CHAPTER 14
MISHTI'S POV
I slump into my seat as I think about my next class, History of Journalism. I usually suck at History so I think it is pretty obvious why I hate this subject. Ketki sits beside me, at the end of the row, with the seat on my other side empty. Apparently, she loves History. I can't believe my new close friend loves history, the subject I despise the most.
It has been one whole week at college, and I am enjoying myself thoroughly. Ketki and I have been close friends, hanging around with each other almost all the time. She is a whole bundle of energy, laughing and spreading happiness all the time. I am really happy I found at least one good and genuine friend. And also, her role model is Mrs. Meenakshi Rajvansh. Apparently, she is her inspiration and always looks up to her, as she built her own empire brick by brick without the help of any outsider.
Well, that is true, I guess. Professionally, I admire her a lot as well. But sadly, she couldn't keep things well with her only son, Abir.
Throughout this week, Abir has been dropping me to college and Jugnu Bhaiya would pick me up. Every day, once he drops me, he doesn't leave the college and waits until I enter the college premises. It is these little things that make my heart flutter and melt immediately, as if it were ice.
As our Professor walked into the class, we all stood up and greeted him and he began his usual roll call. After another 5 minutes, we were interrupted by a boy who I have never seen in this class before.
He had nice broad shoulders and a good stature. He had well refined features and striking grey eyes. One could definitely say he had good looks, but not as good-looking as Abir.
He walked in and went directly to our professor, "Good morning sir. I am Nishanth Sharma, a new admission. This is my first day at college.", he spoke in his deep voice.
I turned to the other benches to actually see most of the girls swooning over him. I rolled my eyes and turned towards Ketki to whisper gossip, but I am stunned to see her gaping at him like he is the last guy on the planet. I wave my hands in front of her and she clears her throat and comes out of her day-dream, clearly flustered.
"Don't tell me you were staring at him", I whisper-yelled at her.
"Hey! My school did not have guys even half as good looking like he is. So, it is not my fault I got stunned seeing this guy.", she whispered back to me.
"Don't worry there are quite a few good-looking seniors in our college. You can stare at them day in and day out."
She immediately stamped on my foot.
Really hard.
I winced in pain as she muttered a few incoherent curses, "Girl, you don't need to get all violent here."
She rolled her eyes in response.
A few things I like about her company is that I can be myself around her without having to put on any façade and I have developed this comfort level within just a week's time. I can share all my deepest secrets with her, without having the fear of being judged.
"Go and take a seat", my thoughts were interrupted by the voice of our professor. The new boy walked in between our class and took the seat right beside me and gave me a smile. I smiled at him back and I immediately turned towards Ketki to whisper in her ear.
"Hey Ketu, I think the two of us have sat in the wrong seats."
Again, my foot was being stamped on.
This time, even harder.
What is with her and stamping my foot?
I shake my head and shoo away my thoughts as I try to focus on my class. Whoever has made this timetable has no sense. Who will have history in the very first period and not sleep?
I sigh and try to catch onto the ramble that my professor is currently doing.
***
It has been two weeks since Nishanth entered the college and at every History of Journalism class, he sits at our desk and beside me. He seems to be very sweet and he has come to this college with a scholarship for his cricket.
Right now, I am waiting outside my college along with Ketki for my car. Jugnu Bhaiya should have reached by now, but he isn't here yet. Unfortunately, my phone's battery is dead and I am not in a position to call him now. If it gets even later, I could borrow Ketki's phone, I guess.
Suddenly a very familiar sleek black car stopped in front of me and I gasped once I realized whose it was.
What is he doing here?
The door of the car opened and Abir stepped out in a light blue suit that made him look godly. He ran towards me with a goofy grin and once he reached me, he immediately took my college bag from my hand and slung it over his shoulder.
"Come on, Mishtipie, it's time to go back home."
I still looked at him like I just saw a fish on the shore. He took hold of my hand and tried to drag me back to the car, but my new best friend ran and blocked our way.
"Hello mister. Who do you think you are? Are you trying to abduct my friend?"
He raised a single eyebrow at her, "And who are you?"
I interrupted them, "Guys okay wait. So, Abir, this is Ketki, my friend at college and Ketu, he is Abir, my brother's best friend and mine too."
She had her mouth in an 'o' as realization dawned upon her and a sheepish smile slowly took its place.
She outstretched her hand for him to clasp it, "Um, it's nice to meet you I guess."
He smiled and shook her hand, "Same here."
He then turned to me, "Come on Mishtipie, we need to get back there before the traffic."
I nodded at him and quickly muttered a bye to her and left, with him holding my right hand and dragging me across the crowd.
Once I settled on the passenger seat, I heard someone scream my name. I turned to see Nishanth sprinting towards me with something in his hand.
I rolled down my window and once he reached me, he panted heavily and handed me a pen, "Hey Mishti, I forgot to return your pen after class today. Thank you for it though."
I smiled at him, "No issues. Bye!"
I waved at him and he waved at me back and then I turned my gaze back to the front. I slowly turned to Abir to see him scowling.
I frowned and snapped my fingers to bring his attention to me. I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly.
"Nothing. Who was that guy by the way?", he asked me. He tried to act it out cool but I could tell that he was nervous.
I chuckled slightly, "That's Nishanth. He sits beside me at History of Journalism. He's a nice guy."
He nodded slowly, processing the new information.
And then I remember the question that I wanted to ask him, "Where's Jugnu Bhaiya? Why are you here?"
He placed his hand on his left chest dramatically, as if I had shot an arrow at him, "Don't you like my company? You hurt me Mishtipie, right here."
Huh. Over-dramatic Rajvansh.
I rolled my eyes at him and turned to the front, "Cut the act and tell me Abir."
He huffed in response, "Okay fine. My meeting got over earlier today. So, my work got over early today. So, I called up Jugnu Bhaiya and told him I would pick you up."
I nodded slightly in response.
"How was the meeting?"
He shrugged, "Good I think."
I nodded back at him and turned outside towards the window. Rajkot is actually a nice place to live in. I looked at the numerous shops lined outside until something caught my eye.
"Abir! Stop the car! Please! Right now!"
Taken aback at my sudden outburst, he parked the car at the left corner of the road and rose his eyebrows questioningly.
I got off the car in response and he followed suit. Once he reached me, I pulled him towards the ice cream stall on the side of the road., despite his continuous protests.
"Bhaiya, please give us one chocolate and one strawberry ice cream.", I requested the vendor.
When he gave me two ice cream cones, Abir sighed heavily before taking his purse from his pocket and paying the vendor. I then handed over the strawberry one to Abir. He rolled his eyes and took it from me. Unwrapping it, we both started licking the creamy treat.
I smiled at the young boy who was licking away the ice cream happily, without any inhibitions or any problems and with a smile on his lips. Somethings never change. And one of them is his love for strawberry.
By the time we finish our cones, he points at my face. I raise my eyebrows questioningly. He just walks closely towards me in reply. My heart rate increased all of a sudden, at the new proximity. He brought his hand close to my face and the next second, he wiped the excess ice cream off my nose. I smiled at him sheepishly before he shook his head with a distant smile and asked me, "Why are you like this?"
"Like what?"
"So cute."
I coy smile appeared on my face, "Not as much as you are."
On our way back home, he kept cracking silly jokes just to make me laugh and smile. With him around me, I felt happy, comfortable, peaceful and serene.
What else do I need in my life?
***
Hey guys! This is Chapter 14!
Hope you guys liked it!
Thank you!