"You don't know him, you don't know that he exists, just act like you don't care that he's here, his presence shouldn't affect you, calm down," Arvika was busy in chanting it like a mantra since the last five minutes while Kavya could only gape at her friend's paranoid behavior. Dev wasn't even here and her chanting had already started, with her shivering hands which were just so uncertain along with the goosebumps on her arms, what was it? A special feeling because of the doubt of the presence of someone? Or, the dread and dismay of the Dev, the daredevil's presence?

Yesterday, she was being all sturdy and strong but now she was behaving like a meek and weak mouse who was just wheezing in fear bereft of the presence of the special someone.

"Arvika, relax, he's not here," Kavya put her hand on Arvika's, pressing it in assurance, not liking the way her friend was hyperventilating over this pointless thing.

Both of them were stubborn yet inseparable that had compelled to break their ice-like silence and their all anger had melted away. They had patched up in the middle of their second lecture only as Arvika too had felt guilty of what she had spoken so venomously against Kavya yesterday night in her anger and frustration. After an apology filled with sincerity and guilt, they were together again.

"I just wish he's not here," Arvika muffled, peering at the solemn-looking seniors from yesterday.

After four back-to-back lectures of the duration of one hour each, finally, they had their break time now for which most of the students were impatiently waiting for. But what they didn't know was that they'd be greeted by the very seniors who had ragged Arvika yesterday, in an indirect way. The very seniors of the ECE department, from the second, third, and fourth year, exclusively.

"These guys have literally nothing to do, kitne velle bande hain yaar ye (How useless and free these people are)," Vinay grunted out in a heavy voice in his native Punjabi tone apprehending the presence of the same president who was so much interested and piqued by the girl whom he too had started to like. The president still hadn't come, Vinay sighed and looked at Arvika who was busy in murmuring with her friend, god knows what.

"Now, they'll be consuming our 'lunchtime' too, how lucky and fortunate of us," Vinay's another friend too whined after seeing the invasion of their seniors in their classroom and that too in their lunch period of one-hour duration after their hectic, non-stop lectures of four-hours!

Like these two, other students too had such expressions and thoughts when they saw their seniors, again and that too in their lunch break. Even boring lectures could be tolerated but not hunger.

"Guys, silence please, I know you are too impatient for your lunch break after those never-ending lectures, but there's just a piece of news for you all. The orientation program has been scheduled for tomorrow and, after your lunch break, we guys are going to have an official interaction session as yesterday we couldn't finish what we have started. Your labs are canceled, but not your day ahead, so kindly come for the interaction session sharp at 2:15 pm. Enjoy your lunch break," Prateek, the same senior guy announced on the mike, cheering up the disheartened hearts and famished tummies of the freshers who answered back with a 'yay'. Thank god, the freshers whispered among themselves.

"Kavya, let's go," Arvika along with Kavya too left for their mess, not wanting to hold on their hunger anymore, with Arvika inwardly thanking her God for not showing the pig-lipped Dev.

****

"Wow, he's looking so handsome in his sky blue denim and those rolled-up sleeves, god, I am already in heaven," a fangirl of Mr. President aka Dev Kapoor awed at the man who had finally entered the room for whom everyone was waiting so longingly. Eyes were set at him, some with adore, some with lust, and some with dreams and goals. But his eyes only longed for one who was already busy in muttering colorful words against him.

"And, here the pig enters," Arvika mumbled noticing how everyone had stood after the entry of the so-called president of their institute. This time goosebumps were there on her flawless skin but the veg biryani along with the mouthwatering 'Dum aloo' had given her ample cosmic energy to fight against the daredevil. She was giving a menacing challenge to the amused eyes which were already fixed on hers.

"Afternoon, sir," Prateek greeted his senior as soon as Dev stood in the middle of the classroom, noticing the gawky, flirty glares thrown at him along with some dreamy sighs. That was his aura and persona, exclusively his! He acknowledged Prateek's greeting with a nod and concentrated in the front now.

"Please sit down," he commanded in a soft tone, his eyes set firmed at one girl only.

"Good afternoon, guys!" Dev cheered for the audience and got excited responses from the already exhilarated and power-pumped youth! Even after having a good amount of food, they still were completely wakeful and alert instead of being drowsy and sleepy, which was splendid.

"So, yesterday, I couldn't introduce myself because of some special someone, so," he took a pause and flashed his dimpled-smile towards Arvika who retaliated it back with a fake smile of hers. For sure, she didn't want anyone to know about the praiseworthy past they shared, note the sarcasm, it'd be too humiliating and embarrassing.

"I am Dev Kapoor, student of fourth-year, electronics & communication engineering, and also, the president of the student-body of Indian Institute of Engineering and Technology, Delhi. And I, welcome you all wholeheartedly," Dev introduced himself striding towards the end row of the classroom as he had noticed how two boys were busy doing something on their mobile phones. All the eyes too retraced his path and looked at the two boys who were standing on the seats now, having their head put down in shame.

"So, you thought I wouldn't know?" Dev had caught them red-handed doing something really outrageous and ridiculous against him.

"Sorry sir, I am really sorry, it was.." the fresher guy stopped speaking with just the palm movement of Dev.

"Come, I said come," with a little loud voice, Dev dragged them on the little elevated stage, for everyone to witness the scene that was going to behold in a few minutes only.

"These boys were busy in making a video of mine using the infamous Snapchat filter of a dog, how applauding," with a touch of sarcasm dripping from his mouth, Dev snarled, raising his one brow at the two boys who were extremely near to pee in their pants seeing the raged eyes of their president.

How wrong they were to play against Dev, Dev Kapoor!

While everyone was looking at the two boys with their accusing eyes Arvika was busy in stifling her laugh that was trying to form on her lips.

"Instead of dogs they should've used some 'pig's' filter on him," she giggled while Kavya could only glare back at her friend to shut up but who could make that silly understand.

"You know how you two can be sued so mercilessly for this?" Rahul, another senior too growled at the fresher boys, not liking even a bit of the stunt that they had dared to play against their senior. They were still unaware of the very infamous and worst side of their president which he was yet to show!

"Rahul, hush man, let me deal with them," Dev smirked and sat on the swivel chair that was meant for only the lecturers and personalities like him. He sat with his one leg folded on the other, studying the darted eyes of the boys who wanted nothing but to run away from here as soon as possible.

The whole of the class along with the other seniors was gawking the scene with their heart on their sleeve, anticipating what would happen next!

"So, what punishment you guys want? Tell me?" Dev asked the boys in a solemn tone, peering at the crying faces.

"Sorry sir," they apologized guiltily at the same time but Dev had no ears for that.

"What would your sorry do to me? Don't cry over the spilled milk, now," his knuckles had already turned white holding them so tight, trying hard not to explode in front of the whole class.

"You would be debarred from attending the classes for the whole semester, you know I can do it?" with an adjuring tone, Dev voiced out. The scene had turned too serious than it was comprehended to be. Eyes were glued to these three men, while voices cursed these two fellows, stupid boys who were idiot enough to do something like this.

"Sir, please sir, don't do this, please sir," the boys pleaded him while everyone was already siding Dev, hating the deed these boys dared to do except for one.

"Sir, I don't think that you should debar them just because they made a video of you, you cannot prohibit their right to study, you are not our lecturer. Punish them but don't take such actions," a voice so familiar and famous stated out in a confident tone, which belonged to none other than Arvika, already standing against her seat, facing the angst yet astonished eyes of Dev.

"Are you nuts? Do you know whom you are speaking against?" Risha, the biggest admirer of Dev exasperated out in anger, not liking the way the girl was speaking against the president and of course her, 'assumed boyfriend'.

"Mam, I am just stating the truthful facts. Debarring them from their most basic rights is against rules, read it from any of the rulebooks of Indian political books," though Arvika didn't want to take the side of these boys the thing that stung her the most was the ultimatum that Dev had chucked against them, the ultimatum of depriving them of their education. Who was he, a dictator of this college?

"Get back to your seats, boys," Dev ordered the boys, mentally scanning their faces in his mind for future needs.

"You can sit, too Miss Arvika, thanks for your advice," after giving a slight smile towards Arvika, he finally stood up from the swivel chair, moving towards the centre of the stage again. Only he knew how hard it was to swallow all his anger and irritation down his esophagus.

"So, without beating around the bush, let's just introduce ourselves first. Prateek, start man," giving the mike to his other co-members, Dev stood aside till their introduction went on. He was furious of what happened today, how dare they pull such a stunt against him. For sure, he'd teach them a lesson but not now. Taking out his mobile phone, he typed a message to one of the officials of his colleges who had the data of all the students of their institute. Fortunately, he had a cordial relationship with most of the staff over here, that's why work for him had always been easy and smooth when it came to fights and chaos like these.

"Dev sir, about our technical club," Prateek handed over the mic to Dev after the introduction of the seniors was finished in which no one was interested as all their minds were fixed on Dev and his cool behavior only.

"So, the introduction part has been already done, and we'd know your names soon as you all will be working with us, in many of the clubs which you'd be introduced to very shortly," Dev announced in a solemn tone, his all playfulness gone because of the lewd incident.

"Talking about the most important club for any ECE student, we have a technical club for that wherein we change our imagination and ideas into reality. The name of the official technical club for ECE is 'Electrolytic clan'. So, interested students who want to make their future in ECE and its subsidiaries should really join it. That's all and tomorrow is your orientation ceremony, so attend it, please, that's all I wanted to say. You can go now," Dev knew he shouldn't have been affected like this but the way Arvika took their side, he was more disheartened and discontent. She hated him so much, he deduced, looking at her gloomily. She was leaving the classroom including other students, lost in her own important conversation with Kavya unknown to his eyes at her.

"Dev you should really teach that girl a lesson, she is too much. Yesterday too, she had insulted you, and today also, why don't you do anything to her?" after everyone had left including the other seniors, Risha and Rahul, his two classmates were only left looking at him with their hurt eyes.

"Risha please leave me alone, I just want silence, please," not having a heart to talk more rubbish with Risha, Dev stated out in a frustrated tone.

"Bye Dev," Rahul and Risha, both bid him goodbye and went away, leaving their friend in his own inner turmoil.

Dev stood up from the swivel chair and sat on the very seat where Arvika was sitting a few moments ago.

"I don't know how much you hate me, but sometimes I feel too weak Arvika, like a failure. I have everything but still, I am a beggar. A beggar of your love, your attention, your care," who said real men don't cry? Here, the true lover was already having an emotional breakdown, remembering the bittersweet memories of his love interest.

Disturbing his thoughts, his mobile phone started ringing, grabbing his attention. Who was calling him now? Dev looked at the caller ID and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Hello, Rohan," Dev greeted his friend, trying to sound cheerful but miserably failing at that which Rohan had already judged from his tone.

"Where are you now?" Rohan was too brisk enough to understand the agitation his best friend was going through from his tone only, that's why without asking any obligatory questions, he directly came on the point.

"In ECE, first-year classroom, why?" Dev was confused, hearing the rarely serious voice of his best friend.

"We need a lot to discuss," saying that, Rohan just cut the call, running swiftly towards the apprised destination where his best friend awaited his arrival.

After around ten minutes of the marathon, finally, Rohan entered inside the desolated classroom where he could only see his best friend, sitting like a dejected loner.

"So, here you are. What are you doing here man? And that too alone like this? What happened?" Rohan strode towards his grief-stricken friend who looked like he'd cry at any moment.

"Arvika is in this college and that too in first-year, ECE," the shocking news was enough to make Rohan's mouth wide open and his eyes as big as saucers.

"Are you daydreaming man, sitting in all this loneliness?" Rohan couldn't believe whatever his best friend had just muttered out.

"I am stating the truth, Rohan. Even I was shocked when I had seen her yesterday, I couldn't even believe my own eyes," Dev shifted a little right so as to accommodate his best friend who too sat beside him.

"That's a piece of news to rejoice over then, why are you sulking here my friend?" Rohan was confused seeing the depressed and woeful expressions of his friend.

Dev explained whatever had happened from yesterday to today's events while Rohan laughed in the beginning but later he too had turned somber after hearing today's incident.

"That's peculiar, man," Rohan remarked once Dev's tragic story was over.

"Let's go to my place, please, we'll discuss it there," Rohan stood up abruptly, sensing the classrooms which would be locked soon, and with Dev striding beside him, they finally reached Rohan's house after a silent ride of thirty minutes.

"She still hates me, and even more intensifying hate," Dev concluded gloomily, putting his head down on the glass bar counter of Rohan's apartment. He was totally dejected today, he couldn't even do anything to those boys just because of Arvika otherwise he'd have already made sure that those nuisance-creating boys are debarred for the whole semester after of course turning their bodies black and blue.

"Here, have this," Rohan too sat beside his best friend, giving him a glass of champagne, thinking that might drown down all the glumness of his low-spirited friend with it's fine and intoxicating taste.

In a single sip, Dev chucked down all the champagne down his throat, feeling a little burning sensation on his throat. But the burn was not as fervorous as the burn on his heart caused by the one and only girl who ruled his heart.

"Rohan, I love her man, but she, she hates me like I am some cockroach, like I am the cringe-worthy house lizard of her house," although it was too early to be drowned under the rich effect of the champagne Dev had already started speaking his heart out, his eyes glossy because of the inflicting and excruciating pain burning inside his bleeding heart.

Rohan hated to see his friend in this state, that friend who was so bold and strong who was crying like a baby now, over a girl who despised his very existence.

"Dev, please don't cry man, she too will fall in love with you, please Dev," Rohan pleaded, wiping off the unfaltering yet precious tears of his best friend.

"When Rohan, when? I am fed up of her hatred-filled looks which she throws at me," Dev threw his hands in the air, his frustration level reaching the peak.

"Calm down, please, Dev," Rohan rubbed his friend's back, trying to soothe him.

With a heavy heart and tired mind, Dev just put his head on the glass counter, again.

"Girls, thank god I don't have any girlfriend. By the way, did you talk with her in private?" Rohan asked at which Dev just shook his head, closing his strained eyes. Stains of tears were still visible on his white cheeks that shone under the dimmed yellow light falling on him, making him look more classically handsome and manly.

"I can understand your pain, man," Rohan whispered out, noticing the deep lines of anxiety and fret over his friend's forehead.

"What should I do to her? You tell me?" Dev being a one-sided lover was realizing now, how hard it was to love someone who returned his love with her hundred-times more intensified hatred.

"Dev, I don't know what has happened to you after the internship that you had attended but you have literally turned so soft and humble that's why people are taking you lightly. The old Dev wasn't like this. He'd have already beaten the sh*t out of those scoundrels who had dared to do something so disgracious against you," Rohan expressed his feelings out in front, making Dev stare at him with his widely opened eyes, getting his head up from the counter.

"Yes, I feel that Dev. You've changed so much. It's like you have not attended some internship but an ascetic summit, wherein you changed yourself from being the famous, bold, sturdy Dev to a soft, humble, Dev like some monk or something. Where have you lost the real Dev, Dev?" Dev knew whatever his friend was saying it was 100% true, he had literally changed so much.

"You're still in college bud, why do you behave like all these people are your work associates or something? Why? Be the rowdy Dev that you were once. Be the brave Dev who would have already beaten those good-for-nothings, boys, return back to your old self Dev, even you know how much suffering it is for you to suddenly change into the person that you were never before. I know I sound like an evil-minded friend, but I don't like this soft-hearted Dev who is changed to the personality he was opposite of earlier," Rohan groaned gloomily, chucking down his glass of champagne.

Getting a good amount of motivation and real-facts, Dev too had to reconsider whatever his friend had just voiced out now. He was never this soft and humble then why so suddenly after that internship? Why?

"Be the real Dev, and then win your Arvika, it's not too hard, man," Rohan patted Dev's back, encouraging him to be the person he was for the past twenty years.

Dev nodded his head, suddenly feeling so energized and pumped up with some unknown cosmic energy.

"Call her now, and ask her to meet you tomorrow in the morning in private, call her," Rohan handed Dev's phone to him, uplifting the sullen mood of his friend.

"But I don't have her number," Dev's morale was down the drain, again.

"Ask her Class representative then, she would have her number or ask Rahul. He'd arrange it for you," Rohan hinted, chucking another glass of champagne.

"Okay, I will just call Rahul," with an urgent tone, Dev called his friend Rahul and asked for the number of the girl who had insulted him today.

After a few more minutes of never-ending wait, finally, Rahul had WhatsApped Dev, Arvika's number.

8123412340

"Hello," the voice on the other end greeted in a worried tone, who the hell was calling her this late at night with a new number.

If it were to be another 'Tapu ke papa' she'd kill him definitely.

"Hello, Arvika," with a husky yet a smooth voice, Dev greeted his girl, scratching his beard with his thumb while all Arvika could do was hyperventilate and gasp at the very familiar voice of the caller. How he got her number?

"P...ig?" with a stuttering voice and a palpitating heart, Arvika voiced out, shocking Dev with her startling and unforeseen reply that he had never even expected in his dreams.

Dev was startled would be an understatement, his all drowsiness flown away in thin air.

~**•°•**~

3700 words!

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