||CHAPTER 11||
《¤》

Guilt. One of the rarest emotions I had felt in the last seven years, not that a ten year old could understand the meaning of this strange feeling that didn't discriminate. But when I did try to reason, I couldn't find any to feel that way for slapping Arnav last night.

But he clearly had had enough of me, since he hadn't made any effort for confrontations. On one hand, it had me relieved. His presence did not mock me since morning, but something in the back of my mind nagged me, making me feel that I was the one at fault. And so, it didn't surprise me when the chair next to me scraped out, Vansh filling its vacancy in the library.

None of us spoke for a few moments, I kept on fiddling with an old copy of And The Mountains Echoed and he unbuttoned his blazer to remove it.

And then, "It's quite obvious you guys had a fight."

"I'll be the mature one and admit I started it."

"Not surprising," he shrugged.

"But you don't see me sulking, do you?"

"Keep Quite, you two!" The old librarian's nasal voice screeched. I never understood why we needed to act like we were in a funeral, keeping quite and all those disciplinary actions. There do exist people who cannot read in silence.

"It's written on both of your faces, actually," he muttered, silent enough for the fat old librarian.

"It's just a normal fight," I tried to brush it off. "Siblings fight all the time, don't they?"

"So you accept Arnav as your brother now?"

My movements halted suddenly, caught up in the slip-up. After what seemed like a minute, I looked at him, "I never exactly denied the fact that he's my brother."

"And yet you were never overjoyed about it either."

I didn't reply, turning back to the Khaled Housseini novel. Vansh Mehra was more observant than I'd thought.

"I find it strange," he finally spoke after a few moments, "You reading a brother-sister story."

I leafed over to a new page, watching the strict, old librarian, before replying, "That's the least I can do to mingle your theories about me, Vansh Mehra."

When I looked up at him again, he was smirking. It was faint, but it was there. "You haven't even heard all my theories about you yet, Arvika Deewan."

The class had booed at the announcement of the surprise Physics test. And Mr. Thakur had booed back at us.

"Also, happy Halloween," he told, passing around the sheets of Motion. "This is going to affect your internal exam marks. So, Trick or Treat, buddies?"

"He isn't too attractive anymore," Avni whispered angrily. "Motion se hi motion sickness hai mujhe. I am so gonna fail."

"Nai, nai, nai!" Ritwik said, in a hushed tone. "Agar tere answers galat hue, fir mai kya karunga? Kisse likhunga?"

At that, Avni, who had sat in front of Ritwik and Vansh today, turned back and stared at him disapprovingly, "Abbey duffer, kabhi khudse bhi answers likha kar. Chomu kahika."

And when Karan had snickered at him, Ritwik got offended, determined not to speak to either Avni or Karan.

Ten minutes later, Mr. Thakur completed his invigilation rounds around the classroom and sat on his chair. It wasn't like any of us was actually solving the questions, the questionnaire was difficult.

"Psst," Ishita tried to grab my attention, and without looking at her, I raised an eyebrow.

"Seventh question, do you remember Range, Maximum Height and Time wala formula?"

"I have stopped after the third question," I snorted.

"Bajuwale se pooch," she instructed, and so I did.

Arman Qureshi, also known as Nerdy Qureshi, who sat diagonally behind me, was hesitant at first. But when I gave him one of my deadliest looks, he obliged, balling the answer up in a paper and targeting us.

What we had, however misjudged, was that his aim was not as perfect as his scores. The paper ball landed in the lap of our dear Teacher.

"Ahh," Mr. Thakur smiled sarcastically. "How I love modern age love letters. Kiski kartoot hai yeh?"

All of us had abandoned attempting the test by now, searching for the brave personality who would stand up. When no one came up, Ishita turned to glance at Nervous Nerdy Qureshi.

However, that didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Thakur, and he boomed, "Is there a problem, Qureshi?"

And when he stood up, glaring at me, I had no doubt about him ratting me out.

Monday afternoon couldn't be anymore suprising than me agreeing to study with Ishita at her house after school.

"How're you doing Arvika beta?" Mrs. Gupta asked, seated on the blue sofa, a kind smile complimenting her face.

"Really great," I smile back, "Thanks for having me here."

"Oh please beta," she frowned. "It's me who should be thanking you for sticking with my daughter. I know how overbearing she is sometimes." She spoke the last part in a stage whisper.

"Mamma!" Ishita scowled. "Anyways, I guess we should get started on our homework, don't you think?"

I nodded at them, "I guess so."

"Well, I'll send some snacks to your room," she dismissed us. "Would asking you to have fun be ironic?"

Said daughter dragged me to her room, "I'm surprised you didn't give her any attitude."

Dumping my bag on her bed, I replied, "Your mother and I share a common tragedy, so it's only out of sympathy."

She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly not enjoying my joke on her. "Whatever. Anyways, do you want to change out of this clumsy uniform?"

I looked down at my outfit, maroon blazer atop checkered skirt. "For once, I strongly approve your idea."

"By the way, I'm sorry about it, alright. I didn't know Nerdy Qureshi was that stupid. We'll get back at him, okay?"

Totally ignoring her apology, I threatened, "Do you want me to jump on your bed wearing this filth?"

Shaking her head, she pranced across the room to her wardrobe, pulling it open to reveal her items of clothing.

Rolling my eyes, I followed her and accepted the comfortable clothes she held out for me.

It was only after we had changed our outfits and I had packed my uniform in my bag that their maid brought in some cookies and home made cake.

"You don't need to be shy..." she changed her statement after watching me gobble the cake without any shame, "...not that you are. At all."

"Formalities are not my thing," I informed her, fishing out my Mathematics text book and notebook. "Now, start with the homework."

Huffing and puffing, she spread out her work material, trying to solve the y's of x's.

"By the way," she interrupted my concentration, "how many questions had you answered before Thakur Sir sent you out?"

"I told you I was stuck after the third. Kya hua?"

"I'm scared for you now," her solemn expression gave out a vibe.

"Fail wase bhi hona tha," I tried to act nonchalant. "Sir just got more reasons to do so now. Kya fark padta hai, this wasn't our MidSem."

"But it would be affecting our grade, Vickey," her nickname made me cringe, but she continued anyway. "And you don't exactly have the Goody-two-shoes reputation around."

I didn't like it when anyone pointed out that I wasn't good enough, because, let's admit it already, I hate being compared. I hate having to prove myself. But since she had my well being, and well, mark sheet in mind, I tried my best not to snap. "Your concern really overwhelms me, but could you just mind those sines and cosines?"

"... and Ms. Rudey-two-shoes is back," she mumbled, turning back to her work.

When Arnav knocked on my door, later that night, I, Arvika Deewan, was shocked.

Huddled underneath the covers with the Chemistry text book to accompany my welcomed loneliness, I replied, "Kya hai?"

"Can I come in?"

"I'm pretty sure that Dad won't be sending you on late night jogs on school nights."

Ignoring my not-so-obvious disapproval, he closed the door behind him, and came in to get himself seated beside me.

"I'm not here to apologise, let me clear that," he announced.

"And you won't be getting one either, what's the point?"

He let out a breath. "Why did you take the blame? During Physics test?"

"Because it was my fault?"

"But you were doing it for Ishita. Tune chaar se zyada attempt taq nahi kiye," he pointed out.

"Teen," I corrected, "And what's the big deal? I feel like I'm saying this for the umpteenth time now, but this was not the MidSem!"

"Do you have any idea how our Dad would react if he came to know?"

"What he doesn't know, won't harm him." Unless you rat me out too.  "Now, if we're done playing the cop, can you go back to not intervening in my private space?"

As he got up from my bed, he said, "I can only wish you luck either ways then. And I'm still not the one apologising."

"You're too kiddish," I informed him, returning back to the d-orbital structures in the textbook.

"It's called expressing emotions, not something you'd know."

I eyed him until he disappeared out the door.

_____

Namoshtaii!

I was just wondering if you guys would like to interview the characters. You know, like ask the characters of Dil Jaanta Hai any questions, or advice, or just you know, plain old talk. If you do, ask away! They can be literally any questions, to Arvika, Arnav, Vansh, Ishita  Karan, and Ritwik, or any other character. I think it would be fun! Use #diljannachahega and I will pretty soon post your interview. And thank you guys soooo much for being interactive! You motivate me to keep writing. I honestly love talking to you, and I bet the characters will love it too!

So yeah, read, vote, comment and promote!

~chaashnee.