Ishqiya - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

• Sadhana's Pov •
The next morning was normal as usual. I woke up early, gave Baba his medicine, helped Maa with the breakfast and lunch and then got ready for lunch. I packed my tiffin along with the extra one for the new neighbour.
I bid my parents bye and walked out of the apartment with a smile. Walking a few steps forward I rang the doorbell and waited impatiently for the new neighbour to open the door.
A few minutes passed and still no one answered the bell. I gazed at my wristwatch and again rang the bell tapping my foot on the floor beneath. I was getting late for work and I was in no mood to hear an earful from the vice principal for getting late.
The woman was already full of herself and I didn't want to spoil my whole day because of her rants. I was about to punch the door directly but before I could, it opened on its own accord and my fist stopped midway to land on a face. A very beautiful face to be precise.
"I'm sorry, I was actually on an important phone call so I couldn't hear you", his thick velvety voice entered my ears and I felt my senses stop working.
Was he a dream? Because he was too unreal to be true. Tall height, wide frame, square shoulders, broad chest, thick eyebrows, straight tall nose, high cheekbones, a bit crooked jaw and soft lips. His dark brown hair matched the colour of his eyes, deep, captivating and mesmerising. His toffee skin shone in the sunrays coming from the big common window complementing his complexion.
I felt the air leave my lungs and my heart hammered against my ribcage. I noticed a scar that ran from his left cheekbone to the inner corner of his eyeline, it was faint but still visible if you looked carefully.
"Huh!?"
A throaty voice escaped from my throat as I stood spellbound by the beautiful specimen standing in front of me. He was handsome, and smelled of musk, driving my senses crazy.
"Anirudh, Anirudh Chowdhury and you are?", he said bringing me out of my daydreaming and I realised I was openly ogling at him.
A red hue coated my cheeks and I gazed at my feet embarrassed. My sandals suddenly felt so interesting. His aura made me feel so intimidating and welcoming at the same time.
"I'm Sadhana Dhar"
I felt myself replying and then raised my head. My eyes collided with those dark brown eyes which appeared like poles of honey in the sun's rays. And in the world of blues, I wished for the pool of honey.
I hesitantly passed him the lunch box. "Maa sent this for you, she said she'd be pleased if you join us for dinner tonight since you're new here", I felt really small in front of him. It wasn't as if I was short but his frame was far bigger than mine.
"Abhi aunty neh itna pyaar se bulaya hai toh unki baat toh nhi taal sakte, I'll surely join you all", he smiled softly. He smiled, he freaking smiled, that also at me? My mind couldn't comprehend all those oceans of emotions that I was feeling.
Our eyes still held strong contact as his fingers brushed through mine with the pretext of taking the lunch box from my hand. Electric jolt through my veins and those butterflies in my stomach made my knees feel jelly.
I felt the sudden warmth surge through my lungs, blowing through my blood, mingling with my breath and making it hard for me to breathe.
"Sadhana, tu abhi tak gyi nahi?", we're interrupted by Maa who emerged from the closed door.
I quickly stepped behind and instantly missed his warmth. He successfully managed to affect me with his presence.
"Oh-ohh M-mai ja-ja h-hi rhi thi", I bit my tongue for foolishly stammering
"Oh Anirudh beta, vaise you had breakfast? Kaisa laga mere haath ka khana?", Maa questioned him to which he politely smiled and both of them immersed in a conversation
Getting late for work was long gone as I admired the new neighbour who lived just before my apartment.
"Sadhana, why don't you show him to the metro station and make him familiar with the surroundings, bichara he is new here, he'd have a hard time dealing with everything. It's better if you tag along", Maa was genuinely concerned for him and that's when I noticed that he was in his work clothes.
A crisp sky blue button-down with black dress pants. I nodded my head since taking the metro was the only option or I'd be late for school.
They talked about something which I didn't pay any heed to. He quickly vanished inside behind the doors and a few minutes later we were walking side by side to the metro station.
"So sadhana? What do you do?", he questioned breaking the thick tension between us
"I teach dance to school children. And you?"
I replied and then questioned him back. Even though we walked side by side there was still some space between us. His proximity was affecting me and his musky scent addicting my scenes.
"You dance? That's impressive. My sister loves dancing too, you know at every function she is the party changer who steals the show with her Moves. Well, I work in an MNC, I recently got transferred from the Delhi branch", he informed. Rather than a few others who looked down on me for the choice of my profession, he looks genuinely impressed. Especially the way his eyes sparkled at the mention of his sister, and the admiration they held for me added more to his charm.
"Thank you, where's your office though?", I thanked him
"It's in the direction opposite to your school, but we could daily walk together to the metro station and back, only if you want", he replied and added the later part with a smile and I found myself nodding absent-mindedly.
His eyes again met mine and my heart skipped a bit. Please, Anirudh, don't make me feel those forbidden emotions that I won't be able to accept. For me, all those butterflies and feelings felt like a one-time thing. Happiness doesn't last in my life and I don't wanna ruin things up. But a tiny part of me wanted him to be something, wanted something better for us. I wished for a US. Even though it was too soon, the stranger managed to break through my walls affecting me deeply.
"So we're now friends right?", he asked as we reached the station and waited for the train. I just shook my head, feeling tongue-tied in front of him.
"so now I can get your number?",
I just stared at him bewildered. Was the handsome guy asking for my number? It felt so weird to be true. I blinked several times trying to stop my racing heart.
"Huh?"
"Your phone number?", he asked again and I was too preoccupied to even think straight.
"Never mind", he said and snatched my phone from my hand. He unlocked it and opened the calling app. I never locked my phone, maybe because I never found the need to.
His long calloused fingers effortlessly tapped on the screen and then he passed me my phone back.
"I have saved my number, call me once you get off work, so we can walk back together", he passed me his infamous charming smile and walked away towards the train.
I sat still trying to process what was happening. Did the handsome guy give me his number? Hell, he saved it on my phone. A slow and small smile crept on my face as I started at the ten-digit number on the screen.
When I finally realised what happened, I sat on the bench grinning like a fool to myself. The handsome guy was surely making his way inside those cracked walls of my heart.