Heart's In Bloom

CHAPTER-3 Whispers In The Evening Breeze

In the canteen:

Kiara sent Maya over to Anni with a mischievous grin, hoping to spark some chemistry between them. Maya, slightly hesitant but curious, walked over to where Anni was sitting with Mummy.

"Hey Anni, this time my seniors sent me to you," Maya said, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Anni, caught off guard but quick to recover, smiled and handed his cold drink to Maya. "Well, in that case, welcome! Here, have a drink."

Mummy, sensing an opportunity, stood up and mumbled, "I should go see what Kiara's up to," and headed toward her, leaving Anni and Maya to their own devices.

Kiara, watching the scene unfold, chuckled as Mummy approached her. "Looks like my plan is working," she whispered to Mummy, who just nodded with a knowing smile.

Meanwhile, Sexa, Acid, and Derek noticed the gathering and decided to join them. As they walked over, Sexa couldn't resist making a joke. "Is this a secret meeting? Should I have brought samosas?"

Acid laughed, "Yeah, and maybe a tape recorder to catch all the juicy gossip."

Derek, more reserved but always ready with a witty remark, added, "I think we should leave them alone and focus on our own fun."

As they reached Kiara and Mummy, Derek found himself standing next to Kiara. He looked at her with his usual confidence and said, "Looks like you’re the mastermind behind all this."

Kiara shrugged playfully. "Just trying to help things along. What about you? Are you always this observant?"

Derek smirked. "Only when there's something interesting to observe."

Kiara raised an eyebrow, matching his energy. "And what about now? Anything interesting?"

Before Derek could respond, Sexa interrupted with a dramatic sigh. "Why don’t you two just get a room already? The tension is killing me."

Everyone laughed, and Acid decided to up the ante. He dramatically clutched his chest and staggered towards Sexa. "Oh no, I think I'm falling for you, Sexa! Save me from this cruel world!"

Sexa, playing along, caught Acid in an exaggerated embrace. "Fear not, my love! I will catch you every time you fall."

The group burst into even louder laughter, and in the midst of the commotion, Derek gently took Kiara's hand. "How about we get out of here for a bit? Take a walk?"

Kiara nodded, her heart racing a little. "Sure, let's go."

As they walked away from the group, Derek glanced back and called out, "Don't have too much fun without us!"

Sexa waved them off with a grin. "No promises!"

Derek and Kiara strolled through the campus, the warm evening air filled with the sounds of students chatting and laughing. They found a quiet path lined with trees, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel.

Derek looked at Kiara, his usual confidence softened by a genuine curiosity. "So, what's the story behind you playing matchmaker for Maya and Anni?"

Kiara smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Maya's a great friend, and I think Anni needs a bit of a push. Sometimes people just need a little nudge to realize what's right in front of them."

Derek nodded thoughtfully. "And what about you? Do you need a nudge sometimes?"

Kiara laughed softly. "Maybe. But I think I'm pretty good at figuring things out on my own."

Derek admired her confidence. "I can see that. You’re not like most people around here."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the evening breeze rustling the leaves around them. Kiara found herself opening up to Derek more than she expected.

"You know," she said, "I always thought IIT would be all about studies and pressure. But there's so much more to it. The people, the friendships... it's different."

Derek nodded. "Yeah, it's tough, but it's also where you find lifelong friends and unforgettable moments. Like this one."

Kiara glanced at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You think this is unforgettable?"

Derek stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression serious yet warm. "Definitely. Meeting someone who can keep up with me and challenge me at the same time... that’s pretty unforgettable."

Kiara smiled, feeling a connection she hadn’t expected. "You’re not so bad yourself, Derek."

They continued their walk, talking about their lives, their dreams, and the quirks of their friends. By the time they returned to their group, there was a newfound connection between them that didn’t go unnoticed.

As they approached, they saw Sexa and Acid still in their over-the-top act. Sexa was now dramatically reciting lines from a romantic Bollywood movie, while Acid pretended to swoon.

Derek and Kiara exchanged amused glances. Derek leaned in and whispered, "Looks like we missed quite the performance."

Kiara giggled. "Maybe next time we should bring popcorn."

When they rejoined the group, Sexa winked at Derek. "Have a good walk?"

Derek grinned. "The best. Thanks for the entertainment, guys."

Kiara gave a playful shove to Sexa. "You’re too much, you know that?"

Sexa bowed theatrically. "I live to serve."

As the group laughed and continued their banter, Derek and Kiara shared a knowing look. It was the start of something special, and they both knew it.

END OF THE CHAPTER