Few days later
I was so happy that I bought more than twenty chocolates while coming to college in the morning. I was planning on giving them to Ved, but thanks to my glutton best friends, the amount decreased to seven. Parth and Surbhi raided my bag when Surbhi's intuition told her that I was hiding something delicious in my bag and not sharing with her.
Now that I had realised that I liked... Let me take a minute; I still can't believe I am going to say this. Okay, I will try once again. Now that I had realised that I liked Ved - it took my heart and mind the whole night to convince me - I didn't mind when my friends teased me about it and kept pulling my leg whenever they noticed me looking at him.
So, to say my thanks without arising suspicions, I decided to give my Princess some candies because I knew he loved them a lot - he had a sweet tooth. I smiled as I reached my classroom and went to the back row where he sat and started placing the remaining chocolates under his desk.
After making a nice pattern, I began to leave, but Ayush stopped me and questioned me what I was doing there. I told him not to bother and thought it better to get going before he hurt me with his blunt attitude.
Ayush took his seat without saying anything, and I also went back to my spot. The lecture went smoothly and then it was lunch break. I was hopping towards the cafeteria when I spotted Natural Heater discussing something with a few students from other batch. I reached him and was about to ask him if he liked my gift when his childhood best friend arrived and pushed me aside.
"What the hell?" I grumbled.
"What happened?" Ved asked and glanced between Ayush and me.
"He pushed me," I complained and glared at Ayush who didn't look guilty at all.
"Did you need anything?" Ved questioned and shifted away from me.
Why did he always change his behaviour whenever Ayush was around?
I stepped towards Ved, and ignored Ayush. It wasn't like I was troubling him or something; then why was he giving me death glares for no reason? I was talking to Ved, why did he had to interfere like that and be a douche bag?
"Bro, let's go; it's lunch time," Ayush told Ved and took his right arm.
Before they could move, I grabbed Ved's left hand and pulled him in my direction. I was waiting for him to complete his conversation with other students and then ask him what I had on mind; I wouldn't let him go so easily.
"Leave already!" Ayush yelled.
"I won't!" I fought back.
"I am warning you."
"I am not interested."
Ayush glanced at his best friend, who in turn was staring at me with mixed expressions. Why wasn't he taking my side now? I gave him my puppy eyes and told him to stay back for a minute, but Ayush interrupted us again and started scolding me for being childish.
Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with him? He didn't want to be my friend, but it doesn't mean I can't even talk to Ved.
"Leave my hand, Sandy Pandy," Ved spoke in a low voice.
I did as he said and Ayush cracked a huge smirk and took Ved away after throwing me a disgusted look. I curled my hands into fists and controlled myself from running and kicking him on the back with full force.
He was trying my patience and if it had been some other situation, I wouldn't have minded, but if he tried to interfere again, I might just beat him up for good.
My mood was spoilt and the earlier incident wasn't the only reason. Three days ago, I learned that I didn't make it into the volleyball team. It really sucked and I was kind of depressed because of that, but in the end, I let the matter go. I strengthened my will and was practicing the sport as much as I could in hope that next time, I would clear the selection round.
After the recess, I went to the volleyball ground and joined other girls who had begun the game. Since I wasn't feeling burdened by the pressure of performing well, and by following Princess' advice, I noticed that my skills had improved and other team members were also helping me in learning the new moves.
But thanks to my overthinking mind, I kept replaying the earlier duel between me and Ayush and kept wondering why he hated me so much. Even Ved, his best friend, who always protected him and told me to stay away, had started opening up to me, then why couldn't he do the same?
I will shift the title of the biggest idiot in my life from Ved to Ayush - it suited him.
"Thank you for your efforts, guys," I thanked the girls and left to get myself cleaned.
Twenty minutes later, I exited the girls'changing room and headed towards the Chemistry class. Unfortunately, I spotted the idiot in the hallway and he was munching on some protein bar while looking in the distance. I shook my head at him and went past him. As his back was towards me, I made weird faces and stuck out my tongue at him.
"So mature of you, Sandhya," he commented and looked over his shoulder.
Did he have eyes on the back of his head?
I gave him a shocked look and dashed out of there when he started saying some colourful words for which I needed a dictionary to understand them. I was too lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice one more annoying figure following me.
"My Angel!" Karthik shouted and pulled me in a bear hug.
"What's with the frown?" he asked after putting me down.
"Nothing." I sighed and looked up at him.
"Oh my god! Monjolika!" I exclaimed, and Karthik rolled his eyes.
(Monjolika👆is one of the characters from Indian movie 'Bhool Bhulaiyya')
He was dressed in a red coloured traditional dress with white border and gorgeous ghungroos (anklet bells) on his ankles. He had a lot of makeup but the most standing out part was his wig with long hair.
(Ghungroo👆)
"Did your Mom give you permission to dance?" I queried while checking out his appearance once more.
"Nope, she didn't. I am just following the plan you told and... it's working! My little sis is helping me; that's why I look like this," he informed.
On my request, he showed me a few dance moves of Kathak (a traditional Indian dance form) and when he was done, other students in the hallway applauded him and told him to take part in the dancing competition of the Annual day. I agreed and Karthik said that he was already planning it and Shreyas was assisting him on the music front.
"All the best." I smiled.
He started giving me some more information, but suddenly a familiar girl approached me out of the blue and told me to go to the Dean's office immediately. I exchanged a worried glance with Karthik, who told me to relax and just check out myself what the matter was.
I nodded and left with the girl who I remembered participating with in the selection process for volleyball team. We reached Dean Sharma's cabin and entered after taking permission. As usual, I stood in front of his desk and queried about why I was called so suddenly.
I wished he didn't call me to give a lecture on my poor academic performance.
"Sandhya, I know you didn't make it through all the three rounds of recruitment," he said, and I pursed my lips.
"But, I have a good news for you. After getting recommended by none other than the captain herself, I and the sports department have decided to put you on the main team as an extra." He smiled genuinely.
"Are you ffffff- kidding me?" I exclaimed on the top of my voice.
Dean Sharma nodded and ignored the fact that I almost cursed in front of him. He got up from his chair and came towards me. As if he was anticipating something, he first glanced at the Coach and the other team members, who were grinning widely.
"Not only that, but you are going with the team for the Inter College Sports tournament also," he dropped another bomb.
It took me a second to let the new information sink in and launch myself at him for a hug. "Thank you, Sir!"
He patted my back and told me to show my gratitude to Mrs. Usha Tiwari, my new Coach and Payal Bajaj, my captain from today onwards. I went to them and thanked them sincerely; Usha Mam told me to do my best and gave me the schedule for the practice sessions.
Since the Inter College Sports competition was just about two weeks away, I had to train three times harder and prove their decision of putting faith in me right. Even though others denied, I properly introduced myself, and the moment I was out of the Dean's office, I zoomed towards the basketball ground.
I didn't look here and there, and entered the basketball court and completely ignored that there was a match going on. I tapped Ved's back and when he turned towards me, I shouted that I got in the volleyball team. He blinked rapidly and crushed me in his arms after congratulating me.
"You deserved it, Sandy Pandy!" he commented and gave me his signature smile.
"I am so happy." I grinned.
Ved opened his mouth to say something but got hit by a basketball on his head.
"Who the hell did that?" I yelled and glanced around.
"I did it," Ved's Coach said, making me gulp nervously.
"Now can you two lovebirds finish your happy moment, so that I can get the team's captain back?" he scolded with a smirk on his face.
Ved removed his arms from around me, and I apologized to the team after giving them an awkward look. Coach told the others to continue, and Ved whispered to me to dash out before Coach grilled me more.
I nodded and began leaving, but Coach started chuckling and told me to play well in the Sports competition or else he would keep teasing me about today's incident every day. Other guys also started laughing after Nikhil, who broke out into a laughing fit and Ved hit him when he didn't stop.
I left with an embarrassed expression and decided to control myself from acting on impulse. I was really happy to receive such a good news after sulking about it for days; I would try my best and make Dad proud once again.
I didn't care if I was an extra player. At least they considered me worth of that position and believed in me. All of my previous worries were gone, replaced by a new hope of starting something new.
"Spill the beans," Surbhi said after grabbing me in the corridor.
"I got in the volleyball team," I announced.
She hugged me tightly and shook me vigorously. "I am so proud of you!"
"Thank you."
"Let's go and tell Parth. I will have good time teasing him when I confirm his doubt that I am the first person you tell everything to instead of him." She smirked.
I was about to nod when it dawned upon me that for the first time, she was actually wrong about that fact. Neither her nor Parth was the first one to know - it was Princess! But I avoided saying that aloud to avoid a beating from both of them.
Wow, how the time changes.