Aria

I woke up in the morning to an empty bed beside me. Looking around the room I found nothing but silence. Where did shreyas go? I took my phone from the bedside table and found no messages or calls from him. I only found a couple texts from Deepak congratulating me and asking when I'll be back. After replying to him, I got up and got dressed to go back to Sydney, still wondering where shreyas was. All his things were missing. Did he leave me and go back? No I don't think he'd do that. I could feel sadness creeping around my chest for some reason.

After dressing up and packing everything, I went down to the reception to check out of the room when I found shreyas sitting in the lounge talking to someone on the phone. I thanked them for the wonderful stay and walked up to him. He looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

"Good morning! Let's leave?", He asked getting up.

"Morning. Yeah sure", I said with a frown on my face.

The entire car ride was silent. Just some random playlist running in the background. I couldn't help but overthink the entire situation. Was the kiss a mistake? Is he regretting it so much that he doesn't wanna acknowledge it at all? With all this and the silence being louder than ever I developed a headache and feel asleep in the car. I woke up to someone shaking me.

"Hey aria wake up, we reached the hotel", shreyas said as he gently shook me.

"Oh alright", I said waking up from my sleep.

I quickly got out of the car. The atmosphere around us being awkward and weird. I got my things out of the car and turned to him, not looking him in the eye.

"Um.. thank you for coming with me", I said. He nodded and gave me a small smile. With that I turned around and left.

I rushed to my room and closed the door behind me and sat on my bed. My eyes welled up with tears. I had no idea why he was suddenly being so distant. I should have asked him but couldn't get myself to do it.
While I was about to lose my mind and fall back into another slumber I heard loud knocking on my door. Maybe it's shreyas. Maybe he wants to talk about it. I hurriedly wiped the tears and ran to my door only to find Deepak. I was disappointed that it was not who was I waiting for but nevertheless I was happy that deepak was here.

He lifted me and spun me around like he always did. This made me smile a little bit.

"Sagar told me all about the event. I'm so proud of you Ari", he said as he let me down.

"Thank you so much da. I'm sorry I couldn't give you all the details", I said looking guilty.

"Hey it's okay. Make up for it. Let's go out for dinner today? Please say yes", he asked me with those cute puppy eyes.

I can't say no to him but I also couldn't get shrey out of my head. It's not like we're a thing and I'm not obligated into telling him everything I do. But after today it didn't seem like it was a huge deal to him anyways. Maybe going out with Deepak will take my mind away from shreyas.

"Hey are you okay? Why do you look so confused. You don't have to force yourself to go with me", Deepak said gently caressing my cheek.

"Yeah no I'm fine. Let's go to dinner tonight", I said smiling at him. I didn't know by saying yes I would make him so happy. He hugged me tight and spun me around again.

"Yaaaaay. I know exactly what we'll do. But I won't tell you okay. We'll have lots of fun", he said and I couldn't keep my laugh in. This boy is absolutely adorable.

"Okaaay. Put me down before I get dizzy", I said laughing and hitting his back.

"I'll pick you up at 7. Now you get some sleep. You really look like you need some", he said and left the room waving like a mad person. Again adorable.

Once Deepak left I set the alarm for 6pm and I immediately dived into the sheets and fell asleep. I woke up to another bang on my door. I groggily walked up to the door and opened it to find Rahul grinning.

"Hey Rahul", I said yawning.

"Hey chicka! I heard you have a date with deepak today", he said winking at me.

"No no it's not a date. We're just going out for dinner", I said rubbing my eyes. This can't be a date or is it? I don't think Deepak sees me like that. He's cute and breathtakingly hot but.. just but.

"We'll I thought you and shrey had something going on. But I think I was wrong. You and deepak! I like I like! I ship it", he said sitting on my bed.

"Again nothing going on with both of them rahul", I said face palming. Yeah something with shrey did happen but I don't think I should make a deal about it after the way he reacted.

"Yeah yeah sure. Playerrrrr!!", He said laughing again.

"Why are you here Rahul? I need to sleep go away", I whined getting into bed again.

"Oh sleeping beauty, it's 6:30. Isn't Deepak coming at 7 to pick you", he said pulling the sheets off me.

6:30? Fuck! I overslept. No no no. I hate being late.

"Oh shit oh shit", I said jumping out of bed.

"I came here to annoy you but seeing the condition you're in I'm willing to help you get dressed as long as you give me all the gory details of your date", he said smirking.

"Okay fine whatever. Please pick my outfit while I shower. I'll get you cake when I'm coming back", I said running into the bathroom.

"Cheesecake. Two", he said searching my cupboard.

Once I showered I came out to see a beautiful outfit picked out for me on the bed. Rahul was still rummaging through my cupboard.

"Girl you don't have any sexy lingerie. Deepak is going to be so disappointed", he said looking at me like I grew two heads.

"I don't even have the energy anymore to argue with you. Please let me get dressed", I said wearing what he had picked for me.
It was a cheetah print skirt with a high slit and a white sleeveless knotted t-shirt. He had also kept aside a golden pendent and my white converse. Cute and casual. I loved it.

"I really like the outfit. Thank you so much", I said giving him a hug.

"Yes yes you're welcome. Just get me cake now", he said sitting on my bed watching me do my hair and makeup.

I heard a knock on my door and looked at my watch. 7:00pm. On time. Wasn't he a cutie.

"I'll get it", Rahul said running off.

After a minute Deepak walked in looking smoking hot. He wore a white fitted t-shirt and blue jeans with white converse. Rahul walked in behind him making  a heart in his hands. Fucker saw what Deepak wore and matched our outfits. I'm not getting his stupid cake now.

"Hey. You look beautiful", said Deepak as he walked up to me.

"Ready to leave", he asked.

"Yeah I'm ready. Let's go", I said picking my phone and bag. I checked my phone but saw no messages from shreyas. I sighed and put it in my bag and left.

We walked down to the door and found shreyas coming. Looks like he had gone out. Maybe on a date. He was dressed up and looked good as always. I looked at him while he looked at me. He immediately broke eye contact and walked away. This broke my heart. But I'm going out with Deepak now. Might as well stop thinking about shrey for a while. Deepak had a car arranged for us.

"Rahul thinks this is a date", he said breaking the silence.

"Yeah he kept annoying me about it too. Is it a date deepak?", I asked curiously.

"If you want it to be. Otherwise it's just friends going to dinner together", he said smiling. Ah that's a relief.

"Okay", I said smiling back.

"Listen I know something is going on between you and shreyas. I'm really observant and its pretty evident that something is off between you guys after the little trip", he said.

Wow was it that obvious. Well now that he knows I might as well rant it out to him. I told him all about how I know him from mumbai and the little layla incident and us meeting here again. I also told him about everything that happened at the gala, including the kiss and how distant shrey has been acting ever since. Once I was done throwing my heart out to him he looked at me with a sad smile.

"I have no idea why he's being a dick. But I really hope everything becomes alright. If it doesn't then you deserve better Ari. You really do", he said caressing my hand.

"If he really does feel something for you then he would have been triggered by looking at us together. If not then you have your answer".

He was right. There is no point in me worrying so much if it doesn't matter to him.

"Thank you for listening to me Deepak", I said feeling a little fine.

"Always here for you ladoo", he said giving me a toothy smile.

When the car stopped, I looked at the most beautiful restuarant I had ever seen. It was a floating restuarant in the middle of a river and there was a boat waiting for us.

"This is the most beautiful thing I've seen Deepak", I said turning to look at him smiling down at me.

"Only the best for the best", he said holding my hand the taking me to the boat.

Once we got into the restaurant, he pulled the chair for me to sit. What a gentleman.

"I've already pre ordered everything. I hope you don't mind", he said rubbing the back of his head. 

"I don't. I'm actually glad. I suck at ordering things", I said giggling.

"I don't mind doing it for you", he said laughing back.

It was a fine evening and he had ordered all my favourite food. From the fish fingers I love so much to choco lava cake with strawberries for dessert.
How does he even know I love all this.

I got to know Deepak more. He told me about his early cricket days and about his family. His hobbies and his dog. He's a gem at the heart. What a wonderful man. I enjoyed every minute I spent with him. I laughed carelessly and felt so free around him. And that's how for the rest of the night shreyas didn't occupy my mind at all.

Aria's outfit

Hello 🙈
*Hides in embarassment of not posting often*
I know it's been ages and I'm sorry guys. Been really really busy in college. I'll make it up to you I Pinky promise.
Tell me your thoughts about this chapter.
Also Merry Christmas 💕
I hope you guys are safe.
(Unedited chapter)
Love,
S❤️