It Ended with a Prank

7 | Unfair Practices

"A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings.
Remember that next time
you feel alone."

~ Mandy Hale

"This doesn't make any sense!"

"It does to me", Hitali mumbled under her breath.

"Pardon me, can you come again?"

"SEN-THIL!", she heaved a long sigh, "See I'll talk to Ramesh-Vamesh or whomsoever you want and put in a word, on behalf of you for their notes cum assignments."

"Why can't I just borrow it from you? Why do you want to play a middle man's job, when you can directly deal with the customer?" Senthil flashed his smug grin, internally patting himself for the intelligent reply.

"Good job! I see you are imparting your business knowledge practically", Hitali replied wearily. "Why don't you start learning other subjects theoretically, by yourself too?"

"Why don't you just, lend me your notes without a quarrel?"

"Urgh! Talking to you is like pulling my hair out."

"You can do that after you have place your notes in my hand."

Hitali having had enough of this back and forth, tilted her head and wore a deadpan expression. "You know you are frustrated, so am I; then why do keep doing this? Why not go to a person who'll lend you the notes, without going through so much trouble. "

"No pain, no gain, you see", Senthil shrugged with a smile, while replying.

Hitali turned to her left and whisper yelled, "You said he's not a bully?!! What do you infer from all this?"

Pallavi who was silently watching as a spectator, felt her cheeks turn red and hot due to embarrassment, for putting her in a hot seat. With a tight, apologetic smile, all she did was shrug her shoulders, in response.

Rolling her eyes, Hitali turned to Senthil, "Then let me give you extra pain, so that you earn extra gain. Now strut away, go do all this pleading all over again in front of someone else. Buh-Bye, Tc!" Wriggling her fingers up in the air, she waved him goodbye. Putting an end to Senthil's plea like a boss lady, she turned on her heels to take her seat. Gently smoothening her long navy top and pulling together the waist length embroidered jacket, she sat down displaying ladylike etiquettes.

"Why do you alway carry this 'queen bee' attitude with me? I don't see you being so tough and difficult on others, then why me?"

Senthil wanted answers today and he wasn't going to let go until he got them. This had been happening alot and this unsettled business had to be ironed out, before more casualties could occur. What if everyone starts denying to lend their notes to him, then what would happen? That thought made him convulse inwardly.

"Look who's speaking of attitude, the very own guy who always carries a highty-mighty air". Scoffed Hitali while looking straight over Senthil's shoulder to avoid eye contact.

"You know I was going to use a harsher word while describing you but I settled for a mellower one." Senthil replied annoyedly, her taunts were ticking his patience, like always.
But she wasn't like this before, his inner voice reminded him immediately.

"Oh! Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and graciousness, your Highness. Do I have to bow to you courteously, like they do in front of royals?" Once again mocking him, instead of giving a straightforward answer.