Love Me

12

Daksh had been tapping his fingers against the table since a while. Since morning Roshni had locked herself inside her room, taking forever to get ready for her very first day of college.

"Roshni, do you actually want to reach college late on your first day?" Daksh called out, raising his voice so it carried through the closed door.

"Done!" came her muffled reply.

A moment later, the door opened and she stepped out. Daksh’s eyes widened. She wore a tube top with a loose shirt layered over it, buttons undone, paired with baggy pants that though casual matched her shirt perfectly.

"Close those buttons," Daksh ordered.

Roshni rolled her eyes at his tone. "It’s fashion," she muttered, dismissing his lack of fashion sense.

But Daksh’s eyes had already fallen lower on the curve of her breasts, then to the bare skin of her belly which was visible because the top ended above her navel.

"She looks too beautiful. And I don’t want some damn boy staring at her belly. But I can’t stop her. I will never do it," he thought, swallowing hard and clearing his throat.

"Roshni," he said firmly, "don’t raise your hands too much. That little top will ride up. If it happens, you’ll have to button your shirt—understood?" He said trying to pull down her top a little more but the top again went back to it's original place.

She only rolled her eyes again and remained silent.

Daksh exhaled slowly. "Listen carefully you have to go alone today. Don’t tell anyone you know me. Only the Dean knows, because I gave them my number instead of your parents’."

"But why?" She frowned, spoon in hand as she pointed it at him. "And why are you in such a sadu mood since last night?"

"I’m not," he replied flatly. "And don’t tell anyone because if you do, they’ll think I’m favouring you. Which I’m not. Got it?"

She sighed. "Fine. Then I’m leaving. It’ll take me at least an hour to reach anyway. Bye-bye." She pushed her plate away, grabbed her bag, and started for the door.

"Wait," Daksh said, standing. He walked over, pulled the clips from her hair, and handed her a plain backpack.

"Wear shoes, not heels."

"Why? And give me my handbag!" She tried to snatch it back.

"No. Take this simple bag. If we travel somewhere, you can use a handbag. And heels? You’ll barely be able to walk. Go change."

Before she could argue further, he tugged gently at the neckline of her top, peeking inside just enough to check.

Her cheeks burned. "What are you doing?" she snapped, covering her chest with her arms.

"Nothing. Just making sure of something." His grin was pure mischief. "Now go. You need to reach early. I’ve got an afternoon class, so I can go anytime."

"I don’t have your class, right?" she asked cautiously.

"Actually, you do. After lunch. And remember don’t sleep in class. It’s not school anymore." He smirked. "Bye."

Flustered, Roshni grabbed the backpack and rushed to the door. Moments later she rushed back in, breathless.

"What now? Did you forget something?" Daksh asked, arching a brow.

"Fare money," she said, holding out her hand sheepishly.

He pressed some cash into her palm. "Now go."