Ayesha was caressing her wrist. The finger marks, which Arnav had left by holding her tightly, had vanished and there was little pain. She was looking towards her hand. But she was not sad or angry rather she was feeling something in her stomach and smiling unknowingly. She didn’t even know why. But it was a good feeling. Ritu noticed her behavior. Ritu spoke,
“Did you hit your head while rescuing that dog?”
“That’s not dog. That’s a puppy”
“Whatever. But why are you smiling?”
“I am not smiling. OK.”
“Hm hm. I can see in your face. Is it for Arnav?”
“Hey! What are you talking about? I have nothing for him in my heart.”
“Then why are you looking at your wrist and smiling?”
“Are you mad? I am smiling because I saved that puppy. And don’t ask me those kind of questions again. I don’t like it.”
“Ohk sorry. But don’t you really have feelings for him?”
“no”
“So can I date him?”
“WHAT? WHY? NO……” Ayesha loudly spoke.
“See I knew it. You don’t like me dating him.”
“No… He is our senior….” A pause “Do whatever you want to do. Don’t ask me anything furthermore.” Ayesha spoke looking away.
“Ohk.” Ritu chuckled.
Arnav, who was at Sahil’s house taking a bath, was ashamed of his deeds. He thought he shouldn’t have hold Ayesha that tightly. He was constantly thinking about that in the shower. Thinking about that moment constantly was like pinning his heart with thousand of pins. The time was running as the running water from the shower. It had been 20 mins that he had been to the bathroom. He was going to be late. But it did not occur to his mind. From the outside, Sahil called him.
“Hey, dude… What are you doing? Playing with yourself or what? Don’t you want to go to college? We are going to be late.”
But Arnav seemed not hearing what he said. After shouting from the outside for several minutes, Sahil knocked on the bathroom door and this broke Arnav’s non ending thoughts. He quickly turned off the shower, and dried himself with a towel, got dressed with another pair of dress of Sahil and came out.
“What the hell you are doing in the shower? Wait. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know about your shower fantasies.”
“You and your nasty mind. I was just getting cleaned thoroughly. That drain water really smells. Besides that this uniform is tight.”
“Stop going to gym. You are bigger than me. That’s why it is tight. If it tears I am going to kill you. I have only two pairs. I have told bai(the maid) to clean your dress. Take your dress while returning. I can’t deliver it at your home. And don’t you think you are getting more connected with that junior. The matter is not till saying sorry. It is more than that.”
“No yaar. You are just imagining the things. I am just helping them out.”
“Ohh.”
“Aren’t we getting late? Let’s go.”
“Hmm. Let’s go”
In the afternoon…
After the college was over, Arnav called Ritu.
Ritu picked up the call. At that time, Ayesha was in washroo
m.
“Hello” Ritu spoke.
“Heloo. Is Ayesha there?”
“No. She was in washroom.”
“Ohh. So I will call later.”
“Wait” A naughty idea came up in her mind. “She will come in two mins. Till then we can talk.”
“Umm ok. But what should we talk?”
“Anything.”
“SO..” Arnav had just started talking to her that he heard Ayesha’s voice in background.
“I think she had come.” Arnav said. On the other side of the call Ayesha asked Ritu who had called.
“Arnav.”
“Ohh.” Ayesha replied. “Give me.”
“What?”
“Your phone.”
“Why?”
“He has called me.”
“How do you know?”
“I know. Don’t again start your rubbish.”
“Of course he has called you” Ritu smiled and gave her the phone. Ayesha spoke.
“HI..”
“HI.. How is your hand?”
“It is fine now. Don’t think much about that.”
“Ohk. What are you doing?
“Just studying. I was in the washroom when you called me. What are you talking with Ritu?”
“Nothing. You didn’t even give us a sec to talk. You could have waited.”
“So you want to talk with her.” Unknowingly it hurt her heart.
“What do you think?” Arnav chuckled on the other side.
“I think nothing. I am giving her phone. Talk with her.” She said in annoyance.
“Wait. I am joking. Sorry. Actually I have called to ask you if you are free in the evening?”
“Why?” she was still angry.
“Another treat. Did you forget?”
“No. I remember it.”
“So in Pathsala café. OHK?”
“Ohk. No problem. You can bring Ritu if you want.”
Ayesha looked towards Ritu. Ritu gave her questioned look. Ayesha replied Arnav,
“Umm no. She is busy this evening.”
Ritu : “who is busy?” Ayesha: “You”
“Ohk so we will meet there at 6.30 pm. I will pick you up.” Arnav spoke from the other side.
“No no I will come. Don’t worry.”
“See. You don’t have phone. And it will be dark. Ohk. I won’t pick you up. But I will come to your apartment and we will ride there together.”
“Ohk. Done. Sharp at 6.30 pm.”
“Bye”
“Bye”
“I want to go. You can’t enjoy without me.” Ritu spoke as soon as Ayesha hung up the call.
“It was your punishment for playing with me.”
“You are possessive.”
“No I want you to be single. Because I am single.😁😁”
“Whatever. I don’t want to ruin your moments.”
“Stop……..”
“Ok. Don’t be mad.”
