Chapter : 25

Ananya's POV

I speed-walked into the auditorium while the lazy creature followed me silently. Rishav and I entered the packed auditorium. The lights were dimmed already and everyone had their eyes fixed on the stage where a man in a deep blue suit was speaking.

"Great, where will we sit now?" I whispered to Rishav. There were no vacant seats in my view.

"I can see one seat over there. You go and get that," Rishav said as he pointed at one amid the rows ahead.

"And what about you?" I asked.

"I'll manage. You wanna participate in this way more than I do, trust me. Just go," he spoke and strolled away, looking for any other vacant seat.

Wow. Did this just really happen? Who was this new version of Rishav Neil that I heard right now?  Maybe he was tired of being a rude thing and wanted to give me some peace.

Shrugging my thoughts away, I walked over to the seat. I glanced at the guy beside that vacant seat. His face was turned away from me as he was taking notes. I tapped his shoulder.

"Um... Excuse me, is this seat vacant?" I asked.

My eyes turned still when I saw who it was. I could have never forgot this moron.

"Raghav!" I squealed while many eyes turned their attention to me.

"Shhh... Get it down a notch if you can," he whispered urgently, peering at the people around us.

I mouthed a 'sorry' to the people and turned back to him. He hadn't changed much. His eyes were the exact hue of gray that I remembered. We were best friends since elementary but I lost complete connection with him once I flew to Visag. Diya, Raghav and I were the perfect trio as kids. I don't even know if Di knows that Raghav is also here.

IIT proved to be a reunion for me.

"So is this seat free?" I repeated in an excited tone.

"Yeah," He calmly nodded.

I flopped down on the seat.

"So how's everything? We have not been in touch since so long!" I whispered to him.

He frowned at me, his brows knitting with confusion. "I'm sorry but do I know you? I mean I can't recall who you are, don't mind," he said.

My smile faltered as I processed those words. Did this bastard just forget me while I liked every post he shared on Facebook in the past 8 years?

"I got you, Any," Raghav interrupted my chaotic thoughts and broke into a smile.

"You're such a-" I was saying with a broad smile.

"Pig? I know." He completed for me. We both laughed silently. I had missed my best friend so much.

"Let's listen to the anchor now. Else we'll end up getting some dirty looks around here," he said.

Nodding, I turned my attention to the anchor who was welcoming the opening speaker of the day.

Mr. Uday Kumar walked up to the dias and picked the mic. He then scanned his audience with a pleasant smile.

"Welcome to the Indian Institute of Technology of Delhi, I hope you all had a smooth ride to our campus. I am Uday Kumar, Head of the Design Organization of the Institute. I know many of you aspire to be future designers-" He went on.

***

Rishav's POV

Giving up on the idea of finding a vacant seat, I settled down on the carpeted floor at the back of the auditorium. Nobody could see me anyway. I guess it wasn't a good idea of turning up late at the event after all. But it was worth making Ananya go mad at me.

I smiled as her angry face and flaring nostrils flashed through my head. Wait... was this the creepy smile that Kabir was talking about? But it's just a smile. Right?

"Hey, man," Kabir's voice reached me.

I glanced up to find his tall frame walking towards me silently while the speaker was busy interacting with the audience.

"Hey," I said.

Kabir settled down beside me.

"So, you too failed in finding a seat?" I guessed.

"Nah, I did, a pretty good one with a gorgeous girl to my right," he said as he settled his spectacles over the bridge of his nose.

"Oh really? What made you leave that heaven for this hell?" I asked, smirking.

"I realized I already have the most gorgeous girl sitting at the back of the auditorium. So I dropped that seat for another girl. And now, I have her number." Kabir said as he waved a piece of paper to me with a sly smile.

"Firstly, you get your eyesight checked up cause I ain't a girl. Secondly, how come you sure that it's her real number?" I asked with a smirk.

Kabir lost his smile. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed that number.

I laughed silently as the call immediately turned out to be on a non-existent number.

"Oh shut up." Kabir scowled.