The Saturday Evening.

Zarika was in Netra's room along with Siya who were helping her get dressed for her date with Aashrit. Netra was making her hair style while Siya did her makeup.

"Tum log mere thopde ke saath kya kar rhe ho", Zarika whined in annoyance.

"Muh band rakho apna. Lipstick lgane do mujhe", Siya scolded making her zip her mouth.

Netra curled her hair with precision making them look heavy and more in volume.

After half an hour of experiments over her, Zarika was ready looking all stunning.

She wore a black off shoulder knee length bodycon with a slight slit on thigh, paired with golden heels and a golden sling bag. She chose accessories contrasting the dark color of her dress. Golden hoops, a bracelet and a small pendent gave a highlight to her already classy appearance. With minimal makeup, she chose to keep her eyes smoky and wore a maroon red lipstick, bringing more attention to her plum lips.

She looked elegant yet hot. Sophisticated yet sexy .

"WOWWW meri jaan, you look so damn hot", Netra chimed in excitement.

"I am straight... I am straight", Siya muttered dramatically as all three of them started laughing.

"Thankyou soo much girlssss .... now I should leave.. Aashrit aa gya hoga", She spoke looking at her wrist watch.

She bid bye to the girls and walked downstairs. The hallway was almost empty. She made her way through the empty hallways, stepping out of the hostel successfully avoiding the grumpy warden.

Aashrit had arrived. He was leaning against his car's door. Wearing a crisp black shirt paired with black pants, shirt untucked and sleeves folded giving him a boyish appearance. As he sighted Zarika walking towards him, he went speechless mesmerized by her beauty.

Aashika came near him tucking her index finger on his chin closing his slightly ajar mouth.

"Muh band kar lijiye janab wrna makkhi ghus jaayegi", She joked making Aashrit blush at her words.

"You look beautiful firefly.", Aashrit complimented receiving a genuine smile from her.

"Toh chale??", She continued.

"Ladies first my lady...", Aashrit opened the Car's door for her like a true gentleman.

Zarika chuckled, making her way inside the car's passenger seat. Aashrit jogged his way to the other side getting in.

The engine flared as they started there journey. The ride was filled with the air of excitement and anticipation yet a silence lingered between the two.

The silence was comfortable, nobody tried to break it. The hum of soft music was playing in the background making it more tranquil.

They arrived their destination after 45 mins. Aashrit opened the door for her extending his hands for her to take which she accepted gladly.

"Beautiful flowers for the beautiful lady", Aashrit presented her a small bouquet of orchids, her all time favourite flowers.

"These are so pretty", She chimed.

"Glad you like it", Aashrit said scratching the back of his neck.

They made there way inside the restaurant hand in hand with each other. Upon reaching their table, Aashrit pulled a chair for Zarika to sit on.

He was the perfect example of a gentleman.

They both were now sitting together looking at each other.

AASHRIT'S POV

By saying that she looked beautiful, I wouldn't be doing justice to her ethereal appearance. No words could describe the aura she held.

We were silently looking at each other when a waiter approached us breaking our trance.

"Good evening sir and ma'am what would you like to order?", he asked.

"Tum kya khaogi?", I asked her softly.

"Jo tum order kroge.. not like you don't know my favourites", she said pointing at the orchids I gave.

I smiled with contentment and gave our order. The waiter left leaving us alone again.

Suddenly Zarika put her hand on mine giving it a squeez, her eyes glued at my shoulder. She gave me a toothy smile.

I was startled with the sudden contact but as I was about to relax, Zarika bough my hand near her lips, planting a few kisses on it.

I was now all red with shyness but I couldn't help but notice that Zarika's concentration was somewhere else.

Soon our order arrived.

Zarika lifted her fork, forwarding a bite to me which I accepted reluctantly.

She then ate the other bite with the same fork. I could feel the over exaggeration in her actions. It wasn't the typical Zarika.

She was continuously gazing at something over my shoulder.

Her affection was all I wanted, but this felt more forced and unreal.

"Uhmm Zarika, I'll go, wash my hands now.. I am full.", I excused myself from her and went towards the restroom.

********************************************************

After 2 or 3 minutes

I returned, eager for the other events I had planned for the evening.

As I approached our table, I saw Zarika's eyes fixed on the table opposite to ours. I followed her gaze only to find Kabir sitting there with his girlfriend acting all lovey - dovey.

Zarika seemed jealous?? 

Oh so this was the case... I was being used all this time.

Zarika was doing all this purposely.

I did not want to create any scene there so I just went to my table and payed the bill.

I could see her gaze observing me intently. I left the restaurant without waiting for her.

As soon as I came out, I could feel anger and hurt building inside me.

Zarika came out after a while, she was a bit tensed as if she had sensed that something was wrong.

"Sit in the car.", I spoke, my tone filled with suppressed anger.

"Aashrit I...", I cut her off yelling

"Sit in the fvcking car Zarika", she flinched at my voice ultimately following my order and sat at the back seat.

"I am not your fvcking driver Ms. Bhasin", my tone changed to malicious.

*************************************************************

Zarika's Pov.

Hearing his deadly cold voice, I felt tears building at the corner of my eyes.

What had happened to him suddenly.... wait did he ... shit..

I sat in the passenger seat. Aashrit closed the door with a thud and himself sat opposite to me.

'So, got the satisfaction of building a rise in Kabir?', he mocked.

"Aashrit I ....", my voice died in my throat seeing his red eyes.

He was crying...?

"Why Zarika... all this time .. all the moments and affection were these all lies?", he spoke with vulnerability.

No they weren't, plss believe me...

"Aashrit plss.. listen to me", I tried holding his hand....

"No don't touch me", he yelled pulling his hand back.

A sob escaped my lips.

"I am sorry I didn't mean to...", he again cut me off by by saying..

"Save it, I don't want any explanation from you", he spoke coldly.

"Kabir was right, how could you stoop so low?", he spoke with hate.

The voice which always held warmth for me now held coldness and hate.

Yes it was true when I saw Kabir with another girl again, I lost my senses and acted irrational... but I never used Aashrit. I never meant too. All the moments we shared meant for me.

My foolishness caused this mess. Thinking all this bought fresh tears in my eyes. Aashrit started the car. The drive back to hostel now was filled with unspoken conflicts and tension, a complete contrast to the former. My heart felt heavy with the weight of guilt.

*************************************************************

Today's evening all of us had planned a group study in library.

I had arrived before all of them so I started revising all my notes. My table was now covered with a scattered mess of books, notebooks, pens and highlighters.

I like it messy guys nvm.

After another half an hour Siya, Reyansh and Nishant arrived laughing and chatting together.

"You guys are late you know", I mocked.

"YOU ARE EARLY MADAM", Nishant retorted making me roll my eyes.

They all took their seats, opening their respective books and started studying.

*************************************************************

"Oye ye dopamine kya hai?", Reyansh asked confused.

"A hormone that increases feelings of euphoria, desire, and bliss.", I answered, my eyes on my book.

"OH maatlab jb tu Nishant ko dekhti hai toh tera dopamine release hota hai>>>", he spoke bluntly making me go all red.

Nishant was unfazed but a small smile tugged at his lips as he continued scribbling something in his notebook.

"ABE WOH DOPAMINE NHI OXYTOCIN RELEASE HOTA HAI", Siya smirked.

My eyes widened hearing her, blush now coating my face like paint.

I leaned towards Siya whispering into her ears

"Aur tera toh hormone ke saath bohot kuch release hota hai Reyansh ko dekh kr kyu?...", I smirked.

Siya went pink now ..

"Why are you blushing Siyu???", I feigned innocence.

Reyansh lifted his head up looking at Siya as their eyes locked.

I looked at both of them. After a few mins I interrupted their moment.

"Find a room already guys..", their eyes snapped at me.

I shrugged bringing my attention to the book.

***********************

"Niya mera pouch pass krna..", Nishant asked me.

I picked his pouch up, passing it to him. Our hands brushed for a brief moment. I looked up at him finding his eyes already on mine.

HE LOOKED, I LOOKED... WE LOOKED AWAY

THEN WE LOOKED BACK.

"Find a room guys...", Siya and Reyansh chimed in together breaking our moment.

I glared at them..

''Ja tere assignment me madad nhi krungi", I declareded

"AREE NIYA YRRRR MAJAK KR RHA THAAAA", he whined as we all burst out laughing.

"Ye dekho meri drawing", Nishant showed us his awful drawing of a house.

"yaha hm padhne aaye the..", I glared at him.

Nishant smiled sheepishly opening his book looking at it with half a focus.

"NISHANT FOCUSSSSS", I rebuked him lightly....

"Yesssssssss I am focused", he opened his eyes widely glaring at the pages.

"Ulti book pr focus krne se kuch nhi hoga", Siya flipped his book and shot a playful glare at him.

KYA HOGA ISS LADKE KAA.....

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

SO SO SO GUYS... 1700 WORDS AND THIS MARKS THE END OF CHAPTER 9

I AM SOO GLAD AS THIS BOOK HAS NOW COMPLETED 500+ READS AND 100+ VOTES IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS.

I AM GRATEFUL TO ALL MY READERS.. KEEP SHOWERING YOUR LOVE ON THIS BOOK

SO HOW WAS THE CHAPTER?

WHAT ABOUT ZARIKA NOW?

NISHANT IS SUCH A KID ISN'T HE?

VOTE TARGET : 5 FOR AN EARLY UPDATE

NEXT UPDATE ON WEDNESDAY ...

TILL THEN TATA

YOURS

PRAYA

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