T H R E E

"Alright Rags. Just breathe in and out for a minute." I said as I saw that her jaw had dropped past the floor. Sanskar had left already and I was aware of the wrath I was going to face.

"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED? HOW? WHAT? WHEN? WH-"

"Calm down. Give me a minute. I will tell you everything."

My words didn't have any effect. She was still screaming.

"You call and tell Sam to meet us at the mall. I don't want to repeat the story twice." I said. Samantha Thakur is my other best friend. She's the exact opposite of Rags. While Rags was violent and forward, Sam was a little more calm and composed. She is more understanding and that's the main reason I am not telling everything Rags when I am alone with her. Sam was my first friend in here and one of the very few people that could tolerate the weird alien I am.

Only then I noticed that the bra was still in my hand. I immediately threw it in dustbin with disgust.

"Let's go, she said she would be there." Rags said eyeing me suspiciously all the while. I can only hope that she won't become a murderer today.

We found Sam in the food court of the mall. As soon as she saw me, she came forward and hugged me tightly. Too tightly. It almost choked me. I guess Rags have told her what happened. After she offered a series of comforting words, I was allowed to sit down. Ragini was eyeing me like I am some peculiar insect and Sam seemed to take notice of it.

"Why are you looking at her like that?" She asked curiously.

"Well, ask her." Rags smirked in my direction. I would have had to reveal it to them one day anyways, right? And so I told them everything I could remember. How I got drunk and woke up in the hotel room.

I saw series of emotions going through their faces. And at last when I stopped, I knew what their reaction would be.

But I have never been so wrong.

It was exactly opposite to what I expected. It was not Rags but Sam who was scolding me.

"I can't believe this Swara. How can you be so reckless? Getting drunk like that-"

"Are you saying the truth? Aww, my baby has grown up at last. I am very proud of y-."

"This is bad Swara. You just being drunk can't justify your ac-."

"How was it Swara? Come in. Tell me the details. Is he go-"

"Rags, I said I don't remember-" I tried to interrupt them.

"Shut up now. What if your parents come to know about it? Or what if you get pre-"

"I am glad it was him. He's a lot better than lux so-"

"Just stop it alright." I exclaimed, disappointed by the response I got from my best friends. "What happened, has happened. I thought you guys would comfort me, but you are only making everything worse."

They were silent for a few seconds and they understood that were being too rash.

"I am sorry Swara. I shouldn't have outright blamed you." Sam said. "You were drunk and he might have took advantage of you."

"Oh please. I am pretty sure it happened the other way around. I could only hope it was not her raping him. Remember that time when she took a sip of alcohol accidentally in first year. She tried to kiss me damn it. And you wonder why I avoided you for so long." Rags snorted in disgust as she reminisced the event.

She had a point.

"At least next time she would never forget her bra." Sam giggled and Rags joined her pretty soon. I glared at both of them and then turned my attention to the food that was not ready yet. At least now I know why I hangout with them.

We are as sane as a person who collects dust.

"But what I can't understand is, out of all the people in the world, it was him. And why is he here for a matter of fact? He should be in Mumbai, shouldn't he?" Sam asked.

"I guess he decided to come back."

"Whatever, I am glad it was him. You both are so cute together. I ship it so much. What?" Rags asked as I stared at her with horror. I sat in silence staring at her for a few seconds and then I blurted out.

"Are you out of your mind? Rags, it's Sanskar Maheshwari we are talking about."

"I can't understand what the big deal is.  The only things I know about him are what you told me. I was not close to you guys when he used to be here. And I always thought he's a nice guy before you. I'm not blaming you Swara, but you have a tendency to exaggerate things. "

"You will get to know I was not exaggerating prettysoon. He's crazy." I snorted.

"I will agree with Rags on that, he's not bad as you picture him." Sam said.

"Sam, what has gotten into you? You know all the things he did to me. All the things he did to insult me. All the pranks-"

"And what about you Swara? It's not like you were sitting idly all the while. It was all mutual. Remember that time you dyed his hair pink?" Sam accused me.

"How do you know about that?" I asked shocked with my mouth open. It was a long time ago. When we were 15 out something. It was a very hard job to do, but the result was worth it.

"For your information, you like spilling tea when you are drunk."She pointed out. "Swara, I take your side because I'm your friend. Of course I will but things are not black and white."

I sighed. I knew what they were saying was true. It's not like he was a bad person. It's just that we don't get along with each other. He torments me and to be honest I have tormented him just as much.

"I think you guys are cute. All the bickering and all. I love a whole enemies to lovers trope. I really really ship it" Ragini smiled.

"Stop it Rags."

"I bet a million dollars that you are gonna end up together. Now that the lux soap is out of the picture, it's all too easy." Ragini said.

All I could do was laugh at her. "Rags, this is not one of those ridiculous books you read. This is my life alright."

"Don't say that. Isn't your life complicated than a daily soap?" Sam's question caught me off guard. She was right though. My life was really dramatic.

"Maybe you are right on that, but seriously, how can you all even say what you're saying. It's so stupid." I shook my head.

"Let's wait watch." Sam smiled enjoying all the drama.

Right on queue the food arrived and I started the attack. Slowly my thoughts began drifting towards what will happen the next day.

I can't hide inside the house forever can I? I will have to go to college and Laksh will be there. I will have to face him. But even thinking about him made my heart clench. Then how will I face him?

As we were midway through our food I saw Sam choking on her food.

"Oh God." She said staring at someone behind me. Whoever it is, it should be pretty serious for her to react like that.

Is it Sanskar? Or Laksh?

"Well well well look who it is."

It's worse.

The frog like voice coming from behind me was all enough to identify who it is. As I looked at my side, I could see Rags clenching her fists, confirming that she recognised it too.

"I would like to say exactly the same thing." I said raising up from my seat and turning around. I saw Sam raising up after me.

Standing in front of me was a whole 5'8 tower on a 6 inch pumps. It was the one and only Kavita Roy in all her glory.

She looked devilishly beautiful as always and I was here, eating like a baby blue whale. I confirmed that I have got some food particle on my face when she snorted in disgust.

Then she smirked, eyeing me top to bottom. I am damn sure that something is about to go wrong.

God! This girl!

I don't know why but she hates that I exist and have vowed to make my life hell. Yes, he's not the only one. So I automatically hate her too.

"I am so sorry Swara. I just heard that you got dumped. That's so sad." She smirked.

"Stay out of it." Sam said surprising all of us. She was not someone who stands up to Kavita like that. And because of the very reason her nose flared with anger.

"Or what? What are you gonna do?" She said glaring at her.

"Let's leave." Rags who was sitting there all the time said, raising up. She pulled Sam and me and brushed past Kavita, not before glaring at her.

If only looks could kill, Kavita would be six feet under ground.

"By the way, I can understand why you were with him." She said making me stop on my tracks. "He's pretty good in things you know."

I turned around and glared at her. I saw her taking out her phone.

"What are you talking about?"

"Aww, isn't it so cute? I always knew we would be so good together." She said showing me a picture. I blinked my eyes at the sight of it.

No no no no

It was a picture of Kavita and... Laksh all wrapped up around each other.

I felt my heart being crushed from inside out. He won't do that to me, would he?

No no no no

"No offense to you of course and also I am not hostile to my bf's exes for a matter of fact. So we are still friends, aren't we?" She smirked.

I saw Rags trying to lunge forward at her but Sam caught hold her, preventing her from causing any damage. On queue her phone started ring and she smirked.

"Oh it's him. Hey Laksh" She said and increased the volume to the maximum so I could hear what was saying from the other side.

"Hey babe."

It was unmistakeably Laksh's voice. And the next moment I was running. Running as fast as I can.

Running away from all of it.

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