"Wow!That's so beautiful.I didn't know you're such a good painter."Arhaan looked at my paintings and praised .

"This paintings are worth to sell.You can definitely make money out of it.""he added as he kept continued scrolling my sketch photos on my mobile gallery.

I had clicked some pictures of my sketches .He was watching it now.

"You're praising too much now."I chuckled.

His eyes shifted from my mobile to me.

"No!I mean it."he said and he seemed quite genuine at his comment.

Then he asked me to draw a sketch of his face.I denied at first as I had no practice for so long.But he didn't listen to me as usual.He continuously requested me and I had to agree to his demand as always.

Next day,he invited me to his house for lunch in the name of draw his sketch.

"Hey,stay still . Don't move,okay?"I asked ,he nodded with a smile.

I focused on his facial features for few minutes .Then started...At first I draw a large circle and make a horizontal line below it for the chin.Then sketch the jawline according to him.Then I focused on his eyes .When I started to draw his eyes one moment it seemed that I was looking at his face , staring at his eyes and then a moment later I was looking another pair of eyes- a different one,a intense one, though it was blurry.I closed my eyes tight to remove the image but it didn't vanish from my eye sight.

I opened my eyes, grabbed pencil and my sketch book.My hand started moving.

"Wait a mintute.I have to take this call."Arhaan said .

My daze ended abruptly and I was shaken back into reality by his voice. My eyelashes faintly batting against my lids when I blinked.There is a buzzing in my head.

I looked up at Arhaan who walked out of the room , holding his mobile near his ear.Then I looked down at my sketch book and got shocked.There was a pair of eyes which I did sketch just now .But it wasn't looking like Arhaan's eyes.

"Sorry."Arhaan said as he entered into the room and sat across of me like before.

I wasn't feeling well as my head suddenly started paining .So,I decided to leave for home.

"Arhaan,I have to leave."I said as I stood and started arranging my tools.

"Did you finish it?"he asked in astonishment.

"You are quite fast"he said, sounded impressed .He walked towards me ,his excited grin wide across his face.

He directed his eyes to my unfinished sketch and his excitement started to vanish.

"This doesn't look like my eyes"he mused.

"I even think so"I admitted while trying to endure my headache.

"I told you..I have no practice since long.I am sorry ,I dissapoint you"I added.

My headache was increasing .So,I started pressing my forehead with finger tips

"Hey,You okay? You're not looking fine"he said with concern.I guess I couldn't hide my expression.

"My head is paining"I admitted.

"What happened to you all of a sudden?"his voice was deeper in concern.

"I don't know .Can you please drop me home right now?"

"Yeah,sure.Lets go."he said and we wemt out of his room.

We came downstairs and headed to the kitchen to bid good bye to his mom who was cooking lunch for me.

"Aunty,I have to leave now."I said as soon as I entered into the kitchen.

"Why?"she asked in astonishment.

"Mom,she isn't feeling well."Arhaan replied on my behalf

"What happened, dear?"she asked with concern.

"Nothing serious.Just a bad headache.I'll be fine soon after taking my medicine"I said .

"I was cooking tasty foods for you.I wish you could wait till lunch"she said dissapointed.

"Sorry,Aunty.Maybe next time"I said.

"Come soon.okay?"

"Okay"I smiled

After bidding goodbye to her we headed to the car in silence.

"Your mom is so sweet.Just like your sister"I said as a compliment while getting into the car.

"And me?"he asked as he got in the driver's side, looked straight into my eyes.

"You too"I said ,tried to hide my discomfort at his gaze.

He chuckled and started the engine.

"Feeling better?"he asked after 7-8 minutes of driving.

"Much better"I mumbled as I opened my eyes and turned to look at him.

"How is your driving classes going?"he asked again after 3-4 minutes of short silence.

"Going good.If everything goes well, I'll get my driving license within a few month."I said with a smile.

I always wanted to drive on my own.I wanted to feel being in driver seat, driving with the top down and listening to music.To fulfil that desire I was taking driving lessons.Misha and Khusbu also in it.I was eagerly waiting for the day when I would be able to handle the steering.

"That's good for you."he said,sounded happy for me.

I smiled ,then looked outside through the window,relaxing against the black leather seat.I closed my eyes to enjoy the gentle breeze which was kissing my face.

November
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December
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January
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February

TIME PASSES SO QUICKLY LIKE A HUMMINGBIRD FLYING BY.LIFE GOES ON AT ITS OWN PACE.EVEN MY LIFE.

"Mayank asked me to go with him on a Valentine's party as his Valentine"Jazz said,sounded happy and excited

"That's great." I made my voice bright and enthusiastic. "You'll have a lot of fun with him."

"I'm very excited "she grinned."What do you think ,he'll will confess his feelings?"she asked with doubts.

"He will"I assured her.
"If he don't then you do it first ."I suggested .

"I am a girl."

"So what? It doesn't matter who take the step first."I shrugged.

"Actually,I would like to wait for his confession."she said vaguely.It was clear that she didn't like my suggestion.

"Are you sure, you're not going for Valentine party?"she threw the question at me.

"Yeah.I would love to spend that day at home."I was grudgingly honest.

"Didn't he ask you to be his valentine?"she asked,sounded bemused .

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Who?"I asked , confused.

"Arhaan,ofcourse."

"Arhaan?Why would he ask me?"I narrowed my eyes.

"I thought he would ask you."she said where rolled my eyes.

"Zara,wait!"I heard someone call and it sounded like Imran.

We turned and my guess was correct,it was indeed him,my batch mate.I knew that he like me as he showed his feelings many times by his acts.He never said straight though.As it was February ,the month of love.I had a fear that he would take this opportunity to confess his feeling.I was hoping that my fear wouldn't come true as I didn't want to face any awkward situation.

"You have to handle this alone.Good luck"Jazz giggled in my ear.

"No."I hissed in a low voice.

"Bye,Zara.See you later in class."she left as soon as Sohel came, leaving me alone with him.

"Hey,Imran."I smiled tentatively,trying to hide my discomfort .

"Hi,Zara."he smiled .

"Actually, I'm in a hurry.Do you want to say something important?"I asked, irritated.

"Yeah."he nodded.

"What is it?"

"Happy rose day,Zara."he said finally with a smile , offering me a bunch of red roses.

Oh gosh!!Someone save me!!!

"Well..I can't take this."I said ,bit my lips to hide my uneasiness.

"Why?"he demanded,pulling his hand back.

His smile faded.

"I'm allergic to roses."I lied and started sneezing just to make my statement true.

"Sorry,I had no idea ."he sounded baffled.

"I have to leave before it causes more problem to me.See you later"I said in a rush and turned around.

Before he could say anything more,I walked away .I had decided not to tell anyone about this.I took the mist fleeting look I could manage before joining my friends at the cafeteria.

When the college hour was finally done,I walked to the parking lot along with Misha and Khusbu.Arhaan waved at me as soon as I noticed him.He was waiting for me,leaning casually against his car.

"Go,Zara.Your personal driver is waiting for you"Misha giggled.

"Shut up!"I hissed.

"See you at home"Khusbu said and they both headed to our car.And I walked towards Arhaan who was smiling widely, flashing a set of white teeth.

Last few months Arhaan was dropping me to my work place after college.Its not that I didn't object at his service.But he didn't listen to me.As his home and my work place was on the same direction,he said he would drop me on the way to his home.Eventually I thought its not a bad idea.In this way, Misha and Khusbu wouldn't have to take extra trouble by coming opposite direction from our house to drop me at the book store.

"Sorry,I am late.I had a practical class."I smiled apologetically.

"It's okay.I don't mind waiting for you.I can wait for you all day long."he said,smiled widely.

"You don't have to wait for me that too long."I smiled sarcastically.

I became just a little uncomfortable as he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

"Let's go."he chuckled and opened the pessenger door for me. I got into his car.

He got in the driver seat just after me.
I waited but he didn't start the engine of his car.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go."I grumbled.

He was grinning , looked nervous though.I frowned at him.

"Well"he said finally."This is for you"he offered me a bunch of yellow roses.

No!No!no..this couldn't be happening.

"What is it?" I finally asked, an unintentional note of petulance in my voice.

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. "Roses for you" he admitted.

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly through my nose, aware that I was gritting my teeth.

"Arhaan,You know that I consider you as my friend,nothing else."I paused,trying to keep my voice calm.

"And I made it clear long ago that don't expect anything else from me more than friendship.But you.."I cut off in middle

"Hang on.Don't overreact."he held a finger up to keep my mouth shut .

"I know you think of me only as your friend"he said.I thought he griamced.

"I'm giving you these roses as a symbol of our friendship.As you can see these roses are yellow and its a symbol of friendship."he explained.

Eventually I realised it and sighed in relief.How stupid I am! What I was thinking! I was making the situation difficult unnecessarily.

"I hope you can accept these flowers now"he asked when I didn't said in return of his explanation.

"Well,yeah"I admitted, shamefaced.

I took the roses from his hand.His lips twisted with a smile.

I recovered my composure .I inhaled the fragrance of those roses.It smells of violets and lemon.

I saw from the corner of my eyes that his lips parted into a smile when he noticed my activity. Then he fiddled with the controls, turning the heater up and the music down. As he pulled out of the parking lot and we drove to the book store.

********

Hi friends,I am back after a long time.
Here is a new chapter.I hope you like it.
How is the story going?I would like to hear your thoughts regarding this.So do comments and let me know.I guess I didn't ask anything much.

Have a nice day❤️