Chapter 3

Krish

Though guilt wracked my body, my mind still couldn't stop recollecting her laughter and her curly hair. I clenched my fist and took a deep breath to collect myself. Few minutes later, I was back in my zen zone and relaxed back on my chair and closed my eyes. I don't know how long it had been, it felt like every second was dragging, but suddenly the roll call was in 400s.

I get up from my seat and follow the other guys exiting the room. We all head upstairs and sit on the bench in the order of our number. The seat on my left, I noticed, was empty and the seat next to it was occupied by a swarthy, thin guy in glasses. Who would've missed their call, I wondered silently before zoning out, closing my eyes once again.

I felt the breeze again and opened my eyes, sitting up straight. The last time I felt the breeze, I saw her. Could it be...? I scoffed at my thought, since when did I start believing all this? I shook my head and was about to lean back when out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her walking towards the staircase, her long hair veiling her face once again. I felt my heart beating at an erratic rhythm, I couldn't look away from her until I couldn't see her anymore. As soon as I couldn't, I felt a sense of loss which was soon replaced by a sharp stab of guilt.

I was still struggling with all the conflicting feelings, when suddenly, the breeze was here again. This time, I was sure it was her and couldn't stop myself from looking around to find her. When I found her, I felt my breath catch in my throat. I could finally see her face and suddenly all the restlessness and unease vanished. I felt at peace and couldn't look away. Her jet black curly hair was still framing her, from what I could ascertain, heart-shaped face and contrasted with her creamy skin.

As she walked closer, her eyes downcast, he could see more of her features clearly, luscious, filled lips and a nose that stood out. As I continued to look at her, I could see that beneath the flowy kurti she was wearing, she had curves that most guys would kill to have their hands on. But despite all this, my eyes were stuck on her hands, delicate long fingers tangled with one another as if she is wringing her hands. I stole a quick glance at her face before she took the seat beside me, this time I tried to see any signs of nervousness. I didn't see any but the way she was wringing her hands, it was obvious she was quite nervous. What about? The interview? She didn't seem like a girl who got affected by much when I saw her earlier but it was undeniable that she was anxious about something.

I looked at her again only to see her hair covering her face again, I fought an itch to tuck her hair away. I shook my head and took a deep breath, deciding that her nervousness was not my concern. I tried to close my eyes and relax but I was uneasy, so I sat up straight and looked at her again. She seemed to be even more anxious, watching the guy next to her walking inside the room, like a hawk. So she is nervous about the interview, I thought to myself. A smile came to my face at that thought, she couldn't care less about all the comments and laughter when she crashed into that boy, earlier but she seemed to unravel about an interview. Her hand now were pulling at one another crazy and I fought another urge to hold her hand and calm her. I fisted my hands and took a deep breath to regain some control over my thoughts.

But there was not use, because soon not only hands but her legs started to tap against the floor. The sound would, otherwise be indistinguishable amongst the chatter but since he was somehow attuned to her movements, he could hear her every movement. From the way her earring moved when she tried to tuck her hair behind her ear to the light rustle of her cloths as she fidgeted.

Her nervous energy was slowly affecting me as well, making me all fidgety. A few moments later, I couldn't take it anymore and I leaned towards her slowly. I could smell coconut in her hair and closed my eyes to savour my close proximity to her hair. When I opened my eyes a few seconds later, I knew that smell was forever recorded in my mind and soul.

"You know, you're only going to get more nervous if you keep doing that." I whisper gently against her hair.

I hear her gasp and that's the only warning I get before she suddenly turns her head towards me, her face only inches away from mine. I hear her breath catch and see her staring at me. The startled expression on her face morphing into a lost look that, I am sure was mirrored in my face. Up close, I could see her big eyes were chocolate brown and were warm and her lips, which she now partially bit, were pink and inviting. I wondered how it would be to touch her beautiful face and moreover how it would be to run a finger over her lips.

My hands almost raised on their own accord to touch her, before her voice interrupted my thoughts.

"D-do what?" her words were barely a whisper but I could hear.

At this point I knew I should back away from her, we could be seen by anyone but I couldn't help but stay like that a little longer while fighting the urge to close the distance between us. I slowly drag my eyes from her lips and look deep into her eyes, almost losing in them.

"If you keep tapping your feet like that, you will just get more nervous" I whisper again, my breath brushing her cheeks. I see her shiver a little and once again I fight the urge to pull her against me. But eyes kept going back to her lips and I knew I was on ice, so fisting my hands, I lean away from her. She bit her lip and then looked up at me and then away.

Clearing her throat, she said, "I, uh, am not nervous. Nope, not at all." She shook her head as if to emphasize her words. It was rather amusing to watch her try to deny it while being embarrassed. I fought a smile and crossed my arms over my chest and looked straight ahead, leaning onto my chair.

"Okay. But taking deep breaths helps" I tell her, a smile breaking through my lips. I look at her from the corner of my eye, and see her take deep breaths. Now I am fully smiling, barely able to control my laughter. "Besides they're not going to eat you in there, you know. You'll be fine " I try to reassure her while still fighting the laughter. It wouldn't bode well to laugh at her while she is anxious.

For awhile she says nothing, before she sticks her hand towards me, I sit up straight and look at her. She was smiling and I was sure I hadn't seen something so beautiful in my life. Her whole face was radiant when she smiled and she almost looked unreal. I felt a guilt cropping up at such thoughts but her smile cleared any logical thoughts in my head. In a daze, I slide my hand into hers and almost pull it out at the shot of electricity that zipped through my body at the contact. I heard her gasp and knew she felt it too but like last time she came to her senses first and smiled.

"Shivangi" she said her name brightly.

"Krish" I say my name quietly, wondering why I felt all this for her when I already had Kavi. Wondering why I don't feel all this for Kavi, though I love her.