Unspoken feelings are unforgettable

Chapter 17

He'd kissed her.

She'd let him kiss her.

She feels that he likes her.

Maybe he likes her...maybe she likes him too. She shouldn't. He shouldn't.

But why should they not?

She has planned on not to tell anyone about it, not even repeat it to herself. And she's kept her promise for a whole week now. That's an achievement. Though Tushant has been all closed off and strange, alone and soft spoken, he doesn't behave like his assertive self. Neither does he mention the kiss, nor does she want him to, or she'd blush into a tomato. Arisha has learnt to occupy herself with different tasks, such as their project and planning a proper career so she doesn't feel stuck like her mum, who is way too frustrated with work and family. Nothing's going right in Riya's life. 

She's been doing a job, a well paid job, but a demanding one. Most of her weekends are stressful and she doesn't get enough sleep. Her health is being affected in a  bad manner and there hasn't been a day she's not mentioned quitting at dinner, the only twenty to thirty minutes of their mother-daughter relationship. Which is fading. Arisha feels plunged in the same room with Riya, no matter just how much she tries to make her daughter feel comfortable. Comfortable around a dinner table which was meant for four and now it's halved, just as their family is halved.

Having done her breakfast our 'slightly-in-trance-girl' leaves for school, smiling a smile she calls smiles in pain which is a wrong reference. She's feeling a tough adrenaline. Tushant hasn't been using the bus for two weeks. But everyday, her hopes are at their peaks, wishing for him to come and he doesn't. So are her yearnings today. Before finally setting foot on to the bus, chewing on the sides of her cheeks, she struggles to wipe the smile off. 

Her eyes shoot up to her seat, finding a pair of hazel orbs looking at her, rising her oxytocin and adrenaline all at once. A sharp swirl crosses inside of her. Why does he get to influence her this way? But, her true senses catch another pair of dark eyes, long hair, an evil smile, a girl beside him. She keeps watching her, while her feet take her to the spot. None of their eyes wavering and Tushant sits in silence, he doesn't want to interfere. His arms remain folded over his lap. And takes a glance up in order to check if Arisha hates him even more, she does, he can percieve it by the smile she pretends to shoot at him. Her body turns towards the front, and she doesn't look back again. She doesn't want to. 

"Hey" She hears, in the perfect smooth voice. It tends her to turn around.

"Hey" Plain words. No reason to be sweet with this girl.

"Arisha, right?" Her mouth works in the fakest of ways, while Arisha takes in her voice. Loud, clear and good enough to conceive ears. Actually perfect, nothing at all like herself. Surprise intertwines, How'd she learn her name? This makes Arisha glance at Tushant, he's mentioned her and she doesn't like it.

"Yes" Plain answers continued, "Nivedita?" She doesn't take her glare off of him. Why did you have to do this? Her eyes screamed.

Nivedita doesn't bother to relpy with anything more than a nod. Her small talk was so small, it felt as if she was trying to establish her presence. Trying to draw some attention and then void. Arisha doesn't want to believe that she envies her already, but she does. And she doesn't want it to be real, because this girl is making her hate Tushant even more.