I rubbed my eyes for the umpteenth time as I struggled to complete my assignments, while Jiya was busy mixing songs on her laptop. My mouth had started hurting from all the yawning, and I just wanted to sleep but Jiya wouldn't let me do so.

We were at Arushi's place, and she had made Jiya in-charge of me; we were pulling an all-nighter since last two days to get my assignments done. I still didn't understand how Akshay managed to complete everything before me. Because he was done with his studies, he was released from Arushi's dungeon two hours ago.

I glared at Akki, who was getting his beauty sleep while I slumbered away.

"Can't I do this tomorrow?" I whined.

Arushi gave me a death stare after moving her specs down. I gulped nervously and nudged Jiya for help.

"Sorry, babes, I am busy right now," Jiya replied.

I sighed and went back to my homework. Since Akshay and I were busy with our dance training, we had gone to college for only one day last week. Arushi had prepared the notes for us, so we only had to copy the assignments.

I prefer dancing 24X7 over studying any time.

I glanced at the clock, and the hour finger was nearing towards 3 a.m. While my bones had already started sticking out, Arushi and Jiya looked as if they had only started with their work. Both of them were enjoying their time, while I drowned in the heaps of papers.

Seeing no way out, I steeled myself and resumed my assignments. The time started moving faster, and by the time only a few pages were left for me to complete, the sun shone on our faces.

"And I am finally done!" Arushi exclaimed.

"Congratulations, girl!" Jiya complimented Arushi.

I hugged Arushi, and the three of us checked Arushi's book review Instagram page. She had achieved the feat of completing a total 400 book reviews in one year. I could only imagine reading that many books in my dreams.

"It's a treat from me tonight," Arushi said, her curly hair bouncing in joy.

"Did someone say treat?" Akki asked as he got up.

As soon as he learnt about Arushi's accomplishment, he joined us. Jiya clicked a selfie, and we all got ready to leave for our college.

"Bhoomi, are your assignments done?" Akki asked as he got ready.

I nodded proudly, and Akshay breathed in relief. I happily went to take a shower but almost slipped on the wet floor of the bathroom when I heard Arushi yell my name loudly.

"Bhoomi, you duffer, are your eyes not working properly?!" Arushi screamed.

I knew I was in trouble, so I closed the bathroom door and peeked out. "What's the matter?"

Arushi gave me a murderous look and showed me my assignments. "Didn't I tell you to change the stuff before starting your assignment? I even made separate notes for you, but look what you have done, dumbo! Akshay and your assignments are ditto of each other. The professor will grill you for sure now."

Akshay shot me a worried look but soon his expressions changed. He burst out laughing, and Jiya also joined him when Arushi tried to drag me out of the bathroom.

"I haven't submitted it yet, no?" I reasoned.

Arushi huffed and shook her head. She told me that it was the last day of submission, and the only way I could rectify my mistake was through my friends' help and doing my homework before the evening.

As I took a quick bath, my friends packed my bag and tiffin. I got ready, and the moment I was inside the local train, I started with my assignment. Akshay and Arushi wrote other pages, while Jiya sorted out the information.

I was really nervous but my friends assured me. Even though Arushi was mostly scolding me, she was the one trying her hardest to not see me lose marks. To avoid any distraction, I turned off my phone.

Thanks to Akshay, Arushi, and Jiya, I managed to submit my assignment before the due time. Since we were free now, we went to the cafeteria to fill our stomachs.

We took our seats, and stared chatting. Surprisingly, Hriaan and Mahreen, Tejas' friends, spotted us and sat down in front of us. Hriaan fist-pumped Jiya, and shortly graced me and Arushi with his attention. Mahreen greeted us all and started chatting with Jiya.

"Hey, man," Hriaan greeted Akshay.

"Hey, bro," Akshay greeted back.

Bro?

I nudged Akki. "When did you two get so close?"

Akshay shrugged. "Who cares?"

I stared at Akshay for a minute and decided to let the matter go. It was not like Akki shouldn't have been associating with Hriaan, but their casual interaction seemed something that might have happened only in my imagination.

Hriaan's dance crew, The Emperors, had visited our humble dance studio earlier, but I thought it was just a one-time affair. I thought the guys were only passing time. But, seeing Akshay so comfortable with Hriaan made me curious.

"Why are you making such a weird face?" Arushi asked.

"Am I?" I questioned back.

Arushi nodded and pointed towards my cold drink. "If you are worried that Akki will find another best friend, then chill. We know his personality."

I giggled, and Arushi winked. We started laughing when Akshay looked at us in accusation. Arushi and I laughed among ourselves; I sipped my cold drink, while Akshay conversed with Hriaan.

"I think I saw Boomer yesterday..."

I spit out the drink when Hriaan said that. Akshay exchanged a look with me before he laughed nervously.

"You saw Boomer? How's that... possible?" Akshay asked, scratching his neck.

"Yeah, why would he be here anyways?" Jiya added and patted my back as I coughed.

Hriaan glanced at me and gave me his water bottle. I took it in panic and drank like a maniac.

"Why can't Boomer be here? I am sure I saw him only," Hriaan said confidently.

I spit out the water and chocked on it. Arushi ducked her head in embarrassment, while Jiya pursed her lips. Meanwhile, Akshay was staring daggers at me for acting like an idiot.

"What's your problem, dude?" Hriaan asked me and started laughing. "Don't know how to drink?"

I calmed myself and gave him his water bottle back. Mahreen scolded Hriaan for laughing at me and gave me some tissue papers. I gladly accepted her help; I told myself to relax and act normally.

I noticed Hriaan staring at me, so I charged myself with confidence and stared back at him. I placed my right arm on the table and waved my left hand in question.

"How can Boomer be here when he is in Myanmar?" I boasted. "You must have seen someone else."

Hriaan narrowed his eyes. He drummed his fingers on the table and nodded excruciatingly slowly. I was having a hard time maintaining my proud posture, but I held on. There was no way anyone was going to reveal Boomer's truth.

After what seemed like eternity, Hriaan cracked a smile. My body instantly went back to relaxed pose, and I continued drinking my cold drink.

"I must have been fooled," Hriaan said. "But, didn't you say Boomer had gone back to Manipur?"

This time, I almost drenched Hriaan by spitting my drink. Hriaan went into a laughing fit, while Mahreen looked at me in confusion.

"Are you okay?" Mahreen asked me.

I coughed and thanked Mahreen again. Akshay ducked his head close to my ear and told me to shut up. He told me to stop messing up if I didn't remember my own details.

Jiya called for attention on herself and waved her hands in dismissal. "Whether Boomer is in Manipur or Myanmar, what's the difference? He is not here, that's it. Why are we making it such a big issue?"

While Hriaan didn't look convinced, I, Arushi, and Akshay nodded in agreement. Mahreen, meanwhile, had no opinion on the matter as she wasn't aware of anything.

But... Why is Hriaan discussing Boomer in so much detail? Hasn't Boomer's role already ended? Why dig up old graves?

I slumped back in my chair and crossed my arms across my chest. I decided to keep my mouth sealed as Jiya was efficiently handling the matter.

"You had any contact with Boomer?" Hriaan asked.

Jiya raised her eyebrows. "No... but why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just wondering if I could get his phone number, you know."

My eyes widened in shock. Akshay also had the same reaction, but he instantly masked it. I grabbed Arushi's hand in anxiety.

"He has no phone," Jiya replied instantly.

Hriaan looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously, Jiya? Then how do you contact him? You know what, why am I asking you? Akshay, bro, you tell me. Where's Boomer exactly?"

Akshay turned into a statue. I knew his brain had stopped working. We were good at lying, but making up believable lies took us a lot of effort and time. Somehow, Akshay managed to speak up.

"Bro, Boomer is really poor," Akki blurted out.

"He is what?" Hriaan asked.

Akshay glanced at us quickly and lowered his voice even more. We understood his signal and joined in his act.

"He is really struggling financially. I think we should not disturb him," Jiya said.

"Yeah... his family needs him, so he can't just roam around freely," I added.

"Hope his family is in good condition and he contacts us soon," Arushi said.

I knew Arushi didn't like lying, but she still helped us. I hopefully looked at Hriaan and Mahreen; while Mahreen was convinced with us, Hriaan looked as if he wasn't affected by Boomer's sad story at all.

"So, you are saying that Boomer is going through a tough time, right?" Hriaan asked happily.

We nodded. Finally, he has accepted it, but how can he be so joyful at someone's misery?

"No problem then. Just tell me Boomer's address. I think his issue can be solved in a snap, so he can have time for us," Hriaan said. "Now, please don't tell me that you don't even know his address. What kind of friends are you?"

"Boomer's address?" Akshay asked in shock.

"And how will his problem be solved instantly?" Jiya diverted the attention.

Hriaan smiled brightly in return. "Because TJ is in Manipur right now."

"What?!" I yelled.

Before I landed myself in more blunder after my explosive reaction, Arushi pulled me back and glanced at Jiya to do something.

Surprisingly, Jiya also took some minutes to let the news sink in before she queried about what Hriaan had just announced.

"TJ was here in yesterday's party. Stop pulling our legs," Jiya joked.

Hriaan motioned at Mahreen to confirm. Mahreen nodded. "Hriaan is right. Tejas is in Manipur. I don't know what's he doing there though."

"I am sure he must be doing something really important for him to leave so suddenly," Hriaan said slowly as if solving a murder mystery.

I was staring at him to find any clue but looked away when he glanced at me.

Why is Tejas in Manipur? Why did he go there? Should I ask Hriaan? Maybe I shouldn't. Why am I getting worried? Maybe TJ went there for some other work?

After pondering over it, I looked at Hriaan, and he was busy laughing. I whispered to Jiya to ask him about Tejas.

"What could TJ be doing, huh?" Jiya questioned Hriaan. "Is he having a secret affair?"

That's not what I had in mind, Jiya!

Mahreen giggled, while Hriaan shrugged. "I don't know, Jiya, I am not his girlfriend."

Jiya narrowed her eyes at the reply but dropped the matter. If we had stretched the topic more to extract the information, the situation might have turned against us.

Hriaan resumed his talks with Akshay after the Boomer's topic was closed. I was relieved but a small doubt kept itching at the back of my mind.

Even when the next day started, I still wasn't sure what I was exactly worried about.

Was I more concerned about Tejas having a secret affair or him going to Manipur out of the blue?