*Priya Pov*
I rubbed my forehead hoping that the work will get finished soon. Why can’t my headache choose some other time to enter my life? I thought rubbing my forehead more.
“Are you busy?” I heard and turned to see Bharghav walking towards me.
I looked around catching the stares of the few lecturers and smiled at them. I continued doing my work and said “Yes!”
“Great!” He said sitting beside me.
“I am busy!” I said showing him the papers.
“Don’t mind me! Please continue.” He said and I shook my head which made me rub my forehead immediately.
“So did you asked for leave?” He asked.
“Like I said I am busy so I can’t talk right now.” I replied not even glancing at him.
“Ok!” He said and I sighed.
“Did Sir give you permission?” He asked after few minutes of silence.
“I am busy for god’s sake.” I replied glaring at the papers.
“Yeah, yeah! Please continue.” He said and I didn’t even try to look at him.
After few minutes I heard him saying “So…”
“I asked him and I will get to know whether I got the leave or not today.” I said so that he will stop asking me.
“That’s great! So you will be coming with me right?” He asked and I groaned.
“I need to finish this work and to top of that I have this massive headache. But why are you trying this much to make this worse.” I said placing my head on the table turning opposite side.
Then I felt his hand on my forehead making me frown. I turned towards him and asked “What?”
“You have fever.” He said frowning.
“No! I have headache.” I said and tried to remove his hand.
“Let me help you.” He offered.
“It’s ok!” I said and continued my work and this time he sat calmly.
I sighed in relief when the work got completed and got up to place them in the locker. I walked back towards my chair to pick up my bag and saw him feeling uneasy.
“Wow! I never saw Mr.Bharghav so impatient.” I said smiling.
“Well I am! Now will you tell me whether we are going together or not?” He asked.
I was about to lie but just said “Yes!”
“That’s great!” he said using that word again getting up.
“I don’t know anyone there except her and you. So it is better to go with you right.” I said and immediately his smile fell.
“I was joking.” I said and walked outside the staffroom.
“Do you want some coffee for that headache?” He asked and I turned back.
“I guess!” I said and we both walked towards the café.
When we both sat down and didn’t even utter a single word, our first café experience entered my mind.
“What are you thinking?” he suddenly asked bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Nothing!” I replied shaking my head.
We had our coffee and walked back to our classes…..
*Akhila Pov*
“Excuse me?” I heard and looked up to see already knowing who is it.
“Yes!” I said and he just scratched his head.
“I can’t understand this part in the notes.” He said showing me my book.
“I will get you someone else book who writes neatly.” I said and turned to see everyone staring at us.
I rolled my eyes and started searching who would write good. Then I felt him touching my hand and I jerked back.
“I don’t want anyone’s but just tell me this point.” He said and I nodded at him.
“You can sit here Khushal.” Rani said getting up and I glared at her.
He sat beside me and I started telling him what I actually wrote. He just started writing what I am saying calmly in his book.
“Thanks!” he said getting up taking my notes.
“Sir is already here. So why don’t you stay here for this class.” Rani said and he nodded settling there.
I looked at Rani and asked “What are you doing?”
“Me? Nothing.” She replied and I shook my head.
During the class I felt him holding my hand making me throw myself into the memories where we used to hold our hands during each class.
That was used to be my best part in the college. But now his touch is making me want to pull my hand away and that’s what I did.
“Can we meet today?” he asked in whisper.
“No!” I replied with blank tone.
“Please! I need to talk to you.” He said holding my hand again making me close my eyes.
“No!” I replied again.
“Why?” He asked pulling my hand so that he can see my face now clearly.
Thank god that the bell rang and Sir left the class. Everyone started walking out but not before glancing at us.
I stared at his eyes and he stared back. We both just sat there until I took a breath and asked “Why should I?”
“You know the answer.” He said and I shook my head getting up.
“Will you please move?” I said and he didn’t making me again get thrown into the memories.
“We really need to talk.” He said and I just shook my head trying to pass me like last time.
But he suddenly hugged me before I can pass to other side. I pushed him trying to release myself from his hold.
“Please! Just for once we need to talk.” He said.
“Why? Are you my best friend? No! Are you my boyfriend? No! Then why should I meet you?” I asked him and he suddenly released me looking at me in shock.
“Like I thought.” I mumbled and left the class not glancing back.
*Ritika Pov*
“Hey! You called me?” I asked walking towards his group.
“Yes! Someone really miss you here.” He replied smiling and I just looked at four other people.
“You don’t talk to me Sid. She was staring at you and I saw that.” Shilpa said folding her hands.
“You know she is my past right. I like you and only you.” Sid said pleading her.
“At that time you must have liked her just how you like me now right.” She said shaking her head.
“I… how can I make you understand?” he asked to himself.
“Shilpa! He may or may not like that girl like he does you but I am sure he never tried almost for a year to make someone like him back. And he did that for you.” I said looking at her.
“I am sorry!” she suddenly said.
“It’s ok babe!” Sid said smiling at her.
“I am apologizing to her idiot.” She said looking at me.
“Past is past right.” I said and she nodded.
“So want to go for a movie?” Rahim asked looking at me.
“No chick flick.” I said shaking my head.
“Now I understand why Kalyan chose an action thriller for today.” Ram said smiling and everyone followed him.
“Guys! We are getting late.” He said and they all laughed at him uneasiness.
“I need to go and inform them.” I said and turned to walk but felt him placing his hand on my shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I asked him surprised as few people turned to look at us.
“Nothing!” he replied and we both walked towards Priya Di’s car.
“Is she ok?” I asked Di when I saw Akhila Di already sitting inside placing her head on the window with eyes closed.
“I don’t know! I tried to ask her but she is not saying anything.” Di said sighing.
“We are going to a movie with his friends.” Surprising this is not me that said that.
I turned to see Kri and Sanjay standing behind us. Di nodded and asked her to return soon.
“We are also going for a movie.” I said and Di sighed.
“What is with these people? Going for movies and all.” Di said shaking her head and Kalyan frowned at her.
“Actually I am also going for a movie as today is weekend.” Di added.
“But Akhila Di…” I said glancing at her and she is still sitting there with closed eyes.
“I asked her to come with us so that she gets to know him more than you both but she said she just want to go home and sleep.” Di said and I nodded at her.
“I will be at your house after few minutes.” Bharghav Sir suddenly said walking towards us and walked away when Di nodded.
“Someone got a date!” Kritika teased her.
“Yeah! I can totally see that someone.” Di said back.
“Maybe I can cancel my plan.” I said looking at Akhila Di.
“No! I will cancel it.” Kri said.
“You both go and enjoy. I will cancel it.” Di said.
“Will you three just stop behaving like I am some weak person or something? I am fine and all I need is to go home. So no one is cancelling any plan.” Akhila Di said not looking at us.
“Di! Will you drop me or shall I go there on my own?” She asked looking at Priya Di.
“Ok, ok!” Priya Di said waving at us and got inside the car.
“Shall we go?” Kalyan asked and I nodded at him.
“Top seats?” I asked him smiling when we reached the theatre.
“As usual!” he replied and we both sat.
We both enjoyed the movie and he decided to drop me back. When I got down from his bike, I just stood there near him.
“Am I weak?” I asked him and he looked at me confused.
“What? What are you saying?” he asked frowning.
“I am with you immediately when I got to know that you are sorry for what you did and also because you really like me. But why is Akhila Di hurting herself like that when we all can see she loves him so much?” I asked him.
“I don’t know Ri! But what I know is I am seeing the same behavior in Khushal too.” Kalyan replied.
“You mean he too loves her?” I asked frowning.
“I think so! He never told us but I think he does.” He replied.
“Ok! I will meet you on Monday.” I said smiling.
“What about tomorrow?” he asked frowning.
“I want to spend it with my sisters.” I replied and he nodded sighing.
“Until then don’t miss me.” I added placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Oh I will definitely miss you.” He said smiling and drove off.
I shook my head and was about to walk inside when I saw Bharghav Sir’s car stopping before me.
Priya Di got outside and I smiled at her. I glanced at Sir and just nodded at him.
“How are you Ritika?” He asked looking at me.
“I am fine!” I replied normally and Di and I walked inside.
*Kritika Pov*
“You got really good at Maths.” Sanjay said looking at my marks.
“Well I had a great tutor last year and great lecturer this year.” I said smiling at him.
“Thank you!” he said sitting beside me.
“Go to your place.” I said looking at few people glancing at us.
“No!” he said shaking his head.
“I hate you!” I mumbled and moved away from him.
“Kritika! Don’t push me.” Ria said pushing me back towards Sanjay.
“There was so much place between us.” I said looking at her in shock.
“Your imaginary friend is sitting in this place.” She said smiling.
“My imaginary friend?” I asked her shocked.
“Hi Kritika’s friend.” Sanjay said shaking some imaginary hand I guess.
“Guys stop it!” I said frowning.
“So want to go for a movie?” he suddenly asked.
“With my friends!” he added.
“I.. don’t know.” I said looking straight at the lecturer.
“Please!” he pleaded and I finally nodded at him.
When we reached the theatre after informing Di about it, I saw that even Kiran is there with his other friends.
“What is he doing here?” I asked him frowning.
“He is my friend along with yours.” He replied when we both started walking towards them.
“Hi!” I said smiling at his friends.
“Hey! I am sorry by the way.” Harsha said and I nodded at him.
“I am also sorry.” Kiran said and I nodded at him too.
“Let’s go!” Sanjay said and we all walked inside.
“So what are you thinking?” Sanjay asked suddenly between the movie.
“About Di!” I replied honestly.
“She will be fine.” Sanjay assured holding my hand.
When he dropped me, I turned towards him and confessed “I actually feel guilty about Di’s situation.”
“Why?” He asked confused.
“I was the one who continuously told her that Khushal is a nice guy and all. Maybe if I had not then….. I actually don’t even know what I am saying. I am actually angry on myself for trusting him.” I replied and he hugged me immediately.
“Don’t think like that. I am still angry on myself for behaving like that with you.” He said and I shook my head.
“No! We all did mistakes because we took you all for granted. Maybe they will be fine together or individually. She has such an amazing sister right.” He added releasing me.
“I am not!” I said smiling at him.
“You are!” he said and I kissed him on his cheek.
“Meet you in few hours.” I said and he nodded smiling.
I walked inside to see Di and Ri standing near the door. I looked at them in confusion and then looked where they are looking to see the table arranged so beautifully with lots of dishes.
“What is all this Akhila?” Priya Di asked her.
“Did you guys forget?” She asked looking at us.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“Tomorrow is Mom and Dad’s anniversary.” Akhila Di replied.
“Oh shut!” We three said at a time.
“You should have told us.” Priya Di said.
“I thought you all remembered. Anyway there are still two hours. Go and freshen up. I will be done with this.” Akhila Di said smiling at us.
“You did all this alone Di. I am feeling guilty.” Ri said and I nodded.
“Don’t! This is not lot of work. Now guys move. I will video call them correctly at 12.” She said and we all rushed to get ready.
Actually for every anniversary we all get ready you know pretty ourselves and have a grand dinner with our parents.
Last year we didn’t as they were out of country. But we wished them but this time timings will match so that we can celebrate together.
“Ready!” I said and walked towards the table.
“Wow! All are their favorites.” I said looking at the dishes.
“Mom will just say ‘I wish I am there’.” Ri said imitating Mom’s voice.
“That is for sure.” Akhila Di said smiling.
We three smiled at her back and she called them. And like we thought Mom said that dialogue atleast ten times.
After sometime clearing it, we all walked inside our own rooms. I looked at Sanjay’s room to see that he is already sleeping. Looks like he got my message.
But when I was about to switch off the light, he switched on the light in his room and waved at me.
“You are still awake?” I asked him shocked.
“Good night Kritika.” He replied smiling along with yawning.
“Good night!” I said smiling and we both drifted off into sleep switching off the lights in our own rooms.