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"Tara!" Aisha screamed across the Oxford University gardens, "Hurry up!"

Tara turned around, still in conversation with her other friends. She smiled and waved at Aisha, as if gesturing to Aisha that 'I'm coming'. After 5 minutes, she walked over to Aisha, putting an arm around her friend, "Bolo madam!"

"We're going for the careers event today. Do you want to join?" Aisha explained, glancing at Aria and Tara.

Tara thought for a second, "Hmm. I don't mind."

Aria nodded too, "Yeah. Let's go. When is it?"

The girls walked over to the career fair—entangled in conversations and in lots of yapping throughout. As they entered the lecture room, Aisha's eyes fell on Aakash, Rohan, Karan and Aryan.

"Are you comfortable?" Aria turned to Tara, instantly concerned for her friend.

Tara nodded, knowing very well that she can't escape him. "I'm good. Let's go sit."

As they walked over to the guys, they settled themselves while Aryan glanced at Tara, a small smile creeping up on his lips. He quickly moved his bag, implying that the seat near him is free. Tara looked there and aimed to sit somewhere else, but to her luck—all other seats got taken. She looked over at Aisha, who she thought would have helped her out—but she was busy in conversation with Rohan.

Sighing, she sat herself near Aryan.

The career fair started as the lecturer walked in, giving his talk. Tara sat with her shoulders stiff. Being near Aryan was rising something in her which she had buried down. She glanced a little at him.

He had grown.

His jawline had gotten sharper since she last saw him. His eyes didn't have their glow—she missed that. Sighing, she tried to look away until her hands were taken into a big hand. His hand.

"You okay?" He whispered.

She looked at him, not wanting to talk much, but she couldn't help but look into his eyes. "Yes."

His eyes softened as he gazed at her. "If you need anything, tell me."

She looked away, trying to break through the captivating gaze of his eyes. "I'm fine, Aryan."

"I know you are. I just want to increase that fine to better." He said softly.

Those words. She thought. They always had an effect on her. She took a deep breath as she tried to look away. But her eyes fell again on him again.

He chuckled and whispered to her, coming close, "Don't fight your eyes, Star."

She looked away, trying to keep herself strong, "I'm not fighting anything. Just let me focus."

"As you say, ma'am!" He chuckled and went back to his lecture.

~•~

As the group made their way outside the lecture hall, there was conversation and giggles everywhere. The tension of the group had eased, and no one knew how. Everyone knew about Tara and Aryan being together, but no one addressed it—for their sake.

"Guys?" Aisha asked, "What are your plans?"

Rohan thought for a moment before replying, "I don't really know. Maybe we might just sit in our flat and watch a movie or finish a module. What about you?"

"I was thinking we have a board game night!" Aisha exclaimed in joy, "What say?"

"I like this!" Aakash said, "When do we meet and where?"

"Hmmm. What about my studio?" Aisha asked, "9?"

"That works!" The boys agreed.

"Alright guys!" Aakash said, "I have to go. I have a supervisor meeting. I'll catch you guys later."

"Oh shoot! I do too!" Aisha said, "Wait. Aakash I'll come with you. We have the same supervisor anyway!" She walked towards Aakash as they walked out.

Rohan, Karan and Aria looked at each other, gesturing to themselves. They could sense the tension between Tara and Aryan and instantly decided to leave, each of them making their own excuses.

Tara and Aryan looked at each other.

They knew what was going on. They could easily tell what was going on. Sighing, Tara decided to break the ice. "Okay. I'm going to my studio. Bye."

She was walking ahead when her wrist was caught by him, as she was pulled towards Aryan. She looked at him as he caught her.

"I'm coming with you, Taru." He whispered against her ears.

"No, it's okay." She said.

"I didn't ask you. Come on." He said, took her hand and started walking.

As they walked towards their studio, they were silent. No one spoke. Tara was trying to fight her inner demons. She was scared by everything that's happening. Aryan looked at Tara. His Tara. He wanted her to break her guard. But he also knew that he had no rights to ask her for that. As they reached the studio, they went inside the elevator.

Tara's silence was deafening him. He looked at her, "Tara? Can you talk to me?"

She looked at him, caught off-guard by his straightforwardness. "W...What?"

He walked closer to her, caging her against the wall and him, "I said—can you talk to me, Star?"

"What do you want?" She asked.

"I want you. Is that not obvious enough?" He said, casually.

"And I told you, it isn't happening. Not again."

"Why not?"

"You know the reason, Aryan. What else do you want to know?"

He was about to reply when the elevator opened. He sighed, looking down. Then, he held her hand and took her out. She was expecting her to be lead to her studio but she noticed him opening his own door.

She looked at him, "This isn't my studio."

"What's mine is yours." He said, without looking at her, "Come in."

He opened the door and led her inside. She noticed the messy state of his studio. With a wide eye, she snapped, "Why are you not cleaning your room?"

He looked at her and smiled, "I will clean it. In due time."

"What is due time?" She asked.

"You'll see." He said and slowly kissed her palm. Her eyes widened, catching her very off-guard.

"I need to go. Why am I here?" She quickly said.

"Because—I want to spend time with you." He looked at her, "Please."

She sighed, not able to say no to his request. "Fine."

He chuckled nodded. Then he went towards his kitchen to make a cup of chai for them. As he cooked, she got flashbacks of their first year. It was the same. Him cooking, her listening and talking. They spending so much time together. She sighed, looking away.

"What's wrong?" He asked, giving her a cup.

She took it and looked at him, "You are really going to ask me that? When you clearly know what's wrong."

"Tara. It was wrong. But—this isn't. We can't be wrong, Star. I know you won't forget but I want you to try. I know I'm asking you for too much. But please, trust me."

"Aryan!" She said, coming to him, "Your mother is in this city. The same lady who hates me. I saw the way she looked at me that time and I—"

"Star." He gently held her hand, "Mom doesn't hate you. I know what she did was wrong. And she's sorry about it. But—she doesn't hate you. She doesn't. She wants to make things right."

"She literally goes away when I'm around."

"Look again, Star." He sighed, "She doesn't go away. I send her away." He muttered, more to himself.

"What?"

"Yeah." He sighed, "I know how scared you get around her. And I don't want to feel that way again. That's why I keep her away from you."

She looked at him, trying to search for any uncertainty in his eyes. But she found none.

She quickly finished her chai cup and started to head out. As she left, she held the door knob but didn't look back as she spoke, "Aryan?"

"Yes, Star?"

"Fix things with your mom."

"Star, you know I don—"

"Please. Fix things with your mom."

💜