Ishq

Chapter 11

The next day, Ankit woke up early. He was feeling excited to see Priyanka once again. Even if they're in the same house, the confirmation that she liked him too made him feel ten times more. He walked straight out of his room and into the corridor, a huge smile on his face.

The house was silent as everyone was asleep and Ankit couldn't help but go outside. He walked to the nearest convenience store and grabbed some flowers and some snacks that he knew Priyanka liked. When he got home, he realized that he couldn't just waltz into the house with flowers, he could get caught. So he decided to take a longer route. 

He walked around the house and hoped that Priyanka kept her balcony open. Ankit ended up climbing the tree after he put the flowers in the same bag as the snacks were in. He holds onto the railing and pushes himself up onto the floor. Safely over the railing and on ground, he feels relieved.  Ankit taps on the window but he hears no response. 

He tries to pull the door back and luckily it opened. There on the bed was Priyanka sleeping soundly.  A fond smile grows on his face as he walks inside her room. He takes a look at the mess of books on her side table and her jewelry on the side table. Then, he walks over to Priyanka's bed side and gets on his knees, leaning onto his arms watching her sleep. When a stray strand of hair is near her eyes, he feels the urge to move it but doesn't want to disturb her sleep. But he can't stop himself either from admiring her. 

Ankit moves the strand of hair from her face and tucks it behind her ear.  His fingers linger on his cheek and he watches as Priyanka shivers. 

"You're beautiful."  

He takes in her features with so much love, so that he wouldn't forget them ever. He hoped that if he closed his eyes, he'd see her in front of him. Ankit takes in the cute slope of her nose and he moves closer to her, his face now nearer hers. His nose brushes against her cheek as he brushes his lips on her cheek. 

As he feels Priyanka stir, he moves his hand through her hair and whispers as he caresses her scalp lightly. "Priyanka."

He receives a slight hum from her. 

"Open your eyes."

At his voice, Priyanka's eyes flutter open, confused and blurry from sleep. She yawns cutely and gets up and stretches. "Ankit, why are you here?"

"Why? I can't be here?" 

"No, it's just early."

At the word early, Priyanka seems to finally wake up as if realizing that it is indeed early and her face showed that she was now truly confused at how he was here. "How did you get in?"

"Through the balcony. Why would you keep your balcony door open like that? What if someone got in?" He flicks her forehead and she groans. 

"Hm. I was sleepy, I forgot. Don't hit me." 

She's still in her sleepy state and Ankit gets up taking a seat on her bed. As soon as he does, Priyanka slumps against him, fitting right into his arms perfectly as if she were made to be in them. He wraps his arms around her small frame, pulling her close to him and onto his lap. 

"Still sleepy?"

"Mm" 

Ankit never had a girl this close to him before, he never held one close to him. But with Priyanka he would make the exception, he would hold her, wipe her tears and make her feel loved. She deserved all that and more. He felt comfortable enough to share his space with her. One hand moves from her arms to her hair and then to her chin, tilting it up so that he could see her face. 

"Open your eyes once more."

Priyanka's eyes open and she notices the proximity they're in. Ankit's heart beats faster as her eyes move over his face down to his lips. He intakes a sharp breathe and begs himself to control himself. So he kisses her forehead once more and Priyanka's eyes close. He can hear her heartbeat and the slight sharp intake of her breath when his lips touched her skin. 

"I brought something for you."

"Mm, you're enough."

Ankit tries not to laugh but a snicker escapes him. "Not even your favourite snacks and flowers?"

Priyanka's eyes widen and she moves away. "You brought flowers?!"

"Shh" Ankit's eyes widen too afraid that someone heard them. "I snuck in here remember."

Priyanka moves closer, her voice more hushed. "How'd you get them? Did you walk?"

"My secret." Ankit smiles. He reaches for the bag and gives her the flowers. Watching Priyanka smile and smell the flowers made his day. 

"You're awfully romantic, I didn't know you'd be a romantic."

"There's a lot you have yet to know about me then."

"Also, no kisses. I stink."

Ankit raises a brow. "I don't think you stink."

"I do! I didn't take a showe-" Priyanka stops herself from continuing the sentence and Ankit can tell that she's embarrassed. 

"You smell fine. I think I can take your stinky state now too." He jokingly added. 

"Don't say that! Stay away, you! Bad thoughts are on your mind." She takes her pillow and chucks it at Ankit. 

Ankit's mouth hangs open in shock. "Oh you've started it, just so you know." He reaches for a pillow and starts to hit her lightly. 

Priyanka starts to squeal in laughter and hits him back with a pillow. It wasn't until Priyanka heard a knock on her door that she felt super aware of their compromising position. Ankit on top of her, covering her frame with his body. She heard her brother's voice and she patted on Ankit, fear in her eyes. 

Ankit also gets up and bites his lip. 

"Priyanka, why are you laughing??" He hears Karan's voice. "Shut up and get ready."

Priyanka and Ankit looked at each other and the minute they heard Karan's footsteps away from the room, they burst out in laughter and Ankit throws a pillow at her, telling her to be quiet. 

He watched as she made her way to the bathroom and pointed at the balcony. "You first."

Ankit walked towards the balcony and he halted near it watching Priyanka go in. As he did, he walked outside, closed the sliding door and smiled. The smile probably wouldn't go for the rest of the day.