Mridhula

"Stop laughing you ass! I will throw this omelette at you!"
"What? It's kind of funny," he said, laughing harder.

I gave him a deathly glare. This was not what I had expected after I confessed about the feelings I had for him when we were fifteen.

"No it isn't. Me having a crush on you isn't funny at all, Ved Ramalingam. But you chose such an amazing time to come back huh? Just when I found a hot guy to drool over..."
"Mridhu...come on...don't get angry...I was just kidding. And hot guy huh?" He said winking.
"Shut up! Go and sit facing the wall," I said, pointing my finger in the direction of a wall against which my sofa was placed.

He looked at me incredulously.
"What the hell!" He exclaimed.
"Doesn't your best friend and neighbour have the right to tease you after knowing you for more than fifteen years?"

"Not after he left," I huffed. "So go do it. NOW. And don't turn back till I tell you to," I said.

"If you really wanted to stare that badly at my ass...-"

"SHUT UP AND GO!"

He chuckled as he got off the dining table chair and walked towards the sofa.

"Anything for you, my fairy!"

My cheeks flushed red and I forgot why I was angry with him for a second. But the moment soon got buried in the back of my mind when he said "Don't stare too long!"

Oh god. I seriously had to take my mind off this idiot for some time. I had loved him as a teenager and he was messing with my mind now. It was a childhood crush. He had been the only guy who had been close to me, considering that we lived next door to each other. Our parents were really close too so we were practically family friends. Well, I probably saw too much into his kind words and jovial nature and began liking him, whereas he had always treated me as a good friend and never made me think otherwise. Ughh I was again immersing myself into old memories. I needed to put a stop to these thoughts.
So I decided to call Maitreyi.

"Hello?" She picked up on the other line.
"Hi Maits! Could you tell me the number and name my last patient left with you?"

"Sure, wait a minute."

I heard her turning pages and then-
"Here, note it down."

I saved the number on my phone and read the girl's name mentioned. Nayoni huh...wow such a beautiful name too.

"Okay thanks a lot Maits! You're a lifesaver!" I exclaimed, cutting the call.

I took out my phone and pressed on the contact, listening to the ringtone. My idea was to act like I was calling from the bank. That way, I could find out his name. Well, it wasn't one of the best ideas, but I would go with it.

Unfortunately, it brought me to an engaged dial tone.

Wow. I had amazing luck. I tried calling again but it seemed like the line was still busy.

Frustrated, I switched off my phone and kept it on the table.

"Can I turn back now atleast?" A voice said and I jumped. I had totally forgotten that Ved was in the room. It was kind of cute and funny at the same time seeing him sitting on the floor, facing the wall. I feared that his arrival had brought back the feelings I had kept buried to the surface again. But I still decided to play a little.

"Sure, but only if you do the dishes."

"What?"

"Yup."

"Noooooo," he groaned.

"Fine then, kiss me."

I said this while staring at the floor. I don't know why I blurted out such a thing. Was my mind alright?

"Shit shit, I take it back...I mean did you miss me? Like, miss seeing my face? Since you're staring at the wall sadly?"

He started guffawing loudly and I ran out of the room, hitting myself on the forehead.

I sat down near the stairs and covered my face with my hair. I was looking in front through my hair strands.

I saw him approaching me so I moved a step up. He kept moving with me, so I gave up after 10 steps.

I sighed and put my head in my lap.

"Fairy?" He questioned, lightly brushing away a few strands of my hair.

I didn't say a word. My breath was caught in my throat.

He slightly moved closer and placed a soft gentle kiss on my hair.

Then he removed and brushed away my bangs to the side and leaned in.

I stared at him wide eyed, shocked and scared.

Butterlies were flitting around vigorously in my stomach and my heart beat had sky rocketed.

He gently leant closer and kissed my nose and then both my cheeks. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling, when he kissed my eyelids.

But he didn't kiss me where I wanted him to kiss me the most. My lips were tingling with a desire to be captured. But he stopped.

"Fairy," he whispered. " Someday you will definitely find someone better..." he said and drew back completely.

I just sat there, staring at blank space, wondering what had just transpired between us.

A moment later, I heard the front door bang and he was gone.

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One more small chapter's up! So you guys got an insight into who the mystery man is...so do you want to know who called Navneet on the phone? Still keeping you in suspense. Wait for the next chapter!

Hope you liked it!

Vote and comment as always...

Adios,

Harshini