Episode 10
The text messages
On the way back to the hostel, Karthik couldn’t stop smiling. Naira was jealous of Aaradhya. Now that was surely a sign. But he wasn’t sure if Aaradhya liked him the way Naira thinks she does. She has been pretty forward all the time and kept doing stuff like wiping stuff of his face like back at the cafeteria, but she had never really mentioned anything about liking him.
When they reached Naira’s hostel, and Naira got down
“you do know you have nothing to worry right? Aaru is just a friend.” Karthik said.
Naira smiled at that. Why was she smiling? Her smile quickly disappeared.
“why would I be worried if ‘Aaru’ were more than a friend to you? ” Naira asked, managing to take Aaradhya’s name with as much spite as she could.
” look at you, you’re totally jealous. Oh, you look so cute! ” Karthik said with a grin plastered on his face.
Naira swatted off Karthik’s hand which was about to pinch her cheek.
” why don’t you go pinch her cheek? ” Naira asked.
” oh she isn’t cute like you. She’s hot. You know almost everybody in the college has a tiny crush on her. ” Karthik said.
” you must be on the top of the list then?” Naira asked with a straight face.
“and would you agree that you are jealous of her if I tell you I’m on that list? ” Karthik asked.
” I’m. Not. Jealous. ” Naira said hitting him.
” Okay okay. You’re not. You just don’t like sharing your best friend.” Karthik said
“thank the gods for making you see some sense. She wants my best friend. Did you look at her trying to act all smart at the coffee shop, telling me things about you! She thinks she knows you more than me. Kal ki aai ladki, mujhe sikha rahi thi! And she thinks I’ll let her take away what’s mine. ”
Karthik was shocked for a moment. Did she just call him hers? He couldn’t believe his ears.
” so, I’m yours? “Karthik asked, which the stars in his eyes and a glow on his cheeks.
” of course you are. You’re my best friend. I’ll scratch her eyes out if she tries to take my place. ” Naira said, quite sure she would actually go to That extent.
“I’m pretty sure best friends don’t do that. This looks more like the other end of the spectrum.” Karthik said.
Naira was slightly taken aback. Was he right? Was what she felt more than friendship?
“okay. I told you a year back and I’m telling you now too. You’re gonna fall for me real bad and I’m gonna wait until you do. Two feet, we’re meant to be! You don’t see it, but it’s true.”
“i know that even after you realize, you aren’t gonna express your love for me. Mainly because you think it will mess up with your studies. But one day, you’ll come to me and accept it. And I’ll be waiting for you with open arms” he said and kissed her forehead, trying to make her feel the conviction in whatever she said.
She was startled after listening to what he said. Was she really in love with him? Of course, she loved him a lot. She would give up her life for him. After all he was her best friend. But would she call it being in love?
Karthik then rode back to his hostel while Naira went back to her hostel room. She collapsed on her bed and kept switching the lamp beside her table on and off.
An hour later Gayu walked in.
“hey what is up with you? Looks like you’re in a movie scene with some sort of dharam sankat lurking around. ” Gayu asked.
Naira told her everything that had happened.
” you dummy. He’s right! You’re in love with him. Everybody knows it, and you’re completely oblivious to it. And I can’t even tell you how much he loves you. ”
” you knew??!! ” Naira asked, shocked.
” of course, I did. I knew it even before he told you. I noticed it on the day you were taken to the emergency room. He’ll do anything for you. The fact that he’s still here waiting for you, proves it. Look at that girl next to him. I saw the way she looked at him. She’s in love with him and I’m pretty sure she’d have made some advances towards him. But he still looks at you the same way he did, a year ago. Don’t let go off him, Naira. ”
She was in love with him. There. She had agreed. She couldn’t tolerate this new girl in his life. Karthik was hers and only hers.
” even if I am, I’m a medical student first and foremost. I can’t afford to get distracted. ”
” if it were such a distraction do you think I’d start dating Manoj? It’s all about the balance. So do you love him? ” Gayu asked.
“of course, I do. He’s my best friend. But I’m not really sure if I’m in love with him. I can’t mess our friendship up just because I’m jealous of his new friend.”
“ugh. You’re so stubborn. ” Gayu said. She turned on her heel and walked into the washroom.
Naira’s phone pinged with a message from an unknown number.
*hey Naira. This is Aaradhya. Can I talk to you for sometime? *
The idiot gave her her number even though he knew how much she hated her? Oh, he was gonna die tomorrow.
*what’s up? * Naira asked.
*I wanted to know if I did something wrong. You looked kinda mad at me today *
*oh no. I’m not mad at you. 🙂 * Naira sent. The fake smiley that followed was as sarcastic as sarcastic could get.
*does he ever talk to you about me? * she asked.
*we don’t really talk much about other people. Why? *Naira asked
*Naira, can I share something with you and trust you that you’ll keep it to yourself? *
*I could try*
*I love him, Naira. I love him since the first day I set my eyes on him. He’s such a gentleman, and so smart. *
Naira was worried now. Aaradhya loved Karthik? But what if Karthik will fall in love with her? They’d look so gorgeous together. But what about her then?!
*Yeah I guessed so. Have you told him yet? * she continued typing.
*no. Because I’m scared. I think he’s in love with somebody else. *
*did he tell you that? *Naira asked.
*no but I’m sure he does. You wanna know how I found out? *
*how? * Naira asked.
*there’s this photograph he keeps looking at all the time and smiling. I can only guess it’s a photograph because his smile is so genuine when he looks at it. He looks at it with blind worship. Makes me feel so jealous. He never shows it to anybody. And I couldn’t take your number directly from him, because he would know something is fishy. So I had to take it from his phone without his knowledge. I was secretly spying on him typing his password into his phone all these days. And today I got the whole password. Finally! And you know what it was? Cutie pie!! That’s definitely gotta be her, right? *
She was his password? He loved her that much? His love was very evident all the time in his worry. Be it the day she was sick, or the day she fell; In his punch for kishen or in letting her ride Jaanemann. There was just love. When he had changed his password from Jaanemann to cutie pie, she didn’t know. But there it was, his undying love. He was still waiting for an answer.
But could she still keep him waiting? Did she want to take that kind of risk with her friendship?
Either way she knew this was the start of something big. She was either in love with him and this would be one of those beautiful love stories or they’d end up with a broken friendship. She really didn’t know what to do.
*you should talk to him about that. We don’t discuss love with each other. Good night. *
Naira sent the message and went to sleep. Tossing and turning, she had the biggest emotional turmoil of her life now.
—————author’s notes————–
Hey guys
So this was the episode for today. Hope you guys liked it.
I got a question in the previous episode regarding Naira falling in love.
As you can see here, she’s starting to love him but she doesn’t know if she should take it forward yet. The mystery will unfold in a few episodes. As you can see, their love story is kinda complicated.
Anyway stay tuned to know what happens!
Have a great day!! Thanks for reading! 🙂
P. S. First milestone. Ten episodes completed!!! Wouldn’t be possible without your support! Thank you so much :*