SAANCHI
✨

I was trying to process all that Nishchay was saying... asking me while all I felt was numbness.

'Saanchi!!!' he said and pulled out of the hug and then cupped my face. My cheeks warmed up more as he touched them softly and then said something that left me flabbergasted

'You really didn't trust me so much Sannu? I did not have the slightest of idea that you left Dhaulpur for the love of your life. I mean...you kept calling me your best friend but once...not once you thought of confessing your emotions to me. Just once...you could have told once and I would have sorted this for you...I mean you fought through anxiety, depression and alcoholism due to one asshole who didn't even care!!! I so wanna kill this bastard! Tell me what is his name!!! I will make sure he never ever plays with a girl's emotions ever again!!! Come here' saying he pulled me into another hug and my eyes almost popped out.

He is thinking it was someone else???

I looked at Imran who shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Damn it!!! Imu...I'm gonna kill you!!!

✨

'Sannu...I did not even make you your favourite laddoos when you topped the university PG in Gynaecology...I am so sorry Sannu...how could I be this stupid and you...why didn't you tell me...I mean you should have just slapped across my face and told me to listen to you. I'm so so sorry Sannu' saying he held my hands.

Gosh Nishchay Mehra!!! Don't do that...It literally opens a fucking butterfly park inside my tummy. And I know it's all my fucking hormones but all the stupid romcom novels are screwing up my brains!

'Sannu...'

'Saanchi sounds better Nishchay!!!' I said and Nishchay was shocked

'Ummm...I....I mean... everyone calls you Sannu!!!' he said getting slightly awkward

'I don't know maybe because we completely lost touch...you know it .. sounds a little wierd but nevermind we would gradually be ok I guess!!!' I tried giving the most lame reason and he although looked unconvinced but gradually shook his head...

'Saanchi I...'

'Nishchay... can you ummm...make us all a coffee...I mean it's almost early morning and I need a strong caffeine kick to stay sane early in the morning...that if you don't mind' I said and he smiled lovingly and moved closer to me and kissed the crown of my head leaving me numb.

I know it's such a usual thing for old Nishchay and Saanchi to hold hands, hug each other even kiss each other but now suddenly after all these years it makes me feel all so odd. I mean come on I can't feel all buddy like for the man who still is in my imaginations when I touch my self.

I mean they are two distinct emotions. I can't think of friendship band and handcuffs at the same time. Please!!! I have come a long way with my emotions for that man. I mean from geometry box and protractor to imagines and vibrators he's the one who's been through my brains... my heart...my soul all these years and only I know how subtle to how dirty can my brains run through whenever I think of this one man and going through all these somersaulting feelings and emotions now that finally the storm had settled down to a standstill it wasn't still over.

He wants to know who the man was and how do I tell him it was him...always...
He tries to normalise it by cupping my cheeks and kissing my forehead but who should tell him that his kisses will never be the same.

Damn it!!! I have started to behave like the Nishchay who kissed me for the first time on terrace. Ohhh wait wait...I mean the Saanchi who kissed Nishchay on the terrace...or shall I say I am behaving like both! Damn I'm a mess!!!

Flashback begins...

'Okkkayyy!!! I'm done...I need to get the notes from the photocopy shop!!!' saying I tried to walk away the minute I saw Nishchay in the cafeteria. Damn it. The only time I curse myself thinking why on earth do we have to share a cafeteria with the pre university students. Why can't school have a different cafeteria? D
I cursed my luck.

But the minute Nishchay saw me he took an about turn and started walking in the exact opposite direction leaving me shocked.

Wooow!!! What's that??? I wondered but then chuck it off thinking it's probably just a one time thing and I must let it go.

But when there were a series of such incidents throughout the entire week both at school and at Gulmohar is when I knew something was terribly wrong.

Nishchay was clearly avoiding me. Damn it he didn't even face me. Now I really wanted to confront him but he did not even spare me a look. For god's sake he even stopped entering the lift which had me and other 5 people but when he avoided Riya Pacchi is when I decided we have had enough. I must face him.

Next day morning I saw Nishchay getting ready for his daily jogging and that's when I decided I have to catch hold of him. Damn he used all his athletic skills by running for approximately 8 kms and by now I had almost lost my lungs so I decided to trick him so I stumbled upon a stone and ended up hit my nose to the ground for real bad leaving me a bleeding mess. It was only when I was trying to analyse how much blood I had lost Nishchay had scooped me in his arms and had run into Riya Pacchi's hospital.

Once the doctors checked upon me and confirmed I was ok is when Nishchay breathed a sigh of relief. After making sure I was ok when he was about to leave I held his hand and stopped him.
It was time we talk.

✨

'Why are you avoiding me? I thought I didn't like what happened between us the other day but looking at the way you are behaving it seems like you were kissed by witch who didn't brush for years and had eaten onion just before she kissed you!!! Tell me was it that bad?? Or was I that terrible that you regret it so much??? I mean I know first kisses are all special and if you lost it to someone you weren't sure of it makes you feel terrible but your behaviour makes me feel like you hated it!!! Was it that bad?' I asked and he was shocked. He tried avoiding my gaze.

When I walked closer to him and cupped his face asking 'Nishu!!! Please...Was it really that bad???' I asked and his gaze finally met mine and said

'It was beautiful! But I stole your first special moment...I mean Saanchi I don't even know what I was thinking...I mean yes you are pretty, you are kind hearted, you are sweet, you understand me so much, we are best friends too but come on is that enough for people to fall for each other???' he asked and honestly even I was confused.

'Noooo!!! It's noooot!!!' he answered it himself and I gave him a goofy smile. I have no rights to ruin it for you so what if you were my crush we are friends now and honestly it felt like I took advantage of our bond' he said and I felt terrible. He melted my heart with his words so I pulled him into a hug and comforted him.

'We are friends!!! Remember??? And it is ok to not be ok with friends ok???' I asked and he scratched his head trying to absorb what I said and then smiled.

'I participated in that kiss too Nishu and it's ok atleast we didn't kiss some random ugly unhealthy mouth. We both smelled great and I'm sure now we know we can do justice to our partners!!! Infact I am so ready for the send off party!!!' I said and Nishchay raised his eyebrows asking

'What does that mean???' his happy sad face had again gone back to this wierd one and I gulped fiddling with the end of my tshirt and confessed

'Jassie asked me to be his date for the send off party!!!' and his eyes went wide as he simply took a step closer to me and caught hold of my shoulder and pulled me into him saying

'You are not!!!'

'Whatt!!!'

'I said...you are staying away from that Jassi!!! He is so not the right guy for you!!! I'm gonna break his toes if he even roams around you! Fucking flirt!!!' he screamed

'Nishchh-'

'Shhhhh!!!' he kept his index finger on my lips and said 'You are NOT going with Jassie Saanchi and that's final!!!'

'And my date???'

'At your service Mam!!!' saying he smiled and although I felt those same wierd butterflies in my stomach like I felt when he kissed me that night it still felt good. It felt right. Nishchay felt safe. Wierdly safe.

Flashback ends ...

'I didn't tell him everything because you asked Mehek to promise! You made me promise! We just kept our word but Nishchay should know why you couldn't be there. And no he can't take you for granted.' Imran said and Aniketh looked confused.

Thankfully he didn't understand what we were pissed about and that's when Nishchay brought us coffee. The coffee brought a smile on my face as I noticed how it had that smiley face which once I taught him to make but he sucked at cooking.

Indeed we have come a long way. I mean I still can't believe the man who would carry a fire extinguisher handspray only to switch on a burner would now make biryani for his daughter on Sundays. Wow!!!

'Its really good!!!' I said sipping the coffee and suddenly silence prevailed when Nishchay said

'Saanchi I wanna really thank you and also apologize to you.'

'Why???' I ask and he smiles saying

'Thank you for handling my daughter in such a matured fashion and apologies for the mess we caused. I..I promise to explain her everythi-'

'Nishchay stop!!! No!!! Kyra is a kid...I can't see her heart break for yet another time. And.... besides it's ok! I really don't mind. Infact Kyra is a sweet child.'

'But she must understand you are not her mom and I will make her understand!!! Relax!!! And I think you must take rest.. I will see you in the morning!!!' saying I saw Nishchay walking towards Kyra's room.

'Nisshhhchay!!! I mean I can take Kyra home tonight if you-'

'I can handle my daughter Saanchi. Have been handling for the last 4 years and I promise I won't drink!' he said with a smile and I nodded.

✨

'Kyra how can you be so careless? You should have atleast told me you are coming here! Pa got scared!!!' Nishchay said looking at Kyra and me. I noticed how Nishchay's eyes kept looking at me for longer than usual. I was wearing a gold colored saree and with a floral bun. I don't know why his gaze made me really conscious.

I was plaiting Kyra's hair as she wanted to have a fishtail knot in her hair today. I couldn't help but say her a no although she kept calling me her Mumma I didn't have the heart to tell her a no.

'I will pee and come Mumma' saying she went to the washroom when Nishchay approached me. His predator like eyes still kept looking through my skin. I felt he was staring into my soul and I felt goosebumps just at that gaze. I looked elsewhere when he said

'Saanchi...I know Kayu is a hard child to deal with but please try to avoid her if possible. She....she is developing emotions towards you and...that's not good!!!' he said and I was pissed

'And your lies...your fake fairyland stories of her mother is great you think? Huhh!!! Hypocrite!' saying I walked away when I felt a sudden tug on my wrist and in one go my back hit a hard chest.

Nishchay was wearing a thin flimsy white cotton kurta which almost gave a good peek of his hard chest...toned muscles and perfect godlike body that my dirty mind already wants to devour and now his front is touching my almost bare back thanks to this backless blouse.

His cinammon perfume hits my nose and my lungs were almost ready to take off. My heart was beating in my mouth and I had goosebumps all over my body. His chin landed on my bare shoulder and I could feel his thick bearded face grazing my shoulders making me breath fast and hard.

I think I am gonna get a heart attack!!!