Let's Fall Together

31. Were you stalking me?

Rivaah's POV

"Girl, you wanna tell me why the hell is Kartik sir following your Instagram account??"

Sharanya's dramatic voice startled me awake, almost making me fall from the bed.

Shit.

Was she in FBI? How did she even know Kartik had created an account this fast?

"Uhh..what!?" I tried to sound clueless. Keyword tried. I sounded more like I had committed twelve murders in a row.

Relax, Rivaah.

"He must have created an account recently and I was just scrolling through it and what did I find!!! He followed some of his close friends and family and.....YOU!"

Think of an excuse, Rivaah.

"Maybe you are mistaken? I mean..he doesn't even know I exist..like.." I bluffed, biting down my tongue at how presumptuous I sounded. Where are my blabbering skills when I need them?

"I cannot be wrong about something like this-"

"-Hello" I cut her mid sentence.

"-I know what I-"

"-Hello, Sharanya...are you there? I can't hear you-" I pretended to have lost my connection, distancing my phone from my face with every word to make it seem believable.

"Hello yes-"

I cut the call.

Sorry, Sharanya.

I have to ask Kartik to unfollow me right now!

I left my room and went towards the dining table, but Kartik wasn't there. I looked in the kitchen and even in his room, but he was nowhere to be seen.

That's when I heard the sound of soft whistles coming from the balcony.

I followed the sound untill the man in question appeared from between the plants, wearing a plain white sweatshirt paired with cream pants, making him seem like one of those pinterest guys. I peeked from behind the pillar to take a closer look.

He was watering the plants, his hair grazing his forehead everytime he tilted his head to take a closer look at them. Every now and then, he touched the leaves tenderly, plucking the dried ones while flicking the sprouting ones with a smile. All the while whistling softly, as if he enjoyed this immensely.

Cute.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

The whistles stopped, making me take a look at him again. Well, he was still watering the plants.

Why did he stop?

Did he-

"You can stop hiding now."

I walked towards him like a deer caught under headlight, eyes wide and smile embarrassed.

Did he have eyes on his back!?

He was like a cctv camera, always watching.

How did he even know I was there?

"I wasn't hiding..."

He only hummed in response, his eyes still fixed on his plants. He had a garden actually, full of different kinds of plants, from miniatures like bonsai to taller ones like the wild fig. I couldn't identify most of the species, but I knew they were rare and unique. He also had some Desi varieties like the Bougainville and the mogra.

"You like plants..." Wow, such an intelligent observation, Miss Rivaah.

There was a pause before he turned to look at me, for the first time since I was there.