(Misha's POV )
''Okay, take seats next to your partner and we will begin'' The teacher said.
I glanced back at the guy - Desi Khali. ''Shit yaar, main uski partner kyon ban gayi!?'' I facepalmed.
''He's not that bad.'' Pia smiled, and looked back at him. ''Don't worry, he ain't gonna burn you alive.'' Her smile turned into something else for a moment, a snap so sudden I couldn't quite make out- and that it changed back to a smile.
''Fine!'' I carried my books back to the last bench.
The guy - Kabir - was just sitting there, with a book in his hand, reading. I coughed loudly. ''Excuse me?''
He looked up at me. And for a moment, I sensed something strange there. Something... familiar?
His dark brown eyes gazed at me for a minute and then he silently shifted forward. I gritted my teeth and sat on the edge.
''Um..'' I shifted a little. ''We are supposed to know each other here, you know?''
He looked at me, his brow rising, as if I had said something strange. Then his eyelids fluttered and he sighed - ''Yeah, I know. Um, your name's N- I mean, Misha, right?''
''Right.'' I snapped my books down on the table and muttered a 'You ain't that bad afterall'. ''And yours - Kabir, Kabir-what?''
''Kabir -'' He seemed to consider this for a moment, and said ''Kabir Rathore.''
''Kabir Rathore. Sounds pretty posh, huh?'' I grinned. ''Rich family?''
''Mhhm'' He kept a straight face throughout. ''But I don't let it rule my senses out, though.''
''That's a good thing.'' I uncapped my pen and capped it again. ''Your turn to ask questions.''
I think I heard him say something - but I couldn't quite make it out. ''Sorry?''
''Nothing.'' He shook his head. ''Full name?''
''Misha Dobrial.'' I said, proudly. ''Youngest daughter of the Dobrials family.''
He nodded and wrote it down. Taking notes? Nerd. I shook my head.
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(Kabir's POV )
This can't be great. This just can not.
I have been trying to avoid her. Considering every way to forget her. But now she is standing in front of me. She will be with me all the time. She is gonna talk to me; try to know me well. And I...I can't even control my senses. And I can't trust myself to be with her. I gritted my teeth.
I heard her cough. The same sound. The same breaths - the heartbeat - it seemed to make my heart beat a little bit faster. Only if I had a heart.
I clenched my fists and looked up at her. Everything. Same. How can this be? And why am I being put through all of this? It took everything I had not to run away from there and scream 'To hell with the college'. I shifted quietly.
''Um.. ''We are supposed to know each other here, you know?'' She said.
I looked at her. A sense of hope pounding through inside. A sense of..comfort. A sense of recognition. But it all vanished in a second. And I sighed. I shouldn't let my hopes ride too high - I would fall face-first to the floor later on. ''Yeah, I know. Um, your name's N- I mean, Misha, right?''
Goddamn it. It's Misha. Get it correct, okay? She's not my Nisha.
We did a little bit of introduction. And everytime she said something - everytime I heard her voice - everytime she asked something about me - everytime I asked something about her - I realised how she can never be my Nisha. How my Nisha is never coming back. I had to clench my fists. I needed to control my anger. I needed to keep a check on my emotions. But I couldn't. Not with someone reminding me of her and my truth every second.
I pretended to write her name down. I tried to block her out. I tried to block Nisha's memories out. But she was like, a part of me. And everytime Misha said something, that part ached badly - really badly.
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(Abhay's POV )
I took a small breath.
I could do this. I am not risking her life. I am not being more than friendly - more than 'professional' in this matter. I couldn't endanger her - and before taking it any furthur - I need to make sure about her safety. But as of now, I can handle this. I can handle myself. I can handle her.
I moved toward Pia's table and sat on the free seat. She looked up and smiled. A low smile. As if she herself was confused, as for what to do or say. I couldn't help but smile back.
''Ermm..'' I searched for something to say, and then decided to start with introductions. ''What's your name?''
I mentally kicked myself. Ofcourse I knew her name. I had seen her in the office. Scholorship student. Pia Jaiswal.
A sense of dissapointment flicked her face, but she hid it pretty well, and said - ''Pia Jaiswal. Sch-''
''-Scholorship student, from Chandigarh, ain't you?'' I cut her short and smiled. ''Knew it.''
She smiled back - and it looked genuine. ''What about you?''
'Erm' Okay, I am never comfortable with talking about my personal life - but this time, the case was different, and the person was different. ''Abhay Rathore. I am from...'' Erm. Think again. ''Delhi. I moved here with parents this year.''
''Nicee!'' She smiled. ''So you are Punjabi, hun? Say something in punjabi.''
Oh freak. In my 200 years, I have never bothered to learn that language.
''Ermm...um, maybe, we could, you know?, concentrate on the project.'' I let out a wry smile.
She laughed. Her voice sounded like ringing windchimes. So sweet. So innocent. ''Sure sure.''
We did some more introductions - like, hobbies, music, and everything. She said she likes music, painting, drawing, and dancing. I asked her her favourite type of music - and she replied sad songs.
''Okay guys.'' Teacher said. ''I want all of you to stay with your project partner for the whole day now, I mean, till the college gets over. And we can rate the factor tomorrow. Now, get going for your next class.''
We gathered our books and set outside.
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