♡ 6 ♡ Tum Mile

Here comes the new chapter...

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Anyway, Enjoyyyy~~~

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It's been a week since Isha's arrival. The group had welcomed her with open arms, and their bond had gotten stronger.

Kritika is stuffing her notebook, pouch and module in the bag. She took her phone out of the first chain. "Abeyy yaar!!" She let out an exasperated sigh. "Phone ki battery ko abhi ji khatam hona tha."

She hung her bag on her shoulder and left the class. She saw her friends waiting for her outside the class.

"Chalo..." She said once she reached them.

"Toh tum mein se kal kon Zoology ki test de raha hain?" Naira asked while walking together with them.

All of them shook their head in denial. "Maybe I will," Kritika replied.

"Kyu bhai?"

"I didn't give any previous test, and all of you have; if I didn't give this time, then ma'am will eat me up," Krtika answered whilst taking out her i-card from her card.

She scanned her I-card. "Chalo guys byee, see you a day after tomorrow. Agar tum mein se kisi ka mind badle aur test dene ma maan ho toh ek baar bata dena."

She parted her ways from them. Her friends live near their coaching, so they go by walking or by vehicle, whereas Kritika's father is always the one to pick her up from the coaching.

"Papa abhi tak nahi aaye." Her eyes searched her father's figure. She decided to wait outside the coaching for him.

15 minutes passed, and it was getting dark. There was no sign of her father. Everyone had left, and she was standing alone.

"Beta, tumhe Ghar nahi Jaana?" The watchman asked her.

"Uncle, papa aa rahe hain." She politely replied. "Time kya ho raha hain?"

He looked at his wrist. "8.50"

"Achha, thank you!" She nodded. The watchman pulled down the shutter of the coaching class.

Kritika popped into a nearby café, grabbing a table by the window to await her father's arrival.

Why is Papa late? What if something is wrong? She thought to herself worried about her dad.

She kept looking outside the window to check if her father arrived or not.

Her eyes caught a familiar eyes staring into her way.

What is he doing here? She asked herself as she continued to stare at his face.

She was lost in staring at his face; she did not realise that he was now standing in front of her, not outside the window.

"What are you doing here... alone?" Jay crossed his arms against his chest.

"That's my question to you." She arched an eyebrow at him. "Leave it! I will leave from here."

She stood up, collected her stuff, paid for the juice and left.

Jay watched Kritika's figure disappear as she walked out of the door. He shook his head, and with a gentle sigh, he also left from there.

In annoyance, Kriti started walking where her feet took her to. She doesn't even know where she is going.

She halted on her step when she noticed she was surrounded by the eerie silence of the small alley.

She saw pan ka galla where some older men were sitting. Their big round belly showing as they were only wearing a vest on the upper body. Some were smoking.

Their eyes fell on her, their eyeball moving up and down scanning her. She felt disgusted by their stares.

She wanted to get out of there. But how? She is not familiar with this place. She saw two gullies; they both equally looked creepy.

She started panicking, sweat falling from her forehead. Her mind went completely blank.

A man from the earlier pan ka galla started walking towards her, a cigarette in his hand as he blew out the smoke from his mouth while walking. As she saw him coming closer, her breathing fastened, and her hands went cold.

A warm hand intertwined with her cold hand, startling her. She turned to see Jay, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with concern. She felt a rush of gratitude and relief.

"Hey, you okay?" he whispered, his voice soft.

She nodded, her mind still unable to process what was happening around her.

Jay's gaze shifted to the approaching man, his expression turning cold. "Let's get out of here," he said, his voice firm.

Without another word, Jay led Kritika down one of the alleys, their hands still intertwined. The man from the pan ka galla called out, but Jay ignored him, quickening their pace.

Once they were out of the dark alley, they stopped near a crowded place. "Tum pagal ho kya, huh?What were you doing over there? What were you thinking? Do you even know how dangerous that place was? You could have hurt yourself." His voice raised with every word. His eyes were full of concern and frustration.

"Thank you." She whispered, her eyes locking onto his.

Jay's gaze softened. "Anytime." He replied, his voice gentle.

"Can you lend me your phone? I need to call to call my dad. My phone is dead." She gulped.

Taking the phone from his hand, she dialled her dad's number.

She took a deep breath before placing the phone beside her ears, knowing her dad must have tried to call her for his delay. She is ready to hear her father's outburst.

She waited for her dad to answer. She could feel Jay's eye on her but she focused on the call.

Her dad answered the call on the third ring. "Who's this?"

She took a deep breath, readying herself for the lecture. "Dad... it's me, Kriti."

"Kritika Shah! Where have you been?" Her dad's voice echoed through the phone. "I have been calling you for half'n hour! Your phone is switched off? What's the reason behind it?

She knew her dad's voice was audible from the phone when she saw concern in Jay's gaze. She moved a little bit away rom him so that the voice didn't reach Jay's ear.

"Papa, I am sorry, mere phone ki battery khatam ho gayi thi isili-"

"That's not an excuse, Kritika!!" Her dad interrupted. "You know how worried I was?"

She bit her lower lip. "Dad, I am sorry, it won't happen again."

"Wait! Over there. Don't go anywhere. Meri scooty mein puncture hua hain, aur main dur hu. Time lagega aur Yeh number kiska hain?" He asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Uhh... it's number of one if my classmate, she was passing by so I asked her for help."

She said unsure to reveal to her dad about Jay.

Jay's eyebrows arched up as Kriti mentioned him as a classmate and 'she' instead of 'he'.

"How long will it take?" She asked, avoiding his gaze. "What?!!! 45 minutesss? Dad, are you kidding me?

Jay saw the frustration in her voice. "Do you mind if I drop you your home? My car is nearby." Jay hesitantly asked.

"Wait, let me ask Papa aboutit." She replied, reluctantly. To which he nodded.

"Papa? Umm... my classmate is asking me if she can drop me home if you are going to take a lot of time. Is it okay?" She asked nervously, looking at Jay.

Jay's eyebrows raised every time she mentioned him as 'she', her female classmate.

"Is it okay for her? We don't want to trouble her." Before she could ask him this, he replied.

"I am okay with it.

"She's fine with it." She pouted. "Yeah, bye."

"Let's go." Jay gestured to his car, parked nearby. Kritika followed.

Jay opened the door for Kritika. As she settled into the passenger seat, Jay closed the door behind her. He walked around to the driver's seat.

'Seatbelt.' Jay reminded me as he started the engine.

For the first time, between them, a comfortable silence fell as they drove.

"You want to listen to music" He asked his eyes on the road.

"Yeah." She felt relieved.

He connected his phone to the car's speaker and handed her the phone. "Play whatever you like."

Her finger brushed against Jay's as she took his phone. The screen lit up, revealing his lock screen wallpaper. Jay and his little sister, beaming with joy at the camera.

She searched for a couple of minutes before playing. She held his phone in her hands.

The melody surrounded the car's atmosphere. Jay frowns in confusion, trying to recognize the song. Kritika noticed it. "It's tum mile love repise." He nodded.

Tu hi meri hain sari Zameen

Chahe kahin se chalun

Tujh mein hi aake ruku

Kritika's eyes shifted outside the car window, the city lights blurring together as she wandered into the world of 'what ifs'.

Tere siva main jaun kahan

Koi bhi raah chunu

Tujh mein hi aake ruku

Her mind replayed the event that happened earlier. What if Jay would not have showed up over there? What would have happened to her?

Tum mile toh lamhein Tham gaye

Tum mile toh saare gum gaye

Tum mil toh mushkhurana aa gaya

Tum mile toh jadoo chha gaya

Tum mile toh jeena aa gaya

Tum mile toh mere papa hain khuda

Her eyes darted to Jay as they sang along to the lyrics. His voice is deep and soothing. As he drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Kritika was taken aback by his voice, she didn't expect him to sing this good.

Tujh mein kinara dikhe

Dil ko Sahara mile

Aa meri dhandkan tham le

Teri taraf hi mude

Yeh saas tujhse jude

Har pal yeh tera naam le

Kritika's eyelid fluttered shut, her head swaying gently to the music. Jay's voice blended with the singer's, filling the car with warmth.

Tum mile toh abb kya hain kami

Tum mile toh duniya mili

Tum mile toh mil gaya asra

Tum mile toh jadoo chha gaya

Tum mile toh jeena aa gaya

Tum mile toh mene paya hain khuda

Jay's eyes sparkle as Kritika joins him in singing, their voice intertwining perfectly with each other.

Her face relaxed, a soft smile on her lips. Her breathing matched the rhythm.

Din mere tujhse chalein

Raatein bhi tujhse dhalein

Hai waqt tere haath mein

hoo...Tu hi shehar hai mera

Tujhme hi ghar hai mera

Rehta hai tere saath mein

Tum mile toh mil gaya humsafar

Tum mile toh khud ki hai khabar

Tum mile toh rishta sa ban gaya

Tum mile toh jaadu cha gaya

Tum mile toh jeena aa gaya

Tum mile toh maine paaya hai khuda

Jay's eye crinkled as he gazed at her. Kritika's smile mirrored Jay's, their face glowing with shared joy. They sang together, their voice blending, filled with laughter and melody.

Kritika's eye locked onto Jay's before he shifted his gaze towards the road. A warm feeling has taken over her. She started feeling something strange in her stomach, something she had never experienced before.

"I didn't know you could sing." She said as she shook with laughter.

"I have got hidden talents, ma'am," Jay said feeling proud of himself, giving a charming smile.

"Yeah yeah!" Kritika leaned back on the seat as she closed her eyes for some time.

"We're here," Jay said, his voice gentle.

Her eyes fluttered open as she saw her house across the window. "Thank you." Her voice was barely above a hisper. He nodded.

She gathered her belongings and left the car. "Good night, kriti." Jay smiled.

"Good night, Jay." Their eyes locked, a silent passing understanding passing between them.

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Next morning, the classroom was quite as there was still time for school to start and the students arrival. Barely 10 students must be present inside the classroom. Jay sat alone, notes open on his esk. His pencil tapped creating a gentle light sound.

His gaze shifted from books to the door of classroom as Kritika walked in with the brown doggie lunchbox. She walked towards his direction, he smiled recalling yesterday's night event but when she walked past him, his smile fell.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw her going to Aditya, her friend and her so called 'crush'. He turned his eyes back to his books but his attention remained to her and Aditya, as their conversation was audible to him

"Adi, here I tried a new recipe. Try it and tell me how is it." He could feel her smiling cheekily while talking to him.

Kal help ki maine par uske hath ka khana mil raha hain usse. Jay scoffed.

"Kritika, tum joh bhi banati ho ekdum mast banati ho. And I am pretty sure ki yeh bhi ekdum mast hoga..." Jay clenched his jaw. "...tumhari tahra."

He rolled his eyes at their conversation. "I should leave before Vikas sir comes, byee." She bid him good bye.

When she walked past Jay, she quickly placed a box on Jay's desk, saying a silent thank you and left.

He watched her figure disappeared.

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It was sports lecture, as boys wandered around the school. "Investiture ceremony aane wali hain, tum mein se kon kon apna naam de raha hain?" Karan asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Main." The other three said in union.

"Yash, tu aur Krish toh head boy ke liye naam doge na?" Karan asked, putting his one arm around Jay's neck and other around Krish's neck.

Yash agreed to Karan's word whereas Krish denied saying he don't want to be a head boy, he will give his name for house captain with Jay.

"Jay tu toh akela padh gaya red house mein. Main aur Isha yellow house mein hain, Yash aur Rhea gree house mein hain aur Kriti, Karan, Anaya blue house mein." Jay chuckled at Krish's voice.

"Toh?"

"Toh kuch nhi? Kabhi socha house change karwa ne ka?" Krish questioned. "Maan toh bohot hoga na blue house mein aane ka?"

They all laughed as Krish teased Jay.

"Yeh school hain ya garden?" A strict and firm voice came from behind them. They all turned to the voice, it was Aditi ma'am glaring at them.

"Karan hath niche Karo apne." Aditi ma'am ordered when she saw Karan's ar around Jay's and Krish's neck.

Karan quickly took his hands down and positioned it behind his back.

"Kitni baar bolna padhta hain tum logo ko ki yeh school hain garden nahi. Hands back karke chala Karo."

"Tum log toh 12th mein aa gaye ho, ab toh kuch samjho. Tum logo ko dekh mar tumhare juniors tumhari tarah bante chale jaa rahe hain."

"Tum logo se sekh sekh kar voh log bhi rules follow nahi karte. Agli baar se mujhe tum char hands back karte hue chalte dikhne chahiye." Aditi ma'a scolded them where they listened to her silently instead of arguing.

In the mid of scolding, Karan yawned loudly in front of her which added fuel to her anger.

"KARAN!! Yeh mein kya beh faltu ka bhasan de rhi hu? Huh?" She held and twist his ear which made him hiss. "Bohot neendh aa rahi hain tumhe."

Releasing his ear, she spun on her feet, storming off in a whirlwind of frustration.

Karan rubbed his ear with his palm, still hissing in pain. "Kitna jor se aan modh diya mera, mera bichara kaan."

They all controlled their laughed as Karan continued to complain about her.

"Ek kaam karte hain, ek straight line mein chalte hain hands back karke varna agar inhone wapas pakda toh hum toh gaye." The three glared at him for his suggestion.

"What?" He innocently asked as others shooked their head.

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That's it for the chapter.

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