"Because of you, we are late now,"

"It wasn't my fault I wasn't ready for someone to throw junk at me," Shubman scoffed in a hush tone.

"What did you say?" Ishan raised his eyebrows and Shubman quickly averted his gaze.

"Nothing...I was just saying I am sorry,"

"No you weren't, I heard you saying something like w–"

"Ab aren't we getting late? Let's go, otherwise the principal might get angry." Shubman ushered and Ishan glared at him but still complied.

Shubman was going to knock on the door when they reached the principal's office but before he could, Ishan just barged inside like it was the most normal thing to do.

Shubman stared at him with a gaped mouth as Ishan strode confidently towards the principal without paying any heed that the principal was talking with Mrs Kishan.

"Shubman come inside. Why are you standing out?" The principal noticed him and Shubman quickly came and stood beside Ishan. He greeted the principal and Mrs. Kishan politely.

"So do you boys know why you are both called here?" Mrs Kishan raised her eyebrow, Shubman shook his head and Ishan shrugged.

"It is for the inter zonal buzzer competition, remember Ishan you participated last year as well with Mayank?" Mrs Kishan asked Ishan nodded his head.

"Yeah we got the gold medal as well," Ishan smirked.

"Yes, so this year I want you and Shubman to participate in it and bring a gold medal again." Mrs Kishan said with a smile, handing them both the pamphlet of the competition.

Shubman looked at it reading the contents.

"But Mayank can participate with me, I can assure you mom-"

"Ma'am" Mrs. Kishan cut him glaring at him coldly. "You are in college and a student here and are supposed to behave like one. I have told this to you multiple times" she stated to which Ishan nodded.

"I am sorry ma'am. But me and Mayank will bring the gold medal again a–"

"Ishan I know you are capable for it but this time the competition is going to be very hard so I want only my best students to participate in it. Mayank is good, but Shubman is exceptionally great. I have seen his grades, he even surpassed you and he came first in mid semester." Mrs Kishan said grinning at Shubman who gave an awkward smile.

Ishan mentally cursed him when he remembered about mid semesters. He already hated the guy and his mother was here praising him only.

"You are right mam, but I think we should ask Shubman first if he is interested in participating or not. We should not force any candidate," Ishan said and Mrs Kishan sighed. She looked at Shubman who looked at Ishan who was glaring at him.

"N-no mam I don't have any issues. I would love to participate."

"That's the spirit, you both can discuss about the competition and as Ishan has already participated once you can ask him about it in brief. You both may go now," She said and looked back at the principal taking out a file and opening it.

They both started talking about other things so Shubman took it as a queue to leave and Ishan followed him out.

"Aah what—" Shubman hissed when Ishan roughly pulled him to the janitor closet which was two classes away from the principal's office.

"You are going to tell the principal that you don't want to participate." Ishan seethed his hand still tightly holding onto Shubman.

"I can't take my name out, I am not allowed to do it."

"Oh and why are you not allowed to?" Ishan scoffed.

"Because of you. The firecrackers stunt you pulled, had me almost expelled so the principal gave me warning and also told me I will have to participate in all the curricular activities and pass in all the exams otherwise they will expel me."

"It's bullshit, they won't do it. Just tell them you are not smart enough to participate."

"But I can, I know a lot about general awareness and environmental economics."

"Externalities ki definition tak toh aati nahi hogi and you know about the subject," Ishan snorted. Shubman puffed his cheeks at that, no matter what Ishan cannot just make fun of his knowledge.

[You won't be even knowing the definition of Externalities and you know the subject.]

"Externalities are spill-over costs or benefits that arise when activities of one economic agent affect the activities of another economic agent without any compensation. There are four types of externalities - Positive production, Negative production, Positive consumption and Negative consumption." Shubman scoffed out.

"Types nahi sirf explanation chahiye tha. Aur Externalities toh sabko pata hota hai,"

[I asked just the explanation not types and everyone knows about Externalities.]

"Toh puch lo koi tough question,"

[Alright so ask any tough questions]

"Acha sab pata hai tujhe? Market failure ke koi se bhi do causes bata,"

[Oh so you know everything? Tell any two causes of market failure.]

"Public goods and Asymmetric information"

"Two main features of public goods?" Ishan raised his eyebrows.

"Non rivalrous and non excludable," Shubman shrugged.

"Asymmetric information leads to?"

"Riders problem aka the lemon and peac—"

"Bas jitna pucha hai utna bata, four solutions of Asymmetric information?" Ishan smirked knowing he would not be able to tell four solutions as there are only three in the textbook.

[Stop. Just tell how much is asked.]

"Social regulation, Guarantees and warranties, Consumer protection regulation and uhh..." Shubman bit his lip trying to think of one more.

"See tumhe 4 solution nahi pata kese hi—"

[See you don't know the 4 solutions-]

"And signalling," Shubman squealed out and Ishan raised his eyebrows.

"How do you know about Signalling?"

"The buyers and the sellers continuously–"

"Definition nahi puchi, I asked how do you know about signalling? Textbook mein toh mentioned nahi iske baare mein"

[I didn't ask definition. I asked how do you know about signalling. It's not in the textbook.]

"Woh sirf textbook se thodi padta hu, there are so many things which the textbook and our teacher's notes don't cover so I read the research paper of other authors as well."

[Oh I don't just read textbook.]

"Acha but sirf yahi nahi pata hona chahiye, they will also include one more language and this time it's german. German mein ek sentence bhi aata h?" Ishan crossed his hands in front of his chest.

[Oh but that's not enough. They will also include one more language and this time it's German. Do you even know a sentence in German?]

"Du bist mein Mann"

[You are my man]

"What the fuck?" Ishan gasped.

"I-I just told you a sentence in german."

"Don't you dare act so slick in front of me you fucker," Ishan muttered taking at step back but hissed loudly when something dug into his feet.

"Aah" he fell onto the floor clutching his shoe tightly.

"What happened?" Shubman asked, crouching down beside Ishan.

"Fuck its hurting so much" Ishan hissed shutting his eyes.

Shubman took his leg taking out the shoe only to find a nail stuck in his feet.

"How did you step on a nail?" Shubman looked at him while Ishan glared at him.

"I don't know, it's a janitor's closet man, anything could be here. It wasn't like I deliberately stepped on a nail." Ishan scoffed.

Shubman sighed, done with his attitude. He quickly pulled out the nail from his feet.

"Oww can't you be gentle," Ishan hissed and Shubman apologized.

"Help me get up, it hurts." Ishan said and Shubman hooked his hands behind his knees and pulled him up in bridal style.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Ishan glared at him trying to wiggle out.

"Wait, I am just helping you." Shubman said tightening his hold so Ishan won't fall.

"Then just lend me a hand or something you fucker. This i—" Ishan stopped midway when the janitor's closet opened suddenly. Shit why did he not locked the door?

__________

Sara walked out of the principal's office as Mrs Kishan had called her a moment ago to talk about the extra curricular competition.

She hummed as he walked through the corridor but stopped just outside the janitor's closet when she heard some muffled voices.

"Fuck it's hurting so much"

Wait...isn't that Ishan's voice? What was he doing inside a janitor's closet? And there were some other voices as well so was he with someone?

"Oww can't you be gentle?" What?

Sara contemplated to open the door as some hushed voice came from inside. There was some rustling as well and some muffled voices which she couldn't recognize.

"Help me get up, it hurts." Again Ishan's loud voice boomed and Sara couldn't hold it any longer. She wanted to see who was with Ishan in the janitor's closet.

So without thinking she opened the door only to find Ishan being held up in bridal style with Shubman.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Ishan scowled glaring at Sara.

"I guess I can ask you the same question" said Sara folding her arms near her chest.

"How many times have I told you not to meddle in my buisness. Just fuck off" Ishan shouted.

"I didn't even know you were here" Sara shouted back at him matching his pitch.

"I see you have got a sharp tongue all of a sudden. I gotta make it alright" Ishan said hatred visible in his voice.

Shubman was looking from one face to other not knowing what to say or do. Sara took a deep breath calming herself because she knew well that there was no good of both of them shouting. And it was no use making Ishan understand so she only calmed herself down.

"Look Ishan all I want to know is are you alright. I have no interest in meddling in your buisness or any intention of hurting you or anything you assume of me. I genuinely have no such wish I swear"

Sara said so calmly looking in Ishan's eyes that for once he melted but before he could speak out anything he again came out of the trance.

"That's not for you to think about. I don't need your fake concern for me or anything. You and your so called family have already done a lot of favors to us" Ishan said gritting his teeth and looked away. Had he looked for a moment longer he would have seen Sara's glistened eyes or maybe he know he just did not wanted to see them.

While Shubman was confused about whatever he said but no matter how curious he was he didn't ask about it. Seeing them both quite, he walked out with Ishan in his arms who surprisingly didn't protest.

Sara here who was left behind let out muffled sobs covering her mouth not letting her voice come out.

_______

Abhishek went and sat down on his seat cursing Ishan for what he did with Shubman. "Such a fucking jerk he is. I hate his so much. Asshole. People say karma hits. Where the hell is his karma?" he was muttering when he felt someone hit him with something. He immediately jerked and looked forward only to see the professor glaring at him who had hit him with a piece of check.

"Mr. Sharma I suppose whatever you are doing is much more important than this lecture" the teacher sarcastically. Abhishek stood up. "N..no ma'am. Nothing like that" Abhishek said stuttering.

"Oh seriously? Then I am calling you from so long. Why are you not responding?" she asked. "I am sorry ma'am. I didn't hear" Abhishek apologized.

"Come forward and solve this question" she ordered him. Abhishek gulped looking at board. He didn't know anything. "Do you need a special invitation Mr. Sharma?" she asked. He stood up and walked forward. He picked up the chalk from the table and stood in front of board. He stood a few seconds.

"If you don't know you can just apologize I guess. Why are you wasting other's time?" the teacher asked. "I am sorry ma'am. I don't know how to do this" Abhishek said looking down.

"Hmm. Okk but pay attention from next time. Go and sit now. Company effects you but I see no effect of Shubman's company on you. All I pray is that boy doesn't get effected by your company" the teacher taunted him but he quitely went back as he didn't have anything to say.

The teacher resumed the lecture while Abhishek was looking for someone. His eyes suddenly caught the person already looking at him. Although teachers have scolded him earlier as well but this time someone's reaction mattered to him.

What he might be thinking after Abhishek got embarrassed in front of the whole class? Don't know why he wanted to know it suddenly.

As soon as he looked at Mayank. A smile came on latter's face. Mayank was looking at him from the starting of the lecture. His angry face, his embarrassed face. Everything looked very cute to him. All he wanted to do was sit and admire him whole day. And finally he also spared him a look.

Seeing Mayank looking at him and smiling made Abhishek blush the darkest shade of red. No matter how much he wanted to hide it wasn't in his control. He shut his eyes and last night's memories came in his mind.

He opened his eyes and looked up and had a deep eye contact with Mayank. None was ready to look away. They wished the time to stop right there and they both to get lost in each other. But suddenly the bell rang bringing them out of their world.

To be continued

Stay tuned for next chapter