“You still have nightmares.”

Advaith was shocked by her statement. It wasn't a question. She knew.

“H-how did you-”

He couldn't even get the question out.

“You wouldn't remember an event with such vivid details if not seeing it regularly. That was why you were so disturbed since the past week.”

He looked away and chuckled humourlessly.

“It all sounds like a movie right? That's my life!”

She looked at him with tears and he cursed and turned his face.

“Don't look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you pity me!”

She shook her head and pulled his hand to make him face her.

“No! I am not pitying you Advaith. Look at me. Please! Advaith please!”

He did and she got closer to him. Still mindful of not touching him, she spoke.

“I do not pity you. I am amazed at how strong you are. Tumne kabhi apni life ko rukne nhi dia. I remember your mother telling me how you took over your father's business and how you've been managing it so beautifully. I'm so proud of knowing that you fought with your fears and stood so strong.”

He continued to look into her eyes. An intense emotion surfaced in his eyes and she licked her lips drawing his attention towards them.

“I really like you Alisha. Really really do.”

She was tongue tied. He liked her? As in romantically? Or as a person?

“I know I sound selfish and you deserve someone normal but I want to keep you with myself. Always! Forever!”

Her gaze softened and she smiled.

“You are normal Advaith! And I-I think I like you too.”

She whispered tucking her hair behind her ear and lowering her head in shyness. He groaned and looked away.

“I so wish I was normal right now.”

“I just said you are normal. Why do you keep saying tha-”

“I'm not Alisha! I can't do what other people can. I want to hold hands with you, hug you, kiss you, love you forever.”

She got silenced and he sighed lowering his head.

“We are holding hands.”

He heard a small voice and looked at her pointing towards their joined hands and he chuckled. Ok! She wasn't wrong but he didn't mean that.

“I still can't hug you or kiss you.”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around him, careful not to touch any part of his skin.

“See! Were hugging now.”

She then placed a soft kiss on his bicep and smiled at him.

“And I just kissed you.”

That made him laugh. Wholeheartedly. A smile formed on her face seeing him laugh like that for the first time.

It had been almost a month since he had opened up about his past to Alisha and they have confessed their crush to each other.

Advaith was looking for Alisha. They have had their lunch an hour back and he went to complete his office work while she wandered off somewhere.

He smiled when he saw her ok the terrace. She was taking a nap while sitting on the recliner chair. He went close to her and chuckled seeing her frown as the sunrays fell directly on her face.

He sat in front of her blocking them from her face and her expressions relaxed. His hand moved involuntarily to her face. His fingers stopped an inch from her face, just hovering in the air.

He moved them downward to imitate the action of caressing her face. A lose strand was flowing in air and he so wanted to tuck it aside.

He sighed sadly but what happened next almost took his soul out of his body. She turned in her sleep and grabbed his hand putting it under her cheek, using his palm as a pillow.

Advaith looked at her wide eyed. She was touching his skin. His breathing went haywire and his hands started shaking. He got up abruptly and she frowned at the rays again.

That made her turn around and leave his hand. He ran down to his room and started searching for his tablets hurriedly.

His gaze fell on his hand and he saw that it was completely fine. It should have been swollen. Why did he not get any allergic reaction?

In fact, he felt completely fine too. Except for the erratic heartbeat. He was confused. Why did he not an allergic reaction? That was a long skin contact.

Was he getting better? Or was it a fluke? He wanted to confirm. So he sat thinking of a way to do it. A way which wasn't too deadly if failed.

He remembered Alisha saying she loved the vada pao that was made at a stall near his place. An idea struck him and he put his allergy tablets in his pocket and wore his mask. Taking a water bottle and his wallet he stepped out of the house.

His palms were getting sweaty but he was determined. He reached the stall and asked the person attending the stall to pack one vada pao.

His gaze stuck to the man's hands covered in chutney and whatever stuff he was using to make the delicacy. The man forwarded the packet to him.

“₹30 ho gye bhaiya ji.”

Advaith took out three notes of ₹10 and handed it to him while purposely brushing his fingers momentarily with the man's. It was a slight touch. But he felt it. He hurried off from there and had not even walked 10 steps when he noticed his fingers getting swollen and the allergy spread with a rapid speed.

He knew that by the time he reached home it will worsen to the point that it spread through his whole arm so he took the tablet first. Then he took a deep breath and continued walking home.

He entered his room and locked it. For the first time in this month. He has stopped doing it since he had confessed his feelings to Alisha.

How was it possible that he didn't get any reaction when Alisha touched him but got one right after when someone else did.

There was a knock on his door.

“Advaith? Door kyu lock kia hai?”

He opened it and smiled at her.

“Change kr rha tha. Madam se raha nhi gaya mere bina?”

He teased and she rolled her eyes although there was a hint of red tint on her cheeks.

“Leave that! I was making something for myself. You hungry?”

“Nope! But I got something for you.”

He passed her the parcel containing vada pao and she jumped in happiness seeing what was inside.

“You’re the best!”

She ran off the kitchen after kissing his bicep and he chuckled momentarily forgetting the incident.
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