Present - Two weeks later

"Move aside." Ved pushed my shoulder and moved past me. Aysuh looked at me and whispered something in Ved's ear. Ved chuckled and dribbled his basketball.

"Afraid to say it to my face?" I taunted and Ayush rolled his eyes. Jerks.

"Tanya!" I called her and she stopped in her tracks. She waved her hand at me and hugged when she reached me.

"Good morning," she said and instantly blushed when she noticed Ved. He smiled at her.

"Hi Tanya. Thanks for the notes," he said and she blushed more. They were in same class? I nudged her and told her we should go to our extra class.

"Be careful with whom you are friends with," he said to her and she looked at him confusedly. I narrowed my eyes at him. He smirked and left with Ayush following him.

"Come on Tanya. Let's go." I grabbed her hand and we left for our class. Surbhi was already waiting for us. We chatted and soon the topic of Ved came up. Argh. Surbhi looked at me and I shrugged.

"You like him, right Tanya?" Surbhi asked.

Tanya nodded her head and I shook my head. Surbhi glared at me and I put up a smile on my face.

"Guys, what should I do? I mean, a lot of girls also like him. Divya and Rashi have been bugging me to confess to him. What if he already has a girlfriend?" she said and panicked. Surbhi told her to stop worrying about that and take her time.

"What do you think Sandhya? Should I confess to him?" she asked me. I scratched my head.

How should I respond to this? Should I tell her to forget about it and find a better guy or should I tell her to go for it?

For her and others girls who liked Ved, he was the better guy.

I needed to come up with his shortcomings to change her mind about him. Should I have done that? What would I have achieved after it? I shook my head to myself and smiled at her.

"You like him?" I asked. She nodded her head like a small kid.

"You love him?" She opened her mouth to answer but stopped. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked down at her hands.

"What's the difference?" she asked and I sighed. Surbhi looked at me like I was about to say something stupid. She grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.

"What are you doing? You are confusing her. Keep your differences with Ved out of this. Don't influence her decision with your stupidity," she warned me. I pursed my lips and told her I wouldn't say anything bad.

"Ignore what I said. Do what you feel is right. I don't have any experience in that matter as it is. You can ask Surbhi all about it. She got lots of knowledge in that department," I told Tanya and wiggled my eyebrows at Surbhi.

Tanya laughed and I sighed in relief. I thought I spoiled her mood. Surbhi tried to stop me when I began telling her our embarrassing moments to lighten the mood.

"Sandhya Rai?" A girl came in the room and asked for me. I raised my hand and she told me I had been called in Dean's office. We looked at her quizzically and she told me to go there ASAP. I didn't remember doing something wrong. I got up and left.

"May I come in sir?" I asked and knocked on the door.

"Yes." I heard Dean and entered. He motioned for me to take a seat and I noticed few other students were also there. They looked happy. Why?

"Congratulations! You made it." Mayank hugged me. His father scolded him and he let go. Other students laughed and I just stood there in confusion. What was this all about?

"You have been selected in the inter school science competition team, Sandhya. These are your team members and here is your form. Please fill it up and turn it in the clerk's office," Dean said and I stared at the form blankly.

What?! I was selected?

I looked at Mayank and he was smiling proudly. He gave me a thumbs up and took the form from my hands. Before I could respond, he began filling it himself. Other students introduced themselves and some of them were from my science club.

Should I be happy about this or not? Of course, I should. I made it to the team.

Mayank took all the forms and went out to submit them. He was acting so responsible. Dean told us that we had two weeks to prepare ourselves. We would be going outstation to attend the competition.

After giving us some more details, he excused us. Wow. I should really start working hard. We will win this.

"You got in?" Rajeev asked me as I got out of the office. I nodded and he smiled. Mayank soon returned and joined us. I thanked him for giving me this opportunity and he waved it off like it was nothing.

"Just make sure to win this. I got my reputation on line," he said and I promised him I would try my best. They both began discussing about the preparations and I made my way back to my classroom.

The teacher let me in after I told her that I wasn't bunking but was called in by Dean. She told me to take my seat. I should have bunked though. I still couldn't stand her voice after one month.

I checked the time in my new watch. I won the science club competition last week. The results took a long time because they were confused whom to announce the winner. In the end, they chose me. They appreciated my report on dark matter a lot and as a prize, I got this sweet watch. I love it.

I flaunted it whenever I got the chance and got scolded by Parth and Surbhi. I would annoy them to death. We went to the cafeteria and ordered food. I was playing on my phone when Surbhi asked me about the earlier incident.

She jumped in joy when I told her that I got in science team. Tanya congratulated me and I had to hold Surbhi down before she went running through the whole college. It wasn't a big thing but I was still happy. My friends were more enthusiastic about it.

"Loser," Ved remarked as he took a seat beside me.

Why was he sitting here? I glared at him but he just smirked. I motioned with my hand towards his table. He shrugged and greeted Surbhi and Tanya.

Surbhi glanced at me in worry. What was he planning now? Tanya looked between us and I worried if she would find out that me and Ved didn't get along. I kicked him under the table to tell him to go back to his seat. He kicked me back and asked Tanya if he could borrow her notes again.

"Can't do your work yourself?" I taunted and he glared at me. Tanya looked confused now. Surbhi told her to ignore us but I knew she wasn't convinced. She was my friend.

Didn't she deserve to know that her friend and the guy she liked were not friends? If she started dating him then it would get quite awkward if Ved and I kept fighting in front of her.

She would get stuck between us just like Ayush. I was confused now. Tell her or not? Damn it. I suddenly got up and all of them looked at me in confusion.

"Washroom," I stated and left. Ved narrowed his eyes at me but I ignored their stares.

Once in washroom, I began pacing around. Man, what to do? Was I overthinking? I could simply tell her that Ved and I had some difference of opinions. That would do. What if she asked for details? Why would she? What if she got sad because of me?

"Relax," Surbhi told me and I stopped pacing. She looked at me with concern and I asked her if I should tell Tanya about my past or not. Surbhi laughed and I glared at her.

"Do you think this is funny?" I asked.

"Of course it is. You are overthinking my friend. Telling her won't change anything. If she likes Ved, she won't bother about what others have to say. In the end, it's her decision. So, stop fussing about it and chill. You have been here for like half an hour," she said and chuckled at my shocked expression.

Half an hour?! We got out and Tanya was already waiting for us. She asked me if I was feeling alright. I nodded my head and told her a lie. She nodded her head and we decided to bunk the next lecture. The teacher was absent anyways.

We sat under the Banyan tree and relaxed. After few minutes of silence, Tanya spoke up.

"Sandhya, can I ask you something?" she asked in a low voice. Here it was guys. I told her to go ahead.

"Are you and Ved dating?"

Surbhi choked on her water and I patted her back. I began laughing and Tanya looked at me in confusion. How did she even came to that conclusion?

"Why would you think that?" I asked after I composed myself. She blushed and I nudged her to tell us.

"I have noticed your interactions. He behaves so differently around you," she said and looked at me. I smiled and crossed my legs. I took her hands in mine and controlled the urge to laugh.

"I am sorry I didn't tell you this before. You have got the whole situation wrong. We are not dating, fortunately," I said and paused to take a deep breath.

"Ved and I were schoolmates and we didn't get along well. We still don't. Didn't you hear him call me a loser earlier? He enjoys teasing me and I try to ignore him every time. Since we have so many mutual friends it is not easy to do so, but since you are my friend, I didn't want to influence your opinion about him because of me," I said and Tanya hugged me. I guess that went well.

"You are a good friend, Sandhya. I am sorry for the misunderstanding." She smiled at me and we hugged once more. She now recounted all the incidents where Ved made fun of me and I stopped myself from strangling him. We laughed together and I told her about some incidents from school.

"I am happy to have you both as my friends," I said and we all group hugged. I was so lucky.

"You forgot me." Parth joined us and we laughed at him.

"So what's the occasion? Did I miss something? Just don't say one of you are pregnant. I don't want to be an uncle so soon," he said and we all gave him a dead look.

"So lame," Surbhi commented and he looked at us innocently.

We all got up and went to the tea stall outside our college. Parth was trying this for the first time and he complained why we didn't tell him earlier. Really? This stall was just a few meters away from the gates and he didn't notice?

We were enjoying our tea, when I saw Shree talking with a girl from our chemistry class. What was her name again? Mahima... no. Madhuri? No. Oh yes. Mahek. How could I forget her name? Everyone knew her since our first day in college.

"Isn't that Mahek?" Surbhi asked and I noticed my gang was also looking in their direction. She was really popular. Every boy wanted her to notice him and date her. Except a few I think. She was drop dead gorgeous. She was wearing a pink crop top paired with white denim shorts.

(Mahek's outfit👆)

She had cream white complexion and her light brown hair were highlighted partially pink. Her eyes were round and big like those of anime girls, and her straight nose and perfect full lips could make any girl jealous. She looked like a doll.

"Who is she?" Parth asked. We all looked at him weirdly. OK, so he was one of those guys.

"How can you not know her?" Tanya asked and Parth shrugged.

"Tell me. I don't know her. Is she a celebrity or something?" he asked and we all exchanged looks with each other. He could be so oblivious to his surroundings sometimes.

I told him who she was and he wasn't surprised. I guess he was used to it all. He lived in a high society afterall.

"What's the big deal? She is just a girl," he said and told us not to stare. We all drank our tea and continued chatting.

We all soon parted ways. All the way I kept recounting my conversation with Tanya. She was so kind to understand. When I reached home, I told mom the news and she pulled me in a hug.

She was happy I had started participating in co-curricular activities instead of just studying all year. I went to my room and after taking a short nap, got on to do my assignments.

Ping!

I checked my phone and opened up the message.

Nikhil: You free tomorrow?

Me: Why?

Nikhil: Needed some help with few chapters. I wasn't able to attend lecture today.

Me: Why don't you ask your oh so smart best friend?

Nikhil: He ain't that smart TBH.

Me: Hahaha. I know.

Nikhil: So, will you help me? My mom will kill me if I lacked off in class. Please help me and I will treat you with your favourite food.

Me: Are you bribing me?

Nikhil: Maybe?

Me: If you are then it's definitely working.

Nikhil: Thanks yaar (buddy). When do you have a free period? I have one after lunch.

Me: Same. Let's do the study session in library. Cool?

Nikhil: Cool. Thanks once again. Bye. Gtg. Mom's calling.

Me: Bye Nik.

I closed my phone and kept it on the desk. After few seconds, it started ringing again. I checked and an unknown number flashed on the screen. I picked up the call and a lady started speaking in a soft voice.

"Hello? Am I talking to Miss Sandhya Rai?" she asked.

"Yes. How may I help you?" I replied.

"I am speaking from Rising Stars and would like to know if this the right time to talk to you?"

Rising stars? What could this be about? I told her to go on.

"The letters you sent to the artist named S'Flow were returned back to us from the mail. I am sorry to inform but he didn't mention his real address on the form. We will be sending you those letters back within this week."

What?! Why would he do that? Argh! Shreyas I will kill you one day.

I told her it was okay and she apologized again. It wasn't her fault. I hung up and my mood went down. I had been writing those letters whenever I got time and they didn't even reach him.

There was only one way left now. I would have to give those directly to him or have to ask Parth again. I could ask Shree too but he would just make fun of me by calling them love letters. Parth might get suspicious and start asking a lot of questions. Did they know Shreyas was participating in a singing show?

I never heard Parth or Shree say anything about it in college or anyone from our friend circle. A name crossed my mind but I brushed it off. In no way I was asking for his help. Then how?

Okay. I will sneak them in his bag when I get the chance. How? Who knows.