Sana walked out of her room and Sidharth followed her. Shivam along with Amol was sitting in the drawing room

Shivam, a young lad with fair complexion, dark brown eyes and straight black hair. He was a little taller than Sidharth. He was a no nonsense, focused, reserved and conservative person. He was brilliant in studies and had looks to die for. He had his life goals set as early as when he was in 8th Standard which he didn't disclose to anyone until it was necessary, not even his parents. He never allowed any distractions to hamper those goals.

Amol wasn't as brilliant as Shivam in studies but he stuck to Shivam like his shadow as his parents always gave him example of Shivam's achievements. Be it sports, social service activities or studies Amol was always with him. Their parents when got together always spoke about their friendship and often joked that more then Sidharth and Shivam, Amol and Shivam looked like 'Ram-Lakshman' (brothers) pair.

Sana's liking for Shivam was also majorly due to her parent's and brother's admiration towards him.

On the other hand, Sana and Sidharth were best buddies who could even die for each other. They went out of their way to help each other and were each other's home in bad times. They shared everything except their secret crush - Sana's liking towards Shivam and Sidharth's liking towards Sana.

Sidharth!! A lean, dusky yet a very handsome boy. He was witty, intelligent, caring and a friendly person. Though Shivam got all the praises from his parents for his brilliant mind and achievements, Sidharth was smart-working and ran all the errands for home. He didn't set any rigid goals in life as he believed in being flexible and adaptive to changes. He liked to win but loved to lose for his loved ones.

Sana glanced at Shivam. He raised his eyebrows and signalled moving his neck to sit on the chair beside him.

She was shocked, this was the first time Shivam looked at her and signalled her to come near him. Her hands were cold and her heart thudded against her chest, challenging to come out of the rib cage.

She looked down blushingly and when she lifted her head again she saw Sidharth sitting next to him. The two brothers high-fived which made her realize that the signal was for Sidharth.

She face-palmed herself virtually and smiled looking down the floor. Sidharth observed her smile and melted like a butter. She occupied the seat opposite to them. Sidharth gawked at her every now and then while Sana stole glances of Shivam. Sidharth mistook her glances for himself and celebrated the joy within.

Vani gave mock test problems to both Amol and Shivam. She then asked Sidharth to sit with Sana as she helped them in solving an equation from previous board papers.

Shivam: Ma'am, I'm done!

Vani jaw was left open as she gave them 30 minutes time but he came back in 15 minutes. Amol was still sweating in nervousness to solve the problem.

Vani: That's awesome! As I had told you, if you crack this one your 70% marks is guaranteed. Let's see!

Vani took the book in hand to check. Sana ogled at Shivam hopelessly which didn't go well with Sidharth. He felt hurt when everyone praised his brother and his efforts were over-shadowed, yet he always chose to ignore, but this time it was Sana. He couldn't tolerate her eyes on his brother. Vani was taking out her working book to cross-check the answer.

Sidharth looked at Shivam's book which was lying open on the table infront and he laughed. Everyone looked at him with annoyed face.

Vani: What's the matter Sidharth? What made you laugh looking at his answer?

Sidharth: Sorry Aatya (aunty), Shivu dada (Big Brother) made a very silly mistake halfway, it would cost him 35% of marks for this. That leaves just 35%, which is just passing marks.

Vani was surprised at his comment. She looked at her answers to check. While Sana frowned at Sidharth and whispered in his ears.

Sana: Boasting infront of me is fine, why are you spoiling your reputation infront of everyone else? That's 12th Standard problem, remember you need my help in passing your 10th. Shivu is brilliant and knows everything.

Sidharth stared at her angrily. Both of them were equally annoyed with each other.

Vani: Sidharth, can you solve the problem on the whiteboard for me?

Sidharth nodded and took the question paper and started scribbling with marker on the board. He was done in 10 minutes. Shivam and Amol looked at the board carefully. Sana turned away her face not ready to look at Sidharth and there was pin drop silence until Vani clapped in happiness.

Vani: Sabaash Baallaa!! (Bravo son!) This is just outstanding. I am surprised, how on earth did you solve this?

Sana looked at her mother praising Sidharth. She was shocked and a slight smile came on her face on Sidharth's achievement but when she saw Shivam's sad face, she felt bad.

Whatever it is, the way he laughed, and he commented on Shivu was rude. My Shivu is hurt. I can't smile or congratulate him for this.

The rest of the time, they weren't interacting with each other. Post Sidharth was gone home, Sana was irritated to the core. They had never ever stopped talking to each other. This time both were adamant and equally angry on each other, hence they waited the other to talk first.

Sana went to bed without eating her dinner and Sidharth ate very little. He tossed in bed recalling the incident.

I have been always shadowed under Shivu dada. Everytime they praised and compared, I brushed it off but today I just couldn't tolerate Sana comparing me or shading me. I don't have any bad feelings about Shivu dada, I know he is brilliant but why do they compare me to him. The worst thing is Sana wasn't even happy or sorry when I was proved correct.

May be she doesn't love me the way I do. Otherwise she would have spoken to me once atleast. I think it's best to stay away, I don't want to get affected.

He slept off thinking about her with teary eyes. The alarm went off. As soon as he put it out, he realized that his motivation or the driving force which pushed him to get ready quickly was missing today.

He lazily got ready in white shirt and blue pants, that's his school uniform and rode on his cycle to the school alone. When he reached the school he realized that it was his farewell day and everyone else was dressed in classy and fashionable coloured clothes. Everyone laughed at him for being so absent minded.

He ignored everyone and their laughs. His eyes were continuously disobeying his mind's instructions. It was searching for her everywhere, as if they existed only for that sole purpose in the world.

Neha, his classmate came close to him.

Neha: Hey Sid, how can you be so absent-minded? (She laughed)

Sidharth: I wish I knew the answer!

Neha: Why didn't you come with Sana? You forgot her as well, did you?

Sidharth: I wish I could... (He murmurs)

Neha: What?

Sidharth: Nothing!

Neha: Well, take this.. (hands a bag) Sana asked me to pass it on to you. That's your clothes.

Sidharth: Sana? Where is she?

Neha: She went to restroom.

Sidharth: Hmm.. thanks!

Sidharth goes to boy's restroom to get ready. He opens the bag and finds everything he needs - clothes, perfume, watch, shoes and a new pair of cufflinks. But he doesn't remember buying those cufflinks. He thinks that those might be given by his parents. He quickly gets ready into it.

When he walked out of the washroom, he froze as he saw Sana. She was wearing a Yellow Saree. This was the first time she wore a saree and it's his favourite color. She looked stunning in it. He wanted to talk to her but they weren't in talking term.

He killed the desire to talk to her but his eyes still disobeyed his mind's instruction. May be because they followed his heart.

Sana looked at him and ran towards him, his heart was racing at the same speed when he saw her coming towards him. He bit his inner part of lips to stop himself from smiling.

Sana: Siddu, you look dashing in black. Did you like the cufflinks?

Sidharth was surprised at the way she spoke to him, as if nothing happened.

Sidharth: You.. (clears his throat) you got this cufflinks for me?

Sana: Yeah! I was taking auto to school since I wore this saree. Prema aunty saw me in this clothes and complimented me. Then she told me that you went to school in uniform and that you probably forgot that it was our farewell day. So I went to your room and packed all your stuff by myself and the cufflinks which I wanted to gift you on farewell.

Sidharth: (smiled) This looks good, I liked it. But, why did you ask Neha to give me this?

Sana: I am wearing Saree for the first time in my life, these pleats came off, so I had to go to washroom. By the way, how do I look?

Sidharth: You look like a jaundiced person, yellow!! (He teased her with his tongue out)

Sana: (frowns) And you are stupid fellow. Learn something from Vishal, I literally turned into red tomato as he went on complimenting me non-stop.

Sidharth's smile vanished as he heard Vishal's name from her mouth.

Sidharth: I need to meet my other friends. I can't waste my time infront of you. I may or may not get to meet them again. But you, even if I don't want to see, I can't help since you are my neighbor. (Annoyed)

Sana: Tula Bhutane Veda Lavale ahe ka? (Are you possessed by ghost?), What's wrong? My wrong, I shouldn't have spoken to you itself first.

Sidharth: Hope you got it correct now? Then please go on, don't waste your time. Please go, Vishal must be waiting.

Sana: You need not instruct me who to meet.

Sidharth: Yeah, right. You might want to meet Sachin or Varun now.

Sana: Go to hell!! (Louder)

Sana goes back into washroom. Sidharth looks around to see who might have heard them, but there was no one around. He grits his teeth and walks back into the performance hall, where the juniors presented dance to the seniors as a part of fare well function.

Few of the junior girls, reached with a scrapbook asking him to scribble on it his autograph.

Lavina: Which college are you planning to join, Sid?

Sidharth: First, let me clear my 10th exams. Else, I might have to reappear exams with you next year. (They laughed)

Lavina: Yeah, that would be fun. ..And the year after, we can join the same college and be classmates too. (Winked)

Sidharth: You never know!! (Laughs)

It had been few minutes, but Sana didn't return. His eyes searched for her but she wasn't there in the hall. He went near the washroom and stood there for sometime. Few of his classmates came out chitchatting and he asked them if she was there and their answer was in negative.

He was tensed and went around searching for her in whole school but she wasn't there. He went back to the hall. The dance floor was open for dance and everyone was dancing. He scrutinized the crowd but all in vain.

Neha: Hey Sid, come let's dance. Anyways your best friend isn't here to dance with you, so join me.

Sidharth: Huhh? Do you know where she is?

Neha: She didn't tell you? She went home long back as she wasn't feeling well.

Sidharth was speechless. He stood rewinding the conversation in his mind and felt guilty for speaking rudely to her.

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