??????? ?????? [?????????]

Ayaan pondered as he focused his energy into the treadmill under him. After the reassurance he had gotten from his friends, he was deciding to go for it. He was going to ask her out.

But the only question was—How?

Naina was a hard nut to crack. She wasn't ready to let down her guards and address the situation. He wasn't ready to back down.
This was a difficult scene.

As he focused on his workout while his mind pondered over her, he realised one thing: He can't ask her out without knowing her. He didn't want to impose on her—he wanted her to be ready. Not be surprised. If she had her concerns, she wanted her to address it. And he was going to ask that happen.

Once he walked back to his dorm room, he took a shower—then got dressed in a casual outfit and went towards Naina.

He found her sitting in her class, her mind deep on her lectures. Chuckling, he walked in. It was usual that he turned heads as he walked—it was no surprise that it happened again today. But he ignored it and settled himself next to her.

The crowd was silent and shocked.

They were not used to seeing Ayaan enter classes for a girl. This was new. Very new. They tried to ignore the scene—but it was impossible to take their eyes away.

Meanwhile Naina sat unaffected. She had been behind on work, which was new to her. She had been grinding since the morning and now was sitting in class—her mind focused entirely on the words of the professor in front of her. She hadn't noticed Ayaan sitting next to her until he tugged her elbow.

Looking up, she was shocked. She looked at him and whispered, "What are you doing here?"

He smiled and uttered casually, "Came to hang out with you."

Naina looked behind her and noticed the ample of eyes pointing in their direction. The subtle  conversations and eye gestures—all directed to them. She felt put on the spot and she didn't like it. She looked back at Ayaan, "Please go."

"I just got here. And I'm listening to the lecture now." He smirked, trying to make sense of what the professor was teaching on the board.

Naina pinched the bridge of her nose before looking back at him, her tone a little relaxed now, "Ayaan. Everyone's staring. Please go."

Then it hit him.
She didn't like the crowd.

He knew that. But he was so excited to see her that he forgot about her worry with the crowd.

He looked back at her and spoke sincerely, "I get it. You're right. But the minute your class ends I want to see you in my arms—understood?"

A small tug of a smile pulled at her lips as she nodded, "Understood."

He smiled and caressed her arm from under the table, away from everyone's eyes. Then, he causally got up and left—everyone's eyes following him. Naina smiled softly at his antics.

                                     ~•~

She walked outside the hall once her class ended, trying to avoid the stares that she was getting behind her. It wasn't like her to become the center of attention and she would rather be the center towards something productive—not because of the boy others claimed she pulled.

He was studying in the outdoor area when he saw her walking towards him. Feeling himself relax a little—he smiled. "Hello darling."

She smiled as she settled herself down, "Hi." 

"How was your class? How's my engineer doing?" He asked, a tug of a smile on his lips.

"Your engineer?" She raised her brow in question, "Since when?"

He came closer to her and whispered, "Since you got a little tipsy and locked lips with me."

She stuttered, "You need to let this go. It's been over 2 months now. It just happened. Bhul jao."

"I can't." He said, making himself comfortable on the bench with her, "What a beautiful moment it was. Plus—you have irresistible lips. Once tasted, they're unforgettable."

She felt a streak of red flashing through her body as she smiled and looked down. He noticed it and chuckled, "You look cute when you blush."

Then, she looked at him, "Ayaan. Don't come in my class like that. I...." She was confused on how to tell him about her social awkwardness. But she tried, "I don't like the—"

"I know." He interrupted gently, "And I'm sorry. I just got excited to see you. I didn't remember that you were not good with crowd and eyes on you. Don't worry. Not coming into your class time. Besides—I have no idea what your professor was saying. I thought you said you're doing engineering?"

"I am. But next year. The courses separate in the final year of University." She replied instantly.

"Good job." He said. And then, he took a deep breath, he was going to address the situation. "Naina?"

She hummed in response, looking at him.

"I wanted to ask you something." He replied and she gestured him to continue. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Why don't you want to be with me?"

Naina felt a rock being put on her shoulders. The weight of this question was heavy. And she didn't know how to tell him.

Before she could say anything, he added, "Listen, you can tell me the truth—whatever it is. But I don't want to hear that you don't like me, because you and I both know that's a lie."

She looked at him, sighing, then she finally decided to tell him, "Ayaan. I... I'm scared I won't be able to balance myself. And more than that, I'm scared that this is a phase for you. Look, I know you've told me that this isn't a phase, but that's what everyone says. I've seen couples say that and break up within months. I don't want to lose what I have with you. And your life and my life is different. You pull eyes everywhere you go—the only thing I don't like. How can we ever come to a mid point?"

He pondered as the realization of her words hit him. She wasn't wrong about anything—except her being a phase. "Naina. This isn't a phase. But you're right—I can't help the....eyes."

"Yeah." She said, as they looked down in silence.

"Naina," he said, pulling her up and grabbing her waist, "I heard you. I understand you. But that doesn't mean I'm letting you go. Just letting you know. I'll find a way—I'm sure of it."

She looked and gulped, "But, things will be very different for you then. A bad different."

"Things will be a bad different if I'm not with you. You've become my desire now—and I'm not letting this go."

                                         🩵

                            Story ending soon!