Chapter: One   

The Alleppey Railway Station looked like any other typical Indian Railway Station with the listlessly bored voice of the announcer lady echoing through the speakers at the station, announcing about the delays and early arrivals of different trains at the platforms. Hawkers kept bellowing and advertising their products at sale in Malayalam, gathering a crowd of interested people.

Kirti adjusted her shoulder bag which held some of her sweaters and jackets which she had stubbornly carried with her despite Sekhar's advice for her not to carry any woollen wears since it was January already. But how could Kirti trust Sekhar when it was freezing cold in Kolkata from where she had boarded a flight to Kerala. Clutching the handle of the luggage bag tighter in her hand, she felt that this time it was going to be different.

It was going to be different than the last time, she told herself mentally.

She won't be running away this time, Kirti amended.

At least she hoped she won't.

"Yeah Sekhar?" Kirti asked as she received the call, pressing the phone against her ear.

"Hey! Where are you?" Sekhar asked in his usual energetic way.

"I've just got off the train," replied Kirti, looking around for Sekhar.

"That's great! I'm waiting outside at the parking lot," Sekhar directed and ended the call.

Pushing the phone into the pocket of her grey hoodie, Kirti pulled the luggage bag along as she made her way out of the bustling station. Walking out of the shady Railway Station, she scrunched her eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight sprayed all over the open parking space, painting the grounds a dark shade of orange. A warm, almost stifling breeze welcomed Kirti and she fanned her already sweating face.

"Having second thoughts now, huh Miss Stubborn?" Sekhar's deep voice reached her as he came into view a few feet away, smiling at Kirti.

"You told me Kerala was hot; you didn't tell me it was blazing like fire!" Kirti accused, brushing the brown strands of hair off her face as she looked at Sekhar.

"One of India's closest places to the Equator, what did you expect?" Sekhar asked, smirking.

Sekhar was an old family friend and was in his early thirties. However, with his overly cheerful attitude, a smile forever plastered on his face and his dark brown hair tousled to the side, Sekhar looked way younger. Reaching Kirti, he took her bags despite her protests and headed for the red and black Hyundai parked a few spots away.

"How was the journey?" Sekhar asked as he unlocked the car.

"It was good," Kirti stuck to small talk.

She was too tired to speak anyway. Kirti had boarded a flight from CCU International Airport from Kolkata at eight in the morning and had landed at TRV Airport of Trivendrum, Kerala, at two thirty in the afternoon. She then boarded a train from Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station and had reached Alleppey three hours later. Being tired would be an understatement for Kirti apparently. She was exhausted.

Sekhar sensed the weariness in Kirti's voice and nodded with a smile. Once done with placing the luggage in the Hyundai, Kirti climbed into the shotgun and Sekhar took hold of the steering wheel, driving the car out of the Alleppey Railway Station.

"What's the time?" Kirti asked, adjusting her seat back to doze off for a few minutes. She had been alert of her surroundings throughout the ten hours of her solo journey. Somewhere at the back of her head, she had all the pessimistic thoughts huddled up which kept her from resting for even a second.

What if he shows up? That's pretty much all Kirti had been musing about ever since she parted with her mother at the CCU Airport in Kolkata.

"It's close to seven thirty," Sekhar answered, driving the Hyundai through the route ahead.

They both turned silent. Kirti closed her eyes and kept drumming her fingers, waiting for sleep to welcome her but the bumpy ride and the overly humid breeze fanning her face through the window of the car wasn't helping her situation.

"Get that hoodie off for god's sake, Kirti!" Sekhar suggested, his eyes flickering to her once and then training back on the road ahead.

"Yeah," Kirti sighed, "you're right,"

Sitting up straight on her seat, she reluctantly pulled the grey hoodie off, revealing a black top with quarter length sleeves hugging her body. She ran her fingers over the woollen hoodie once before pushing it into the shoulder bag. It was something her mother had gifted her a year back. Wearing it helped her cope with the fact that this time she was on her own. This time her Ma wasn't there by her side to accompany her.

"I see you got a haircut," Sekhar observed as he drove, flashing a smile at her.

"Yeah," she replied with a nod.

It had been a topic of debacle between Kirti and her Mother. Kirti loved her dark brown, long hair which reached down till her waist. Her mother, however, thought that it was a feature that highlighted Kirti and made her stand out in any crowd. It was thus safer if she changed the hairstyle to something that would make her look less different. Kirti sulked for about an hour when her Ma chopped her hair off to shoulder-length. Even her Ma didn't wish to do that to her but it was necessary. Hair could grow back anytime; Kirti's life existed for only once.

"How's Maya?" Sekhar asked about her mother.

"She's fine," Kirti answered meekly, "took a flight to New Delhi after dropping me off at the Kolkata airport,"

"Don't worry Kirts," said Sekhar, "I've got a cousin of mine who will take care of you while you're here,"

Kirti smiled at the age-old nickname Sekhar used for her. But the smile lasted only for a moment as Sekhar's words registered in her head. She frowned questioningly at him as he continued to drive.

"What do you mean by that? Am I not gonna stay with you?" Kirti asked, feeling uneasy about the situation.

"I told you not to worry, Kirts. Abhimanyu is a really good guy, trust me," Sekhar tried to calm her down.

"Plus, four more kids share the flat with Abhimanyu," Sekhar added when Kirti didn't speak, "You won't feel lonely at all,"

"You don't understand Sekhar! I can't live in a house full of irresponsible teenagers!" Kirti exclaimed at Sekhar.

Coming to Kerala seemed like the worst idea to her now. She was already worked up about him and now she had to share a house with teenagers around her age who don't even know how critical the situation is for her. Moreover, if she stayed with those five students, it'd mean risking their lives as well in this.

"Kirts, I know better than anyone else does, okay?" Sekhar spoke, sounding serious now.

Kirti opened her mouth to debate down the suggestion but then she shut up when she realized the change in the air of the Hyundai. Sekhar was right. He was the closest ally of her father and knew everything about the circumstances. If he was suggesting something, it definitely had to be safe and sound for her.

"Kirti, you never got to be the child you were supposed to be," spoke Sekhar, "At a tender age of thirteen you learnt to snatch guns from hands, learnt how to-"

Reaching out, Kirti placed a hand on Sekhar's which was resting on the shifter, stopping him short on his rant. Kirti forced a smile on her lips to tell him that she was fine and that she understood his point. Deep down, she didn't want to hear the past all over again.

"I think you do deserve to live like a normal kid, even if it's just for a couple of months while you're here," Sekhar cleared off.

The rest of the journey was pretty silent. Kirti looked out of the window, taking in the view. The dusty sides of the road transcended down to the water canals that stretched out to the far off side, marking the horizon with trees and greenery. The blue waters reflected out the remaining specks of sunlight, turning a bright shade of red. The lapping waters seemed to have cast a calming effect over Kirti as her eyelids felt heavier. A few minutes into watching the canals, Kirti dozed off into a tired slumber.

***

"Kirts?" Sekhar's voice echoed through her head as he shook her gently by her shoulder.

"What-?" Kirti mumbled as she rubbed her right eye sleepily and sat up straight.

Feeling the leather surface of the seat, she remembered where she was. Turning, she looked at Sekhar who smiled at her. It was difficult to guess the expression on his face for it was dark outside now; the sun had set away.

"You've got Gaurav's eyes," Sekhar mused as he looked at Kirti.

Kirti smiled back but deep down, it pained to hear her father's name. She had a special place for him in her heart despite the fact that he was no longer with her now. People said it was unfortunate that Kirti lost her father at a mere age of twelve but for her, he was always the hero who smiled and taught her to face all the fears in life.

"Come on now," Sekhar said, "We've reached."

Nodding, Kirti too climbed out of the Hyundai and looked around her. It was a desolate street with tall, dark silhouettes of trees all around. The stars twinkled brightly, scattered all over the deep blue sky but the moon was nowhere to be seen. A relatively cooler breeze enveloped Kirti and she sighed in relief at the fall in temperature.

"Thanks," Kirti said as she took the shoulder bag when Sekhar offered it to her.

"Come in," Sekhar said as he walked over to a gate that marked the entry point to a two storeyed building.

Kirti looked at the dark silhouette of the building and tried in vain to decipher the colour of the walls which was an impossible task in the darkness. A few lights were switched on and light poured out from one or two windows of the building. Faint music also reached her ears from the second floor window. The music harmonized with the crickets that sang all around, creating a soothing effect.

Smiling, Kirti followed Sekhar into the building. All the while, she kept telling her just one thing; it'll be different this time. No running away from him now. 

Author's Note:-    

So how was the first chapter of We Never Knew?

To Be Honest I am really excited about this book. It's the exact same excitement I had felt while writing We Are A Match. I don't know why though.

BTW, How are the cover and banners for the book? 

Stay tuned until the next update! *waves a goodbye*