Pehli Mohabbat

Chapter 2

Few days later…
“Darshan? Chal chai peene chalte hai.” Shruti said as they walked out of the classroom and Darshan nodded. Chinmay gave Darshan a meaningful look as he passed them. Darshan just shrugged and turned towards Shruti.
“Haa chal, waise bhi thand badh rahi hai.” They walked towards the chai tapri in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. Once on the main road, a gang of bike riders zoomed past them, whooping and shouting, staring at Shruti.
Darshan immediately switched sides with Shruti. He shifted her to the footpath side, while he himself walked on the side of road. He tried to be subtle about it, but Shruti noticed. She remained silent though and smiled to herself.
She knew Darshan was sweet that way. It was drizzling when they reached the chai tapri which overlooked a valley.
Darshan ordered two chai cups and they sat there, watching the fog rolling into the valley, the greenery all around and the mist that hung low from the clouds.
“This is so beautiful.” Shruti commented and Darshan looked at her.
“Yes,” he said staring at her and agreeing, “very beautiful.”
They chatted about random topics as they sipped the tea and Darshan was having a good time when suddenly, someone called out Shruti’s name. “Hey Shruti.” It was Kabir, one of their classmates and Shruti’s ex-boyfriend. They had dated for a few months in first year before breaking up due to some issues. Shruti considered him just a casual friend.
But Darshan knew that there was nothing casual in Kabir’s intentions. “Hi Kabir.” Shruti smiled at him as he sat beside her on the bench and ordered a cup of tea. Darshan clenched his fist around his glass when he saw Kabir sitting too close to her and trying to flirt with her.
Shruti subtly shifted away from Kabir and towards Darshan, almost touching Darshan so that she could have some distance from Kabir. She was so close to Darshan that he felt electricity zing through his body and he shivered.
Shruti felt his shiver and turned to look at him with concern.
“Are you cold? Let’s go, anyways we are late.” She said hurriedly getting up and throwing the cup in dustbin. Darshan had a feeling that she was trying to avoid Kabir as he too followed her and started to walk behind her, leaving Kabir staring at them with a cup of tea in his hand.
“What was that?” Darshan asked as he wrapped his hands around him and fell in step beside her. Shruti gave a shrug.
“I just… he texted me a few days ago, asking me to give him another chance.” Darshan’s heart stuttered and he struggled to keep his face expressionless.
He tried to keep annoyance and desperation out of his voice as he asked, “What did you say? Are you going to… give…him a second chance?” Shruti shrugged again.
“I don’t know, should I?” She asked, looking sideways at Darshan and Darshan averted his gaze.
He stared straight as he fought to keep his emotions in check. “Do what you heart says.” He said quietly and strode off towards the boy’s hostel leaving Shruti staring at him.