(A/N: Uff. Finally. Third update for the day. Don't forget to vote and comment :P Loads of love.)

Status: Edited

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Abhimanyu hugged me at the gate, while handing my bag over to me. Poor thing had come to drop me, just to spend a little extra time.

There, I had to face them again. A new day usually means a new surprise and needless to say, my life is full of surprises. I had more than enough reasons to support my argument. I wouldn't even be shocked if Manik proposed me today. Guess why? Because that's the worst thing that can happen to me.

Three pairs of eyes, like those of vultures, noted every movement of mine. Do I really need to mention? But there was something different about one of them. He always wore a cap, never indulged in sadistic activities like his jerk friends and hardly spoke. He was always with his guitar, alone, secluded from the rest.

"So you got your brother to scare us, eh?" Mukti pushed me like a rag doll and I fell to the ground, scraping my elbows. Everyone else smiled while I winced in pain. I bent my arms in random angles to have a look at my bruises. They were slowly bleeding. 

"Well if you don't know, Miss. Whatever, then let me tell you." I took a pause to stand up, dusting myself in their faces. "Only those who are afraid need support. To put it in simpler words, it's you idiots. You always have to stay together to protect yourself. Why? Cause you're scared of the world." I've never spoken like that to anyone. There was a nerve filled with vengeance inside my body for what their beloved friend confessed to me. I was gaining millions of people's attention. 

Manik made his entry in a slow, cautious motion. I don't think he was scared of me, just pompous. "And you, Mr. Manik Malhotra, get it straight into your head. No matter what you do, you cannot rule me. Get that? I can do whatever I want. You can't stop me." I snapped in front of his torso. I didn't bother to see whether or not he understood, that wasn't my business.

***

"When I say empathy, what comes to your mind?" Well, the opposite of empathy is Manik Mlahotra and his gang, that's for sure! 

I looked over my shoulder at Manik who was constantly whispering something to Cabir and annoying me. What were they doing in my life skills class? Did they not have courses of their own that they needed to pass? Honestly, if they spent all this gossiping time filing their reports, they would have more than enough time to finish their work. 

Another thing I should've been very thankful for was that Navya sat beside me and Madhyam was obviously with her. I wasn't lonely anymore, haha; snakes kept me company! 

"Yes, Navya."

"I think empathy is compassion. Feeling a person's emotional turmoil like your own." My inner self cracked up at her speech. She smiled and sat down, and Manik leaned in to throw in a few appreciative comments at her. Since when did these two become the best of friends?

"Thank you Navya. Three claps for her." Our counsellor was a nice middle aged lady, like that of a compassionate mother who treated every student at par with another. Divya Koshan took an hour of life skills for us on Thursdays every week. 

Manik stood up without warning, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I think empathy is when one doesn't show how affected they are by another person's concerns."

She made note of the keywords. "Could you please elaborate?"

"The difference between empathy and sympathy is that when you sympathise with someone, you feel pity for them. You express the pity you feel. That makes them the victim, and puts the sufferer down. Empathy is when the sufferer's problems are heard and understood, but they aren't victims. They are fighters. They are appreciated for being strong. Boasting about understanding a person spirals into sympathy."

I took it to my understanding that Manik said that for me to learn something about him. What he said went over my head though. Was he intending to say he empathised with me? It didn't look like he did.  

"So you're saying a person who empathises does not express their empathy to the sufferer."

"That's right." Confident much!

"Alright. Interesting." The class clapped thrice, a customary applause for taking the initiative to participate in class.

I raised my hand, earning a triggering smile from him. "Empathy is about expression. It's about making someone feel that they're not drowning alone in what they're feeling." A lot of eyes gazed my way. "That there is someone to save them. It's basic human tendency to crave for that experience when bonding with someone. It all comes down to communication is key."

"I agree with that, Nandini." Three claps. Manik whispered something to Navya and she giggled, eyeing me while doing so. What the heck?

Did he actually think I would get jealous? Aren't you, Nandini? Whatever. The thing I wasn't liking one bit was that Navya was interested in teaming with him. 

"Okay everyone, listen up. I want you all to engage in an activity this week. Every day, I want you all to talk to a new person, try to understand what makes them unique, and where they are coming from without judging or jumping to conclusions. I want the interactions journaled in your notebook, so cheating is not a viable option. At least five entries is what I expect from each person. Am I clear?" The good thing about Life Skills class was that though it was redundant, and not part of our actual curriculum, it could affect every other course's grade. That was how SPACE was designed. 

As soon as the class got over, I hurried out after stumbling on a few feet, only to be stopped by Madhyam. I turned to the classroom on my left to cut him off but he came in already.

"Nandini, just hear us out once. Please." I crossed my arms, oriented sideways to him. "Look Nandini, we're sorry for whatever we did or said to you. We were wrong. We are sorry. I know we have ruined our friendship but please, can you forgive us? Can we be the way we were before all this?" I raised my eyebrows and shook my head, unable to understand what he meant. Was he trying to say he didn't want me to get married? Or did he want to revive our relationship?

"Matlab?" (What do you mean?) Why was he apologising on behalf of Navya too? Didn't she have that much courtesy to talk to me directly rather than have someone else do it?

"Nandini, I am sorry. We have hurt you very much. But can we be friends like before? Like how we were a few weeks ago? Please?" Was he serious? Did he even hear what he just said?

"Madhyam, do you have any idea what I've been going through these weeks? Like any idea? This has been the most toughest phase of my life. While others enjoy their college life, I am stuck here between my friends and my wedding." They meant the world to me once upon a time, and I wasn't over that yet. It took my long to believe what was happening to me. Madhyam stepped closer to me and I heard a slam against the door.  Manik reached us in two steps and grabbed his shirt.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from her?" His teeth jarred against each other. It was as if any interaction of mine with them had to filter through him, otherwise that was the end for anyone else. Manik chucked Madhyam on the wall. I pressed Manik's arm.

"Manik, he is my friend." I said, trying to pull him away from Madhyam.

"Your friend?" There I could see a protective side of him, as if nobody but him (and his dumb friends) had the authority to mess with me. "I don't trust that." I blinked my eyes for a moment, any longer and the situation would've gone out of control. He threatened Madhyam before I stood between the two of them. I spread my hands to the side, trying to block them from each other. I turned to the side to see Madhyam.

"Madhyam, please leave. Just leave, I'll deal with him." Madhyam passed a glare to Manik. Manik was provoked. I held Manik's arms–I was entitled to–stopping him and Madhyam escaped.

"That idiot. Problem kya hai tumhari? Why couldn't you just let me deal with him my way? You can't be crying for..." (What is your problem?) He paused as his eyes fell on the dried blood on my right elbow. His eyes questioned why I didn't get them medicated. I loosened my grip on his arms.

"How do you know that?" I was hoping for a proper answer and not something sarcastic or unnecessarily flirty. 

"Know what? I don't know anything." He said, shrugging, not making eye-contact. I held his arms again and he was forced to look into my eyes, which were filling up with tears. I didn't know why I was crying. I just felt so helpless, so vulnerable. I grabbed his shirt, forcing him closer to me. The blood off my elbow rubbed on his T-shirt.

"Manik..."

"Navya told me." He confessed and shrugged himself to release himself from my hold. I found it hard to process the information. I thought she was on their side. Or maybe it was him who pretended, to sneak the truth out of her. Was that why he was acting so sweetly with Navya? "Listen... We're getting married and I don't think it's a good idea for you to go around crying for other people. It's supposed to be a happy occasion, though not-so-happy." He said the last phrase under his breath but I heard him. 

"And I'm... uhh... I'm... sorry." His hands were on his waist, his head was turned to the side, his tongue stuck out through his lips, something he looked accustomed to doing when he apologised, maybe. It was a first for me. He was such an egoistic man. At least he apologised. My subconscious reminded and I smiled faintly at the thought. I wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head on his chest, hugging him tight. No matter what, since the first time I hugged him, he was the only person I could find solace in. As much as I hated him, I couldn't deny, he was always there, to protect me. 

He hesitantly put his arms around me and snuggled me closer.

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(Did you guys like it? Thanks for bearing with me. Loads of love.)