Harfan Maula ✓

2.3 • Not So Surprised

NOTE: Extra scene added.

•••

Abhimaan was as shocked as a deer caught in headlights when Alankrita hugged him like a little girl. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs dangling in the air. Both of them would have fallen hard on the ground if he hadn't held her waist and balanced both of them.

“Aloo!” He was out of breath while mumbling her name.

“Sorry, sorry! I got over-excited.” She put her feet back on the ground and untangled her hands from around his neck.

A bright smile returned to her lips as her eyes again looked at the university campus where she will be studying very soon.

“Thank you, Abhi!” She said with a happy smile.

Abhi.

It sounded so good kind of weird from her lips. So weird and giddy that his cheeks turned a light shade of red.

“We should go back.” He said while turning back to the car.

“We won't go inside the campus?” She asked in a disappointed tone.

“Not yet. You'll need an ID card for that.”

“Oh.”

“Now come.”

She nodded and sat on the passenger's seat of the car. And they drove back home.

•••

Alankrita was reading about the phobia Abhimaan had on her laptop. She couldn't find the exact term for it, but she understood that it's a mild form of obsessive compulsive disorder. And she was jotting down some points for herself.

Abhimaan entered the bedroom, and he was kind of not-so-surprised to find her drowned in her laptop. Till that moment he never saw her phone or laptop away from her even for a few minutes. She was addicted to her gadgets.

He came and sat down beside her on the couch. And the content displayed on the laptop screen caught his attention, and so did the points jotted down on the notepad.

“What are you doing, Alankrita?” He asked, even though the smile on his lips told that he understood everything.

At the moment of question, Alankrita noticed him sitting beside her. She didn't feel his presence earlier. His presence was usually made known by his aquatic fragrance. Maybe he hadn't sprayed his cologne, that's why she didn't notice him.

And the moment she realised he caught her doing her little research on his phobia, she immediately shut down the laptop and threw the notepad on the side table.

“Nothing. Just increasing my general knowledge.” She gave him a nervous smile.

“Your general knowledge about me?” He smirked.

She didn't reply and kept quiet. She was concerned about what he might be thinking. That she was creating a fuss about him having a weird phobia.

“Aloo, it's alright. I am glad you are trying to know about my phobia.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled.

“Are you sure?” She was still nervous about it.

“Of course, I am. Don't get nervous over this.” He kissed her forehead, making her close her eyes and give him a tight hug.

They stayed in the same position for the next fifteen minutes or so. A thought pondered in Alankrita's mind.

“Abhimaan, do you miss your parents?” She asked while looking up at his face.