Shadows

.4.

Okie! Don't know if you guys remember this fic or not. Hehe...

But had it unpublished. Am republishing it now and plan to update decently without much delay from now on.

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 4 - Unexpected Expectations

"Hi!"

Sanskar looked up as she approached. He was expecting her. 'So finally comes the day I reveal the most important decision of my life.' he shuffled to the side to let her sit on the other side of the bench. "My, my. You're a bit early today."

"Yep!" Ragini replied in excitement. She really was excited. 'Today I'll tell him how much he has helped me, although unknowingly.'

And help he did.

In her life which was always spent doing household chores or spent with the handful of friends, thus stranger in the shadows was the only one who came as close as possible to understanding her. He called out when she was pitiful without any sugarcoating, he comforted her with his own snarky way which made her smile. He had grown to be a part of her life which she held dear to her heart.

Even her family started to wonder why she was more happy nowadays, not to mention more outspoken. She didn't shy to voice her opinions.

Ragini knew she had changed from her 'pushover' self. And she liked herself better now.

She didn't tell anyone about her stranger though. He was here lucky charm, her secret.

'Did I just call him my stranger?!' Ragini blushed.

"Oi! I've been calling you since ages. Where are you lost?"

"No-nowhere! What were you saying?"

"I was asking why you sound so happy today?"

Ragini clutched her sketch pad to her chest. She had drawn a sketch of his silhouette and hers sitting together, watching the sunset together. Sadly, they never have seen each others'eyes faces. Hence, she drew it from a backview. Not to mention he even refused to share names. 'At least I could have written down our names below the picture. Since I'm not that good at art, I wonder if he can even make out they are humans and not bunnies.'

Nwvwrtheless, Ragini planned to gift it to him as a 'thank you' for everything he had done for her. Today, she planned to take him to her favorite café and share names and contact numbers. She wanted...no, needed to know him better.

Whenever they met up, he would sound lonely and pensive. He seemed so depressed. And after what he said about his family betraying him, she wanted to be his solace. He was a gem to her. And she wanted to see him smile and be happy. She wanted to be the reason for his smile.

'As a friend of course!' she reminded herself again and again in her mind. However, she wasn't shying from the idea of ever becoming more to him.

"Ow!" Ragini exclaimed as he threw a paper wrapper at her.

"Good to see you're back to the earth."

Ragini chuckled. "Okay okay. So, I've come to tell you something today. And I plan to have my way today! You're not bossing me around."

Sanskar chuckled. "Fine. Then I'll tell you what I came to speak about. I have something important to tell you."

"Oh?" Ragini blinked in thought. 'It would be better if he finishes telling me first. Then we can go out!' Ragini smacked herself in the head. 'Not exactly how I planned to think. Going out as a friend I meant! A friend!' she cleared her throat. "Okay. First, you tell me then."