"I've invited the Dawan family over for dinner tonight, so finish all your homework by eight," ma said, while placing a jug of mango shake in front of me.

"Who are they again?"

"Our new neighbours, they have two children, both around your age. Be polite." The last two words were delivered with an undercurrent note of warning.

Figuring out that a reply was not needed, I sipped my mango shake, my face scrunched immediately. "Did you add turmeric in this?"

"Yes, it is good for you," she replied flatly, not inviting any further arguments.

Finishing up my breakfast, I packed my bag and hurried out of the door, calling out a quick goodbye to ma, who was trying to get Aarna, my little sister, to eat some breakfast.

The elevetor doors were about to close but stopped midway and in stepped a boy, almost the same age as me, give or take a few months.

He was a head taller than me and was thin, but not exactly lanky and had thick brows framing his chocolate brown eyes. A few pimples were sprayed on the surface of his forehead, his face was otherwise smooth.

He raised an eyebrow, as if questioning me. I suddenly realised that I'd been staring and quickly looked down, confused by the dizzy feeling spreading inside me.

"Hi neighbour," he said in a surprisingly deep voice.

"Hi, what is you name?"

"Kian, what's yours?"

"Ashiana..." before I could say anything else the doors dinged open and I stepped out, looked back and smiled at him.

He was about to say something but was cut off by the doors closing and the lift continued moving to the basement.

'Hmm... that was weird,' I thought. Shrugging the strange feeling off, I walked to the bus stop to discover that is was about to drive away.

Quickly climbing inside the bus, I slumped in the vacant seat beside a dozed off Aryan, who was snoring loudly, might I add. All the while, trying to keep my mind from wandering towards a certain pimple faced, but good looking nevertheless, stranger.

{[]}

"Why the long face?" Aditya's voice came from somewhere behind my left ear.

I turned around and saw him standing over me with his hair dishevelled, as usual. He was grinning, eyes alight with a teasing glint. His shirt was covered in splotches of what looked like green paint.

"I am not sad."

"Of course, we all scowl when happy."

"You know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit--"

"Yet half the world population still doesn't get it. What is your point?"

Rolling my eyes I tried to supress my smile, but it managed to surface anyway.

"Nothing and why do you look like a troll puked on you?" I asked, waving my hands in front of his shirt.

"Oh this," he said, pulling on the shirt's hem, "apparantly there was no space left on my brother's paint mixing dish and so he used me. Since I didn't have enough time to change, here I am."

I nodded solemnly, "oh yes, siblings are devils on earth, especially the little ones."

"True and hey about that text, can you come outside, as in now?" Precisely at that moment, Karan walked by, religiously ignoring us.

"Let's go." I grabbed his sleeve and practically dragged him out of the class.

"Wait, what about the love birds, at least let me say 'hi'," he said when we were at the door.

Both of us turned around and unsurprisingly, found them sitting so close as if glued together, giggling quietly.

"Well on second thoughts---" he left his sentence hanging, barely trying to hide his disgust upon seeing Radhika feed Vivaan a cucumber sandwich.

"Yeah it seems that they're really missing you."

"You know it was you who said, and I quote, 'sarcasm is the lowest form of wit'"

"And I quote,'yet half the world population still doesn't get it.'"

He smiled, "Alright you win, let's go."

We walked to the canteen and sat on the steps near it. Beside us a group of sixth graders were trying to play football with a coke can. Typically pretty gossip girls were shrieking with laughter every two minutes and making googly eyes at Aditya at the same time. The guy in question was completely oblivious to this attention and was staring at me, creeping me out big time.

"What?" I snapped, more rudely than intended, though he seemed unaffected.

He blinked but did not look away, scanning my face carefully he asked, "What's up with you these days?"

Wow I expected something a bit more serious than that, what with all the messages about the 'important thing' he had to discuss with me. Honestly, I was thown a bit off guard, which probably explains the reason why those words came out of my mouth.

"The sky." You know the answer to 'what's up?' Oh God Vivaan was right, my jokes are seriously lame.

Obviously Aditya was not amused.

"It's not a joke Ash, don't think that I haven't noticed you going all awkward around Karan and he is also being weird and snappy around you. When did it get this bad? You said everything was fine between you two."

"Well it is as fine as it can be, at least we're not ripping each other's throats off. It is my fault anyway, I suppose Radhika told you what I did?"

"Yeah it was wrong, you shouldn't have lied to him, but it was Radhika's fault as much as yours. After all, she was the one who advised you to do that."

"But he is still friends with her isn't he?"

"Just talk to him, say you're sorry," he said in what I thought was a really condescending voice. And for some reason I can't fathom, it made me angry.

"You think I haven't tried? You think I wanted to ruin a five year long friendship? Well I didn't. So stop telling me what to do."

I got up, dusted my skirt and looked down at him, silently telling him that the discussion was over.

He sighed but didn't say anything, standing up he lifted both his arms in an exaggerated show of surrender.

"Fine I won't say anything. How about a chocolate cone? My treat."

I grinned, "sure"

Look at your weight you stupid cow! My inner voice sneered, she could be really bitchy sometimes, well all the time.

Oh shut up you stupid conscience, it's a sin to say no to free ice- cream anyway.

{[]}

"Come on Aryan, you were sounding so desperate! As if you had never seen a girl before."

"Hey it's a part of my personality, besides, most girls love it. Your friend was just a freak to not be affected; I mean have you seen this face?" He pouted, while crossing his hands.

Now I know that most cute guys look absolutely adorable when they pout, my dear friend on the other hand, looked like a Sus

That means pig for those who are frowning right now.

"It's not that she was not affected_"

"Ha...I knew it"

"_but she wasn't lying about not being interested." I finished.

"Well she'll be eating her words soon and that is a promise Ash," he declared.

"Hmm I've heard that before, isn't that what you said about Suhana_"

"I didn't know that she was two years older than me."

"_and Naira_"

"It's her fault that she didn't say anything about having a boyfriend."

"_and Mia_"

"Hey she actually liked me; her parents are just super conservative."

"Okay what about Anushka?"

"I am pretty sure that she is a lesbian."

"Fine then what about Natasha, Tanya, Disha, Priyanka_"

"Alright you win," he nearly shouted, "damn Ash you've really messed up my self esteem. But mark my words I'll be so charming that your friend Akeira_"

"Alia," I corrected.

"Yeah sorry Alia," he paused, as if carefully considering his next words then continued "will be the first one to confess her feelings for me and knowing your influence on people, you'll be the person she would make her confession to."

"I bet 100 bucks that it won't happen."

"I bet 200 that it will."

"Deal!"

We shook hands on that. As usual our timing was awesome since the bus lurched to a stop in front of my society exactly at that moment and both of us went flying forward, banging our heads on the front seats in the process.

Rubbing his head Aryan grumbled, "Inertia can be a bitch sometimes."

"Tell me about it," I said, mimicking his action, "Anyway bye, see you tomorrow."

He waved as that giant ugly vehicle drove away, how the members of the management of our school can call it a bus is beyond me.

I really need to send that complaint letter to the transport department, but my lazy side wouldn't allow it.

As soon as I stepped inside the house I was met with the sight of balls of paper thrown all over the carpeted drawing room. There were broken pieces of little plastic plates from my sister's kitchen set lying on the centre table, my precious dance trophies were carelessly thrown on the sofa.

In the midst of all this, the devil herself was dancing to the theme song of some silly Japanese cartoon playing on the television.

"Aarna how many times do I have to tell you, good children stay away from their didi's trophies," I yelled.

"Why are you worried about those things? You never won a first place anyway."

Well she had a point, I sighed, "Okay, I see what means, you don't love me anymore and now you are saying mean things to me." I faked a sob.

Her expression softened and she came towards me, "I am sorry didi, you know I love you, I'll keep those stupid trophies back on the shelf," she said, with an adorable pout.

"The paper as well?" I hiccupped, man I deserve a film fare for my acting skills.

"Yes the paper as well," she said reassuringly, sounding much more mature than a five year old.

"Alright, start cleaning sis." I said cheerfully. I kissed her cheek, producing a loud smack sound and messed her hair, walking away before she got the chance to punch me.

{[]}

"Done!" I said out loud, happy that the stupid essay was finally over. My fingers were stiff from writing it and I was craving a cheese sandwich but I couldn't have one only an hour before dinner or ma would bite my head off. As if on cue she shouted;

"Ashiana, get ready our guests would be arriving soon. Wear the suit I bought for you last diwali, the green one."

"I am not wearing a suit ma." I yelled back, inwardly cringing at the thought of that ugly looking item of clothing which I had pushed somewhere deep inside my closet. It happened to be the only set of salwaar kameez I owned and was the worst one ever created.

"Fine, then at least wear a decent dress, I will not have you looking like a homeless idiot in front of our new neighbours."

"What is wrong with my jeans?"

"You only wash them once a month and wear them every day. Seriously what is so special about them?"

'Nana had gifted them to me.' I thought. Obviously I didn't say that out loud, my mother was really affected by his death. It was only a month ago that she had started being herself again.

"What's for dinner?" I asked, entering the kitchen, ten minutes later.

"Fried rice, kadhai paneer, mushroom... what is that thing you're wearing?"

I looked down at my dress; it was navy blue in colour, semi formal and when paired with four inch high black pencil heels, would complete my outfit of choice for the first day of any MUN.

Not finding anything weird, I looked back at ma, raising both my eyebrows since I was not cool enough to raise one.

"You never wear that unless it is an extra special occasion," she elaborated.

Now that was true, it was one of the best pieces of clothing that I owned and too special a dress to risk wearing while eating. In fact, I can't figure out why I pulled it out from the hanger. That action was like a reflex.

Or maybe it was because of the teeny, tiny, almost insignificant crush that I was developing on a certain someone. But my mother didn't need to know that.

"I just felt like wearing it."

Before she could say anything else, I walked out of the room and slumped on the sofa beside Aarna, who was trying to pull out the bright pink butterfly hair clip from her braid.

"Let me put it back on and you will be the owner of the remote for the next two days."

"Okay," she said, and allowed me to adjust her hair.

A few minutes later the doorbell rang and she dashed across the drawing room to open the door.

Not even giving him a chance to step foot in the house, Aarna jumped on papa; he barely managed to catch her without falling and spun her around and kissed her cheek after he stopped. Putting my sister back on the ground, he turned to me to give me a hug.

"How are you Ashiana?" he asked after pulling away.

"Still gorgeous," I replied cheekily, he let out a slight chuckle.

"Good to know that you haven't changed a bit in three months. Wow that sounds like a long time now that I mention it, I certainly enjoyed the time away from your mother," he joked, as he noticed ma entering the drawing room.

"Oh really, I don't remember you saying that last night."

"TMI" I shouted.

My parents simply laughed and embraced each other while I walked away to give them some privacy. After a couple of minutes papa joined me on the sofa.

We both watched the hyper active five year old jumping around the house for some time before he turned to me.

"So what is the special occasion? Or are you all simply dressed up to welcome me?"

"Special dinner for our new neighbours; though they are twenty minutes late."

"They are probably stuck in traffic," he tried to joke.

"Like father like daughter," I said, shaking my head. "How was Germany?" I asked.

"Too much work, pathetic weather, tasteless food and a lot of language problems; although I brought lots of chocolates."

"I thought that European nations are beautiful. And you are the best dad ever."

"Oh it was beautiful alright, and I did enjoy the first three weeks. But then I grew more and more homesick and started focusing on the negative aspects of the trip." He laughed.

"God you're really like me."

"You mean you're like me. I am the parent here," he said with mock offence.

Before I could reply the doorbell rang again. Grumbling, I got up from my comfortable position on the sofa and opened the door to find Kian and another boy who looked like eighteen or something standing on the threshold.

"Hi again neighbour," Kian said. I was about to reply but was interrupted by my father's voice.

"So you have met my daughter I see." He sounded angry.

'God please no! Not again,' I thought.

{[]}

Didi- elder sister
Film fare- the most prestigious award for bollywood films
Nana- maternal grandfather
MUN- model united nations

Hello awesome people!!

First of all HAPPY HOLI!!

May you all be always blessed with a happy and colourful life even if you do not celebrate this festival.

So, how was the chapter? Comment below to let me know (wow that almost rhymes)

What do you all think of Kian? He's not superbly, amazingly gorgeous, with a six pack and sexy tattoos but he is something right? Well Ashiana thinks that he is.

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