After dinner, Niharika dialled his number with a heavy heartbeat and ten seconds later heard his deep voice.

"Hello"

"Umm, Niharika Roy. Your junior from first year CSE. I talked to you in the morning about the previous year question papers bunches"

"Oh, I'm sending you the file" Saying so, he cut the call and sent the file to her number.

She immediately delivered a small 'Thank you' after checking it but was disappointed because he didn't continue the conversation furthermore.

'Hey Dugga maa, kichu to koro' (Hey God, Do something). She sighed with a pout but her eyes twinkled immediately when a message popped up on her mobile screen.

'Mention not and Good Night' Niharika read the message and threw her arms in air jumping like a mad.

'You too' she sent the message with a cute smiley and laid her body on the bed.

'His voice' She murmured to herself with a happy smile and then closed her eyes. She was really in deep trouble because of this stupid heart.

~✿~

Niharika entered the canteen holding her pastry and came to see Omkar, sitting there with his laptop. He was doing something with so much concentration. She saw an empty chair beside him and her mind started conflicting with her heart.

Removing the hesitancy, she slowly stepped forward towards that chair and sat on it. Omkar whose head was buried on the screen looked up feeling the presence behind him.

"You're with a laptop in the canteen?"

"Actually I was completing a project which I have to submit by today"

"You didn't complete your project" She gasped with a horrified expression which made him frown.

"No, I_I meant to say you always stand first and you didn't complete your project in time doesn't go parallel" She corrected her sentence before any other blunder.

"Actually I had high fever from three days" He added as she immediately lifted her palm to check his temperature but then took her hand back realising what she was going to do.

"I'm fine now" He assured and she nodded.

Niharika looked at her pastry and then slowly passed it in front of his screen.

"I brought my lunch with me. I'll have it later after finishing it" Omkar calmly denied to take it as she lowered her eyelashes.

"Staying hungry for long will harm your health, so first take something

She bit her tongue and slapped herself in her mind for blabbering. Her mother was right in this, she thought, sometimes she really needed to control her tongue.

A miniscule smile appeared on his lips hearing her which made her heart flutter. Omkar kept the laptop at side and took a bite from the pastry.

"Thank you but what will you eat now?"

"I've another one already" Niharika laughed hardly bringing another one as they remained chit chatting.

From a bit away, two girls gazed at them while chewing gum.

"What the fuck! What that annoying girl is doing with him?"

"Nothing new. I was watching her roaming around him from some days"

"Really?" Reva asked Vanya who nodded in return.

"Interesting. You gave me the best news today"

"Why?"

"Because she needed her punishment for always showing tantrums before any task and about Omkar, he insulted me by not giving his projects and giving his useless two rupees gyan infront of the whole canteen, even in the whole class. He listed my name and gave it to the teachers for not completing the projects" She clenched her jaw.

"I was waiting for a chance. Now I can easily take my revenge on him for insulting me every time and the whole blame will go on that annoying girl"

"How?"

"You'll see" She winked and both left from there.

~✿~

A slap fell on the back of Niharika who was lost somewhere while reading a book.

"How are you sitting? Girls don't sit like this" Rupali shouted as she gave a bored look.

"Abh baithu to kyse baithu? Pair seer pe rakhlu kya?" (Then how will I sit? Keeping my legs on my head) She argued and in return got another slap on her arm.

"Don't beat me or else I'll complain to my father"

"Let your baba come, I'll talk to him then" Saying so, Rupali went towards the kitchen and she started thinking of some excuses to call him again.

Niharika wasn't going to college more than a week as everyone was busy with the upcoming fresher's party arrangements and she was getting bored in the college. Even though she wasn't getting to see him much these days.

She took her phone and dialled his number and five seconds later the call was picked up.

"Hello!"

"Umm, actually_ummm_I_I need your help" She stammered badly as her voice stuck in her throat.

"Yes, tell me" Omkar replied sitting on the coach.

"I'm having a problem in a coding" She lied and huffed realising he couldn't catch her. He started to tell her and she smiled in awe hearing his voice.

After five minutes, when he didn't get any response from her he frowned.

"Are you listening?"

"Hmm" She replied in daze without listening to a single word from then.

"Niharika?"

Oh, her name from his mouth and she fell from the bed with a thud.

"Hey, are you okay? What was that sound?" Omkar asked raising his eyebrows as she got up while rubbing her ass.

"Nothing, I'm fine" She smiled awkwardly as he hummed in response.

"Anything else?"

"I meant to say, Are you coming in the freshers?"

"Yes. I've to because everything will be done by the 3rd year students. We are in the Management Team. Next year everyone will be busy with the placements or the GATE/CAT preparations. So, practically it's our last year"

Niharika nodded in understanding.

"And what about you?" He asked.

"I'll also come" She immediately replied without thinking further.

"Okay, then. Good night" He greeted as she greeted back and cut the call.

~✿~

Time passed quickly and it was the day of the Freshers.

Niharika was wearing a red saree with a blue border. Her mother already made her wear the saree and now she was arranging the pleats herself looking at the mirror.

She had seen many girls in school or tuition functions making thin pleats to show their beautiful curves to their partners or seniors. She heard from them that men liked it and they got attracted too.

'Should I try it?" She asked while watching herself in the mirror.

'Will it work? Will he like it?' She asked herself again being conflicted with her looks.

'Let's try it what if he falls in love"

Making her mind, she made the thin pleats and then glanced at herself in the mirror after wearing the choker.

"Mumma, I'm going" Niharika bid her mother but her mother stopped her in mid.

"Satyanash, How did you wear that saree" Rupali hit her forehead.

"Mumma, it's a new style"

"Your whole belly is showing. Cover it"

"Mumma jane do na bas ek hi din to pehni hai" (Mumma, please let me. I just wore it for a day) Niharika showed her puppy eyes.

"Pados wali Bina aunty dekhengi to kya kahegi?" (If Bina aunty sees you what she'll say)

"Ufff, again this Bina aunty. My mother is you not Bina aunty. I only care what you say"

Rupali sighed not having the energy to argue anymore with her daughter.

"Okay but come soon before 7.00 pm. Don't be late. I don't want your father to call you and ask your whereabouts again and again"

"Yes yes. I'll come fast" Saying so, she hurriedly went out while fixing her saree.

~✿~

Niharika entered the campus and searched for only one person.

"Hey, Niharika" She turned back and saw Ritika was calling her. Smiling a little she went towards her while fixing the saree again and again.

"Uff, It's a really hard task. I don't know how mumma carries it so well"

She mentally prayed to God for saving herself from any embarrassment in front of everyone. Then they went towards the hall where everyone was present.

"She is going to regret this day for her whole life"

Reva hi-fi ed with her friends.

••••

How was the chapter?