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The city consisted of wide avenues and small places to sit and eat. There were the sky towers in the center, what was once thousands of homes now took up less ground space than an old shopping mall. A stream river flowed under the bridge. The city air felt fresh, almost sweet and floral as the pace of living relaxed into a steadier rhythm. Naina sighed as she peeked out of the window with misty eyes. Moving into a new city for the first time without her parents was something new to her. She turned towards her brother when she felt him tug her hands.

"You will be able to do it, Naina." He assured her with a dainty smile. She giggled seeing her elder brother speaking to her so maturely.

" I know you will miss me." She said, poking his arm.

"Never! I am happy that I wouldn't have to share my things with you little one. If mom dad hadn't forced me to drop you, I would have been sleeping soundly in my room." He replied, flicking her forehead. She chuckled again, as she listened to his rant and they got down the car.

"Highschools are not as easy-going as you think, Naina. You need to be careful. No hanging out. No making boyfriends until you are thirty. Have your food on time. Call me whenever you wish to speak about anything. You won't hide things from me. Are you even listening to me, little one?" He questioned as he helped her to place her luggage in the new house that their father had bought for her.

"I am! But at the moment I am hungry, Arjun."

"I will order something for you." He replied.

"Why don't you cook for me?" She requested wanting him to stay for some more time.

"Because I have to return. Dad may need me in the office." He mumbled, patting her head gently.

"Please?" She requested, clutching his hand as she put up the puppy face that he could never deny.

"Till then clean your room, upstairs."
He instructed to which she shook her head in a way of understanding. She walked upstairs to her room and started arranging her clothes in the closet. Unpacking all the bags she took out her books and placed them on a table. She took out a family photo and traced it with her fingers. Her parents supported her, loved her, and made sure she got whatever she wished for. An overwhelming feeling overpowered her emotions as she stared at the picture.

The photo frame was a gift given by her mother when she had turned fifteen. It was a simple wooden photo frame with a message penned down by her mother on the wooden back.

Naina,
When you came my world changed, filled with love for you. You were my responsibility to take care of, to help you mature into who you were born to be and not a small version of myself, but yourself. As years passed by you became an intelligent girl, princess of your father, my loving baby, protective sister of Jay, and the most precious person in Arjun's life. Always remember my love for you is eternal, it will always be to comfort your heart,
Mom.

Naina wiped her tears which had rolled down her cheeks as she read through the note, again. She kissed the photo frame before placing it next to her bed. After being successful in her attempts to change the bed cover she jumped on the bed, exhausted.

"I knew you would never complete your work. Who sleeps in bed with their shoes on? You did not even change your clothes and these curtains. Is this the way you keep your books? Get up and arrange them properly, little monkey."

"Aren't you aware of the fact, that a monkey's sibling is a monkey too? " She grinned in response.

"Are you calling me a monkey?" Arjun asked, pretending to be angry. She bobbed her in a way of yes. He huffed and walked towards the study table arranging her books.

"Bhaiyu!"

"Don't scream, little one."

"Where's my Olaf?"

"You had it in the car. It must be there itself, go and check it. And even if you lose it, that's great. It's such a cringy thing." He commented. Naina scowled at him and ran outside. She checked in their car but did not find Olaf. She sighed and was on the verge of crying for losing her Olaf when she noticed a young man holding out a white soft toy.

"Hey! It's mine. " She mumbled, wiping off her tears.

"Yours? I expected this to belong to a child." He spoke as he raised his brow in confusion.

"It's mine. My parents had given me Olaf when I was three." She replied, pulling out three fingers in the air. She raised her hand to take it from him. Before she could take it from him, he moved back.

"New tenant?" He questioned.

"Give it back to me!" She snapped.

"Answer me first. " He said calmly.

"You are seeing me for the first time here so, of course, I am new to this place. " Naina said, snatching her soft toy from him. She stuck out her tongue at him before running back to her house.

"Such a kiddo." The boy uttered an amused smile plastered on his face.

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A house had large arched windows which were opened through specks of sun rays entered, illuminating the sweet-toffee browns of the wooden floor. The photographs of a family were hung on the walls. "Are we gathered here to speak about that kiddo whom you met, Zayn?"

"Of course not but I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was a pretty girl, maybe younger than us. Innocent yet so fierce. Her antics were kiddish too. If it would have been someone else, I would have felt so gross witnessing a girl behave so childish." Zayn said.

"Are you falling in love with her?"

"Absolutely no, Sameer. She is pretty but not my type."

"Not your type, I see. But I would love to check the pretty childish lady you described." Sameer said as he poured wine for both of them.

"She has a boyfriend. I saw a man who was quite good-looking in her apartment." Zayn informed him.

"We shall meet her. They are our new neighbors after all."

"Yours not mine. " Zayn corrected him. Sameer wore a leather jacket as they went out to visit their new neighbor. They stopped in their tracks as they noticed Naina bidding bye to Arjun. She was about to leave but stalled as she noticed them.

"I am not giving you my Olaf!" She snapped, clutching her white soft toy closer to herself.

"I just came to greet you, lady." Zayn let out a chuckle, raising his hands in defence.

"Hello Miss Neighbour, can we get in the house instead of speaking here?" Sameer spoke as he brushed his fingers through his hair with an amused smile plastered on his face. Naina looked up at the stranger for a while. She pursed her lips before nodding her head hesitantly.

"I won't take away your Olaf, I promise," Zayn assured her, pinching his neck, and making her giggle. She guided them into her house.

"What's your name?" She asked as she gestured to them to sit.

"I am Sameer and he is Zayn." Sameer replied while Naina nodded her head in a way of understanding. None of them spoke for a moment. Naina felt her cheeks to be heated as she felt an intimidating gaze.

"Zayn, how much did you score in your recent tests?" She questioned, making him frown instantly.

"I understand we have nothing to talk about but that doesn't mean you will embarrass me by speaking about studies and marks."

"I was just curious. I am sorry if you did-"

"You don't have to apologize for such silly things." Sameer interfered in their conversation, eyeing how her ears turned pink listening to his voice. They sat there silently for a while making the situation awkward, again.

"Arjun made spaghetti for breakfast. Do you wish to have them? " Zayn shook his head furiously while Sameer laughed at his antics. Naina quickly went into the kitchen while the boys helped her to serve food.

"We are going to a club tonight, you can join us if you wish." Sameer proposed the idea.

"I have never been to a club."

"My girlfriend, Alisha, is going to come too. She will help you for sure." Zayn said, stuffing his mouth with the food.

"She is kind and you even have us there. Make sure you get ready by 7 p. m."
Sameer added at which she nodded her head in a way of okay.

Naina stared at Sameer who was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. She gulped a lump of saliva noticing how Adam's Apple raised and slumped down as he swallowed the food. It made her want to feel how his full lips moved in a kiss, how his hands follow the curves of her body. While having the spaghetti, the creamy red sauce smeared on the corner of his lips making his lips more kissable than it already was. Naina's mouth was already watering at the thought of how a man can look so smokingly hot even while having that spaghetti. She pursed her lips the moment noticing the red sauce was smeared on the corner of his lips. He rubbed the sauce with his thumb and directly put it inside his mouth to lick the sauce. How she wished it was her lips and tongue instead of that thumb which would meanwhile be busy rubbing her bare skin turning her into a moaning mess. But all her not so innocent thoughts vanished with the incoming phone call. Right then Sameer looked up, staring straight toward Naina.

Their eyes stuck on each other for a moment.

Naina felt her knees going weak just by their eye lock and before she would turn into a puddle of jelly, she diverted her attention towards the phone that was still ringing. Seeing the caller id, she pushed everything aside in her 'holy' mind and excused herself from the boys to take the call while a wide grin played on her face.

"Seems like they are truly in love," Sameer uttered at which Zayn hummed in response.

"She is a lovable girl," Zayn said, continuing to eat. Sameer sighed deeply as he mumbled something against his breath.

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"This shoe is so pretty, where's its pair, Naina?"

"The muddy pool down my house's street demanded a sacrifice." She replied, straightening her hair. Alisha laughed listening to her reply.

"You look so cute in this, Naina. I feel so jealous." Alisha said as she pulled her lips into a pout.

Naina had worn a red and black two-piece dress. A red band of fabric stretched across her chest, leaving her shoulders and stomach exposed. A long black skirt with a slit that extended to her hip. A thin silver chain was wrapped around her neck. She struggled to wear heels and just wanted to go back to her sneakers. But, Alisha somehow convinced her to wear it. In the dress, she felt more feminine as all the best parts of womanhood blossomed in happiness.

"Even you look so pretty. I bet Zayn won't be able to keep himself in his pants. " Naina said, patting her head. Alisha's eyes widened and gasped in horror.

"I thought you were an innocent baby. "

"I am but only before my family. I am freaking twenty-two years old so I know about 'these' things. Let's go, the boys would be waiting for us. " Alisha chuckled as Naina checked herself for the last time in the mirror and dragged her downstairs.

"Alisha, is it fine if I double date?" Zayn questioned drooling over Naina only to receive a smack on his shoulders by her. They laughed while Sameer's lips tugged a bit.

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In the club, the good vibes flowed like a virus. Men and women swayed to the ultrasonic music all hyped up. Naina noticed a few couples sucking the life from each other's throats, as they walked down the aisle. Zayn ordered whiskey for them which she politely refused while Sameer chose not to drink. After a few minutes, Alisha and Zayn walked toward the dance floor swaying their bodies to the music.

"Why don't you dance?" Naina asked Sameer who was sitting next to her.

"I have never danced in my life. What's your reason for not dancing tonight?"

"I don't want to." She replied, averting her gaze at the crowd of dancing people. They stared at the public for a while.
"How old are you?" She asked, looking at him.

He turned his attention and glanced at her, raising an eyebrow and leaning back against the counter."I just turned fifty," he said, narrowing his eyes on her and smirking, waiting for her to speak.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Wizened," she said with a smile, teasing him.

"Old," he said, watching her run her fingers on the glossy wood counter.

"Vintage." She said as she glanced at him with a soft smile. His eyes were still on her noticing her every moment keenly.

"Ancient." He mumbled, placing his palm over her hand. She bit her lips as her heart beat faster under his gaze.

"Established," She mumbled, trying to concentrate on the conversation as he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

"Experienced." His voice has taken on a whole new tone, and it causes the butterflies in her stomach to go crazy. She raised her head and didn't look away from his eyes no matter how nervous she was.

"Don't do that." He mumbled huskily as she bit her lips. She looked anywhere but him, taking her hand off his grip.

"Rather than just sitting here we should leave," Sameer suggested as they had been simply staring at the drunk men and women at the club for almost an hour. Naina agreed with him as she was bored sitting in the same position for so long. They left the club not before informing about their departure to Zayn and Alisha.

The road at midnight shone under moonlight. The black tranquility of the sky was merged into poetry of stars. Sameer glanced at Naina who had a wide smile plastered on her face as she adored the snow-covered trees and bungalows. Her eyes portrayed her beautiful soul. Her long hair touched her hips, each strand moved freely like an ocean-borne breeze. Her smile was warm with a hint of shyness whenever she spoke to him. She glanced at him as he cleared his throat.

"So where's your man?" He questioned at which she looked confused. "The one you were with in the morning," Sameer added.

"Are you speaking about Arjun? He has gone to work. He came here to drop me off and help me in arranging everything because I have never cleaned or traveled in my life. Arjun always cleans my room for me." She replied.

"It seems you love him a lot," Sameer mumbled against his breath which was audible to her.

"I do love him a lot, a little more than Jay."

"Are you double dating? " He asked in horror. Naina tilted her head, confused by his sudden outburst, and then widened her eyes in shock.

"Arjun and Jay are my brothers!" She yelled.

"Brothers? Zayn told me that some Arjun is your boy-"

"Not every boy I speak to is my boyfriend. Arjun is my elder brother, who is almost 32 years old. While Jay is my younger brother, he turned fifteen a few months back." She replied. Sameer scratched the back of his neck embarrassed.

"I am sorry." Naina giggled in response, seeing his flushed face.

"Aren't you laughing too much?"

"You look pretty." She teased.

"That's the reason you were staring at me in the morning." Naina stalled in her actions as his lips tugged into a smirk.

"I wasn't staring at yo-you." She mumbled as she increased her pace.

"What did you imagine, Naina? About me or to be specific about us? " He asked, making her face heat up. He held her hand and turned her to face himself.

"I did not stare at you, okay?" She yelled in response looking anywhere but him.

"When I saw you first, bidding bye to your brother, I was deceived by this innocent face of yours. Zayn described you as innocent kiddo to me. When you were staring at me while Zayn and I were eating, I felt as if I was imagining. But when I read your diary, I realized this pretty girl is not that naive." He said, tracing his finger against her cheeks.

"Yo-you read my diary? It was my diary!" She gasped in horror.

"I was going through your books which were placed on your study table while Zayn and you were picking up a dress for tonight. It was you who had left your secret diary open. "

"You read it?" Naina asked as her lips quivered in fear. Sameer nodded his head and palmed her cheeks.

"I won't disclose it to anyone. While having fantasies is not a crime that you are so scared of." He spoke as he leaned to her height. Her brain stalled for seconds as he grabbed her by her waist, digging his hand into her soft curves. She drew him towards her with her eyes. He inclined his face, their breath fanned against their lips. He waited for her to initiate. She pressed her lips against his. Sameer felt his body to be dysfunctional not believing that they were kissing. Her kiss was soft while her hands fisted his leather jacket. He leaned in, so carefully. Breathing heavily as their hearts beat between them.

"I can't resist you." He murmured as he claimed her lips again. His lips felt softer than anything she had ever known, like biting into cotton candy.

"Oh God-" Naina uttered as he kissed her again, stronger and desperate as if it was their last kiss. The taste of him was making her crazy. She pushed him away, not loosening her grip. He looked at her with puppy eyes as if he was disappointed.

She laughed in between panting for breath. "What's so funny?" He asked, unable to keep his charming smile from hearing her laughter off his face.

"We just met a few hours ago," She mumbled against her breath. He shook his head, "No, I saw you thirteen hours ago. That's not a few. It's a fucking long time." Naina pursed her lips to refrain from laughter.

"I never thought that I would kiss a random guy. I broke my first promise made to Bhaiyu." She mumbled as a wave of guilt hit her.

"I am not a random guy to you. We are friends may be much more than that." Sameer said.

"More than that?" She questioned, raising her brow.

"We can speak about that tomorrow." He said as he moved away from her and pressed the bridge of his nose.

"What do you mean we would be more than being friends?"

"It meant anything but being in a relationship. The only thing I can assure you is that it would be a win-win situation." Sameer mumbled as his lips tugged into a smirk.

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Hope you like it! 💜

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