Shravani's POV:

I stepped out of the car and my throat filled up at the sight of the place which had my entire childhood and teenage...
It's a hard hard nostalgia that hit me right in my face...

This place had it all...the old Neem tree ...the seat near that Neem tree...the rose and hibiscus garden. The aloe vera plants and the cactus plants in the other corner...
The breeze from the marigold plants...
The smell from the Nagchampa tree that would keep this apartment always so fragrant was all the same.

When the smell hit my nose I closed my eyes and breathed a bit more.
Deeper breaths and I could still here our gang giggling in the shuttle court...

Shonali, Chetana, Nivedita, Ritika, Rishika, Gogi, Danish... Playing cards on the open terrace of Purvi Apartments...

Yet that one pair of eyes digging my soul!!!
Spine chilling !!!
Just then I felt a touch on my shoulder and I opened my eyes only to meet the same pair of eyes and it's burning gaze...

Just that now he's much more muscular and a beardo. But those dark brown eyes spoke beyond words...

'Shall we go?' he asked and I nodded.

I don't know how right it was for me to come back here. But I was welcomed by Shonali and Shreyansh her husband who have shifted in this apartment for a few days as Shonali's mom wasn't keeping well and Shreyansh's family is in London. So they were staying here for a few months. Rishika in Dubai post her marriage. Rithika was here. I was told Danish and Chetana are getting married. We took the elevator to B Wing instead of A Wing.

'But my house' words died in my mouth realising now I'm married to him so I would stay in his house. It was a little uncomfortable. The elevator stopped at 5th floor and we got down.

I had been to his house before to call Rithika for our dance practice although because of our uncomfortable equation I couldn't gather the guts to go inside. But today this house was empty. It only had him staying here probably.

I was about to go inside while I was stopped by Prisha aunty Shonali's mom who made us stand together and warded off evil using some red chillies. Kept a glass full of rice on the step of the house and asked me to kick it. I did the same and entered the house. She made us eat sweets. She even guided me to kitchen and made me boil milk and finally said ..

'I never thought I'll be the one to make you do these rituals Shravani but your dad's death, Sattu's parents death over the years...there weren't anyone else so Rubi told me to do this for you both as she wasn't aware of our customs and rituals.' I looked at aunty and smiled.

Soon Rithika came and hugged me.
'Im so happy Bhabhi...you are home..now I know Bhai will atleast eat his meal on time' she tried to be as gentle as possible yet it was awkward. Reason being Rithika knows our equation from childhood. She pulled me along with her to balcony.

'If you are not ok in me calling you Bhabhi I can stick to Shravani da..we are childhood friends' she said and I looked at her and said ...
'You know it's not easy for me'

To which she chuckled saying...
'Its never easy for anyone Shravani... please understand...even Bhai had a divorce' she said and I looked elsewhere...

'Look Rithika...this marriage is only due to dad's will...I can't lie to you...it's a namesake one... please don't keep too much hopes on this'

And she smiled saying...
'My hopes are mine... yours are yours!!! And anyways I was always a #SatyaVani fan' she said chuckling and my eyes popped out.

'Rithu...we were kids then... unbelievable you are teasing me in my 30's now!!! Ughhh...' I said walking inside to which she smiled saying...

'Oh Comeon Shravu...you both are officially married now...I have the license now bro' she said raising her hands.

I turned around giving her a stare...
'Unbelievably childish!!!' I walked to the living room.

Prisha aunty had made food for us. We had a delicious meal and slowly everyone retired to their homes while Rithu also said that she will have to go to her husband's house. She wished us a 'good luck' and left!!!

Suddenly we heard a roaring lightening and thunder ⛈️!!!
Satyendra closed the door and turned around.

The air was too thick now!
Till now there was a big crowd now it's just me and HIM!!!

To add on I was recalling Rithu's words. Everything was so awkward suddenly!!!

'You can take the other bedroom' he said and left from there...I breathed a sigh of relief!

Thank god I'm not sharing the room with him!!!

I stepped into the other bedroom. It was clean yet smelly. Looks like the room was locked for months or maybe years.
Suddenly I felt something jump on me...
I screamed loudly...
Just then Satyendra came to the room...
I was still screaming...

'Ahhhhh Shravani...stop it... what happened...'

'Ehhhhhh
...ewwwwww something fell on me....ahhh...chi....' I kept cringing...

And he was laughing loudly.

While I stopped and looked at him laughing like a baby. His heartfelt laughter always made me smile. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

'Shravani...look at the size of that thing...' he showed the lizard and I cringed more.

'Eewwwwww I hate the'

'Creepy crawly.... I remember' he said and I shot him a glare and I noticed his body stiffened suddenly. He was about to leave while I spoke up...

'Satyendra...I can't stay in this room...I'm scared of lizards ... please' I said at once...

And he stopped on his tracks ...

'If you aren't too uncomfortable you can stay in my room. I have a couch...you can take the bed' he said and left the room.

I was in 2 minds...
But then I don't know why and how I continued walking into his room.
It was painted bright yellow...My eyes fell on his pic with his parents and his sister's Rishika and Rithika. But surprisingly my eyes were wide open when I saw the picture that was clicked of ours together for wedding registration. It was exactly next to his family picture. I felt somersaulting in my stomach.

He was sitting and watching some YouTube videos on farming and I observed understanding how much he loves his profession. His bedroom balcony, common balcony, even the corridors had a lot of plants.
Even his kitchen pad, dining room also had shade loving plants.

'You can take that side of the cupboard for now. Tomorrow I'll order a new cupboard for you' he said and went to washroom saying ...

'Iam going for a bath. I cannot sleep without taking a shower. You can change in the room... I'll come out only after knocking' he said and I nodded.

I quickly pulled out my nightgown and landed on the bed. But soon I realised he may need a pillow too. So I kept a pillow and the quilt for him. I pulled out my pashmina shawl and covered myself and drifted to sleep.

In middle of the night I felt something warm on me ...I touched and felt the comforter on my body. I opened my eyes and noticed Satyendra covered me with the comforter and pulled out an extra from the cupboard for himself. He was sleeping like a little baby. I smiled and slowly drifted to sleep.

But my sleep was broken as it was a new place for me. I looked at the time it was 2 am in the night...

I walked to the balcony and I could smell the wet mud...the huge neem tree was shaking...

And there was cool wind caressing my cheeks...

I leaned towards the grill and leaned a little and I could see the balcony of my house...

Suddenly I remembered a 19 year old Satyendra staring at me intensely from this same balcony at a 16 year old me...

I could never meet his gaze!!!
It was always burning...

The little droplets of rain took me back to that day when I met Satyendra for the first time.

I still remember...

It was a rainy evening...

Flashback...

'Shonali no yaar please...I want to read this book...you know this is such an interesting novel and its by my favorite Alfred Hitchcock... please please...' I made a puppy face

But she was dragging me like a goat to our apartment open terrace saying..

'Shravu yaar look at the weather...don't be a spoilt sport...it's early monsoon this summer...such fun holidays this time... please... and anyways in a few months you will join college...don't be a spoilt sport...come on...'

'But Shonali I don't even know your friend's...they are your classmates...you all are college mates...'

'No only Rithika is my classmate but her sister Rishika is your batch but a different school...but now you both are going to be classmates soon. Come on...it's good to know your seniors..you won't be ragged' she winked

'You are my senior... that's enough Shonali...I would anyways not stand ragging...you know me' I said firmly and she folded her hands saying...

'Yeah yeah my brave queen of Jhansi' she said and I rolled my eyes ..

'But Shravu...look at the weather...it's so beautiful... and we will play cards ..there are so many people... come na...' she dragged me upon the water tank of the apartment where a bunch of my friends and neighbours were sitting in a circle ..
And Shonali introduced me to her friends...

'Hey Rithika...meet my bestie ..Shravani... and Shravani this is Rithika and her sister Rishika'

And I said a 'Hi'... Im a little introvert and I take time to make friends.

There were Chetana, Nivedita, Gogi and Danish already in mid of a game. So I sat reading a book till they finished playing. However amongst them all I felt a strong gaze of a tall certain someone. I could clearly say he was elder to all of us and was helping Rishika with her cards. I didn't see his face and got busy with my book.

But I could feel his gaze on me.
Soon their game finished and next they were planning a fresh game which I heard that man's voice ..

'Hey Danish... man...you look at cards da...bloody no cheating and all...don't think my sister doesn't know to play...I'm with her' saying he patted Rishika's back.

Now it striked me he's their brother!

He was shuffling the cards and while distributing my cards it flew away as I was busy reading my book.

I quickly got up to pick the card just then I noticed a tall figure wearing three fourths and a tshirt standing in front of me with messy hair.

That's the first time my eyes met his eyes!

He was looking at me ...
No!!!
Staring at me!!!
Without even blinking!!

No one introduced us...
So we didn't have anything to talk.
Shonali suddenly got comfortable with him. Even Chetana was talking to him. But I don't know why there was an unspoken silence between us.

I could feel him look at me hiding behind his cards. But we both didn't utter a word to each other.

After playing cards everyone left while I, Shonali and Chetana stayed back to look at the sunset. It was always mesmerizing to look at the green tea estates and hills around us and the sun set looked dreamy every evening. We sat looking out the first star in the sky.
As we believed that if we see the first star of the sky alone before the moon our wishes come true.

I closed my eyes...
But strangely those fiery eyes flashed in front of me!!!
I opened my eyes at once!
What the heck!!!

And just then I turned my head towards the B Wing and noticed him peeping towards our terrace from his balcony.
For a minute his gaze met mine!
I looked elsewhere completely ignoring him!!!
But I could still feel his burning gaze!

Next day I couldn't go to play as I had to go with Dad for a party.

Finally the next day when I was sitting and reading the book I got a call from Shonali...

'Hey Shravu??? Cards???' she asked and I said sure...

I went to her house and I could see her and Nivedita giggling and the minute they saw me ...they burst out laughing.
I didn't understand what happened.

To which Shonali said ..
'Thank god you are coming to play today... else we had planned to donate our ears'

And I narrowed my eyebrows...

'In the sense?' I asked curiously...

To which Nivedita chuckled saying...
'Well you didn't come yesterday...so Sattu was asking for you ...'

And my eyes widened 😳

'Infact he was literally forcing me to call you and ask if you will be joining us to play cards' she said and my mouth opened and closed like a fish multiple times!!!

'You are lying ..stop talking nonsense...he doesn't even know me'
I said and Shonali and Nivedita covered their mouths and giggled like little girls and said in chorus...

'Exaaaaaactly!!!'

And now I was feeling uneasy...
Soon Shonali said a bye to her mum and we were going towards elevator

'Ready to meet Mr Sathya...Miss Vani...' she said and I was suddenly feeling it too awkward.

I walked along with them and climbed up the water tank and this time I saw him openly gawking at me. He was standing and talking on his small mobile phone. Wooooah he has his own mobile I rolled my eyes. Then thought to myself...
Such a show off 😏

We all sat in a circle but my breath hitched the minute he settled next to me!!!

My heart was in my mouth!!!
But I still maintained a calm face!!!

I could feel his gaze on me...
I still tried to keep looking at the book. But was unable to concentrate on the same!!!
We played cards for 2 hours and I couldn't bloody read a single page.
This was turning awkward ++

Next day Shonali told me she is going out to a wedding and she will be late.
Gogi wasn't keeping well.
Rishika and Rithika were playing shuttle. Nivedita and Chetana were also nowhere to be seen. I was alone on the terrace. While I decided to take a walk...
It had just rained and it was a breezy evening. I was trying to hold my blue bandhni dupatta that I wore upon my plain white salwar and suddenly my eyes fall upon Satyendra who was staring at me from B Wing terrace. I swallowed hard and ignored him and continued walking to the other end of the terrace where he couldn't see me...

But then I heard the elevator door open...I thought it must be someone from our gang I climbed the water tank and sat hugging my legs close to my chest...looking at the orangy sky...

Next minute I felt someone climb the tank and I turned my neck to look at Satyendra....

My breath was stuck in my threat!!!
Words died and I didn't know what to do...
I didn't even have my book with me...
I wasn't knowing where to hide myself...

And he came and sat at a distance but next to me...
Looking at the same orangy sky!!!
I could feel his gaze on me but I didn't want to look in that direction...

But my dupatta was too adamant and was hopelessly flying in air and ended up flying high.

He caught it and we shared an eye lock!!!

His brownish black eyes met my pitch black ones ...

I slowly pulled the dupatta from his hand.
No words spoken...
Yet his gaze was fierce!!!
I quickly walked down the water tank and continued strolling in the terrace. I didn't want him to think I'm affected my his presence...

But all the while I heard him to talk to someone on his mobile but his eyes had captured me.

This was getting somewhere...

Flashback ends...

Just then I felt the window banging loudly due to the wind and I saw Satyendra wake up and he saw me...

'Shravani???'

'Ummm...the the window....'

He walked towards the balcony and leaned towards the door asking...

'I mean why are you awake'

To which I said ...
'Not feeling sleepy'

He smiled saying...
'Coffee???'

I chuckled saying... 'I still prefer tea'

And he bent closer to my face saying...
'With onion pakoda extra green chillies crispy, shredded and less gram flour'

And my eyes widened in shock 😳

It's been years to this incident!!!

***

Satyendra was doing the unthinkable!!!

Making onion pakoda at 3:30 am in the morning... And I was smiling. I entered kitchen which was smelling fragrant.
I saw a cup of coffee and a cup of tea in front of me.

Soon he finished making the pakodas and brought the plate full of pakoda and held in front of my face. It smelled heaven.

I quickly picked one and I burnt my finger as it had hot oil.

Immediately Satyendra pulled my hand and opened the tap for water to fall on my fingers ..

'Are you crazy Shravu... don't you notice before attempting things... such a baby you are... who gave you Doctor's degree... nonsense... Little baby you are' he slowly stopped the tap and began blowing from his mouth on it and quickly pulled out burnol and applied on it.

'Im ok Satyendra' I said softly...he was so worried

'Shutup...you never take care of yourself...you know how much I...' and next minute he left my hand.

I had lump in my throat.

He paused.

Going back to the kitchen he switched off the gas and kept the onion pakoda and my tea on the dinner table and threw his coffee into drain.

When I asked him all he said was...
'Its not good for me Shravani!
It won't let me be in peace...
Few things are best avoided!!!'

He said and went back to his room on the couch...

My eyes were on the hand he applied burnol and the pakoda and the tea he made for me...

It was suddenly getting distinct and heavy in my chest.

Things aren't going to be easy!!!
Definitely !!! Not easy!!!