Highlight of the day-Him rolling his sleeves

Sidharth glanced over, his eyes flickering with recognition. "Hey Alia" he greeted casually, unaware of the turmoil within me.

My mouth went dry as I struggled to respond. I wished the ground would open up beneath me, swallowing me whole, sparing me from this excruciating moment.

After awkwardly exiting the pharmacy I quickened my pace, hoping to put some distance between myself and Sidharth . However, he caught up to I just reached the door.He might think that I have a boyfriend.Now,this is even worse

" Alia" Sidharth called again, falling into step beside me. "Are you heading home?"

I nodded unable to meet his gaze directly. "Yeah I am."

"Great I'll walk with you then" Sidharth said, falling into step beside me taking the grocery bag from my hand even though he already had a grocery bag with him, which I was reluctant to give but he didn't let go of the handle of bag and I eventually gave up. He didn't let our hands touch and I don't know why that made me pissed

My stomach churned with unease, knowing I'd have to endure the walk home with Sidharth my mind still reeling from the embarrassing encounter at the pharmacy.

As I and Sidharth walked along the quiet street towards home, the tension between us palpable, Sidharth broke the silence.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend" Sidharth remarked casually.

My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected question. I turned to face him, "Well, you don't know a lot of things about me" I countered, my voice tinged with defensiveness.

Sidharth raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Touché" he replied, acknowledging my point.

"Kahi tumhari shaadi toh nahi ho gayi?" he inquired with a hint of smirk on his lips.

(Did you also get married by any chance?)

GAWD...HE LOOKS SO HANDSOME!I REALLY NEED TO STOP FINDING HIM HANDSOME EVERYTIME

"Haan... aur 4 bachche bhi hain" I replied, my voice with irritation.

"Rinku, Pintu, Chintu, Bantu... milna chahoge?"

(Rinku, Pintu, Chintu, Bantu... want to meet them?)

"Zaroor, aur unke papa se bhi milwana" he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

(Of course, and introduce me to their father as well.)

and here I thought of making him the father of my children.Sannasi,Daddamma

"I thought I knew you quite well" he remarked.

"Really? If you truly knew me, you wouldn't be asking to meet my non-existent boyfriend" I shot back sharply.

I spotted a bookstore nearby. The signboard read 'New Arrivals'. My heart skipped a beat. "I'm going in" I said,atleast excepting him not head home and i get sometime to try to sink everything in.

As i already heading towards the entrance atleast now he would back out and head home without me and I can calm my heart out for a while because I cant bear this building pressure in my body with him by my side.

Sidharth sighed exasperatedly "Again? You and your books! When will you realize there's more to life than these fictional tales?"

Pausing at the doorstep, I turned to face him. " Sidharth , in these books, I get to live hundreds, even thousands of lives in one. I get to experience love, adventure, and magic. It's my escape, my sanctuary. I don't care what you think, you can head home,You dont have to wait for me" I said defiantly.

Rolling his eyes, Sidharth finally gave in "You really think I will leave you alone and head home"

Maybe you should!

As we entered, the scent of fresh pages and ink greeted us, filling the air with an intoxicating aroma. I made a beeline for the new arrivals section, my fingers lightly grazing the spines of the books.

I picked up Terms and Conditions, a fake marriage trope my favourite that seemed intriguing. Before I could fully grasp it, Sidharth said raising an eyebrow. "Legal dramas? I hope you're not planning to sue your non-existent boyfriend over there."

Not giving him the satisfaction of a response, I picked up "Better Than the Movies" a light-hearted romantic tale. Sidharth smirked "Better than the movies? Highly doubt it. No movie can beat your imaginative mind."

OMG will he shut up?I decided to not indulge into this.

Trying to shift to a different genre, I grabbed a dystopian novel titled "Shatter Me." Sidharth's eyes twinkled with mischief as he said "Shatter Me? Sounds dramatic. Are you planning to shatter someone's world with your reading choices?"

"i want to shatter your brain"I replied hitting his arm with the book in my hand and swiftly dodge it and chuckled slowly.

That chuckle. That chuckle is what that makes my dil go mmmhhh.

Not willing to back down, I then chose "King of Pride" a fantasy novel with a majestic cover. Sidharth looked at it and smirked, "Ah a king of pride? Quite fitting for the queen of bookworms."

Lastly, I picked up a contemporary romance titled "The Love Hypothesis." Sidharth smirked, "Ah back to your favorite subject, love. What's the hypothesis this time? That love conquers all?"

Feeling a mix of irritation and amusement, I responded "Sidharth, these books are my escape. They may be filled with drama, passion, and fantasy, but they also teach me about the complexities of human emotions. They allow me to dream and believe in the magic of love. You can just shut it if you don't have the basic human emotions to understand that."

I had never been this rude to anyone.but Sidharth makes me do it. I usually keep calm even when I'm annoyed.

Sidharth looked at me, his expression softening. "Alright Alia I can see how much these books mean to you. I just don't want you to miss out on real-life experiences because you're engrossed in fictional worlds."

I chuckled " Sidharth, you make it sound like I never step out of my room because I'm always reading. I have a life outside of books, you know."

He grinned "Do you? Because from where I stand, it seems like every time I see you, you're either talking about a book, buying a book, or reading one."

How does he know so much about me?They made me feel good inside, like a gentle touch. I am amazed that Sid had noticed small things about me.

I laughed at his observation "Well, I have to admit, books do occupy a significant portion of my time, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy other things."

I raised an eyebrow, looking curious. "Alright tell me, what do you enjoy doing?"

With a playful smirk, he replied "I I enjoy exploring various programming languages and frameworks as well as I love algorithmic challenges and participating in coding competitions yet tormenting you is my favourite of all"

It felt good to know that I'm his favourite.Lets just pretend that we didn't hear tormenting you

I chuckled "So, basically, everything revolves around computer in some way or another.you are so boring Sannasi"

He couldn't help but roll my eyes at my teasing. "Hey now, I'll have you know that being passionate about technology is far from boring . It's about creativity, problem-solving, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible."

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "It's just amusing how your world seems to revolve around lines of code."

he grinned, conceding my point. "Fair enough. But hey, at least I'm never bored! There's always something new to learn or build."

As we headed back, I couldn't resist picking up a few books from the store. Sidharth insisted on paying for them, but I shook my head, declining his offer. "Thanks, but I've got it " I said with a smile.

I chuckled appreciating his gesture. "Maybe next time then. But for now, let's just enjoy the stroll back."

NEXT WEEK

The aroma of freshly popped popcorn and the sound of a lively playlist filled the cozy apartment that Alia, Diya, and Samaira called home. It was the last Friday of the month, which meant it was time for their traditional house party. This was no ordinary party—there were no guests, no formalities, just the six of them: Alia, Sidharth, Diya, Aayush, Hriday, and Samaira, gathered.

The living room was decorated with fairy lights and a plethora of snacks laid out on the coffee table.  Diya, with her natural knack for aesthetics, had outdone herself, and Aayush was already teasing her about how she had turned their casual hangout into a mini-celebration.

"Babe, if you keep this up, I'll start thinking these parties are your excuse to practice for our future wedding," Aayush joked while munching on the chips Diya brought, earning a playful smack on the arm from her.

"Ha! Keep dreaming, Aayush. I'm just making sure you guys don't starve," Diya retorted, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Aayush, if you keep eating all the chips, we won't have any left for the movie!" Diya scolded, trying to snatch the bag from him.

"Hey, I'm just doing quality control" Aayush defended, holding the bag out of her reach.

"You're going to control yourself into a food coma" Diya shot back, finally succeeding in her mission.

"Aayush, can you get the dips from the fridge? And don't forget the salsa this time!" she called out, her voice carrying over the upbeat music Hriday was testing on the speakers.

Aayush responded with mock annoyance, "I forgot the salsa once, and you never let it go!"

Diya grinned, "That's because it's sacrilege to forget salsa. Chips without salsa are just...sad."

Aayush chuckled as he retrieved the dips, setting them on the coffee table. "Anything else, Your Highness?"

"Not for now," Diya replied with a playful wink. "Now go be a good boyfriend and mingle."

"So, Sid" Hriday began, "heard you've been hitting the gym pretty hard lately. Trying to impress someone?"

Sidharth chuckled, unfazed. "Just trying to stay fit, man. You know how it is."

"Yeah, right" Hriday teased. "You must have some inspiration." Alia's ears perked up.

Diya jumped in. "Sidharth's just being responsible. Unlike some people I know who can't resist a second helping of cake."

Aayush laughed, shaking his head. "We all know Hriday works out just so he can eat more cake."

Samaira nudged Hriday with her elbow. "And he wonders why he's always the first one to complain about being full."

The group settled into their familiar rhythm. They started with small talk and catching up on the week's events. Alia, trying to act natural, occasionally glanced at Sidharth, who was animatedly discussing a recent cricket match with Aayush.

"Seriously, you should've seen that catch! It was like he had glue on his hands" Sidharth exclaimed, his enthusiasm.

Alia stood in the kitchen, meticulously arranging the snacks. She glanced over her shoulder to see Diya and Aayush locked in a playful argument over the remote control. 

"I'm telling you, Diya, action movies are the best for setting the party mood" Aayush insisted, holding the remote just out of Diya's reach.

"Yeah, if we want everyone to fall asleep in ten minutes!" Diya shot back, lunging for the remote but missing by a few inches. "Besides, we agreed on a comedy. Everyone needs a good laugh!"

Hriday, who was setting up the speakers, chuckled. "How about a compromise? An action comedy?"

Sidharth, sitting on the couch with a bemused smile, added, "Or we could just watch what's already playing on TV and save the debate for later."

Samaira, plopping down next to Sidharth, nodded enthusiastically. "I second that! Let's just enjoy the evening without overthinking it."

Alia couldn't help but smile at the chaos. She appreciated these moments of normalcy and light-heartedness, especially when Sidharth was around. Her crush on him was a well-guarded secret, though she often feared it was more transparent than she liked to believe. Still, she cherished these gatherings where she could be close to him without the pressure of revealing her feelings.

As Diya and Aayush continued their playful tug-of-war with the remote, Alia called out, "Alright, snacks are ready! Popcorn, chips, and some homemade cookies courtesy of yours truly."

"Cookies? Now you're talking!" Hriday exclaimed, abandoning the speakers and making a beeline for the kitchen. He grabbed a handful of cookies and took a bite. "Mmm, Alia, you've become so good as this!"

Blushing slightly, Alia replied, "HAhahah. I just followed a new recipe."

Diya finally managed to wrest the remote from Aayush's grasp and switched the TV to a comedy film. "See? Problem solved" she said triumphantly, flopping onto the couch next to Samaira.

Aayush rolled his eyes and sat down beside her, still grumbling about the movie choice but unable to suppress a smile. "You always get your way, don't you?"

"Only because I'm right" Diya teased, poking him in the side.

"Alright, alright, who's ready to lose at charades tonight?"

"You mean who's ready to watch you make a fool of yourself?" Samaira quipped, her smile wide.

Hriday quickly retorted, "We'll see."

The first few rounds of charades were a riot. Hriday's exaggerated gestures had everyone in stitches, while Diya's deadpan expressions added an extra layer of humor. Alia found herself laughing more than she had in days, the stress of her unspoken feelings melting away in the company of her friends.

When it was Sidharth's turn, he picked a slip of paper, read it, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "This one's a classic" he said.

He started miming, his movements precise yet hilarious. He pretended to run in slow motion, paused to strike a dramatic pose, and then pointed to his heart.

"Is it a sports movie?" Aayush guessed, scratching his head.

Sidharth shook his head vigorously. He then mimicked playing a guitar and pointed to his chest again.

"Dil toh pagal hain"Alia answered excepting it to be right.

"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai!" Samaira shouted, clapping her hands.

"Bingo!" Sidharth confirmed, bowing theatrically.

Alia couldn't help but giggle at his antics. Her turn came soon after, and she nervously picked a slip. The title read "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," a classic she vaguely remembered watching as a child.

Taking a deep breath, Alia started her act. She mimicked the iconic "It's all about loving your parents" gesture and by doing the classic Shah rukh khan pose that was terriblly enacted, hoping someone would catch on.

Sidharth watched with an amused smile. "Come on, Alia, give us something more to work with!"

Alia blushed, feeling the pressure. She tried a dramatic walk, emulating the grandeur of the movie's characters, but the blank stares from her friends told her she wasn't doing great.

"Pride and Prejudice?" Hriday guessed, earning a laugh from everyone.

"Not that" Alia said, trying to maintain her composure.

Sidharth stepped closer, his teasing smile never leaving his face. "You're terrible at this, you know that, right?"

"Hey, I never claimed to be a Bollywood expert," Alia shot back, her cheeks flushing.

Sidharth shook his head, chuckling. "Alright, alright, it's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, guys."

"Of course it is! How did we miss that?" Diya exclaimed, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation.

Alia sighed in relief but felt a pang of embarrassment. She knew she wasn't the best at these games, but Sidharth's teasing, while playful, always hit a little closer to home than she'd like.

The next round was Alia's turn to guess while Sidharth acted. He picked up a slip that read "Jab Harry Met Sejal" and started to mime it out. He pointed to himself, acting out a suave, confident man.

"Aayush!" Alia guessed, making everyone laugh, including Sidharth.

"No, try again" Sidharth said, clearly enjoying himself.

He mimicked a search, looking around as if searching for something lost.

"Searching for a needle in a haystack?" Alia tried, confused.

Sidharth couldn't contain his laughter. "Come on Alia, it's not that hard."

He then acted out a train journey, looking lost and then dramatically gesturing as if finding something precious.

Alia watched, puzzled. "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge?"

"No! It's Jab Harry Met Sejal! How could you not get that?" Sidharth teased, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

"I'm sorry, I'm not a walking IMDb like you!" Alia retorted, crossing her arms in mock annoyance.

Sidharth laughed, his eyes twinkling. "You really need to catch up on your Bollywood."

"I prefer reading books, thank you very much" Alia replied, sticking her tongue out playfully.

"Clearly" Sidharth shot back, still chuckling.

Chapter Aesthetics:

Hey everyone, 

I know I promised to be consistent with updates, but the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of chaos. Between exams, internships, and various other commitments, finding time to write has been a challenge. However, despite the hectic schedule, I managed to steal moments here and there to write!!

Now that everything has settled down, I find myself with a completely free schedule. No more exams looming over my head

Also, do y'all have a tradition of throwing monthly parties with your friends? If yes, how do you spend those?

We mix it up each month—sometimes it's movie night, other times we're cranking up the tunes and pretending we're at our own private concert, and occasionally it's just a dance our hearts out. As long as our parents are cool about it, it's all good.

Also please consider voting if you like this chapter!!

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