Mr. Roy's class was over, like the next two classes were passed too, and I was ready to run because I knew what was coming. The moment the bell rang I got up and was about to leave when someone grabbed me from behind it was Kartik. He pulled me near him and unknowingly I fell in his arms. Our eyes met, hurriedly we made ourselves into the distance. Neither he was able to speak nor did I. Diksha spoke" what were you doing today, Suhana, are you in your senses or what or wait you finally find Kartik handsome." She laughed so loudly. "Are you mad nothing such I was just looking into that side for a moment and sir caught me and...." "And ? "... Kartik finally spoke. I looked at him, he looks so good.damnnn! What am I thinking. Ugh! "And nothing, for me to say you look good you must have a good look first, right" and I laughed so as Diksha.

He was so mad that he literally chased me till the canteen and there we three laughed as Diksha was following behind too. We had lunch in the canteen and after that we headed for the classroom. Nothing happened much and with the following subjects that was English, accounts and business studies were done too and today's day was over. We three meet at the main gate. Diksha left to get into the bus as she lives far away. I and Kartik left together as Kartik house was on my way home and it was not so far so normally we walk after school and in the morning sometimes I take the bus or auto. As we were walking I saw Kartik so close and he looked exquisitely handsome.

"Why are you breathing so heavily, are you tired?" His question interrupted my thoughts. "No, I am fine". "What's the matter with you today" "nothing" I said. We arrived at his house just in time and I was so thankful at that moment that I ran and waved him good bye. He shouted," don't run, you will fall. Bye. See you tomorrow" I looked behind and he was smiling and watching him smile, I ran faster.

When I reached home I saw a note and picked it up to read it was from my parents "we are going out and probably will be late. Take care." I read. I sighed and went to the kitchen to have a meal.i had my meal and went to my room for studies. I was solving an accounting problem when my phone buzzed. "Where are you?". "At home, solving accounting problems, what's up?" "Come out fast I have to tell you something" "will be there soon, wait". I closed my book and was heading downstairs. "I don't know what he wants to say?" I reached and saw Kartik standing near my front gate. "Hey! What's up?"."Diksha just called me to gather at her place and to tag you along. Let's go". "Uhh! I really can't. Actually my parents aren't home and I cannot just lock up and go that far, you know reaching at her house takes at least thirty minutes time." "Yeah, Right!" I looked at his puppy facial expression when he said that. I so wanted to laugh." Let's do one thing call Diksha at my place we can hangout here?" He immediately took out his mobile phone and called Diksha"hey, let's hangout at Suhana's place actually her parents are out so..., Hmm, okay, alright then see you in a bit" he hung up the call. "She will be here soon". He said it with a smile on his face and I smiled back at him." Okay let's go inside and wait". We both moved forward and entered my house. "Do you need anything to drink?" "Can just have water, thanks". And without saying further he just went inside my room. I went into the kitchen and took a glass of water and moved forward to my room. He was just looking around . I passed him water" what are you looking for?" "Nothing much". When he was drinking I saw him and thought how could he be this good-looking. As he gulped down the water he looked so hot. I gulped down too albeit I had no water in my mouth. "Are you thirsty?". He asked. I replied in negative. "Then why are you gulping?". I didn't say anything and that was the moment kartik came close to my face and I was not able to move. "What 're you doing?" I asked hesitantly. "Nothing, i was checking if you're alright because nowadays you are just lost in your thoughts. And yes if you ever have to talk about something you can always talk to me. I'm always there for you. You know that right?". For a minute i was silenced and didn't know what to say or how to react because the way he said it just felt so comforting and looked like he was genuinely worried. I became flustered."Right?" He asked again.

"Yeah...why are you being so cringe dude, relax" I replied to save myself so that he didn't watch me getting flustered. I thought this conversation wasn't right to talk so I moved towards my study table. As I was moving forward all of a sudden he just grabbed my hand and pulled me towards himself and I couldn't fight with his strength so ended up falling in his arms. " I was not being cringed I mean it seriously and I meant it for you to take it seriously so just don't do that to me again" he said all that with a serious face, for a second I got intimidated. I tried to speak but my voice was broken " don't do what?" And looked into his eyes.

"Don't ever try to do what you just did and take my words lightly". He replied. "Ahh! Okay, i won't do it again" i said and tried to make some space between us as I realised my hand was on his chest and his were holding my waist. And the time I tried making a space he again pulled me towards him. I was shocked. I couldn't say anything. Neither did he say anything. We both were just staring at each other. All of a sudden my door bell rang. I hurriedly backed off and saw him giving me a smirk. As I was going down to open the gate i realised I breathe so heavily. It was Diksha. "Heyy, what took you so late to open the damn door"she said pouting. "Nothing, i was on the way". I opened the gate, we both hugged each other and I took her inside my house where kartik was also waiting. "By the way, Suhana why are you breathing so heavily, did you run?" And at that moment my eyes met with Kartik. "No way he heard that question" i murmured to myself. Then kartik spoke" Yes, tell me too Suhana why were you breathing so heavily?". I was so much in shock looking at his guts and asking me this question. " I just ran so that you don't have to wait longer" i said giving a look to Kartik. Kartik started laughing.

To ease the situation I told Diksha to ignore him and move forward. We played some games and talked about school and studies. "Guys, it's already 7 pm and I must hurry otherwise mom will be worried". Diksha spoke. "Okay ,we will drop you downstairs. Are you leaving too?" I asked Kartik. "No, i will wait till your parents arrive. Actually they called on the landline when you were receiving Diksha at the gate. I forgot to tell you". He said. I gave him a look and said" you should have said it earlier. I would have talked to them and ordered some food". "It's not a big deal. We can order it now" he said. "Okay guys i will leave then have fun. Bye" we both waved Diksha a good bye and returned to my house.

"Okay so now you tell me Mr. what you were asking in front of Diksha?" I said while taking a pillow to throw at him. "Nothing, i didn't say anything, what are you talking about" he said mischievously and ran. "Talking about what, wait i will tell you what". I started chasing him. He started to run and went inside my room. I chased him too and locked the door. "Now where will you go?" I said playfully. "Wait, i can explain ". He was about to say more but I cut him off and threw the pillow at him. It hit his face. "Ouch, my eyes" he said. I went running to him."sorry, i didn't mean to hurt your eyes. Does it hurt badly?". " Yes, very badly" he said and grabbed my hand and we both fell on the bed. He was on top of me. He tucked my hair behind my ears and his one touch just shivered down my spine. "Leave, idiot " i said playfully and got up. "What? Are you feeling shy?" He asked laughing. "Why would I , just shut up". "Let's go and eat something ". I said. We both got up and went inside the kitchen . There was some food left . We both are together.

"I want to read a book but I am so full i really don't want to move" i said making a sigh. "I will read it for you , let's go to your room." Kartik offered. "Will you really read but when I used to ask you earlier you just refused?". "Fine then I won't read" he said. "No, no, please let's go". I said hurriedly so that he doesn't change his mind. "Can you hear Suhana i can't find the book." I went up to him. I too can't find the book."ahh! I remember I lent that book to Diksha last week. I forgot to take it back. Now what shall we do?" I said pouting. He held my cheeks and said" don't be upset let's watch something on Netflix. What do you say?" I backed off. "Okay". I said. We were watching "pride and prejudice " on Netflix. "This movie is really good, isn't it?" He said coming closer to my face. "Yeah". I replied meekly.

The time we started to watch that movie i was breathing heavily because every now and then kartik's shoulder brushes mine. It was also because only the two of us were here. But then I thought nothing such had happened earlier when we used to hang out but what now. I was so confused. I was lost in my thoughts and wasn't paying heed to the movie and didn't realise him calling my name."Suhana, dude not again. You again zoned out. Leave it let's not watch the movie" he said and he seemed upset." I told you if anything bothers you you can tell me. Whatever I am leaving ". He said and was about to get up but I held his hand. He looked back. "What?" "Sorry, don't be upset and don't worry I have nothing going on otherwise I would have told you."i said with a smile. He sat down but pouted. Soon he came back to normal but my parents came so i went to see him off. "Bye, meet you tomorrow at school". I said . He replied the same and left.

Suhana, hurry and let's go to the canteen Kartik is fighting with Vickey of our class".Diksha said while grabbing my hand and making me run which I didn't even realise until I reached. I saw Kartik face bleeding but Vickey was injured badly too or maybe beaten up i can say. I shouted"stop, Kartik what are you doing? Please stop. Kartik was in no mood to listen he was still beating Vickey. I was terrified. I just couldn't think of anything at that moment and i just ran towards kartik holding him from behind. As he turned back to watch who it was, Vickey saw the chance and pushed him. We both fell at a corner but thankfully teachers came and ended the fight.

 They both were sent to the nurse's office, and later it was notified to all of us that both have been suspended for one week. I couldn't talk to kartik that day, everything was happening so fast I just couldn't get a chance. Have you ever felt an urge to just go to the person, hug them and tell them it's going to be okay but you just can't. That's what I was feeling that whole day. It was 7 O' clock and I was just sitting in my study chair when my mom came in and said Kartik is here. Mom left , I stood up and went to the living room where Kartik was sitting on the sofa, my eyes met his and I felt the urge to cry.

I held back my tears and went up to him to ask what the hell was wrong with him and why he had fought like that and suddenly I felt this extreme anger seeing him. " What the hell is wrong with you, and why are you here just leave, or maybe you can go now and fight with him outside the school and this time no one will stop you" I Said in one go. He just stared at me blankly and didn't know what to say. I saw something and I was stunned and just could not believe how he could smile like that in such a moment, he has the audacity to smile right now, and again I was fumed with anger, so I left and went inside my room without uttering a word from my mouth. I didn't notice if he was coming behind me or not, and I closed the door, but it did not why? Because someone held it, I turned back and saw Kartik standing right beside the door.

"Okay, I know you don't want to talk to me right now but trust me it was not my fault. He started it all by pushing me first, and you too know how he talks with everyone and today during recess he said something about Diksha and I just could not take it, so I threw some punches" he said it all in one go. I know I shouldn't be mad at him after all we all know Vickey and his tactics. There is always a student who thinks he or she can do anything they want to even hurting others for their own benefit but what benefits he was getting out of commenting on Diksha we didn't know yet and for a matter of fact we did not even want to know, so I calmed myself down and decided to talk to Kartik. "Okay fine, but this is the last time I am letting go of these I don't want you to get involved in this kind of fight again." I said. Kartik nodded in affirmation and promised me he won't get into any trouble with Vickey. "Let's do one thing let's meet this weekend "I said. Kartik replied "fine with me, let's call Diksha also". For a moment I stopped and stared at him and I saw him getting hesitant while taking Diksha's name. "Does he like Diksha"? A thought popped in my mind and I froze. What if he likes her I replied to myself, I don't have to do anything with whom he likes or not, I scolded myself in my own mind. "Fine then let's meet on the decided day" I said. And with that we talked a bit more about here and there, and he left as it was getting late. The thought of him liking Diksha was just not getting off my mind and for some reason it was really frustrating and at the same time I was kind of upset and the reason I could not find, I did not know why my heart was heavy after that thought crossed my mind. I brushed off the thought, and tried to focus on my studies. That night I just could not sleep. I saw the time and it was five in the morning I got up and did my routine work and left for school.

"What are you thinking Suhana, from that time I am calling your name". I turned back and saw Diksha speaking to me. "Ohh, I am sorry I was just lost in my thoughts" I said to her. All the way I was only thinking what if he really likes her but why am I getting affected by it, what do I have to do with all this but as usual there was no answer, and it was not like I could talk about it with Diksha. I know she is a very kind-hearted girl, and she loves me a lot and I love her too, and I had no ill thought about her, and it was nothing to do with her but for some reason my heart was heavy. I stopped overthinking and went up to her to give her a hug. Furthermore, I know for a fact that even if he likes her I can never be jealous of her because she is my best friend and I really love her. She is a friend I know from my childhood and I know how protective she is towards me and for any damn reason I cannot leave her or her friendship. "lets go, and by the way today just the two of us are here and somebody got suspension as a punishment" I said to Diksha in a sarcastic tone and we both laughed.

It was our economic class and Mrs Goenka was teaching and informing us about our upcoming unit test which will be added in our final results. After hearing about the test all the students made faces and I mean why not who likes to give tests or exams not specially students. "Have you revised all the chapters, I mean I know you must have after all you are the topper of our class" said Diksha. I looked at her and told her "not yet, I was busy nowadays and more focused on Accountancy problems, but soon I will start ". "It's so good to be a topper" Diksha said while making a pout and I could not help but smile. 'it's okay if you need any help I am there and anyway we are meeting the day after tomorrow, and we can discuss our study plan for upcoming unit tests" I said. "Yes, definitely I knew you would not leave your friends to fail in the exam" Diksha exclaimed. "Alright, don't be so dramatic "I said with a smile. This way our school was over, and I came back home. After having lunch, I sat to study and was making a revision plan for myself, it was about an hour when suddenly something crossed my mind, and again it was about Kartik. "Okay, I am done now, what the hell is wrong with me" I murmured to myself. I heard my mom calling me and I went up to her and asked what happened, I saw Kartik sitting. "Hey" he said. I waved him back, and sat on the sofa and asked"what brings you here"?

"I was getting bored, so I thought I would come to you and talk for a while" he replied.

"Okay, no problem. Mom I am going to take a short break, and then I will be back for my studies" I said.

"Fine, but when you come back, focus on your study, your unit tests are coming soon" Mom said.

"Okay, mom now bye" I replied and went to my room with Kartik.

"So how was your day today in school, after all I was not there, and I know you must have missed me a lot" Kartik said with a smirk. I could not help but smile when he was speaking like that, and I found that so damn adorable."wait, hold on Suhana, don't start all that again'" I said to myself in my head. "Missing you? Not at all, in fact me and Diksha had so much fun today we talked a lot and there was no one to tease me, so it was very peaceful" I said to him and teased him. "Fine then keep your peace, I am going "he said while pouting. "Alright we did miss you because there was no one to tease and there was no one who could order stuff from the canteen" I said while laughing. "You look pretty when you laugh like that" he said staring at me. Did he just say that I look pretty while laughing I asked myself while looking at him blankly, probably I should stop reading between the lines he must have said just like that without any meaning. I did not say anything back to him , so he asked something about the unit test watching me silent. I informed him about the upcoming test and told him about the revision plan that I will share with him and Diksha on the day after tomorrow when we will be meeting and after hearing that we will be talking about studies on the weekend he just rolled his eyes as always in the name of study and I could not help but just smile.

"Alright, MY topper we will be discussing your revision plan this weekend but for now can you stop talking about it because I cannot hear twice on the same topic" he said while making faces. I smiled hearing that "my topper" part and was about to start with my overthinking for God’s sake I have to stop noticing all these it's just so normal I mean we are actually best friends, and it's normal I JUST HAVE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT IT I told myself unaware of the fact that what I ignored was not his words but my feelings, and it was going to create a huge problem for me in the future. "What do you want to do then? Do you want to play something or talk about something, I am up for it" I said. Kartik said"let me ask you something and you cannot lie, then you can ask me something, and I will answer that". I replied in the affirmation, and he was going to ask first. He asked" tell me about something which you haven't told anyone ". I looked at him and asked "what kind of question is this, I am not telling you". "This is how it is played, and you agreed now it's up to you to play further, or we cannot" he said. "Fine, let me think for a while but let me tell you, if you laugh I will kill you" I said staring right at him. "Okay, I won't laugh" he said smiling.

"Remember on that day in Mr Roy class I was zoned out and you guys were asking me where I was lost, actually I was looking at you and for some unknown reason I cannot get my eyes off of you" I said without taking a breath and looked at him. He was trying to control his laughter but could not, and he burst out laughing. "See, that's why I told you I won't say anything and I told you not to laugh" I said pouting. But he was still not stopping and kept on laughing, I Could not take it anymore and gravitated towards him to make him stop and as I was about to reach he clutched my hand and was not smiling at all rather he had a very poker face and I could not figure it out what he was thinking." so, I finally look good in your eyes, but let me ask what has happened to make you think like that now" he said while staring at me. My heart was pounding like too much, and I was feeling so nervous that I could not meet his eyes, I was avoiding eye contact, but then I composed myself and said"only one question at a time and by the way I am not answering you" He did not say anything and was just looking at me blankly, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking, and our eyes met for a fraction of second and we both were looking at each other, and he did not let go of my hand. We both heard a knock on the door, and hurriedly he let go of my hand and I felt like now I can breathe as if I was holding my breath for a long period of time. It was mom, and she called both of us downstairs to have some snacks. We went downstairs and had the snacks prepared by my mother. We both were avoiding each other's gaze. "I will send you the picture of the revision plan that I have made and you bring the copies of it on the weekend" I said to Kartik as to break the ice. "Okay I will, and also we will finish our game the day after tomorrow" he winked, and said. I started coughing because I could not believe what I heard like my mother was just in front of us and he said that. To avoid any suspicion I changed the topic and talked about school today.

After he left I was thinking about our conversation, and it was giving me butterflies, I could not help but just think about it and smile, like I even forgot what I was thinking about - him liking Diksha. It was more of my own thinking, but again I was a bit nervous thinking about what if he actually likes Diksha so I thought and told myself I will try to confirm about it this weekend but still I could not understand what it has to do with me. Do I like him? An instant answer came "how could it be, we are friends from God knows what time" I murmured to myself. I don't know what I was feeling, but I know for a fact that whatever it is - it is making me happy and nervous at the same time and at the same time I am scared. I don't know when I dozed off thinking about all this.