Next Day

"The students are requested to assemble in the Elliston Hall", beamed a voice on the mike.All the students started moving towards the auditorium hearing the announcement.

The Dean began," So as you students might know that every year the Inter College Meet is organized in our college.I'm proud to inform you that this year too , the Inter College Meet is going to be hosted by St.Marcus College. There are various activities and championships that are going to be conducted during this meet. You'll be competing with various other renowned colleges in Mumbai. So, I want you to give your best and bring glory to our college."

The students whispered among themselves.

"Now students," the dean continued," the practices for the various competitions would be starting from today itself.Get yourself prepped for that. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir", the students chorused.

"Good. Now be off to your classes.",he adjourned.

The students went out in groups. 

Mitali: Inter College Meet, huh?

Shanu: Yup.I'm so excited.

Mitali: Because you get to bunk your classes in the name of practice?

Shanu: No yaar. I'm excited for Sahil.

Mitali: For Sahil? Why?

Shanu: This meet will give him the perfect opportunity to prove himself worthy in front of his family, especially Dean.

Mitali: Why does he wanna prove himself worthy?

Shanu: Well(sigh), everyone thinks that he is a loser. Which he is not. That's why he has to prove himself capable, you know.

Mitali: Hmm, looks like you're hopelessly drawn to the danger and excitement of the tortured and mysterious guy, you think you can save.

Shanu: I don't think I ca...

Mitali: I understand, honey. Love makes you do weird things.

Shanu: I'm not in love with him....

Mitali raised her eyebrows.

Shanu: Is it that obvious?

Mitali: Yeah.

Shanu: I'm so screwed.

Mitali: Why don't you just tell him?

Shanu: Are you insane? I'm not going to do anything of that sort.

Mitali: Why?

Shanu: You can't imagine what he's been through, Mitali. It's not the right time. I want to make him believe in himself first. That's the top priority for now.

Mitali: Hmm, that's nice of you.

Shanu: Thanks.(glancing at her watch) I need to rush now. I've got to meet him before his class starts. I'll meet you during recess.

Mitali: Alright, bye.

Shanu waved her goodbye and headed towards Sahil's class.

                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aditya yawned as the professor continued to drone about on the subject. He could see Mitali attentively listening to the professor. He had been longing to talk to her ever since yesterday's fiasco. There was something in her which appealed to him. He was busy figuring out what it was.He was curious about her.

 He figured that just sitting and drowsing in the last bench won't help. He tore a piece of paper and scribbled something  on it. He then passed it one of his friends so that he could pass it on. The boy looked at him with confused eyes. Adi signaled him to pass the chit to Mitali.He passed it on .

 The chit ultimately landed on Mitali's lap. She looked confusingly at her benchmate who was grinning like anything. She signaled towards the last bench. Mitali followed her line of sight and spotted Adi waving at her. She widened her eyes at him and turned forwards. She opened the chit. It read,

                     " MEET ME IN THE MUSIC HALL AFTER CLASS."

She looked at it confusingly. She was at a loss as to why he wanted to meet her. At first, she thought about ignoring it but then something else crossed her mind.

'Maybe he just wants to understand sarcasm.', she thought.

Thus, she decided to have mercy on him and meet him.

 Who knows? Maybe this was the beginning of something beautiful!

                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ananya had a free lecture as the professor was involved with the practice sessions. She strolled in the campus garden, all by herself,thinking about yesterday. She was in deep thought when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned and found Daksh. He blinked innocently.

Ananya: Hey.

Daksh: Um... Hi. Can we talk?

Ananya: Yeah sure.

Daksh: Can we sit?

Ananya: Yeah.

They sat on the freshly cut grass. Cold breeze touched them gently. Ananya shivered.

Daksh: You cold?

Ananya: Yeah, a little. But it's fine.

Daksh: Ok.

There was an awkward silence between them just like when they first met.

Ananya: So.... What did you wanna talk about?

Daksh: Umm....yeah...that, actually.......I don't know how to put this.....

Ananya:Daksh.....it's fine .......you can tell me anything.

Daksh looked at her with his dark earnest eyes. Ananya blinked and nodded.

Daksh: Well, ......I was at.......Janet's yesterday.

Ananya's expression changed at hearing that.

Daksh: I wasn't following you...if that's what you think.

Ananya: No...I was just...

Daksh: Umm.... And I saw you.....crying..

Ananya looked at him and then lowered her lids.

Daksh: Look.....I'm not a person who likes to intrude in someone's life. Trust me as much as I like my privacy....I respect that of others too. I don't know....but..... I couldn't sleep at all last night......thinking about this.....you know. I wasn't going to approach you about any of this.......but then I would have sulked the whole day.....thinking that maybe if I had.....I might know the reason. 

Ananya: Wow.....I really don't know what to say....

Daksh: It's fine if you don't wanna tell me... I would totally understand.

Ananya didn't respond. She kept staring at the ground. Daksh slowly got up and said,

Daksh: Just........please feel free to tell me......whenever you want. I'll be there.

Saying that, he turned around to leave when,

Ananya: He was my best friend...

Daksh turned around and looked at Ananya. She was still sitting on the ground, staring at the ground.He sat beside her.

Daksh: Who are you talking about?

Ananya: Ishaan. Ishaan Shrivastav

Daksh: Isi college mein padhta hai kya?

Ananya: Nahi. Voh kaha hai.....kya karta hai..... I have no idea.

Daksh: Par tumne to kaha ki vo best friend hai tumhara?

Ananya: Hai nahi....tha.

Daksh: Matlab?

Ananya: Hum bachpan se best friends the. Ek dusre ko khud se zyada pyaar karte the. Kab yeh friendshi pyaar mein badal gaya mujhe pata hi nahi chala. 

Daksh: To tum usse pyaar karti thi?

Ananya: Ha...bohot pyaar karti thi. Aur....voh bhi mujhse utna hi pyaar karta tha.

Daksh: Phir?

Ananya: Hamare school ka last day tha. Farewell party ke baad voh mujhe....Janet's le gaya.....I had no idea...ki voh mujhe vaha propose karna vala hai. 

Daksh: To isiliye tum kal...

Ananya: Uss couple ko dekh kar mujhe uski yaad aa gayi......

Daksh: Par hua kya? Yeh happy story sad story kaise ho gayi?

Ananya: Jab usne mujhe propose kiya, I was spellbound. Mujhe itni khushi zindagi mein kabhi mehsus hi nahi hui thi. I thought I was the luckiest girl alive.Par..

Daksh:Par?

Ananya: Par phir kuch aisa hua jisne meri zindagi ulat pulat kar rakh di....

Daksh: Kya hua?

Ananya: Voh........

As she continued, Daksh's face went pale...................

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guys, hit me up in the comments and tell me which part did you like the most in this chapter?

Also, don't forget to vote guys.

Love you loads