I reached home with a smile and greeted mom with a smile too. She looked at me as if I returned as an alien but... Well, it's not her mistake. I'm smiling like a lunatic since I ditched that ‘acquaintance child’ in the market.

"Angel, Are you fine?" Mom finally asked when I didn't stop smiling.

"Yes, In fact, I'm so much happy. I'll see you in the kitchen in a minute." I kissed her cheek and left to my room with the same smile.

Ah! It feels so good to know that I got rid of him and left him there. Yes! He deserved this. He should know that with whom he messed up. Dare he calls me grumpy dwarf again, huh!

"Angel it's two minutes already." I heard my mom and my eyes rolled on its own.

"Ugh! Mom, I am coming." I immediately took off my jacket and walked to the kitchen where she was busy making several dishes.

"Mom, Are they all monsters?" I asked scratching the back of my head.

"Shut up." She shook her head hitting me on the shoulder slightly.

"What?" I raised my hands in the air. "Who will eat all this? I'm serious ma."

"Angel. I have a lot more work than to answer your stupid questions. If you want to help, go and decorate the house and leave me alone otherwise I might not be able to finish my work before everyone arrives." Mom spoke and I pouted.

"Okay, Mom. I went so far just for your pineapple and you're scolding me. Well, good. You don't love me." I made a crying face and started to walk out.

"Angel you will never change. I love you so much, my child. Now go and do some other work too. Emotional blackmailer!" She hugged me and I smiled cheekily.

"You just love her na?" Gauri appeared from nowhere scaring us.

"I love you both. Now go and do work gals, I have other works" Mom hugged her too and we both hugged her back.

"We love you too mom." We replied in unity and later dispersed to our respective works.

I walked to the dining table to place down the crockery and put some decorations on the table.

"How was your meeting?" I spoke while putting down the plates.

"It was good. In fact, awesome. We talked a lot. You know...Oye! Leave this and tell me are you coming with me to the party?" She suddenly got excited and scattered the flowers she was putting in the vase.

"Umm... Party? Don't we have one in the house?" I asked looking at the arrangements around us.

"Well, yeah we do have one but this is just a dinner. We will have a whole night to sit with elders and talk but not this time when we will go partying" She started to gather up the flowers.

"Okay. I'll come." I smiled and started to walk to the kitchen to ask mom if there's any other work but Gauri stopped me.

"You have a date right?" She spoke and I turned to her.

"Date?" I asked but before she could reply mom entered the dining area with a trolley.

"Gauri, Sorry to disturb you. These are a cutlery set and other stuff arrange them and Angel you come with me and help me with the vegetables." She said and nodding I followed them due to the shortage of time I decided to talk to Gauri later but the word date reminded me of him.

acquaintance~

"Angel cut this into square and..." I was listening to my mom but my mind was back there in the car when he was beside me asking me to be his date.

Did I do good? I mean he might have to attend some party and wasn't able to find any date and asked me? What if he was kind of serious? Um... Whatever!
I was in trance when mom shook me hard calling me.

"I'm listening to you, mom. I'll cut them in a minute." I side hugged her and she nodded with a worry covering her face.

I picked the knife and started to cut the veggies.

"Grumpy Dwarf!" I trembled with God knows what hearing his voice and that word that the knife slide right onto my finger.

"Ouch. Idiot you scared me." I shouted and held my finger.

----

"Angel, who is the idiot and who scared you?" My mom hurried me to the sink and poured some water on the finger.

"Nothing I guess I was thinking of that series." I chuckled and she banded my finger.

"I'll be careful now" I smiled and walked back to the counter.

What the hell was that? Did I just imagine him here? What the fudge is happening to me?

"Angel I have been noticing this from the time you returned from the market that you're acting little strange. Are you hiding something?" Mom asked while making her dinner.

"I found the pineapple in the market, Nearby." I decided to tell her---Just a little.

"Then why did you lie to me?" She asked dropping the spatula.

"I didn't. There was a lady who needed it and I just gave it to her..." I smiled childishly as she smiled patting my shoulder.

"My Angel is others angel too. Everything is almost done just we need to get ready.So speed-up" She told me and I smiling finished my work and walked to my room where Gauri was sitting calling Om.

"How am I looking?"

"No. she said yes."

"I love you more."

I didn't mean to hear them but well I did. As I was in washroom changing into my new year dress.

I came out standing in front of  my dressing table.It wasn't a fancy looking but it was cute and simple. Nothing red and nothing like everyone wears. It was black and a little grey. I loved my mom's choice.

"I was asking you, do you have a date?" Gauri snapped her fingers in front of me as I was lost.

"Date?" I asked her and she rolled her eyes.

"Did I just hear date?" Mom entered the room making a shocked face.

"Mom? Privacy?" I raised my hands in the air.

"Really?" She smiled cheekily.

"Yeah!" I walked to her.

"Mom we have a party in nearby club. We want to attend it before 12." Gauri flashed her smile and mom frowned.

"Exactly! But we have dinner so how can we attend the party?" I jumped into the conversation.

"Yes, Gauri. How can you go?" Mom worriedly asked.

"Mom... Simply by car." Gauri chuckled. "Okay, we will return after 12 to celebrate the new year night. We just need to be there for some time and we can't ruin our night by hearing elder's conversation." Gauri spoke and mom nodded.

"We will see..." Before mom could complete the doorbell rang and we stood still at our places.

Oh man! They're all so punctual.

"Very much punctual" Mom ran out and looking at ourselves for the final time we ran behind her.

"Mrs. Oberoi. Welcome." I heard mom

We too reached the door, to welcome them.

"Angel. Date?" Gauri whispered and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't ask me about the date."I passed a fake smile gritting my teeth.

'Will you be my date tonight.' I have to admit. Whenever Gauri speaks the word date only he comes in my mind with this line.

"Okay chill." Gauri shrugged her shoulders and got busy with her mobile.

"You have a good and cozy house." I heard an unknown yet very known voice.

I don't get it. How do I know this voice?

"Thank you, beta." My mom replied and I got ready to welcome them as they neared the door of the hall.

"Hel---lo" My voice got stuck in my throat and the words came out in pieces.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them entering into the hall.

"Hello?" That freaking smirk! Ah!

"W-Welcome" I looked away and Mom glared me as if she will rip me apart right now and right here.

"She is Anika and she is Gauri. My daughters." Mom introduced us.

"Good evening angel." Auntie hugged me and I smiled looking at Gauri and Mom as they wondered how they know my name.

"Mom... I was telling you that Pineapple..." I paused as Auntie smiled and continued.

"She was the one who gave me that pineapple." We walked toward the couches and settled there.

"Oh, I see." Mom chuckled. Gauri and I left to the kitchen to bring some starters for them.

"Angel please I will be back in a minute Om is calling." Gauri left me there and I started to arrange the plates.

"Grumpy Dwarf!" I stiffened as I heard him behind me.

Oh God, I'm so unlucky! I was thinking that I got rid of him. Ugh!

"Don't you dare call me that." I snapped my fingers turning.

"Huh? Do you really think I will take your dares? I wonder?" He smirked.

GOD! Please give me patience or the power to remove that smirk...

"Feeling guilty, already?" He moved forward toward me with that smirk!!!

"Huh? Guilty? Of what?" I flipped my hair and turned to the trolley.

"Really? Okay!" He walked out.

How can he come here? Like why would Mom allow him to come to the kitchen?

I hurried out with the trolley and flashed a smile to all before serving.

"Angel I didn't expect this from you," Mom called out and I froze at my place.

Did he tell her?

"Mom I can explain!" I turned to mom seeing him smirking.

UGH!!!! FUCK!

"I really need explanation. Why did you—-." I didn't let mom complete and sighed out.

"I'm sorry mom I shouldn't have left him." I looked down and heard chuckles.

"Where did you leave and whom?" Mom asked and I narrow my eyes looked up.

"What you were telling?" I asked placing my hands on each other.

"I was asking, why didn't you let him enter the kitchen." Mom looked at me and I chuckled and looked at him and he was smiling, for once?

"A-Actually... I didn't want him to see the dishes." I smiled and Mom chuckled.

"It's okay auntie. I'm good without seeing them." Shivaay, yes that's his name, spoke up.

I wish I could punch him right into his face.

"Won't you show me your house?" Uh! He should rot in hell.

"Angel, show him the house," Mom ordered me and faking the smile I walked ahead leading him to the rooms to show him.

"You look so hilarious when scared." He chuckled.

"I wasn't scared." I rebuked "Really?" He smirked.

"Yes, Really!" I walked away and he slowly walked behind me.

"So you don't care if I tell your mom about you abandoning me in the mall. Right?" He came in front of me.

"I don't care." I slightly pushed him aside and lead him into the study room.

"I bet you care." He looked at me.

"Keep betting." I smiled and sat down on the sofa.

"Okay. So care to tell me why you left me there?" He sat in front of me and I blinked faster to digest the fact that he is sitting in front of me.

Well, I never thought it would end up like this... Like really!

"Anika...Ops! Angel. I am asking you something. Do you think that was a good idea to leave me behind, with no vehicle?" He asked in a tone which made me feel guilty.

Ugh! I hate this feeling. How can he make me feel so low?

"Stop with your words. I know what you're trying to do. I'm not guilty of leaving you behind. You deserved it. You called me a GRUMPY DWARF. How could you?" I glared him and he chuckled.

"Okay so revenge? And what about the date? Have you considered it yet?" He asked moving dead close to me.

My heart started to race faster as his breaths literally fanned my face.

"W-What..." I tried to speak but the voice didn't come out as I expected.

"What is happening here?" I heard Gauri and jerked him away.

"Nothing..." The reply immediately came out and I stood up.

"Hey" Shivaay stood up and greeted the duo.

"Om. Hey." I smiled to him and they both entered inside the room.

"Shivaay... Are you planning to join us?" Gauri asked him and I glared her for asking this.

"Where? I mean joining for what?" Shivaay looked at me and I looked away.

"We are going for the new year party in a nearby club," Om told him and he looked at me, again.

"No, I'm not coming," I told them and they all stared at me.

"Shivaay are you?" Gauri asked again and he nodded in a Yes!

"Do you have a date? Only couples are allowed there." Om told him and he smiled looking down.

"YES." I felt a sting in my heart hearing it.

Damn! He had a date and yet he was asking me to be the one. Huh! Thank god I didn't consider it.

"I have some work." I excused myself and left feeling little hurt as he wasn't serious ever. He was just troubling me. How could he do this to ME?

I walked to my room and sat down on the bed feeling very hurt. I'm not supposed to be hurt by this but I'm hurt and very much.

"Grumpy..." I raised up my head brushing off the tears to see him standing in front of me.

"What the hell is your problem? Why can't you just leave me alone for even a minute?" I shouted at him and he raised his brows and looked at me.

"Don't give me that look." I sniffled and looked away.

"How did you get this?" He again moved dead close to me and this time even held my hand.

"I... I was lost." I stammered due to sudden proximity.

"In my thoughts?" He tenderly kissed my banded finger and a shiver ran down my spine and my eyes closed on its own.

"N... No" I opened my eyes and freed my hand.

"Okay... Remember, you don't care about anything." He told me before he walked away.

"Why did you ask me to be your date when you had one." I finally asked him, angrily.

"So somebody is jealous." He winked before he walked out.

Ugh!

I walked behind him and reached the hall where everybody was sitting and chatting.

Dad has come too and his dad too and they were chatting in the corner. Gauri was asking dad to let us go for the party and danced as he gave the permission discussing with others.

"Auntie you know what your daughter did." Shivaay stood and started the conversation making me shiver with fear.

I don't know but I'm scared.

"What?" Mom stood up and my steps froze there only.

"She abandoned me..." Before he completes, I closed my eyes and got ready to be scolded.

Say it now~
"In the room." I sighing open my eyes and he was smiling.

"You're so funny beta." My mom laughed and all smiled.

 I smiling left as they started their conversation.

"Anika..." I stopped and next minute I was pinned to the nearby wall by him and he was staring deep into my eyes.

"Leave me now." I glared him and he smiled.

"You're too cute." He brushed his lips over mine and I kept on staring at him.

"Go and do this with your date." I pushed him angrily and he smiled.

"I smell something burning." He neared me and held my hand.

"I am still waiting..." And he walked away.

How can he manage to do this always? Say something and walks off? Why?

Anika put your ego aside and... DO WHAT YOUR HEART WANTS.

YES!
"Shivaay!" I called out running behind him.

"Yes grumpy dwarf!" He stopped in his way and looked behind with that smirk.

Anika, Reconsider it. He might be playing. My mind said but my heart wanted to give in.

"I want to go to that party." I looked down nervously.

"Same here." He looked at me and moved closer to me.

"So..." I slowly looked up at him fidgeting my fingers.

"So?" He looked at me with a questioning look.

"Will you be..." I paused and stared him into the eyes.

"Be my date tonight?" I asked and looked down, flushed.

I didn't receive any answer just a peck on my lips and he vanished.

--------------------------

Finally we are here in the club after bidding good bye to everyone.

We played games and then moved to the dance floor to sway our bodies and then there was a final call for the couple dances at 11:45pm and we all with our partners were there. Om - Gauri, and me and Shivaay ya he is not that bad and we were moving in a perfect synchronization. JUST PERFECT.

"On the count of three, New year will arrive and...3-2-1," The host said and I smiled looking at him into his blue eyes.

"Happy New Year." I gazed his lips.

"Happy New Year, Love." Finally, his lips touched mine. Sparks flew in every direction, and the world was slowly disappearing around us, along with all of our worries, our troubles and our problems. He made me feel like none of that mattered. It was a small yet warm kiss. I honestly never knew a kiss so innocent could be so intimate and electrifying. His lips were moving in perfect sync, his hands feeling my waist. I felt my hands on the back of his neck playing with the ends of his hair. Finally, we pulled apart. And joined our foreheads with a strong promise through our eyes of not leaving each other this new year I found my true love in my UNKNOWN ACQUAINTANCE. Hoping for a new start with a new year.

Enjoy the festive season and my book I hope u ol like it HAPPY MAKAR SAKRANTI OL OF U I know book is of Happy New year but still new year vibes are on with some festival vi ea🙈🙈🎆🌌🎇💟🎆

Once again this story is a collaboration of _annie353and me written for a competition and secured third position happy with the win first award of the year and my to first in writing career too thanks dear for giving this motivation and help. Love u sweetie. Waiting for ur update by the way.😉😉