"You'd think, people might ask me better things than who-are-you-dating when I do an ask-me-anything session on Instagram", Rahul said moodily.

"Stop sounding so cheerful Rahul", I said, leaning against his legs and looking at the messages on his screen, "You are famous. Show some appreciation for that".

After their tour, Rahul's band started getting booked even more and other record labels were starting to take notice too.

I was sure that it wouldn't be long before they were signed by someone.

We were sitting on a stone bench in the park going through Rahul's fan messages.

"Hey this one says she's sure you have a girlfriend", I said.

"Big deal", Rahul said going to the next message.

"By the way, Zoya...", Rahul continued in a casual tone, but I could sense a sudden tension. I sat up. "I saw a guy from your story highlights...you were hugging and..I wondered if.."

"Oh that's Reyansh", I said at once "My friend".

Rahul raised his eyebrows, "It looked like you were at a party?"

"Oh it was his birthday", I said "It was after that, that he and Mishti started dating".

"He's dating Mishti?"

"Yeah"

"Oh..oh right".

"He plays the guitar too. You'll like him".

"Hmm", he said gruffly putting his phone down, and then changed the track, "Okay, tomorrow afternoon lunch?", he asked rubbing his hands and bringing the tips of his long fingers together.

"Afternoons are closed till Eid", I grinned.

"What about dinner?"

"Mom will be home tomorrow and dad's coming to see us too. But I think my mom's going to some function the day after. So Tuesday evening?".

"You're on!"

"Just wear a basic eyeliner and some lipstick. That'll do", said Mishti from behind the elephantine amount of books and guides she had piled on the desk.

"You go for dates in school uniform, so don't even act like you know what this all about", Riya snapped at her "Zoya don't worry, I'll help you pick the perfect outfit".

"Stop your mollycoddling Riya", Mishti said sounding bored "Zoya's been hanging out with that guy for quite sometime now. She'll know how to dress up for going out with him".

"Rahul is surrounded by so many girls all the time, Mish!", Riya retorted.

I thought my voice was going to vanish from lack of use.

"Exactly!", Mishti said finally peeping out from behind the books, "He's surrounded by party girls all the time. Which is why Zoya should look different from them".

"What's going on here?", Loukya mam asked coming up behind us. I really shouldn't have told Riya and Mishti about my date with Rahul during Chemistry period.

"We were just discussing ma'am", I said.

"Really?", Loukya mam asked "Discussing about what? You can ask me whatever doubt you have".

"Um...it's actually not about the subject. It's about...er...well"

"About boys?", Loukya mam sneered.

All three of us tried to think of a quick retort to this, in vain.

"Well, well", Loukya mam continued "Riya dear, you look really tired, why don't you go wash your face and get fresh?"

"I'm already very fresh. Thank you", Riya said "Ma'am".

I wanted to slap Riya. The last we needed now was to get sassy with a teacher.

"Do you know what I think Riya?"

"No ma'am"

"I think you three are disobedient and disrespectful and you deserve to stay back after school tomorrow and do cafeteria duty!"

At this point, I seriously considered dropping out of school and joining Rahul's band. I mean, what an adventurous life that was compared to sitting inside a classroom, all day.

Sure, as much as I could dance, I wasn't exactly the world's best singer. But who cares? There are plenty of celebrity singers who thrive on auto tune. And even if that wasn't possible, Enchanted Stone could always use an alto. I could just stand in the background and keep going la-la-la or na-na-na in the same tone while Rahul and Sia hit all those high notes and everything.

Wasn't I brilliant?