[FF] Thoda Thoda Pyaar [Part 6 Pg 12][14th April] - Page 4

Enjoy!

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Thoda Thoda Pyaar

Chapter Three

"Meher, I thought you said you had juice!" Asma called out to Meher, her head in the refrigerator.

"I do," Meher called back, coming into the kitchen, her notebook in her hand. "And I found my notebook too!"

Asma pulled her head out, frowning. "But all you have is apple juice, and you said you had mango juice."

Meher raised an eyebrow. "No, I said I have juice. You asked if I had juice. And technically, I have juice. Just not mango juice." Shrugging, she sat down at the table. "Now if you're done poking through my fridge, shall we start on our English homework?"

Asma groaned as she shuffled over to the table and sat down across from Meher. She rested her chin on her palm, staring sadly at Meher. "Do we have to?"

Meher patted Asma's arm. "Yes, Asma, yes we do."

Asma opened her notebook and looked down at her notes on "The Merchant of Venice". She looked at Meher. "I'm hungry. Chalo, pizza mangvatey hain!"

And before Meher could say anything, Asma had whipped out her cell phone and was dialing the number for Pizza Chaat. Meher sighed, rubbing her temples. She looked at Asma, waiting for her to hang up.

"The pizza will be here in 45 minutes," Asma announced happily.

"And you're hungry now," Meher commented.

Asma shrugged. "I can wait for pizza," she grinned.

Meher rolled her eyes.

"Arre, Meher, main toh bhool hi gayi! Mama wanted me to ask you which colleges you're applying to…"

Meher blushed a little, looking down. She shrugged. "Maine Mama ko abhi tak bataya nahin, lekin main India ke colleges mein padna nahin chahti," she confided with a wrinkle of her nose. "I'm going to apply to Leeds, Oregon, maybe even NYU and Oxford…"

Asma nodded appreciatively. "And with your grades, you'll probably be able to make it."

Meher smiled. "Right?"

Asma nodded again. Then she reached out and attempted to give Meher a hug across the table. "I'm so proud of you, Meher." She pulled away, frowning. "Lekin usske baad humara kya hoga?"

Meher bit her lip. "Email hai na?"

Asma thought about it, then nodded. "Chalo theek hai. Tum meri best friend ho, issliye main tumhe pardes jaane ki liye permission deti hoon!" she declared.

Meher laughed.

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Preet took the pizza box out of the back of the van. He closed the back door and adjusted his hat in his reflection. He sighed. One day he'd quit his job. No amount of money was worth wearing a hideous bright orange cap and an equally hideous bright orange shirt. He sighed again.

He turned and started up the pavement, heading for the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he soon reached the fourth floor. He glanced down at the receipt in his hand. "04-74." He looked around him, wondering where unit 74 was.

Spotting it, he made his way towards it and rang the doorbell. From inside he heard a woman saying, "Oye, Asma! Tumhara pizza aa gaya hai!"

He smiled, amused.

"Haan, haan, jaa rahi hoon!"

And a moment later the door opened.

Preet frowned. The girl looked oddly familiar. Asma. As Asma took the pizza box from him, it clicked: she was the girl from the club's friend. Meher's friend. He grinned.

"Kitna hua?" Asma asked him, rifling through her wallet.

"200," he told her.

She pulled out the money and looked up at him. She frowned, tilting her head. "Tum bohut familiar lagte ho…Tum Gopal Sharma International School mein jaate ho kya?"

Preet nodded slowly. So they went to the same school as him? That made things even better.

Asma nodded. "Haan…Dekha hai pehle kabhi…" She handed him the money. "Thanks." And she closed the door.

Preet turned away, grinning, counting the money. He frowned, counting the money again. He sighed. He was Rs. 50 short.

Turning back, he rang the doorbell again, drumming his fingers against his thigh as he waited.

The door opened again, and this time it wasn't Asma who opened the door.

Preet stared at Meher, surprised.

She frowned. "Tum? Tum yahaan kaise aaye ho? Tum mera peecha kar rahey they kya? Ruko, main abhi police ko phone karti hoon!"

She turned away.

"Arre, ruko, ek minute! Tumhari dost jo hai na, ussne mujhe poore paise nahin diye!" he stopped her.

She turned back. "Paise?" she asked incredulously. She folded her arms. "Paise kisliye?"

Rolling his eyes, he pointed to the logo on his shirt. "Pizza ke liye. Rs. 50 kum diye hain, ussne."

Meher coloured a little. "Oh. Ek minute."

She closed the door halfway.

"Asma, tumne Rs. 50 kum diye!"

"Arre, Meher, tum de do na, please? I'll pay you back!"

Meher groaned.

"Please? Tumhara ghar hai na? Aur main tumhari guest hoon na? Vaise bhi main kha rahi hoon. Please?" Asma continued.

Meher sighed.

Glancing into the house, Preet saw Meher take a pink wallet from a bag on the couch and she headed for the door. She frowned, pursing her lips as she saw Preet peeking in. He moved away quickly, hiding a smile.

"Lo," she said, handing him the money.

He took it from her, making sure that their hands brushed. She looked at him in surprise, then pulled her hand away sharply, blushing a little.

"Thanks," he told her with a smile. "See you in school."

And he turned and walked away, whistling happily, tucking the money safely into his pocket.

-|end of chapter three|-