"It's about time for the Scrum meeting," I reminded Tyler, striding towards the meeting room. In the background, I heard him hurriedly gathering his laptop and files.

As I entered the meeting room, all eyes turned to me. "Let's wait a minute for Tyler, then we'll start," I instructed, taking a seat.

Tyler entered, looking a bit guilty, while the rest of us exchanged disappointed glances. Punctuality wasn't his strong suit.

"Yuri, maybe we should tell him a time that's at least half an hour before the scheduled one," Riya joked, earning a chuckle from the rest of us, though Tyler shot her a stink eye.

"Alright, let's get started. Uttar, how's the UI coming along?" I began, steering the meeting into motion.

"Well, I've started on the home page. I'll send over some of the color codes that I've picked," Uttar responded.

"Great, email me your design drafts for approval. Riya, any updates on the system architecture?" I directed the conversation, keeping things on track.

The meeting continued for another hour before we dispersed back to our desks.

"Boo," Ishaan said from beside me, attempting to startle me, but I caught on before he could.

"Haha Ishaan, how very 25-year-old of you," I retorted, flashing a sarcastic smile.

" What are you doing? ", he asked leaning onto my desk. 

" Fishing. ", I said sarcastically again.

He lightly tapped the back of my head and peered into my laptop. "I meant what project are you working on?"

"I'm working on the system design for the new project. We just had our 3rd Scrum meeting today," I explained, stretching my arms back.

"Oh nice. What is for lunch? ", he said giving me a grin.

" Ishaan, need I remind you, the company pays us. And that is for a reason. To work. ", I said pushing him away.

" Alright alright but I am hungry. ", he said making a sad puppy face. 

I laughed and returned to what I was doing.

My laptop pinged, notifying me of a new mail.

"Urgent meet at 12 PM.", it read. It was by my boss. 

The anxiety in me skyrocketed instantly. What could the meeting be about? I knew there were no new projects coming up. We already had a brief about our current project. I ran all possibilities through my mind to come up with a reason but found none. The email also read 'Urgent' which meant something was wrong.

I looked away from my laptop screen, to face Ishaan. He met my eyes and knew something was wrong. 

He turned my laptop to face him and read the mail.

" I am sure its nothing. ", he said with no hint of truth in his voice.

 The clock soon struck 12 and I found myself nervously knocking at Akash's cabin door. 

"Come in.", Akash answered in a stern voice.

I entered the cabin and a chill ran down my spine.

Akash looked up from his laptop with a grim look, now facing me.  

"Do you remember the update that released last month. The  one involving the payment options. "

"Yes...", I said not quiet sure what he is getting to.

" The default option is set to pay by e-wallet. "

"Yes I know. It was in the UI proposal. ", I said confirming.

" How can you even submit such a UI proposal? ", He said raising his voice.

"I am sorry, I don't quiet get what you mean. ", I said with nervousness, that I so badly tried to hide, now creeping in my voice.

" The end user needs to have full control on how the payment needs to be made. Some users might miss the default option. Which is what exactly has happened. We have been getting a lot of complaints. ", he said anger lacing his voice.

" But I sent it for approval. And you yourself approved it. ", I said getting shocked at his accusation.

" I might have missed it. That still doesn't excuse your poor design. ", he took his way out.

Why does he even get paid!?? I need to calm down.

"I'll get that sorted right away. ", I said knowing very well that any other statement would have just increased his anger and decreased my pay.

He nodded and pointed towards the door, hinting for me to leave.

I left the cabin and headed for my safe place. I knew he would be waiting for me there. He always is.

I opened the door to the terrace to see a figure standing near the edge facing the opposite side.

I slowly walked towards the figure. When I was a few inches away, I rested my head on his back.

"Gimme two. ", I said in a tired voice.

For around two minutes both of us were silent. I lifted my head and he turned around.

" What happened? ", Ishaan asked with concern.

" Well, I have been blamed for somethin that Akash is to blame for. ", I said rolling my eyes. " Apparently the UI design got some issues. "

" You okay? "

" Yea. ", I said smiling "I just have to get this fixed."

He nodded and we headed back to our desks.

* * *

" Caa-te-goo-ri-za-tionn", Destin said in a falseto mimicking Professor Sharma.

Everyone burst into giggles. I ducked my head and and put my arm around my head to avoid getting caught. 

We were sitting in a boring chemistry lecture and the only ray of hope to our survival were Destin's antiques.

"Destin, " Prof. Sharma called out. "May I know what is going on there? ". The attention of the entire class was now on us.

"No.", Destin whispered consequently making us burst into giggles again.

"Okay. That is enough.", professor Sharma said with a sigh. " I need the last two benches to be out of my class. ", he said with no emotion in his voice.

"Does he want us to go out, or the benches? ", Destin cracked another lame joke making all of us giggle.

I would have been embarrassed if it would have been just me, but I didn't mind standing out of the class with these fools. The lecture was boring anyways.

We proceeded to stand outside the class with no hint of regret on our faces. Although I could see the envy in the eyes of the kids who were still on their bench doomed to listen to the rest of the lecture.

"Chemistry is a fun subject. Its just the professor who makes it boring. ", Agastya reminded us for the 50th time this year. 

"Yea sure. ", I scoffed.

" Shift to the left.", Destin whisper yelled. "I am standing right in front of the door, where I might have to make eye contact with Prof Sharma. "

Iksha laughed while Rairi mumbled a "Serves you right. "

Destin pushed Iksha, who was standing right next to him, with his hip, causing a domino effect and making us all tumble over.

The professor looked in our direction to know what the commotion was about. His eyes met Destin's as he non verbally communicated for us to be quiet or we would be doomed.

Needless to say, no one moved an inch after that. 

After the bell rang, Prof Sharma came out of the class and walked to us. He glared at each one of us, slowly, taking his own sweet time. " You guys will have to give a test on the topics taught today. ", he said slowly but dauntingly.

I groaned. Internally of course. And from the looks on my friends' faces, they were doing the same.

" Next lecture. ", he continued with the smallest smirk. What an evil evil man.

~~~
The final bell rang and it I couldn't be more relieved. It seemed like a long long day. As usual Sasha was waiting for us by the school gate with cold drinks. It had become a ritual since the last year. Orange for everyone and cranberry for Augustya. When asked, why is he getting the special treatment, she would reply "just because." We weren't the ones to crib over freebies though.

"How could you leave me alone in that boring chemistry lecture!?"

"You should have followed us out then. ", Augustya said with a pout.

They exchanged playful glances while we started making our way towards our homes. Augustya generally had cricket practice after class since he was selected to be in the cricket team. But the season matches were over so the team was relieved from the daily training.

We arrived at the crossroad where we generally part ways to head to our respective buildings. I started making my way towards my building when Augustya started walking with me. His building was right next to mine, but this was the first time we were walking home together. 

"It is really hot, this time of the year. ", I said fanning my face with my hands. The Mumbai heat of the month of March really gets to me. 

" Would you like my cranberry juice? ", he asked handing me the paper box from which he had been drinking.

Well if that doesn't take your breadth away, I don't know what will.

"No, no Sasha brings it specially for you. I would not dare. ", I chuckled making him laugh.

I felt a little unsettled about him laughing. Was he laughing at my joke or at the mention of Sasha's name? 

" She might like you. ",  I said in hopes of some insight on the topic.

" Hmm. ", he responded. " I really wish we could ride our cycles home, would be much faster. Don't you agree. "

Well that is really true. I hate walking in this heat. I would have rode my bicycle if I had one and knew how to ride one.

" I don't know how to ride a bike. "

" Are you serious? ", he asked as if I had spoken something unfathomable. Reading my expression, he proceeded to further enquire. "Why!?"

" Well my dad was always afraid that I would fall down and hurt myself. So he never let me have one, nor did he teach me to ride one."

" That is crazy. You need to learn how to ride one. ",  he said as a matter of fact, taking the last sip of his juice. He squeezed  the box when a few drops got sprinkled on his face, catching him off guard.

That was as hilarious for me, as embarrassing as it was for him, making me burst into fits of laughter.

He just stood there with an embarrassed expression waiting for me to calm down. As soon as he recovered from embarrassment, he squeezed the box harder in front of my face, sprinkling a few drops of juice on my face.

I instantly stopped laughing and gave him a death glare. 

He backed away slowly popping the box in the bin on the side of the road. Both of us looked that way confirming if indeed he had made his shot. The box had perfectly landed in the bin, making him smirk. Now that was hot.

I felt the stickiness on my hand which was a result of wiping the juice droplets off my face, reminding me that I was supposed to be taking revenge.

He seemed to realize the same instant as he smiled and took off towards our building, with me in pursuit.

~ ~ ~