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I hear some rumblings around me as I open my eyes.
"Finally our princess woke up!" she says, fixing her makeup in the mirror of the dressing table.
"You are all ready, did you have plans today?"
"Did you forget about my classes? I told you that I would be starting classes soon."
I remember her mentioning it and now I think about it I am kinda sad to not have her spend time with. But I am happy seeing her happy and excited to go back to classes.
"I will leave in an hour."
I get out of the bed and move to stand behind her looking at her through her reflection in the mirror.
"You are braiding your hair today?" I ask as she struggles a little to braid.
"Let me help," I say as I take the mobile into my hands and reply to the tutorial video she was watching to guide her.
"You sure?" She asks, worrying a little.
"Turn around, I think I can do it."
I take her smooth jet black hair which are like shiny black silk threads and start slowly parting them.
"You know my mother used to comb my hair like this for school while I was younger." I had long braids parted in the middle. She has a smile as she says it.
"I don't think I could be as good as your mother but I will try my best." I struggle a little but do well as it goes on.
"You are good in your own way, Advik. Look you did soo good at your first attempt." She takes the braided hair and observes it smiling.
"Thanks for this. I will make breakfast so you can get ready."
I go to the bathroom as she goes into the kitchen.
I take a quick shower and wear black trousers along with white shirt.
"Woah, you look good in those." She comes closer and plants a kiss on my lips.
"Well I will drop you off to college and go to the bank" I say after kissing her back.
"Okay, let's have breakfast and leave".
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"Shall I drive? " she grins.
"No, not today Pari." Have you got everything for your class?
"That's sad and yeah I have everything I need." She gets into the passenger seat and leans back.
"Okay" I pulled out into the road.
After a few minutes we reach near her college but get stuck in a red light just a stop before.
"Hey, Pari! " a familiar voice knocks on the passenger side of the car.
To my horror it's Anirudh on his bike and seems to be on his way to college as well.
"Hi, Anirudh ready for class?" She's at it again, cheerful.
"Yeah and hope you are too." He grins in his signature style.
"Well then let's meet in class." The lights turn green and everyone's on their way.
I drop her in front of the entrance and she gets down with all her things.
"Bye, Advik. Have a good day." She waves at me.
"I will pick you up in the evening, just give a call okay? Be safe and enjoy your classes."
"Alright." A girl waves at her and joins her as she turns around to leave.
I drove to the bank to complete some work there.
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I called my close friend, Bharath as I sat in a restaurant near my previous office. It was lunchtime so I asked if he could meet me.
He came in tired from working and hungry.
"Hey man, how are you doing? " I asked as he spotted me and took a seat in front of me.
"Fine and what about you? How is that Mumbai project going on? Got any updates, huh?"
"Nah, it's going really slow and I wish I could complete projects faster like you" he laughs.
"It's okay you know I had plans to leave so I had to hurry but you can take your time though."
He nods and we order south indian thalis for lunch.
After filling up our stomachs and having little desserts he finally speaks.
"So how are your plans coming along to leave for the USA?"
"Actually that is what I came here for, you know I got married after the holidays I had".
I did not speak about my marriage to anyone till now but he was my close friend so I wanted him to know about it.
"What!!? Man, come on, it's not a good joke." He was surprised and looked a little confused as I nodded.
"It's not a joke, Bharath."
For the next few minutes I end narrating all the events of the past few weeks. He sits there with his mouth wide open.
"I mean if it's true I am really happy for man. You deserve all that. But you are going to leave her here? "
"I want you to help me out with this. I will leave for the USA in a month or less. So after I'm gone just help her out if she needs any help. I don't have anyone else to turn to".
"You don't even have to ask this, just give her my number and tell her to call me if she needs help. You are like a brother to me so she will be like a sister." His words bring me peace as I really wanted her to have someone to turn to if she needed help.
"Thank you so much, it means a lot. How is your wife and little Anya? It's been days since I met them."
"They are doing well and Anya started her first steps a few days back. You should come visit someday my wife was asking about you too few days back." He has pride in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
"I will visit you guys before I leave."
For the next few minutes we spend talking about other stuff and he stands up to leave as his lunchtime was ending.
I hug him before we part our ways
I reach her college as she calls me. She gets in the car and we drive back home.
"Advik, is someone inside the house?" she asks, sounding worried.
I grab the umbrella nearby and ask her to stand behind me.
A soft little teddy rolls near the couch so we move forward very slowly to see what it is.
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"Awww...Advik it's a kitten. Oh my god!! " She jumps forward and picks up the kitten and hugs it closer.
"Hey kitty, how did you come in?" She asks it as she pets it on the head and gives it a little scratch under its chin.
She realises and looks up at me smirking.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, I thought you could have a cute little friend after I leave."
She puts the kitten on carefully and runs towards me putting her hands around my neck and pulling close for a tight hug.
"Thank you thank you soo much." She jumps up and down, like an excited little kid.
"I am happy that you are ready to take it in." I kiss her on the cheeks.
"Why wouldn't I?" She giggles and picks up the kitten to kiss it on its tiny little pink nose.
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