"Wrong. This one too. How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
"I got it. Chill. I am trying here. These numbers just don't make sense to me." Nikhil scratched his forehead and focused.
After ten minutes, he showed me the answer. I hit him on his head. He got it wrong again. Maybe I was the bad teacher. I explained the problem to him again and he nodded like everytime.
"How did you even got in the college? We studied this in 12th grade," I said.
"Sports quota." He smiled cheekily.
I rolled my eyes. Doesn't he get tired with playing basketball all day? He showed me his answer and I nodded in approval. Finally.
"Someone is quite busy," Shreyas said and sat beside Nikhil. I looked up from my book and told him how Nikhil was being a total pain in the butt. Why did I agree to tutor him again? Divya said he was smart. I totally disagreed.
"Don't look at me like that. I am just not good at Maths okay?" Nikhil complained and I laughed.
"You got that wrong," Shreyas told him and Nikhil looked at me like I would murder him now. I decided to change the method of teaching. Everyone got their own pace.
I showed him a different approach to the questions and his eyes sparked up.
"Why didn't you tell me that earlier? It seems more easy this way," he asked and I told him that if he failed this time, I was going to start charging for tutoring him.
He got back to his work and Shreyas took out his diary. He started penning something down and I wondered why he was doing a diary entry in the middle of the day.
"It's not a personal diary. I write some songs and music notes here," he told me as if he read my mind.
I nodded my head. He must be writing some songs for that music program. The quarter finals were near and I wished Shreyas would come up as a winner.
"16 out of 25. Not bad." Nikhil checked his answer sheet and I gave him a small smile. I enjoyed these short questionnaires and his score was improving too. I patted myself on back.
"Good work, Nikhil. Keep it up," I complimented and he left after thanking me. Shreyas and I went to the cafeteria. I had been teaching Nikhil for three days now and he soaked most of my energy.
I took my seat and Shreyas sat beside me. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"What? I can't sit here?" he asked and took the menu.
"You always sit there." I motioned towards Ved's table.
"I would be alone. No one has arrived yet," he said and called the waiter.
"Don't you like to be alone?" I asked and took out my lunchbox.
"Who says? I ain't a loner," he replied and ordered a hamburger and some fries.
"Okay. If you say so," I said and began eating. I had brought dosa today.
( Dosað)
I offered him since this was the first time he was sitting with me in cafeteria. I didn't like sharing but I didn't want to be rude too. A big compromise.
He took a bite. Great. He then asked me if he could exchange his order with my lunchbox. Of course not. I gave him a stinky eye.
"Just kidding. Your Mom is a great cook," he complimented and ate his burger while taking a few bites from my tiffin inbetween.
"Isn't it Shreyas?" Rashi asked as she sat down. Divya and Surbhi followed the suit.
I nodded my head but sensed Shreyas tensing beside me. Still not good with socializing, I thought.
"How come you are here?" Rashi asked and glanced between me and him.
"Shreyas! What are you doing there?" Ved asked and glanced at me.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from my friends?" he asked sharply to me.
"Excuse me?" I glared back.
Shreyas got up and told Ved to calm down. Ved looked at Shreyas and back at me. He huffed and went back to his seat. Shreyas followed him with his food tray and I cursed Ved.
"What was that about?" Divya asked and I shrugged my shoulders.
"Nothing to bother," Surbhi said and glanced at me.
Tanya changed the topic and Divya instantly got involved in the conversation. Rashi was still looking at me curiously. I gave her a smile and she gave me 'I am not convinced look'. I pursed my lips and wondered if I would have to tell her too. Damn.
"Did you say yes to the date then?" Divya asked.
"For the millionth time, it's not a date!" I replied. This girl was watching too many romantic movies.
"You can join me if you want. I will ask Nikhil if I can bring you people too," I said and they all exchanged a look.
They shook their heads in sync and I doubted they were trying to hook me up with Nikhil. How many times did I have to say we were just friends? Even Surbhi was in this conspiracy.
"We don't want to disturb you two. Enjoy your time. Not too much though." Divya wiggled her eyebrows and I slapped her on the arm.
"Hey Sandhya!" Nikhil called and the girls began giggling.
"Hi Nikhil! I am here too you know," Surbhi said and Nikhil looked at her in confusion.
"Hi Surbhi." He smiled and nodded at others. I introduced my friends and such great people they were, began singing romantic songs while Nikhil and I talked.
Nikhil looked like they were crazy and I told him to ignore them. He gave me the club's address and told me to wear something casual. He asked me if he should pick me up from my home. I told him I would manage by myself. He left after glancing at the girls.
"Thank you for acting like idiots," I said.
"You should have accepted his offer," Tanya said and I shook my head.
"If you all are done playing matchmaker, can we leave? We will be late for our classes."
"You are so boring," Rashi complained.
I pulled out my tongue at her and they began teasing me about Nikhil. They had changed the target from Tanya to me. Great.
Ã~Ã
"Good work team."
Yay! We got all the questions correct. We all decided to take a break. The preparations for the competition were on full swing.
"I brought some snacks," Mayank announced and Rajeev started handing out the packet of chips and cold drinks to us.
"Don't overwork yourself kid," Rajeev said as he gave me the snacks.
I nodded my head and Mayank started talking on some random topic.
"He is really enthusiastic about this," Rajeev said.
"What have you been up to these days? I haven't seen you much in college," I asked.
"Busy with the gym."
"Okay."
He was working while studying. That was so cool. Oh right. I could ask him.
"Do you know any self defense classes around here?" I asked.
"Our gym is going to start those next month. You can join there," he replied. He appreciated my decision and told me to ask other girls too. It would be really beneficial.
He gave me his Gym's contact card and his number. I saved it in my contact list.
"Bouncer?" He narrowed his eyes at the name I saved his number under.
I gave him a toothy grin and he shook his head.
"You do boxing?" I asked.
"Yup."
"Cool. Teach me then."
"Focus on one thing at a time," he said and patted my head.
"Okay guys! You all may leave now. Thank you for your hard work," Mayank announced.
"Let's go." I picked up my bag and put the leftovers in it.
"Be careful on your way," Rajeev said as I got out of the club room. They stayed behind to discuss something with our team leader.
I nodded and waved him goodbye. He was always acting like a big brother. Not that I was complaining.
I hopped down the hallway happily, singing a nursery rhyme. My mind was always on shuffle. Any song could pop up anytime.
''Ba, Ba, black sheep
Have you any wool?~
Yes sir, yes sir. Three bags full~
One for my master
One for the dame
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane~''
"Aren't you too old for singing that?" Ved asked.
"Aren't you too old for singing that?" I mimicked him in a nasally voice. He had to ruin my good mood.
"Your team will definitely loose," he taunted.
"No we won't. Why would we?"
"You are in it."
"Why don't you go and mind your own business?"
"I am. This is my college too. Why don't you leave the team before you embarrass Mayank bhaiyya in front of Dean?"
"Will you just shut up? I am not quitting."
"Whatever."
"Why are you even talking to me? Where is your loverboy?"
"Loverboy?"
"Yeah. Ayush. He is always stuck with you. Why isn't he here now?"
"You have a dirty mind, Sandhya."
"Well, thank you very much."
"No wonder you are still single. You need to do something about that mouth of yours."
"Talk about yourself."
"What about me? I can get any girl I want. Worry about yourself."
"Well someone called me a slut. I think I am doing pretty fine."
"Why you little-"
"Hold up!" Ayush interfered.
"Oh! The loverboy is here. I will leave you two alone," I said and bowed mockingly.
"What?" Ayush asked and Ved told him to ignore me.
"Toodles," I said and started walking away.
"Let's go Ayush. I just wasted my precious time." I heard Ved.
"Same pinch!" I yelled and he shouted something but I couldn't make out what he said.
"You are late," Surbhi complained as I reached the tea stall.
"Sorry," I replied and Tanya gave me a cup of tea.
Yum. I relaxed and told them I would be out of station next weekend. They were planning to go for a movie which would be released next Friday. I was going to miss out the fun.
"We can go when you come back," Divya suggested.
"No. It's okay. I would be tired after I return and I don't want to hold you all back. Enjoy the movie but no spoilers."
We gossiped for half an hour and realized it was getting late. Rashi lived quite far and her brother used to pick her up daily. Today he couldn't make it, so he had sent his driver. She left first, then after few minutes, Divya and Tanya also got in Tanya's car and drove away.
"How many years do you get in jail if you kill someone?" I asked Surbhi.
"Who is the victim?"
"Someone whose name starts with V."
"He troubled you?"
"No. He was telling me to move out of the team as we would lose because of me."
"Ignore him. Just prove him wrong by winning the competition."
I nodded my head. I will win this and make him sorry for discouraging me. Don't underestimate me Ved. You should know better than anyone else.