"Good morning Ayush," I greeted as I entered the classroom.

He ignored me after glancing at me. Surbhi asked me who he was and I told her that he was my childhood friend. Ayush snorted at this and got up from his seat.

He went to the back and sat beside Ved. Ved put his hand around his shoulders and told him something. He looked in my direction and laughed.

I narrowed my eyes at Ved. Surbhi nudged me and I sat on my seat. They must be making fun of me.

"Hi Sandhya! Hi Surbhi!" Nikhil greeted.

We both greeted him back and he asked me if I had done the assignment. I nodded and he scratched the back of his neck looking at me hesitatingly. I took out my notebook and gave it to him.

"You can copy it," I said.

"Give it to me when you are finished," Surbhi told him and we chuckled. He thanked me and went to his seat. Parth soon arrived and we began arguing on who was the best cricketer. We had to stop it since the teacher arrived.

"Yuvraj is the best!" Parth shouted.

"Yes, Mr. Parth Singhania. I also watched yesterday's match and he played really well. Now I would like you to please take your seat and let me start with the lecture," Mehta sir said and the whole class laughed.

Unlike other lectures, Mr. Mehta's class was never boring. He was the first one to leave when the bell rang but he always utilised every second of the lecture efficiently.

×~×

"Virendra!"

"Sachin!"

"Kapil Dev!"

"Dhoni!"

On Dhoni's name, both Parth and me nodded our heads.

"Will you both stop already? I am tired of this cricket mania," Surbhi complained. She didn't like watching cricket and would scold Aryan and me whenever we started with this topic.

"OK, let's finalize with Dhoni." Parth and me shook our hands in agreement.

"Ayush!" I spotted him entering the cafeteria. I waved at him and he looked in my direction. He adjusted his specs and went in different direction.

"What was that?" Parth asked. Surbhi asked the same question.

"My friend from school. You don't know him?" I asked Parth. He shook his head. Then he didn't know the backstory.

"Ayush and I were friends in elementary school but he doesn't think so. That's why he is ignoring me," I said.

"What happened?" Surbhi asked. I shrugged.

"Maybe he just doesn't like me? I don't know," I said sadly. I knew why he was acting like that. Ved and he were similar in that way. Holding grudges.

"Well whatever it is, don't spoil your mood because of it. You have me and Surbhi," Parth said and I smiled. I took out some candies from my bag and gave them.

"Let's eat pizza!" I announced and ordered the large size to celebrate our friendship. You don't need a particular day for that. Surbhi noticed that I kept stealing glances at Ved's table and kicked me under the table. She typed something on her phone and showed me.

"Chillax dude. Don't stress over it. Let it go. Remember I am your best friend. So stop looking at him or I am going to kill you," I read and laughed at her. I liked jealous Surbhi.

I tried to talk with Ayush a few more times. Like everytime, he ignored me. Okay, I will try for one last time.

"Ayush, do you need my help?" I asked as he was struggling to solve a problem. He was alone in the Physics lab. He looked up and scrunched up his face.

"What Sandhya? You are damn irritating you know. I don't need your fucking help. So stop pestering me now and let me do my work," he snapped. I think I annoyed him to the infinity. Here goes my last chance.

"Sorry. I won't trouble you anymore. I was just happy to see you again. You are also stuck in the past like Ved," I said.

He suddenly got up and I flinched. I thought he was going to hit me. Silly me. He picked up his books and put them in the bag.

"Don't try to talk to me again," he growled and stomped off. I just ruined his mood. Job well done Sandhya.

After that, I stopped trying to get Ayush in a conversation. I accepted that he didn't want to be associated with me. I plugged my earphones and started walking towards my science club.

🎼"Yaaron Dosti badi hi haseen hai
Ye jo na ho toh kya phir
Bolo ye zindagi hai...." 🎼

( Translation:-
Friends, friendship is really serene
If it isn't there
Then tell, what is the meaning of this life?)

I sighed as the song played. Great timing. I lip-synced along and my mood lightened up.

I got to the club and submitted my reports. The results woulf be posted next week. For now, we could do anything we wanted. I doodled in my rough notebook and watched some cat videos to pass time.

Brrrring!

The bell rang and we all filed out of the room. Time to go home. I called up Surbhi and asked if she had already left. She told me to wait by the tea stall in front of our college.

"Bhaiyya, one cup of chai (tea)," I told the tea seller and waited for Surbhi. She soon came and ordered herself a cup.

"Chai is love," she said and took out her phone to take a selfie. She captioned the image as the same what she said. If there was a competition for selfies, she would surely be the selfie queen. She instantly posted it online and pocketed her phone after closing it.

"Wow. Look at that. Sexy," she commented and I nodded my head.

"I want one of those," she said and I knew her father would get her if she asked him.

We continued staring at the black Mustang as it made its exit through the gates. It turned right and moved past us. After some distance, it reversed and stopped in front of us. The driver's window rolled down and my eyes widened.

Shreyas? He got out and ordered a cup of tea for himself. I kept glancing at him and his car. He owned that? Damn.

I rolled my eyes when I saw Surbhi leaning on the bonnet and clicking pics. I glanced at Shreyas and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"It isn't your car, Surbhi. Get back here," I told her but she ignored me.

"Excuse me," Shreyas said as he approached his car. I quickly got in action. Before he decided to run her over, I grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. She glared at me.

"You ruined the perfect shot," she complained and looked at Shreyas.

"Nice car," she commented and went back to posting her photos on Instagram.

"Sorry about my friend," I apologized to him and he got in the driver's seat. He drove off and I slapped Surbhi's shoulder.

"What was that for?" she whined.

"Why don't you ask uncle to buy one for you?" I asked. She thought for a moment and shook her head.

"I will buy it myself," she said and we high-fived.

After drinking two more cups of tea each, she offered to drop me home. I agreed and got in her car. Today I would reach home earlier than usual.

She turned on the radio and 'Lamberghini' by Maninder Buttar started playing through the speakers.

🔉"Lamberghini chalayi janiyoooo
Sanu vi chutta de do, kithe kalle kalle jayi janiyooo~
Model town vich mare gedi
Sanu vi chutta de do, kithe kalle kalle jayi janiyooo~" 🔉

(Translation:-
Darling, you are driving Lamborghini
Give me a lift too. Where are you going all alone?
Going around Model town,
Give me a lift too. Where are you going all alone?)

I turned up the volume and we sang along on top of our voice as the car zoomed trough the streets. After half an hour, we reached my house. Surbhi dropped me off and left.

I got in and called mom. She was busy in kitchen so I dropped myself on sofa and switched on the TV. I decided to watch a music show. They were introducing new artists and I really appreciated their efforts. We needed to give chance to upcoming singers and producers.

"Let's welcome the next singer. It is unfortunate that he can't join us today live but we will get to listen to him through video call," the announcer said.

The screen behind him lit up and showed a small dimly lit room. In the middle sat a boy, his face covered with a black mask. He had covered his head with a hoodie. I had seen that somewhere before. I got up and narrowed my eyes at the screen.

"Get away from the TV. I am watching too," Mom scolded me and I got back on the sofa. I must be overthinking. A lot of people had the same hoodie.

"OK. You can start now." The host signaled him.

The singer adjusted his camera and checked his mic. After making sure everything was working, he looked in the screen and exhaled. He must be so nervous now. All the best buddy.

Then he began singing and my jaw dropped open. I continued staring at the screen like that.

When he finished, the whole studio erupted in cheers and the judges nodded their heads in approval. I instantly began clapping loudly and mom told me to keep it low.

That was awesome! No, it was fucking awesome! I quickly grabbed my phone and voted for him. I told mom to do so too but she had another artist in mind.

The host introduced him and complimented him for his singing. He went by the name S'Flow. Really? Couldn't use your real name Shreyas? I smirked and remembered how I met him the first time. Still shy to show his face to the audience.

With his act, the show ended and I went to my room as mom continued with her afternoon serials. They were getting crappier by each passing year.

I freshened up and opened my laptop. Let's do some timepass before work. I opened up Facebook and spent the next two hours watching animals' videos and sharing them. So productive.

I began my assignments and completed them in time for dinner. Dad was watching news. Again. Didn't he get tired?

"How was your day?" he asked without looking at me. News was more important. I answered him like I did everyday. He just nodded absentmindedly. Mom called us for dinner and after filling our stomachs satisfactorily, we went to our rooms.

I tried to sleep but couldn't. I kept replaying today's events. I wanted to kick Ayush so much for ignoring me. Idiot.

You want me to stay away from you? Fine with me. Don't come asking me for help when you actually need it. He won't.

He had Ved to solve his every problem. Just like old days.

I punched the pillow imagining it as Ved's face. Take this and this. I punched it so many times that the cover ripped. Oops. Mom would kill me.

I threw the pillow away and turned on my side. A song started playing in my head. Where have I heard it? It kept playing on loop and finally I remembered. Shreyas. I was so jealous of him.

He could sing. I couldn't. Why didn't he show his face? How would his fans recognise him that way? He needed to boost up his confidence. Not to the level of Shree though. Could twins be so different?

They were identical but it was easier to differentiate between the two. Shree had shoulder length hair and Shreyas kept it short like most of the boys.

Their auras were different too. I wish I had a twin too or atleast a sibling. It sucked to be the only child. I was thankful to my parents for providing me with everything but a sibling would have topped it all. Asking for one now would be quite awkward.

I sighed and an idea popped into my mind. I got up and took out few blank papers from the drawer. I smiled as I began writing. I hoped he appreciated it. Fingers were crossed. I completed writing and reviewed it. Nice. I put the papers in my bag and laid back on my bad.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep to Shreyas' song playing through my mind on loop. One more song added to the playlist. Perfect.