Zian was impatiently waiting for Neha in the cafeteria. After dropping her at her apartment last evening, he had tried to call her a hundred times, but she didn't attend any of those phone calls.

"Hey, Zi." Zada greeted as she took a seat across from him. Amar sat next to her.

Zian frowned and looked at the cafeteria door to see if Neha was coming.

"What happened?" Zada asked curiously.

"Where is Neha?" Zian asked desperately.

"She went home this morning. Didn't you know? I thought you know.." Zada said.

"Damn!" Zian cursed under his breath.

"Uh oh! You two had some fight yesterday, didn't you? That's why she went home. I didn't connect the dots. I did ask her why she was going home during the week. She just said some excuse and hurried out." Zada explained.

"Why did you both fight?" Amar asked and Zian looked away.

How was he supposed to tell them what was the reason for the fight?

"Zada, I am going to Mandoli. Will come back tonight hopefully." Zian said and hurried out of the cafeteria, ignoring his sister's calls from inside the cafeteria.

Zian revved the engine of his motorcycle, the roar echoing his frustration and worry. The wind whipped against him as he sped down the open road towards Mandoli. Every mile that stretched between him and the university also seemed to grow the chasm of fight that had opened between him and Neha.

As the scenery flew by in a blur of green and blue, Zian's mind replayed the events of the previous day. Neha's infectious laughter, her silly antics, and her genuine warmth had always been a stark contrast to his own meticulous and disciplined nature. How had such a perfect mess of chaos and spontaneity managed to captivate a perfectionist like him?

He remembered the first time he had met her, her hair wild and unruly and her smile unguarded and carefree. Despite himself, he had been drawn to her zest for life, her ability to find joy in the smallest of things, and her refusal to be anyone but herself.

Neha was everything he wasn't, and yet, she was everything he had never known he needed.

A pang of guilt gripped him as he recalled their fight. In her place, she is right. We are in a relationship and it is natural for two people in love to get intimate physically too. But something holds him back. Neha is young and impulsive. He doesn't want her to get into this impulsively and later regret it. He wants her to be completely sure.

How will he explain to her that he is dying to kiss her and make love to her? That it is with much difficulty that he controls himself, that too for her benefit?

Lost in his thoughts, Zian was soon pulling into the driveway of Neha's home. The familiar cottage style house with its white picket fence and sprawling garden looked as welcoming as ever.

As he parked his motorcycle and removed his helmet, he was greeted by Poonam, Neha's mother, her face lighting up with a warm smile that contrasted sharply with the glare he received from Udhay, Neha's father, who stood behind her with crossed arms and a stern expression.

"Zian, dear, what a surprise," Poonam said, wrapping him in a gentle hug.

Zian returned the embrace, though he was getting uncomfortable under Udhay's icy glare.

"I was just passing by, Poonam aunty. That's when I remembered Neha was home. So, I thought I would just drop by and meet you all." He lied, much to his own astonishment.

"That's so sweet. Come inside, darling. Let me get you something to drink." Poonam said and hurried towards the kitchen.

Udhay stepped forward, his expression icy.

"What did you do to my daughter?" He asked, his voice low and threatening.

"Uh Mr Bhatia..." He trailed off, not knowing what to say..

"Don't think that you can lie to me. I know you hurt my daughter.." Udhay said and Zian sighed.

"Mr Bhatia, it was a small misunderstanding. Nothing serious. I can handle it.." Zian said softly.

"Neha came home upset and wouldn't tell us what happened," he said, his voice filled with concern. "And when I mentioned your name, she scowled at me and said never to take your name. Which means, it was not a simple misunderstanding. You did something big to hurt my daughter." Udhay said and Zian shook his head.

"No, Mr Bhatia. It is a small thing. Please let me meet Neha once. I will clear it quickly." Zian said desperately.

"Why are you both standing out? Udhay, why didn't you bring the poor boy in? Come inside, darling." Poonam said, coming out with a glass of fresh juice.

Zian went in and took a seat in the living room and Poonam handed over the glass of juice to him.

"Neha!" Poonam called out loudly, but there was no response.

"This girl! She must have gone to bed again.." Poonam murmured and walked towards Neha's bedroom to wake her up.

A few minutes later, a drowsy Neha came to the living room. Her eyes widened in surprise seeing Zian there. Soon, a scowl made its way to her face.

"What are you doing here? Go away!" She said angrily and Poonam glared at her.

"Neha! Is this how you behave to a guest?" Poonam berated her daughter for her mannerless behaviour, earning a glare in return from her daughter.

"Neha, I came to see you.." Zian said softly.

"I don't want to see you.." Neha said and turned her face away, crossing her arms across her chest.

Zian chuckled, seeing her looking like an angry offended kid. He felt a sense of tenderness wash over him as he looked at her.

"Neha, darling, can we please speak somewhere privately?" Zian asked.

Udhay and Poonam looked at each other. From Udhay, Poonam also came to know about Neha's and Zian's feelings for each other.

"No.."

"Please, Neha.."

"No means no. You refused to kiss me. I don't want to talk to you anymore.." Neha said hotly. Udhay and Poonam looked at their daughter in horror.

"Damn!!" Zian mumbled under his breath..

A/N

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