Dev stared as if he'd just produced a rhinoceros from his pocket. Rohan could just imagine the sparks in his brain, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit. His friend looked like a pop-eyed toy from one of those claw machines at the funfair, glancing at his mobile screen as it reflected back his nudes! What was so peculiar about it, Rohan pondered inquisitively, eyeing his best friend's fair features which were showing a crimson red on his cheekbones.

Rohan couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore, his friend's state was incomprehensible, "Someone sent you your own nudes, or what? What's so shocking that your screen is reflecting back?". He tried to snatch the jittery phone but Dev had held his device as if his life depended on it. Peeking over the mobile phone where the font was as small as the size of atoms, Rohan exasperated out loud.

Disbelieve was evident on Dev's face and finally, he managed to make his vocal cords drum against his Adam's apple, vomiting the unbelievable thing that he had just witnessed on his phone screen, "She had called me, look at this!"

Rohan snatched the phone and saw the message by the customer care which was declared in a firm tone that yes, Dev had missed a call and that too from the person who they couldn't expect to get a call from, in the millions of years. Arvika had called him an hour ago and unfortunately, his phone was switched off at that time, suck his luck!

"You're as lucky as Nobita, seriously," Rohan snorted unhappily, handing Dev his wrecked smartphone.

Sarcasm is contagious, Dev affirmed and said, "Yeah, yeah, why not? And you sure aren't my Doraemon." Rohan chuckled darkly and forced out, "God! Dev, you've literally turned into a crying baby, man. I thought you could handle all these things smoothly, but you've turned a blind eye on your own identity, man. Why are you forgetting the determined and the dashing Dev who was once so stubborn and capable enough to do everything on his own?".

Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Did you really take my help ever in the past? Tell me? No! You were smart and sturdy enough to take your own decisions, then why this anxiety and low-confidence, man? Don't let me lose hope on you as well as your love. Now I won't help you with all these things, please."

Rohan walked away after lecturing his friend, even he too was fed up with the nonsensical and repeating words of Dev which felt like some old cassette which was repeating itself again and again about the ways to tackle his one-sided love story. His limited guts have had enough now, he couldn't tolerate anymore.

"Go away then! I too promise now, I won't ask for your help from now onwards in all this matter," Dev too countered back, glaring at the retreating, sluggish figure of his best friend who was entering inside their exquisite bedroom which they had been allotted because of their professor's connections with powerful and affluent authorities, unlike other students. It was one of the prominent hotels of Guwahati and was generally for government employees or for meetings of that accord.

"Bastard," he cursed under his breath looking quizzically at his thousand-dollars device, contemplating what or what not to do about the mind-boggling thing that had happened with him, alas virtually!

Worst pet names and best friends go hand-in-hand, Rohan postulated and retaliated back at his friend in his extra-sugary voice, "I love you too, my cutie-pie and devil Devi Prasad".

Oh, best friends and swearwords too are on the wanderlust world of being in a relationship, as Dev swore angrily, "F**k off".

After Dev assured that his best friend was behind the doors, he finally looked at his mobile screen wherein he could see the number of Arvika which he had memorized like kids memorize the basic 'ABC', having dropped a call from her. He was contemplating what to do or not, what to make out of this, or was it just a mistaken call to him, who knows she was trying to call someone else instead called him? Thousands of minutes, thousands of probabilities, he sighed heavily, leaning against the voluptuous wall, having his black shirt folded off on the sleeves, a tired yet desperate look on his face which shone brightly under the shimmering, yellow light of the corridor.

"Sir, you need something?" a waiter was passing by when he saw Dev, looking like a lost soul, who knows maybe he needed the WiFi password or better a charger? Like most of the tourists that visit their hotel?

"A painkiller for my heart would do," in a dazed state, Dev vocalized out, still scrutinizing all the reasons of the stubborn and wilful Arvika to call him. Even Queen Elizabeth stand a chance to call him but not Arvika, she hated him, she despised him, how come she called him and that too at nine in the night? Last time they had their " sweet conversation" she had just outright disregarded his identity, she had discarded to recognize him, was she playing with him and his mind now?

The waiter was perplexed after hearing such an astounding reply, he couldn't help but ask, "Sir, are you fine? Break-up with the girlfriend? Dil tod diya kisi ladki ne aap jaise handsome ladke ka?". (Someone broke your heart, the heart of such a handsome guy like you?) The waiter was too friendly for his own good, the localite of Guwahati, the head office city for many of the official administration of the seven sisters.

Dev finally looked up from his phone and saw the amiable waiter who was throwing worried glances at him, "My story hasn't even started, friend, the initial yet most-complicated phase". Dev didn't know why but he wanted to confide with this particular jovial yet gentle waiter who was still looking at him concerned. Even Rohan hadn't shown this much concern, how appreciable it was.

"Don't worry, sir. One day she'd come to you, for sure, if your love is true and God is on your side, she'd be yours! The longer the wait, the sweeter the fruit. But you should never quit on it, try, try and try, but as a lover not like a creepy stalker," the impeccable yet soothing words of the experienced yet boyish waiter were enough for Dev to flash a flamboyant and confident grin to him. Somehow he got back the energy and fervor that was spent on attending the never-ending seminars and programs since the morning today.

Some strangers come in our life to enlighten the darkened paths of our monotonous life, that waiter was no less than a Shaktimaan for Dev at that time. He saved him from a lot of overthinking and anxiety that Dev would've to go through hadn't the waiter come at his rescue at the most virtuous time!

Dev patted the waiter's back and hugged him in his immense energy-boosted mode, "Thank you so much for your motivation, brother!".

"Welcome, sir. If you need anything, I am just one call away," the waiter smiled back at the once-broken and depressed man, his quota for good deeds was full for today, his mother would be so proud of him.

After giving the waiter a brief smile, Dev dialed back the number from which he had missed a call, preparing himself for all the fake facade that he was going to exempt in front of her, of course, over the call. The no-nonsense-taking President of IIET, Delhi for whom even one-minute was as precious as million-dollars, he chortled lowly having that stupid thought arise from one corner of his cerebra.

However, on the other part of the world, particularly at the 28.7041° N, 77.1025° E part, that is, Delhi, the case was completely opposite and sweat-bearing after hearing the 'Love story' ringtone of her mobile phone. The name flashed "Piggy Devil", the same guy who was the reason behind her torn and tormented state for a few days. Why was he calling her now? Of course, because you had called him earlier and he didn't pick up, her mind mocked at her memory which was already hiding under thousands of cells and tissues inside one corner of her mind.

Arvika's heartbeat raised along with her iris, busy in glaring at her best friend who was quite immersed in gobbling the 'hostel-famous-Maggi', nonchalantly down her guts. Now how would she speak, her vocal cords stop functioning whenever he was near her, be it real or on the call, for the initial few minutes.

Kavya too noticed the blaring phone in the tremendously shivering hands of her best friend and sighed out roughly. She would never ever ameliorate her ways, her poor best friend, "He's not going to eat you up, Arvika. Don't react like that, just pick up the call and apologize. Simple".

"You can mimic like me, right? Please do the favor then, please Kavya," Arvika was numb, she didn't know how would she form sentences knowing very well the dubious ways of the daredevil Dev. She could never maker herself feel normal when he was near, from time immemorial.

Alike Rohan, Kavya too was fed up with her best friend's freaking behavior, she was afraid of Dev like he was not a human but a devil who had the power to eat her best friend up, through a phone call too, "I will really punch you so hard, Arvika. Don't act like a typical, freakish girl and say out whatever I have told you earlier, otherwise, I won't talk with you".

The commemorating command was dynamic enough to recharge the downed confidence and fervor of Arvika, she could face this, yes, she could face him. He couldn't do anything on the phone, could he?

"Hello, I was in a meeting, that's why I couldn't pick up your call, anything important you wanted to discuss?" removing the kerchief from his pants pockets, Dev wiped off the beading sweat on his forehead, the weather suddenly had turned too balmy and scorching even at the night. Or, was the caller on the other end responsible for this sudden change of feverishness?

Like a perfect A-list actor, he had voiced out his words so mechanically that Arvika couldn't even decipher that he was just faking his tone and demeanor to sound like a professional president who just wanted to discuss on important business matters and no ruckus or stupid talks!

Arvika kept mum for a moment and was busy counting the notebooks on her table, trying to sabotage all the pitter-patter of her racing heart. He is just a human, a human, yes, and a 'sorry' won't harm your self-respect, get it straight in your skull, "Yeah, I just wanted to say.." she paused increasing the suspense more like those stupid hosts of the most "unrealistic shows" of India.

"Say what?" Dev immediately stiffened when he heard her enchanting voice, she sounded so sweet like someone just dropped honey in his ear, wait what? Honey is sweet on the tongue, not in the ears, you dumbass, he chuckled, don't know what had happened to him, but his mind was processing on a whole different note today!

"IamsorryforwhateverIsaidtoyoufourdaysbackIdidnotwanttoberudeIamsosorry," like the bullet train of Japan, her bullets of incoherent words and incomprehensible words attacked Dev's ear all at once, leaving him completely muddled and mystified, in which language was she speaking?

Like an innocent confused boy, he asked puzzledly, "Arvika, I really didn't get whatever you said," and sighed loudly when he heard Kavya's voice in the background who was scolding Arvika to be slow and steady.

Arvika could just glare at her best friend who was still savoring those 2-minutes noodles which actually takes 5-minutes to cook, a survey by many lovers has proved that.

With a steady and deliberate tone, she finally exerted out the condemning words which she hadn't even dreamt to say to Dev ever, "I am sorry for whatever I said to you four days back, I did not want to be rude I am so sorry".

Dev hadn't expected an apology from her, was she really the stoic and strict Arvika or a prank was being played on him? Dev was suddenly busy in self-playing 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'? How come she turned so soft and sober? After a pregnant silence, he vocalized, "It's okay, no need for sorry. Okay bye. I need to go". That day's events were still freshly intact in his mind, how grudgingly she had declined to recognize him like he was some pest or insect of her life wherein he hadn't a pinch of importance. Feeling a little distorted and dismantled, he cut the call and put the phone inside his pants' pockets.

Her behavior was no less than a hazy puzzle which he couldn't solve unless he was some magician or better, a psychologist who could defer from the tone and expressions of the populous people. She was the unsolved mystery, having an unusual behavior, sweet, guilty, worried, funny, a full package of all kinds of emotions was deeply embedded within her, and that was the worrisome warrant against him, for every time their paths collided.

He pondered over her still standing against the wondrous wall until Rohan's voice piped in, again from the doorway, "Are you planning to sleep-stand? Should I bring some blankets that'd work against gravity?" Rohan was irritated, for the past half an hour he was waiting restlessly for Dev to return to their room but he was still intact to the wall, gazing at nothing in particular unless he could see the air and wind, who knows!

Dev chuckled the way his friend was getting possessive over him, his all tension blew away, "Coming, my desperate girlfriend". Smacking Rohan's head, he finally entered inside their deluxe suite, thinking something solemnly.

Today, they had to just spend their whole time and unbound concentration in impoverishing their respective projects as on the next day, their results for their competition would be announced and overmorrow they'd be leaving for Delhi at the night. The past few days were spent in attending some of the brainstorming seminars and intellectual discussions with many of the brains of India and even some foreign intellectuals who had specially come to attend this 'Technological fest'.

Rohan yawned groggily, "Let's sleep, I am horribly tired," while Dev was still in some deep thoughts Rohan had no idea about and he didn't even want to as the sleep was clearly evident in his drowsy and fatigued eyes.

"Good night, Dev," he finally plopped on the comfy bed and within a minute, snores started trumpeting through him which Dev cared less about as he was busy staring at the celestial bodies of the sky, the night would be too long for him.

On the other hand, Arvika sighed in fondness, the wretched call and apology were finally over. Now she could relax properly, without having a snippet of worry about anyone's hurt heart or something of that sort! The burden of guilt and gloominess finally had dropped down, relieving her altogether.

"That's better," Kavya patted on her best friend's back and started preparing the 2-minutes noodles for her on the induction gas stove that she had secretly brought from her house for the days when they'd get dishes as bland as the taste of grass and husk!

****

"The Kamakhya temple is not an ordinary, regular temple, it is unique as compared to the other major pilgrimages of the Sanatana Dharma. The deity of the temple, Kamakhya Devi is revered as the 'Bleeding Goddess'. Yes, the bleeding goddess. Where menstruation is a gruesome and a taboo for many, people celebrate the whole process here. It is believed that the 'Garvagriha' or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the mythical womb and vagina of the Hindu goddess Shakti," the local tour guide was explaining all the mystical yet beautiful history of the very famous Kamakhya temple which is a must-visit if you land up at Guwahati.

The results were already announced for the competition wherein Dev along with his team had bagged the first position following the legacy of the past fifteen years of his college.

In the evening, their very pious yet sensible professor had suddenly invited both the young boys to pay a visit to the very charismatic and majestic Kamakhya temple as his wife had literally begged him to visit the consecrated temple as her faith on the deities was commendably sacred. Dev and Rohan were sitting on the back while their professor was sitting adjacent to their driver-cum-tour-guide who was a local of Guwahati. Another fifteen minutes galloped and finally, they reached the holy shrine of Goddess Shakti.

A sense of serenity and calmness washed through Dev when he had just got down from the car, this place was surely heavenly with the chilly wind defining the appropriate and serene aura of the divine temple. He had faith in God but he wasn't a guy who would go to the temple, every day but today he suddenly felt a pull towards the thousand years old history of the vaginal goddess.

While the animated explanation of the history of the holy temple was still playing in the background by the excited tour-guide, the trio intellectuals finally entered inside the shrine, their palms joined together in a Namaskar position, looking at the unusual yet sanctified deity of Kamakhya. Never had they ever witnessed such an astounding beautiful statue of a goddess which was exquisite yet pious in the most unusual way. Only the female genitalia was there to worship for, proving the fact that this temple was a mystical beauty.

After offering the required red flowers and other statutory rituals, they finally exited outside the temple after wandering inside the peaceful environment for another one hour. The peace, the calmness they felt inside the temple was beguilingly so soothing. They didn't want to return but they were compelled to as the timings of the closing of the temple were already out of bound.

The car ride back to the hotel was smooth, everyone discussing the politics of Assam and of course, Mamta Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, the neighboring state, except for one individual soul. He was hypnotized by the facts that he had learned from their driver, along with the mystical statue that he had witnessed and who could forget the calmness that had prevailed over him and his troubled mind. The temple was pious but it reminded him of something more, specifically someone as pious and pure as the Goddess Shakti.

The girl who had stolen his heart when she was in her most vulnerable state when she was bleeding for the very first time.

"If we can worship a bleeding goddess, why menstruation is still a taboo, Sujoy?" unable to put his inquisitiveness in check, Dev finally let out the question that was bothering him from the time he had learned about the history of the 'bleeding goddess'.

He received shocked and perplexed glances from his professor as well as his best friend while Sujoy was thinking of a way to dodge this particular question as he hadn't an answer for that. He along with his family still followed the age-old tradition of condemning the girls of their houses for the few days of their monthly cycles, abolishing their rights to enter inside the kitchen or perform any sacred duties of their temple and the list is endless.

With an unsteady voice, Sujoy trembled out his words, "Of course, because it's not a good thing, it's unhygienic, that's why. Also, who would want their brothers and fathers to know about the bleeding private part of their bodies," and he nervously laughed, wiping his sweat off his forehead with his kerchief while still managing to drive at a supersonic pace.

"But families do visit the temple together? Where does the shame go then?" Dev was genuinely concerned as he had literally seen a lot of families that had come at the pilgrimage, and even had tried to take pictures of the 'Bleeding goddess' for uploading on their social media platforms.

"Sir, I don't know," Sujoy dodged the question, changing the gears frantically, while Dev just sighed out in frustration and looked outside the window, viewing the scenic beauty of the Nilachal hills where the temple was exquisitely located. His mind was still in the mayhem, having millions of thoughts running inside his head, particularly against the society in which he was brought up.

"In a country that continues its archaic attitude towards menstruation as unholy and gruesome, it is important for each one of us to know the progressive approach that the Kamakhya temple displays-of celebrating womanhood. If we can worship a bleeding goddess, why we cannot sustain our own mothers, sisters, wives going through the same procedure?" Dev jotted down the exact words on his mobile phone, wanting to post it on his Instagram account, but what would that do? He'd receive applauds, sweet and appreciating words from his girls' followers, and some abuses from his male party, but other than that what would he receive? Would society change, no! Would it reach the millions of masses, maybe yes, maybe no!

Sighing heavily, he closed his mobile phone and pushed it inside his pant pockets, gruffing at the hills which was now looking exclusively out-of-the-world with the small shimmering houses embedded on it which were looking like stars had adorned the hilly mountains as well as the vast sky.

"Don't worry man, with time it'll change too," Rohan said in a relaxed tone, eyeing the tremor of his best friend's hands in the little yellow light of their booked Bolero. Why was it shaking? What was he feeling so suddenly?

Looking closely, Rohan saw the damp eyes of his best friend which glistened when a sudden light fell on it. He knew what his friend was thinking about, the unfortunate day when he had been vigorously parted away from his love and that too because of the bleeding vagina.

The bleeding vagina is the major incentive behind the reproduction of babies but it was also the reason behind the extermination of his friend's one-sided love story which could've ripened if the social weeds of the stigma of the society hadn't come into the picture.

****

Heat licked at their sunburned faces and coiled around their limbs like a great hot-blooded serpent. The ground smoldered and sent up a disorientating haze. Even the birds were silent and the grass stood still as if too hot to move. The month of July was near to end and still no rain showers but the showers of heat and just feverish heat. Fortunately, the classes had ACs to ease off the scorching heat, otherwise, students would've gone berserk at the way nature was showering them with loads of sunshine that they no longer wanted in the heat form.

Mr. Ranvijay Taneja, a forty-year-old, Microprocessor, and microcontrollers-specialized professor of IIET, Delhi had already given a long assignment for the upcoming weekend having no ears for the students who were already hauling swearwords and profanities against him. His current course was 'Introduction to electronics' which he had made like 'Introduction to black holes and theory of relativity', a stalwart and resilient task for each of the freshers who had zoned out of his class the moment his blabbering about the subject had started. His lecture somehow ended in ten years.

The last lecture was haphazardly over in thirty minutes as the heat was taking a toll on all the living beings, which included some of the strict and moody professors too who had a heart. Both the best friends along with other students sighed out in utter joy and finally vacated the boring classroom.

"Arvika, I am really excited about the upcoming freshers, and it's just two days away, man! What do you want to buy? A one-piece or some gown? I surely want to buy a knee-length dress, I have even thought about the color, it should be maroon, the color of intense love, wow," Kavya was blabbering to herself while Arvika was sipping the chilled water that she had just filled in from the officially working water cooler of their college.

After quenching her thirst with the precious drops of water, Arvika spoke out, "I am not going to any freshers party, Kavya, I am not interested," leaving her best friend muddled in dismay and disappointment.

"Don't be such a party-pooper, man, please. If you won't come even I have to cancel my plans, please don't do that," Kavya nearly begged Arvika who had a stoic demeanor on her face.

Today only the announcement was made about their freshers' party and at that moment only, she had decided against it. Parties and trips and other chunks were her sworn enemies.

After a lot of pleading and drama, Arvika had finally agreed and decided to go shopping today only when they heard a very familiar voice which they hadn't heard in days. Arvika immediately turned towards the source of that voice and saw her nightmare walking straight towards them. Her heartbeat raised along with the other onlookers who were seeing the majestic president of their college after many days.

"Wow, he's looking so hot in that navy blue t-shirt," Kavya giggled like a typical girl while her friend could only snort at her reaction.

Not having the heart to have an encounter with his highness, Arvika started going away towards their hostel, not before saying, "Yeah, like a pig is wearing some blue blanket on him," infuriating her best friend the way she was going back to her old self again.

"Your eyes have been watching so much of 'Peppa pig' that you see pigs in every beautiful creature," Kavya too commented back, holding the arms of her best friend, not wanting her to go away from the man who could be her boyfriend in the future, who knows?

Other girls immediately scooted away from the path that could prohibit his smooth steps to be ramped off, giving the way for his highness to walk through, their gaze following him hawkishly like his shadow.

"Hi, Kavya, how are you?" Dev had finally got near them, and without acknowledging the presence of other girls as well as Arvika, he greeted Kavya in a sweet voice, fixing his gaze at the bubbly and jovial girl who too was giving him her undivided attention. Something pinched inside Arvika when she saw how his eyes didn't even flicker towards her, was she invisible? She was just standing adjacent to Kavya yet he failed to regard her presence, how rude. Her nose flared in anger, still wanting to leave the place but Kavya had a tight hold on her arms, sabotaging any movements of her active best friend.

"Hey, Dev sir, I am good, a very hearty congratulations for bagging first prize in the competition, it's a prideful moment for all of us," Kavya happily congratulated her president and started pulling her best friend towards the way where Dev was taking them to, still involved in talking about something or the other. He still hadn't regarded Arvika's presence. The news of their victory had reached the day the result was announced through WhatsApp.

"Actually, I was just going towards my house after signing one of the documents, and saw you, so, how's college life going? And did you see Delhi?" Dev was still engaged in talking with the chirpy Kavya who was giving away the replies to him like a sweet kitten that she was. A firm hold on her friend's arm was enough to drag her as well wherever Dev was going towards.

"It's going really well, sir, just some assignments and journals have made us a little cranky, otherwise, everything is going good, And, we still hadn't put our foot outside the campus, but today we are going for shopping so..oww," before Kavya could've blabbered about the shopping plans to the already smirking Dev, Arvika had pinched her hard on her waist, glaring at her furiously.

With no apology but a smug look on his face, Dev uttered in victory, "Oh! Hey, Arvika, you too are here, sorry I didn't see you earlier". If Arvika was a cartoon character, fumes would've been already seen out from both her ears as well as her button-nose, she was furious at both, her stupid best friend and of course, Dev-the Daredevil!

"Hey, sir and it's okay. Sometimes buttons of a device don't work accurately," gritting her teeth, she spoke out, glowering at the smirking man whose dam of a laugh could be broken at any moment. He could hardly control his laugh looking at the fervor of the little tigress who was raging in sheer anger and fury, looking like a cute red-faced bunny, whose fair features were sharpened more because of her dark-red outfit.

"Arvika, why are you speaking with him like that? He's our senior, don't forget that," Kavya reprimanded her friend in a hushed voice, still flashing an awkward smile towards the handsome president of theirs who was looking at Arvika with a hard and fervent try to stifle his laugh at her popped-out eyes.

"So, what we were discussing, yeah, so, you guys are going shopping, today? As in? Where? And who is accompanying you?" Dev asked in a solemn tone still walking towards an unknown destination with the angry girls behind his back. One was angry at him and the other was angry with the former who was angry with him.

"We two have decided to go for shopping as freshers' day is just two days away, also we really wanted to roam a little on the busy roads of Delhi for once in a.." Kavya was cut-off. "Why don't you also tell him about your dream man, that would be more suffice and impactful? Wouldn't it?" Arvika was getting riled up the way both the people were interacting with each other like long lost friends. How could they!

Dev had heard the whispering of Arvika, she was really going to blast at both of them for the strings they were pulling against her, still, he sniggered haughtily. The tigress was supersonically angry at him, the game suddenly had turned too entertaining and funny to him, now he'd enjoy it sitting on his comfy couch with popcorn in his hands, that sounds just so uproarious.

"I can give you two a trip to Delhi if you want, even I too have to buy something from the mall," in a sincere tone, Dev vocalized out, looking ardently decent but hiding a naughty smile off his face.

"No, that's not necessary, we'll.." this time Arvika was cut in between by her best friend who spoke out immediately in a sweet tone, "Of course, sir. That's very thoughtful and sweet of you, sir". Kavya didn't want to miss a chance to unravel the dead-end of a love story, she could be the cupid of her best friend's estranged love which she needed and deserved.

"Kavya, why are you trying to put us in danger? We don't know him, how can we travel with him alone in his car? Are you out of your mind?" Arvika whisper-yelled at her best friend, pulling her arms from the clutch of Kavya.

"Arvika, I don't know why but I trust him more than any other senior of this college, so why to miss a chance if he's offering a ride? Moreover, you guys can sort out your misunderstandings? Isn't it?" Kavya was too optimistic for life, she couldn't sense what's right and what's wrong, Arvika comprehended, looking throatily wretched, gawking at her best friend's back who was already going behind Dev like a lost puppy.

"Wait, Kavya, I will come too," just for the sake of her best friend, she too tagged along with the duo who were already seated inside Dev's car.

"Oh, so Miss. Arvika too would come with us, our honor, captain," Dev whistled teasingly, hi-fying his adjacent partner who too was giving winks to Arvika through the mirror.

"I am not interested in coming with you," Arvika huffed, folding her hands against her chest while glaring at her traitorous friend who was sitting on the passenger seat of Dev's Toyota, beside him and the daredevil was busy in giving cheeky grins to her through the front mirror which Arvika was returning with her glares and snorts! Traitor!

"And I won't hear a 'no' from you," Dev winked back at her, frustrating her even more with his oh-so-perfect lopsided grin and how to forget his sassy smirk!

She could still remember how manipulatively he had persuaded her and of course, her best friend to come along with him, he'd be a cunning businessman, his skills were enough proofs to justify that!

And from their college till the shopping mall, Arvika's glare didn't stop nor their bickering and laugh which was riling her up like she was some TikTok star being roasted by the famous YouTubers.

"Yalgaar ho," Dev chorused along with Kavya in their loud, happy voices, the sudden music beat that was blaring through the car!

~**•°•**~

5600 words!