Unexpected love

Prologue

On one hand he was happy that he was going to meet her but at the same time on another hand he was sad that it would be their last meet. Nervous, frightened or hurt, no word could define his feelings as he kept staring into a blank space, at nothing in particular. Just when a voice out of nowhere broke through his trance, bringing him out of his thoughts

"Karan...!"

It was none other than Aditi who called out his name right after entering the park waving one of her hands at him, while the other held something hidden behind her back which was clear as she approached him smiling vaguely.

The smile which felt different for the first time, which didn't make his heart skip beats or pound unevenly but slowed down trembling with an unknown pain.

He could very well notice she was trying her best to hide her sad face behind a smile, and hence not wanting to let her efforts go in vain, he lowered down his gaze, and sucking in a sharp breathe got up, greeting her with a wide bright smile who was now stood right in front of him smiling, as fake as his own.

Gesturing her to sit, both Karan and Aditi sat down exchanging a warm smile, but none of them could bring together enough courage to speak. Their heart beats abnormal, something which was usual when they were next to each other, but today it felt different, it wasn't just the feeling of shy but it felt heavy with something more, something they could not apprehend.

A silence enveloping the surrounding as they both hesitated to speak, running their eyeballs around glancing at each other forcing a smile before turning back their heads again, fidgeting with their fingers unsure what to speak.

Taking a deep breathe, releasing out a sigh and as such her nervousness, Aditi decided to break the ice between them shifting a little towards Karan turning herself to face him

"Best of luck for your further studies!! I'm really happy that you're finally getting what you wanted! Top in each exam like you have been doing until now, I know you will, you are one of the sharpest minds I've ever met! Never let anything come in between you and your dreams!", Aditi smiled at Karan who nodded blinking his eyes in assurance feeling a prickling behind it, at the understanding of her last words.

"Take care of yourself, here's a small gift from my side!!"

Saying that she stretched her hand forwarding a small box neatly wrapped, and with a red ribbon tied on top of it with a sticker reading

"From,
Your Bestie"

Reading which a bright smile tucked Karan's lips as he accepted it gleefully from her hands, flashing her his sweetest of smiles muttering

"Thank you! Thank you so much for this!"

"Your most welcome!!", She returned his smile quickly holding on to his hand which was about to untie the ribbon, adding

"Not now! Open it only after you reach the place!", Karan paused hearing her words, looking down at her hand which held his own he felt his heart melting as the thought crept into his mind that it was probably the last time he was feeling her soft hands on his and that after this no matter how much he craved he could not feel her hands.

Feeling her own heartbeat going numb by the touch, she quickly pulled her hand back bending her head, stretching the fallen hair strand on her forehead behind her ear.

Not getting any response from Karan who was caught in a battle between his mind and heart whether to give her the gift he had brought for her or not, Aditi uplifted her head to spot Karan fidgeting something in his left hand.

Eyeing up to look at him who was travelling his eyes all around unsure if to give it to her or not, was about to keep it back in his pocket but just that moment she held his wrist before he could reach his pocket, taking him by surprise as he looked at her who questioned with furrowed eyebrows