Falling For You

~Chapter #25~

The next morning arises quickly. Ruhana is quite excited today. Why won't she be? Vineet has kept her favorite place in the list and the professors have also agreed for it. She's happy that she will get a chance to stroll with him. She would get a chance to talk to him and they will make memories. The professors have asked the students to meet in the hotel restaurant at 8 AM sharp.

Being the excited soul that Ruhana is, she gets ready much early. She is excited with the thought that she will be leading the students along with Vineet. After all, he has asked her to help him out. Her friends - Shubhi, Priyanka and others wake up to find her ready and they get on a teasing mode.

"Ahem! Someone is so excited!!" her friend Shubhi says teasingly.

"So early Ruhana!! I mean what's the matter?" Priyanka questions her knowing the reason though.

"Nothing, aren't you people excited to go for Mumbai darshan?" Ruhana asks, smiling at her two best friends.

"Ohh! Is that the only reason Ruhana? Or someone else?" Shubhi asks raising her eyebrows.

Ruhana smiles lightly. She knows that they will continue teasing her. They know that she is excited because Vineet has made the plan of the day and has asked her to help him. It is enough to make her happy. She snaps at them.

"Stop teasing me and get ready. I don't want to get scolded. Okay!" She says looking at the other two.

"As if he's gonna scold you!" Priyanka says while giggling.

Ruhana throws a cushion on her friend and asks her to get ready. Shubhi and Priyanka giggle but rush to get ready for the day. Even they don't want to be late and get scolded by their professors.

*****

The journey begins and the famous Ashtavinayak temple is their first stop. Though it is crowded yet the grouping has made them safe and they ashtavinayak temple. Though it was crowded, they get nice darshan at the temple. They have hired a tourist bus and so forth, they get the opportunity for sight-seeing.

Everyone is busy sightseeing. They exclaim, shout and laugh at the sights that passed by. Some people are amused to see the Queen's necklace and some are amused about the vastness of the Arabian Sea. They had a couple of destinations on their list, and it seems that they are enjoying it thoroughly. They relish the street food, for which Mumbai is quite famous. Their visit to the wax museum and a few other places has been exciting for them. Their last stop was Juhu Beach.

Juhu beach has been Ruhana's demand. The professors have decided to be at the shore sipping their soda and permit the students to do whatever they want to. The boys are enjoying running around the shore. Some girls decide to be on the shore and enjoy some chaat at the nearby shops.

Ruhana is sitting near the shore along with her friends. She is enjoying the water touching her feet. A constant smile is there on her face. She is enjoying the sunset and the crisp wind around her. She is lost in the moment that she seems to be looking for.

She is unaware of the happenings around her and comes out of her trance when her friend nudges her. She looks around and finds Priyanka and Shubhi gazing at her.

"What? Why don't you let me enjoy?" Ruhana says irritatedly.

"You enjoy and let Rhea do whatever she wants." Shubhi says.

" Rhea? why is she coming between us?" Ruhana asks irritatedly.

Priyanka points in another direction and she finds Rhea talking to Vineet. Though, the guy is not interested to talk to her. Ruhana sighs deeply. She is feeling raged suddenly. But why? She has already warned Rhea yet the girl is unaffected. Ruhana can tolerate everything but not Rhea. Why? Not because she is jealous. But because she feels that Vineet is not comfortable with Rhea around him. She has seen him trying to push her away from himself, yet the girl doesn't listen. Rhea had tried to gain his attention earlier as well but Ruhana brushed it off. But lately, she realized that Rhea is trying to be more close to him and it affected her.

She turns her face to the other side. She doesn't want to create any scene right now. Her friends surrounded her...

"What? Now why are you standing here? I am telling you, if you didn't do anything, Rhea will surely take him away...then don't cry." Priyanka warns her.

Ruhana slaps her on her arm.

"Shut up! Nothing of this sort is going to happen. Obviously, Vineet is not interested in her. Let her do all that she wants. " Ruhana replies carelessly.

"Look Ruhana,what if he's interested in her? It seems so." Priyanka says looking at Rhea and Vineet who are standing at a distance.

Ruhana looks at them. Her friends may be right, but she knows that it is his duty to help all the students, and Rhea is also a student and their trip mate. Vineet can't back off his duty. Though Ruhana feels angry and irritated by her friends' words, she composes herself.

She turns around for another time and finds Rhea asking Vineet to go with her, while Vineet denies politely. The girl is being adamant and that's when Ruhana loses her cool. Ruhana moves to them and smiles at Rhea.

"Sorry Rhea, for interrupting you two. But I need to talk to Vineet. I'm really sorry. Will you excuse us?" Ruhaan says while making a sad face.

In the process, she holds Vineet's hand and pulls him away from Rhea. They walk near the shore and as the water touches Ruhana's feet, she begins to smile again.

"What were you saying? Why did you seem so angry? " he asks, breaking the silence.

Ruhana doesn't reply to him, but he knows that he's annoyed with Rhea and her ways. She had warned her earlier, but the girl didn't pay any heed to her warnings.

" I know you don't like Rhea!" He says softly.

"Yeah! Then why don't you reply to her? Why do you let her do what she wants to?" Ruhana yells at her best friend.

" She won't do anything. She's scared of you!" Vineet says softly.

" I don't think so. But you don't talk to her, did you get it?" Ruhana glares at him.

Meanwhile, before Vineet can say anything, the professors call for them. It's time to go back to the hotel. A long day has come to an end. And so has their conversation.

To Be Continued.