Chapter 17 : What a Mess

Anu went to her house that evening. Tani brought her home. Tani informed her mother about the incident with Anu and made her mother promise not to say anything to Anu's mother in haste.

Tani's mother was very sad and afraid to hear about the incident. But Tani explained to her mother that she is always by Anu's side.

Anu's Room :

After Tani left, Anu went to her room. She freshened up and sat down at her study table with reading books. She is sitting down to study, but keeps remembering the incident in college. She raised her head from the book in discomfort of thoughts. Anu tried to calm her mind by closing her eyes for a while, but she couldn't. There was a shadow of anxiety in her mind and heart. She doesn't understand why she was so angry with the new girl? As if she doesn't want to see Riddhi near Tani!

"But why am I feeling like that? She is new to college, naturally she will make new friends. But why can't my heart accept it, when it comes to Tani? Am I really confused about my relationship with Tani? My love for her has increased more than before. Why would it be like this? She is very close to me from childhood, and that day a thought came to my mind, which had never occurred before. Is it love? Is it the warmth of love that makes me addicted to Tani? Is her caring, loving behavior making me think these things, or in the deep inside of my heart, somewhere that love was hidden for her, which I did not understand until now! Am I really in love with her? Will she accept me after knowing the truth?", She wrote these thoughts in her diary.

--××--

Next day Tani and Anu went to college together. Seeing Riddhi from a distance, Anu started to walk a little closer to Tani. Riddhi came forward with a smile after seeing them.

Tani said Riddhi with a smile, "Hey.. What's up?"

Anu was trying to be normal, not to react negatively.

Riddhi said, "Just arrived few minutes ago... Let's go..."

Tani nodded with a smile and moved forward. Anu walked a little faster to catch up with Tani.

Tani continues to discuss studies with Riddhi, on the way to class. Riddhi suddenly stumbled and almost fell because she did not notice the high and low places on the way. At that time, Tani holds Riddhi's hand and saves her from falling. Riddhi pulled herself together and said to Tani, "Ugh.. you saved me, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to class today, I would have been lying in the hospital bed."

Tani said jokingly, "Hey, it would have been horrible if it had happened now. I would have had to carry you in my arms and take you to the hospital. Ahh, my hands would have hurt.. Haha.. By the way are you alright na?"

Anu was right behind them and started shaking with anger seeing all the incidents. Tears suddenly came to the corner of her eyes after when she heard Tani's words. She knew that Tani was joking, but still she felt hurt. However, she suppressed her anger. She didn't understand the reason for such a feeling but somewhere deep in her heart she wanted to shout, "Tani, when you associate so much with someone else, it hurts me! Don't you understand my feelings and heart now?"

Meanwhile when Tani looked back and saw that Anu was standing stiff. Tani called a couple of times but she didn't response. As she walked up to Anu and put her hand on her shoulder, she startled and lowered her head. Anu started wiping her eyes secretly.

"What happened? Why are you standing here silently? I was calling you!", asked Tani.

"No nothing. Is she alright?", Anu said looking at Riddhi.

"Yes, she is fine. The super woman saved her (giggling). But why are you like this?", Tani asked in a serious voice.

"Nothing, let's go to the class.", Anu said and ignored Tani and walked towards class without talking to her.

Hmm Anu really loves her. A little joke has become a serious matter for her. Yes, it seems, this is love! The pure one.

--××--

Almost 3 months have passed since that day. We are now a little further into the story. Tani and Anu's life has changed in these few months. They will now give the final exam of 1st year. The hesitation that was working in Anu's heart has almost disappeared.

In these few months, Anu realizes that her attraction to Tani is not a coincidence but that she really loves Tani. On the other hand, Tani's friendship has grown quite well with Riddhi. They were study together sometimes. Both of them also visit to each other's houses. Anu is a bit upset about this. She didn't like Tani's association with Riddhi, so she avoided Riddhi a bit. Anu used to smile when Riddhi was with them so that Tani didn't feel bad. She has become more caring than before for Tani.

A few days before the exam, Anu, Sayani, Riddhi, Rishita all go to Tani's house for group study. Along with studies, laughter was also going on. Which is very normal. Everyone gets busy with a little snack break. Some are scrolling the mobile, while others are talking among themselves.

Anu was standing on the balcony talking to Sayani. When Anu glanced at Riddhi, she notices that Riddhi is trying to get a little closer to Tani; wanting to be intimate with her, but she was keeping herself away from it. Seeing that, Anu got angry, without thinking about anything else she entered the room and shouted, "What is going on here?"

Riddhi and Tani were startled hearing such a sudden shout. Tani was looking at Anu with wide eyes and Riddhi was watching with furrowed brows. Sayani and Rishita were also shocked and trying to understand what just happened suddenly.

Tani quickly got up from the carpet and asked Anu, "What happened Anu? Why are you shouting?" Tani held Anu's hand but Anu took it away forcefully.

"You are a shameless girl. What were you doing that with her? You thought no one was watching! Let's be a little immodest at this point! And you Tani! How did you allow her to do this? What was she doing with you in front of everyone?", Anu continued to speak angrily without any pause.

Tani understood and said, "Anu calm down. Listen to me, nothing happened here. You are thinking wrong."

"What was she doing with you in front of everyone? Still you are silent?! And you are convincing me that nothing happened! You are indulging her shamelessness without saying anything!", Anu said in grief of sorrow.

"Anu.. listen to...", Tani was saying something to her.

Stopping Tani in the middle of her speech, Anu said, "Stop it. I understand everything. This girl has been flirting with you since day one. And you are enjoying these things too, aren't you!"

"Me. What? Anu..", Tani didn't know what to say hearing Anu's words.

Anu said in a choked voice, "I am done with this.", and hurriedly left the room with her bag.

The sound of the door being slammed shut echoed in everyone's ears. And the silence took place in the room.

"What a mess!", said Rishita to herself with an heavy heart.