3. When I saw him first time

Adhiti's point of view

"Aadi..come fast. We are going to be late for class." Divya yelled from downstairs.

It's almost our computer class time and we are getting late because I was doing the laundry and didn't realize the time.

"Just five minutes, Divya."

I hurriedly wore my ear

ings matching to my baby pink anarkali suit. After putting my dupatta on my neck, I took my books from my study table. When I was taking my books from my study table my eyes fell on the close window of his room. It's been four days, I last saw him. After his arrival for days ago and my encounter with him, I didn't see him. It's like he locked himself in the house. I don't know why but first time he closed his window.

At night, I set in my study table, hoping that he will open his window and then I will see him but luck is not on my side and my eyes were craved for his one glimpse

.

I took the books from my study table and finally leave my room.

****

When I reached downstairs, I saw a very angry Divya. She show me her watch and I looked at her apologetically.

"Sorry, I was busy with house chores."

I said walking to her.

"Will you buy me an ice-cream?" She asked me in a blank voice while shooting the fake daggers towards me and I know I get her here.

"You don't have to ask. I will buy you two instead." I said while grinning and she rolled her eyes with a smile on her lips.

When we both walked outside from my house I saw Nikhil bhaiya waiting for both of us near the car. He gave a brotherly smile to both of us and we both walked to him.

"You both make me your driver." Nikhil bhaiya said while sitting inside the car. He was sitting on the driver seat, Divya on passenger seat and I was sitting at the back.

"Papa gave this duty to you bhaiya so better you get use to it." Divya said with a smirk.

Akhil bhaiya inserted the key and started driving.

"Yeah, only for four days. My vacations come to an end. I will return to the college then who will you chose to be your driver." Nikhil bhaiya said while smirking back on Divya.

I was smiling on the bickering of both siblings while looking outside the window. I wish, Atul bhaiya and I also share this kind of siblings relationship like Divya share with her both brothers. They fight, complained but at the end of the day, they love each other. The relationship between Atul Bhaiya and I is different. He is kind of dominating person and wants to control my life. I can't share my problems with him. He doesn't care what I want to do or what I want to be in my life. He just care about himself and how he could get his number high in our father's eyes.

Once I told him about a boy who followed me after the school, instead of teaching him a lesson bhaiya got angry on me and scolded me for my dressing style. He told me that I made him attract towards him and deliberately open my hair in school so I could get the attention from boys. Atul bhiya's words pinched me like an arrow. I was in my school dress and always tie my hair and open them sometimes. After that day I decided, not to share anything to Atul bhaiya and keep them to myself. Next day I complained of that boy to our class teacher and after that day he stopped following me.

I never share things of my family issues with Divya. It's not good to bitching around about your family. So I always chose to keep quiet when it comes to my family because still I don't understand my family.

"I will ask to Dhruv bhiya." My head snapped to Divya when she took Dhruv's name. My heart beats getting faster when I heard his name after four days.

"Trust me Divya, that guy loves his books more than you. Bet me if you don't believe me." Nikhil bhaiya said while laughing.

"No, need to bet on him. I know he won't get ready to be our driver if I ask him." Divya said with a little pout and than broke into laugh with Nikhil bhaiya. But I was far away from amusement because only his name increase the heart beat of my heart.

........................................................................

"Ugh..I hate our teacher. My program was write. I don't know why he scolded me for wrong program." Divya said angrily. A car honked loudly near us and Divya gave the death glare to the driver who was unaware of the shooting glares and drove off from there.

We both are standing outside our computer coaching center, waiting for Nikhil bhaiya but today he is not there. He usually came to pick us before our class end but today he is late.

Today is a bad day for Divya and I in computer class because our teacher scold both of us for wrong program and Divya is huffing in anger because she think she wrote a right program but of course it was a wrong program and Divya is adamant to accept that.

Well, it's not her fault. Computer languages are sulks and difficult to understand.

"Don't worry Divya. It's bot his fault or anyone. You know how computer languages are!" I said looking at her while clutching the books on my chest.

"Hmm..you are right. Computer language is one of the complicated girlfriend whom you never understand." Divya said and we both broke into laugh hearing her remarks for computer languages. We both stop laughing when Divya's phone started ringing.

Ring...ring..

Ring...ring...

Divya picked her phone immediately when it shows Nikhil's bhaiya name on the phone screen.

"Hello.."

...

"Yeah, ok..no problem."

...

"Okay, bye." After that she hang up and put back the phone in her jeans pocket.

She to me and said, "Nikhil bhaiya caught in some important work. He can't come to pick us and Dhruv bhiya was also not at home. It will be okay with you if we take auto rickshaw for home?"

Divya was looking at me nervously and hoping a positive answer from me.

I smiled and said, "It's okay. We will take auto rickshaw for home."

I assured her and sigh in relief while giving me a smile. We both stop and auto and hopped in.

After thirty minutes our stop came. We paid for the ride and make our way to our home which is still 15 minutes walking distance from main road.

"I am sorry Adhiti. I know, Aunty won't like if he came to know about us, came home on our own." Divya said looking at me and I clutched my books to my chest.

"Don't worry, I am not going to tell her how we came besides we don't need any guardians to look after us when we out from home. We are not kid anymore." I said looking at her and assure her that I am okey.

Nikhil bhaiya already done for me so much. He has to pick us and drop us for computer class, taking out a time from his busy schedule. He is always like elder brother to me and he also love me as he loves Divya. Once Divya told me Nikhil bhiya has started his own small business. Nikhil bhaiya loves computer so he is doing his engineering from CSE. He was in his first semester of engineering college when he started a small startup, which is gave him enough pocket money that he doesn't have to ask to uncle for his fees and his other earneds.

I don't know much about Dhruv, just know about his dream and some likes and dislikes. Divya bought him less in our conversation and I also don't bring his topic because his name only make my heart beats faster.

"Hey, listen Please Close your rooms windows at night." Divya said suddenly.

I frown and asked, "Why..?"

"Four days ago, at night, a bat entered in Dhruv bhiya's room through window. It was herd to take him out from his room. He closed his window till then. Your room's window is face the road so close it at night." Divya said.

Oh! That's why his window is close. But I really miss to see his shadow through his curtain. It's been four days, last I saw him. He barely leave his room because all time is occupied in his studies. I only see him through his window, not him but his shadow but it was enough for me. My heart was at calm at least I see him.

My day went gloomy if I didn't see him daily. It was like watching him from afar is being my habit and my strong crush developed in love. He never noticed me but not a day went when I wait in my house roof, standing there for hours just to get his one glimpse.

No matter if the temperature was above 47°C or rain is poring like cats and dogs or a chilly night of winter, I always wait for him, stood at the roof of my house, waiting for him to get outside for his house for anything, so that I can see him. I also don't know how crazy my love for him but I know I will never dare to confess my feelings to him and never let him to know what I feel for him.

I don't know when our house came in our view.

"I will see you tomorrow." Divya bid a goodbye and we both walked to our home.

........................................................................

"Why you were so late?" Mummy glared at me and asked me jn a bitter tone as I entered in my house.

I put my books on table and directly walked inside the kitchen to drink water. I know mummy is following me to the kitchen and shooting daggers on my back.

"Today we have an extra class." I lied to mummy and took out the water bottle from fridge. Nikhil bhaiya already doing a lot to me by picking me and dropping me to coaching center and I don't want put him in trouble by telling mummy that today Nikhil bhaiya didn't come to pick us.

This is not the first time I lied to my family. I lied to them often when Divya and I want to eat some street food on our way back to home. My family didn't allow me to go anywhere other than class or near market.

I never tell Divya about my family and their behavior towards me but somewhere she knows that my family is strict towards me.

"Are you telling a truth or just making a fool of me." Mummy glared at me. Mummy have a trust issue with me. No one in my family trust me and it really hurts.

"Think whatever you want to think I don't ca.."

'Smack'

Before I could complete my sentence, I feel a string of pain on my right cheek and my face turn into a left side. Water bottle fell from my hand and hot tears stream out from my eyes. My hand auto automatically reached on my right cheek and I looked at my mother with anger fill wet eyes. This is not the first time mummy raised her hand on me.

"How many time I have to tell you, don't use this tone on me and never talk back." Mummy shouted on me while pointing her forefinger to me.

"Don't show me your eyes. Never dare to give me glares. Eyes down.." Mummy ordered me.

I clenched my suit in a tight grip to control my anger but my tears are stubborn they are escaping from my eyes and wetting my cheeks to my likeness. I keep my mouth shut because I don't want to make more seen and drag the topic.

"Go to your room. No need to come downstairs for dinner. Today you are sleeping empty stomach as a punishment for talking back to me." Without saying any words I run from there when I heard my mother's hateful words for me.

****

I closed the door of my room and leaned back to the door frame. My chest was heaving up and down due my harsh breathing when I tried to control my tears. Finally I checked on my tears and a loud sob escaped from my mouth when I was unable to control my emotions. I put my hand on my mouth to control my sobs so that no one can know that I was crying.

I wiped tears from my cheeks and went to washroom to wash my face and changed into my night dress after drinking some water to control the heaviness in my heart.

I changed into a simple light colour kurti and white leggings and came into my room after changing my dress.

My head is aching like someone playing drum inside my head and eyes were burning because of weeping for long.

It's not even 8.00 p.m of the night but I decided to call it a night. There is a no use of waking up fir late night. I don't have a food for eat and don't have any homework to do.

I walked to the window of my room and slide out the curtains from the window. When I was about to closed the window my eyes automatically fell on his window, which is still close.

I don't know but I feel something in my heart, maybe a relaxation that he lives in next door but my heart ache at the same time because he is unaware of my feelings.

Maybe I don't like how my mother behaves to me but for one thing, I always thankful for her. Because of her I noticed Dhruv very closely for the first time and after that I lose my heart to him. I still remember when first time I saw him.

I was in a kitchen, preparing evening tea and snacks for mummy. Children of our neighbors are playing football outside on the road and mummy was watching them from the main gate of our house. Today is the beautiful evening and temperature is also low. Chirping of birds making the evening more beautiful.

I sive the tea in one cup, served the veggie sandwich in plate and walked outside to call mummy.

"Mummy your tea is ready." I called mummy but she was looking at the children who were playing football and mummy had a soft smile on her face like she was admiring something or someone.

"Look at the boy. Isn't he handsome." Mummy said looking at someone.

"Who..?" I said while looking at the children who were playing football.

"The one who is around your age or maybe two or three year older than you." Mummy said looking at the same direction.

I followed mummy's gaze then my eyes fell on the one particular

Boy who is playing with children who were must be six or seven years younger than him. But when I looked at that particular person my eyes got stuck on him. He is the most handsome teenager I had ever seen.

His fair complexion, sharp features, black eyes, thick brows and lashes and his black hair falling on his forehead making him more handsome. First time in my life my heart beats faster looking at someone. I know he is my new neighbor. His family shifted two weeks back in front of our house. I met his brother and sister but I am seeing him first time and in a very first time he able to make my heart beat faster.

"Dhruv bhiya, pass me the ball." He shifted to the 8 year old Rahul who called for him and that was the first time I know his name.

Dhruv...The shining star. This name suits him the most.

He smiles and pass the ball to the little Rahul and trust me when he smiles my heart skips the beat and I forget to breath. He has the most beautiful smile which can lighten someone's life.

"Adhiti...what are thinking? Come inside." I came out from my day dream when mummy call me. I don't know but I have a soft smile on my face when I came inside and mummy was giving me a weird look.

After that day I developed a massive crush on Dhruv. I wanted to see him daily. Everyday I went to our terrace or balcony, just to take his one glimpse when I hear the voice of his house gate opening and closing with the hope that I will get his one glimpse but when I didn't get his one look, the day is gloomy for me and my mood was fouls.

My eyes is still stuck on his room's close window with the hope that he will open it and I can see him. But when he didn't open his window my hope died down and I close the window of our room and walked to the bed to sleep.

One more day passed without seeing him.

........................................................................