Book number 3, done. Question paper number 10, done. I was doing great. Let's play some games now. I took out my phone and began playing Plants VS Zombies.
For three days, I have been studying non-stop because as Mayank promised, he was watching my every move.
He wouldn't let me slack off for even a second. Today, he had to go out to book our rooms. The devil was not here, so I can give myself a rest. We will leave tomorrow evening for our competition.
Yay! Level 20 cleared. If I continued like this, I would become a champion at this game. I played some more and got tired.
"Good morning," Shreyas greeted me.
"Good morning," I greeted back.
"Hi, Sandhya. How's the preparation going?" Parth asked.
"Good."
"You have been holed up in the library since the first lecture. I brought you some snacks," he said.
"Thanks a lot. I was getting bored now."
"You have to read these many books?" Parth asked and picked up a book. He skimmed through some pages and put it away within a few minutes.
"I just want to get over with this competition. Mayank is making my life hell."
"Don't worry. In two days, you can breathe in peace," Shreyas assured and I sighed.
Since Shreyas was not acting awkward around me, it was easier to put letters inside his bag. I would just put them in his books he had when he wasn't paying attention.
He was doing well with that music program and had reached quarter finals.
Should I ask him about it? No. Don't. He won't like it since his close friends also didn't know. Okay. I will ask him when he wins the show.
"Hi, guys!" Ved came and bro hugged Shreyas and Parth.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I go to this college too and I am here for my friends. Got any problem with that?"
"Whatever."
He sat beside Parth and they began talking about sports and girls. Shreyas was busy with his phone. By now, everyone got to know that Ved and I were not on good terms. I tried to ignore him but he made it hard to do so.
Yesterday, he told Tanya about an embarrassing incident from my past and I had to control myself from killing him right there. He continued telling my friends how I used to make a fool out of myself.
Well, they were my friends so they didn't judge. Everyone acts stupid atleast once when they are kids. What's so great about it?
The bell rang and I put my books in my bag. I got up and Ved pulled my hair. This idiot. I kicked him on the calf. Parth and Shreyas continued walking in front, obviously trying to avoid us.
I moved ahead to walk beside them but Ved grabbed my backpack and pulled me back.
"What's your problem?" I asked.
"You," he replied and flicked me on the forehead.
"You know I am not killing you just because of your family and friends, right?" I tried to threaten him.
"Care about yourself."
"Jerk."
"Dumbass."
"Idiot."
"That's you."
"Crybaby."
"Party pooper."
We continued calling each other names till we reached our classroom. Shreyas left for his lecture and we took our seats. Nikhil came and I stared talking to him. After sometime, Mehta sir arrived and told us to go back to our seats.
"Gold digger," Ved commented.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Parth dragged him away before we began arguing again. Nikhil followed them and glanced back at me. I smiled at him.
Why would Ved call me a gold digger? I didn't even like gold.
×~×
"Divya, do you think this one is hot or this one?"
"None. The third one is better than them."
"No way. You like him? You have a bad taste."
"What are you all talking about?" I asked as I put my phone down.
The girls had been arguing about something for the past fifteen minutes. They showed me the magazine they were reading.
"Who do you think is the hottest?" Divya asked and I squinted my eyes. Male models? They were all hot. How was I supposed to pick one?
"I like them all," I replied and joined them.
"Don't be greedy. You can pick only one," Rashi said and I rolled my eyes.
"It's not like I am selecting a groom. Each one of them looks fine to me. Why are we even arguing?" I said and took the magazine from them.
How can all of them be so good looking? I checked more images and Surbhi nudged me.
"What? You are disturbing me." I ignored her.
She nudged me again and I looked at her. She motioned for me to look on my left. I turned my head and saw Shree taking a selfie.
Oh my god. What did he do to his hair?!
"Why did he cut them so short?" Rashi asked and I couldn't believe my eyes.
"I liked his earlier hairstyle. Not that he looks bad now, but still..." Divya added and Tanya nodded in agreement.
"I loved his hair," I stated.
"Me too," everyone said in unison and held a one minute silence for his now gone hair.
"What the fuck?!" Ved exclaimed as he noticed Shree.
"Like my new look?" Shree flaunted his new hairstyle.
"I told you to think it through." Ved shook his head and smacked him behind his head.
"You are just jealous," Shree complained and rubbed his head.
Ved gave him a dead look and others also asked him why he cut his hair. He shrugged his shoulders and began eating his burger.
I will ask Shree later. Now that he had cut his hair, I had less competition. All girls liked him but they were also jealous of his lustrous hair, just like me. I knew it.
"So, Tanya. Wanna tell us about when you gonna confess your feelings to Ved?" Surbhi aksed and we all turned to her.
"Chill, guys. I am still not sure about my feelings," she said.
"How couldn't you? You clearly like him," Divya said but Tanya looked confused.
"Is there something troubling you? You can tell us," I told her and she glanced at Ved's table.
"What is it?" Surbhi asked.
"I am not sure if I like him or love him. You get what I mean?" she said and looked down at her hands.
Surbhi looked at me accusingly. What? What did I do?
"Sandhya, I told you, you confused her with all your blabbering," Surbhi scolded me.
"It's not her fault. She only said the right thing. I kept thinking about it and realised I wasn't sure about whether I only liked him as a boy or as a person. Moreover, it's just been one month since I know him," Tanya said and I gave her a small smile.
"That's so confusing! What are you even talking about? Time doesn't even matter here. He is a boy and a person. What's the difference?" Rashi asked.
"Why don't you explain, oh so wise Sandhya?" Surbhi taunted and I pursed my lips.
I told them what I had asked Tanya and they all looked at me like I just stole their candies. They shook their heads at me and I felt like I was being convicted of a murder.
"I am sorry, Tanya. I didn't know you will take my question so seriously," I apologized.
I should keep my mouth shut sometimes. I confused the poor girl. I glanced at Ved and wondered if he would stop troubling me if he and Tanya started dating. Then, he wouldn't have enough time to bully me.
"We won't pressurize you then. Take your time but not too much. What if some other girl snatched him?" Divya said and we all chuckled.
"Yeah. Tell us if you get confused or anything. We will help you," Surbhi said and I nodded my head.
"I will keep my mouth shut so that I don't speak some nonsense," I said and we began laughing.
"That would be better," Surbhi added and I punched her shoulder playfully.
"Leave it all upto me. I will break his bones if he breaks your heart," I said and Tanya giggled.
I glanced at Ved and he was already staring at us. I told Tanya and she blushed a little. Love was in the air~
I didn't like him but I would allow him to date my friend. He had a good reputation afterall.
Brrrring!
We all groaned when the bell rang and got up to leave for our lectures. Why can't they make lunch break a little longer? My girl gang left me alone and I trudged towards the classroom.
"Oye! I am talking to you. Don't act like you don't know me," Ved said as he walked beside me.
"Can't you see I am ignoring you?"
Ved rolled his eyes and pushed me a little. What was his issue? I stomped on his foot but he moved it away in a flash.
"What do you want?" I questioned.
"Tanya likes me, right?" he asked.
He knows? What should I say? No. Don't say anything, Sandhya. You will spoil everything. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Yes, she does," he answered his own question.
Why was he asking me if he already knew it? Such an idiot.
"Why are you asking me that?" I asked as we went inside the classroom. He sat beside me, and I glared at him.
"She is a nice girl," he added.
"I know."
"Not like you at all. How did you two become friends?"
"I can ask the same about you."
"She can do much better without you."
"Who are you to say that?"
"What if she confessed to me?" he asked and I wondered why he was having this conversation with me.
"You can have this talk with one of your guy friends. Why are you bothering me?"
"You seem to have a lot of experience with this thing. That's why."
"How exactly?"
"Don't act dumb with me. You got a thing for Nikhil." He winked and I scrunched up my nose.
"If you do something to hurt him, I won't let you be in peace. Remember that."
"We are not dating! How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
"Whatever. Try hurting my friends and you will regret knowing me."
I am regretting it everyday. We were talking about Tanya and he turned it towards Nikhil.
"I don't hurt my friends," I said.
"My friends, you mean," he said in a sharp tone.
"Same goes for you too. If you hurt Tanya, I won't let you off easily," I warned him.
He laughed and shook his head.
"FYI, she is my friend too. Unlike someone, I don't hurt the people I call my friends."
That struck close to my heart. He smiled satisfactorily at my reaction and got up. He went to his seat satisfied that he ruined my mood.
He won't hurt Tanya right? Of course, he won't. Why would he? He hates you, not her.
Ayush glanced at me as he entered the classroom and I looked at him sadly. He gave me a confused look and went to sit beside Ved. I couldn't focus on my lecture because what Ved said kept ringing in my ears.
"Unlike someone, I don't hurt the people I call my friends."