Just to brush up over the new scenes that some of you must've had missed.

*

CHAPTER TEN [ before the inauguration of Graphique (Deewan Art Gallery) ]

The workers were scurrying around with huge frames and exotic exhibits, and we had to watch our every step so as to not knock off the breath taking pieces of art. The ceiling of the black and beige room was quite high, and the chandelier that hung from the top was another piece of work to marvel upon.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Jolly Bua whispered. Arnav and I shared a look, unconsciously.

On one side of the long lobby, I spotted a capture. Unknowingly, my feet traversed the small distance and my eyes took in the work.

Gully cricket. Black and white, extremely detailed photograph, and yet another hidden tale. Plastic crates were the wickets, and the street too narrow. It was shot from a top angle, perfectly times to capture the ball aimed towards the frame. I moved on to the next pane, and got stuck, because the life-like image of Bihu dancers, but they weren't dancing. They were in their natural selves, talking to each other, probably before their performance. It wasn't all smiles, but it surely was something better: anticipation.

"You... you like it?"

Arnav was scratching the back of his neck, biting his lip.

"I'd be lying if I say I don't. This is really... I don't have the words- grounded and beautiful? I don't know, but they are definitely the least pretentious pictures, and I can tell that without even looking at the others. Who is the artist?"

I did not realise that Dad was listening in on our conversation until he answered, "Vansh."

"Seriously?" My genuine doubt made me look at Arnav. His Adam's apple bobbed as he looked back at the exhibits.

"Yes," Dad replied, placing his palms on our shoulders. "Now stop gawking at them, come with me to the office."

CHAPTER TWELVE  [ during the Graphique inauguration, conversation between Arvika Deewan and Vansh Mehra ]

"I had a hunch that you're into abstract portrayal of expression."

"You think so? I guess these are just some lucky shots," he shrugged, pointing towards his exhibit, which now had fifteen red dots.

"That's just you trying to sound cool and all."

He looked at me with a knowing smile. "Am I though? Do you know how difficult it is to take a picture? I might as well be trained in gymnastics for the perfect shot."

I frowned, tilting my head. "Are you even interested in photography? Fifteen people wanting that, and yet you're complaining."

"Touche. I do like photography, but I don't like the pain it comes with."

I frowned again. He seemed to be confused too, because his attention swapped to someone behind me. "Your mother's pretty."

And I was taken aback. "I think you're supposed to compliment me right now."

We laughed at the strange joke, which off course, was not meant as a joke at all.

"Well, Arvika Deewan, I have a hunch that you are not into abstract portrayal of expression."

*

That's it. Here's what you came for:

||CHAPTER 64||
《¤》

Completing notes had never been one of my worries, I usually got people to do it for me, because I was, well, influential. Of course, the meaning behind the word could be taken in a sense which wasn't honest, because I hadn't really cared about being honest prior to the camp. Truth be told, no matter how much I tried to disagree and deny, the camp in Shimla was influential, and it was in the literal sense of the word. It obviously hadn't changed me, but it had tightened a few screws, and the result was surprising, not just for me, but for every one who supposedly 'knew' me.

Ritwik Roy, for example. "This was not supposed to happen."

I continued scribbling on my notebook. Ishita hadn't arrived yet, and the classroom was relatively less chaotic than what it usually used to be. Karan sat on their table, facing me, while Arnav had been called our class teacher for some work.

"Why?" I asked, not looking up. "I do know how to write. Can't say the same about understanding what I'm writing, but I can write."

"But you never do that when you're lagging behind."

I shrugged. "Not interested in lagging behind anymore then, I guess."

"Arvika," I heard my classmate's voice, who was besotted by the guy sitting in front of me. "Hey, you're back!"

"Avni," I acknowledged. I knew why she was greeting me. "Hey. Do you want to sit over here? I can shift." But I was not going to.

Looking up, I saw her eyes widen. "Uh, no. It's alright. To be honest, Ishita's cool and all, but I don't think I can really concentrate while I'm with her."

I smiled at her, I did not want to respond to that.

"Anyways," she looked at Karan before turning back to me. "How was the camp? Ishita told me you had to submit your mobile phones and laptops."

"Refreshing," I told her, truthfully. "I am actually thinking of ditching Instagram and Snapchat for a year. A week without them was actually very... very nice." There was not a milder way to put it.

"Cool," she mumbled. "What was the camp all about though?"

"Business ethics training. Taught us how to not be hot-headed all the time."

After a few more pleasantries, she went back to her original seat.

"I don't like her," Ritwik commented. "She gives out a stalkerish vibe."

"Good thing it's not you she likes either," Karan scoffed, fishing out his water bottle from his bag.
I chuckled at his dig, "Moreover, no one can compete Ishita's stalking tendencies."

"And speak of the devil," Ritwik nodded towards the door. Ishita had finally arrived, with Vansh in tow. I smiled at both of them, genuinely.

I turned around in my seat to face all of them, once they got seated. "We were just talking about you," I informed Ishita.

"Oh," she did not seem surprised. "Not good things, I guess."

I frowned. She seemed off, this was not the Ishita I had girl talks with. Sighing, I turned to Vansh. "Hey."

He looked at me, really looked at me, before responding. "Where's Arnav?"

So I looked at him, really looked at him. He had a bruise on his cheek bone, and a busted lip. Arnav had a fight with Vansh, that was all I could conclude.

I cleared my throat, "Vansh. It'll be awkward only when we make it awkward. It doesn't need to be."

"What do you expect me to say then?"

"I don't do expectations," I replied, knowing our friends were listening to our conversation.

"I'm sorry," he said after a while, just when I was about to turn back. "I get your point. I'm really sorry."

"Don't apologise," I frowned, "That kind of makes be obligated to do so too, and I hate doing that."

He cracked a smile. I grinned back. Everything was going to be okay. 

¿¤?

The lunch table was awfully quiet, and it was getting on my nerves. I was never the one to start conversations, but this was never the situation before. It was stupid to think that my one week trip to Shimla would change circumstances for the better, because this was eery.

Clearing my throat, I glanced at Ritwik. He looked back, shrugging. Sometimes it astonished me thinking about how dumb he could be.

"Did you guys get the circular?" At least Karan was smart.

Arnav looked up at him, "About what?"

"The trip?"

"The one with the secret destination?" Ishita asked, bored.

"It's not a secret anymore," Ritwik finally joined in. "I heard they're taking us to Udaipur."

"That explains the paper-work," Arnav muttered under his breath.

We looked at him questioningly. "Paper work?"

Judging from his expression, he hadn't realised that he had said that out aloud. "I-uh-nothing. Vika are you done with lunch? You need to complete your pending work, come on let's go."

"No I haven't finished my lunch-"

But he had already grabbed my hand and dragged me out of my seat before I could even protest. We did not address the questioning glances thrown our way out of the canteen.

"Slow down Arnav," I complained. "What's the matter?"

It wasn't until we reached our empty classroom on the third floor that he took a breather and sat down to explain. "Nothing's alright."

"Yeah," I pointed my thumb behind me, "Kinda figured that out down there."

"I'm not... talking about that," he gulped. He cleared his throat before continuing, "Last night I went into Dad's office to talk about us moving back into our flat."

I sat on his desk. "And? Did he agree?"

"He didn't know that I was there... because I left."

"Slow down there, I'm not Sherlock Holmes."

He passed me an annoyed look, but continued nonetheless. "His desk was full of paper-work. About that hotel in Udaipur that we got from Oberoi. Arvika, Dad is sponsoring the stay during the trip."

Biting my lip, I narrowed my eyes at him, "The news is new, but I don't understand your reaction. What's wrong?"

He blinked, but did not look away from me. "It's weird. I have this foreboding feeling, like he is planning something Vika."

I placed my hand on his shoulders, "Bro, chill. Pitashree hai hamarey woh, so even if he is planning something, it would be for the business."

"You are telling me that," he replied, referring to the deal I had not agreed to. "After the whole stupid deal ordeal you went through? I thought you hated it?"

"I still do, trust me," I sighed, "But Dad ke saare plans bekaar nahi honge na Arnav."

He leaned back on his seat, observing me. "Shimla changed you poori tarah se kya? What's up with you?"

Smiling, I shrugged. "Told you, Dad ke saare plans bekaar nahi hotey."

¿¤?

Korean shows were my recent guilty pleasures, and the growing addiction was affecting my sleeping pattern. It was two in the morning, and I had school in five hours, but I obviously did not care.

When the fifteenth episode ended, I decided to refill my bottle of water. The hallway lights were dimmed, which meant Dad was either asleep or in his study. In either case, he was not going to check up on me and Arnav anytime soon. I tip-toed downstairs, still dazed at the beauty of Lee Jong Suk. I did not want Pinocchio to end, the show was intense and not just another rom-com. I was so busy calculating the probability of me meeting him if I were to visit Seoul some day that I almost didn't notice that the backyard lights were on.

But I did, after I decided that my next vacation destination was definitely going to be South Korea. From the kitchen window, I saw Arnav sitting on the grass, cradling his phone.

Leaving my bottle on the kitchen counter, I sneakily walked outside our house, and sat on the grass beside him. "I'd still prefer the terrace over this, but this will have to do for now, I guess."

I watched him press the power button of his phone till it switched off. He did not want me sneaking up on him, but I was his sister and I was going to do it anyway.

"Couldn't sleep?" I asked him, playing with the mowed ground.

Biting his lips, he shook his head.  

I sighed, laying down on the grass. "Do you want to sleep here instead?"

"I need to tell you something."

Finally!

"You have my sympathy for the next half hour," I sat up quickly. "Shoot!"

He was nervous, but from the way he pursing his lips, I knew this wasn't a hasty secret.

I waited for him to come out with it, listening to the sound of crickets and other insects. It was cold out here, but it was the first week of December, so it wasn't a shocker.

I heard him take a deep breath before he was ready. "Remember the pictures you saw at Graphique, the day before the inauguration?"

"Those photographs, the ones signed by Vansh?" They were captivating.

I watched him, watched his Adam's Apple bob before he spoke.

"Yep. Except they were mine. He was helping me by letting me use his name."

_____

Namoshtaii!

I'm so happy that it's a Friday and my exams are over and I can finally concentrate on DJH properly. Did I mention anything about a double update? Because yes, that's coming out in a few minutes too. 

Read, vote, comment and promote!

~chaashnee