Chapter 28

It was the first day of the cultural fair. What used to usually be a day's event was now turned into an event of a few days. The campus was open to visitors to come and observe and get involved and be a part of the performances.

Meera and Ananya, along with Rohan Arjun and Ayaan, had been up early. Ready to set the stalls and welcome the guests. As expected, Ayaan had his performances. He was still deciding when to do them, hourly or otherwise.

Naina had been sitting down in her room.

Social gatherings were not her thing.

"Are you coming?" She got a voice message from Meera.

Sighing, she knew she had no choice. She had to go. So, she sent a message back. "Yes. But I don't know what to wear."

Within a minute, she got a reply, "The dress code is Indian. Wear anything that's Indian."

Naina reacted with a thumbs up and then got to getting ready, scouting her wardrobe. She had a beautiful collection of clothes but she never wore them - her confidence didn't allow her to. A saree or lehenga would be too heavy, she thought. Then, her eyes fell on a beautiful sharara set. It was classy yet simple. Violet colored pants and suit with handwork in white.

She smiled at her selection.

Getting dressed, she did her basic makeup and let her hair down. Then, she placed the duppata gently on her shoulder, covering one of the straps of her strapped sharara top. Feeling ready, she applied her perfume and stepped out.

The walk to the stalls wasn't easy. She wasn't used to having eyes on her. Yet, somehow, right now, all eyes were on her. She halted for a minute, thinking that there may be something on her face or body. But, after checking, she found nothing. Sighing, she continued walking.

"Hi!" She said, when she reached Meera.

Meera scanned her up and down, then exclaimed, "Oh My God! You look beautiful!"

Naina smiled, "Thank you!"

Ananya also joined and complimented her friend, and was also glad that she took a step out of her comfort zone and tried to be a part of the event and dress unlike herself.

"Wow!" She heard a voice from behind, "Who is this?"

Turning, she smiled at Rohan, "Hi."

Rohan was completely surprised by her look. He didn't have the hots for her, of course not, bro code was a thing. But it's safe to say that this look of Naina would have made his head turn if she wasn't already taken by his friend. He smiled at her, "You look amazing!"

"Thank you." Naina replied, not used to so many compliments in one go.

"Come. It's starting." Rohan guided the girls to the main stall.

Naina watched in awe at the view around her. She wasn't a lively person but she loved fairs and carnivals and things like that, which were loud.

Then, her eyes went on him.

He was ready to perform and he hadn't seen her yet. Thank God, she thought. For some reason she felt conscious around him. She shouldn't, but she did. Or maybe she felt something she wasn't able to put a name on. But right now, she felt like he shouldn't see her. What if he doesn't like how she looks? She thought, but why does that matter?

As she battled her thoughts, the smooth sound of Ayaan pressing the first note of his song distracted her. She looked at him. His eyes were shut and he was singing melodiously. Her lips, unknowingly, started to sing with him. She was a great singer, but no one knew that. Except him.

As he opened his eyes, she placed herself behind Meera, trying to be hidden in the shadows.

He, however, was determined to see her. And something told him that she was already in the fair. He had been looking for her since morning. But he couldn't be able to see her.

Now, as he started singing, he scouted the audience. But he wasn't able to see her again. But, his eyes fell on Meera, who was giving him a mischievous smile. He pondered over her for a second and raised in eyebrow in subtle manner, only for her to see.

She smiled and moved away slightly, just for a second, revealing the one person Ayaan had been wanting to see since morning.

He didn't see her properly since she came back in front within a second, but, what he saw gave him goosebumps. She wasn't looking at him then. She was smiling with Ananya. And, in that moment, it was as if Ayaan's mind had taken a screenshot of her, framing her sight in his mind.

Her sight gave him a sudden confidence to sing more, resulting in an additional unexpected song. Rohan was quick to judge what might have happened and sleekly synced his band with Ayaan. Naina, surprised by his actions, looked up to see him looking her way.

They hadn't seen each other. Not yet. But both their eyes were on each other. Naina looked through Meera, while Ayaan's eyes kept glancing over to the beauty in violet. Even though he could only see parts of her outfit and the gentle curls of her hair.

Then, he stopped.

And the crowd erupted with applauses loudly.

She looked on and clapped with the crowd while Ayaan politely greeted everyone before leaving the stage. Then, as the crowd dispersed, Naina stayed there.

"Naina? You good?" Meera asked.

"I'm good. I just wanted a photo of this set up." She said and Meera nodded, knowing her friend's addiction towards photography.

"Alright. We'll be at the stall." She said and walked away, leaving Naina alone in the garden.

Naina took her phone out and started to take good pictures of the stalls, the music garden and the weather which complimented the views.

"You're missing one view you haven't taken a picture off." She heard a dusk voice behind her.

She knew that voice.

Slowly, she turned to see Ayaan looking at her, while leaning against the wall. She looked at him, "What view?"

He came closer to her, almost piercing into her eyes. Then, he stood the phone from her hand and looked at it, then gave it to her. "This one."

She looked at her phone and a loud streak of red flushed on her cheeks, evident to him, as he smiled. She looked at him then looked back down at the front camera which was open on her phone. Her face was very red. She could see it.

"Haye, those blushes are to die for." He said, leaning against the wall again.

She looked at him and gave him a small smile, but she didn't reply. Instead, she felt cornered in his gaze and did the best thing she could. Try to leave. "I... I'll go now."

He held her hand and pulled her close, "Not so fast. I want a picture with this beauty."

A picture?

She looked at him with wide eyes.

He chuckled, "I've only asked for a picture. Not your hand in marriage, Naina."

She looked down, trying to hide her evident red face, while she felt him scoot closer to her and position himself next to her. "Smile!"

She looked at him, then at the camera which he held in front of them. She smiled softly and he clicked the picture. Then, he looked at it and showed it to her, "Beautiful, right?"

She nodded.

She had expected him to leave after this, but he had no intention to go. He looked around and noticed that they were alone, so he grabbed her and wrapped his hand around her waist, earning a shocked gasp from her. Her hand came on his chest as she supported herself, and she looked up at him, "W... What happened?"

He slowly whispered against her ear, "You look absolutely beautiful, darling. And I'm finding it very difficult to resist you."

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