Ashika's POV

It had almost been 2 hours since I gave my number. I was expecting a call from 'Him', but nothing.

I was scared to see whether he had replied or not. 

I was half working and half thinking about all the possibilities from now on between me and 'Him'. Did I do the right thing? I asked myself multiple times.

I was done with waiting and was about to check my Instagram when I got a call. I jumped upon hearing the ringtone. I thought it was 'Him' but my guess was wrong. It was Appu. I picked up the call immediately.

'Are you planning on coming for lunch my dear best friend' asked Appu in a sarcastic tone over the call.

'Oh, ya sure Appu will come over, had a bit of office work and forgot to see the time, sorry' I lied to her.

'Ok then, I'll wait until you come over, let's have lunch together' Appu replied and disconnected the call. I let out a sigh of relief.

I saw the time and it was almost 1 pm. I was debating on whether to log in to Instagram and see what his reply was or let it be but finally, I decided not to log in as I had to go to  Appu's house. 

I was going to take a bath and get ready when I got a call. I saw my phone to see who was calling, it was from an unknown number.

My heartbeat rose and my mind became blank. I stood staring at the phone and the number. Millions of thoughts in my head about who it might be. It may be some junk call too. Pushing my thoughts away I was about to pick up the call but missed it. I did not know what to do.

I wanted to call back on the same number but before that, I had to check who the caller was so I was installing the true caller app when I got a call from the same number again.

I was about to pick up the call and by then the doorbell rang. As it was an unknown I ignored the call, I kept my phone on silent and went to attend the doorbell. As soon as I opened the door I saw Kishan turning towards the garden, his back facing me. He looking at something in his hand, I guess his phone.

To get his attention I cleared my throat, to which he turned and gave a big heart-melting smile. I smiled back greeting him a Good morning.

'Hi Ashika, Good morning. By the way, your looking beautiful' Kishan said with a twinkle in his eyes.

'Oh thank you, Kishan. Come in, we can have tea together?' I said slightly blushing

'Oh no it's ok, I can ask if you have some tool kit. I had to repair some things in my house. People living in it before have spoilt so many things' Kishan said with a disgusting face.

'Oh I see, it happens Kishan, can't help it. Also, I have to check in the store room, Please come in until I check' I said.

Kishan nodded and came in, while passing by his aftershave hit my nose and it was amazing. I always had a weak spot for aftershave.

I retook a deep breath, and it smelt like heaven. Smiling sheepishly I closed the door behind me and followed Kishan inside the house. I asked him to sit on the sofa. For God's sake, the house was clean. I mentally thanked Appu for it as she had woken up early and had cleaned the house as I was not in the mood for it. 

' Will you have tea or coffee?' I asked Kishan

' I just need to tool kit mam' Kishan said in a flirty tone. My mind went blank hearing him flirt with me.

' Hehehe, Surely. As it is your first time coming to my house I cannot send you anything without serving you. As you did not answer I'll conclude you will have tea and prepare some' I replied sarcastically.

' Oh is it, What if I will not have Mam?' Kishan said half smiling

' I dare you to SIR' I said stressing the word SIR

' Dare accepted Madam' Kishan replied nodding his head. To which we both laughed and he sat on the sofa.

'On a serious note, I'll come another day just for tea Ashika. Mom will be waiting and I have a lot of work pending. I just need the tool kit please' Kishan requested looking at me longingly.

'As you say Kishan' I said and went inside the store room.

When I was searching, Kishan called out for me.

I went out to ask what it was when he gave me the phone. 

It was Appu. 'SHIT' I mentally scolded myself and saw time. It was almost 3 pm and we both had not had our lunch. If she gets hungry she will become a monster.

I requested Kishan to pick up the call as my hands were dirty. He gave me a confused look. 

'It is my close friend Appu' I said smiling. 

' Oh that angry bird face it is' Kishan said laughing. 

I gave him a killer look to which he held up both his hands and picked up the call.

Then all of a sudden he did something so unexpected.

He came so close to me, just inches away from my face and held the phone to my ears. 

'Hi Ashi, Where the hell are you. Its almost 3. Should I get lunch to your place' Appu was yelling over the phone.

I was dumbstruck. I sucked in my breath, my eyes widened with shock and I just kept looking at him. My mind was filled with so many thoughts, but the very first one was that I had not taken a bath and I think I smelled of beer from last night. I was very disappointed. Without my knowledge, I stepped back a little. Kishan saw me with a frown. He came a bit closer to hold the pone in place.

'Hello Ashi, you there. Can you hear me' Appu spoke over the phone again. I could not concentrate.

Kishan shook me and signed me to speak. That's when I came to reality.

'Hi hi, Appu, network issue I guess, I'll be a little late Appu. I'm sorry' I said in a hurried tone.

'Why Appu, are you alright? should I come over? Are you..' Appu was talking when I cut her and replied ' No No Appu, I'll only come over. I had some work, that's it. Don't worry. Please have lunch, I'll join you

Blank. Pin drop silence. I could only hear my heartbeat racing and Kishan breathing on my face. 

Just when I was about to say hello, a cool breeze came from the window and blew my hair on my eyes and I started struggling to remove them my eyes closed.

Slowly Kishan's strong and hard fingers moved my hair from my eyes by touching my face.

I opened my eyes in slow motion. My whole body had electric current passing through them because of his small touch. It was filmy. The breeze became strong and more hair was on my face to which Kishan looked right into my eyes for permission on whether he could touch my face again.

I just looked back with mixed emotions. He took it as a yes I suppose. So he brushed my hair off form my slowly, This time taking longer than before. I sucked in my breath and closed my eyes feeling his hand on my face. It felt good and like never before. 

In the background I could still hear Appu talk, I couldn't make out her words. Kishan had my phone in his hand and few seconds I couldn't hear her voice either, guess Kishan had disconnected the call.

He slowly tucked all my hair behind my ears. Came close to me and took a long breath. By the time I opened my eyes, he was exactly right in front of me and then I realised he had held my hand too. I was shocked. We were looking right into each other. It felt like fireworks everywhere. Him holding my hand felt good. His bluish eyes had so much depth that I could swim in them. They were very experienced. We didn't blink an eye. 

My mind started playing scenarios inside my head. I twirled my toes just thinking about them. I started sweating and my heartbeat was on a marathon. I so wish I had taken a bath earlier I regretted. In movies by now the hero and heroin would have kissed I thought. I was just staring at him and capturing the little details about him and his face.

Just when I was about to talk to him, his phone rang. I shook my head to come back to reality.

He let go of my hand and suddenly I felt empty. I guess it was his mom who had called. As he was on his phone I decided to go back and search for the tool kit. I was about to go when my doorbell rang. Looking at Kishan I nodded and went to open the door only to see it was Appu. 'SHIT' I thought.

As soon as I opened the door she started shooting me with questions without seeing who was inside. She entered the house and as soon as she saw Kishan, she froze. 

She looked at me and him back and forth. She had this shocked and betrayed expression.

At the same time, Kishan kept his phone and turned only to look at Appu. He had the same shocked expression. He looked at me and I just stood quiet and glued to the ground.

My phone rang again and only then I noticed Kishan had my phone still. Appu saw that and looked at me arching her eyebrows. I just looked at her blankly and went and took my phone from Kishan and attended to it. It was my mom. Had a quick chat with her and kept my phone aside. 

Finally, Kishan spoke breaking the silence 'Hi Aparna'

As usual, Appu stood dumb. I never knew what was running in her head.

She half smiled and looked at me. 

'Kishan came to ask for Tool Appu' I said trying to sound casual.

To which she just nodded. Taking this as my queue I went to the storeroom to start searching leaving them both alone.