I didn't get selected in the second round of volleyball team selection! Unlike last time, I really tried hard, but still I didn't make it.
"Relax, buddy. You can always try next time," Surbhi consoled.
"Oh come on. How long are you going to keep that long face?" Parth complained.
"At least look at us when we are talking to you." Surbhi hit my head.
"I am looking at you," I retorted.
"Oh yeah?" Parth smirked and waved his hand in front of my face.
I swatted his hand away and narrowed my eyes at the girl who was standing too close to Princess. She was laughing since she came to talk to Ved - there were other guys too but her eyes were set on Natural Heater only.
"Your crush is on your right side, Sandhya," Surbhi teased and moved my head in Priyaank's direction who was chatting with his friends.
I shot him a small smile when he glanced at me; he returned the gesture, and when I turned my head back to look at my prime target, Ved was staring at me like a hawk. I glimpsed beside him and the girl was still talking to him, but he wasn't paying her any attention.
I averted my gaze, but a few seconds later, Ved arrived and pushed me to give him some space to sit. When I ignored him, he forcefully freed some area and plopped down beside me. Parth fist-bumped him and Surbhi started blabbering about random topics.
"What's wrong with you?" Ved questioned me as he ate the sandwich from my plate.
"Nothing," I replied monotonously.
"Then why aren't you eating anything?"
"Why are you so worried? Go and attend to other people first," I huffed.
"What other people?" Ved queried in an innocent voice, but I could see the smirk that was forming on his lips.
"Why are you so popular?" I mumbled and glared at Surbhi who was snickering under her breath.
"Why are you in such a bad mood?" Shreyas asked me as he joined us in the cafeteria.
"Don't bother with this idiot; she is sulking because she didn't qualify for the volleyball team," Surbhi explained.
I slumped down in my chair and sipped my tea. Ved snatched it from my hand when I put the cup away and drank without taking permission - he always did that! I slapped his thigh, and he pulled my hair after gulping down the whole drink.
"What's there to be sad about? You can try for some other sport," Parth suggested while munching on his pizza slice.
"But I am not good in anything else," I whined.
"Why is she crying?" Nikhil asked and sat down beside Shreyas. "By the way, thanks for the ride, Sandhya. I would have missed my first lecture if you hadn't arrived on time."
Yes, this idiot was still taking free rides from me and torturing me with his rambling every morning and evening. I still hadn't found out what he was planning, but I couldn't avoid him as he had become really persistent in hampering my daily routine by using his parents as an excuse.
"She didn't get selected," Parth told him blankly.
"So what?" Nikhil shrugged. "There is a wild card entry going on right now. You can try in that."
"What?" I asked in surprise.
"We should get going then," Ved announced and dragged me along with him before I could respond.
He stopped when we reached the volleyball ground and placed me in the queue for the registration. He told me to give my best and went to stand on the sidelines.
Why did he look more confident than me? But... I was kind of happy he came to support me.
You are wasted, Sandhya.
No, I am not. Stop saying that, will you? My crush is Priyaank, okay? Ved is not... Ved is... Argh! What is he exactly? Why am I even asking this question?
I glanced at Ved, who was busy motioning me to perform well and smiling at the girls who were looking at him and waving at him like fangirls.
Am I getting jealous? Why am I getting envious of them? I never did that before!
I moved my gaze away and focused on the task at hand. After applying for the wild card selection which was only accepting two players as a result - which I wasn't expecting - I waited for my turn. And I hadn't expected to see so many students gathered to see the selection process.
After observing some really amazing candidates suffer to the hands of the volleyball captain, I got my turn and suffered the same fate. Ved kept shouting for me to increase my strength and gave me directions in between; I really appreciated his help, but he was behaving like a coach and at one point, I couldn't bear it anymore.
"What the hell are you doing, Buffoon? Didn't you eat your breakfast today? I keep telling you to eat, but you always ignore my advice. What will you do when I am not here?" Ved shouted.
"Shut the fuck up, will ya? You are distracting me!" I snapped.
"Am I?" he retorted.
"Of course you are!"
"I have to because you are performing really badly. Put some effort in what you are doing if you want to get selected," he taunted.
I clenched my fists and let out a huge breath. If I didn't do it this time, Ved would torture me every day and keep scolding me about it for the rest of my life. I shot him a murderous glare, and channeled my anger.
This was the last selection round, and I wouldn't be getting this chance of being a part of my favorite sport team any sooner - maybe never.
I relaxed myself and got back in the game. I kept counting in my head or I would have murdered Ved because he was still busy yelling at me, but in a low voice this time. I was surprised that even after I shouted at him, he was still smiling and cheering for me - only the pompoms were missing.
Actually, he would look really cute in a cheerleader dress with a red coloured headband and two ponies if he had his curly hair-
Focus, Sandhya. Focus!
I shook my head and hit the volleyball which came in my direction with full force. Just like that, I put my full concentration on my goal and managed to give a good performance - according to my standards.
"Good work, girls. Please make space for the other batch," our captain informed and patted us on our backs.
I gave her a huge smile and hopped towards Ved who smacked me behind my head when I reached him. I thought he would praise me, but he took me to a less crowded spot and began lecturing me like a parent.
"I think I did well," I grumbled.
"Yes, you were awesome, but you were too aggressive."
"I was?" I questioned. "Isn't that a good thing in sports?"
"As long as you can handle it," Ved reasoned. "Don't worry, I will teach you how to do it."
I shot up my eyebrows above my head. "Whoa! Is the great Mr. Ved Rajput, who always keeps getting in fights with me, really saying this?"
Ved gave me a dead look and grabbed my head in a headlock. "First of all, we need to do something about that sharp tongue of yours."
"Yours too," I mocked.
"Start dating already!" I heard someone comment as a group of students passed by us.
"Aren't they dating already?" another one asked.
"Yup, they are. Can't you tell by just looking?"
"Did they announce it officially? If they did, I need to update about it on the fan page."
I glanced at Ved who left my head and pursed his lips. I asked him if those students were talking about us, and it looked like his soul left his body. I nudged him, and it took Natural Heater almost a millisecond to turn all red and for me to realise that he was blushing - my doubt was fucking right!
I grabbed his shirt and narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you fucking serious?"
"What are you talking about?" he enquired and stepped away.
I increased my grip on his shirt and tried to mute my inner voice which was singing a random old song and dancing along with it. When I was busy trying to keep my own heart rate under control, I noticed that he wasn't the only one who was heating up like a volcano.
We stood like that for quite a good time before we got interrupted by Nikhil who came to inform Ved that their coach was waiting for him in his office to discuss something. Ved nodded and moved after glancing at me with his chocolate orbs which were changing focus rapidly.
"Do you want this t-shirt?" he asked when I didn't leave his shirt.
"Why would I?" I retorted and removed my hand.
"Shall... we go?" Nikhil questioned while glancing between Ved and me.
Princess replied in positive and left with Nikhil who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Nikhil shot me a devilish smile and pointed out that I was looking like a red apple. I kicked him and he walked away, laughing like a maniac.
I waited for some time and let my brain cool down the hyperactivity it was going through; I wasn't this much concerned during the volleyball selection also. I shook my head vigorously and turned to return to my classroom but noticed Priyaank standing at some distance.
"Hey, Sandhya."
"Hi," I greeted.
"Um... You played pretty good today. I hope you get selected," he said.
"Thank you, Priyaank. I also hope so." I smiled.
He gave me a genuine smile, and we chatted casually for a few minutes before parting ways. On my way, I kept trying to remind myself who my actual crush was, but my mind had different plans for me.
Princess Ved, you are not supposed to change your role so suddenly!
Even after I tried to silence my heart, it kept replaying old memories and reminding me of my childhood - especially the times when Ved and I used to be in the same place and start fighting out of nowhere. But there was one thing for sure; no matter how much we fought, we never got bored and would return back to our usual routine the next day as if nothing happened.
Hmm... I wasn't the only one whose school days were hell because of Ved but it was vice-versa too. Yet, I still didn't remember how we started bantering in the first place.
Wow, Sandhya. You have been thinking about him non-stop. Have you started liking your arch-nemesis, the person you wanted to kill even if you guys were the only people left on earth?
Damn... I am over thinking for sure. It must be only because he was being nice and caring and nothing else. Yes, that could be it.
Stop lying, dumbo. There are other girls too, then why is he so concerned about only you? And not just him, you are acting weird too. There are so many guys in the whole college; moreover, you have a crush, then why are you thinking about Princess and getting jealous?
Looks like I am wasted for good - I can't blame Ved for everything. Maybe this time, I should accept what my inner voice has been telling me for weeks.