"I swear to God, Karan, sometimes I wish to hit you so hard in the face that the smug on your face gets wiped off in no time." After futile efforts to search for my blue jeans in my wardrobe for an entire hour, I found him sitting on them on the chair while munching on chips.

"Come on, Lovish, don't be rude with him." Obviously, my mother had to side with him.

"Mom! I have been searching for it for an hour now." Karan had hidden himself behind my mother. I had to go meet her in half an hour and had been ruining my wardrobe for an hour while Karan was comfortably seated in my room.

"Tell me one thing. Where special are you going that you are so dressed up?" My mother's words made my eyes go wide open, and Karan passed a mischievous smile to me.

"Nothing special, Mom, just like that." I tried to brush off the topic, but it seems like Karan really has a death wish.

"Seriously, Aunty, he is wearing his favorite blue jeans. There must be something really special." As my mother was about to intercept, I thought to rush out of the house.

"Lovish! Make sure to get back on time and clean your room. If your father sees, I am not gonna help you." I tied my shoes, listening to my mother throwing instructions.

"Okay mom! Bye-bye!" I walked out and thought to take my cycle with me.

Pedaling toward the water banks, I wonder what am I gonna say to her? I didn't prepare anything for the speech. Oh, I didn't even bring a notebook or pen. I am so excited to meet her that I literally neglected the actual reason for our meeting.

My trance of thoughts was broken as my eyes fell on her sitting on the grass water bank wearing a light green frock. Her hands were busy untangling the grass. I rang my cycle's bell to make her aware of my presence; she turned her head and stood up seeing me. Her hair was open and secured back with a hairband, just like the first day I met her.

I took a minute to absorb how adorable she looked in that frock that reached below her knees. It was made of delicate fabric with a covering of net. Along with it, she wore small hoop earrings and white shoes.

"Hi..." I secured my cycle on the stand and walked to her. She replied with a small wave.

"Am I late?" I checked the time on my watch, and it struck 5:35.

"No, I am early," her voice was soft, just like usual, too soft and delicate.

"Oh okay." She was about to sit back on her initial spot when I spoke up again, unknowingly words slipped out of my tongue, something that is happening quite often these days, especially before her.

"You are looking really pretty, Milli." Her face was flustered as a red hue covered her cheeks; she tugged a strand of her wavy hair behind her ear, passing me a small smile.

"Thank you. You too." She bit her lower lip, squinting her eyes as if regretting the words that her lips formed.

"What? Am I looking pretty?" I settled myself beside her, heaving as I brought my knees near my chest, wrapping my arms around them and turning my head in her direction.

"No, no, not pretty." She was quick to retort. "I am not pretty, then?" I loved seeing her feeling all flushed and nervous before me.

"I mean you are pretty, no I mean you are handsome, yeah, you look handsome." I was barely controlling my lips from breaking into a wide grin, but I kept the smug expression on my face.

"So you find me handsome?" Her eyes widened as realization hit her. Her fingers were again bearing the torture of her nervousness as she fidgeted with them, stretching and twisting.

"Relax, Milli." Gathering all the courage I had in my life, I held her fidgeting hand in my trembling one. Jolts of electricity ran through my body as I felt the soft texture of her skin.

"Umm yeah..." Her face was no less than the apples my father imports from the hills of Kashmir-red and beautiful. I wondered how she managed to make me feel two totally opposite emotions at a single time. I was the most nervous before her and the most at peace when in her company.

"Can we start?" Her eyelids fluttered, and I nodded in response.

"Yeah sure." I shrugged while she took out her notebook and pen from the bag that was kept beside her.

She began weaving the fabric of her thoughts, each word a gentle brushstroke on the canvas of our conversation. I listened intently, watching the soft ballet of her lips as they gracefully formed ideas. Her head swayed, a subtle dance with every reconsidered notion, and a pen found sanctuary between her teeth during moments of contemplation.

Her hands, animated storytellers, punctuated the air, momentarily

brushing against the grass beside her. Every now and then, our eyes met, and in those fleeting seconds, she would turn to the flowing water, her gaze a poetic pause in our shared dialogue.

The setting sun cast a warm glow on her face, turning her amber eyes into pools of reflected light. I wondered if I could simply sit beside her, absorbing the cadence of her words, even if the subject were as simple as Independence Day speeches. Each detail of her, a verse etched into the quiet poetry of that moment.

I can't fathom why she feels like the most beautiful and precious treasure, destined to be safeguarded in the vault of my heart.

"Here, I've written your part on this page. You can learn it, and we can revise it during free time at school." She handed me the paper with her scribbled text. Glancing at my watch, I realized it was already 6:15. Where did the time go? It felt like time was racing on wheels, unexpectedly swift.

"Lovy?" She clicked her fingers in front of me. Taking the paper, I folded it to secure it in my pocket as she packed her bag, collecting her notebook and pen.

"We're almost done," she said, rising to her feet. I followed suit, dusting off my pants. As she started to walk away from the water bank, I couldn't resist the urge to hold her hand-an obsession I promised myself to carry for a lifetime.

Confusion stretched across her face as I lightly pulled her toward me. Our proximity was overwhelming, making me nervous, and her downcast eyes on me didn't help matters.

"Here," I brushed her hair lightly, and as expected, they were silky like clouds, slipping from my fingers like feathers. I removed a few yellow grass leaves from her hair, placing them on her palm, which rested lightly in my hand. She whispered a soft 'thank you,' and her breath fanned on my hands, sending goosebumps all over my body.

"I shall get going," she said, stepping back and clutching her bag.

"Didn't you bring your cycle today?" She shook her head in denial.

"If you don't mind, I can drop you back home." I wondered where I found all this newfound confidence.

"No, it's just nearby. I can manage." She tried to decline, but I was insistent.

"Please, I am a gentleman." She couldn't say no to my pleading eyes.

"Okay." She nodded, and I managed to catch the brief smile that surfaced on her face.

Taking my bicycle off the stand, I hopped onto it, leaving her enough space to sit on the rod. Carefully, she walked toward me, her hands tightening the bag. She positioned herself near the rod of the cycle in front of me, settling herself on it. Her hands involuntarily clutched my forearm as she balanced herself gracefully.

"Are you comfortable?" I asked. Tilting her head, making her hair brush against my face, she replied with a soft nod and a hum.

In order to hold the handle, my arms protectively fenced her from the sides. I pedaled, trying to swallow the nervousness building inside me. The frutic aroma of her shampoo filled my nostrils; her scent was intoxicating. Cycling down the narrow road, her back gently pressed against my chest, making me thankful for each moment. Her hand held onto my forearm to maintain balance on the cycle rod.

"Bss yahin." After what felt like a few minutes, her velvety voice reached my ears. I pulled the brakes and let go of the handle. She stepped off the road, her face once again covered with a red hue. This might be the reason for my demise someday.

"Thank you, Lovy," she said, passing me a smile of gratitude.

"You're welcome, Milli." I grinned foolishly, and her lips stretched into a big smile. She waved in my direction and spoke before walking toward her house.

"Get back safely."

I fist-bumped the air and, oblivious to my surroundings, performed a little victory dance, only to find myself on the ground the next moment.

"Beta araam se." The old lady passing by quickly came toward me. I got back on my feet, controlling the smile glued to my face.

"Thank you, aunty." The lady giggled as I pedaled back toward my house, my face burning as my mind replayed the time I spent with her.

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