The next morning........
Arnav was sleeping on his bed peacefully. It was about 7.00am. He heard few knocks on the door. He woke up And went to open the door. It was Ridhima. He knew that it gonna be difficult to get rid of her.
“Good morning. Aru.”
“Don’t make me vomit in the morning. My name is Arnav not Aru. You should learn that. And what are you doing this early morning in front of my room?”
“Don’t you want to go to college?”
“College is at 9. It’s only 7.00am”
“Ohh. Don’t you want to get ready. And where were you last night?”
“I don’t think I am bound to tell you.”
“I know. You are not bound to tell me. But aren’t you bound to tell your mom?”
“what? I have already told her where I was.”
“Don’t lie. I wasn’t with Sahil last night. I went to his house and you were not there. So would you mind telling me where were you?”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now. Good bye.” He was angry. He shut the door on her face and went to the washroom. He freshened up and had a bath. He knew an interrogation is waiting for him downstairs. He was preparing himself for that. After being ready in college uniform he came downstairs. His mom was in kitchen. He went to her. And said,
“Mom I am sorry.”
She turned back and replied, “You should be. What were you doing last evening? Who were you with?”
“Actually mom. I was with Sahil at first then I was with ...”
“With…”
“With Ayesha.” He said with a low voice.
“Ohh. Now she wants to get your attention. What’s wrong with that girl? Why are you with her?”
“She is just my junior mom and I was just helping her in her project.”
“You don’t usually talk to any juniors then why her?”
“I owe her.”
“Owe her? How?”
“You remember I had a small bike accident last year.?
“Yes. So what.?”
“I had hit her and she got injured and scooty was in terrible condition. And I felt sorry for her.”
“Ohh. But you told us some other story about that.”
“Yeah. Because I know if I had told the truth, papa wouldn’t have let me ride bike again.”
“Ohh. You should have told me about that before. Kitna bhala bura kehdiya us bichari ko jab galti to mere bete mein hi hey. And yes, you will be punished for that even now.”
“How and why?”
“because you made a mistake. You are banned to take your bike for a week.”
“Ohk mom sure. I accept your punishment.”
“Badi jaldi Maan Gaya tu.”
“Ohk mom. Give me the breakfast . I am hungry.”
“Go to the table. I have made your favourite pasta.”
“Thank you, mom. I love you.”
“I love you too beta.”
Ridhima was outside the kitchen listening to all the conversation. She was crushing her teeth. Meanwhile Arnav came out of the kitchen. He saw the unpleasant face of Ridhima. “So get ready to go in the bus.” He said her with a smile.
They are sitting in the bus. As usual Arnav was listening to the music on his airbuds. Here Ridhima was trying to get his attention. She has seen the lipstick mark on his white dress(the lipstick was marked when Arnav and Ayesha hugged eachother last night.) when she was sneaking into his room. She knew something was fishy but she didn’t ask him. After half an hour they arrived at the college.
They are heading to their class that, Arnav spotted Sahil. He waved at him calling his name. Sahil came near him and shook hands and gave a bro hug. He said “Good morning” to Ridhima without emotions and Ridhima did the same. Arnav asked her to give them some privacy and she went near her friends.
“Bro, where were you yesterday? I tried calling you but your phone was switched off. Ridhima came yesterday to our house asked me about you. I just told her that you were with me and went somewhere just before she came. She was terrible you know.”
“I know. She is a bit irritating. Actually my battery was dead and I forgot to charge it up. Today I saw your missed calls and messages.”
“But where were...” Sahil was saying something but Arnav cut him in middle and waved someone behind. He turned back and noticed Ayesha, Ritu and Sara were coming.
Arnav and Ayesha were a bit shy seeing eachother. They were acting weird and eachone noticed that.
“Are ab kyun sharma rhe ho? Kal to sab kaand kar Diya hey tum dono ne. Waise mujhe to ab Tak yakeen nhin ho rha ki Ayesha, meri innocent friend took gave the first kiss.” Ritu was saying nonstop without even concerned that Sara and Sahil were present there and they didn’t even know about it at all.
“What????” Sara and Sahil said in unison. “What did you say?
Ritu bit her tounge and looked at Ayesha who was planning how to torture her. She begged her sorry in eyes but she had already given a spoiler.
“So that’s where you were? Doing ilu ilu? I knew from the beginning that something is going on between both of you. But you never told me.” Sahil said with a disheartened look.
“Do you forget that he made you cry and you fell ill? Now both of you…. How?” Sara asked with confusion.
Ayesha had turned red and looking down her feet and wasn’t uttering a single word. Arnav noticed her and said, “So what? We like eachother. Is there any problem? We had some conflicts in the past. But it was just misunderstanding which is resolved. We confessed eachother our feelings. And that’s it. Simple. Now we are bf gf.”
“But how long will it last? They say college love starts in college and ends in college.” Sara said.
“They can say anything but it doesn’t get true. We want to know eachother more and I am pretty sure that we could be great couple. I know for sure I will admire her with this intensity till my last breath.”
“That’s a bit filmy. But tell me are you two going to keep this as a secret?” Sahil asked.
“Will it be good to keep it as a secret?” Arnav said looking at Ayesha. She nodded. “We don’t want Ridhima to know about this.”
“Sure. It’s a secret between us. But don’t you think we need some treat as a celebration.” Sahil asked
“Sure a dairy milk chocolate would be okay.” Ayesha said with a smile. Sahil replied, “No no, McDonald’s” with a smirk.
After the talk they went to their respective classes. During the break, Arnav came to meet Ayesha. Ayesha was with her friends. Seeing Arnav she came near him.
“Hi.” Arnav said.
“Hi. It was tough.”
“Yes. But I kinda liked it. And I think you like it too.”
“Hmm. You can say that. But I want to ask you something.”
“Hmm anything, but not here. Let’s grab an ice-cream 🍦. We can talk there.”
“Ohk let’s go.”
They went near a icecream man who is selling icecreams in his cart. They bought two chocolate icecreams cones. Then they spotted a shady place and sat there. While unwrapping the cover of the icecream, Arnav asked,
“You were telling me something. Tell me.”
“Yes. I wanted to know how did you come to college today? And did Ridhima come with you on your bike?”
“Umm yes. I denied in every possible way, but you know she somehow convinced my mom to come on bike. She was holding me so tightly that her perfume was covering my breathes. But what could I even do.”
Ayesha’s stopped licking her ice cream. It was slowly melting down the cone. She replied, “Go then make her yours so called girlfriend. You told me that you could handle her. But no. You seems to enjoy it. Ohk then I am going.” She stood up and was about to leave, but Arnav held her from her wrist and pulled back.
“Hey. What are you thinking of me? I am not that bad to make you sad.” He said with a smile. “We came by the bus, thanks to our accident.”
“What accident?. You got hit or something. Are you injured?”
“Are baba!! I am talking about our accident when we first met. At that time I lied to my parents that I lost my control. Today I told the truth. So my mom punished me and banned me to take the bike out for a week.”
“Ohh nice. I think it’s more like a gift then a punishment.”
“Yes. Now eat your icecream. It has already melted.”
“Yes. But wait, if you are not allowed to take the bike then how will you come to my birthday tomorrow?”
“I think you would have to invite one extra person to the party.”
“And who is that extra person?”
“Sahil. I can come with him.”
“He is already invited. I messaged him yesterday. I was also about to invite him today personally. But you know what happened. But no need to worry.”
“Hmm. Thank you. Ohk tell me what do you want as a gift? I know I am your gift. But you know the actual gift, the one which is wrapped with a beautiful cover.”
“I don’t really need anything.”
“Tell me. Anything you want I will give you.”
“Just a flower. It would be great.”
“Anything else? Umm a chocolate.”
“Only this. Anything else?”
“This will be more than enough.”
“Ok. As you wish. Are you free for a movie date??.”
“When??”
“Anytime when you are free.”
“Okay then this Sunday.”
“Ohk. Let’s go to the class.”
“Hmmm. Let’s go.”
They stood up and went to the classes. After the classes were over, all went to their home.
