The Strings Of Heart

25

Sitara POV

I take my bag while listening to Shakira's song. I wore a black graffiti t-shirt which is my present favourite.

I'm in a good mood as I spoke with Krishika, Abhinav, Gaurav, Sung, Joel, Becca, Aryan. 

I'm happy because we are going to meet after a year. I can't stop smiling and the happiness that radiates in me. We are invited to our school's annual day function.

I step out of the room to go shopping. I want to buy gifts for everyone. Sung, Joel and Becca can't come as they don't have any holidays.

But I will be meeting Abhinav, Krishika, Gaurav and Aryan. I take the Vespa keys and go downstairs.

The house is empty as there is no one except the house workers and Farheen Aai who is resting in her room. Elora Akka went back to London, my holidays will be ending in a week.

The traffic was hectic, by the time I reached the mall I was done because of the heat.

I shopped around, buying clothes for everyone and bracelets. I even bought for Becca, Joel and Sung. I will be sending them by courier.

I didn't miss Kavya, got her a bracelet. I was strolling around when I stopped after seeing a thick shake shop.

I enter the shop and wait in line to give my order. In the meantime, I select what I want to have.

"Good afternoon, what do you what to order," the guy behind the counter asked.

"Hi, I will have a strawberry Oreo milkshake and a KitKat thick shake."

"That would be 350 rupees." I pulled the money out of my bag and paid the guy.

I waited for my order and texted Pihu as she sent me a text asking if I'm available at night.

I'm helping Pihu with her tenth boards which are very important. She is above average and wants to do better in her boards compared to Rishi. Even though Rishi and Pihu are best friends. When it comes to education they are compared with each other's marks. Pihu is stressed about it, I decided to help her.

'sure, I will be home soon.'

'We are having get together dinner tonight, I will be staying back.'

I read her message and typed a message.

'sure.'

I push the phone inside my pant pockets and take my order.

"Can you give me a cover?"

"Sure." He handed me the paper cover and I put my thick shake in it.

"Sitara?" I look up then look back to see David.

Fuck...

"Hi," I say looking at David and Sejal. There are other people too wearing their white coats.

"What are doing here?" David asked.

"Shopping and you?" I ask him. I try not to check him out but I can't help. I lick my lips as my eyes do a quick check. He is wearing a white dress shirt which is tucked in his black pants and polished shoes.

Hot...

"We are having a seminar on the fifth floor, came down for a short break," he spoke pushing his phone inside his coat pocket.

"Oh." I don't know what to say so I look at him.

"Hello Sitara," Sejal spoke smiling at me. The others went away to sit on the tables.

"Hi."

"Join us," David said. You wish...

"Nah, I'm going home." I saw Sejal sigh in the backside. Girl...

"Sit with us and finish your drink," David spoke not aware of Sejal's expressions.

"I'm good, bye."

"Hmm, how did you come?"

"Drove the Vespa," I tell him.

"Okay, bye." I completely ignore Sejal and start walking.

"Drive safe," I heard him say. I wave my hand and walk.

"Should I turn around and look at him? Nothing will happen if I turn around and look at him before leaving right?" I ask myself before biting my lip and turn around.

"No...No... Let's hide somewhere and see him," I speak to myself and start walking in search of a place where I can hide and see him. Ew, things we do when we see our crush...

I watch him as he smiles at what Sejal says. They are standing in the line to order. Hmm, they look good together but I don't like her.

"There is en number of boys around you. But yet you got your eyes on the man who is going to tie a knot," I tell myself before turning around to leave.

*

"Here..." I give Pihu the pen and look at her papers.

"Hmm... You shouldn't end the problem in four steps. Make it six steps and make it clear..." I tell her.

I stand behind her chair as she does the other problem.

"Perfect... You are improving Pihu. Don't worry about your boards, you will do good."

There was a knock on the door before it opened and Nihal peeked in.

"What you guys are doing?" He asked stepping in.

"Nothing much," I tell him.

"They are calling you guys down for dinner."

"Everyone settled down?" Pihu asked.

"They are settling down."

"We will be down in a minute," I tell him.

"Yoah. Don't make it late, everyone will be waiting for you two." Nihal closed the door and went away.

"Finish this one and we will go down," I said going over to my dressing table. I start combing my hair into a bun. Pihu finishes the problem and closes the books.

We go downstairs to the dining room, "ugh... Why in the heavens is she here?" Pihu groans looking at Sejal. I groan inside looking at her.

"Yeah..." I say. Pihu and I share a look before going towards our chairs. I take my seat beside Aarav.

"Hey Sitara, how are you?" Aarav asked.

"I'm good and you?" Pihu takes the seat beside me. Our sitting arrangements changed as Pihu wanted to sit beside me.

"Tired but happy. Pihu is sitting beside you?" he leans forward looking at Pihu.

"Hey Aarav," Pihu greets him.

"Hi, Pihu."

"Yeah, they changed their seats." Rishi sat beside Pihu. David isn't aware of this like Aarav as he wasn't present last week.

"Why Sejal is here?" Pihu whisper asked Rishi. David is talking with Sejal, explaining to her everyone's names.

Didn't she already know? She was here to meet Elora and met all of us.

"Aishu aunty invited her to dinner. David has his shifts with her," Rishi replied. We three look at David and Sejal.

"How can someone with poor memory power is a doctor?" Pihu whisper asked and I chuckled.

"She wasn't paying attention last time I guess," Rishi said.

"I don't like her, she seems so fake and plastic to me... Plastic smiles and fake gentleness."

"Where were you in the morning? I came over to meet you but Farheen Aai said you went out," Aarav said. It will take time before the dinner is served.

"Yeah... I went to the mall to buy some stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Shopping for my friends, I'm meeting my school friends," I said completely ignoring David and Sejal. Even Pihu is doing the same sitting beside me. She didn't even greet David. She must be trying hard to move on.

"You guys are having a get-together?"

"Kind of, I'm going to the annual day function and they are coming. Haven't seen them for a year."

"You are going to Ooty? When?" Aarav asks.

"Saturday night probably," I say. I turn my plate as the housemaids start serving the food.

"Really?" He asks a bit loudly.

"Yeah? Got any problem?" I ask him.

"Nah... No, David is going to Ooty on Saturday."

"David and Ooty?" my brows frown in confusion as I looked at Aarav.

"Yeah... He is going to meet his dad and his family," he speaks in a hushed tone.

"Oh, they live in Ooty?"

"Yes, his step-sister gave birth to a baby girl. So David is going there to meet them."

"Oh... But why are we talking in a hushed down tone?" I ask him.

"Because Sejal is here, Tanu aunty doesn't know about this. If Sejal heard she will inform Tanu aunty."

"Hmm okay."

"You are not greeting David today? That's new..." Aansh spoke looking at Pihu.

I start eating and see Sejal looking at us. "Shut up," Pihu replied.

"So Sejal when did you start working with David? Last time we didn't get much time to talk with you," Priya pinni (aunty) asked.

"I have started working with David for three months now. He is an excellent doctor, I'm happy to be working under him," Sejal spoke sweetly.

"They suit together, don't they?" Aarav said.

'eww'

"Eww..." Pihu and I exclaimed. I exclaimed in my mind while she exclaimed out.

"Uh-huh?" Sejal questioned looking at Pihu. Apparently, Pihu said it out loud. Rishi coughed hiding his laugh while I looked at my plate rolling my lips into the mouth.

Rishi couldn't control so he laughed out loud, that made me snap and I laughed looking at the plate. Hearing us Pihu couldn't stop and she joined us.

"Shit..." I try to control my laugh but I can't. The expression on Sejal's face was funnier that made us laugh.

"What's happening? Why you three are laughing?" Lilly aunty asked.

"Nothing aunty..." Rishi said.

"Then why are you three laughing if there is nothing?" Mum asks. Pihu and I share a look before smiling.

"We just found something funny aunty," Pihu replied.

"Forget about them, so David..." Rithika aunty says looking at David.

"What happened?" Aarav asked me.

"Nothing," I reply.

"Yes, aunty?"

"You two are dating? When you are going to invite us to your home young boy for the wedding?"

"Why does my mum asks all the stupid stuff..." Pihu mutters.

I watch David's face waiting for him to answer Rithika aunty's question. Sejal's pale cheeks turn pink.

David blinks his eyes looking at Aarav then his gaze meets mine before he looks away.

"No... No aunty. We are... just friends and work colleagues," David spoke looking at Sejal.

'good'

"Thank god," Pihu muttered under her breath.

"I'm not planning to marry any time soon," David added. For some unknown reason, David looked back at me while telling that.

My gaze went to Sejal who is frowning looking at the plate.

I don't know why but I felt like I have a chance there and I'm surely not gonna give up too easily when it just started from my side.

Pihu confessed her crush on him and David never had anything towards Pihu. At least Pihu confessed and got an answer from him.

I didn't confess him nor he knows my crush towards him. I don't want to live in the regret of not telling him.

I will let him know, it's his karma if he doesn't like me. I'm one in million, my crush on someone is precious...