Intersecting Paths

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE



VARUN



There was distinctive chatter that surrounded the cafeteria of the campus. Varun pierced his fork into an olive that was in his pasta salad. His insides were still cold from the memory that he had of Shefali.

Shefali was Varun's first serious girlfriend. They had met when he went to visit his cousin in Agra. At first, they only flirted with each other but as they started hanging out, they both started liking each other. Varun remembers how Shefali confessed her feelings to him. He really got excited by the proposal because she was the type of girl that made Varun feel good about himself - or at least that's what he thought at the time.

They hung out for the rest of his stay in Agra for they had been too absorbed in their relationship. On the day of his departure, Shefali was clearly upset whereas Varun had a bittersweet feeling in him. This was because he was gonna reunite with Alia for her birthday. He remember Shefali smiling at him with moist eyes.

"I'm gonna visit you soon! Promise."

The determination in Shefali's voice made Varun shiver a little. He remembers kissing her on the forehead and saying his final goodbye to her before he went to board his flight. But Varun was a little startled when Shefali grabbed him by the hood of his sweater, causing him to face her. That's when she had kissed him for the first time.

Varun felt a pang of pity hit him. It was the same pity he felt when he kissed her that day of his departure. He never understood why he had always felt that way whenever he thought about the kiss. Varun stabbed his fork into a macaroni, chewing it slowly as he took the time to remember the last time he saw and spoke to her.

He walked around the banquet hall where the mehndi was being hosted. The stage where the bride and groom was going to be seated was decorated with a light, shimmery champagne color fabrics and decorated with many marigolds and yellow flowers. Varun raised his brows and chuckled with amusement. He wondered how Alia could reach that high up to assemble them.

Varun took the time to greet as many aunties and uncles he was familiar with. Some of them pinched his cheeks, some slapped his back and some gave sloppy kisses. It was the wedding environment that made him not mind it. There was happiness and and joy surrounding him and he was glad to witness it. Varun leaned against the pillar that was at the entry of the hall as he watched a group of girls and boys dancing to a mix of Bollywood songs. He felt something tug on his shirt. Behind him was a little girl dressed in a gold shalwar kameez. She pointed towards the exit.

"Didi is calling you." Varun looked towards the direction she had been pointing at before giving the little girl a warm smile.

"Thank you beta." He pat her check and watched her run off towards another small group of girls. Varun fixed his hair unconsciously. He wondered what Alia was calling him for. A small breeze of cold wind hit his skin as soon as he pushed the door open.

"What's up Alia?" he asked before making any eye contact with her. But it turned out that it wasn't Alia at all. Standing before him was a teary eyed Shefali. Varun frowned with immediate concern. "Arrey! Shefali what's wrong?"

"Don't ask!" she snapped at him, making him flinch. Varun was confused. He didn't know what was making her so upset and he was genuinely concerned for her. Before Varun could make another attempt to comfort her, she spoke. "I can't believe how stupid I am to actually think that you love me..." her voice was almost a whisper. Varun's jaw dropped.

"Shefali what are you-"

"Varun please don't start bullshitting!" Shefali's raised her voice on him. "I see the way you look at her." Varun scoffed with confusion and frustration.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Alia!" her voice cracked on the last syllable of his best friend's name. He rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. What was Shefali talking about?

"Woh meri best friend hai! Nothing -"

"Varun.." She said his name with a exhausted gasp. "I see the way you look at her...the fact that my boyfriend looks at another girl in that way hurts like hell! You talk nonstop about her, you buy her things and those looks that you give her...you've never done that for me..."

Varun felt some sadness for Shefali. She had tears streaming down her face and her eyes were filled with a mix of grief and anger. He didn't know what to say. Varun never thought about Alia in such a way.

"But I don't love her.." Varun said quietly while focusing on the ground. Shefali scoffed, making him bring his focus back to her.

"You can't even say that with confidence!" she exclaimed, making Varun's heart drop to his stomach. "If you continue to ignore your true feelings for her, none of you guys are ever gonna be happy." Varun kept quiet, his heart beat quickening as he listened to Shefali. He had to say something but what was he gonna say?

"I...that's not..." he stammered. He could feel his body shaking.

"Varun the truth is that you aren't ever gonna be capable of loving anyone else in your life but her." Her words hit him hard. Varun's eyes started to get moist. He tried to take a moment to analyze everything but it hadn't been working out. Shefali looked up as she wiped her tears. "I have no place in this picture. I'm going home." With that Shefali walked past Varun, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

As much as he wanted to argue against whatever Shefali had said, he couldn't. The warm feeling that was in his heart earlier returned. Varun felt a tear roll down his cheek as he bit on to his bottom lip. He wiped it away before making his way back inside the banquet hall.

In the distance, he heard Alia's laugh. Varun saw her dancing with a friend but all he could focus on was her. She looked like an angel. His mouth slowly twitched into a smile as he watched her hair sway when she twirled and as she smiled through the dance, exposing the dangerous dimples. But her eyes, the ones that had been twinkling all night long, had made the warm feeling in Varun's heart stronger than ever. It was a feeling he never payed proper attention to but that day he was able to bring himself to label it. It was love.

A sudden slap on Varun's shoulder startled him.

"What's good Varun?" Jason took a seat next to him. Varun cleared his throat and blinked, trying to clear the flashback that was lingering in his mind.

"You tell me. It's been a shit day so far." Jason scoffed lightly and raised a brow.

"Why what happened?" There had been some kind of genuine concern in Jason's voice behind the careless avatar he displayed. Varun smiled faintly and rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry about it." he replied coolly. Jason shrugged and Varun knew he had to change the subject. "Yo, have you seen the pictures from last night?" He pulled out his laptop and pushed it over the table to his friend. "Check them out." Varun looked around the cafeteria.

Stop looking. She never comes here.

He shook his head. He needed to get her off his mind. Varun took out his phone to check his tweets.

"Well, well, well...who is this?" Jason said playfully while smirking at Varun. He turned the laptop to him, making Varun's heart drop.

Shit.

He forgot to close the tab that had Alia's Facebook profile. Varun tried to play it cool.

"Just a friend." he replied, putting his focus back to his phone.

"She's cute. Can you hook -"

"No." Varun's voice was stern and there was some anger in his eyes. He couldn't see Alia with another guy. Jason smirked.

"I knew it. You like her." Varun relaxed his posture.

"I don't."

"Denial. If you didn't you would've been more than happy to hook us up. But you didn't. So that means you like her." Varun watched his friend cross his arms on the table.

What a clever bastard.

"Ok. You got me Sherlock." Jason's brows raised with amusement. Even Varun was surprised with his answer.

"Well I have a class to go to in five minutes. We can talk about this..." Jason trailed off to take a look at the laptop screen. "...Alia when I'm out. See ya." Varun watched his friend leave then glanced at the screen of his laptop. Was it really a smart idea to tell Jason about Alia? Varun sighed.

Ab tu gaya bachu.




ALIA



The library was quieter than usual.

But who actually goes to the library on the first day of school?

She glanced around the room. There had been a few people in the upper floor of the library. All of them were chatting or using their laptops. Alia rolled her eyes.

Was this the only place on the planet where people could gossip?

Alia appreciated her time in the library. It brought her peace. However she would really get annoyed when people - especially those plastic wali girls - would just fill the room with chatter. Alia pulled out her notebook from her bag to review her notes that she took today. The first thing she noticed was a doodle on the top right corner of her sheet. Alia rolled her eyes with annoyance.

Stupid Sameer.

Sameer was indeed a charming guy on the outside, Alia wasn't going to deny that. However, he turned out to be one of the most annoying guys that she has met in her life. Throughout the lecture he would do or say something to Alia that would annoy her to death.

But those eyes.

Alia froze in her spot. She pursed her lips.

No shut up. He's annoying.

"Alia!" The voice startled her, making her jump a little in her chair.

No. No. No.

Sameer pulled the chair next to her and sat down. Alia faked a smile, trying to avoid eye contact when she could. He pushed a bag of chips towards her.

"Have some" he offered.

"Thanks, but no thanks." Alia replied sharply without making any eye contact with Sameer.

"Oh come on Aloo Jaan!" Sameer cooed, pushing the bag of chips closer to her. Alia froze.

Did he just...?

"Don't call me that" she mumbled, hoping he would take her seriously.

"Why? It's a cute nickname!" Sameer teased. "Don't be so grumpy Aloo jaan!"

That's it.

"Shut up! I told you not to call me that! You are so annoying!" The raised tone that Alia was using not only made Sameer flinch, but also caused the whole library to grow silent. It took a moment for Alia to analyze what she did.

I need to get out of here.

She gathered her books as stuffed it into her bag before leaving Sameer alone. Alia could hear him calling her name but she didn't dare turn back.

There's a limit to everything. He doesn't have the right to call me that.

Alia got on her bike and cycled quickly and recklessly through the streets. She tried to block out some of the memories that were associated with that nickname. There were too many emotions running in her mind and Alia didnt want to deal with them. She didnt bother parking her bike properly. Instead, she ran to her dorm in the hostel and slam the door shut. Alia immediately went to her closet and pulled out the purple box underneath her wire shoe rack.

Breathe. Just take a deep breath.

She opened the box and inside it were photos and objects all associated with one person.

Varun.

The charm bracelet he gifted her was the only thing that wasn't in the box and that was because it was secured around her wrist. She wore it everyday since the day he gifted it to her. Alia searched through the box until she found what she was looking for. She picked up the photo of Varun and herself from her last birthday that the celebrated together. Alia swallowed, trying her best not to cry. She slowly flipped the photo over.

Love you Aloo Jaan.

Alia brought the photo to her chest. She wasn't strong enough to isolate him.

"I miss you" she whispered before she broke down into tears.

*******
Hayeeeeee. Love is confusing :P
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