Her Innocent Gaze ² °^•^°

Himani's small study table. Books on physics, chemistry, and thick biology textbooks are pulled high. The ceiling fan spins slowly, doing little to cool the June heat. Outside, the sounds of busy Indian Street filled the air - a vendor calling out, a rickshaw bell ringing.

Himani stares at a diagram of the human heart, a drop of sweavendorly rolling down rickshawe.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

Another diagram, another wave of panic ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ *said dramatically*

Himani Kaushal [fl]

Focus Himani focus *drink a sip of water*

Himani Kaushal [fl]

The left ventricle pumps to the body.... And my brain cells are dying from overload, that's what it is ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

Her phone buzzes, it's a message from her best friend, Divya.

Divya Rao [fl's bestie]

*text* Still drowning in biology??😂 Suno, your bua found a "super-duper" tutor from Delhi😂😂😂

Himani Kaushal [fl]

Don't remind me. Probably some nerdy guy with glasses who'll lecture me on molecular biology when I'll still can't tell artery and vein.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

Ugh!!! Bas sar dard aur badhane aayega😫 [He'll only come to increase my headache.]

Suddenly, a car horny blasts loudly outside. Then, voices rise from downstairs - her bua [aunt's] excited voice and a deeper male voice Himani didn't know. Himani's heart sank. He was here.

Living room. Her bua [aunt] is practically jumping with joy, leading in a tall young man. He has a backpack and a small suitcase. He definitely doesn't look like the "nerdy, spectacled" guy Himani imagined. His hair is a little messy, a confident smile on his face, and his eyes even from far away, seem to shine with easy charm.

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

*beaming, almost pulling him further inside* Kartik beta!!! You made it!!!

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Such a long journey, aao aao, baitho!!! [come, come, sit!!!]

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Himani, meet Kartik. He's Mrs. Sharma's nephew from Lajpat Nagar. He's doing his MBBS in Delhi, and he'll be staying with us for a bit and helping you with your NEET studies (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*thinking in mind* MBBS?? A doctor in training?? Oh, okay, not family but a medical student. This is going to be awkward.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*sign*

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*holding out a hand, his smile getting wider, his voice warm and smooth*

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

You must be Himani. Nice to meet you, Bua aapke baare mein bohot baatein karti hai.(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠) [Bua talks a lot about you.]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*thinking in mind* His hand felt warm. His smile reached his eyes. And Bua talks about me?? What did she even say???

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*cheeks getting hot*

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*stuttering a bit* H...hi, welcome.⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Arre, sharmao mat, Himani!!! Kartik's going to help you with your NEET, isn't it great?? Such a smart boy, cleared NEET in his first attempt!!! [Hey, don't be shy Himani!!!]

NEET!!! First attempt!!! And here she was, struggling with the same monstrous exam. The pressure. The reason he was here. But somehow, looking at him, her fear of exams suddenly went away, replaced by a different kind of nervousness. A strange, new flutter.

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*still smiling at Himani, maybe sensing she was uncomfortable*

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

It'll be fun, Himani. We'll conquer those textbooks together. What's your biggest enemy right now for NEET?? Physics?? Chemistry?? Biology??

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*meeting his eyes for a second, a tiny almost shaky sound in her voice* Physics... Definitely physics.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*she added the last part almost automatically realizing it's still her core struggle*

Total 580 words😉

To be continued....