3 months later

Clutch, start, accelerate. One more time. Clutch, start, accelerate. One more time. Clutch....

"Move already! We have been sitting here since ages," Nikhil complained and I glared at him.

"It's my first time okay. Shut up or I will ram your girlfriend into a tree."

"You won't dare! Come on. Be confident. I am sitting at the back. If anything happens, I will handel it. Just start, will ya?"

"Okay. I am starting now."

I held on the clutch and pressed the start button. The dashboard lighted up and I took a deep breath. I accelerated a little while leaving the clutch gradually and the bike jerked forward.

"Easy there!" Nikhil shouted.

"Keep quiet!"

"If anything happened to my baby, I will kill you Sandhya."

"If you won't shut up, then something will happen definitely."

I accelerated a lot in my anger and we zoomed forward. I quickly applied brakes before I crashed into a woman. She shrieked and ran away. Oops.

"I am telling you to control the acceleration for the last time. If you don't do it this time properly, I am going to quit teaching you," Nikhil threatened and I pursed my lips.

I won't be getting this chance again. After months of pestering him, I had finally gotten him to teach me a motorcycle. I had to do this.

"Okay. Just give me some time," I said and he told me to do it by myself this time.

I took a deep breath and started again. He stood a few metres away, afraid that I would run him over. Scaredy cat.

"Okay, buddy. Let's do this. Don't betray me, alright?" I patted the bike's fuel tank and said a small prayer.

I started the bike and zoomed off. Yay! I did it. See. It was Nikhil who was disturbing me. I could do this. I rode it around the block and returned.

I searched for Nikhil but he wasn't where I left him. Was he that afraid that he went in search of me? I looked around and saw him with some guys. They were quite far away. Who were they? I saw one boy giving him something like a white packet. Huh?

After few minutes they left and Nikhil ran towards me and checked if his bike was okay.

"How was the ride? You didn't crush someone right?"

"I killed two men, four women and almost drove your bike into the Arabic ocean. Happy?"

He rolled his eyes and got on the pillion seat. I took him for a ride and he nodded his head in approval. It wasn't much different than riding dad's scooter. I just had to remember about the gears. I was worrying over nothing.

I took the bike to my home and called my parents. They came out and I waved at them. My dad raised his eyebrows and told me to show him if I really learned driving it or was just faking it.

After taking my dad for a round, he patted my back proudly. He thanked Nikhil and asked him to join us for dinner. Over the past months, our families had grown closer and the visits to each other's house had increased.

"How's your brother beta? He is posted in Kashmir right?" Dad asked as we all ate dinner.

"He is doing good."

"When is he returning?"

"Maybe after four months. You know how it is. They don't get much holidays in Army."

"Yeah. Tough life they have."

Most of the conversation involved my dad asking him about his brother who was also in Army just like his dad. He must be really proud. No wonder, he wanted to join armed forces too.

"Thanks for having me. Bye aunty. Bye Uncle," Nikhil said and went outside.

I followed him and stood beside his bike. He mounted it and put on the helmet. When I didn't say anything, he turned towards me and asked me what I wanted.

"Can I ride your bike tomorrow?"

"No."

"Please. I really love it. Only tomorrow."

"No. I only decided on teaching you. And my task is complete."

"You are mean. I drive fine. I promise I won't damage it."

"Absolutely not."

"Pretty please. Just one round. Or I would ask aunty to make you do that. She won't say no to me."

"Are you blackmailing me?"

"You are making me do that. Just one ride won't cost you your life."

"Okay. Just one ride and then you won't bother me."

"Deal."

"Deal."

×~×

"Late," Rajeev announced.

"I still have two minutes," I argued back.

"Not in my watch."

"Your watch is broken."

Everyday Rajeev would scold me for getting late. I was not late. According to him we should arrive fifteen minutes before the specified time. Just why?

I put my bag in my locker and got on with my usual work. Thanks to this job, I had good amount of money in my piggy bank now. I had cut down my unnecessary expenses too. By now, I had enough money to buy a second hand scooter.

"Someone is working hard," Mayank said and sat on a table.

"You should learn from me," I replied and he threw a packet of chips at me.

"Hey bro! Up for the party today?" he asked Rajeev who was busy doing calculations in a register.

"Yes," Rajeev replied and Mayank turned towards me.

"You want to come?"

"Nope."

"Come on. Don't be a party pooper."

"No."

"You still afraid of Ved? We will be there too. I will make sure he doesn't try anything, okay?"

"Ummm.... No."

"Rajeev tell your kid to come. She is being stubborn. Is this how you raise her? To disobey the elders?"

Rajeev rolled his eyes and got back to his work. Mayank poked my shoulder and I swatted his hand away. He thought it was a simple prank Ved pulled but I knew he wanted to humiliate me.

Last month, I had gone to such party along with my girl gang. We enjoyed and danced. Everyone got themselves a drink except me. Eventually, they made me take one shot and I went in the washroom to puke. My throat was burning. I won't ever come under peer pressure again.

When I got out of the washroom, I tripped and fell on my knees. I looked up and saw Ved laughing and shooting with his phone. He did that!

"Why would you do that?" I shouted.

"Revenge is a sweet thing."

He winked and left. I got back to my friends and cursed when I saw him talking with Tanya. He looked so innocent like he was the purest soul alive on earth. Tanya looked like the happiest girl on earth. Even after so much time, she didn't confess to him. She had gotten much comfortable with talking to him since last time.

"Sandhya, let's dance!" Surbhi pulled me on the dance floor and began banging her head to the rock song DJ was playing. I laughed at her and joined in. Divya mimicked playing an electric guitar while Rashi sang like a rockstar.

"Hey Sandhya!" I turned around and felt a cold liquid splash on my face. I closed my eyes instinctly and fisted my hands.

"Oh no! Sandhya, you okay?" Divya asked and I opened my eyes.

Ved was laughing his ass off while Tanya looked at me apologetically. Rashi gave me a handerkerchief and I wiped my face with it. He threw alcohol at me? This jerk. I moved forward to hit him but Surbhi held me back.

I turned towards her and she shook her head. I unclenched my fists and glanced at Tanya. She was looking at me sadly. If she wasn't my friend, I would have killed him that instant. I had to got to the washroom again to get myself cleaned.

I returned and decided to take a seat on the sofas to cool myself down. I wasn't in the mood to dance right now. Why did Surbhi stop me? I wanted to bash his head so much.

"Sandhya, are you okay?" Tanya asked and took a seat beside me.

I sighed heavily and nodded my head. She placed her hand on my arm and I turned towards her.

"Hey! Don't ruin your mood because of me. Go and enjoy the party," I said.

"Ved can be really an idiot sometimes. I scolded him after you left to get cleaned and he just shrugged his shoulders. He told me it was between him and you. So I should not bother with it."

"You scolded him?" I was surprised.

"Yes. What he did was not right. His friend even recorded it. I told him to delete it but he didn't listen. I know, I think I like him but you are my friend too. I can't leave you alone."

"Aw! That's so sweet of you. Don't worry. I have dealt with far worse than this."

"I will be with you so that I will stop him if he tries anything."

"Yay! One more bodyguard."

We laughed together but I furrowed my eyebrows. I repeated her sentence in my mind again.

"You think you like him?" I asked and she looked at me in confusion.

"Yeah. What is it?"

"You said 'I think I like him' not 'I like him'"

She darted her eyes around and I knew something was bothering her. She took a deep breath and grabbed my wrist. She took me to an empty spot and glanced around to check if anyone was in listening radius.

"Don't tell anyone okay? Not even our friends," she said in a low whisper and I nodded my head.

What could it be that made her that nervous? She made me promise her again and I assured her that whatever she was going to tell me would remain with me.

"I confessed..... I confessed to Ved two weeks ago."

"What?!" I yelled and she put her palm on my mouth to shut me up.

She did what?! Was she serious? And she didn't even tell anyone of us? No one? Oh, so that's why she was absent for some days last week. She masked her emotions so well. I never knew she could be this good at acting.

"When were you planning to tell us?" I asked when she removed her palm.

"I was going to tell but didn't know how."

"It's okay. I won't tell anyone but you have to tell me what happened. Did he hurt you? Tell me he did and I will break all 200 bones in his body."

"It's 206 bones, Sandhya."

"I know, but he is lacking some in his brain."

"So how did it go?" I proded but knew it already since they were not dating. But what if they were keeping it under wraps? Hm? No. Why would they do that?

"He rejected me," she confessed.

"Did he say something bad?"

"No. He was really polite and kept apologizing because he couldn't return my feelings."

She laughed a bit and I was happy she wasn't all heartbroken and sad. She was dealing with this very good. If I had been in her place, I wouldn't have come out of my house for a year.

"You sure you didn't rush it?" I asked.

What if she had taken more time and maybe Ved would have developed feelings for her? That happened in movies and books.

"No, I don't think so. I thought it was time. I would have done it anytime later but does it matter? The result wouldn't have been any different."

"How are you so sure?"

"He told me he saw me just as a friend. Nothing more."

Now it was fully confirmed that Ved was the biggest idiot alive. He said no to Tanya? Where would he find a better girl than her? Stupid guy.

"Let's go now or others will get worried," she said and we went back to the dance floor. Everyone was drunk and couldn't even stand on their feet. Tanya didn't drink much so she decided to drive. I asked if it was okay because I still didn't know how to drive. She nodded her head and we picked up our drunkard friends.

So heavy! Somehow we got all three of them in the back of Tanya's car. Good decision to bring only one car here or there would have been a bigger problem. Tanya told me to get our belongings from the club while she looked out for them.

I went inside and took our jackets and purses. I turned around and Ved dumped a whole bucket of ice water on me. This monkeyass idiot!

Parth and Nikhil came in for my rescue and Mayank scolded Ved. Ved ignored them and kept laughing like I was the biggest clown. Don't just stand here Sandhya. Do something.

Rage clouded my mind and I handed over the purses and jackets to Parth, and moved towards Ved. He was't getting away with this. I picked up an empty bottle and was about to crash it on his head but Nikhil stopped my hand.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I yelled at him.

Mayank grabbed me before I did something I would deeply regret later. Nikhil took the bottle from me and told me to calm down. I looked at Ved who was smirking. Wasn't he afraid that I was just going to smash his head?

Oh no! Sandhya! You idiot. You were going to harm him physically! How could you do something like that?

He was troubling me since I arrived here. I was just teaching him a lesson.

By cracking his skull?

You are back? Why are you always there whenever I am fighting back? You won't speak up other times! You conscience.

That's not the right way. Remember what Rajeev told you. Violence is not always the solution. You should be able to control your anger or you will land yourself in big trouble.

I took a deep breath and glared at Ved. He gave me a challenging look and Mayank tightened his grip on my arm. I turned to him and told him I won't do anything. He left my arm after few seconds.

"You will always be an idiot Ved," I said and Parth gave me the belongings.

Ved started to provoke me but I got out of there without glancing at him. Behind me, I heard Mayank reprimanding him but I knew it was of no use.

"Oh my god! What happened to you?" Tanya got out of the car and reached me.

Parth got a towel for me to dry myself. How did he always find these things when needed? Was he a magician? I dried myself and got in the car. Parth told her what happened and she kept asking me why I didn't let her go back and talk with Ved.

What was the use? She wouldn't be always be there to fight for me. I started counting in my head to keep my temper down. Parth left, after assuring I wouldn't murder Ved. I told Tanya to cool off and told her some incidents from school where I got back at him.

She started the car and the mood lightened up after I had told her about hundred stories. She asked me if I was fine now when she dropped me at my home.

"Don't worry, Tanya. He is a jerk. Will always be. I will deal with it. You go home safely and call me once you reach."

She nodded her head and drove off. That day, I decided I wouldn't go to any parties where Ved was. If he tried something again, I would forget everything Rajeev had taught me and beat him into a pulp.

"Oye! Back to the earth." Mayank snapped his fingers in front of me.

"You zoned out. What were you thinking? I have been talking to a statue for fifteen minutes," he said.

"I said no. So, stop asking me already. I am not coming. Do you want me to give you that in written?"

"Bummer."

Mayank left me to do my work and I sighed in relief. I completed my work and left for home. I got in the bus and plugged in my earphones. 'Mila toh marega' from Rakt Charitra started playing and you could already imagine what I was thinking.

In college, Ved kept pulling pranks on me while I tried not strangle him on the spot. What could I do to stop him? He wouldn't just let me live in peace. Was he planning to ruin my college life? Argh! I looked out of the window to enjoy the scenery but my mind kept plotting murder plans.

"Huh? Is that Nikhil? What's he doing around here? And isn't that Karthik?" I noticed them when the bus stopped at a signal.

They were with some guys who didn't look like good news. They were smoking and checking out the girls who were buying something from a shop. What the hell?

I didn't expect this from Nikhil. I would talk to him when I meet him next time. It was already bad that he was smoking and now he was with some boys who looked like thugs. Should I tell aunty?

The bus started and I turned in my seat. No, don't do that. Remember what Parth said.

'Don't judge a book by its cover.'

Okay I will ask him myself first and then decide what to do. I relaxed in my seat and wondered what could be that white thing that Nikhil took from those boys yesterday.

'Ud-daa Punjab' by Amit Trivedi and Vishal Dadlani played in my ears and my eyes widened in realisation. Was it what I think it was? It was not good. But what if I was overthinking again? I always rush to a conclusion without knowing all aspects. I don't want to blame Nikhil for something like that if I wasn't sure myself.

Okay, let's leave it for tomorrow. For now let's focus on how to stay away from my life's biggest problem. Ved Rajput.