Ch 11: Spending Alone time
1261 Words
Yajna got a phone from Atshara "Hello Nikhil, Are you waiting outside?"
Nikhil said "No, Do you want me to come over now?"
Yajna said "you called me 3 times already"
Nikhil said "I want to make sure you didn't sleep"
"I didn't sleep yet. Can I disconnect the call now?"
Nikhil sighed "What are you doing?"
Yajna looks at herself and thinks "he calls me in the middle of the shower and asks what I am doing now? Seriously" and said "I am watching Mtv Splitsvilla"
Nikhil asked "Okay, I will call you later. "
Yajna said "Fine" and disconnected the call before he said anything. "Sometimes he was so annoying" and smiled unconsciously.
Atshara asked "Are you going out with Nikhil?"
Yajna raked a hand through her head and said "No, My class is cutting a cake in FC1. I asked Nikhil to call me when he was going"
Atshara said "I thought you are spending alone time with Nikhil" Yajna thinks "Did she read my mind?"
Yajna asked "Why do you have that kind of thought?"
Atshara asked "Do you like him?"
Yajna narrowed her eyes and said "Eww, No."
Atshara said "Maybe I am wrong. I kind of feel like you both like each other"
Yajna thinks "Is it obvious? Stop overthinking only you like him and he is playing with you nothing else. I should make full stop to over relationship"
Around 11:15 PM, Nikhil called Yajna "Hello Nikhil, I will be in a minute outside"
Yajna was wearing Dark blue Salwar with Pink Dupatta and loosen her hair. While Nikhil came out in Casual outfit. Nikhil was staring at her.
"Hi Nikhil, Let's go" Yajna said
Nikhil said "You got ready to go outside. But I am not taking you out of campus"
"I know we are just walking around the campus. Is it too much to wear salwar? Should I go and change?"
"No, Don't change. It's good on you" Nikhil complemented her
"Where are we going now Nikhil?"
Nikhil extended three fingers from his hand and asked Yajna "Touch anyone finger from three"
Yajna touched index finger "This one"
Nikhil said "Cricket ground"
Yajna asked "What are the other two?"
Nikhil replied "Football ground and amphitheater"
Yajna said "Can I change to a Football ground or Amphitheater ?"
Nikhil asked "Why so?"
Yajna said "It's so dark over there "
"Don't tell me you are afraid of darks?"
"I am not. It's just that Nobody will be there in cricket ground around this time"
"Don't worry I won't eat you and you can't be sure some crazy people will be there in the cricket ground like us" Nikhil said and laughed
Yajna smirked and punched him in the shoulder "I know you are crazy. Don't include me"
Yajna said in a sullen face "I told you, nobody is here. Even I see people in Amphitheater"
Nikhil asked "Do you like to be in the crowd?"
Yajna said "No, I just don't want people to misunderstand us"
"When there is no one around us. How will we be misunderstood by others? I am thinking you are either afraid of darkness or afraid of me. "
"Neither. Let's go to Cricket ground" Yajna replied
Nikhil took Yajna to the center of the Cricket ground. He sat on the lawn and tapped the ground "Sit"
Yajna said "My dress will get dirty"
Nikhil stood up to face her "Give me your Dupatta"
"Why are you asking mine?" she unpinned the dupatta from the dress and gave it to him.
Nikhil opened the dupatta and laid it on the ground like a blanket "Just wash your dupatta. It's better than getting your whole dress dirty"
Yajna said "You should have bought a blanket."
"Do you want me to carry the blanket here? We didn't come for the trip. Are you going to sit or stand, it's up to you? "
Yajna said "Do I have any other option?" and she sat on the dupatta. He sat next to her and lay down on the ground. "Tell me, what are we doing here?"
Nikhil pointed out the sky "we are going to stargaze"
"Seriously Nikhil, stargazing?" she lays down next to him. There was a few inches gap between them.
Nikhil asked "What is the meaning of your name Yajna?"
"According to numerology my name has to start with 'Y' and My parents name is Ajay and Nandita. They combined first two letters of their names 'ajna'" Yajna pointed out the shining star "That star is shining very brightly"
Nikhil turned to look at Yajna. She was staring up at the sky with a euphoric expression on his face "Yes, Just like you"
Yajna whipped her head towards his direction and stared in wide eyes "Haan? Just like me?"
There was a small silence between them "Nope, just like me" He praised himself
"Very funny" Yajna's eyelids grew heavy and she mumbled "Nikhil, I am sleepy"
Nikhil got up from his place and gave his hand to Yajna "Get up"
Yajna grabbed his hand and got up from the place. "What do you want to do now?"
Nikhil played a song "Tumse Hai from Jab we met" from his phone and said "Let's dance".
Nikhil swept Yajna into his arms. With his arms around her waist, Yajna's arms around his shoulders, taking her another hand in his. They swayed side to side and moved across the Cricket ground.
Yajna felt "A strange, unfamiliar feeling settled in the pit of her stomach that quickens her heart beat."
When he spun around her. She fell into his arms. Nikhil breathed, sending warm air to her face. "Looking into his deep brown eyes, it was just the two of them in the world."
Her heartbeat has accelerated, and her cheeks are heating up again. He tucked her loosened hair behind her ear and his heart was trying to break through his ribs.
Nikhil's gaze moved to her lips and leaned in closer. Yajna's mind went blank at the thought of kissing. She stepped back as soon as she heard the fireworks in the sky.
Nikhil felt guilty for trying to kiss her. Yajna raised her hand to him and said "It's 12:00 Happy New year". Nikhil shakes her hand with the reply "Happy New year"
They looked at the view of fireworks together. Nikhil's phone buzzed. He checked Ankur calling him. Nikhil said "Let's go, I didn't tell Ankur I am came out with you"
Yajna grabbed her dupatta and followed him. Nikhil answered Ankur's call.
Ankur asked "Hello Nikhil, Where are you? I am outside your room."
Nikhil said "I didn't get sleep so I came outside for a walk. I will be there in 15 minutes. "
Ankur said "Happy New year Nikhil. No need to rush yourself to come."
Nikhil wished him back "Happy New year Ankur" and the phone got disconnected by Ankur
Yajna asked "Nikhil, Is everything okay? "
Nikhil said "I think he is a bit angry with me. I used to spend every new year with him"
Nikhil dropped Yajna in the front of her block and said "Bye". He turned to leave
Yajna turned around and took a few steps. She stopped and turned to call out his name "Nikhil.."
Nikhil stopped and looked at her. She ran towards him and said "Thanks for today. It was my best New Year ever" and kissed him in his cheek
Nikhil smiled at her and said "Good night"
"Good night" Yajna smiled and waved her hands at him
- Writer
