Chapter : 16

Ananya's POV

"Ananya! What's taking you so long? Come on now," Ravi's muffled voice reached me.

"Just a minute, Ravi," I responded back as I threw one last glance at the notebook.

I smiled with satisfaction. The summary came out pretty well and I couldn't wait to push this work onto Rishav's hands. I'm sure he would be thankful and happy.

"Ananya?" Ravi called again, this time louder.

I shoved the notebook inside my bag and dashed down the stairs and beamed a wide smile at Ravi to tell him to forgive me for being late. He shook his head as if to say 'never mind,'  and strolled out of the house with me following behind.

"Can I drive? Please!" I pouted.

"Nope. Too many crazy drivers on the Delhi roads. It's not your hi-fi Vizag," Ravi spoke dismissively as he put on the helmet, even my pout failed in making a difference.

Scowling, I watched him as he kick started the Royal Enfield and waited for me to get on. Sighing I got on the bike. One day, Ravi. One day I'll be the one steering this and you'll be at the back. 

***

As we entered the school, Ravi joined the guys in the corner of the  class. Since there were about twenty minutes for classes to begin, half of the students were still roaming the corridors. I spotted Rishav sitting all alone at that corner last bench, busy writing something on some notebook. Seemed like Rishav was lost in his own world and didn't care of what was going on around him.

Nevertheless, I opened my bag and fished out the notebook as I made my way towards the last bench. I flopped down on the seat beside Rishav but he didn't acknowledge my presence.

"Hi," I greeted with a smile.

"Hmm." He hummed, not even caring to avert his eyes from the notebook.

I peeked into the copy and realized that he was busy writing the summary of the same poem. I guessed he had concluded that he lost the notebook and was now redoing everything.

"I believe this belongs to you," I sang and pushed the notebook towards him.

For a moment Rishav frowned and kept gazing at the notebook cover. He picked it up and flipped through the pages and read the content I had prepared. All this while I kept my eyes locked on his face to decipher any emotions of gratitude of a small smile but his face was just a blank canvas.

Was he happy? I couldn't tell.

He finally snapped the book close and put it back on the table as he resumed to writing onto the copy. I frowned at his actions perplexedly.

"No, I think you have mistaken. It's not mine," Rishav said in a flat voice, his eyes trained on the copy.

"You don't have to write another summary, Rishav. I've done it for you already." I shrugged.

He shut the copy and turned his body towards me. His jaw was clenched and his eyes had a variety of emotions but I failed to find any trace of happiness. His actions were confusing me.

"And what should I say? 'Thanks a lot for the favor, Ananya'? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you," Rishav snapped in a sharp voice.

"But-" I was saying.

"What did you think? That I don't have anyone to whom I could have asked to do this favor to me? I do, Ananya. But just this once I wanted to do this on my own but alas! You, of all people had to make a leap and act like you care," Rishav fumed, his voice rising by the minute.

Our eyes locked as he stopped his rant. Of all possible reactions, this was the most unexpected I got from him. I was definitely hurt by his words. But I masked my emotions with a small smile and looked away. Rishav frowned at my reaction and turned back to his copy.

"I shouldn't have said that," Rishav mumbled in a low voice, his brows knitting with remorse.

"Well, you already did," I said, my voice broke at the end.

I won't cry.

I won't cry.

I won't cry.

Rishav might have heard me and averted his eyes onto me as he gulped once, out of words.

I got out of the seat and headed out of the class. I just needed some fresh air and some time away from him to calm down. I decided to skip the first period and to go to the canteen and spend the hour with a novel and some coffee.

I rummaged through my bag, fishing out for my novel as I walked towards the canteen. When I felt the thick cover of the book onto my fingertips, I pulled it out but at the same moment, I walked into someone and the unexpected impact made me stagger back. I raised my eyes to find a trio of girls looking at me. The girl whom I had walked into was a blonde with tanned skin and beautiful gray eyes.

"Watch where you're going. You just ruined my day," The blonde spat, her gaze turning icy cold. I'm definite that she's used hair-dye. Otherwise a natural blonde in a Delhi school? Pfft! 

I rolled my eyes and mumbled a sorry as I walked past her. One of the girls whispered to the others that I was Ravi's sister and Rishav's new girl. I halted on my tracks and turned to look at those girls.

Ravi's sister was the right info but Rishav's new girl? Wtf?

"Stop the gossips. Life will seem more colorful to you, girls," I say and turn around to walk my way into the canteen, not waiting to see their faces.