Deep in her heart

Two...🦋

Author's POV

The scene shifted to the road where now Chitra and Harsh were on their way to college. This was their final year in B.com. "Can't you go a bit fast!?" Chitra whined and poked his shoulder.

"No," He calmly replied.

"Please yaar..." She whined, pinching his waist. "Mind your actions donkey, I'm driving!" She pursed her lips.

"I'm not a donkey." She sneered, wanting to pull his ear but sadly, the helmets are protecting the said part of his body.

"You are." He placidly responded.

"Shut up you hippopotamus," Chitra growled which made a smile to broke out on Harsh's lips. "I'm aware of how I look Chitu, stop calling me unrelated names," his smile turned into a smirk. "Curb your boasting hippo, you are handsome, I admit, but nowhere near Tony Stark," Harsh rolled his eyes at the mention of her favorite Marvel character, Mr. Tony Stark, the great Iron Man.

"Yeah, I'm not an uncle yet," he chuckled. Chitra was infuriated and embarrassed at the same time. "But he is cool and stunning," He smiled at her cute voice.

"Chitu, I want to say something," he changed the topic and the arrangement of his words urged Chitra to be over-conscious. Her mind suddenly went into chaos, hoping that Harsh was going to propose to her even though the possibility was relatively low.

"What?" She asked in a soft tone, her heart thudding beneath her chest as she waited impatiently for his upcoming words.

"You know...there was this girl who is our junior. She caught my attention during the cultural with her dance performance. Her name was Athira." Chitra's whole being stiffened. There was an excruciating physical pain stabbing right into her heart.

She wanted to weep but she somehow managed not to break down then and there. "Huh..." She trailed off, gulping with difficulty as invisible barrier formulated itself in her throat.

"I have got her number and we were speaking to each other for a week by now. Needless to say Chitu, I'm fast falling for her," Harsh was unaware of the impact his words possessed on Chitra as he dreamily spilled his feelings out.

He was genuinely interested in Athira. He wanted to elevate their bond soon. He couldn't wait to have her as his girlfriend.

"Ha, the hippo is in love," Chitra tried to ignore the raising river of water in her eyes but it was hard to hold it back.

"Yeah and let me tell you Chitu, it feels so good!" Harsh was lost in Athira's thoughts.

"Oh..." Chitra giggled but her eyes spoke a whole other tale as they let out tears of despair and grief.

Soon, they reached their college premise, crammed with chats, and laughter. Chitra hurriedly wiped her eyes and hopped off the bike, dashing to the restroom to cry until her pain lowered a bit.

Harsh, stared at Chitra's running form dubiously and was about to follow behind her when his eyes caught sight of Athira stepping up the entrance stairs. A smile pulled on his lips as he rushed to catch up with her.

"Hey," he casually addressed, walking beside her. Athira was a beautiful girl, who has her head held high always. Her confidence was something most people would be tempted to equip.

"Hi," she smiled at him. She was quite confused about his intention but liked his company as he was quite respectful with his chats. She would actually love to have him as her boyfriend, cause who wouldn't!?

But that was it. She didn't want to get to know him. She would love to be his lover, just for the fame and popularity she would gain.

"So, do you have any business after the classes ends, If not let's grab some coffee?" Harsh wanted to take her on a date and get to know her more. Athira's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Harsh. She was perplexed all this time because he hasn't once talked about dating or anything out of the friendship zone. But now, it's pretty apparent to Athira that Harsh wants her to go on a date with him.

"Like a date?" She quizzed, a smile blossoming on her pretty plump lips.
"Yeah..." Harsh scratched the back of his neck, nervous about her forthcoming answer.

"Okay," he looked at her, hope glimmering on his countenance. "As in you are okay to go on a date with me?" He wanted a firm confirmation from her side.

"Yes," she smiled and parted her way to go in the direction of her classroom. Meanwhile, Harsh stood there, stuck with a bolt of glee spreading throughout his body. He felt like he had won the lottery. He thought 'Maybe she was the one for me'. He could feel it in him. The never-ending urge to gaze at her and be with her.

Athira shyly looked over her shoulder and made eye contact with Harsh. His heartbeat increased in both volume and pace, loving the timid smile on her lips. Harsh smiled back too, but an honest and heartful one unlike Athira's who had the motive to drag him into her vicious trap.

The lovesick puppy, Harsh, in a daze, walked into his class and sat in the back row. He was an active student, but not quite the same in his studies though he scores an above-average mark in his semester exams. He was the kind of guy who lags in his studies but still manages to ace his exams.

"Where's Chitu?" He snapped out of his dreamy thoughts at Karan's question. "Don't call her that," he stated sternly. Karan was one of Harsh's friends and has taken a liking to Chitra. He found her cute and lively.

Harsh acknowledged his intention but he knew Karan's personality and didn't want Chitra to be anywhere near him but it wasn't under his control entirely though. Karan still met and chatted with Chitra even after Harsh's various warnings to stay away from her.

Yet he didn't indulge too much in it as he knew that Chitra wasn't interested in dating, at all.

"Who are you to say that? Even Chitu had permitted me to call her the same" Karan shrugged, stating the obvious.

Harsh's face molded into a hatred-filled one as he gazed distastefully at Karan. "Where's she though?" He piqued it again, wanting to see Chitra.

"I don't know," Harsh told curtly. He really wasn't aware of her whereabouts but speculated that she had run to the restroom.

Swiftly, students occupied the class as the professor entered. Karan clicked his tongue as he got back to his seat, just in front of Harsh.

Throughout the class, Chitra didn't show up. Harsh was agitated and he couldn't just sit there dumbfounded without doing anything to know about her health.

He was worried for her. And so he snuck out of the class when the professor wasn't least expecting it.

He contacted Chitra while descending the stairs and fortunately, the person who he was desperate to see bumped into him. Chitra was broken, yet she smiled sweetly at her best friend. Just her best friend. She liked him, yes, but that doesn't mean she would do some villain kind of stuff to keep him with her. She wanted him to be happy and content with his life. And If Athira is where he finds his delightment, she is ready to let him be.

But there was a tiny hope in her head, wishing this was a nightmare and Harsh actually loves her instead of Athira. Chitra neglected the sting in her chest as she looked at Harsh.

"Where the hell were you?" He asked furiously, smacking her head. And then he noticed the tip of the nose, coated in pink, and her inflamed cheeks. He understood the reason behind her outer appearance.

"You cried?" Chitra smoothened her bangs as she looked at Harsh and nodded positively. There's absolutely no use in concealing the truth when her face was conveying everything perfectly.

"I've got cramps and it was painful to bear, so I just shed a few tears, unable to withstand it," Harsh believed her words as his mind framed no other reasonable matters for Chitra to be weeping. If only he knew...

"Are you okay now?" He patted her head, his fingers brushing through her silky hair until it's hem. Chitra's lips trembled as she attempted to disregard the goosebumps of agony pricking the surface of her skin.

"Much better," Harsh smiled warmly and held her wrist, walking her to the class.

Behind him, Chitra's eyes gazed longingly at the way Harsh's hands gripped her wrist. She wished the time to stop just so she could relish the warmth of his touch till her heart is satisfied, which is rather impossible as the person who is in love tends to possess a heart that's likely insatiable.

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