When strangers do meet in far off lands, they should e'er long see each other again.

It was early morning and they had decided to meet for breakfast in a café near her hotel. They were currently in Venice, one of the most beautiful places in Italy and were yet to explore this beauty.

She was standing right outside the café looking for him when he tapped on her shoulder from behind. She turned to look at him and the moment her eyes met his, her breath hitched. Her mouth couldn't  just form words to speak. This man standing right in front of her looked just so fine. But his messy hairs did make him look cute as well, a perfect man in true sense. She was lost in checking him out when Karan clicked his fingers to bring her out of her reverie.

"Hey Ms Tapaswini! Done Checking me out?" He asked her with a mischievous grin making her go all red in embarrassment.

"What? No---I wasn't checking you out. Was just thinking about something." She tried defending herself but failed miserably. Who was she even lying to!

"Yaaa sure! If you say so. Waise you look pretty today" He chuckled and she blushed slightly. She wore a coral red bodycon dress that ended right above her knees. He wanted to compliment her in a much nicer way but maybe he didn't had the right, not yet.

"Why do you even think I was checking you out Mr Kundrri? Anyways you just look a little better than okay!" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Ohhh please! Girls die for me. Aur ye Kundrri kya hai?" He asked her with a frown and she scrunched her nose.

"You called me Tapaswini so I called you Kundrri. Hisaab barabar." She shrugged her shoulders and walked ahead.

"Oyeee wait where are you going?" He jogged behind her to match her speed.

"Mujhe bhook lagi hai kundrri. I am very very very hungry." She made a cute pout and he felt like kissing it then and there. Shut up Kundrra.

"Ayeee pehle to you stop calling me Kundrri!" He told her while they comfortably settled on their seats.

"Arrey but you are so cute, Kundrra naam suit nahi karta tum par. Even you called me Tapaswini, uska kya?"

"Mai koi cute-vute nahi hun, I am The Hot Karan Kundrra. And moreover you have such a long and confusing name. How am I supposed to remember it bholu?"

"Call me Teja-Teju kuch bhi. You know my friends in school used to call me teju-kaju." He laughed at her while they placed the order for their breakfast. 

They had their breakfast with some lame jokes and crazy childhood memories. Things were getting better between them and they had no idea about it. Unaware of the happiness both of them gave to each other's heart they kept on going and laughing.
Level I : Strangers - Cleared 

*******

Once done with their breakfast they went to St Mark's Basilica, one of the most beautifully designed churches in Italy. Both of them were spellbound with the marvellous decor of the church with gold mosaics and works by Renaissance painters and Byzantine domes which were incredibly charming. It was beyond incredible. 

"This whole place screams beauty." said Tejasswi to which Karan just nodded "It definitely does."

Noticing each and every detail of every single place they went, Karan and Tejasswi had a great time with each other throughout the day. It was evening and they were done with their visit to the Doge's Palace. 

It was time for sunset and both of them decided to enjoy the view at the Grand Canal. It was on walking distance from the palace and they walked up till there. 

The sunset looked ethereal. Every single place in venice screamed beauty and vibrance. Karan looked at his right and was mesmerised with the view in front of her. The girl standing in front of her looked breathtakingly gorgeous without an ounce of makeup on her face and man this guy was so lost in her. 

He must have seen and met some very pretty ladies but none of them had this aura which this girl standing right before him had. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in the most simplest ways. Serene would be the right word for her. If he still had the capability to love someone, he must have fallen deep in love with her in that particular moment. But he wasn't meant to love and to be loved, he thought to himself and chuckled sarcastically with a sting in his heart. 
Little did he know that his heart has already betrayed him and soon his mind is going to join the game too. 

"Karan?" He heard her say to which he hummed and waited for her to speak.

"Pretty isn't it?" 

"Yes, it is very pretty!" Only his heart knew that the compliment was not for the beautiful sunset but for the beautiful woman standing right beside him.

"But you know what" she turned to look at him and continued speaking "actually I am very--" 

"very hungry?" he completed for and both of them ended up laughing. 

"I have known you for some 36 hours and the only thing I know the best about you is how much you love food. Food is the ultimate love of your life, isn't it?" he asked her grinning.

"Off course it is ! After all food doesn't betray you like humans do."  He heard her say and immediately froze at his place. 

She didn't intend to say this but somehow blurted it out in flow not realising what pain it has caused in his heart. The change in his expressions gave her an idea that she has touched the wrong string and it was better for her to the change the topic and lighten the mood of the surrounding which has suddenly went colder. 

"I mean we humans play games and then cheat to win---I mean-" she didn't know what to say further.

"Relax Teju, why are you getting stressed? I know what you meant. Abhi itni zor se bhook lagi thi aur ab tumhari baatein hi khatam nahi ho rahi." He tried to lessen the awkwardness that crept in the air and soon they were back to being normal.

"Yeahhh! Bohat bhook lagi hai. Let's go to a good place and eat something good." She said joyfully and he just smiled looking at her.

Karan's pain wasn't because Aahana  had left him but because she made his life worst. He was glad that he no more had her in his life, but it pained to him every time thinking about how it felt when he had no one beside him to support him. He had distanced himself from every single person including his family members but her and when she left him he had no one to look for him. And now he had nothing for her but pure hatred, he never wanted to see or think about that painful face.

Though he was grateful that inspite of everything he did - his family, friends and all the close ones did helped him to overcome his pain and forgave him for everything he did and loved him like before but still it hurt him. He couldn't be their old Karan again and he doubted if he could ever be that Sunny whom everybody loved with all their heart and being. Now Sunny was just a name for him, no strings attached to it.

How strange it is
to fall in love
with a complete stranger,

but how even more strange
it is the moment you feel
as if you've known them
your entire life  

------*****------

A/n: So the chapter 3 ended right here. I hope that y'all are liking the story and it's plot. I feel they need to build their friendship a lot more and need to ease out among themselves in order to take any step ahead in their relationship. I am again reminding y'all that I won't be very frequent with my updates so please expect once in a blue moon wali updates from me. Do tell me in the comments how you liked this part, and if you liked it do vote for it. Lots of suggestions and healthy criticism is whole heartedly welcome.

P.s I am sorry in advance but I guess now I'll be able to manage another update only after 10-12 days.

With Lots of Love
~Raksha

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