"I had a word with Ms. Jain they all are going at the Clock tower at Hark i powdi, but we won't go there, we will go to the other side, do a small pooja and aarti there cool?" Madhav asked. The girls nodded their heads and began going ahead. Divya felt as if she was all over the place. She couldn't really point out what it was that she wanted.

She wanted to take pictures, but then she as well wanted to get done with the whole pooja, gather the gangajal and get done with it. She wanted to distance herself from everyone. Divya couldn't really believe in herself to stay beside everyone at that moment. With each passing second, she could feel scared as if she was going to lose something, that empty feeling that made you feel lonely and painful and difficult to be. She wanted to just be alone but at the same time she wanted to be with someone, she wanted to hold onto someone so that they could console her and make her feel happy.

Once the group reached the ghat, everyone did pooja and stood back and prayed . Divya closed her eyes and felt herself crying. Her throat went dry as a sob got stuck into her throat making it difficult for her to cry.

"I don't know why I am feeling like this. I don't know what is there for me ahead after this day. I don't know if I would be friends with any one of them after today, but I am thankful to you god. Thank you for getting these wonderful people in my life. I know each one of them has some of the other defaults, but that's what makes them perfect. I have learned a lot while being with them, or maybe I am just bluffing but I am thankful for all I got. However, I wished today my family would have been here with me."

Divya felt a slight push as she adjusted herself and closed her eyes again. "Mom dad and Dadi would have loved to be here to go and get pooja done for all of us. I don't know if I would be able to come back with them here or not, but Ganga maa protect them, please always keep them happy, let Appu have a healthy life, let him live life way longer than us but not while being depended on others but on his own. I only wish I would have had a longer story with Madhav. I know this story had to end here, but I wished there could have been something. But yes I will. Surely cherish all these days that I have been here. I might not remember all, but I will remember this feeling, for I know I would never feel the same again."

Divya opened her eyes and wiped off her tears. As she looked on her side Aman was there looking at her. He smiled and nodded his head as if asking her if she was alright. Divya smiled back as the aarti began, Madhav called home and gave Divya an idea as well to call back home. Dialing the number she waited as the call got connected and then she showed her mom the aarti.

Mrs. Chavan who all these years had never been to places outside Maharashtra was quite overwhelmed. Divya could see her controlling her tears and smiling. It felt so surreal for Divya. She promised herself that one day she will surely get her parents here or anywhere that they want to go.

****

"I don't understand where these idiots went." Madhav snapped as Divya looked around quite tensed herself. She wasn't feeling any better with her stomach growling in hunger she was getting quite impatient and irritated.

"I will go and see where they all are," Madhav said as he asked Aman, Divya, and Geet to stay there and went to look for the rest of them. A lot while later when he didn't return Aman volunteered to go to find where they were stuck. About 15 minutes later when both the boys didn't return and with the crowd increasing every single minute Divya didn't feel right stay there, she asked Geet to stand there and asked her to keep her phone with her so that they could contact her and quickly went to look out for the rest.

The moment she saw the two boys laughing, it pissed her off royally, before she could even say anything to them Nandini walked up to her saying something to which Divya snapped at her "Don't say anything, I really hadn't expected this from you."

"And you have no right to yell at me." Nandini snapped back.

"I don't even want to talk to you." Divya was on the verge of tears but she controlled and went to Madhav and pulled him by his elbow and yelled at him.

"You said you will be back in 5 minutes and here you were clicking pictures, I don't have any issues with that, but you could have at least informed me about it."

"Divya, I was telling them ..."

"Divya one minute last photo" Dev said, to which Divya glared at him and said, "Dev you will get a slap from me just shut up." She then looked at Madhav and shook her head at him. "I don't want to talk to you, let me know when you are done I am going to the shoe stall."

As Divya turned around She looked at Nandini who looked aside, and was already arguing with Aman. Aman called out to Divya and stopped her, "Yaar Didi where are you going?"

"Aman you know how dangerous this place can be, there were all sorts of people there, it was just me and Geet, there were people walking up to us, some scolding for standing there beggars touching us, I am not saying that we can't take care of ourselves but at least you should have told that you all are taking pictures, even we wanted to, and we were waiting there for you guys. I am really disappointed in you."

"even we hadn't asked you to go ahead, you could have stopped but no." Nandini snapped. Divya glared at her and decided it was better to not talk to anyone at this moment. The two of them were in the worst mood and it wont do good to anyone.

Divya began walking ahead as Aman and Dev began trying to pacify Nandini while Madhav walked upto Divya and looped his hand with hers, Divya tried her best to detangle herself but he held onto it tightly from one side and Simran from the other .

"Aree Divya, listen seriously sorry, I came here to ask them to come with me but they pulled me in to take pictures." Madhav said.

"And it didn't occur to you that two girls from your group are there at the gate, in an unknown city, that they might be worried, and the fact that none of you picked up your phones didn't help at all."

"Divya yaar, listen we were all engrossed, don't get angry now, everything was so wonderful till now why spoil it?" Simran said. Divya looked at her and then asked Madhav .

"leave my hand, I don't want to talk to you." Snatching away her hand from the two she had just taken a step ahead when Aman and Dev circled her.

"Didiiiii. OHH diidiii" Dev began.

"Dev please."

"That's what I am saying, kyu gussa karna yaar," They had just reached the bridge that would take them to the bazaar as Nandini yelled at Divya and said, "But I don't understand that if you were upset with these two thenn why did you yelled at me when you knew I don't like being yelled at."

"I did tell you to be where you were, but no you had to come in between,I was on my last point, I am already very frustrated and hungry and this is our last day of trip and these assholes are acting like this."

The two girls looked at the boys, where Natasha and Dev were still busy taking pictures along with Rishi and Manav, Atharva , Aman and Madhav were looking at the two girls fighting.

"I know right, these guys are such assholes, Aman Madhav, because of you I got yelled at, and you Aman even you yelled at me."

Both Nandini and Divya were about to cry as they folded their hands and stood with their backs supported to the railing of the bridge as Dev and Manav along with Madhav said, "Ohh are we supposed to stand like this acting pissd, ohh bhaii jaldi everyone stand come on."

Madhav came and stood beside Divya nuding her trying to pacify her, on her other side there was Dev who as well was teasing her trying to pacify her. The girls couldn't help but laugh at the way they all were acting, with Manav, madhav, dev, Rishi, and Aman all of them standing beside them with their hands folded acting pissed off while Atharva acted as if he didn't know the group at all.

"Didi maan jaao" Dev said as Madhav nodded his head.

"I am hungry." Divya and Nandini said, as the boys hollard and pulled the girls along with them to fill their tummies. However 10 minutes later the plans changed. The whole group met the professors at a tea stall where they had their cup of teas, Divya made a few phone calls when Madhav walked up to her and said,

"I am going to check if this halwai where we always have our food is still there or not, I will call you, you guys can come there." Divya narrowed her eyes at him and told him that if he were to cheat again she wouldn't talk to him at all, and that he can as well forget the blanket.

Whilst Madhav and Aman went on their search, The girls walked about around the market and began taking pictures. Divya was looking for a few other things when Rishi walked up to her and said, "Nandu, Divya I need your help, can you find something for a 4 month old girl?"

"Awww Mamaji wants to buy a gift for his bhanji?" Divya teased.

"Yes I wanted to get something for her, but we didn't get a chance to shop at Mussoorie..."

"And you think you will get things here in Haridwar? Rishi this is a spiritual place, you wont get things for kids here other than prashad, raksha dhaga or something like that." Nandini explained. However the girls kept on suggesting things in and around the area and Rishi couldn't find anything that appealing. After about 20 minutes of searching and hunting when they found nothing Rishi walked off with Atharva and the rest of the guys to somewhere while the girls got busy taking pictures.

It was around 7:30 when Divya realized how long it had been that the boys were gone, Nandini began calling them up when finally Atharva picked up his call and they instructed the girls as to where they were. The lane was filled with shops with a whole lot of varieties from Jhumkas to eatables to blankets dresses and what not.

For a moment Divya wished she would have been with her mom here they would have shopped here like crazy.

"I can't see any such shop here Atharva, where are you all?" Nandini whispered yelled as Divya and the rest kept on walking, they had just taken a left turn when Divya saw Atharva with Dev, Manav and Rishi. Behind them Madhav and Aman were walking towards them eating something.

"Kitne bade chutiye aur behenchod log ho na tum sab ke sab." Divya yelled as she saw Aman and Madhav stood still watching them.

"Aree DIDI," Dev started to whom Divya showed her middle finger and went off towards Madhav and said, "I had informed you that I was hungry, you said you are looking for a place to eat... I guess that was for you." She didn't even look at Aman and turned around asking Nandini and the rest of the girls if they were hungry then they should go back to the halwai where the bus was waiting for them.

They had just begun walking when Madhav, Dev, Atharva , Aman came towards them, this time it was Atahrva who began explaining.

"Are Divya listen, the shop where we had gone there wasn't anything as such that we could have eaten, plus you see this place we had a hunch that if we were to get you here you would have never left."

"and again my point, you could have said so. We wouldn't have waited for you all, we would have eaten something there. I really don't want to talk to you all."

This time even Simran voiced out her irritation and said, "if we would have known that you guys wanted to go on your own then we wouldn't have tagged along, you should have at least mentioned it, we understand that you all as group would have wanted to go and enjoy, but we all were waiting and Ma'am was asking for you all." The girls looked at each other and decided to walk away.

Divya wasn't furious this time, she felt stupuid. She felt stupid to have been clinging around the boys, to be depended on them. she thought that she shouldn't have really relied on them when the whole scene at the ghat had happened, that how simran was right. From the very moment they were stuck with the boys and it slipped their mind that it wasn't just their group, even the boys had theirs and that they needed space.

"It's okay Atharva, I understand. Once you guys are done come to the bus stand." Divya smiled at him and started walking, Simran, Natasha and Nandini were already a few steps ahead. She took a few larger steps to match with them and smiled at the girls.

"Kachori khaye bhook lagi hai." The girls laughed, but Divya could feel the bile in her throat, she reminded herself that it was just one more day, that she had to control herself.

"Divya, Nandu." They heard the boys calling out to them as Madhav, Aman and the rest of them ran up to them.

"Have you gone mad, it's not like that Simran, we all are here together, you all are part of our group now... you guys are hungry right..." Aman looked around when Dev came and said,

"Lets go where we were eating, and I have a challenge, Divya you will have to finish the lassi and if you do that we will get you whatever it is there to eat."

"you will pay." Divya bargained.

"yes I will, now come who all wants to eat?" Dev asked, as Nadnini and the rest of the girls made their faces not at all believing in Dev while Divya thought how bad could it be, if anything she might at least have a glass of lassi.

The shop was quite small; it reminded her of the Nagori Chai stall near her house. The walls were completely white and benches were kept sticking to the farther end of the walls, making a small aisle for people to walk inside. The group went in and took seats, while Atahrva and Rishi decided it was better they go ahead and inform the professor about their whereabouts.

As soon as Divya sat down, Dev sat beside her making Madhav sit right opposite to her, she ignored him and began conversing with Dev.

"you promised that you will be paying for my food."

"That is if you finish the lassi."

The two soon began bickering as Natasha sat behind dev and said, "Divya what are you guys bickering about?" the way she spoke it was as if she was taking in Dev's ears. He stilled for a moment and didn't let Divya answer Natasha and began talking with Divya. It was then all of a sudden Madhav jumped into the conversation asking Divya to shut up and explaining to Natasha what it was all about.

"but then there isn't anything here other than aloo puri."

"My point you see." The way dev guffawed giving a hi fi to Natasha was a sight to see. Divya along with the rest of the group sat there contemplating what was it that was going about.

"you know you are an asshole."

"Oh I know that, you should have understood it in the very first place, why would I even pay for your food?" Divya gave a tight hit on Dev's shoulder as Madhav once again began talking to Divya and then with Natasha, Divya however ignored him and was busy talking with Dev while Natasha was talking with Madhav. For the ones who were seated on the side it was a puzzle as to what kind of pair this was and what the hell was even happening there.

Soon they all paid for their bills and walked out of the shop, Divya knew that now Madhav would try and talk to her hence she pulled Natasha along with her and began walking with Dev. Who being an ass ditched them as Madhav occupied the place beside Divya where Dev was walking.

"So how was the lassi?" Madhav asked.

"Geet Madhav wants to ask you something." Divya yelled over her shoulder. As Natasha let go off her hand and as well ditched her. Some asses my friends are. Divya thought, as She kept on walking when Madhav asked again.

"do you want to eat Kachori?'' The question made Divya glare at him. She stopped there for a moment and looked back at Geet and said, "Ohh Shit I forgot. Your sister had warned me in the morning, she told us that our sister," she pointed at Geet and continued, "Should make sure that her brother is okay, you know your wife taking care of you, wait let me call Geet." Divya turned around and called out Geets name, however before she could even say anything else, Madhav took hold of her hand and looped it in his and began walking away making Divya stumble a bit as he said, "I don't think I require anyone else to look after me, you are here... Now hold my hand and look after me."

"Are you flirting with me Mr. Khandelwal, I am quite loyal to my friend must I say." Divya commented as the two began walking laughing about with Divya's hand hooked in Madhavs, which he pulled in even closer and intertwined their fingers under his shawl. Completely ignoring the people who were walking beside them, their friends behind them who were wondering what was happening around, completely and utterly in their own world.

Divya wished for this moment to never end, she wished that this would have been something special, that he would have really meant what he said. But she knew he was just kidding, and that she shouldn't take his words seriously, but she couldn't help but find her stomach getting filled with Butterflies, her heart beating so loudly that she was scared that Madhav would hear it.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have left you all like that." Madhav said.

"That's fine, even I reacted, but then I was hungry so I am not guilty. Anyways - Ohh my God Nandu, Simran look these are such pretty Jhumkas." Divya yelled. Madhav tried to pull her but she was faster than the wind as she let go of his hand instantly missing out the warmth , but she was glad she did else she would have gone way ahead then she would have allowed herself to.

The Girls gathered around the stall with Madhav right behind Divya as she looked about the jhumkas, she picked up a few and asked Madhav if they were nice, he would time and again suggest a few good ones to her, at times he would himself put one closer to her ears to see if it looked good and the ones which didn't he would keep them back.

There was this one jhumka that had an oxidised body and three feathers at the end in red yellow and green color. Madhav fought with Dev and picked it up and kept it near Divya's ear who was as well busy looking at another jhumka and said, "this is nice."

"Divya looked at it and really liked it as well, however there was a drawback with that jhumka it would be worn only with specific outfits and since this was suggested by Madhav, she knew she would get too attached to it. She didn't want anything materialistic with her that would remind her of him. That one blanket was more than enough.

"No, I like this but it would go with only a few dresses." She then showed him a ring and asked how about this?"

"Do you want me to disown you?" Divya knew that the ring was horrible and just wanted to test Madhav, she smiled cheekily and kept the ring back in its place. The two were busy in their own world bickering and laughing and trying out earrings and rings when Dev called out to Divya.

"Divya, please help me, I am thinking I will as well take some Jhumkas for the ladies at my place." Happy and excited to help him, Divya went towards Dev to help him out. Divya would select something and Dev won't like it and the ones Dev would like Divya would make a face at it.

"I am not liking things here let's go somewhere else." Divya said as she paid for her and Nandini's earrings and the group moved out. This time It was Dev and Divya who were walking together and Divya was quite animatedly discussing how many more they had to buy.

"I guess even I need to buy a few earrings." Madhav's sudden voice made Divya jump in her place, turning around she looked at him questioningly as Dev said, "for shizi?" Madhav nodded his head as Divya felt her shoulders relaxing.

She didn't remember the whole name but Shizi was his best friend cum sister. She smiled at him and happily began helping him with the selection. It was around 8:30 when Aman yelled at everyone as they finally began walking towards the bus thinking of the various excuses that they were going to give.