Niharika entered into her house hurriedly and threw her two chappals here and there. Then straight went towards her room. Becoming fresh she yelled from her room.

"Mumma bhuk lagi hai, jaldi khane ko dedo kuch yaar" (Mumma, I'm hungry. Give me some food)

"Everything is on the table. Take it yourself". Rupali yelled back from the stairs while coming with the dried clothes as she nodded.

Niharika took two rotis from the casserole with some potato curry and rushed towards her room. Then taking out her phone she started scrolling through it while making morsel for herself to eat. She was half way through munching the food when her mother yelled.

"Niharika, get down from the bed and eat". Rupali was scolding her as she huffed.

"What is this? You're still wearing the clothes which you wore in college and where you've thrown your shoes and your bag"

It was the everyday routine of her eating her mother's galis more than her food. She remained eating with a sigh look and her mother remained yelling.

"Mumma, shant ho jao abh nehi to bp firse badh jygi. Mera khana bhi khatam ho gaya abh to gali sunte sunte" (Mumma, cool down otherwise your BP will be high again. My food is also finished while hearing your scoldings). Niharika huffed as she glared at her and left the room angrily.

"Hitler"

She murmured under breath and again laid her body on the bed.

~✿~

Omkar entered into his room and placed the bag in the cupboard. He saw his parents were talking with someone downstairs. He went towards the kitchen and opened the door of the refrigerator. Then taking out some bread, cheese and vegetables, he made a sandwich for himself and went back towards his room.

He totally ignored them or else they would start their lectures and comparisons with the other children of Ranawat family. It was always like this, his parents wanted him to be the best. If somehow anyone got better marks than him in any subject, their lectures started making him sigh.

Gulping the sandwiches, he opened his laptop and started completing the college projects.

~✿~

Omkar took out a ring from his pocket and slid it in the ring finger of a girl as everyone started clapping for them. The girl none other than Niharika smiled shyly looking at him.

In the next moment, she felt someone pouring water on her face as she jerked off from her peaceful sleep. She glanced here and there to understand what just happened then she saw her mother just poured water on her face when she was sleeping on the desk while working on her assignment.

"Mumma". She whined.

"Saradin soti reh bas. Padhai mat kiya kar" (Don't study and sleep all day)

Niharika put a bored look and rubbed her ears hearing Rupali's words. Her mother just ruined a happy dream of hers.

"Mumma fir se shuru mat ho jao abh" (Mumma, don't start again). She yawned and went towards the washroom while Rupali remained yelling as usual.

~✿~

Some days later, Niharika entered the college as her eyes searched for a person whom she didn't watch after that day. With a pout on her face she started going towards her room but suddenly her eyes fell on the particular figure making her freeze on her place.

Omkar was busy telling something to her team and then kicked the ball towards his teammate but it went towards her accidentally because of the other person.

He looked back in the direction of the ball when he saw a girl, standing at the ground and the ball was at her feet. He gestured her to pass the ball but she wasn't giving any reaction and staring at her like a stone. With his confusing eyes, he waved his hand again gesturing her to pass the ball but got no response in return.

Niharika was lost in another world already. No words were coming from her mouth. Then she saw him coming towards her which raised her heartbeats.

'Is he coming to kiss me?' Her attention went towards the bollywood movies as she literally felt like she would die out of a heart attack but in the next moment, she saw him bending down, taking the football and went away.

Omkar turned back and saw a girl started dragging her towards their classroom as he shook his head.

"Ajeeb ladki hai" (She is weird)

~✿~

"What you were doing in the ground?". Ritika who was dragging her asked.

"Unko dekh rahi thi" (Was watching him). Niharika blabbered as she became confused.

"Unko? Kinko? Omkar bhaiya ko?" (Whom)

"Bhaiya nehi hai woh" (She is not my brother). Niharika pouted as she hit her forehead.

"Pagal hai kya? Omkar bhaiya in sab cheezon pe dhyan nehi dete" (Are you mad? Omkar bhaiya doesn't take interest in these things)

"Kiyun? Gay hai kya?" (Why? Is he gay). Niharika asked shockingly.

"Nehi yaar. Insan nehi machine hai. Pata hai last semester mein 9.8 cgpa aya tha unko. Mujhe to sochte hi maut a jayegi aur waise bhi agar 3rd year walon ko pata chal gya na to bohot beizzati ho jaygi" (No. He isn't an human but a machine. Do you know, he got 9.8 cgpa in the last semester. I'll die just by thinking of it. Moreover, if the 3rd year ppl get to know about this they will pull our legs). Ritika warned as she nodded her head in understanding.

"Leave all these and get ready for the freshers"

"Freshers? When?". Niharika asked excitedly.

"Next month. Are you interested in participating in signing, dancing or fashion show?"

"No. I'm not coming"

"Why?"

"Because it'll be an off and I'm going to sleep all the day"

"Hatt"

"You'll come and that's final"

"Yaar". Niharika whined not liking the idea of getting ready and coming to college on a off day.

~✿~

Omkar went towards the canteen and sat on a chair taking a sandwich and a cold drink for himself when he saw the same girl sitting at a corner alone, eating her lunch. Seeing him watching her, Niharika immediately diverted her gaze as he frowned. He shook his head and engrossed himself in his sandwich. Suddenly the chaos group of their batch came and sat in the canteen.

"Hey, Ommy I need your assignment". Reva said sitting in front of Omkar.

Omkar got irritated hearing her. She was always like this. Roaming in college all day and asking him about his assignments every time. Why would he give his hard work everytime? Was it any type of charity show?

"I'm not available. Ask from Shweta"

"Hey comeon. Bas assignment hi to mangi hai kidney nehi" (I just asked for your assignment not your kidney)

Omkar clenched his jaw hearing her emotional blackmail again but decided not to give any response this time. He got up with his lunch and roamed his eyes allover only to see there was no extra chair left except in the table where Niharika was sitting. He went straight towards that and sat on it.

Niharika who was chewing her Paratha till now stopped seeing him. Her eyes widened, mouth was full with food.

"Hey, what's your name?". He asked plainly as she glanced here and there only to confirm he was talking to her.

"N__Ni__Niharika". She stammered while gulping the food hurriedly.

"Freshers?". Omkar asked again as she nodded like a cute puppy.

"Which department?"

"CSE". She said lowly and lowered her eyelashes

"Me too"

Just like that their little chit-chat went on making others leave the place. Reva and her gang glared at them and left angrily getting ignored.

~✿~

The next day, Omkar was walking towards the lab but paused hearing a call. He saw Niharika, running in his direction like she needed to catch a train.

She stopped in front of him and started fidgeting with her fingers. How could she tell him? She looked up at his face nervously and calmed down her heartbeats.

"D__Do you have the p__previous years question papers bunches with you?". Niharika asked hopefully. She needed his number and decided to ask him this way.

"Yes, I have"

"C__Can you send me in my WhatsApp". She asked hesitantly as he nodded.

"Thank you"

He nodded and was going to the lab but was cut off by her again.

"I'll give you missed call. Please save my number"

"How did you get my number?". Omkar asked with a frown.

"From departmental group"

He nodded as she immediately gave him a message which he saved in his mobile. After that he went towards his lab and she went towards her classroom with a bright smile on her face.

••••

How was it?