CHAPTER 18: soft heart inside a tough body

HEYYYY GUYSSS!!!

WE REACHED 1K Y'ALL!!

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPYYYYYYYYY!!

THERE WERE A LOT OF MOMENTS WHERE I FELT DISCOURAGED ENOUGH TO STOP THIS BOOK

THANKS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO KEPT TELLING ME TO CONTINUE WITH THE STORY!

NOW I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE NO. OF READS...!!

AND SINCE WE'VE REACHED 1K READS... I WANT TO MAKE A REVELATION

SO DON'T FORGET TO READ THE NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER!

HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER!!

HOPE YA'LL LIKE ITT!!!

THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVEE!!

LOVE YA'LL!! KEEP SUPPORTING!!

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ADITI'S POV:

ADITI: you can't be for real..!

SATHVIK: why what's wrong in that?

ADITI: i mean.. its not wrong but.. how can you even survive on two slices of toast and a salad as your meal for three times a day?

SATHVIK: i am used to it you know.. also i am a sportsperson so my calories stay in check too in that way.

ADITI: sathvik, it's not about calories.. you won't have enough nutrition.

SATHVIK: well i am having salad remember?

ADITI: but still it's not enough-

SATHVIK: awwwww are you caring about me now.

ADITI: don't raise your hopes too much. i am a bio background student so it irked me up.

SATHVIK: arreee.. i thought you cared about me.

ADITI: okay so we've completed upto your nutrition part and you have some serious nutrition issues. we'll speak about this-

SATHVIK: peanut.. as much as i love speaking to you.. i'll have to leave. i have errands to run.

ADITI: where are you going?

SATHVIK: well, its not that exciting of a place.

ADITI: bruh we come to college daily, you think i am excited to come here?

SATHVIK: i feel you girl.. i really do.

ADITI: so where are you going?

SATHVIK: part time job.

ADITI: WHAT?! you do a part time job???? woahhhh that's a surprise.

SATHVIK: why is it so surprising?

ADITI: nothing, you seem like you only go to parties. don't you get invited to many of them?

SATHVIK: well yeah i go to parties but only to the ones that are hosted by my close friends.

ADITI: then how come everyone in this campus knows you even if you don't attend many parties?

SATHVIK: well, you know peanut, this face of mine.. it doesn't require any party to get noticed.

ADITI: yeah yeah whatever.

SATHVIK: ok then, i'll take my leave.

ADITI: i want to join you.

SATHVIK: you sure? its not exciting-

ADITI: as if i love being in an exciting place.

SATHVIK: *chuckle* well that's fair.

ADITI: yess!! so can i come?

SATHVIK: sure peanut.

ADITI: ok then let's leave.

I jumped up and started hopping just to hear him chuckle.

ADITI: why are you laughing?

SATHVIK: you're cute.

ADITI: i know..!

with that we we left to where he works. working with him hasn't been a bad experience at all. infact i enjoy it. He can be irritating and so full of himself sometimes but he makes me laugh. It feels good to be with him. We were working on his nutrition intake details today and it has some serious issues. I'll have to make sure to change his diet for sure.

He took me by surprise when he told me he works part time. I mean isn't he busy enough? he has to do his degree and manage sports too. he has to write assignments, do trainings, prepare for tournaments and so much more. Yet he works part time. I don't know what came over me that i asked him if i could join him but i just couldn't stop myself. I wanted to see where he works.

so here we are, walking side by side with awkward silence surrounding us. I didn't like it so i decided to break it.

ADITI: so.. why are you working part time?

SATHVIK: because i can't work full time lol.

ADITI: haha so funny sathvik.

SATHVIK: i know right peanut.

he said with a wide sheepish grin plastered on his face.

ADITI: on a serious note.. why do you work part time?

SATHVIK: I need money.

ADITI: for what?

SATHVIK: for surviving ofcourse.

ADITI: what do you mean-

SATHVIK: we're here!!

ADITI: huh?

SATHVIK: the place where i work.

i turned around and found a cute cafe. he told me he'll talk to the owner and ask if i could stay there for some time. I simply nodded and he entered inside the cafe. He was speaking to an old lady and she seems to be too excited when she looked at me. She had a wide grin on her face while she patted his head and nodded and then looked at me and waved her hand. I waved back and went inside when sathvik gestured me to come in.  I went in and that old lady patted my head and told me i could stay there for as long as i want. She offered me to eat anything i wanted and it would be on the house. I nodded at her with a smile to which she replied with a smile as well and left the cafe.

ADITI: that lady looks pretty close to you.

SATHVIK: yep she is.

ADITI: by the way why was she soo happy and excited to see me?

he had a wide smile on his face. all 32 of his teeth visible.

SATHVIK: she thought you were my girlfriend.

ADITI: WHAT?!

SATHVIK: woahh chill.. i corrected her on that.

ADITI: good for you.

I sat there while i watched him work. He took orders from people and simultaneously handled the coffee machine. Damn he works hard. I thought of him as a complete party person and a jerk. But he looks like a responsible guy. He works hard and treats everyone nicely. I don't know why i sat there till he ended his shift but i didn't feel like leaving without him.

SATHVIK: hey peanut. you didn't leave? aww were you waiting for me?

ADITI: nopee.. i was doing some work related to college. Shall we leave?

SATHVIK: yeah just wait for a moment. let me take those left over pastries and snacks with me.

ADITI: oh my my, are you stealing the snacks?

SATHVIK: *sigh* No aditi, the owner herself has told me that i can take the leftover snacks and pastries. And these are not for me, chill.

ADITI: then whom are you taking these for?

SATHVIK: you'll know soon. Wanna join me.

i just nodded like a kid and followed him. Soon we reached a dark alley, it had a few tents lined up and few kids were sitting there and giggling playing with stones. they didn't wear proper clothes. the clothes which they had on them were torn.

SATHVIK: kya haal hai baccha party?

(what's up kids?)

those kids turned around to see him and ran to him with huge smiles on their faces and hugged him tight.

KIDS: bhaiiyaa!!!!

SATHVIK: kaiso ho tum sab?

(how are you all?)

they all nodded happily indicating they were fine.

he bent down and gave the snacks to them. they all received it happily. he sat there with them and spoke happily and enjoyed his time. I was staring at them with aww when i felt someone pulling kurti and i looked down to find a little girl smiling at me and gesturing me to bend down. i did as she told and she gave me a pastry. I looked at sathvik and he signalled me to accept it with a smile on his face. I accepted the pastry from the girl with a huge smile and thanked her. she just giggled shyly and ran away. sathvik gestured me to join them and I did. I loved spending time with them. It felt soo refreshing and the atmosphere was damn positive. I forgot all my worries and just laughed like there was no tomorrow. It was late so we left from there. All the time sathvik had a smile on his face. However he had a few snacks and pastries left in the bag. I couldn't control my curiosity and asked him.

ADITI: for whom are these?

SATHVIK: these are for my own brother and sister. Don't worry, i've paid for these. The ones i gave to those kids were from the owner tho.

ADITI: you have siblings?

SATHVIK: yep. and i need to take care of them. i am out most of the time so i can't cook for them. though my sister knows how to cook, i don't want her to cook everyday. she needs to concentrate on her studies.

ADITI: what about your parents?

SATHVIK: they're no more.

My eyes widened at this. Out of all the things i had in my brain, none of them were this. I was genuinely shocked and felt very bad.

ADITI: i- i am sorry. I did- didn't k-know.

SATHVIK: that's okay peanut.

ADITI: then how do you handle everything? you don't have any relative of yours to take care of you?

SATHVIK: I and my siblings get scholarship for our studies. And no, none of the relatives are helpful enough you know. I have an elder cousin brother tho who says he wants to help, but i don't like to accept help. I am perfectly capable of raising my siblings and i will do it alone.

ADITI: is that the reason why you work part time?

he simply nodded.

SATHVIK: you are not feeling bad for me are you? i don't like people showing sympathy.

ADITI: no sathvik, i am proud of you.

ADITI: and those kids? what about them?

SATHVIK: ohh i was just walking back home from work when i saw them once. they're really strong to be honest and don't demand anything. their parents are out the whole day doing chores and they take care of themselves. they don't have good clothes to wear, don't have toys to play with, don't get proper food, yet they're so happy. I just wanted to make their life a bit more happy. It could be me and my siblings in their place if i wasn't strong enough to take care of them. I like spending time with those kids.

ADITI: you're not bad you know.

SATHVIK: i know. *chuckle* stop looking at me like that.

ADITI: why? i will look at you. try to stop me if you can.

SATHVIK: careful peanut, I might think you've started to like me.

ADITI: you're right, i've started liking your values, you're a very good guy sathvik.

I saw the tip of his ears getting red. is he blushing? but i didn't point it out as i didn't want to make him feel awkward. we just stood there with awkward silence around us.

SATHVIK: ughh it's getting late, i think you should get going.

ADITI: ye-yeah you're right.

SATHVIK: shall i drop you home?

ADITI: no that's ok. i'll book a cab.

SATHVIK: you sure?

concern was genuinely evident in his voice.

ADITI: yes i am!! now you go back home, your siblings must be waiting for you..!

he gave me a genuine smile and nodded his head.

SATHVIK: bye peanut, see you tomorrow.

i smiled and him and waved.

ADITI: see you tomorrow too.

with that we left for our respective destinations.

*sigh* SATHVIK KAPOOR, YOU HAVE SUCH A SOFT HEART INSIDE A TOUGH BODY.

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END OF THE CHAPTERR--!!

OKAAAYYYY SO THE THING I WANTED TO REVEAL WAS...

IF YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH THE FEMALE CHARACTERS' PERSONALITY AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP, THEN I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THEY'RE REAL LIFE PEOPLE!!

YEPP ITS ME AND MY FRIENDS BUT OUR NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED THAT'S IT!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING SO MUCH LOVE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO POST MORE CHAPTERS..!!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!! LOVE YA'LL!!