Soha was sitting in her hostel room applying nail-paint. Aliyaa was sitting on her bed with a Mills & Boons in hand, but she wasn't reading, she was absently staring at it. Soha frowned, Aloo was changing. She wasn't as bubbly as she was even a week or so back. The girl who could chatter around non-stop and even make Soha's brain go fuzzy, nowadays the same girl remained aloof thinking all the time - who knew what ate at her? It would be wrong to say that Soha wasn't concerned, unlike the 'behenji', Soha was quite fond of her roomie Aloo. But right now, her curiosity about Dhruv's personal life surpassed her concern for Aloo. This was the right time, she could drop in the small question and if she knew better, Aloo wouldn't even notice she asked her, she would just answer in monotony.

"Oyi Aloo, you okay? You seem very lost" began Soha.

"Huh? No...no I am fi-fine" she muttered in response.

"Acha woh Dhruv, doesn't he have a girlfriend?" she put in as casually as she could. But it didn't help, Aloo's head snapped up at the mention of Dhruv. She looked at Soha with an uncertain hope in her eyes, something Soha couldn't quite place. Then she asked,

"Why do you ask Soha? Does he look like he is in love?" Aliyaa asked, she didn't notice Soha's intention behind her question, she just wanted to know about Dhruv - did others see his love for her? Did she only not notice?

Soha looked at her face, well there was no teasing coming from her tonight, it was safe.

"I don't know yaar, he seems like someone who can hide his personal life, that makes people curious. Does he have a girlfriend? Have you ever asked him?"

Aliyaa lowered her head in anguish, she wanted to tell Soha that Dhruv did have a girlfriend, and a soon to be fiancee too - but she remembered that Dhruv wanted to hide the news, it hurt her, but she kept quite. Then an idea struck her,

"I don't know Soha, but I can ask though" Aliyaa wanted to know her worth in Dhruv's life, her asking would have made Dhruv feel she was immature, she didn't want that tag anymore - but Dhruv seemed okay with Soha, however she is, so she decided she could ask this question and say Soha wanted to know - she and Soha would both get their answers then. She cheered up a bit.

Soha smiled, her plan had worked, she would soon know.

***

Manik was waiting outside the apartment ringing the doorbell for five minutes now. He kept waiting, no one answered the door, he was a bit irritated now, the message was delivered all right, and then what was cooking? He waited for another fifteen minutes and then left the place in blatant irritation.

When he reached the multiplex, he saw that all of them had reached already, they were waiting for him. He eyed her with coldness, and she looked away - her indifference stung. Manik ignored her and went ahead to chat up with Abhimanyu and Mukku. Mukku looked a bit disturbed though, he wondered why.

When they entered, the seats row in the screening room, Manik noticed Nandini jovially chatting with both Dhruv and Aryaman, she paid him no heed. Soha's eyes were obviously on Dhruv's movements, and he had had enough - he saw Aryaman occupying the inner most corner seat, of their row. Dhruv followed him. Soha was about to follow Dhruv, but Manik held on to her hand and gave her a hard look. Soha obviously didn't want to be too conspicuous so she kept mum and waited with Manik. But in Manik's attempt to keep Soha from Dhruv, he realized, he gave a free pass to Nandini to glide in next to Dhruv. An angry puff escaped his lip, and before anybody could walk in next, he did, still clutching on to Soha's hand. After them Abhimanyu and Mox followed.

All wasn't lost, thought Manik. Nandini and Soha, both were on his either sides. Well the bummer was Nandini had Dhruv by her other side too.

The movie began, Soha let out a bored sigh, she wasn't interested in these movies, her object of interest wasn't near her and being stuck between psychotic Mox and her brother Manik wasn't exactly going to help her case; especially when Manik looked annoyed for some reason and Mox looked disturbed.

Manik was slowly starting to forget his irritation as the title of the movie started rolling on the screen, but a slight movement on Nandini's side made him turn towards her. She was comfortably bending towards Dhruv's side of the seat handle. Dhruv felt it too; he turned around with a grin,

"Like old times right, Nandu?" he laughed and put his arm casually around her. She didn't flinch or anything, in fact she was very comfortable, and together after exchanging a smile, they looked at the screen.

Manik didn't know why he felt the need to break a few things right then. Nandu, really?

As it is he was having a tough time ignoring their closeness and concentrating in the movie, on that, within the first fifteen minutes he could hear soft and light snores coming from Soha's side! It pissed him more. He was watching the movie, but his focus had gone for a toss - occasionally Nandini and Dhruv would discuss something about the plot of the movie - of course, for that they needed to get even closer! Suddenly he heard them giggling - obviously some insider joke - but Manik couldn't take it anymore, he carefully placed a hand on Nandini's shoulder, the part where Dhruv wasn't touching and pulled her towards him, a startled Nandini fell over his side and grabbed his hand for balance, he smiled internally - much better - then she looked at him with one eyebrow raised, questioning him for his action.

Manik's irritation was back. "Why did you not reply when you weren't going to wait for me to come and pick you?" he asked all jittery.

Nandini stared at him in blank incomprehension at first, then understanding dawned, "I think you made a mistake in the side, Soha on the other side" she replied quietly and was turning away. Manik grabbed her elbow; he wasn't letting it off so easily.

"I am talking to the right person! I had texted you, not Soha." He replied through gritted teeth.

"When did you text me? I didn't ---" then she produced her phone from her purse to check. Sure enough there was an unread text message in her inbox from Manik. Oh, she exclaimed, this was the one she didn't read, assuming it was Aryaman's. She opened it.

6:03p.m. [Hi, I am sorry about last night. I want to sort this - without getting all worked up. Can I come and pick you up for the movie? We will get time to talk then. I know you are angry; so if you really don't want me to pick you, text me back a reply. If I don't get a reply, it means you've given me consent.]

She gasped, than she turned automatically to look at Manik, with an apologetic expression.

"Did you go home to get me?" she asked softly, her tone helped in bringing down his anger considerably.

"Yes, I rang the doorbell for fifteen minutes." He replied.

"I am so sorry Manik, I missed this text completely" she replied in concern.

"It's fine. And I am sorry too; both about last Friday and yesterday." Manik managed to revert. She smiled in reply, and then turned to watch the movie. Manik smiled too, for the first time in a few days, he was feeling normal.

After the movie Manik had decided to have a word with Soha, so he told her personally to keep herself available, Soha agreed reluctantly. She neither wanted to crate a doubt in Dhruv's mind, nor did she dare goof around right before Aryaman.

Nandini was hopeful, she and Manik were in a common space after a very long time, and in all likelihood the space was not just that of acquaintances; true they weren't buddies, but they were slightly more comfortable in each other's company. She almost smiled at the thought when Manik came to where she stood with Aryaman, and told them, he was not going to join them any further, as he and Soha were doing dinner together. As he left, Nandini let out a sigh, that didn't go unnoticed by Aryaman.

***

Abhimanyu was noticing Mox, he wasn't quite okay, he tried asking him, but Mox avoided the topic. He thought it would pass, but Abhimanyu was wrong - Mox didn't even watch the movie properly, he was lost in his own world.

"Hey mate, wanna race down?" asked Abhimanyu cheerfully.

"No man, some other time" he replied with a sigh.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong? This isn't solving on it's own I hope you can see it to mate" offered Abhimanyu cautiously.

"Let's go to the football field" replied Mox in instinct.

Abhimanyu had every desire to reject the idea, what was the point of driving all the way to their practice field at this hour? But clearly Mox was very disturbed, maybe he needed space? Like literally? Or fresh air?

"Lets go!" replied Abhimanyu with a smile.

***

Aliyaa was hanging out with her childhood best friend Navya. They were catching up for dinner. After a long long time, she was feeling better, because she was behaving like her ownself - Navya would never judge her.

"Hey Navya what do you want to eat? Let's order pizza? Thin crust? Oh Navya it's so good to catch up! Navya is there a new guy there? I saw you blushing while texting! I think I will not have pizza, let's order pasta? Oh Navya it feels so great to be meee" she sang. Navya laughed, her friend hadn't changed at all. Though Aliyaa was a year older than Navya, she was always the immature one!

"How's Mr. Soulmate doing? I heard from Nandini di that he wants to keep your thing in hush hush? Why did you allow Aliyaa?" she asked curiously. After a long time Aliyaa felt like she could share her thoughts with someone, she told Navya all her troubles and soon Navya was frowning.

"Yaar Aliyaa I think it's okay for Dhruv to take time. After all you guys were really young when the soul-mate thing got stuck in your head, right. It's okay if Dhruv has grown out of it, maybe he came here to give it a fresh shot? It may be slow, but from where I see it, that is not the problem you should be worried about; your threat is that senior who joined you both for dinner. Your roomie; I am absolutely sure she has the hots for your D" Aliyaa laughed in disbelief, Navya was such a kid, after all her worries and tension, she found this one to be an issue? She laughed and turned her head, only to notice the pair of people sitting a little far from them; it was Soha and Manik. She smiled. "Look Navya, my potential threat is on a date with Manik. I told you right, she was just innocently curious! Now you're happy?"

Navya looked thoughtful. "Why don't you text Dhruv and ask him what Soha wants to know, see his answer; you will have an answer too." Aliyaa's eyes shone at that, it was a good idea.

9:39p.m. [Hi, Soha was asking, if you have a girlfriend; what should I reply?]

9:42p.m. [Tell her I am single.]

Aliyaa's smile faltered, "See, I told you. He wanted to keep us in the warp, this would be his answer"

"Or maybe he doesn't want Soha to not know he is taken; can be either ways" Navya shrugged. Aliyaa stared at her in disappointment for a moment; but tonight was hers, after a long time she was herself, nothing was going to dampen her mood tonight. A dimple appeared on her face.

"Navya let's go to scoops for ice-cream after this? Please please please? What flavour will you have? Navya you have put on sooo much weight!! Have you had a chance to hang out with di? Let's book the train tickets together for going home for the summer vacation what say? Ei Navya, imagine we just have twelve more days for exams! I am shit scared!"

The rest of the evening passed happily as Aliyaa found a small escape to be herself for the night.

***

Manik was eating his food and looking at a reluctant Soha, she was never this bad with him; it bothered him. "Is there something you want to tell me Soha?" she looked up startled, "Huh, no Manik, what are you talking about" she stuttered. Manik decided to be honest about it.

"I think you have developed a thing for Dhruv, is it true? You know you can be honest with me Soha" he shrugged.

Soha looked at Manik, she didn't know what the right answer was, a part of her wanted to own up to this and clear off her equation with Manik; but a tiny voice inside her asked her to wait, wait till Aloo gave her the news, what if Dhruv did have a girl friend? She would then lose out on both of them; that would be sad. The wiser thing to do was, wait and keep Manik in the dark, until Aloo gave her news.

"Manik are you mad? I was just trying to make him comfortable in class you know; he is Nandini's friend and we like it or not, she is a part of the group, right? But why do you ask? Jealous huh?" she fluttered her eyes suggestively and Manik gave a coy smile and breathed in relief; no competition here.

***

Dhruv, Nandini and Aryaman were having dinner together, after a long time she was having fun, she was comfortable around both Dhruv and Aryaman; maybe this was how being with friends felt like, relaxed, casual, fun and warm; she never felt these with her so called group. She smiled warmly seeing Aryaman and Dhruv enthusiastically debate ManU vs. Chelsea. Maybe this was it, her group.

***

A/N : So, a big chunk of the story is out, and I am happy to see it gaining quite a lot of readership. Of course I hope for much more, but being very very new to this fandom, I am happy with what I have for now :) 

Although, it would mean a lot to me, if some of the silent readership converted to votes and comments :) No pressure :D

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