We were all seated on the dining table, having our dinners. Most of the time Aai and Kartik were talking to Rudra. Whereas me and dad were quiet. It's not like we didn't liked his presence. Of course we did liked his presence but I had to maintain my distance from him because of Kiara's threat. All the while I was either staring at him or my food and maybe he was doing the same.

I took my sips of water as the biryani was too spicy. Mom on the other hand was talking to Rudra.

She asked, "Rudra beta, are you single?" and then she winked at me. I started coughing at the moment she winked at me and I couldn't even cough properly because my mouth was already accumulated by water. Kartik was seated beside me, he started rubbing my back and started chuckling simultaneously seeing my condition. When I stopped coughing I could see everyone's eyes were on me.

"Aai, is that a question to ask someone?" I almost screamed being aware of Rudra's presence. "There's nothing wrong in asking" she smiled at me making me more embarrass.

"Yes, aunty I'm single" Rudra said and he smiled looking at me. God this is so embarrassing they need to stop shipping me with him. I ate my dinner hurriedly so as to avoid any embarrassments ahead.

All had finished their dinners and all were chatting to Rudra so it's better I go to bed and sleep early. As I was heading towards my bedroom Rudra's voice stopped me.

"Preshtha, you were going to give me your notes" he asked with his eyebrows raised. Oh yeah I forgot that I had to share my notes, shall I reconsider sharing my notes my thoughts mocked me, because of obvious threats given to me. I don't know what got into me I nodded

"Come in my room" I said but I heard a whistle from Kartik which annoyed me. I eyed him terribly to which he got scared and shut his mouth. When I shifted my gaze back to Rudra his cheeks turned red and he was smiling like a little boy. Which made me smirk awkwardly.

I definitely don't want him to come to my room now.

"You know what? Stay here. I'll bring the notes here" I said to which he nodded and sat on the sofa which was beside a teapoy. In no time I brought all of my notes and settled them on the teapoy.

"Let me go through the notes" he said gazing me. I nodded and sat beside him. He was so concentrated reading my notes and whereas I was studying his facial features intensely. He's hot. He then looked at me and I shifted my gaze somewhere else. Why was I staring at him like crazy?

"Your notes are quiet good. Looks like you are a topper" he chuckled saying that to me. I shook my head

"No way, I'm not" I said looking at him. "Stop lying" he chuckled.

"Whatever you want to believe" I said giving him a fake smile. Well I'm but I don't like being called topper.

"Okay so I'll be giving you these notes tomorrow in college" he informed me. I shook my head and said, "why don't you xerox them now, the xerox shop is open beside my house" I said to him, because I don't want to go to college and meet Rudra there and then face the consequences with Kiara.

Mom entered between our conversation taking the brownies for us and placed it on the teapoy.

"Stop talking about studies now. I'm sure you both are going to graduate with good grades... by the way Rudra try taking a bite of brownie, Preshtha made it for you" she said smiling at us and left us alone. He stared at me for a while and that made me blush a little but I dismissed it immediately. I think I've started crushing on him again, which is ok it would be for one or two weeks.

"Uhmm, Preshtha I don't think I can go to the Xerox shop now. I'm already exhausted" he continued, "I had football practice in the morning so that's why" this made me frown and I nodded sadly. I'll collect the notes as soon as possible tomorrow then.

Rudra took the brownie and took a bite from it and he made this weird face, but he continued eating it. He took another bite and made the same expression. I definitely sensed something is wrong.

"Is the brownie tasting good?" I asked him. He nodded in response but his expressions were saying something else. I grabbed the spoon from him and took a bite of the brownie and to my suprise the brownie was super salty. Looks like I confused myself with salt and sugar, and in the place of sugar I added salt. Oh god and Rudra is going to take another bite. I stopped him from doing so.

"Are you crazy how can you  eat this??" I questioned him with concern, "I don't want your hardwork going in vain. So it's better I don't make you upset and instead eat the whole brownie" he said staring at the ground. Is he being shy right now? My eyes softened after what he just said. He is so sweet. I wonder how much sweetness he has beneath the cold facade he is placing over him.

I held his hand  and entangled my fingers with his.

"You are so dumb, you don't have to eat that. Even I wouldn't have eat it" I said assuring him. He passed me a smile and Kartik came rushing towards me. "Preshtha, what is this yaar, you added salt in the place of sugar, it tastes yuck" he said sticking his tongue out in disgust.

"Be like him" I said to Rudra pointing towards Kartik's complaint.

"Woah woah what's going on?" Kartik asked me.

"It's nothing" I giggled and took all the three plates to put them in the sink. When I came back from kitchen Rudra stood up from his place and walked towards me.

"I'm going now, it was fun having dinner with your family" he said smiling genuinely at me. I returned him a smile.

"By the way, why were you crying" he asked me as concern took over his place.

"Oh that's nothing, my assignments were incomplete" I lied.

"You are lying" he said intensely staring at me. I shook my head in response, "yes you are, you will tell me the reason tomorrow"  he said with strictness on his face and left my place.

×-×-×
That gesture was so cute.

What do you think will be the reason of Preshtha's puffy eyes?