After knowing that Pari works here part time, Salem's library visits became a regular, except on weekends. The first week he would just stare at her from a distance and when he had an intuition that she would look at him, he would look away.

He used to spend a good two and a half hours at the library. The first hour just staring at her and the second hour trying to study.

Yet, he had not thought of a way to talk to her. In the past week, he had seen how many boys surrounded her, gave her attention and how she didn't pay them any heed. She would only speak when it was necessary. He realised the only way to get her to talk to him was through work.

He saw the time on his watch. Strange, she was late today. As he was skimming through the textbook, the door of the library crooked open and there she was, looking as ethereal as ever. What added to her beauty was the colour yellow. He had never seen her in a bright colour before and he must admit, may be this was her colour. But then, even her usual darker shades, especially red looked attractive on her.
He tracked her moments as she placed her big purse on the side of the table and the college ID card on the other side of the table.

He looked at the time, may be the professor extended a lecture due to which she was late here. As she settled down on her seat, tying her hair in a bun, Salem got up from his seat and walked towards her.

He first asked her about a book's availability to which she shook her head and told him that it is issued and will be available in 3-4 days. He had a look at her college ID card which was kept on the table and said, "Oh! What a coincidence! We go to the same college." And proceeded to tell her the class in which he studies. She looked at him blankly and told him that she is also in the same class.

Of course he knew they were in the same class but he didn't want to tell her the truth.

"Oh you know my name," indicating his library card, "But what's yours?" He acted oblivious.

"Pari. My name is Pari. But are you sure we are in the same class? I haven't seen you before." Pari stated.

Was she blind?! Salem thought. How has she never noticed him before? He was a popular boy in college. Plus, even if he seldom attends the class, he was sure he stood out from others, whether it be on the Rose Day or hearing lecture for coming late to class. Has she never noticed any of it.

"I am sure." He said with a straight face and went back to his seat.

Pari saw him take a seat and looked at him for a few moments before going back to what she was working on. She can't believe she lied just now for such a small thing. She knew he was in her class. Hell, she knew his name even before he joined the library.

Salem Ahmed. That's what girls talked about in class. Even Ashley liked his looks. And as much as Pari was away from gossip and socialising in college, everyone knew he was Tina's boyfriend, the IT girl of the college.

But she didn't want to give him the importance of letting him know that she knew him from before. Pari's ego was hurt when he said he didn't know her name. She knew she was pretty, if not the prettiest and so many boys from their class gave her roses. So what does he think of himself to not have ever noticed her?!

An hour later, Pari saw Salem walk towards her. She was not blind to his looks. He was a fine man with good casual styling. But she didn't believe in having crushes and thinking too deeply about them. She appreciates good looks but that's it. Her brain always told her to stop right there. It always asked her to focus more on ways to earn money or study.

"I figured if we are in the same class, you could help me with this assignment." Salem showed her the sum he had a difficulty with. It was all a lie to get her to talk.

She analysed the sum for a few minutes and solved it for him, explaining to him the solution while writing it down for him. He continuously stared at her, not at all concentrating at her words. She was an enigma for him. She was always so calm and collected, never showing her emotions. He doesn't even remember seeing her smile or talk with glee. He wondered what she would look like when she laughs? What was her laughter like? If she is so beautiful right now, she would be extraordinary when she smiles. She is beautiful when she sulks, she is beautiful when she is angry...he had never seen someone look so mesmerising when they are angry.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he saw that she was done talking. He said a small thank you and looked at the solution, acting to see how it is solved and if he has further doubts.

"Can you help me with one more thing? This assignment is due next week and since I have a work assignment, I have no time to complete it. Can you do it for me?" He asked.

Pari looked at him a bit shocked, more at his audacity! Why does he think she will complete his assignment for him? But then his next sentence convinced her.

"I will pay you." It was not uncommon for some students to pay others to complete their assignment but Pari was never made this offer before. She thought she has spare time to sit in the library and since they are in the same class, she figured it would be like a revision. She agreed to complete 2 subjects assignments for Salem. The payment was not much but any amount was a good amount to her. She couldn't wait to go home to Priya and tell her about extra money!

In that one week, Pari and Salem saw each other a lot. After she completed his first assignment, he even took the liberty to ask her to sit with him and explain some of the topics. They never spoke outside studies because he knew she would think of it as overstepping boundaries. The fact that she agreed to sit beside him and explain some of the questions in the assignment was a good progress for him, for now. However, there was one question that Pari didn't solve since she was not sure of it. Salem surprised her when he explained her the solution.

"You are not bad at it! Wow..." Pari commented.

"Yeah! I just don't get enough time to brush these topics or understand. If you need help with any of these, you know you can ask me...I will try." Salem replied truthfully and for the first time, Pari smiled a bit at him.
By the end of that week, she earned Rs. 300 by completing his assignments. She learned that he was actually a very chill and well spoken guy who had no arrogance. What she liked about him was that he kept their talks to studies and didn't poke his nose in other things.

For him, the time spent with her was a bliss. He was thankful for studies for the first time in his life, as it was the only way for him to get her to talk. And oh boy! Her voice...he could listen to it all day. Those little hand gestures that she did while explaining him certain concepts and how her eyebrows raised whenever he asked her doubt....he loved it all.

Salem thanked her for the assignments she completed for him and also the trouble she took to explain him. She just waved her hand in the air, to say, it's not a big deal. It was this gesture that told him that may be she was finally okay with him around.

She didn't see him at all during their exam week as they had different exam rooms and after the exams, he never even showed up at the library. Why would he? Their first year was over.  Strangely, the first day she came back from her exams to the library, she missed him. Over the past weeks, his presence was a constant. He was not her friend but was a companion that she spent 1 and a half hour with. Now, she was all alone with noone to talk to. She had so much time to kill. She picked up a random Hindi magazine and started to read it.

Today, when she came to work, her desk had a little envelope addressed to her alongside a small box. A pink envelope with "Pari" elegantly written on it in cursive. She quickly opened the envelope, confused and curious at the same time. She had never received anything addressed to her. It was a first.

"Thank you for all your help and sorry for being late to do this. But I think I will get good marks, who knows....probably even better than you ;)
Please accept this as a small thank you."

- Your friend, Salem.

She smiled at this note and his joke at getting better marks than her. She opened the small box and was delighted to see a pastry!

Ahh! She tried to control her excitement at seeing the pastry. It was extremely expensive to buy one pastry, let alone a cake. So, she had only tasted these at birthday parties. She was not huge on desserts, but she loved pastries as those were so rare for her to get.

She digged in and had one big bite...Pari loved it. Her eyes closed and enjoying the taste of it, she was lost in her world.

"Never knew you'd love it so much. Would have brought an entire cake." She opened her eyes at his voice and was a little embarassed that he caught her like that.

"Ummm..." Pari was trying to find an apt reply but Salem said, "It's okay. I am glad you liked it. You deserve it for all the help."

She smiled. Then, she remembered the note and said, "But who said we are friends?"

"Are we not?" He leaned a little closer and asked.

Her breath caught at his closeness. Sure, they would sit beside each other while she explained him but his face was never so close to hers.

She moved back a little and said, "No."

"Okay. I thought we would be good friends but since you don't want to be..." He just shrugged, not completing his words.

But this time was different. He asked her questions about stuff apart from exams as they had two months of vacation until the next year starts. She replied that she would continue this library job and try to find other better paying jobs, if possible.

What he didn't expect was Pari asking him back. She hardly took interest in other people's lives, so he was surprised when she asked him about what is he upto these days.

"I am actually modelling for a brand and walking a fashion show next month. It gives me sleepless nights but it's worth it." Salem replied. She wished him the best.

"Bye! Will see you around." Salem said and exited the library. But he never came back to the library in that summer break.

That year she passed with good marks and Salem also got decent grades, but not better than hers.

Tomorrow was the start of second year of college. Unknown to them that it would be the beginning of Salem being 'The Salem Ahmed.'

St. Lawrence College was about to witness the birth of a star for whom the world is crazy.

The year which would be the dawn of his obsession and his ways to make her his.

_________

4th Sept 2023

Pls vote and comment :)

How was the chapter?! What do you think of how Pari and Salem denied knowing each other from before?