*Abhilash Pov*

After parking my vehicle, I walked towards her as she is waiting for me while holding both our bags. However, Vikesh reached her first while showing something to her.

"What is that?" I asked placing my hand over her shoulder while he stared at me before glancing at the hand.

"My Dad bought a bike for me yesterday night. I am showing her the keys." He replied waving the keys with a smile.

"Shouldn't you be showing the vehicle?" Mihi asked frowning at him.

"That! My Dad took it to his workplace and said I can use it after getting my license." He replied scratching his neck.

"This is a duplicate key?" I asked and he gave a nod sighing.

"Actually, even I want to get my license. I have to learn how to drive also." Mihi commented frowning.

"This weekend I am going to write the exam and you can join me. You will have a few months until driving test right and I will even teach you." Vikesh assured her while I frowned at him.

"Yes! I will feel relief if someone will be there to help me. But... do you know how to drive?" she asked frowning at the end and I chuckled at her distrust expression even when he nodded at her question.

"I was just being lazy until now thinking my Dad is not going to buy one anytime soon. I even taught Kalyan." He said pointing at Kalyan who just drove towards the parking lot on his vehicle.

"Fine! Let's finish the exam first." She said nodding at him after looking at Kalyan's driving.

I stood there in silence as we waited for Kalyan to join us and his first question after walking near is, "You guys patched up?"

"Can't you see with the way they are standing?" Vikesh asked rolling his eyes.

"Who apologized first?" Kalyan asked glancing at my hand on her shoulder.

"Of course I apologized first. Do you think he will ever do that?" she asked scoffing while the others chuckled.

"Excuse me! I was the one who visited your room to apologize first. You didn't let me talk." I stated feeling offended with her statement.

"So? It doesn't change the fact that I apologized." She mumbled pushing my hand away from her shoulder before passing my bag with a force and just walked away after waving her hand at the others.

I frowned at her back but didn't say anything while these two continued to laugh even when we reached the classroom and I completely ignored them.

I realized my friends are nothing but gossipers as they just went along to explain Rakesh and Rekha that we both patched up and again fought.

"I think you all should start paying me for providing entertainment for you guys." I mumbled frowning at them but they didn't even react to that.

The whole day passed normally and she even took the ride with me while being angry at me. I shook my head and stopped the vehicle inside my house compound.

"Are you going to be angry like this even tomorrow?" I asked when she got down and she frowned hearing that question.

"Angry? I am not angry." She replied frowning while I gave her a confused look.

"About the morning's matter? I forgot it long back. I was just thinking about something else. My Dad was behind me all this time to teach me how to drive but I was escaping all this time. Now, he will feel sad if I learn it from someone else, right?" she asked sighing.

"Why are you escaping your Dad in the first place?" I asked her feeling relived and couldn't help but smile.

I was thinking she was upset about morning's matter and that's why she was silent even during the lunch break but here the topic is something else on her mind.

"Because he is really bad at it. I had to fall so many times when I was a kid when he taught me how to ride a bicycle. That's why I never learned it again and told him I am not interested." She explained and I remember her Dad always dropping her at school or her Mom and I thought she is not using a bicycle because our school was far from our houses.

"But I don't want to reject my Dad's offer too. He is really anticipating as he is already disappointed for not being able to teach me regarding bicycle." She added looking down.

I placed my hand under her chin to lift her head before saying, "Just let him start teaching you but I will teach you too without him knowing. He will have the satisfaction of teaching you and you will learn it properly too at the same time. It will be better than letting him know about Vikesh teaching you, right?"

She nodded smiling before holding my hand in her arms. After she left, I walked into my house feeling better suddenly and I paused in my steps.

Wait! Why was I in a bad mood in the first place? I thought before glancing behind me at the place we were just talking.

"Is something wrong, Abhi?" I got startled hearing Mom's voice and turned to stare at her.

I shook my head at her smiling before rushing to my room after stepping away from her sight and stood near the windows.

She drew her curtains closed which we both do for our privacy and open them only during night time and morning time but we keep on closing them in between whenever we need to.

I sighed closing them before freshening up and sat down at the table still lost in my thoughts. Not just today but even during the holidays I was feeling the same disappointment and felt lost.

At that time I thought because of the fight with her as a friend but... but this was not the same when I fought with others and there were times when we used to not talk to each other for a few days with others.

Is this why everyone is asking me to think about my actual feelings and stressing about them so much? Does that mean I... no! How can that be true?

I... how can I think about her like that. She is just my closest friend and maybe that's what close friends react to the situations. Maybe I am just confusing the feelings I have as a friend with something else.

I shook my head to clear all the thoughts and concentrate on something else but those thoughts were still there somewhere at the back of my mind.

*Mihira Pov*

"When shall we start practicing?" Vikesh asked when we stepped out of the office after finishing our test and even qualified it and finished all the remaining instructions that need to be followed.

I forgot to tell him that Dad will be helping me soon and I turned towards him before explaining that and he nodded smiling.

"Actually, for namesake, my Dad will be teaching me but in real Abhi will help me." I explained to not hide that fact and he gave a confused look before asking the reason behind it.

We both walked out completely and waited for the Auto while I explained the reason which caused him to smile.

"Mihi! Can I ask you something?" he asked clearing his throat.

"Sure!" I replied but he had to wait when we found the Auto to take the lift.

"Do you still like Abhi? I mean in that sense and not as a friend." He asked and for a second I couldn't help but stiffen at those words.

I nervously smiled for making me think in that direction when all this time I was just pushing everything that happened somewhere as that is not to be touched again.

"Uhmm... I don't know how to explain this. I am still young and my feelings which I thought as serious could have just been something that could be ignored but at that time I was really serious for nearly four years with those feelings even though I was just a kid. I don't want to accept them as something I got confused with friendly feelings too. I am sure about that but then after I confessed and everything happened I realized something else." I explained clearing my throat.

"I confessed bravely because I couldn't bear the distance that happened between us and I even pushed my feelings away to not bear the fact that our friendship will completely end. In both cases, the important factor is to be with him and if it is just as a friend, I am fine with that too. So, I guess I don't like him in that way anymore as I am happy with how the things are between us right now." He listened to each word without disturbing me but didn't say anything after that.

After we reached my house he got down along with me saying he will ask Abhi to drop him at his house.

"One last question if you don't mind. Is he nothing but a friend right now?" he asked in a serious tone and I glanced at him feeling confused whether to tell him honestly or not.

"He is my best friend but also first love. Four years is not a small-time and I am glad I didn't lose him as a friend." I replied honestly and he nodded still frowning.

"Don't tell him all this. He already forgot everything and I don't want any awkwardness between us." I added and he relaxed his expression.

"Of course! I will not tell him a single word. He doesn't deserve to know." He assured me but I shook my head.

"He didn't do anything wrong by rejecting me. We both were right at our places. He was kind of an idiot at that moment but he was not wrong about the rejecting part." I stressed so that he doesn't think bad about him which actually caused him to laugh.

"Don't worry! He is important for me too as a friend." He said waving at me and I waved back before stepping into my house.

****

"Will it be fine to start it today? You have a game tomorrow." I asked him frowning after taking out my Mom's scooty from my house.

We already informed Mom about our plan and she informed me that Dad will not be returning home tonight. So, I passed the information to Abhi and he immediately accepted.

"We already wasted a few weeks when we couldn't find a chance for this and we shouldn't waste anymore. Did you learn to balance it like I asked you to?" he asked moving away for me to get on the vehicle.

"Yeah! I got hurt yesterday when my Dad asked me to drive a bit and fell." I mumbled sitting properly but felt scared after falling yesterday like that.

"Were you hurt?" he asked frowning and I nodded pointing my knee on my right leg.

"That's why you skipped classes today?" I nodded clearing my throat while he frowned at me.

"Let's skip practice for today." He mumbled but I shook my head.

"I will fall again next time if I don't learn how to balance properly today." I explained and he sighed before sitting behind me.

"What are you doing? We both will fall." I warned him but placed his hands over mine.

"I will not let you fall. This way you will even learn doubles at the same and I can feel you shaking the moment you got on the vehicle." He explained and I thanked him a lot for that thought.

"Do you really want to learn? I can give you a lift all the time." He suddenly asked and I turned my head only to shift a little to not hit his head with mine.

"Even Kavitha knows how to drive. I will be left out in our gang and I can't disturb you all the time like this." I pointed out but he still frowned.

"You are not disturbing me. Maybe you are like some people who are not made for driving." He shrugged and I sighed hearing that part.

"Please have some patience and teach me. I really want to do it even though I am bad at this." I pleaded but he shook his head.

"Fine! Next time you fall, we will stop completely and tell your Dad too." He said and I sighed again turning around before starting while hoping that never happens again as my leg is still hurting.

****

"Yes!" I closed my ears when everyone shouted while cheering for them even though I am also cheering at the same level.

I can't believe they all improved this much already and won the game. We waited outside like always for both of them and found some people waiting for them too.

They decided to come out at last so that the crowd will not be there and it will be free. We kind of laughed before as there were not too many people in the first game but now we can understand their decision.

"Finally after three games from last semester, they won it." Rakesh commented smiling and we all nodded.

"Did you see many people cheering for Abhi? I guess he became popular right now and surpassed Vikesh." Kalyan asked looking at the time.

"He is good at this." I mumbled while checking whether they are coming out or not.

"Even you are good at it. But why were you limping? You were fine before. Did you got hurt?" Kavitha asked frowning while I shushed her immediately.

"I am fine! Don't say anything near Abhi." I pleaded them when all of them gave me concerned looks.

"Don't say anything near me? What is it?" I groaned hearing his voice but to my luck, his new fans rushed towards us.

I slipped away from them to walk out of the building with Kavitha and messaged others to come to my house like planned to celebrate but we both will go ahead.

"So, if he knows that you fell again today morning then he will not teach you anymore?" she asked when I calmly explained the reason.

"Yeah! My Dad woke me early today to practice but I was feeling sleepy and fell immediately. My Mom scolded him for doing this so early and said he will not teach me again no matter what. I already learned to balance it yesterday and I need a few more trails. If he stops then I have to ask others and I need to waste some time to get used to their teaching process." I explained the situation completely.

"He will know it though. You will not be able to hide it." She mumbled and I nodded at her.

"I know! But I can at least try, right?" I asked smiling and she smiled back nodding.

We waited for others to return and she made me sit down so that I can rest my leg while she placed all the things on the floor following my instructions.

This time we are going to stay in my room as my Mom returned early and my Dad will also come home earlier than the time he said today morning as per his message to my Mom.

"Your Dad is here." Abhi said entering the room with others while I frowned when he gave an angry look pointing me.

"Why are you telling her that?" Kavitha asked him frowning.

"He bought too many snacks and a batch of cooldrink bottles and your Mom is scolding him right now as they are complete junk food." Vikesh said chuckling.

"And your Dad said it is to apologize for making you fall today morning. You were hurt from morning?" Kalyan asked frowning at me.

"We informed him that a few of those will be enough and brought these up." Rekha joined the explanation but I stood up suddenly feeling the glare from someone right now.

"I will go and talk to him. You guys start the party. Do you guys want to watch any movie? I will bring the DVD if it is there." I continued to talk even after reaching the door and left the room not even waiting for their reply.

When I reached the kitchen while controlling my steps, my Mom is still scolding him and he is listening to all that silently.

"Mom! Dad! Why are you fighting right now?" I asked reaching them.

"How is your leg? Did it swell? Why don't we go to the hospital." Dad asked and I smiled at him.

"It's fine! Just a small sprain. Mom checked it just now and said it will be fine within a few days." I replied which caused him to frown.

"What does she know? She is not an orthopedist." He mumbled before kneeling to check my ankle.

The first time it was knee but then today morning is the ankle. I assured him again while Mom glared at him for his words.

"At least I am not someone who gets our daughter to hurt her leg like this." She said before returning to the kitchen.

"Next time we will not practice in the morning and we will be careful." He started but she cut him off saying, "You will not teach her again. Abhi will teach her from now on and that's final."

"Just accept that you are bad at it and let it go." She added sighing and he sighed in return before nodding.

"I will request Abhi then." He said but I don't know from when he is there as he suddenly said, "It's okay, Uncle! I will teach her after she recovers and no need to ask me."

I turned around and found him standing on the stairs. He still has a blank expression but talked normally with my Dad.

"If the snacks are not enough, come and get these too." Dad said smiling at him and seems like Abhi is his favorite person right now.

"How can a police officer bribe like this?" Mom commented and I chuckled hearing that.

These both will not settle this anytime soon for sure. I turned around before reaching the stairs to climb them but found Abhi stretching his hand to mine to support me.

"I can use these railing, Abhi." I mumbled gesturing the railing but I closed my mouth before holding his hand seeing his expression.

He was silent even while helping me and I tried to hide my wince as much I can but he turned towards the storeroom instead of my room.

"You guys use this as store room too, right?" he asked pausing and I nodded without using words.

After entering the storeroom, he brought the chair outside the room inside before making me sit on it.

"My Mom already checked it, Abhi." I assured him but he didn't say anything before kneeling to check my ankle like my Dad just did.

"You actually came to college with this leg and cheered like that all the time during the game? Are you stupid? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked raising his voice.

"Because you threatened me that you will not teach me if I get hurt again." I raised my voice too when he called me stupid.

"Threatened? When did I do that? Don't put words in my mouth." He warned me and I pushed him away to stand up but he pushed me down again.

"You said that yesterday evening and even suggested that I need not learn at all." I pointed out and he frowned listening to those words.

"I was not threatening and if you were that determined then I would have suggested to not learn from your Dad. You hid this matter from me." He mumbled and I sighed.

"Why are we fighting when I am the one that got hurt?" I asked rubbing my forehead and felt his hand on my cheek.

"Don't hide matters like these again from me." I stiffened hearing those words and opened my eyes to stare at him.

"Okay?" he stressed again when I sat there in silence and I slowly nodded after which he smiled at me.

"Let's go! They must be waiting for us." He said standing up and stretched his hand like before.

I took it before we both walked out of the storeroom only to find Vikesh standing near the stairs along with Rekha. They both didn't say anything and walked back into my room while we followed them.

"You sit on the bed. It will be painful to stand up after sitting on the floor." Saying that he made me sit on the bed and he sat down before me near my legs after placing the stool from my dressing table beside him.

I had to place my leg on that stool and he sat there to pass snacks to me. I sighed before asking whatever I want without feeling guilty about it.

Everyone reacted normally to all this which made me feel comfortable immediately. And at the same time, I am as usual trying to push away whatever I felt because of his actions today which is the best thing for our friendship.

---------------------------

because of two days break, this one is a long one... I know I said a surprise in the next one but there is no surprise here I guess... So, the next chap will include a surprise or I hope so... I went into another track in this chapter which is not what I thought when I started writing this chapter... i guess this is also fine... :P

How is the chap?

comment plz and vote...