||CHAPTER 45||
《¤》

"So... how were your exams?" I cleared my throat, attempting to clear the awkwardness.

Nerdy Qureshi was not expecting me to pop out his lone bubble in the roof top of our school, the corner I had met him the third time. So, when I did enter his radius the week succeeding the exams, he was caught offguard.

"I don't know, good I suppose," his reply was quiet, his eyes caste down on his tattered Organic Chemistry reference book.

He was withdrawing from me, he was haunted by my presence.

"Suprizingly, mine too," I shrugged, unbuttoning my blazer to kneel down properly. "I'm expecting a 35 in Chemistry, so the good thing is I won't fail."

His fingers gripped his page tightly, his eyes trained on it. "Oh, good."

I hesitated, "Won't you ask why?"

He looked up at me suddenly, his eyes reflecting more emotions than his glasses reflected the sunlight.

Why do your friends bully me, Arvika?

Why didn't you come and talk to me Arvika?

Why can't we be friends, Arvika?

He was scaring me.

But all he said was, "You studied hard this time. That's good for you."

"And you were the one who tutored me during recess. So the credit goes to you. So... let's hang out today, after school? My treat."

I could see that it took a lot of courage for him to speak the next few words. "I don't want to."

It didn't sting at first. "Armaan, look, I am sorry for what they said or did to you. I wasn't aware, and by the time I was I didn't want to disturb you during the exam season."

"And please don't disturb me during any season. You really don't need me either, you have your friends who can tutor you better. Why do you insist on being my friend?"

"So tum unke kiye ki saza mujhe de rahe ho? I insist on being your friend, because I want to. I am sorry mai tumhe tab defend nahi kar payi, but in my defence, I just had a hunch about what had happened, I didn't know the details. I still don't know, and I do not want to know either, because mai tumhare bullies ko fight nahi kar sakti Armaan. Woh sirf tum kar sakte ho. And unka kehna maankar mujhse door rehna easy hai, kyooki tum strong nahi ho. I am not defending my friends, but I don't completely agree with your methods either."

After a long moment of introspection and hesitation, accompanied by his ever-present indecisiveness, he replied, "Mai darta hoon. Tum sabse."

¿¤?

For the past ten minutes, the senior secondary section of Mystic High had been gathered in the huge auditorium on the third floor. It was out-of-the-ordinary, because we usually did not have assemblies after break, but rumours had it that something interesting was going to happen.

Well, anything that disturbs the class hours is always interesting, so who was I to complain?

"Keep an arm's distance," the teachers tried to discipline the crowd.

"We could," Karan muttered from beside me, "if there was more than a hair breadth's distance!"

"I know right," Avni, our classmate responded, "the school should really consider expanding."

Ishita and I shared a secret smile. Girl's washroom gossip had it that Avni had a crush on our dear friend. Yeah, I don't indulge in these kind of things, but who can deny some rom-com entertainment for free?

The unholy screech of the microphone made us turn our attention to the stage, where Mrs. Dongra took command of the stage, and us.

"Good afternoon students," she greeted, and after a sleepy reciprocation, she continued. "Some of you might be aware why we have gathered here."

Noise resounded the room for a short while before she went on. "Well, the school has planned a one-week educational trip to..."

"Goa goa goa goa goa," Ritwik mumbled in a low voice, praying with his hands joined.

"I think it's gonna be Kolkata. I heard the twelfthies talk about the U-18 FIFA..." someone whispered.

"They should take us to Kanyakumari," Another guy said.

In the midst of all the confusion, our principal smiled. "That's a secret. Only your parents will be knowing, and hence the whole procedure of planning and sending you all would be the duty shared by us and your guardians."

Groans, disses and disappointment received her statement, but Mrs. Dongra was never one who gave a damn about what her students commented on her.

With an everpresent smile, one which held a secret, she dismissed the assembly.

Entering the class, Vansh expressed his angst, "Yaar, assembly ka matlab kya tha? Ek tho bulao, and then bulane ka reason secret rakho? Whole fcuked up regiment they follow!"

Instantly I laughed at him, rubbing his forearm, "Chill dude, that went way better than what I had expected."

"Exactly," Ritwik supported. "Mujhe tho laga wapis se koi faaltu workshop hoga, and you know how excited our Director gets when he sees a microphone."

"Oh god, don't remind me," Arnav joined him. "Ek tho sula dega, and jab koi uske faltu jokes pe nahi hasega, tab apne izzad ka phaluda banake khud hi hasega!"

Ishita giggled, "I think that was the point of his joke. By the way, Vickey, nice biceps right?"

I was hoping she wouldn't catch on, but she was smarter than what I gave her credit for. My hands fell from Vansh's forearm, reaching inside my blazer pocket.

"Arey arey," Karan whistled, "hamare nazro ke khatir aap sharmaiye mat."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Karan, am I blushing?"

"No you aren't," Vansh replied for him, reaching for my hand and placing it on his forearm. "But we can count the seconds to it. I like your massage."

The rest were snickering, except for my brother, who coughed loudly, intervening between me and his best friend, "Behen mere bhi dole-shole hai. Usi me khush raho."

I made a disgruntled face at him, "Bhai mere, gharki murgi na daal barabar hoti hai."

"Exactly Arnav," Ishita humoured him, "Kyoo Juliet ka papa ban raha hai?"

One of the Deewan twins could blush, and Arnav couldn't be anymore red when others burst into laughter.

¿¤?

Mrs. Negi had her eyes on me all through her period, not that I was new to her interest in my being, but today was different. She kept on looking in my direction when Karamveer Sahni read the new chapter, and she didn't reroute her gaze elsewhere when I looked at her.

It was almost as if she wanted to tell me something.

As if she knew something.

"Tera English ka exam kaisa gaya tha?" Ishita whispered, noticing the exchange.

"Unka chehra dekhke tho nahi lag raha hai ki achha gaya hoga," I replied.

"Ahuh," she shook her head. "Shayad se achha gaya hoga, isiliye tujhe kabse dekh rahi hai. Aascharyachakit Negi."

I was about to giggle when the person in question boomed my name. Sighing, because this was a regular thing now, I stood up.

"Explain the paragraph," she said monotonously.

Lucky for her, I knew exactly which paragraph she was talking about. Not so lucky for her, the final bell rang at that exact moment.

With a sober expression, she leg me sit, and with a few instructions about the homework, she left the classroom.

My eyes drifted to Armaan Qureshi's seat. He wrapping his things up, so I walked towards his desk. "Hey."

He looked behind me before replying, "Hi."

"Just here to remind you that don't rush off to home. Me treat," I shrugged. "Wait for me outside the campus, okay?"

I realised I was missing the old Nerdy Qureshi when he was hesitating again. "Fine... but please be quick."

With a smile his way, I turned around and gathered my things up. "Mai aaj bus se nahi aa rahi hoon," I informed Arnav.

"Kyoo?" He was staring at the back of Armaan Qureshi.

"Jab jawaab pata hai tho kyoo poochh raha hai?" I frowned. "I'll be home by six."

I didn't let their arguments reach my ear.

¿¤?

The newest branch of Kawfee and Koolfi was big, crowded and exactly what we needed. Armaan parked his cycle outside the cafe, and we were greeted with a whiff of aromatic coffee mixed with the room freshener and sweat. Probably the worst combination, probably the liveliest combination.

We got ourselves a booth at the back of the cafe, since most of the places were occupied. "Do you think this is a good idea, Arvika?"

I looked back at him as I placed my bag on the vacant area. "Why shouldn't it be?"

He immitated by steps, sitting down. "I dont know... I have never been to high-end cafès."

"Doesn't mean you cannot go to one," I smiled at him. "Do you want to order, or shall I scoop out the best they've got?"

He looked around, albeit a little intimidated, "I'll be here."

With a nod his way, I joined the suprisingly short queue, eyeing up the menu board. I had decided what I was going to order, because I was a regular customer at its other branch.

"Good evening, what would you like to order?" The girl with the customary cap behind the counter asked.

"I'd have a-" my phone buzzed in my skirt pocket, making me stop suddenly mid-sentence. "I'm sorry, I'd have two Satrangi Koolphis."

She went to scoop up my orders, giving me a minute to scan the message I'd received.

Got a minute to spare from your date?
-Mickey

Reflexively, I looked around me. Sure enough, Mickey was in the cafe, in his grey hoodie, the one from Karan's birthday party. He was on his phone, he was creepy.

"Here you go," the girl behind the counter piped up, passing me my orders. Trying to be normal, I paid the amount, picking up the tray.

Btw, nvr wuda guessed u take charity seriously
- Mickey

I passed his table, not glancing at him. I don't know if he looked up or not, but I knew what he was trying to do.

But I didn't care. Qureshi was my friend, poor or not.

"Here you go," I mimicked the counter girl, placing the tray infront of Armaan.

"Are you okay Arvika?" He asked, digging into one of the plates. "Aah, are these kulphis?"

My phone buzzed again.

Almost 4got, I've somethin u wanna know.
-Mickey

Asshole's got something on the case, r u coming to the K&KC nr d school?
-Vansh

"Is everything okay?"

"It should be," I told him earnestly.

_____

Namoshtaii!

Firstly, Happy Dussehera! Did you guys enjoy this Navratri/Durga Poojo? I'm waiting for the next Poojo already!!

I got an AITS on Sunday, which means i have to travel an hour and half to a picturesque location to give an exam, how tough does life get?? Anyways, wish me luck guys. My update pattern does kinda depend on my mood. Just kidding. Maybe.

Btw, can anyone guess Karan's secret? I really wanna know ur speculations! Let free ur Nancy Drew skills tbh.

Anyone ready for getting their minds blown? Yeah? STAY TUNED FOR FRIDAYY.

So read, vote, comment and promote!!

~emcee.