Once upon a heartbeat! - (15)

 


*Click here for the previous chapter...(14)*


Confession? :


Armaan put the jacket over Alora once again. He asked her to lock in her seat belt. Armaan got in the car. "Where do you stay? Same area where I picked you from? Where do I drop you?", he asked. 

Alora was still gauging the situation and the sudden questions baffled her, " I stay...Sir but the party?", she couldn't frame her sentence too.

"Party is over. I will find out who spiked your drink. This is not how I want my employees to behave. I've texted the manager. You don't have to worry. Let me know your address ", Armaan replied with a stern voice.

Alora thought the atmosphere had become a bit serious now. "I stay far from here. But you can drop me at my friend's place. The same place you picked me from", Alora said, in a soft tone, going with the serious mood.

"Okay fine. Put on the jacket properly", Armaan spoke in a commanding voice.

Alora listened to him like an obedient kid, or was it an 'obedient-girlfriend' feel. She wrapped herself with the jacket and the known musky fragrance hit her. "I felt the same when I was outside the restroom sometime ago. Whiff of this perfume, loud heartbeats, I could sense all that", Alora wondered as she recollected in bits and pieces, when she had fainted in Armaan's arms. Alora thought that for just this one, just an impulsive moment, could she hug Armaan? But at the second thought she composed her emotions somehow.

Armaan dropped her at Jia's place. 

"Thankyou Sir. I will return the jacket in few days. I will dry clean it and handover. Is it okay Sir?", Alora asked as she got down from the car.

"No worries, take your time. Now go in. I will wait here till you enter the main gate of the society", Armaan replied with a gentle but mesmerising smile. "And yes, can you come early to work tomorrow? I've something to tell you", Armaan added.

Alora waved and proceeded to the gate. She kept glancing back and forth,  Armaan was really waiting in the car. She reached the gate and gestured him to leave. The car drove off. "What does he want to tell me? Why is he so sweet? Ufff is he going to confess his love?", Alora thought, clutching her hands on Armaan's jacket that she was wearing.  

She told Jia everything that had happened. Alora was so elated that she couldn't fall asleep that night. 

The alarm rang as usual and Alora got up all panicked. She wasn't at Jia's place. It was her room, her messy room in 2020.

"Why am I back so early? I want to be with Armaan. He would've confessed his feelings for me. But the dream was interrupted right at this time?", Alora was unhappy. 

She got ready for school and left, hoping she would be pulled into the book somehow and things would proceed. 

Jia looked into her bag and asked, "You didn't bring the book with you today?".

"Heartbeat? No, I've finished reading it", Alora replied. 

The day progressed with studies, sports and other activities.  It was time to go home now. 

Alora wondered why nothing unusual happened today. No football accelerated towards her, no wormhole, nothing pulled her into the book. 

Alora talked to Jia about it, "You said I could control my dream...but Jia I can do nothing. It happens on its own. I cannot decide when to get in or when to exit". Alora sounded very low. 

Jia patted her back. "Relax it's just a dream. Don't be so sensitive about it. We are high school girls. We've our whole life in front of us. We will go to college next year. Alora, we will meet so many people", Jia pacified her.

"I know, but how will I meet Armaan?", Alora sighed.

"Let's have your favourite chocolate icecream on our way home, what say?", Jia smiled trying to console Alora.

Alora nodded and hugged her.

"It's your birthday in few days Alora. What gift do you want?", Jia asked. 

"Will you be able to give me the gift that I want?", Alora tensed her eyebrows. "If not, then let's have some icecream for now", Alora smiled. And Jia smiled with her.

Both the friends enjoyed the icecream in the bus on their way home.


*Click here for the last Chapter...(16)*


AUTHOR'S NOTE  : Your comments make my craft better. Please let me know your thoughts and do write your names while commenting. Thankyou!

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