*Kritika Pov*
“Kritika. He will not disappear into thin air so you can rest your eyes for few minutes.” Hearing these words from my friend made me look away from him and directly at the teasing face.
“Don’t tease me Latika.” I said frowning.
“I am just stating the fact. Or do you really think that he will disappear?” She asked teasingly.
“You should come and look inside our class in the middle of the lecture Latika. Her eyes don’t go anywhere else except towards him.” Ria said shaking her head.
“Look! I know he is your crush but concentrate on your classes too. Trust me he is not worth to waste your studies.” Latika said in concerned tone.
“I am not ignoring my studies.” I said defending myself.
“What about Mathematics?” Ria asked and my defense immediately fell making me groan.
They both laughed high fiving each other. I am not perfect but ok with all the subjects except that stupid maths.
“Don’t worry Kritika! You will do fine.” Latika said and Ria nodded.
I smiled at them and started talking about how I spent my weekend. I didn’t do much except spending it with Ri and Di. And in the middle I just kind of looked at him.
I am starting to feel myself as some stalker or something. I still didn’t tell both of them that he is my neighbor too because they may think really bad of me.
But after one month of this close friendship I don’t think I can hide it anymore. So I closed my eyes and said “He is my neighbor!”
I didn’t get any sound from anyone of them. So I opened one eye and saw that they both are looking at me with wide eyes. Then I opened another one and scratched my head awkwardly.
God! Please don’t let them leave me. I prayed looking at the ceiling and frowned. I don’t want to lose them.
Then I heard both of them laughing. I looked little down and saw that they both are laughing clutching their stomachs. I frowned at them because I don’t even know what they are thinking.
“Why are you guys laughing?” I asked them still frowning.
“You… you said it.. like you have done…. Some crime.” Ria said in between her laughs.
“I.. have better one. She said it like… she is telling us that she is lesbian or… that she is like suffering from some disease.” Latika said and they both broke into another fit of laughing.
“I hate you guys!” I said getting and started to walk towards Ri’s table which is filled with lot I mean lot of people.
They both immediately came and held both of my hands stopping me. “We are sorry!” they both said at a time.
I smiled and turned towards them saying “You both are forgiven.”
“That’s so sweet of you.” Latika said dramatically.
“I can still go away and sit with Ri.” I said threatening them.
“Latika! Did you too hear what I just heard?” Ria said gasping.
“Yeah! She just blackmailed us. Our Kritika has grown up. And it’s time for celebration.” Latika said and I glared at her.
“Don’t get upset! Latika brought your favorite chocolate today.” Ria said dragging me towards our table.
It is not in our name but after sitting at the same one for past one month kind of makes it ours. I gasped and said “When Latika did became so thoughtful?”
“Like we said you have grown up.” Latika said and gave me the chocolate she brought.
“So he is your neighbor and you didn’t tell us until now.” Latika stated.
“Yeah! I thought you guys will think bad of me.” I said keeping my hands busy in opening the chocolate.
“Nonsense! Never think like that ok.” Ria said softly and I nodded at her.
“Don’t get too attached to him Kritika. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Latika said worriedly.
“Latika! He is just my crush. I don’t even know him but it just happened. And I am not even looking forward in getting to know him.” I said smiling.
“What? Then why are wasting this much time on him?” Ria asked shocked.
“To get some good dreams with some face on my prince charming which changes everytime I get a crush and I am not wasting my time. I am just wasting Maths period.” I replied pointing it out.
“Your crush is pro in Maths actually.” Latika said teasingly when lunch was over and we were getting up.
“You.Are.Dead.” I shouted and she immediately ran outside the canteen.
I ran behind her but lost her after few minutes. I shook my head and went back to bring my bag which I forgot at the canteen itself.
I went inside to see most of the place is kind of empty. I took my bag along with Ria’s which she forgot to run along with Latika and started walking towards the door but got collided by someone from the side making me slip a little but I held onto the wall to not fall.
I turned around to scold the person but my eyes went wide when I saw who that person is. I literally stopped breathing.
“What? Are you not going to say sorry?” Sanjay asked grinning and heard few laughs so I moved to see his friends are there behind him.
I didn’t say anything but just looked at him. He smiled again and said “Say sorry! S-O-R-R-Y.”
“Ok!” I said not moving even a little bit and they all looked at me in shock.
But Sanjay immediately composed himself and started walking towards me and closed the even little gap between us but there is a little. My breath hitched but I didn’t make any sound.
“So my dear neighbor can’t talk anything when it is with me.” He said smirking making me confused.
“But can talk so much in the class.” He added clearing my confusion.
“Why do you think she can’t talk infront of you?” One of his friends who is a girl asked smiling.
Hearing the question he grinned and placed his finger infront of my both eyes one after the other. He continued doing this and said “Because Ms.Neighbor has a crush on me.”
My eyes went even wider with his statement. How does he know? I thought and got terrified.
“It’s ok! Your secret is safe with us.” He whispered and they all laughed along with him.
At that moment something happened which I didn’t even understood. But when he saw that I am not saying anything he moved back winking at me and then left the canteen with his friends who are still laughing.
I walked outside after few minutes and saw Latika and Ria walking toward here. They saw me and walked towards me and I gave Ria her bag before she asked.
“What happened Kritika?” Latika asked frowning looking at my expression.
“You are right! He is a Jerk.” That’s all I replied and they both gave me side hugs. Then we left for our classes.
*Ritika Pov*
“So Ritika…” I heard Sid trialing when I started walking outside the class and he is just following me which he is doing for past one week.
“Yes?” I asked him raising an eyebrow and then looked at his half gang. I looked at kalyan to see that he is not even looking at me.
“Do you have any boyfriend?” He asked with a charming smile.
“Why? Did you find someone for me?” I asked giving him a sweet smile.
“Yeah! And he is really handsome guy with hero qualities.” He replied with triumph look.
I looked at him then at every person in the corridor. Then placed my hand as a shield above my eyes and started searching like I can see something far away.
“Sorry! I can’t find him here. Looks like you didn’t brought him with you but let me know when you do.” I said patting his shoulder and started walking away.
“Ms.Prude!” this comment made me stop in my tracks.
I turned around with a glare and the whole group pointed out towards Kalyan. He shrugged and looked around like I am not sending some glare his way.
“What did you…” my question got cut off when some girl came near us and shouted “Kalyan!”
“What?” he asked with annoyed tone.
“Kalyan! Please just..” She started saying but stopped herself and cried.
“It will not change Jamuna.” He said rolling his eyes and looked at him with wide eyes.
“My name is Yamuna!” she spat at him.
“I don’t care what your name is. Just leave me alone.” He said groaning.
“But.. it’s my heart and it.. hurts.” She said with breaking voice.
“You know that this will happen when you start dating with one of us. So stop all this and go away because already more than half year passed.” He said shaking his head.
“You all are heartless.” She spat with venom and went away.
After that they all looked at me but I just looked at kalyan. I shook my head and walked away ignoring all their calls.
I sat at the table where I have been sitting with Anita and few classmates. I frowned thinking how he talked with her.
Is this how they break their hearts? I thought and immediately felt uneasy thinking like that.
“So? How is your day Ritika?” I heard someone asking me.
I got startled by the voice and looked up to see few girls are already sitting at the table. I looked at the girl who asked me and said “Do I know you?”
“You don’t? We are classmates and sit in the bench beside yours.” She replied frowning but not at all angry at me.
“Oh! I am sorry I didn’t observed you.” I apologized.
“It’s ok! My name is Khushi.” She said smiling.
“You already know my name so I don’t need to say it I guess.” I said and she smiled at me.
“Is Anita not feeling well? She didn’t come today.” Khushi asked.
“She just got some cold so didn’t attend the college today.” I replied having my lunch.
All the remaining girls talked to themselves. Khushi and I made small conversations here and there.
“You must be missing your friend.” She said.
“Yeah! So how was your day?” I asked her smiling.
In this short amount of time she became good friend surprising me but when I looked at the gang that entered the canteen I couldn’t help but immediately look away.
Anita if you are here I would have said ‘You are right! They are worse players’.
I sighed and continued my conversation with Khushi until the lunch break and even after that. I am happy that I got another friend along with Anita.