Nothing More Nothing Less [AnuPre FF]

PART 1

Mr. Padhaku was always supposed to be just Mr. Padhaku, nothing more, nothing less. Sure, Anurag was handsome in a wholesome, admire my drawl, chiselled perfection kind of way. But from the day they first laid eyes on him, he had Anjali stamped all over him. Even if his smile could make the coldest heart melt and make every girl in a twenty-mile radius swoon in unison, Prerna never looked his way in that way.

Because, he was the Anurag she had known for 10 years, and Prerna knew he was Anjali's crush. There was no point in looking at him in that way. This was the way of their world.

So Prerna was struck dumb when Anurag's small act of aggression nearly bowled her over.

Yes, he had threatened the political party workers in a similar manner, but he was never going to throw that punch. That, like much of what he did that week, was only meant to keep Prerna from resorting to similar violence. With them, he was Anurag the Good playing at being bad, but on the surface he was still exactly what they thought he was. He was still the eternal buddy, even with his fist raised.

This time there was something thrumming under the surface that wasn't there before. There was no humour in his eyes this time when he was facing Naveen Babu. He was all seriousness and the air was thick with the hostility oozing off of him. Everyone was seeing the scene play out, but Prerna was sure that no one else was really seeing it except her. She could feel it, the buzz of barely restrained fury. She was honed in on it, compelled toward it, because it was the same beat that vibrated deep in her chest. And though, he didn't throw a punch this time either, his control over himself and the way he dominated the situation made her insides flutter.

Suddenly, Prerna could see herself seeing Anurag that way. It should have been an unwelcome change, but, oddly, it wasn't. It was different, yes, but it didn't change everything. He was still Mr. Padhaaku, first and foremost. He played the part of her moral compass for far too long for him not to revert right back to that role. Ninety-nine percent of the time, she ignored the ear to ear grin that made other girls giggle, bat their eyelashes, and fan themselves. Now that she knew about that other one percent though, there was a twinge of attraction when he got a certain look about him. But it wasn't anything more than that.

Anurag was still Anjali's daydream, hers for the taking when she was ready. That was the way of their world. Besides, Prerna was still hung up on true love for the most part. One unattainable thing to pine over was enough for her.

Even if sometimes her daydreams belonged to sparkly hazel eyes, attached to the drawl, stopping her from making irrational decisions.

That was just where it started. It was not their beginning.