Chapter 15

When you are excited and it gets contagious then the person affected with your excitement is surely your loved one!!!

 “Won’t you open it” Joshan asked excited like he was opening his first birthday gift.

“Joshan!!! What the hell.” I was irritated

“Can’t you see before cribbing?” he pouted

“Okay I’ll see before I rip your head. Now will you let go of me.” I continued my rudeness.

“Oops sorry. Don’t seem to be in best of your days.” He said as he let me go staring into my eyes with his brown ones.

Trust Joshan to utter those words in front of everybody. But he immediately gave that puppy dog face that I had to let him go..

I did not know what was more attractive his brown eyes or his childish looks of excitement as a four year old awaits when his presented gift is opened by the birthday boy. I am the girl here though.

I widened my eyes with glee and surprise as I opened to see a receipt of order of the new book which I had lost a day ago, ‘You are such a darling. I can’t believe you actually traced my book and also ordered one. You are the best friend anyone can ever have.”

 I pecked on his cheeks hugging him in gratitude. He also gave me a squeeze. After I parted I could actually feel daggers of vision been dug deep in me by all the alluring girls around. They were not used to our friendship. Poor Joshan doesn’t even have a girlfriend. I am rather making things difficult for him, so I smiled and moved away keeping distance from him.

“I owe you big time for this” I said beaming with happiness. God I was saved from the wrath of our intimidating librarian.

“What about a lasagna treat this weekend?” he asked expectantly

“No.” I smiled sheepishly. “This time sizzlers and that too edible”

“I am in for that” he grinned.

Foodie jerk!!!!

“I also helped him. He f##ked my asses when you left sad and worked till we finally got it”, Deren added.

“You are such a sweetheart.” I told as I hugged him gently, cautious this time.

“Sizzlers for me too then” Deren asked.

“Anytime dude.” I hugged him too earning few more enemies.

M/s Wennie arrived the class and we all motioned to sit down. Seeing me and Joshan sitting together I guess she had butterflies in her stomach afraid of another prank from us.

But we changed the prank this time only showing attention and listening to her attentively and asking doubts every now and then that she finally got pissed off and dismissed the class twenty minutes early for which we received pats from everyone.

In other classes I had Essme as my company.

I was cool now that the pressure of book was lifted from my shoulders and was cheerful as ever. With Joshan as your best friend you cannot stay upset for long.

Me and Essme were heading towards our lockers and fiddling inside when I got a tap on my shoulders.

“Hey. Pearly right.” he said in a most $exy accent

“Hi Ben. What’s up?” I avoided my drool over his handsome face and asked casually. Though not as good as Joshan but man he is HOT

“How do you do?” he seemed a bit nervous.

“Come on Ben. No formalities. Tell me how do I help you? By the way she is Essme. Essme , Ben” I introduced both of them formally.

“Hi”

“Hi” both of them greeted each other.

“Pearly actually umm about mechanics project. Remember we have to be in a group. So it was like Can we make ours one?” Ben asked a bit hesitant though.

“Oh the one with a group of four. I am so sorry we are done. Me, Joshan, Deren and of course Essme. I doubt if we can add on a fifth one.” I  said counting my finger with four and rejected politely.

“Well one more thing if you don’t mind. Are you umm and Joshan umm kind of exclusive?” he asked biting his lower lip and then avoiding like boys shouldn’t do that.

“Oh! No! no! no! Joshan and me are only friends, best friends type. He’s a playboy.  We are great as friends." I dismissed his doubt. He is hot and handsome and I guess dating isn’t illegal in our country.

“So on Saturday are you free?” he asked.

“Sorry man, already commited some one.” I apologised

“So you have a date?” he sniggered.

“Not really, couples of friends get together.” I clarified seeing his looks, they were too damn adorable.

“Right then next week”, he scratched his hair nervously.

“Next week…” I left incomplete giving no clues. Wow Law of attraction actually works. I simply thought and here it is accomplished. Lets wait till next week.

“Someone’s head over heels over you”, Essme remarked.

“Whatever" I said and headed towards the cafeteria where Joshan and Deren were waiting. i was not interested in serious relationships as yet.

Deren was helping Essme in her hunt for a job in his laptop and Joshan was busy flirting hissing around girls.

“Hi little chick” Jules greeted.

“Hi B3’ I replied coldly.

“Now this is new. What is B3” he asked. He maintained distance which I appreciated but his tone was same of a jock.

“It’s Big Bad Boy. I shortened to save time.” I snapped.

“I like that” he smirked.

‘So can I meet your friends now?” he asked before I could leave

“No they are occupied and still I don’t find anything special in you to be introduced to my best of friends” I tried to avoid him.

“You hurt me” he said making a fake hurt face and pouted and he did not look cute in it!!!!

“First deserve it” and I left to get my order. Jules was gone by now. He might have understood trying me was such a waste of time.

“Hey Pearly come sit besides me” Joshan called.

“I am fine here” I hissed. I don’t know how that bad boy always spoils my mood.

“Come I wanna show you something.” Joshan pulled me besides him. He is getting lot more possessive about me these days.

“What” I asked when he pulled me and my eyes followed his gesticulation.

“You see that blonde in red” he gave me directions.

“Yeah the golden haired and blue eyed” I could now see the girl clearly.

“Right. I am eyeing her to be my girl friend.” he smirked

“You mean you are proposing her?” that was more of a confirmation than a question.

“Not now but lately only if you like” he asked as if my opinion matters or I was the one who was to make out with her.

Eeeewwww gross!!!! What am I thinking?

“Why would I mind? Just make a double check that she doesn’t stink” and I giggled.

“I will I will. Somebody stop me” he headed Jim Carrey from Mask’ style.

“Somebody bless the blondie” I mocked

“You know how I am.” He blushed.

“So your independence will be raped from now” I remarked.

“Whatever, see yah” and Joshan left towards that girl.

Deren and Essme had their class together so I left for library as it was a free lecture for me.

“Hi little chi.. umm Pearly”, Jules greeted with a shout since I was at a distance.

“Hi Jules” I answered cheerfully. It was great him calling me by my name.

“Great to see you smiling even after hearing my voice” he said teasingly.

“You are wrong. Call of my name brought my smile. That’s the magic of my pretty name” I smacked.

“Oops . I don’t want to spoil that. Atleast I made you smile. Let me come to the point. This is my friend Roger.” he introduced inspite of my cold behavior 

What a bad boy!!!

“I told you we need time for all that.” I tried to pass them.

“Sometimes you should let others speak” he stopped me on my tracks by blocking my way with his big, strong, muscular arms.

“Hi Roger myself” Roger introduced.

“He’s my second cousin and also editor of the university’s annual magazine and edits the prospects also. He’s writing on Books related to engineering and it’s important. I guess you can help him.” Jules added.

“How did you guess?” I asked sincerely for the first time.

“Two ways. The later one being I always see you headed towards the library. The former one he’ll explain himself. So over to you guys. I skip.” And moved away at a distance in the campus loafing around with his friends close by.

“Hi I am Pearly. So what’s the former reason?” I asked Roger.

“Well you have issued a book of mechanical engineering written by Roark's from library and very few people know about that author,  not freshers for sure.” Roger explained

“Interesting” I said.

“So I take you in for that.” He shook hands with me.

 Thhhhhhu ……  thuuuuuuuud

 Aaaaaaauuuuucccch.

 “Oh f##k!”

“Oh shit!”

“Oh my God!”

“Is she okay?”

“Somebody call the ambulance”

“So much blood”

 “Get side. Help me slide her into the backseat of my gypsy. Ambulance might take time. We’ll reach faster.” Jules said panicked.

“I will help” I offered as I reached to the spot.

One of the crazy bike riders had knocked off a girl from Electrical department.

“Can I come along” I asked after settling her into the car.

“Sure but will you be okay?” Jules asked. There was sincerity in his voice.

“I will be fine”

We got her admitted and finished all the formalities. Jules also informed her parents, had a word with the doctor and arranged for the medicines. This hidden part of Jules was unbelievable.

“Do you want me to drop you home?” Jules offered.

“How is she? What did the doctor’s say?” I asked ignoring his question.

“She’s been attended and doing fine. A little extra blood loss, few bruises but no castings and no serious injuries. She’ll be discharged much sooner may be in a day or so.” He calmly explained earning some brownie points from me

“Good”

“Yeah but she’s in pain” he seemed to unnerved by the girl’s pain

“But good to see that concern and helping her” I admired and he blushed, so I added “Good to see bad boy blushing too”

“Doesn’t suit my image right” he said.

“But suits you” I winked at him.

“How are you going home. Need a ride?” he asked. Wow he is a gentleman too.

“No! no Joshan’s coming. He texted me. He was worried. He thought I met with an accident, so he’s sure going to come. Thanks anyway.” I denied politely.

“Joshan’s your..’ I completed for him.

“Best friend.”

I got a text from Joshan to reach the main entrance so I asked for a leave from Jules not that I needed his permission but I did not want to be rude.

“Can I escort you to the exit door?” he offered and I agreed.

So he accompanied me to the main gate. Joshan reached within no time and he flinched when he saw Jules with me. Anger was dwelling in his eyes.

I grabbed Jules from his palm and dragged him along with me to the car. Holding such a big guy was weird but he followed like a small kid.

“Joshan this Jules” I introduced him.

“Jules this is Joshan my best friend”.

Jules unbelievingly stared into my eyes for a moment and then shook hands with Joshan.

“Jules you very well deserve to be friends. Sorry for the delay. Bye for now.” I said as I shook hands with him.

Jules was stunned speechless as I left to sit in the car without any second word. We waved and left.