*Viraj*

"Match hai na final apni tab order change karne ka soch raha hai Neel" Rudra tells me when we enter the college on Monday.

I nod distractedly when a girl winks at me. Ladkiya aaj kal ladko se jyada forward hai. "Meeting me discuss kar lenge" I say.

"PARI" my best friend screams beside me. "Abeyy mere kaano ke parde faadega kya" I say with a wince as he waves at her. She smiles and comes towards us.

But she is alone.

"Hey pari" I say with a smile. She passes me an odd look and gives me a small nod. Isse kya hua?

"Aashi kaha hai?" I ask my eyes searching the hallways for her face. Pari ke saath hi aati hai vo roz.

"Kyu?" Pari looks at me and frowns. "Kya kyu?" I ask raising my eyebrows. "Tumhare saath aati hai na vo?"

Tab uski tabyet bhi kharab thi. I messaged her yesterday asking her whether she's well now but I got no reply.

"Ha vo locker me apne books rakhne gayi hai" she says.

"Class me milte hai fir" I say hurriedly rushing towards her locker.

I see her standing in front of her locker as she is shuffling through her bag, searching for something.

I tip toe behind her and shout "BOOO!" she gasps and places her hand on her chest as she looks at me and lets out a long breath.

I start laughing. I'll never get tired of doing this.

"Hey paglu" I say and ruffle her hair. I love how she gets irritated when I do that. She leans away from me and zips up her bag.

"You need to stop doing that Viraj. Kabhi mujhe heart attack aa jaayega" she says. I chuckle and put my arm over her shoulder as we start walking towards our class.

Did her body just stiffen or am I just imagining stuff?

"Maine kal tumhe message kiya and you didn't even reply. Ladkiya marrti hai Viraj Singhania ka ek message milne ke liye. Aur tumhe mil rahe hai toh you're taking me for granted ha paglu" I say and wait for her smartass comeback but she stays quite.

"Sorry I was a little busy" she says. I look closely at her face, but she is not looking at me. She didn't look at me even once.

"Ab tumhari tabyet thik hai?" I ask. "Yes I'm fine now" she replies.

Okaayyyy...

Her face looks tired. And there's something wrong about her eyes. They don't have that light and spark which they always seem to have.

We get in class and take our places. The lectures are long and Aslesha is weirdly quite today. I don't get to ask her but I decide to dig her during the lunch break.

"What's wrong with you" I ask leaning closer to her when we sit on our lunch table.

"Kya?" she asks looking confused.

"Tumhara behaviour weird lag raha hai" I say.

"Kuch nahi hai Viraj. Bass.. results ki tension hai" she replies.

Results ki tension? Ye toh straight - A student hai. Isse konsi tension? Kya pata scholar logo ko hoti hogi tension. Aur Aslesha is very serious about her studies and grades. Aaj tak chutti nahi. Kabhi bunking nahi.

I nod and decide to let go of the topic. Results ke baad thik ho jaayegi.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

It's fucking Thursday and ab tak Aslesha ka mood sahi nahi hua. Aaj subah toh results bhi lag gaye and her name is in the top ten of our class.

So it's not the results. Koi aur baat hai. Mujhe pehle hi samajh jaana chahiye tha. Usne aise hi mere muh pe chaap diya ke results ka tension hai aur maine maan bhi liya. I'm so bloody dumb. There's a reason why she calls me dummy.

Aur usne itne din me mujhe dummy bhi nahi bulaya. Kabhi socha nahi tha ke mai dummy ye naam miss karunga. But damn I miss her calling me dummy. In fact I miss the whole of her.

"Viraj it's your turn to bat" Neel calls out and my thoughts are broken. I walk towards the field and warm up.

"Ye Gadar ke Sunny Deol jaisa muh kyu banaya hai jab se. You look like you're about to kill someone" Neel laughs.

"Ball daal chup chap warna you'll be the victim" I say and he laughs more.

He throws the ball and it slightly misses my face.

"Dhyaan kaha hai Viraj" Neel shouts at me, the captain inside him coming out. Game me usse bilkul distraction pasand nahi.

I think about Aslesha and how she divided the partner project in economics and did the part separately instead of doing it with me yesterday.

I hit the ball hard and it goes for a four.

The image of her dimple flashes in my mind. Chaar din se uska dimple nahi dekha.

I clutch the bat tightly and the next ball I hit goes high up in the air and crosses the boundary. Six!

Neel looks at me with his eyebrows furrowed. I ignore his scrutinizing gaze and bat. Mostly the balls go for boundaries and after half an hour Neel tells me that we're done for the day.

"Kya bhai kis chiz ka itna agression nikal raha tha?" he asks me when we're walking towards the boys locker room. I just shake my head and get inside the shower.

When I come out, I look at Rudra who is on the phone with Pari. Ye ek deewana.

"Ok guys kal practice after college. Sid please time pe aaya kar" Neel says and leaves the locker room.

I see a paper fall from his bag. "Chaddha ye tera paper.." I call out but he's already out the door. I go and pick it up.

It's a picture. Of a girl. Ohho. Chhupa Rustam saala. I run behind him. "Oye captain chaddi. Aapki amaanat" I say waving the photo.

He looks at the picture and a weird look passes his face. He quickly snatches it from me. "Thanks" he says and turns to leave.

"Kya thanks? Kon hai ye?" I ask and he stays silent as his steps falter.

"Bhai, kya hua?" I ask seriously. Kiska photo hoga jisse dekh ke itna serious ho gaya?

"Nahi batana toh it's fine" I say. He just stands there for a moment and then leaves.

Huh? Kya tha ye?

I look at my watch. 6.30 ho gaye. Library me hogi Aslesha. I enter the library and am about to ask about her to the librarian when I hear somebody laughing behind one of the books aisle.

It's her laugh. Itna toh jaanne laga hu mai usse. Mood sahi ho gaya shayad iska. Chalo thank god.

I walk towards the direction of the voice and I'm stopped dead in my tracks when I see her with none other than the biggest jackass - Jay Maurya.

Iski toh..

Aaj kal bahot chipakne laga hai Aslesha se. Vo din canteen me lunch ke time usne rasgulle liye the cafeteria se aur Aslesha dikhi toh usse de diye. Itni saari ladkiya thi waha aur Aslesha ko hi kyu diye? Baaki ladkiyo ne kya paap kiya hai?

Waise mai bhi Aslesha ko hi deta. But that's not the point. Mai aur Aslesha close hai. Hum dono ko ek dusre ke plate se khaane ki aadat hai.

Aur kal toh hadd hi ho gayi. Saala haraamkhor aaya aur peeche se Aslesha ki aankho pe haath rakha. Vo khana kha rahi thi. Usko chain se khane toh deta bloody moron. Bass chhune ka bahana chahiye.

Jhak maar ke humara lunch table pata chala isse. Udhar hi mandrata rehta hai kisi irritating makkhi ki tarah.

"Kamzor toh thi mai maths me. But tum the tabhi pass hui. Warna koi chance nahi tha" she laughs and places her hand on his arm.

I want to rip off his arm.

Okay I need to calm down.

"Tumhare liye kuch bhi Aashi" he says and smiles.

Bhaad me gaya calm. I want to break his teeth.

Ye kaise kaise khayaal aa rahe hai?

"So now going home?" he asks.

"Ha bass nikal hi rahi hu" she says.

"Mai drop karu tumhe?" he asks.

"Mai apni scooter se aati hu" she tells him and gives him an apologetic smile.

Ha scooter se aati hai vo. Ab bhak idhar se!

"Bahane hamesha ready rehte hai ha. Achha chalo ek cup coffee toh pee lo mere saath. Yahi college ke saamne ke cafe me" he asks.

I clench my fists tightly. Samajh me nahi aata isse? Usse ghar jaana hai idiot!

"I'm getting late Jay. Maybe next time" she says.

"Please Aslesha.. please come on. Ek coffee. Please" he pleads and Aslesha starts shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"Usse ghar jaana hai Jay. Late ho gaya hai na bahot" I say finally appearing in front of them. I plaster a fake smile on my face and go and stand beside Aslesha.

"Oh Viraj. Tu ghar nahi gaya ab tak? Practice toh ho gayi kab ki" he says giving me the same smile.

He so wants Aslesha. Iss harami ki laayki bhi hai kya. Bloody idiot!

"Tu bhi toh yahi hai" I say.

"Um guys, mujhe library band karni hai. So I'm leaving" she says and we three start walking towards the door.

She closes the library and we three walk down the stairs. Jay is cracking some dumb jokes and Aslesha vo jokes pe hass bhi rahi hai. Itne ghatiya joke kabhi sunaa nahi hu mai.

Haathi cheeti ka joke? Mere pados ke aunty ka 2 saal ka bachha bhi isse behtar joke maar sakta hai.

That dumb ass finally leaves and Aslesha walks towards her scooter. I grab her hand from behind and make her stop.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Aslesha*

"Viraj mujhe late ho raha hai" I say without turning when he holds my hand from behind.

It's been four days and I've successfully avoided being alone with him but now I'm trapped. It's just me and him in this parking lot now.

"You're avoiding me" he states. Doesn't ask.. But he states it. I turn around and sigh.

I plaster a fake smile on my face and say, "No, I'm not Viraj. Mai kyu tumhe avoid karungi?" I ask and he takes a step towards me and searches my eyes.

"Vohi toh mujhe samajh me nahi aa raha. Why Aslesha?" he asks.

"Mai tumhe avoid nahi kar rahi. Achha suno hum kal baat karte hai na. Mujhe sahi me late ho raha hai" i say and try to remove my hand from his but he tightens his hold and takes one more step closer.

"Jay tumhe like karta hai. Uske intentions friendly nahi hai" he suddenly says and I'm taken aback with that statement.

"What? Are you crazy?" I ask and yank my hand away with force and he leaves it.

"Tumhe dikhta nahi hai? Vo tumhe chahta hai. Fake saala" he says and my mouth falls open.

"Ye tum keh rahe ho" I mutter under my breath. Isse khud nahi dikh raha kuch and ye mujhe chilla raha hai.

"Kya kaha tumne?" he asks.

"Vo mujhe like nahi karta. Aur agar karta bhi ho toh tumhe kya problem hai. Mai tumhari personal property toh hu nahi jo tum decide karoge ke mujhe kon pasand kare aur kon nahi" I snap at him.

He struggles with his words and runs his hand through his hair making them messier than ever. He is so gorgeous.

"Vo achha ladka nahi hai Aslesha" he says furiously.

"Achha? Kya kiya hai usne jo tum ye keh rahe ho. Mere saath toh vo hamesha bahot achhe se rehta hai. Meri respect karta hai. Toh tum kyu aisa bol rahe ho" I ask.

What the fuck is wrong with him? First of all Jay mujhe pasand nahi karta, aur agar karta bhi hoga toh I'm not interested. He's like a brother to me. Mai toh kisi aur se pyaar karti hu. Iss pagal se.

I wanna say it out loud but I stay quiet.

"I don't know. Mujhe bass.. vo.. usse mujhe bade weird aur bure vibes milte hai" he says.

"Vibes? I can't believe you just said that. You're impossible!" I say and start walking towards my scooty again.

"Toh tum usse like karti ho" he shouts from behind and I'm stopped dead in my tracks.

I slowly turn behind and he laughs humorlessly and walks towards me.

"Seedhe seedhe bolo na that you like him. Hai na?" He asks and I gulp down my urge to slap him.

I love him. Yes I do. But sometimes I feel like slapping the crap out of him. Kitna andhaa hai ye bloody arse! I am in love with him and ye idiot mujhe itne stupid accusations de raha hai.

I can't see things? He's calling me blind? Sabse andhaa insaan agar iss duniya me koi hoga toh vo ye hai.

"I. Don't. Like. Him" I say and jab a finger into his chest after each word.

He looks at me for several seconds, his blue eyes searching my face, whether I'm lying. Then he gives a small nod.

"Toh kya baat hai Aslesha? Why are you avoiding me?" he asks calmly.

Oh he won't just let it go. I'm not avoiding him. I'm trying to protect myself. It's already so difficult, pura din iske saath reh ke pretend karna that I'm not madly in love with him. And when he does things like this I feel like screaming to his face and tell him that it's him that I love.

"I'm not avoiding.."

"Jhut toh mat bolo. Jo hai vo bol do na seedhe. Mujhe ye sab bilkul pasand nahi. The silent treatment. Tum Monday se aise behave kar rahi ho. Friday tak you were okay. Infact you were really happy. Fir Friday ke baad..." he says and his voice fades away as a look of understanding crosses his face.

Shit. Samajh gaya kya?

I look away. "It's getting late. Bye" I turn away but he comes and stands in front of me quickly.

"Kiss? Because I kissed you? Yahi baat hai na" he asks looking at me intensely.

"No" I state.

"I said I'm sorry and you said that it's okay. Ab ho gaya. Ab kyu tum vo baat.."

"Shut up!" I break his sentence. "It's always about you na. Viraj ko fark nahi pada toh kisi ko nahi padna chahiye" I say.

"But what's the big deal. It was just a kiss!" He says angrily.

I blink back my tears. For him it was just a kiss. But mere liye it was so much more. It was my first kiss god dammit!

"Ha I know. Just a kiss. Toh mai kaha tumhe kuch sunaa rahi hu ke kyu kiss kiye vagera. It's done and I don't care" I say.

"Toh why are you avoiding me?" He says and looks up heavenwards like he's exhausted with this talk.

"I am not avoiding you. Just leave me alone" I say and go running towards my scooty.

I go and sit on my scooter but he comes and stands in front of it and places both his hands on mine over the handle.

I try to remove my hands but he presses my hands down firmly. He leans ahead and looks at me intensely as his eyes turn a shade darker. Just the way they had before that life changing kiss. I gulp nervously but I'm not able to look away from this pool of blue depths.

"There's moments like this where you frustrate the crap out of me and I feel like kissing the crap out of your frustrating mouth" he breathes and all the hair on my body stands to attention.

I gulp and tightly clutch the handle. He leans a little more closer and our noses are almost touching.

His eyes move down to my lips and so do mine. I look at his lips wanting to cover the little distance. He bites his lower lip and I look into his eyes again. His lips are too distracting and I can't handle it.

"Kal college se pehle ground ke stands pe milo tum mujhe. Bahot late ho gaya hai waise bhi. Kal tak mujhe agar meri purani Aslesha wapas nahi mili.. toh..." He warns and then walks away.

Toh?

Toh?

TOH KYA? I want to scream but my mouth has gone dry. What's with this guy!

I look at his retreating back for a few moments and place my head on the handle as I take deep breaths to calm my nerves.

He just mentioned about kissing me. That he wants to kiss me again. Actually that was more of a threat to make me shut my mouth. Last kiss bhi usne aise hi ki thi.

Aur ab ek nayi problem. Kal stadium me milna hai isse. Akele me. Kya bolungi isse. Kya karu? Shit shit shit shit...

Issi se pyaar hona tha mujhe. Ye complicated idiot se. Jo chiz nahi pata chalni chahiye vo pakad leta hai aur jo actual main chiz hai uski dur dur tak koi khabar nahi.

I sigh and start my scooty and go home. When I reach home, papa is already home.

"Hi papa. Jaldi aa gaye aap aaj" I say and throw the bag on the sofa and jump on it and close my eyes. Sarr dukhne lag gaya hai bahot.

"Ha Aashu. Thak gayi meri beti?" he asks and I smile.

"Bada hi lamba hafta tha" I say and massage my head.

"Badi kamzor lagne lagi hai aaj kal tu. Khana bhi nahi khati sahi se. Kya hua koi problem hai kya?" he asks and sits beside me.

"Nahi papa" I say and force a smile on my face.

"I know I'm not supposed to ask this. Kyuki ladkiya normally papa se ye sab baate chhupati hai. But is it about a guy?" he asks and I literally choke on thin air and my eyes widen in shock.

"Papa!" I exclaim and he chuckles. "Well that's not a no" he says and I just laugh and shake my head.

"Jo bhi hai you can share it with me" he says. I smile. Bataau kya papa ko? Gussa toh karenge nahi I know. Aur waise bhi kuch hai nahi mere aur Viraj ke beech..

"There's this guy.." I say and papa smugly nods. "I like him but he doesn't like me back" I say and sigh.

"First of all vo ladka bilkul gadhaa hai. Andhaa gadhaa. Tumhe nahi pasand karta? How stupid" he says and makes a disgusted face. I laugh at that.

"If it's meant to be, it'll happen Aslesha. Ya fir maybe God has something better in store for you. Jo bhi ho, you should never stop loving yourself. Khud ko apni priority rakha karo. Khana nahi khana vagera ye sab sahi nahi hai. Bichare khaane ne kya bigaada hai tumhara?" he says and I smile.

He is right. Kitne din tak aisa sulking mood le ke ghumungi. I love him and that's fine. Vo kehte hai na pyaar se better hota hai kisi pe crush hona. No expectations no demands.

"Chalo issi baat pe tumhare favourite restaurant se aaj chinese mangaate hai. What say?" he asks and I grin.

I nod my head and say yes. I order food and then freshen up.

"Kal college mat jaao nahi jaana toh. Kab se tum apna sarr dabaa rahi ho. Ek din chutti kar lo chahiye toh" he says and I ponder over his suggestion.

Ha ye sahi hai. Fir Viraj ko kal face bhi nahi karna hoga. Aur waise bhi sarr dukh raha hai bahot. Pure term me ek chutti toh chal jaayegi. Toh done fir. No college tomorrow.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

No author's note today kyu ki author bimaar hai. Hope you guys liked the chapter. Next chapters bahot mast hone wale hai so stay tuned. Ily :)