*Mihira Pov*
“Don’t move your hand unnecessarily!” she scolded me for the nth time after starting to help me with this subject and I stared at her without saying any word before trying again.
“Are you guys going to skip your lunch?” Abhi asked and I felt it is an angel voice that is here to save me.
“I am not going to but she is going to if she keeps doing it wrong.” Her cold reply washed away the happiness I just felt.
I didn’t even glance at anyone before trying again to draw properly but fell short. It’s been a week and there is no improvement at all but there is an improvement in her scoldings.
After the lunch break, I found everyone waiting for me but I just sighed packing my stuff to go to my class and felt relieved that I didn’t buy lunch ahead which could have been a waste.
“Are you going to starve? What if you feel hungry?” Kalyan asked frowning at me.
“It’s okay! Her words were more than enough. I need a diet plan to digest them first.” I replied standing up before glancing at Rekha.
“We have practice today. Remember?” I asked and her face finally got filled with panic hearing that but I just walked away ignoring her look.
“You should have been a bit nice to her. Now, you can enjoy the effects of it.” Vikesh commented behind me as advice to her and I smiled hearing that.
“Are you really not hungry? We can go to class after some time and say some excuse to the lecturer.” Kavitha asked with a worried face.
“I don’t want to miss this class at all. Don’t you know who is coming today?” I asked smirking and she laughed seeing my expression.
“Are you going to make your third target a teaching assistant?” she asked shaking her head while I shrugged at her question.
“He is handsome and everything but not going to think such manner. I am fond of the knowledge he has for the computers and the way he shares them. Not at all in that way and so don’t say like that mainly before others.” I explained but she still has a suspicious look.
“I know you respect him but don’t forget the scandal that happened because of him. He scares me a bit even though all these were just rumors from the seniors.” She mumbled and I sighed.
It’s true! He has too much knowledge about everything but many don’t approach him to learn that because of some stupid incident that happened a few years back.
“Anyway, we are going to have exams soon and I need to make sure not to fail on this subject. My parents are fine with average marks but if I fail then my mom can bring the house down into ruins. She is still mad from the past few years that I didn’t choose medicine.” I explained and she chuckled nodding.
I sat excitedly for the class to start knowing well our main lecturer will not be attending and will just send his assistant who is way better right now to teach us.
I know everyone has their prejudice against him but even I have a prejudice against the other party that is involved in that incident. So, I can’t be mad at them when I am doing the same and it’s their loss to ignore their knowledge.
“I heard he is going to be a full-time lecturer soon.” She whispered beside me and I smiled brightly hearing that as he deserves that.
****
“That’s it for today.” I said walking towards the place where we placed our bags and found no one around us.
“Are you going light on me thinking I will do the same while teaching you?” I heard her voice from the place I just walked from.
“What?” I asked turning around.
“I am being as hard as possible on you but you were being too light. Why?” she asked frowning.
“I know you don’t like me but I don’t act towards you based on that.” I assured her but she doesn’t look assured and calmly walked towards her bag.
I don’t want to explain to her right now because even I am angry at the way she is behaving towards me but then can I ignore the fact that she has kind of reason to do that.
She likes Abhi for sure but he is as usual ignorant towards that fact. Was I not in her place recently? I sighed opening my mouth to clear at least this single misunderstanding.
“I need to get better at that subject soon and you need not learn this at a fast pace. I want you to love this game and I need not love that subject. There is a difference between the two and that’s why there is a difference in the teaching aspect.” I explained staring at her while she stiffened hearing those words.
“Thank you!” she whispered packing her bag before glancing at me and I gave her a confused look to which she pointed out my bag.
I realized she is waiting for me and immediately packed my things before we both walked out of the court. She glanced at her watch and gestured me to follow her.
“I will drop you at your home today. I heard you saying Abhi to leave and that you will home by yourself.” She mumbled walking towards the parking lot.
“Thank you!” I mumbled feeling awkward with the way she is being now but I didn’t turn down her help.
When we reached my home, I found Dad standing near the gate talking to the driver who just dropped him or maybe he is going now to the station.
“Mihi! You were not home?” he asked looking at me when I got down from the scooty.
“And why are you not wearing a helmet?” he continued and I scratched my neck realizing he will be mad for sure.
He doesn’t mind many things but not abiding the law is what makes him mad. I opened my mouth but Rekha beat me by apologizing for not carrying an extra helmet and she will not forget it again.
He smiled hearing that before nodding at her and asked her is she my classmate and kind of passed five minutes before saying he needs to go back to the station.
“Thanks for today and I am sorry about that.” I mumbled gesturing my Dad’s vehicle which just left the road.
“He was right though. Is your Mom home?” she asked seeing that no lights were turned on inside.
“She must be on the way or there could have been an emergency. Do you want to come inside?” I asked nervously and for the first time after I met her, she chuckled at my words normally.
“You know it feels like I just dropped my lover and that lover is being too nervous about that fact.” She commented and I laughed listening to those words.
“I will be leaving then.” She said waving before driving off and I stood there still smiling.
Another friend? Yes! I did a victory jump and realized something really wrong with me. I was the one who always wished to stay as far away from others but now I am like dying to get other people to be with me. This huge change is not a change but I am loving this change.
*Abhilash Pov*
“Thank you! Thank you so much! You are the best! You are my favorite!” she continued to praise while we all just stood there in shock listening to those words while the person who is receiving has a complete awkward stance.
“Mihi! You are being too much right now. Let her breathe!” I said pulling her away from Rekha who gave a gratitude look towards me.
“But I will not fail my exam because of her. I will give her a treat.” She announced before holding Rekha’s hand and even Kavitha’s hand before pulling towards the canteen.
“We all decided to go out together, Mihi.” I said pulling her back which caused the other two to automatically step back towards us.
The first years finished their exams yesterday itself but we finished ours today. Kavitha and Mihi came to college just for our sake.
I could say Kavitha came for Rakesh while Mihi came for Rekha. I frowned for a second before listening to others as they are deciding where to go now.
We have holidays for two weeks for now and like last year we will be not meeting each other much during these holidays unlike the holidays after even semesters as we get nearly two months at that time.
“Mihira!” Kavitha whispered while hitting her shoulder and pointed out at someone and we all turned to see one of the teaching assistants.
“What?” Mihi asked her in confusion after seeing that person to which Kavitha shook her head.
We decided to go to the near restaurant it self feeling hungry and found it completely packed. I sighed looking around and we searched for another one which is also packed.
“Why don’t we get the food packed and go to my house? It will be free for you guys too.” Mihi asked smiling and everyone nodded before Vikesh walked towards the counter to get the food packed.
“Aren’t we spending too much time at your house these days? Your parents are fine with it?” Kalyan asked frowning at her.
“You guys are not making any mess and even cleaning properly before leaving. Why would they have any problem? They are actually happy that I have friends like these instead of just Abhi.” She explained smiling brightly.
“She is still a kid, right?” Rekha whispered beside me looking at her expression.
“Even I thought the same because of these antics but she knows how to surprise everyone with her thoughts, Rekha.” I replied and she glanced at me.
“That’s true! She surprised me too.” She mumbled sighing before walking towards her vehicle when Vikesh returned with the bags which he passed to Kalyan saying he is tired.
However, the most surprising event was Mihi walking towards Rekha’s scooty to sit behind her after taking the extra helmet Rekha passed while I was waiting here for her to sit on my vehicle.
“Don’t worry, Abhi! I will join you today instead of Kalyan so that you will not feel lonely.” Vikesh assured me before sitting behind me when I continued to be there still feeling surprised.
“Shut up!” I mumbled starting the bike and drove off along with others to reach her house.
****
“What? You guys will not meet each other during odd semester holidays?” Mihi asked frowning at us.
“I will be staying at home to help my Mom regarding house cleaning and even to give her rest.” Kalyan explained smiling at her.
“You know how to cook?” she asked curiously and he nodded which caused her to as usual smile brightly.
“Do you want to give up this? I still don’t have the fourth one yet for you to decide on the third.” I asked pointing the cool drink bottle.
“You are really ignorant about everything. What about you?” she turned her question towards Vikesh who said he will be leaving for his village as his grandparents want to meet him. Even Rekha gave the same answer and Mihi sighed looking down.
“I will be here you know.” I pointed out and she nodded but she still looks disappointed to hear that there will be no get-togethers during the holidays.
Rakesh is showing the same expression as Kavitha will be going to her home town to be with her parents as she stays with her Aunt here.
“I can understand your feelings, Rakesh.” Mihi said patting his hand while I rolled my eyes at her dramatic gestures.
“I will ignore you completely during the holidays.” I warned her and she shrugged listening to that.
“I bet you will not.” Vikesh involved himself and when did this become a bet in the first place.
“I will join you.” Kalyan added smiling at me along with Kavitha.
“I think she will not ignore you.” Rakesh added which caused her to hit his hand hard where she patted to console him.
“You deserve to be alone. Kavitha, hide from him and throw away your phone too.” Mihi said glaring at Rakesh.
“I think you will not ignore him too.” Rekha joined and this time Mihi frowned before looking down.
“Fine! I will not take the first step to meet him. And I will never… never… uhmm…” she looked around to search for something and finally glanced at the basketball that she used recently to teach Rekha.
“I will never play the game again.” She added and I frowned at her.
“How can you bet on that?” I asked her raising my voice.
“Why are you shouting?” she asked frowning.
“How can you just bet on everything like this?” I asked standing up and she stared at me with a confused look.
“I am not doing it behind someone’s back, right? Why are you getting angry? I didn’t say you will stop playing.” She pointed out but I continued to frown at her.
“I will be leaving guys.” Saying that I walked away to leave but others followed me too and even Kavitha as Rakesh has to drop her.
“What happened to you, Abhi? Why are you acting like this?” Vikesh asked frowning at me after they stopped me from entering the compound of my house.
“She is just betting on everything.” I replied and which is for sure a weak answer.
“We all were having fun and you ruined the mood. Let’s hope you guys talk to each other after the holidays.” Rakesh commented before leaving with Kavitha who glared at me.
“Stupid!” That’s all Kalyan said before walking towards his vehicle but Vikesh asked him to wait for him.
“I will be leaving then.” Rekha mumbled but frowned at me and I sighed realizing I reacted too fast.
“Now, tell me the reason. What was the trigger?” Vikesh asked frowning at me.
“That… we learned that game together you know and even practiced together. I just… when she said so simply that she will give it up… I…” I trailed off and felt him hitting my shoulder hard.
“You are really stupid like Kalyan said. Let’s hope you gain your brains by the end of the holidays and realize the actual reason for thinking like that.” Saying that even he walked away and I stood there alone while frowning at his words.
“Ugh!” I shouted pushing the gate and entering my home while feeling like my head is going to burst with all these thoughts and at present, I need some peace before doing any more thinking for sure.