Hello Fam :)

A/N: First of all I am sorry for being totally MIA here. As I said, initially, I was completely smitten with Sirius Black and James Potter and the ideas were pouring in for that story so, I was continuously writing my HP book. Another reason was because I have written the first 9-10 chapters a while back and I have read it countless times till now to the point where I didn't want to rewrite the chapter. At that point, my writing style was completely different and then I had changed it a year back. Since I have read it many times, I am procrastinating to edit the chapters again. I am so sorry for keeping you hanging. 

Hence, I have decided something as a reckless thought. Let me post the drafts. I have two draft chapters with me right now. And another chapter which is edited one. How about I post all three chapters this weekend to make it up to you? I can concentrate on writing fresh content after this? 

Let me know. I am posting the first one here. It's half edited. 

Happy Reading...

On their way back, Mahi found Sakshi too quiet, no comments, no mocking, no blabbers, until she asked him if they could go to the beach.

"I thought we were late already?", asked Mahi, looking at the time.

"Anyway, we are late. What harms if we are a bit later? Also, going to the beach feels more appealing than listening to the lectures of the chief warden."

"Chief warden?"

"Yeah, if anyone is entering the campus late, the chief warden would have a word with the students. Sometimes, they would call the parents or guardians. However, there isn't a restriction to roam inside the campus without going back to hostels", she explained.

"How do you know all this?", asked Mahi. Because didn't they join just a few days prior? How did she know the rules of the college already?

The girl shrugged. "Well, I don't know about regular students but S.S.E.S people like me learn rules before the course syllabus since we are also the ones who would break them."

"Now, what's SSES?"

"Special students with Extraordinary Skills."

"And your extraordinary skill is to bunk?"

"Find ways to enjoy life and take right, please."

"You said, you are new here?", pointed out Mahi, when she gave the directions to the beach.

"Offo, Mahi. kehte hain ki agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai."

Mahi shook his head at another filmy line. "I can see your kayanat is your GPS, yeah got it. What did you wish then?", he teased.

"To go to the beach, Mahi. Please, take me to beach. I have never been to one before."

Mahi smiled before speeding up. This girl was capable of making people dance on her orders. When they reached the beach, they removed their shoes and sat close to the sea waves, just allowing the water to graze their feet.

"This is so beautiful", muttered Sakshi, after moments of silence.

"You should visit the beach during the daytime first. Then, 'this is so beautiful' will turn into 'OMG, HOW DID I EVEN SURVIVE WITHOUT WITNESSING SUCH A BEAUTY'", yelled Mahi. Maybe the girl infected him into being dramatic too.

"I never know the calm Mahi can be dramatic too?"

Mahi didn't bother to reply with an answer in favor of looking at the waves. There was too much going inside his head to the point where he was starting to feel stupid.

"Aaj. Aaj ek hasi aur baant lo. Aaj ek dua aur maang lo. Aaj ek ansoon aur pee lo. Aaj ek zindagi aur jee lo. Aaj ek sapna aur dekh lo. Aaj. Kya pata, kal ho naa ho."

"Matlab?", asked Mahi. There was a small smile on the girl's face but he really didn't understand what she wanted to say to him.

"We think about things too much. Especially the ones which we can't change. Just breathe, Mahi."

"I am not thinking about-"

"Mahira?, Sakshi offered when he was hesitant to finish. "I am here if you want to talk. I am not being nosy but we don't have any other work until morning."

Leaving him with his thoughts, Sakshi disappeared before she returned back with two cups of matka chai, offering one to him.

"Thank you", he muttered.

"I would have passionately hated you if you had denied taking chai", teased the girl.

"I suppose you love chai after SRK?"

Sakshi grinned. "Oh, this is my savior. My life depends on it. On top of that, a matka chai is simply love. It tastes different and I try not to miss it whenever I find one."

Mahi shook his head at her. This girl had weird obsessions. He wasn't too fond of the chai or for that matter, it was his first time tasting a matka chai but, for some unknown reason to his conscious self, he chose not to mention it to her. He took a sip of the chai and mentally patted his back for his earlier decision. The matka chai had its own aroma and Mahi fell in love with it for the first time. Also, something inside his heart relaxed. Maybe because of the hot chai or the cold breeze that was teasing his face and suddenly, Mahi decided if Sakshi had guessed it was something related to Mahira, she had every right to know the answer too. It was a big thing, just stupid for the circumstances in which he was right now. "I thought you wouldn't stop questioning about Mahira after leaving the orphanage. But you are keeping quiet."

"I don't know if I have the right to force you to answer my questions, Mahi. I mean, we just met a few days ago."

It was the first time he saw her hesitant and it already was disturbing to see her like this. "You sure don't behave like one though", he teased.

Sakshi shrugged. "Talking is much better but then getting to know the deepest secrets or feelings of a person is totally different, right? You really need to own a part of that person."

Mahi rolled his eyes. "Mahira is just a girl. Not 'the deepest secret'."

"I said, even deepest feelings. You share the deepest feelings with some person, sometimes unknowingly. You are not your normal self after you bid bye to her. Am I wrong?"

Mahi was surprised but more than that, he was impressed. "I don't know if you have started to own a part of me, Sakshi, but I guess you are the first one who is close to guessing what Mahira means to me."

"She is special to you", she stated without any hint of a question.

Mahi nodded. "I was 11 when I found Mahira in a park near our orphanage. I used to go there whenever I felt sad. It was one such day. Maybe because I found her in a similar situation like mine, I felt a connection from the first day I saw her. She came as a fresh air in my life and my life started revolving around her. I was there for the first time when she spoke, wrote, called my name. The first day she went to school."

Sakshi: Then why did you leave the orphanage? You could have attended the college by staying there.

Mahi was hesitant to answer and Sakshi noticed it.

Sakshi: Cheeka bean told me about some scholarship but I doubt you will leave the place you have grown up just for a scholarship.

Mahi: You are too good at guessing the truth but promise me you wouldn't think of me as a stupid person.

Sakshi: I wouldn't, I promise. Out of everything I know about you, you could never be stupid.

Mahi: The reason for me to leave the orphanage is Mahira again.

Sakshi: Mahira?

Mahi: As Mahira was growing up, she faced the same questions like all of us. About parents, about the place she lived. Other kids used to discuss among their friends. Mahira used to find me for all her problems. We became friends, she made me her best friend. As years passed, our emotional bond too got deeper and so did the urge in me to become independent. I somehow want to give a new life to her, to keep her happy always from this wicked world. Hence, I decided to...

Sakshi: Say the words out loud so that you wouldn't feel stupid, Mahi.

Mahi: I wanted to adopt her. I couldn't bring back her parents but at least I could be her guardian and hence, I decided to be independent. I know, I am just 17 and things will take time. I don't know if I am capable of taking on the responsibilities of a kid but for anything to happen, I need to move out of the orphanage and take up a job. That's when baba asked me to teach the kids and that he would pay me. Our previous teacher left the place after she got married and he asked me to fill in the place.

Sakshi: Does she know about this?

Mahi: I don't want to give her false hopes. We don't know what's in there for tomorrow and if it doesn't go as planned, she will be hurt. So, I didn't tell her. In fact, you are the first one with whom I am sharing this. Not even Virat or Raina know about this.

Sakshi: I thought you don't keep secrets from them?

Mahi: I don't but this is different. Unlike you, they accepted when I said, I just wanted to be independent. For them, Mahira was only the close friend I had at the orphanage. They failed to notice our emotional connection. Of course, all three have fun and play every time they meet.

Sakshi: Thank you for trusting me with this, Mahi. It really means a lot.

Mahi just smiles at her but she stares at him a little longer than usual before shifting her gaze and smiling to herself.

Sakshi: Let's leave then?

Mahi: What? It's just midnight.

Sakshi: I have already found the escape way.

She winks and runs towards the bike. Having no other option Mahi runs behind to catch up with her. Putting his helmet on, Mahi glares at her.

Mahi: Why didn't you tell me about this escape way before?

Sakshi: Because I can't see that lost look on your face and Sakshi Singh Rawat wouldn't step back if she had decided on something.

Rolling his eyes, he starts the bike and they leave towards their campus. Sakshi shows him the back gate, the way is a bit deserted and devoid of the guards. The perfect escape way for students.

Mahi: You just joined the college. How come you know all these gates?

Sakshi: I can't stay in my room all day when these teachers refuse to start the classes. Not that I will listen to their classes once they have started and that's a topic for another time.

Mahi: Madam, your hostel.

Sakshi: Thank you, sir.

Mahi waits for her to go inside the hostel but she turns back facing him after taking a step.

Sakshi: Mahi, you are beautiful. A very beautiful person. Goodnight.

She waves at him and vanishes into the hostel but Mahi couldn't remove the strange feeling her words created from inside him.

Mahi Room

Reaching his room, Mahi finds his roommate Faf along with the Kohli twins, Abd and Rohit.

Mahi: Hello, boys. You didn't sleep yet?

They all attack him with a hug and bombard him with questions.

Mahi: Guys, I am sorry. Relax. I am fine. I was just late at the orphanage. Nothing serious and probably my battery died.

Rohit: Never do that again, Mahi. We were scared for you.

Mahi: Hitman, you can't be scared.

Raina: Of course, we can. We were. It's midnight when you are returning back without informing anyone. We have no idea where you were and how safe you were.

Mahi: Calm down. Sonu, see, I am safe and right in front of you.

Abd: Guys, it's too late. Mahi looks tired. Let him sleep for a few hours. We have college to attend, right?

Mahi passes a thankful look towards Abd as he drags Rohit and Raina outside the room. Virat walks behind them without sparing a glance to Mahi.

Faf: Mahi?

Mahi: I will just be back, Faf.

He runs outside and finds Virat just at his doorstep. Mahi holds his hand and stops him.

Mahi: Cheeku, I am sorry.

Virat: Why are you saying sorry, Mahi?

Mahi: Because you are angry with me. I can see that.

Virat: Of course, I am. Do you want me to say 'Hey, Mahi. How were the stars in the sky?' when every nerve inside me is bursting.

Mahi hugs him tight. Initially reluctant, Virat wraps his hands around him.

Mahi: I am sorry. It was the classes. Kids are still not used to the idea that I am not staying with them.

Mahi feels Virat breaking the hug and speaks without meeting his eyes.

Virat: It's okay, Mahi. It's too late already. Goodnight.

He smiles at him and leaves for his room. Mahi knows he is still pissed off as Virat rarely calls him 'Mahi' instead of 'bhai' and one of them is when he is extremely disappointed or angry.

Virat's Room

Abd: What are you thinking, roomie?

Virat: Mahi lied to me.

Abd: What?

Virat: When he wasn't attending any of our calls, I called the orphanage. The uncle there told me, Mahi had left the place hours ago. He never lied to me and I am...

Abd: Virat, don't say something that you will regret later. I am sure, Mahi must have some valid reason. No, I am not supporting him or something. He was at fault as everyone was worried about here but he might be stuck somewhere. Let's not jump to conclusions. Sleep now, roomie. You take ages to wake up.

Virat glares at him but eventually drops the topic and sleeps. 

Let me know about the next chapter too. I will give a double update then. Otherwise, I will edit that and then post the two together.