to hurt her.

"I need time, Zoya, I haven't decided on my partner yet!" Satvik said as he was hurt. He misunderstood Rits as he thought she would make fun of him by ditching him for Aadi.

"Hey, guys! So Rits let's go we have to shop matching outfits too!" Aadi said coming from the back and wrapping his hands around Ritika's shoulder.

"Satvik you can tell me your decision till evening okay? We will need to shop too!" Zoya said deliberately getting cosy with Satvik.

"Yeah!" Satvik said and left from there.

Aadi's phone was ringing and Satvik too went away as someone called him leaving alone Rits with Zoya.

"Oops! I'm so sorry. Your plan flopped right?" Zoya said with an evil smirk.

"What plan? I'm not getting what are you saying, Zoya." Ritika said.

"Well, you wanted to hitch with two boys at the same time. You wanted to bury me under your favour by going with Satvik but tch... tch... tch... I plunked your game girl." Zoya said smirking.

"Zoya what are you saying? I didn't do anything." Ritika spoke with moist eyes.

"Oh! Please, your crocodile tears won't work on me." Zoya chided out.

"Zoya..." Ritika was trying to say something.

"You know what, you have your mother's blood, your mother deceived your father and you deceived me," Zoya said and left Ritika alone.

Ritika stood there like a pillar whose tears were flowing continuously. Zoya's words were booming in her ears.

End of POV
________

RITIKA'S POV

No! No! No! No! I'm not my mother's daughter. I don't have her blood. She is no one in my life. I shut my eyes and ears tightly as Zoya's words were ringing.

Everything in front of me is turning black. I can't see anything.

"You are bad luck, Ritika."

"You are your mother's daughter."

"You deceived me."

No! I'm not.

"Ritika!" Someone was taking my name but everything was jet black. I can't see anything.

"Ritika! Just look at me!" The same voice was calling me but where I'm going it's black. Entirely black.

I could feel someone was patting my cheeks and shaking my body. My eyes were shutting on their consent. I lost the sound I was hearing and even Zoya's words stopped.

End of POV

_____

Done!!!

How was it!?

Who do you think was calling Ritika?

Well, expect the unexpected!

If you like, then hit the star button to vote and comment.

Thank you,
Parthavi ❤