Years of attending these parties had given Sara the experience of how to be, what to say and what to do. She could now easily identify what was needed, what was lacking, what should be done to fill the need, and what should be done to eliminate the waste.

The three-week semester break felt rather longer this time. Unexpectedly, to her surprise, Sara missed her college. After the first week at home, she had felt rather tired of seeing the snobby faces that gobbled up the exquisite food her chef had prepared, the mouths that drank half the time and rambled the other half. She didn't have the power to even tell them off. Her mouth was tired of smiling all the time. She missed rolling her eyes at her friends.

This was why she had excitedly come back to college on the first day of her fifth semester. Laksh had arrived just a day earlier. Lee had tanned quite a bit, she couldn't wait to see him. Ruby let her know that she had found a new place to stay. A small apartment in the city.

Until lunch, Sara was showing off to Laksh, her new outfit on her shapely body that she had worked on throughout the break.

They walked to the cafeteria, hoping to meet Ruby there. Laksh couldn't stop talking about her meeting with a young heartthrob from a new Netflix series. Sara couldn't and wouldn't bother to remember his name no matter how much Laksh talked about him. Tanned Lee was definitely hotter. That could have been the reason why girls wouldn't stop checking him out.

As soon as Ruby arrived, she and Lee exchanged a hug and a kiss. Sara saw Laksh squint her nose.

Ruby and Lee were warmer to each other now, compared to how they had parted ways. The four talked extensively about their break. All of Lee's stories had started with, "So I went to this bar with my friends. We had ordered everything on the menu-" and it would abruptly end with, "I was so wasted that I- I went back to the hotel alone and slept it off," when he would realize that Ruby was sitting with us. Sara honestly couldn't understand whom he was trying to fool.

Ruby, however, was rather quiet. She listened to all of them speak and enquired well about other details of their break. She didn't say what she did until Laksh forced her. All she did was stay at home.

"I missed home. I just wanted to be with Pa," she said with a shrug.

That evening, Sara and Laksh stayed back on campus, watching the new kids walk up and about. It was fun to watch the ones fresh out of school, with excitement and dreams in their eyes, thinking high and mighty of May Flower and hoping for a few fun years of college ahead. So naive.

Lee and Sara had gone somewhere. Laksh hadn't asked, and Sara couldn't be bothered. Laksh went on and on about the Netflix boy.

"Are you even listening?"

Sara turned at Laksh's sudden question. "Not really. You should know when to stop," Sara sniggered.

Laksh pouted as she looked away crossing her arms across her chest. And then, Sara asked, "Did you smell something funny on Ruby today?"

"Oh my god. I thought it was just me since both of you weren't reacting at all," Laksh turned to Sara, "A bit like sweat or dirt."

"I don't think staying on her own is doing her any good," Sara said wisely.

"Maybe it's her perfume," said Laksh, "Maybe, I should gift her a new one."

"Sure. I support you as long as I don't have to smell it," said Sara as she stood up to leave, fixing her dress. "I wonder how Lee survives the smell," Laksh said, still seated.

"It would be a miracle if Lee can smell anything anymore, considering the amount of deo he bathes in," said Sara.

"You think they got back together?" asked Laksh. Sara shook her head, "I don't think they had ever broken up. But the end is near. I can just feel it."

Sara wasn't completely wrong.

Two days later Sara caught Lee almost about to leave when he saw Ruby approaching them.

It was a beautiful evening. The sky was yellow, slowly turning orange. Clouds scattered in a beautiful pattern across the sky. Birds flew in a group as if they were in a never ending race.

This was when Lee saw Ruby hurrying towards them from a distance. He immediately stood up, grabbing his bag.

"Where are you going?" Asked Sara, looking up at him.

"I just remembered that I had an assignment to work on," he said.

That's when Sara noticed Ruby coming.

"Sit down," Sara pulled his arm with force, "Your girlfriend is coming and she is carrying something."

Lee squinted. Sara was right. Ruby was carrying something huge. It was hung on her back by a strap on her shoulder. As she got closer, it was clear what it was.

"Hey guys. I have a surprise," she said panting from all the power walking she did with her 'surprise' on her back. "Gee! I wonder what it is!" Laksh said with fake enthusiasm.

Ruby made a face at her before she unloaded the baggage, unzipped it and took out a guitar.

It had scratches on the wood. Polish was chipped off in some areas. It had lost its shine and was even a bit dirty. The previous owner had even sketched a Rose at its back with permanent marker.

"Nice rose," said Laksh, unable to find nothing else to compliment about. "Thanks. I drew it last night," answered Ruby. Sara sniggered.

"It's a second hand one. But it was all I could afford. I have been working part time since last semester to earn money and buy this," Ruby said, her twinkling eyes still at the piece of wood instrument.

"Is that why you have been smelling weird these days," asked Laksh.

"What?" Ruby looked up in confusion.

"I mean, do you still work part time?" Laksh changed her question. Sara shook her head at Laksh's stupidity. Laksh really needs to learn to control her tongue.

"Yes! I thought it'll help me have an extra bit of pocket money. And now I can practice on my own!" Said Ruby and she looked at Lee in excitement. Lee gave her a forced fake smile.

"Of course. Do you want me to teach you?" He asked. Sara knew that though he was smiling on the outside, he'd be praying in his heart that she'd say no. To his relief, Ruby replied, "No, it's okay. I know the basics. I'll just practice."

After giving Lee a goodbye kiss, Ruby had left for her work. Watching her leave, Sara asked Lee, "Why don't you just break up with that girl? You obviously hate her."

"I don't hate her," Lee shrugged.

"You detest her!" Laksh turned to him, "I can hear your blood boiling as soon as she comes near you."

"I'm just-"

"What? Waiting to exhaust your quota with her? A lot of benefits before you can cut off all ties?" Asked Sara.

"I guess because she is part of the group, it feels weird to break up with her, doesn't it? You think it will damage our group dynamics?" Laksh tried to help Lee. Lee thought for a while and said, " No. That's not it."

"I know why," said Sara with an evil smirk.

"Oh, the mighty one who knows all the answers! Pray tell, what is it?" Lee mocked her. Sara ignored him and said, "It's because she still is popular. Guys have eyes on her. If not you, she'll get someone else. Maybe someone better."

Lee scoffed and looked away.

"Oh my god. That's it, isn't it?" Laksh asked, her mouth in a wide grin.

"I don't want her to cry," said Lee.

Sara snickered, "Liar. Ruby is not an idiot. I'm sure she doesn't like you either. She has seen your real worth and she can easily detect that you hate her. Hell! We could detect that you hate her! But she likes being with us, being seen around us. And I think that could be a major reason why I like her in the group." Sara was surprised that she had realised this, only as she said it.

Sara turned to Lee and continued, "Please do break up with her. Soon if possible. I can't stand your bad acting anymore. We can all get on with our lives, if you two are open about your real feelings."