chapter 69

       The alarm buzzed again and Vibha woke up taking me along. She must have forgotten about my head on her arm. " Ughh shut it off please! ", she mumbled annoyed lying back,  when she realised she couldn't actually reach it . I got up and turned it off. " That shit has been ringing since god knows when. Ruined my sleep.", she groaned pointing at my phone.       She heard it ring? She was awake? Awake all the time I - Embarassment consumed me slowly. I wanted to get out of here and run somewhere to have a breakdown but my legs had gone numb. Number than my brain. I felt a tug and I looked behind." What time is it?" "6:20"" We have lecture at?"" 8 "     "Good. Wake me up at 7.", she said pulling the blanket again . I shifted a bit to let her pull it over and snuggle back to sleep. She didn't say anything about it. Was she perhaps half asleep and didn't sense all that but only heard the ringing sounds? Or is she too sleepy to bother teasing me about it?     I got up and went forward with my morning routine all the while thoughts circling me around. Well she does the same ? No she teases but she never really touched me without my permission leave alone pull my cheek or stuff . Why does it feel wrong? I mean she had like caged me , held my waist and kiss-The embarassment surged up till my throat cutting of my air supply. I had to spit out the toothpaste before it would have ended up in my stomach. She'd be the death of me.      I was out of washroom and it was still 15 minutes to 7. Should I make breakfast? What do I even know to make? Coffee? That should do for breakfast. We can see about lunch later. First I need to wake her up.     I pushed aside the curtains letting the dawn rays sneak in and this girl just groaned turning away pulling the blanket over her head. Good thing I started fifteen minutes prior. This is definitely going to take long.        I sat besides her gently tapping the blanket. This won't work. I tried to shake her. She turned around and snakes her hands around my waist resting her head on my lap. What's wrong with her? My legs were already enough numb and now this. She wasn't holding as much that I can't get up and leave but I just can't get up. I can no more bring myself to wake her up. She looks so baby while sleeping.  Can't she just stay this  cute even when awake?     I ran my fingers across her hairs setting them aside so they don't cover her face and she just snuggled further into my lap.     " You need to wake up Vibha.", my voice was too soft for someone trying to wake up a sleepyhead like her. This reminds me of the first time she fell asleep on my shoulder and it was my first time bunking class. And what a reason I had to do so. My cheeks warmed up pushing my lips upwards into a smile. " 5 minutes." , she mumbled. " Come on. Sleep when we are back . Now get up."" I have to go to work. "  , she groaned.     She has to go work. That means she'd be leaving after University and I would be left alone. Here. With nothing but her thoughts haunting this whole place. I better get something to do as well before they leave me messed up like vacations.      What would I do? My dad would never agree to part time jobs or even internship before I graduate. He believes in studies above all and don't want my focus to be shared. Shared? This girl has most of it now.I looked at her still sleeping. " Get up Vibha. Atleast I don't want to be late so let me go." " Ughh! What a fuss early morning. You won't be late. I will drop you. Don't worry so much. " , she complained getting up tying her hairs in a bun. Was I complaining? Well ofcourse I was! You don't get up at 7 to go to lecture at 8.    She got off the bed and headed to the washroom while I sat there making the bed. That's the bare minimum of house work I know. I finished with it and went to kitchen to make coffee. I am not sure how does she prefer it but I am really not going to be concerned about her picky habits . I am making it for myself she can have a share if she wants.           I was stirring my coffee leaning against the kitchen counter when she arrived all dressed up already. How did she manage to brush, wash up, get dressed and do her hairs in just 15 minutes? I scanned her from head to toe. Red and white checks shirt with a black baggy jeans . Her hairs half tied with a clip leaving a few strands loose to frame her face. She had those regular metal ring shaped earrings and the kada, thread, and one bracelet in her one hand. The other was for watch I know which she hadn't put on yet.      She walked over caging me in between her and the counter. My breath stopped as her eyes met mine. They challenged me to keep looking . I can't. Her gaze was too much for me.  I looked away and still could feel the smirk. The one she had when she knew she won. I didn't dare look back at her .     " Why would you look away darling? I love it when you stare at me like that. " , she whispered near my ear. " Like what?"" Like you want me to be yours ."" How'd you know?"    That's not what I was supposed to ask. That's not even something I should ask. I am doomed. I tried to push her away but she was too stubborn for a little push. She kept looking at me . But the flirty eyes now had a different expression, puzzled, surprised but in a happy way.      " Doesn't matter how I know. What matters is , when will you know? Why do you keep denying yourself of your desires. ", she whispered leaning closer.    Am I supposed to answer that? Or can I just get away by pretending to be a stone?      My phone buzzed. This is really my saviour. And she looked at the lit up screen then moved away to let me answer it. It was Dad. " Good morning."" Good morning dad. You called so early?"" Just making sure you woke up on time. Don't want you to panick for being late on very first day. Though I am not really worried when Mr. Mahajan ' s daughter is with you. "Not worried because she's here? She's the sole reason you should be worried. " Have you eaten anything?"" Yeah."" Good. Okay. Then enjoy your college day. I will call you in the evening."" Okay. Bye. ""Bye"    And he hung up. Yes that's how long my dad talks on phone. Never exceeded 3 minutes. But atleast he saved me. I kept the phone aside . It was still 7:20. We can reach walking within 20 minutes. So I have like 20 minutes. I looked at Vibha who had already picked up the other cup kept for her and was already sipping and texting someoen simultaneously.      " Imagine waking up like this every morning and your wife hands you tea the first thing and then fixes your dress and kisses you to send off for work. That's the married life I want to live. What say?"      Should I focus on the fact that she's here planning our after marriage life or that she wants me to be her wife or that she just called my coffee, tea.     I must have not replied because she stood up and walked over to me once again backing me against the counter but this time I am rather mad than shy.     " What is it? Are you imagining further darling?", she teased as she was once again in my personal space.      " That's coffee." , I blurted out and her eyebrows narrowed in confusion. I pointed at the cup she was holding, her  eyes followed the directions.     " That's coffee." , I repeated.   She stepped back giving the liquid in the cup a brief stare. Good now I am not the only one embarrassed and awkward here.     " Uhhh- In my defence I am used to bitter coffee. Definitely forgot my wifey is just way too sweet. ", she was trying back to flirt but my look this time sure discouraged that.     " In my defence never tasted anything this sweet being called coffee.", she defended her statement but  I wasn't having it . It was fun to watch her be awkward and nervous than make me.     " I am sorry?" , her voice was rather doubtful.     " Nevermind. I know I can't cook so it's actually totally fine. I don't care. You can throw it if you want. You don't have to force it." , I said moving away to wash my cup living her behind in guilt. Atleast that's the emotion I could read on her face.    " Hey hey. Darling darling. Listen listen. That's totally not what I meant. I love it. Really. I do. Anything you do I love it. It's the most delicious drink I ever hand. ", she kept her attempt to coax me with her words but I turned off the tap and stepped back into the bedroom. My hairs just needed a bit combing , I grabbed my bag and phone and walked out , her still following me around with the cup.     " Wait for me. Don't be mad. "      " I am not . ", I replied in a monotone putting on my sandal. She chugged down the coffe and tossed the cup in sink running back in to get her stuff.     " Wait for me!!!" , she yelled from inside running out from the main gate with bag in one hand , headphones on neck and phone in and shoes in the other. This girl.      She put on the shoes in hurry almost ripping the apart as she struggled to force her feet in. Then it took her another set of seconds to fiddle around with the shoelaces all this while I was silently waiting against the staircase. I did want to leave but I ain't risking this idiot running down the staircase with open laces and half on shoes and then falling face flat.      She was finally done and we headed down with her still fixing her mess of things. We walked over to the parking and I walked straight to the gate while she turned right. I hadn't gone far when I heard a honk.     " Get on. ", she said . It was a scooter. That would save me a good time walking. But that would definitely give her yet another thing to taunt about. I kept walking.      " You can ride with me. I won't eat you!" , her voice was almost muffled from behind the helmet though it's lid wasn't still closed. I didn't respond.She turned the vehicle a bit blocking my path.      " Or do you want to ride me and have me  eat you?"