The next day, a young man was shown gently caressing a picture of a girl in his hand.

The girl was none other than Srijita, and his face lit up with a beautiful smile as he admired her image.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind, breaking his trance.

Startled, he quickly slipped the picture into his pocket.

"Indra, have you packed everything? Your clothes, office documents, and everything else, right?" his mother asked.

Indra nodded, "Yes, Mom, I packed everything last night. Don't worry about me. You and Dad should leave now, or you'll miss the train."

His mother nodded in agreement. "Yes, we're just leaving. Make sure to lock the door securely when you leave, okay?"

"I will, Mom," Indra assured her. "And please, after reaching there, don't forget to inform me about Dadi's health."

His mother smiled, "Sure, dear."

Indra's mind was still filled with thoughts of Srijita as he watched his parents leave, a mixture of longing and determination in his heart.

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On the other side of town, Srijita was in her room, diligently packing her bag and getting ready for the office.

Her movements were quick and efficient, a reflection of her meticulous nature.

Just as she was about to zip her bag, her mother entered the room, holding a tiffin container with a warm smile.

"I've packed your lunch well today," her mother said, extending the container toward her.

Curiosity piqued, Srijita took the container and opened the lid.

Her eyes widened in surprise and delight as she took in the variety of food neatly arranged inside: fragrant fried rice, rich and creamy matar paneer, spicy chili chicken, and a bowl of her favorite dessert, kheer.

"Wow, so many items! And you've made kheer too? Is there something special today?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine excitement and appreciation.

Her mother shook her head, her smile turning into a knowing look. "Why are you talking like a silly person, Srijita? Indra is coming today, and I made all this for him. He loves the kheer I make."

Srijita stared at her mother in shock, a mix of disbelief and disappointment washing over her. She struggled to hide her feelings as she slowly replied, "Oh."She tried to muster a smile, but her mind was swirling with thoughts.

Under her breath, she muttered, "You’ve never made these dishes for me any day." The words were barely audible, a quiet whisper of her feelings.

Her mother didn't seem to notice the undercurrent of emotion in her daughter's voice. She simply gave Srijita a pat on the shoulder and walked out of the room, leaving Srijita standing there, a storm of emotions brewing inside her.

As she closed the tiffin and placed it in her bag, Srijita couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment. Indra was always the center of attention, the favored one. She couldn't help but feel jealous about Indra.

Suddenly there is a sound of  door bell ringing...

Srijita's dad who is reading the newspaper on hearing the sound shouts to open the door as Indra might came.

Srijita's mom hurriedly goes to open the door and is greeted by the sight of Indra standing there.

His black t-shirt clings to his broad shoulders and muscular chest, accentuating his well-defined biceps.

The fabric stretches slightly over his torso, showcasing his fit physique. His shiny jet-black hair is perfectly styled, giving him a polished yet effortlessly cool look.

Indra's chiseled jawline and bright, confident smile add to his striking appearance. Over one shoulder, he carries a sleek black bag, and in his other hand, he grips the handle of a modern, compact trolley.

His eyes light up with warmth and friendliness as he greets Srijita's mom.

Srijita's mom then asks him to come inside.

Indra smiles and respectfully touches her and Srijita's dad's feet, joining his hands in a traditional namaste.

"Namaste, aunty and uncle," he says warmly.

She cups his cheek affectionately, "You have grown so much dear. Last I saw you, you were in class 3."

Indra laughs at her comment, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement.

Srijita's dad then asks, "How is the health of your dadi now?"

Indra replies, "Papa will inform me once he reaches there. He should be there soon. Last I heard last night that she still had the fever".

This way they talked for sometime...

His eyes then land on Srijita, and his heart flutters seeing her after a long time.

She is wearing a vibrant red kurti paired with white Patiala pants. Her eyes are adorned with dark kajal, making them stand out strikingly, and a small black bindi rests perfectly on her forehead.

She has minimal makeup on, just enough to highlight her natural beauty, making her look effortlessly elegant.

Indra feels a surge of emotions, a mixture of nostalgia and admiration, as he takes in her appearance. Memories of their childhood flood back, but now, seeing her grown up, he is struck by how much she has changed. Her beauty is captivating, and he feels a nervous excitement building within him. He notices the way her kurti accentuates her figure and how the red color complements her complexion perfectly.

Her eyes, so expressive and intense, draw him in, and he can't help but feel a longing he didn't expect.Indra's heart beats a little faster, and he finds it hard to look away. He feels a mix of warmth and nervousness, realizing how much he has missed seeing her. There's a magnetic pull, an unspoken connection that makes him hopeful yet anxious about being around her again.

In that moment, he is completely taken by her presence, feeling a deep appreciation for the woman she has become.

After chatting for a bit more, Srijita's mom says, "Indra, why don't you freshen up? I've already moved your luggage upstairs. Srijita will show you your room."

Srijita, feeling annoyed, replies, "Maa, what is there to show him? It's not like our house is a jantar mantar and that he will lost his way.He can find his way upstairs on his own."

Her mother responds, "You're going upstairs anyway, right? What's the problem in showing him his room? He doesn't visit our house daily."

Indra suppresses a smile, realizing she isn't pleased with his presence.

He politely says, "No problem, aunty. I can go alone."

Srijita quickly adds, "See, he can go alone."

Her mom retorts, "Shut up, Srijita," then turns to Indra, "It's okay, beta. She'll take you. She's just a bit stubborn. Don't mind her words."

Srijita's mouth hangs open at her mother's words. She was about to protest when her mother glares at her, signaling to take Indra upstairs.

With no other option, she mutters, "Come with me," to Indra.

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As they ascended the stairs, Indra turned to Srijita and said, "I can manage from here."

"It's alright," she replied calmly, guiding him to his new room.

"This is your room. Your luggage is in the corner. If you need anything, just ask my mom."

Indra nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes wandering to a table adorned with a variety of storybooks.

He picked up one and flipped through its pages, noting that all the books were horror and mystery novels by different authors.

"Are all these horror books yours?" he asked, curiosity tinged with surprise."Yes, they are," Srijita responded with a hint of pride.

"Wait, let me take them to my room so you can use the table."

Indra shook his head, "No, leave them here. I might enjoy reading them in my free time."Srijita nodded, grateful for the excuse to end the conversation. She slipped out of the room, leaving Indra with the intriguing collection of books and a moment of quiet contemplation.

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How is the chapter guys??
What will happen in next chapter...any guess??

Happy Reading
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