Rishi is searching for Preetha in the library but he doesn't find her.

Rishi: Library mein nai hein......fir hein kaha?

He is descending the stepts outside the library thinking where she can be when he heard someone shouting his name.He looks ahead to find Sandy and Vicky jogging ,they stop near him panting.

Sandy: What are you doing here?

Vicky: We are  searching for you.

Rishi: Why?

Sandy suddenly gets happy though he is breathing heavily,

Sandy: Guess what Rishi?

Rishi: What?

Sandy(excited): Yes guess what?

Rishi: What should I guess?

Sandy: Pch......Guess what do we wanna say?

Rishi is totally confused,

Rishi: How would I know what do you wanna say?

Sandy: That's why I said guess......

Rishi looks at Vicky frowning as what he is speaking after all,Vicky shakes his head,

Vicky: Shut up Sandy!

Sandy: No I can't .......I am wearing tshirt today how can I shirt up?

And he laughs while Rishi and Vicky looks at him weirdly,he stops laughing looking at them,

Sandy: What?

Vicky: It's very bad.

Sandy(seeing vicky): Just like you?

He chuckles,

Rishi(seeing Sandy): No..... just like you!

And they both laugh while Sandy glares them,

Sandy: Hey......

Before he continues Vicky interferes,

Vicky: Ok stop.........(to Sandy )we are here to tell him something.Remember?

Sandy(complains): Yes but he is not listening to us.

Rishi: Hey when didn't I listen? You are beating around the bush not me.

Vicky: Ok the matter is.......

Before Vicky continues Sandy interrupts unable to contain his excitement,

Sandy(loudly): Milan is here!

Rishi didn't get what he said for a second,

Rishi: What?

Sandy:Yes man.......It's Milan time.We just got the cirrculum about the events and dates.

Rishi realizes what he said and smiles acknowledging it,

Rishi(happily): That's great yaar.When is the date?

Vicky: We didn't get the actual date but probably in a month as it takes time to finalize everything.

Rishi: Oh wow.......

Sandy holds his hand making Rishi look at him while he is jumping,

Sandy: You know there are slight changes in it and they are so good.

Rishi laughs seeing him like that,

Rishi: What are they that you are literally jumping like a monkey?

Vicky: He jumps like a monkey for everything what's new in that?

Sandy glares Vicky and he responds with a straight smile,

Vicky: Tit for tat.

Rishi chuckles but seeing Sandy's glare on him he diverts the topic,

Rishi: Ok now tell me what's the new thing?

Sandy completely forgets the mockery and again starts with enthusiasm,

Sandy: That is we have to participate in groups this year and the winner group will be called as " The Titans of the year" and they get to do their internship in their desired  MNC.Isn't that cool?

He ends speaking aloud while Rishi is surprised hearing it,

Rishi: Wowww......that's one cool news.

Rishi hifies with both of them,

Rishi: So .......whats up in the sleeves?

Vicky(winks): What else? Stealing the title and landing in MNC.

Sandy(fisting his hands in air): Yessssss!

The other two chuckles looking at him,they are also as excited as him,

Vicky: Ok now c'mon we have some frame work to do before giving our names

Sandy: I am ready.......Let's go.

They are about to go when they hear Rishi,

Rishi: You carry on I will be back.

Sandy: why?

Vicky: By the way what were you doing here?

Rishi: Actually I was here for Mickey but I didn't find her.Dont know where she has gone.

Sandy: Maybe she went to hostel or canteen.

Vicky: Call her yaar.

Nodding,he makes a call to Preetha waiting for her to lift the call as he wants to share the news with her.

AT THE GROUND

With the silence surrounding them,Preetha dozes off unconsciously hugging him.She felt so good and comfortable under the tree shade which is providing cool air amidst the warm climate.

Karan too dozes off feeling her in his arms when he hears her mobile ringing.He opens his eyes and looks around consciously.Seeing noone around he takes a deep breath and looks at the girl in his arms.He sighs.

There she is sleeping holding his lapel with her one hand,the other around his waist and her head on his chest listening his heart.He chuckled seeing his position in her arms and wondered why she always holds his shirt tightly and not him,his thoughts get interrupted with phone buzzing and she slightly stirs in sleep,

Preetha(slurry): Karan stop your phone.

He chuckles,

Karan: It's yours.

Preetha(slightly annoyed): Just stop that.

Smiling at her voice he moves slightly to take the phone from her bag but she pulls him to herself.He again moves,she again pulls him back.Frowning he tries again,she repeats again and the phone buzzes again.

Preetha(irritated): Karan stop it!

Karan narrows his eyes on the sleeping beauty,

Karan: How?

Preetha: Ughh.....you don't know how to put off a phone and you are teaching us business? 

She huffs struggling in his arms as her sleep got disturbed brutally by Karan and her phone.He widen his eyes at her comment but he gets an idea so keeping a fake smile,

Karan(sweetly): Sweetheart why don't you just get up and answer your phone instead of snuggling with me in the middle of the college?

And her eyes shot open and looks up to see his smirky eyes which are already looking at her .She gets off from Karan with a jerk and looks around with wide eyes.Hardly finding anyone around she gets relaxed and sees.......no.......no glares Karan.His smirk turns to laugh seeing her state.Her anger doubles and she starts beating him with both hands,

Karan: Ar....arey what are you doing?S....stop....stop.....aah!

Preetha: Haso na.........kyun ruk gayi? Aur haslo......

She continues beating him while he tries to save himself putting his arms and legs as shield.After a good few minutes maybe bad for Karan,he feels silence so he took off his hands and legs cautiously to see her taking slow breaths.

Keeping her both palms on the bench she relaxes while he slowly reaches for her palm when she snaps at him,

Karan: A.....ab meine kya kiya?

She glares,he gulps,

Karan(innocently): I tried to wake you up but you just slept hugging me as.......as if I am a teddy bear.

He says it with such an expression that a smile is about to steal her lips but she stops it quickly,

Preetha(angrily):  I am so angry on you.

Karan(whining): Mein thumhe disturb nai karna chahtha.

Preetha(huffs): Fir kyun kiya disturb? Mein kitne ache se so rahi thi hmm?

Karan: Wo.....

He stops realizing what she said,

Karan: What?

Preetha: haa thodi aur der so jathi mein thumne mera ache se neend kyun kharab kar diya?

She asks slapping on his arm again while he rubs there totally annoyed,

Karan: Oh hello mujhe koi shock nai hein thumhari ache se neend kharab karne ka.........thumhara phone

Her phone buzzes interrupting them,

Karan: haa....ha..... isiki wajah se hi meine thumhe uthaya.

Meanwhile she takes the phone and he glares the phone in her hand,

Karan: You stupid phone.......thumhari wajah se dekho kya hua? Why are you making so much sound........stupid!

She again slaps,

Preetha: Don't call it stupid......it's iphone 12.

Karan: Whatever......just answer it.Its sounding like a fire alarm.

Preetha chuckles listening him and sees the name on her mobile,

Preetha: Teddy?

Karan: Hey don't call me Teddy now I don't like it.

He says without looking at her soothing the areas which became red due to her beatings,

Preetha: You can never be my teddy!

His hand stops what it is doing and he looks at her,she shows the phone which has Rishis pic flashing on the screen.

Preetha: He is my teddy.

She teases him showing her tongue and lifts the call,

Preetha: Yes Rishi......I am somewhere nearby......ha don't worry......I will meet you at canteen.Ok bye.

She ends the call and without looking at Karan she takes the bag,

Preetha: Karan I think we should leave.Its been an hour and Rishi is waiting for me.

Karan just humms while they stand up to leave.She smiles and hugs him while he hugs her back securely.

Preetha: Sorry and (whispering in his ear) ........You are the best.

She kisses his cheek while he smiles at that moment.Bidding bye,she walks away while he stands there seeing her retreating posture when his mind repeats her words.

You can never be my teddy.

To be continued in next part.......

Can't believe it's been three months since the story got updated.Time flies!