She read the note atleast 5 times to make sure she isn't reading wrong. Is he really here? Or she is just assuming all this?

Curious,she opened the door. And paved her way towards terrace. Literally running.

Oh! How can she forget him? The prankster of their group. But yeah,he never pranked anyone but her. It was like that she was his sole target.

His favourite job was to get on her nerves. But she never gave him any reaction. She was nerd back then. And was happy to keep her nose only in her books.

She visibly sighed thinking how her group broke after the final year of her college. She got busy in interviews and then later with her job. While others too were busy with their lives preventing them to stay in touch.

On reaching the terrace,she stopped looking around for him. Is he really here? She questioned herself. Her hair wildly moving and teasing her cheeks as wind rushed through them. Ahh! The chilly winds of mid November.

"Looking for someone?" She heard a voice. That velvety voice which always makes her weak in her knees.

She turned immediately on hearing that voice. And was fascinated to see him standing in white tee and black jeans with brown jacket engulfing his body showing his broad shoulders. She isn't imagining. Right?

He smiled broadly seeing her. Ahh! He missed her. But he wasn't gonna tell her that. His eyes couldn't help but adore the sight before him.

He moved forward pocketing. "Looking for me? Miss nerd??", He asked smirking.

"Don't think too much of yourself. Mr. Prankster." She answered biting back a smile which was threatening to escape her lips.

"Well... I am glad to see the change. You know..This giving back." He answered amused and surprised with her statement. Finally! She gave him a reaction.

He did, all he could do in their college years. Scaring her, pulling her pony, Hiding her specs. Everything he could do. But she Never gave a reaction. Just a Stare. Hard stare. Which didn't give away anything.

"When did you come? And most important question. Why are you here??" She asked raising her eyebrows.

Kartik couldn't help but notice the change in her behaviour. She has become more expressive. Oh! How much he wanted her to open up to him. Despite doing everything,she never gave him any attention. Whatsoever. But people change with time. And he could very well see the change.

"You are very good at changing the topics. Btw I came yesterday and I am gonna live in front of your apartment. Ahh! God is getting so generous on me. Don't you think?" He asked taking a step closer.

"Whatever. I don't care. You Live here or 1000 miles away. I never cared and I will never." She said shrugging non-chalantly.

It hurts him. How she said that easily but he could feel happiness and relief spread through his veins seeing her taking a sharp intake of breath when he moved closer to her. He affects her.

"So how many boyfriends You made in my absence. Miss nerd?" He asked folding his arm on his chest. Trying to intimidate her. But he noticed that she didn't. Even not an inch. She surely has changed!

"Are you saying that I have only this work. Making boyfriends. First of all,they aren't sandwiches which you can make. And second,that I am very much busy with my life to do all this stuff. " She blurted rubbish,she knew but she didn't want to appear weak in front of him. So she imitated him by folding her hands on her chest. Trying to intimidate him.

Oh god! She surely has changed but he was liking her more. Like this. Being snappy and all.

"Whatever. Btw.. I see.. you haven't learnt the manners. That of offering your guest. Let alone that. You even haven't invited me over." He said stepping closer. "It's wrong.. so wrong." he smiled seeing her breath hitch at their proximity. Atleast! Something hasn't changed.

"I don't invite pranksters. You see." She said subtly stepping back.

"OK..stop it now..and let's spend sometime together. You know. I have come after a long time. You should seriously invite me." He said becoming serious. He wants to spend time with her. He surely wants to!

"I don't want to." She said playfully turning and walking towards her apartment.

"Hey, it's not right!" He said following her.

"It absolutely is!" She said shrugging and moving fast.

He too matched her pace. And said in a seriously serious tone "Miss Nerd."

"Mr. Prankster. Huh" she said focusing forward.

"Naira" he called again in same tone.

"Kartik" she too said mimicking his tone.

"Nai" he was cut off by her.

"Ok then..Say pls." She said smirking.

"Nope. I won't." He said looking at her with grave expressions.

"Then forget it." She said and increased her pace.

"Okkk..Wait.." he said reluctantly. But he was sure enjoying being with her. He missed her so effing much.

She turned and a smirk grew on her lips. "Hmm..?"

"Please" he said in sugarcoating voice. In mocking voice.

"Fine." She said and asked him to follow her.

🎊

They laughed recounting all their memories.

"Those days were carefree. And now we all are packed in this busy, hectic life."  Naira said sipping from her coffee.

"Agreed... But we should.. you know.. sometimes take out the time..to do get togethers.. " kartik said observing her.

"Yup..we should." She said standing up,and took her cup to wash it and proceeded to take his as well. but he stopped her.

"I will" he said smiling at her and standing up. She smiled and they both paved their way to the kitchen.

"So how did you know. That I am here." Naira asked placing the cups in the sink. And filling the jar with water from RO.

"It was a coincidence. I settled yesterday itself and saw you in this building and today I got to see you in this flat from my flat which happens to be just opposite of yours." He said and shrugged. Smiling lightly.

Naira smiled too. After filling the jar,she turned and saw him standing close to her. She was literally standing between his towering figure and the kitchen slab.

He moved more closer to her. And Naira's heartbeat escalated. His hot breath tingling her cheeks and making her body warm. They both could feel that sexual Tension between them. They have always felt. But today. It was much more.

Their faces were inches away from each other. Naira took a sharp intake of breath. Kartik wanted to move more closer to her. He wanted more.

Naira felt her breath hitched seeing him coming more closer. But she was left flabbergasted. When she heard a click sound and he took steps back.

It took her some time to Realise that he has switched off the switch of RO as it got full. They both fell in an awkward silence. Not knowing what to say.

"Umm.." naira started. But she was cut off by the sound of his phone ringing.  She mentally thanked God.

"I have got to go. Naira..will see you later." He said after hanging up the call and she nodded. She walked to him to the door.

"Will meet you later." Kartik said smiling.

"My bad." Naira muttered but loud enough for him to hear it. He chuckled.

"Bye!"He said. His eyes shining seeing her Beautiful smile.

"Bye" She said shyly because of his intense gaze and then she closed her door. She leaned over the door and closed her eyes thinking.

This festive season won't be that bad. Maybe!

•°•

It was Diwali. Naira dressed herself in yellow kurti. She sat on floor making rangoli. Just when she wrote happy diwali with different colours of rangoli. Her eyes teared up. She looked around her house. Feeling alone and empty.

There was no one who could wish her diwali. That's why she doesn't like festivals. Because they don't mean anything to her. Because she doesn't have a family.

She can't forget that day when her whole family died of accident. She was in her home preparing for exams while her whole family was returning from a function. And then she got the news which no one would ever want to receive. She wiped her tears and continued making the rangoli.

No,she wasn't sad like this always. Instead,she is very happy with her life. But on these days,on the festive season. She feel alone in this world which is full of people. Her heart feel alone.

She could hear the burning of crackers,and chatter of people but then also she could feel emptiness inside her, around her.

Just then she heard ringing of the bell. She stood up. Wiping her tears, making her look presentable, she went to the door to open it.

"Happy Diwali,Miss Nerd." He wished her smiling.

She too wished."happy Diwali Mr. Prankster."

"So let's burn the crackers." He said excitedly.

"No ,I have to light diyas first." She said.

"Ok..Then.. let's help you . And then we will burn the crackers."he said rubbing his hands in excitement.

"What's with your excitement about burning crackers?" She asked chuckling.

"I just love to celebrate the festivals." He said beaming in happiness. And shrugged.

"Okay..Then.. let's light diyas." She smilingly said entering and he followed her.

They took the diyas and lightened them up and placed them in different different corners of the flat safely.

Naira saw a diya's flame extinguishing. She felt sadness setting in her heart. Before she could do anything. She saw a diya lightening her diya. Naira's lips curved and she looked up at him who very carefully kindle the flame through other diya.

She smiled warmly at him and he couldn't help but adore the happiness and warmth of her smile.

🎊

"See that." Kartik pointed to the Beautiful pattern in sky made my Sky shoter. Naira looked up and smiled.

She was enjoying a festival for the first time after that day..and all the credit goes to him.

She adored him. He was surely a prankster and trouble maker for her. But she could still feel a sense of safety in his presence.

"Naira.." he whispered taking her out of her trance.

"Hmm?" She hummed listening to him.

"Why do you think that I used to  trouble you .... prank with you..why Just you?" He asked wanting to tell her feelings of his heart.

"I don't know..Maybe you didn't like me?" She answered bewildered.

Kartik wanted to hit his head on the wall.

"Nooo." He answered immediately.

Naira looked at him stumped.

"I mean..That wasn't a reason."  He answered observing her.

"So what was the reason?", She asked confused.

"You want to know the reason?" He asked stepping closer.

"Yeah" naira said in breathy voice. His proximity has always this effect on her. She stepped back a little. He moved more closer.

", Because.." he whispered in her ear. His cologne making her weak on her knees.

"Because I like you Naira. More than a friend. I have always liked you. And I used to play pranks on you. Used to Trouble  you because I wanted you to react. To give me some attention. But you never gave.. your Focus was always in books. Huh.. after doing everything..then also you remained oblivious to my feelings. Everyone knew except you. I really like you Naira.a lot.. even after going to America. I couldn't forget you. And now.. I can't keep my feelings with myself. I wanted to let it out and so I did it today." He confessed holding her cold and soft hands in his warm and hard ones.

Naira gasped listening to all of that. Ok! Sure.. she has a crush on him. But she never imagined him saying this to her. All this was new and unexpected to her.

Kartik knew that she didn't expect it. So he continued.

"It's ok..I know you didn't expect it. I am not forcing you Naira. Just think about me like that. Give me a chance. Then also if you won't be comfortable with me..  or you won't feel that way with me...Then I won't stop you. Pls just give me a chance." He pleaded. It took all his courage to say those words. It's not just a liking for him. He loves her. Irrevocably. Ever since college. But he didn't want to scare her off by telling her how deep he has feeling for her.

Naira didn't know what to say. But she knew she could give it a shot. She has feelings for him. But how deep they are? She didn't know. So she could give him a chance.

"I will.." she said in breathy voice but then she composed herself and said in full confident voice. "You are given a chance Mr. Prankster. If you ruined it then I won't hesitate in breaking your teeth." She said in a warning tone. But seeing his eyes sparkled in happiness,her lips curved up slightly.

"Oh! You don't know about my charms. Miss nerd. Just see how I will make you fall for me." He said and Chuckled. But then his face also bloomed with the happiness. He was just so Happy. That she gave him a chance.

He smiled more widely and kissed on her forehead. Naira's heart skipped a beat by his this gesture.

"Ok..Now let's burn the crackers." He said dragging her with him excitedly.

Naira giggled.

She didn't know,she would ever be able to enjoy any festival happily. But Her Mr. Prankster did that to her. Her Kartik did that to her.

🎊

Do tell me your views about it guys!♥️
It was somewhat new to me.
Btw thank you for all the love
Bhumi💕