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Dedication:

Thank you Meghu_die_Beste for making me this mind boggling banner, I love it my amazing sautan! (Nazar) ☺
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Ayesha's P.O.V:

As I opened the front door the cool breeze cut against my cheeks, I swept the loose strands of hair back and walked towards the bus stop; chanting the same nine words I say to the bus driver every Monday, can I have a child weekly, bucks plus zone?

As I stood behind the queue of people I shot a brief glance at the windows on my right, searching for the reflection of orange writing. There was nothing. I lifted my sleeve to get a glimpse of my watch, the time read seven o'clock. Just six minutes I thought as I pulled out my phone from the inside pocket of my blazer and began looking through the notifications to kill some time.

There was one new message from Abhi.

It read, "Night, see you tomorrow."

* * F l a s h b a c k * * (Ayesha's P.O.V.)

As I slipped in between the duvet covers I felt the sleep evade my eyes. I turned onto my side and hugged the corner of the quilt against my chest. Hoping to fall asleep I shut my eyes.

T e n m i n u t e s l a t e r

I kept changing sides, from one to the other but to no avail, I was too preoccupied for sleep. The particles in my brain working at twice the speed and despite my best efforts not to, I was jumping to conclusions. Irritated, I turned onto my back and looked at the ceiling, circling patterns in the air.

From the corner of my eye I saw a blue light constantly flashing, I stopped circling patterns and picked up my phone. As I pressed the home key, the bright lights instantly filled the darkness surrounding me. I rubbed my eyelids to remove the fuzzy vision then opened them again and looked at the message. It was from Abhi.

Hey.

I simply wrote hey in return.

Not even a minute later, the blue light started flashing again. I quickly opened the message.

Kya kar rahi ho (What are you doing)?

I rolled my eyes as I started typing. Seriously Abhi? What could I be doing at eleven at night? I wondered to myself.

I finished typing the message, for a few seconds I was hovering my thumb over the send button, debating whether to retype the message. I didn't want to sound rude. I scrunched my eyes shut and quickly pressed send.

Bhangra. Obviously saune ki koshish, tum batao (I'm trying to sleep, what about you)?

I changed the mute setting to vibrate and put my phone onto the bedside table. I rolled onto my side and pretended to be asleep.

I'd barely blinked when I heard the vibration. I grabbed my phone from the table and began reading the message.

Tumhe jagane ki koshish (Trying to keep you awake) ;).

I smiled as I thought of a reply.

Ha ha, very funny. Subah uthna nahi hai kya (Don't you need to wake up tomorrow morning)?

It had been a minute since I sent the message. Sixty seconds were starting to feel like forever especially when you're constantly texting back and forth.

I put my phone aside only to pick it up again, Abhi was calling me.

"Hi Lambu," I chirped.

"Hi..." he paused for a long minute then added, "Ayesh..u."

I chuckled as he spoke, "Sorry, I couldn't think of a better nickname."

"Acha (Ok), but stop scratching your head."

"Tumhe kaise (How did you)-" he stopped speaking mid sentence. "Itna toh tumhe janti hi hoon (I know you this much)," I said as I answered his question.

"Did you just get home?" I wondered.

"No, I'm still at Rohan's house. Actually, it got quite late so uncle and auntie suggested I should stay back," he explained. "Speaking of which, I had to ask what time do you get the bus in the morning?"

"I get the 7:06," I simply stated.

"What time does that get you to school?" He enquired.

"Well, there's another bus but I'm usually there by eight o'clock."

"Wow! But what do you do by getting there so early?"

"Nothing, I just sit around in L block and get bored while waiting for the others."

"That's gotta suck!"

"Yep, real bad," I said monotonously.

"Hmm, if I ask you something will you answer my question?"

I twisted a lock of hair around my index finger as I spoke, "Maybe."

He started singing, "Mere savaalon ka jawaab do, do na (Give me answers to my questions, tell me please)."

"Hey! That's my favourite song!" I gasped.

"Sachi (Really)?"

"Haan! Agar tum ye batao sakao ke yeh kis hero ki film ka gaana hai, toh main bhi soch sakti hoon tumhare savaalon ka jawab dene ke baare mein (Yes! If you can tell me which actor's film this song belongs to then I can think about answering your questions)," I giggled as I waited for him to answer. There's no way he'll guess it right.

"Haan, pata hai na (Yeah, I know it)," he said it in that know-it-all voice which actually meant he didn't know.

I laughed, "Toh batao na (Then tell me)."

"He was in that film we were watching!"

"Which film?"

"Aamir? That's his name isn't it?" He asked slowly.

I facepalmed myself, "I'm officially done. Good night Abhi."

"Wait!" He shrieked. "Salman."

"You were just winding me up, weren't you?"

"I didn't want to disappoint you by getting it right the first time," he said in a cheeky tone.

"Stop smirking or I won't answer your question," I threatened.

"Hmm. When I sat next to you in English, you were dreading it?"

"True," I said slowly. "But it's not my fault, you have quite a reputation," I added quickly.

"What do you mean 'reputation'?"

"Well, Rohan is your best friend," I trailed off.

"So?" He asked, prompting me to continue.

"Have you never heard, insan ki pehchan uske dosto se hoti hai (A person is judged by who their friends with)? And Rohan was such a jerk-"

Abhi cut in, "Yaar, aise mat kaho. Jaisa bhi hai dost hai mera aur woh itna bhi bura nahi (Don't say that. However he may be, he's my friend and he's not that bad)."

I remembered when he pulled out the chair for me earlier today and I didn't realise he was trying to be chivalrous.

"You still there?" Abhi asked, breaking my chain of thoughts.

"Yeah," I yawned.

"You sound tired, get some sleep."

"Good night," I said as I hung up.

* * F l a s h b a c k f i n i s h e s * * (Ayesha's P.O.V. continues)

I whipped my head up as I heard faltering footsteps behind me, I turned around to find Abhi standing there. I eyed him from head to toe, my eyes widening at the sight. His tie was half done, he'd missed several buttons on his shirt and done them the wrong way around. To top it off his hair was still wet.

I watched as the drops fell onto his collar leisurely, images of last night floated through my mind. Rohan pulling me into the rain, me getting mad at him. I smiled at the vivid memory, just then I remembered the note and the humour was lost again.

Abhi looked at me with his eyes still half closed, his lips forming into an enthusiastic grin as he walked towards me. He tripped over his feet as he stopped in front of me, I held his shoulders to steady him.

"Hey," he said as a yawn escaped his mouth. Before I knew it he put his forehead on my shoulder, slowly making himself comfortable in the crook of my neck.

"Hey sleepyhead," I answered as I brought my hand up and ruffled his damp hair. "What are you doing here?" I asked softly.

"And where's Rohan?" Questioned an unknown voice within my mind.

I shook my head in an attempt to remove the thought and turned my attention back to Abhi; his soft snores ringing in my ears.

"Abhi, wake up," I whispered into his ear as I shook him gently.

"Hmm," was all he said. I took a step back and he stumbled a little as he lost balance. I held onto his shoulders and shook him vigorously, he flopped into my arms like jelly.

"Ayesha, saune do (let me sleep)," he whined as he wrapped his arms around my neck.

"Abhi," I said sternly and he stood up straight, his lips in a pout. "Sauna hi tha toh aaye kyun (If you wanted to sleep why did you come here)?"

"Tum hi ne toh kaha tha, tum wahan sab se pehle pahunch kar bore hoti ho, isliye maine socha meri company se behtar kya hoga (You said you get bored because you get there before everyone, so I thought what could be better than my companionship)?" I suppressed a smile as he began rubbing his eyes.

"Agar pehle pata hota itni subah jaati ho, toh nahi aata (If I had known you leave this early, I wouldn't have come)," he said truthfully as he continued rubbing his eyes. I folded my arms as he said that and waited for him to look up.

He bit his tongue as he looked at me.

He mouthed "Sorry."

I giggled as I spoke "Stalker."

He frowned at me as he began, "Achi company ki aaj kal kisi ko kadar hi nahi (No one seems to appreciate good companionship these days)-"

"Bus!" I interrupted him.

***

I looked up from the novel in my hands, placing it on my lap I picked up my phone and flicked through the current playlist. I had over nine hundred songs yet I could find nothing I wanted to listen to. In the end I gave up and pressed the shuffle button. Then I picked up my book again.

I faced the window beside me as something caught the corner of my eye, I looked carefully as the bus drove past the high street, there weren't many people around just the odd few waiting for the bus. I was about to turn back to my book when I found what had caught my eye. I watched the brown haired boy in the distance, his tousled hair and irritating smirk seemed familiar.

He turned and our eyes met, I looked away immediately, mentally cursing as I did so. I looked to my right, Abhi had woken up with a jerk as he hit his head against the metal pole. He began rubbing his forehead, slowly moving his head back and falling asleep again. He was about to fall forward when I put my fingers around the side of his head, bringing it back so it rested on my shoulder. He shifted closer as he adjusted himself, cuddling with me.

***

I nudged Abhi as we approached the school turning circle. He looked up, slowly moving his head from my shoulder.

"We're here," I smiled at him.

I stood up as the bus driver parked into the turning circle with a final jolt. I made my way out of the bus, dragging an oblivious Abhi behind me through the narrow aisle. Once we got out the bus I clung to Abhi's arm and we climbed the footsteps into school together.

"You're totally a morning person," I sniggered into his ear.

He glared at me through his lashes, I stopped walking and held up my hands in defence. "Alright Mr angry pants, stop giving me that look and fix your buttons," I smirked at him.

He smiled sheepishly as he looked at his shirt and ruffled his hair. I walked ahead of him while he unbuttoned his shirt and readjusted the buttons.

"Eshu," he called out behind me.

I turned around to face him, "Eshu?"

"It's your new nickname," he beamed at me. "Come on give me some credit, this is better than the last one. Isn't it?"

"I like it Lambu," I giggled as he frowned at me.

"Kya hua, naam acha nahi laga (What happened, don't you like your nickname)?" I pouted.

"Woh chhodo (Forget that), do you know how to do a tie?"

"Tumhe nahi aati (You don't)?"

He simply shook his head. "Usually maa does it," he smiled in fondness as he spoke of his mother. "It's a habit," he explained.

"Sure, I'll do it once we get into L block," I smiled as he pulled me back, linking his arm with mine as we walked through the empty foyer.

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Author's note:

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry it's been such a long time since I last updated! I know this chapter was quite boring, so I'm sorry once again but I have a surprise for you guys. There's a double update! I'll be updating my overdue bonus chapter very soon.

P. S. Have you guys seen the first look of Dishoom?

I'm so excited for the trailer! Varun and Jackie are being paired for the first time, their not my ship but since their my book leads I can't wait to see their on screen chemistry ☺

~ Kirren☺
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