Love Me...Once Again

Chapter 6

Nirali smiled hearing the music from the next door. She tapped her feet with the rhythm soaking in the music. She stepped onto the balcony as music came in clearer there. She noticed two guys in the balcony, while one stayed leaned against the balcony playing a silver flute, the other who had his back to her sat on a low seating stool , his fingers working the magic on the guitar. Their music was divine, it struck the chords of her heart. She decided to knock the door and pay her new neighbors a visit sometime

Music wasn't her hobby but with Lakshay she had come to like it. She smiled to self when her eyes met that of the guy playing the flute; he waved at her and she responded with one. She gave them a thumb up and he gave a mock salute.

Lakshay watched Arun making funny gestures and kept missing the beat. He kept the guitar aside and stood up. ''You messed it.'' Arun just smiled. ''I was waving to our new neighbor. Lakshay's heart picked up, he wanted to turn and face her, but he felt she would disappear or push him again. ''Hi, my name is Nirali.'' She introduced.

Lakshay walked away a little nervous but Arun responded. ''I am Arun.'' Nirali watched him a moment. He seemed oddly familiar. ''Do I know you.''

He smiled. ''She had been watching Lakshay's performance, but it was difficult to recognize as when on stage, they all looked different. Plus, other than him, all 3 kept a low profile. ''Yes, I am small time model.''

''No, I think I saw you somewhere else.'' But their trans broke when Nirali heard Amisha calling her out. She waved at him stepping in. ''Will have to make them meet soon.'' Arun thought.

Nirali giggled when Amisha handed her an adorable white puppy. ''Where did you find him? And When did we plan to have a dog?''

''Since we had new shady neighbors. We need to protect ourselves.'' Nirali cuddle the small dog. 'He needs protection. About the neighbors, they seem nice. We should invite them.'' Amisha rolled her eyes.

''Amisha, why did you get the puppy?'' Nirali asked, she knew her friend never did anything without a reason.

Amisha huffed. ''Met an old friend, her dog gave birth to a litter of 5 and out of all, this one was a runt. Vet said he wouldn't survive and its better to euthanize him. I decided to adopt him.'' Nirali gave her friend a hug. ''What should we call him.''

''Tiger!'' Nirali stared at the puppy, he was just too small for that name. ''Attitude matter, I will help him develop that.'' They played around with little fur ball who seemed equally excited.

***

''You could have at least replied to her greeting.'' Arun asked Lakshay whose guitar tunes suddenly turned harsh. ''I don't know why I did that.'' Keeping the guitar aside he got up. ''I will go take a walk''

Lakshay had strange emotions, he could never forget that she pushed him away. Moreover, she never reached out to him by any means. He feared she would have moved on while he stayed stuck at the at same time where she walked away from him.

The ding of the elevator bought him back as he stepped in. He had covered his face via a cap and kept his eyes down. Moreover, only people interested in his kind of Music would know of his group. He moved into the corner as an elderly couple stepped in and just when the doors were about to close, Nirali stepped in. She greeted the elderly couple offering then a chocolate each. They doors slid open again and Nirali stepped out and he took a breather.

Lakshay took a walk around the in the lawn, his thoughts going back to Nirali. ''You shouldn't shy away from the one you have wanted all the time'' Arun's words echoed his mind. Taking a deep breath he turned around to go back but froze. Nirali stood opposite to him, her eyes boring into his. ''You really thought I wouldn't recognize your music. When you never replied to my greeting and tried hiding behind that hideous cap in the elevator.''