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ITI

I ruffled my hair with a dry towel once I exited the washroom. The tiredness that blanketed over me constantly brewed an urge to flop on the bed and give in to the sleep.

It's somewhat three or four in the afternoon, we played Holi for a very long time. Pushing and throwing each other in the pool while dancing to the music. It felt so wholesome.

After the incident in the storehouse I hardly saw him around. It's not like I want to see him, I'm equally avoiding any chance of being alone with him strongly. Being with him in a close confined place any sooner will be harder for me.

I was about to slip under the blanket when my eyes caught something from the corner, I glanced towards my study table only to find my old journal sitting away from the stack of books.

I went to the table picking the diary up, a cute little sticker of a young swan stared back at me. I flipped the pages, a sudden nostalgia hitting me quick and hard.

I got to the page where I've written 'A day spent well with my one love' and a snort leaves me. I remember how I used to write down every short incident that would happen to me.

I glanced the page again, my brows forming a crease so short until I flipped the pages. Where is the picture? I'm sure I pasted one here.

The door to my room swung open and I placed the diary back to its original place "Mumma?" I whirled back as she entered, her gaze flicking towards the empty bed before it returned to me "Where's Manav?" Her question was instant.

"He's with his dad" I guessed pretending to make my bed which was already devoid of any crease. I think she bought it because her next statement confirmed it.

"Being so engrossed in the work I'm happy he actually came home with you" she pressed a generous smile.

"Me too" I mumbled barely registering when she approached me "Now take a short nap before the guest starts to arrive okay" I nod pressing my lips in a smile.

Just when she left I slipped inside my blanket pushing my hair away from the face I snuggled in my pillow. Nothing can fix better than a sweet little nap.

-

I rubbed my face on the pillow to ward off the extra sleep that still lingered in my eyes, the tiredness not leaving my bones.

I turned away just to find him staring back at me and a sudden electrifying shiver zaps down my spine to somewhere very intimate.

Manav ji was hardly an inch away from my face when I felt him blowing all over my face probably to clear the loose strands away.

His tone sounds sleepy and tired as he opens "Awake?" He practically breathed the words out, his gaze running over my face summoning all the blood to zoom on my cheeks.