A Manjeri Love Story

Epi - 8

Anshu’s POV
I don’t know how much time I hugged her, the announcement of the Kalladikode made her remove herself from my hug with a jolt, I came to my senses, what did I do? I shouldn’t have done that, I sat upright, she was taking her pack back.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that’, I said feeling so weird.
‘It’s ok, you don’t need to feel sorry’, she said without even looking at me.
She got off the bus and I also got out. Her dad was waiting for her, she quickly got in the car and the car drew away, she didn’t even look at me. And I stand there having a lot of questions in my mind.
Ayshu’s POV
I went to my room and took a shower, I sat in front of the mirror when I closed my eyes, I can see the hug that I felt just minutes ago, he was hugging me like his life was dependent on the hug like I’m the most precious thing in his life, I knew that it was wrong, to hug a person whom I just met two days ago, but I carried away, I didn’t want to hurt him by breaking the hug.
When we broke the hug, I felt so awkward that I want to run away, he was so good to me so I didn’t dare to even look into his eyes, I’m a coward, a stupid fellow who would mess things up, what would I do? How could I face him after what happened today?
Anshu’s POV
I couldn’t sleep well last night, all I could think about was her and the hug, what is the big deal, it is just a hug, right? But my stupid heart never let it go. I woke up early by seeing that my mom was shocked.
‘What got into you? You have never woken up this early until you have a meeting or something, do you have any meetings?’
‘Yes, a very special one’, I said with a smile. She looked at me but didn’t say a thing. I ate my breakfast and it was 9.00 am, I thought if I went by now, I could see her, it’s not enough that I only got to see her in the evening, well I need more. I took my car and drove to Manjeri, it was not long, I reached there around 10.00 am. I went to the mall that was located just opposite the stand and I went to the café which was located at the top, there were not many customers, so I took a seat near to the window, from here I could see all the buses that come to the stand, I ordered a coffee and waffles, I sipped the coffee by examining every bus that went to the stand.
It was around 10.30 when I finally saw a bus named Mannarkkad to Manjeri, I settled the bill and rushed to the stand, when I reached there the passengers were getting off the bus, I scanned every face and there it is, the face that I loved to see at the moment. She was getting out with her friend, I approached them.
‘Wow, what a surprise, I didn’t expect to see you here’, Anugraha exclaimed seeing me. And I looked at her, she saw me but didn’t look again.
‘I was passing through the stand, so I thought to give you guys a lift to Unity College?’, I  asked expecting her to accept my invitation.
‘That is so sweet of you, sure we would love to’, suddenly Ayshu dragged her to the corner and I tried to eavesdrop on them but didn’t work.       
Ayshu’s POV
I dragged her and glared at her.
‘What? Why are you looking at me like I have stolen your diamond ring?’, she asked still fixing her gaze on him.
“Why did you accept his offer? We could use a bus to reach there?’
‘Are you mad? He is offering the ride himself and you are saying we should use the bus? Why should we bother ourselves when we could use his car to reach there within less time and more comfort?’
‘I’m not feeling comfortable, I mean look at us two girls and he is a strange person whom we met a couple of days ago, how could you trust a person this quickly?’
‘Look Aysha, I know that you are not trusting a single person in this whole world, but I don’t see any reason to doubt such a gentleman. It’s your choice whether you want to join or not, but I’m going with him, she said with such an attitude that can be seen only in actresses. How dare she? I’m not still familiar with this place so how could she even think to dump me at such a place, I can’t face him after the last interrogation between us, but I would never share such an incident with her, she sometimes seems like a real bitch who would use you to get whatever they want.
I walked towards them, they were waiting for me.
‘So shall we?’, he asked looking at me. I just nodded my head and walked towards his car. Anugraha went and sat on the front seat and I sat on the back seat. He got in the car and started the car. Throughout the journey, he was staring at me through the mirror, and I found it very uncomfortable. We reached the college within ten minutes. I got out of the car.
‘Thank you so much for giving us the ride, you are such a sweetheart. , Anugraha was complimenting him like he saved her life from a disaster. I never understand her strategy to attract a man. But I want to make something clear between us, I need to tell him that whatever happened between us yesterday was nothing but just an act of sympathy, I can’t let him have the wrong image in his mind.
‘So bye, we would see later.’ Anugraha said.
‘Actually when your exam would be over in the evening? he asked looking at us.
‘It would be around 5 in the evening. Why are asking that?’
‘Because I’m thinking that I could give a ride to you back to the bus stand, it would be helpful because you guys wouldn’t have to hire an auto-rickshaw or bus’
‘Oh it would be great, then we would meet you in the evening’
‘Ok, cool’
‘Actually, I want to talk to you for two minutes alone’, my sudden question make two of them shocked, Anugraha was glaring at me and he smiled.