Let's Meet After School

CHAPTER 14: HOLDING HANDS

Have you ever felt like your heart would just explode when that one guy from your school starts dating you and he's the romantic one... sharing lunch with him, walking home together, eating snacks after school, coming to school with each other, meeting each other secretly in school, there are lots of things that he does which makes your heart flutter. I mean he can just smile at you and your heart would just melt by looking at that damn smile. Love is a thing that can make us go crazy... either crazily good or crazily evil... but let's not talk about the difference here. Today we are focusing on the good parts only.

Both of our leads, Aarav and Ankita have begun a new chapter in their lives. They are experiencing something like this for the first time... and it is special because it's their first. Saying I like you for the first time, hugging each other for the first time, eating lunch together for the first time... those small firsts in your life are just so special. Well, at this moment our leads are looking to tick off another first moment in their lives. Wanna know what is it? You can just guess it by yourself... hint? Just look at the title of the chapter... that's your hint.

3rd September 2015

The school bell has rung, and students are running toward their homes, parents, and school buses, it looks like chaos... while our leads are away from all this... as they are enjoying their privacy walking down the same lane as they always do. Seems like today there aren't many people on the streets and Ankita wants to take advantage of this situation.

"Such a good day yaar... silence feels better," she says.

"Ya... the weather is a bit cloudy, fewer people on the street, we can hear the birds chirping, and everyone seems a bit lousy today... again just my perspective... it's a good day to relax." he replies.

"Hmm.... (sighs)... it feels like we can have our privacy today," she says in a low tone voice.

"What... that sounds a bit saucy."

"Nothing much... I just want us to—"

"Hey, Aarav... wait." a friend shouts as he's walking towards them.

"It's good that I met you here, I wanted to return your book but I thought you left early," he says.

"I was in the library yaar... teacher called me because I haven't returned their books yet." says his friend.

"Oh... here is your book. Thanks for showing me your notes."

"No problem, buddy... you helped me once with the homework."

"It's alright... friends should help each other," Aarav replies with a friendly smile.

"True that... okay, I will take my leave now... see yaa." his friend runs back towards the school area.

"It seems that you have started making new friends." Ankita questions him.

"Thanks to you... I got the courage to go and talk to other students." Aarav replies smiling at her.

"I'm happy then... Oh haa... we were talking about something just now."

"What? Oh yeah, you were saying something."

"I was saying that we are together now and there aren't many people on the street today... so... shall we—"

"Hello, Shreya." Shreya's tuition teacher bumps into them.

"Oh... teacher. Hello," she replies in a nervous voice.

"Are you alright beta? You sound a bit sick today."

"Well, I'm feeling quite tired today, feels like there's some mild headache as well."

"Oh... that's not good. You can rest today, don't come to the tuition beta."

"Yes, teacher."

"I will take my leave now... take care of your friend Beta. Take Ankita to her home" she says to Aarav.

"Yes Mam!" he replies

The tuition teacher leaves ahead and now both are alone again.

"...(sighs)... thank god, she didn't catch us," Ankita says.

"We aren't robbing a store yaar... calm down."

"...(giggles)... you don't know my teacher; she has a keen eye for things. If she gets an idea of this between us... she will call my mom and then we have to break up yaar... mom will never allow this."

"Okay baba... calm down... we're good now, there's no one. Don't jump into these absurd thoughts... we are okay."

"Hmm... let's just hurry home now."

"But you were saying something naa?"

"Aarav... I'm just not in the mood now... let's go."

They reach the road intersection and stop there to have a talk.

"Why did we stop here, Aarav?" she asks.

Aarav grabs her hand and says "Thanks for coming into my life... I know it's hard for us to be together. You have fear in your mind as you don't want this to go public in school... your tuition teacher met us today and you told me that you're scared that she will get an idea of what's happening between us and... (sighs heavily) ... all I wanna say is thanks for everything... I'm feeling so happy for these past few days... this face of yours is the only thing that I want to see in the morning when we head to school, that smile of yours is the only thing that makes my heart melt like a marshmallow on a bonfire... and now we're holding hands... I don't feel like letting you go home today... but I shouldn't get ahead of myself... you should head towards home...in the end, all I wanted to say is... Thanks for everything, Ankuuu."

"Uhm... (sighs back) ... I just don't know what to say now... I mean I wanted to hold your hands as we were walking together and one by one someone came and interrupted us... but it feels better now... and... thank you to you too... you make my heart flutter every single day. I'm happy to have you in my life...my cutie Aarvuuu." she replies while holding hands together with him.

"I guess... now we have to go our separate ways... see yaa tomorrow."

"Yeah... see yaa." smiling at him before she takes a right turn at the intersection.

After a while we see Shreya joining Ankita on the road and telling what she saw today.

"Did you know... I saw something so cute today like those two love birds are something else yaar." Shreya says.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Uhm... come on... I don't have to pretend now, right?"

"About what? Just tell me directly naa."

"I saw everything... (giggles)... I saw Aarav Ji-Jaaji (brother-in-law) and you holding hands together."

"... (blushes) What is this Ji-Jaaji and all yaar."

"Ohhh.... someone's blushing haa... Aarav Jiju and you were holding hands together?"

"Shreya yaar... that's enough!" Ankita shouts her face being all pinkish red as she's blushing.