"God!" Hailey said as they all stepped out of the building. Vrishali took the shades from Aryan and put them on.
"Thief" Aryan said looking at Vrishali. He looked at the people standing beside him. He saw Jordan wearing shades. He took a step and took the shades from Jordan and put it on.
"Then what are you?" Jordan asked Aryan.
"Love shooter babe," Aryan said giving Jordan a flying kiss.
"Yucks"
"What are the plans?" Vrishali asked leaning against Michael.
"All the parties are in the night" Hailey replied.
"Why are we standing here?" Vrishali asks.
"I don't have any idea, they stood and I stood with them" Michael replied Vrishali.
"Why are we waiting here?" Michael asked out loudly.
"For someone to invite us over their place or to ask us to join their plans" Jordan and Aryan replied.
"Eh man, you read my mind," Aryan said to Jordan.
"Fuck off"
"When they are going to invite us?" Belle asked. Michael turned to her laughing.
"When they want to" Michael replied and he got a slap from Belle.
"Belle... Belle..." Michael chanted her name.
"Shut up" Vrishali took a few steps back sitting on the steps. She leaned her hand on her knee then leaned her head against the arm.
"Why is that stranger walking towards us?" Belle said.
"Who is he?" Michael asked.
"Do you know him?" Lexie questioned.
"How do I know him" Kyle replied.
"I didn't ask you alone lol" Lexie replied.
"Is he going to invite us over?" Jordan said.
"I don't see his friends," Belle said.
"I don't think he is a student," Lexie said.
"He looks like a professor" Kyle replied.
"Tell him we don't have time to help him," Michael said.
"Why would he ask for help?" Belle asked Michael.
"Because he is professor stupid"
"He doesn't look like a professor" Belle replied.
"He is hot, looks like a model," Lexie said scanning the man from head to toe.
"I think he is here for someone," Kyle said.
"Then why he is walking towards us?"
"Why can't I see the man clearly?" Aryan said looking at the figure walking towards them.
"Idiot if you remove those shades you will see him properly," Jordan said taking the shades.
"Baby babe...."
"Baby babe..." Aryan called Vrishali.
"Holy Moly!' Hailey said finally looking up.
"Bitch!!!" She yelled scaring everyone.
"Is she gone crazy?" Jordon asked looking at Hailey crazily. Aryan and Hailey shared a look before turning back.
"Where did Vrishali go?" Aryan asked. They all looked right and left before turning back to where Vrishali sat on the steps.
Aryan and Hailey like excited kids ran towards Vrishali. They shook Vrishali's shoulders.
"What? Did someone invite us to their party? Or else I will go home, eat and sleep" Vrishali said.
"Baby babe.... Look who came," Aryan said excitedly.
"Who? Xaiden Knights?" Vrishali asked sarcastically. Xaiden Knights is known as the king of Greenwood's university. He is also a member of the snipers group and also the top athlete of Greenwoods. He is now a known football player and a celebrity.
"I wish but I'm happy seeing this man too," Aryan said.
Vrishali rolled her eyes before looking straight but she can't see any man except her friends looking at them with confused faces.
"What man?" Vrishali asked.
"Guys move aside," Hailey said. Their friends moved with confused faces.
Vrishali's jaw dropped, "what the fuck" she said in shock removing her shades.
"Fuck, I look like a homeless girl," Vrishali says looking at her attire. Her hair is tied in a messy bun, she is wearing shorts and a hoodie.
She stood up looking at the figure as he walked towards her. Vrishali scanned him from head to toe. He looked like a model dressed in a black dress shirt and black pants with a brown long coat. His hair is neatly styled. His hair is grown from what she saw the last time.
"Baby babe, I never felt so ugly. Your man is a walking Adonis" Aryan commented looking at the man with wide eyes. Aryan couldn't take his eyes off him.
Vrishali snapped out of her shock and surprise when he stood a few feet away from her.
"Hi"
"Hi"
Hailey and Aryan cracked a laugh but rolled their lips into their mouth.
"What... What are you doing here?" Vrishali asked looking at Padmanabh.
"Hmm... I decided to meet you" Padmanabh replied keeping his eyes fixed on Vrishali's face. He was so excited to see her and when he finally saw her he couldn't help but feel nervous.
He missed her so much, seeing her after three months he felt all the emotions dancing in his mind and stomach.
Vrishali felt a rush of happiness and giddiness in her body hearing Padmanabh's deep but husky voice.
Her arms are itching to hug him but she controlled herself. They stood there watching each other. Vrishali snapped out when Aryan pulled her hoodie from behind.
"I'm sorry, Aryan meet Padmanabh and Padmanabh meet Aryan" Vrishali introduced Aryan to Padmanabh.
"Hello, I'm Padmanabh Singh," Padmanabh said pulling his hand out for a handshake.
"Hello, I'm Aryan Mishra," Aryan said with awe eyes shook Padmanabh's hand.
"This is my best friend Hailey, Hailey meet Padmanabh," Vrishali said. Vrishali felt weird calling Padmanabh Padmanabh. She always called him by his name in her mind.
"Hello, I'm Padmanabh Singh"
"Hello, I'm Hailey Beer" Hailey looked at the man in awe. He is too handsome and hot in reality than in the pictures that she saw.
"Who is this? Do you guys know him?" Jordan asked. Vrishali doesn't know how to answer the question, if it was only Jordan she would tell him but they are surrounded by their other friends. Michael teasingly smiled at Vrishali when he understood.
Padmanabh looked at Vrishali's face. He understood that they don't know about their wedding or about him. He felt a little bit upset but he understood that she must have a reason.
"Hello, I'm Padmanabh Singh. Family member of Vrishali" Padmanabh spoke.
Vrishali didn't expect Padmanabh to talk. Vrishali gave an awkward smile to her friends.
"Padmanabh, meet Michael, Belle, Lexie, Kyle, Jordan" Vrishali introduced them.
"Guys meet Padmanabh"
"They all are my classmates" Vrishali added looking at Padmanabh.
"Hello"
"Hi"
"Hello"
"Hi"
"Hello"
"Hello"
"Hello"
They all greeted each other. Hailey looked at Lexie to see her looking at Padmanabh with a suspicious look.
Padmanabh politely greeted everyone but he is kinda feeling shy as they all looked at him with curious eyes.
"Guys stop looking at him like that, don't make him uncomfortable," Aryan said slapping Micheal's shoulder.
"I will be leaving now, see you guys later," Vrishali said holding Padmanabh's hand. Padmanabh looked at Vrishali's hand holding his in surprise and delight.
"Bye"
"See you later"
"See you at the party"
Vrishali and Padmanabh started walking away in the same path Padmanabh came from. Vrishali is still holding Padmanabh's hand.
"Hey Vrishali, are you attending the day dawn party at Knights mansion?" Zedd asked.
"Not sure Zedd" Vrishali said removing her hand from Padmanabh's.
"Did you bring a car?" Vrishali asked Padmanabh.
"Yes"
"Lead the way," Vrishali said looking at the people who are taking double takes at her and Padmanabh. Vrishali was greeted and stopped as they passed.
Padmanabh understood that everyone knew Vrishali and Vrishali knew everyone. They are greeting her and asking her if she is coming to their parties.
"Woah," Vrishali said looking at the new SUV. Padmanabh unlocked the car.
"How did you get this car?" Vrishali asked opening the door.
"I asked my assistant"
"Cool" Vrishali got inside the car with her bag. She observed the interior of the car as Padmanabh got inside.
"Buckle your seatbelt," Padmanabh said.
"Yes," Vrishali buckled her seatbelt. Padmanabh started driving, he is going slow as there is a line before him.
"Where we are going?" Vrishali asked.
"You decide," Padmanabh said.
"I didn't dress up too good to go out but let's have lunch in a local restaurant. I'm hungry" Vrishali said.
Padmanabh looked at her, gave a quick glance before looking back. 'she is cute'
"You have any place in your mind?" Padmanabh asked.
"Yeah, there is a chubby Cho near the university. It's a good place for a quick grab" Vrishali said.
"Do you know the directions?" Padmanabh asked.
"Yes," Vrishali can't believe that Padmanabh is here, in New York City to meet her. She smiled to herself looking at her fingers on her lap.
"Drive straight, the first left" Vrishali said. Padmanabh nodded his head. They reached the restaurant in less than ten minutes. Usually, her university friends go to the dawn as alcohol isn't served in Chubby Cho.
She just hopes that the place isn't filled. Vrishali put her bag in the car before getting down. Padmanabh removed his coat and placed it on his seat before closing the door.
Vrishali did a quick check when Padmanabh removed his coat. She can't help but gulp down the lump that formed in her throat. Vrishali felt like a homeless kid standing beside Padmanabh while he looked like a front line model.
Vrishali started walking with Padmanabh following behind. Padmanabh didn't want to check her out but he can't help it. He checked her out from head to toe as her legs are on show.
She is wearing a cute oversized hoodie with her long hair tied in a bun and white Nike shoes. Overall she looked cute, her tan is gone. Vrishali made a beeline towards the table where she usually sits with her friends.
Padmanabh sat opposite Vrishali even though he wanted to sit beside Vrishali. Vrishali pushed the menu towards Padmmanabh.
"The food here is really good"
"Any suggestions?" Padmanabh asked looking at the menu.
"The ramen bowl is best, it's my personal favourite with Gyoza chicken dim sums. They do have that veg which is also good"
"Good afternoon, ready to order?" Alizah said. She didn't see Vrishali yet.
"Hey Vrishali, sorry didn't see you. How was your exam week girl?" She asked.
"Hey Alizah, it went good," Vrishali tells her. Her gaze shifts to Padmanabh and then to Vrishali.
"Finally on a date huh?" she asked playfully and Vrishali smiled raising her brows.
"So ready to order?"
"The usual for me, veg for the gentleman" Vrishali tells Alizah.
"Chicken ramen bowl, veg ramen bowl, gyoza chicken and veg with two green apple tea" Alizah said.
"Wait a minute"
"Are you okay with green apple tea?" Vrishali asked Padmanabh.
"Yes"
"It's surprising seeing many people knowing you," Padmanabh said keeping his phone on the table. Vrishali smiled shaking her head.
"I have been coming to this place from my first year and the staff knows me. In university, I'm known as a social butterfly" Vrishali said.
"You come here alone?" Padmanabh asked.
"Nah, with my friends, rarely alone. This is the first time that I came out with someone" Vrishali said.
"Oh okay"
"To be honest, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were in Mumbai" Vrishali said.
"I was, I flew here from Mumbai" Padmanabh answered.
"So, you missed me and came here to meet me or?" Vrishali asked. Padmanabh looked at Vrishali in nervousness.
"Hmm yeah, I missed you," Padmanabh said. Vrishali looked at him in surprise and also in awe.
"I missed you too," Vrishali said watching Padmanabh's ears go pink. Vrishali chuckled looking at Padmanabh.
"Seriously I'm happy that you came over to meet me. I was missing you and thank god you missed me too"
Alizah is back with their food. She placed the food on the table.
"Enjoy your food," Alizah said before leaving.
"Our first lunch in New York together," Vrishali said picking her phone.
"Let's take a selfie," Vrishali said opening the camera.
"Ugh, I look like an idiot," Vrishali said before smiling at the camera. Padmanabh sat there holding chopsticks in his hand.
"No you look good," Padmanabh said when Vrishali put her phone down. They started eating, Padmanabh hummed liking the ramen.
"You like it?" Vrishali asked.
"Yes," Vrishali nodded her head sipping her green apple tea.
"I wanted to ask you that, why did you leave your jewellery in my room?" Padmanabh asked after a while.
Vrishali rolled her lip into her mouth thinking about what to say.
"Don't think of making an excuse"
"Honestly I was angry at you and I just left the jewellery in your room because it was given by you," Vrishali said.
"Why were you angry?" Padmanabh asked in confusion.
"Hmm" Vrishali didn't know what to say.
"Vrishali... You don't have to hide anything. You can tell me even if it is about my mum. I know you were upset about something" Padmanabh said as he remembered his sister saying about Vrishali hearing.
"Umm... I... I mean it wasn't intentional, I was crossing the hallway when I heard your mum telling your dad that you are sending me back to my parents home because you don't feel any bond with me. That it would be best if you stop it rather than live like strangers. I just didn't get it and you were ignoring me, your mom's words were ringing in my mind. I just thought you don't like me you know" Vrishali blurted it out in one go.
She is looking at Padmanabh for a reply as he looked at her with his usual blank face.
"I... I don't know what to say. Everything you heard is not true. I surely wasn't trying to lose you. I decided to send you here because you were missing your family and friends. I saw you crying sometimes and I couldn't see you like that. Then Vijay suggested a long-distance relationship, that's the reason I have sent you here. And why did you thought that I don't like you?" Padmanabh asked.
"Does that mean you like me?" Vrishali asked with curious eyes. She is nervous and excited to know the answer. She is praying to all god's that the answer should be yes.
Padmanabh blinked his eyes as she caught on the last sentence. He has to tell her and clear the air between them. He doesn't want to have any drama between them.
"Yes," Padmanabh said. Vrishali's eyes widen and she looked at Padmanabh like a gaping fish.
"Oh" Padmanabh's heart dropped hearing that. Does that mean she doesn't like him back?
"Oh?"
"Hmm"
"You don't like me?" Padmanabh asked Vrishali bluntly.
Vrishali chuckled, "you need to ask me on a date if you want to know my answer" Vrishali said ignoring him as she started eating her food.
"Isn't this date?" Padmanabh asked confused. Vrishali rolled her eyes.
"You need to ask me to go on a date with you. And you need to get me flowers, did you bring any flowers?" Vrishali said.
"I don't know that you need to bring flowers nor Naina Didi (sister) told me about it," Padmanabh said but more to himself.
Vrishali rolled her lips into her mouth to control her laugh. She is pulling his leg, she knew he is new to this. She is dancing in her mind knowing Padmanabh likes her.
He is opening up to her. Vrishali thinks it's good that she came to New York. She got to know that Padmanabh likes her because of the distance. She knew he wouldn't open up about his feelings if they were living together.
"Okay, will you go on a date with me?" Padmanabh asked.
"Sure" Vrishali accepted. Padmanabh smiled at her.
"Then I will take you on a date tomorrow"
"Done"
Suddenly Vrishali started laughing and Padmanabh shook his head and started laughing. Vrishali laughed because of how simply they sorted it off and how bluntly in a clear manner Padmanabh confessed to Vrishali that he likes her in a simple yes.
No sugar-coated words, no sentences, no paragraphs, no classy looking restaurants or locations...
He simply said yes when Vrishali sat there wearing an oversized hoodie and shorts with her hair tied in a messy bun.
And she is happy that Padmanabh was being Padmanabh. He didn't try to be some other person while confessing his feelings. Yeah, he was shy but at least he is willing to take a step forward.