Chapter 7. Team

🎶 Thode Kam Ajnaabi (play after asterisk)

Published on 06.05.2022

| INAAYA RAI |

"I kissed him."

Nikita repeated for the nth time in the last half an hour.

"I thought he kissed you." Alisha said and Nikita clenched and unclenched her hand in vexation.

"He kissed me and I kissed him back." She gritted out in return.

"I'm still saying break your marriage and do whatever matargashti (fun) you wanna do." I stated again for the nth time.

Nikita plopped herself on the chair and exhaled sharply. "I really think I've the worst set of friends. Instead of helping me out, you two are on completely different tangent. Alisha is mad because I didn't tell y'all I liked Abhishek since last year and you can't stop saying that I should break my marriage as if it's a piece of cake."

It was break time and we were in an empty classroom trying to deal with the so-called midlife existential crisis of Nikita.

"He likes you. You like him. Kiss, makeout do whatever the hell you want to do." Alisha said casually.

"She's off limits for him." I reminded her.

"Not atleast the next two months. Nikita isn't engaged." Alisha said.

Nikita gasped. "So you think it's okay to play with his feelings? And also, I end up breaking my own heart?"

"Do you really think it's gonna be serious? He's a playboy- "

"It's not okay." I intervene. "She might not be engaged but she does have a commitment even though she doesn't want to be a part of it. Just because others morals are low, doesn't mean you've to stoop to their level."

Alisha rolled her eyes. "Okay my highness, you win. So tell me what should we do?"

I looked at Nikita who was wringing her hands. "It doesn't matter you like Abhishek or not. The thing is you don't want to get married. So you need to speak up irrespective of someone else being in the picture or not. I really don't know what else to say to you because you can't sail on two boats at the same time without drowning."

"I shouldn't have kissed him back." Nikita mumbled. "I should have pushed him away when I realised how close he was to me. But I couldn't resist." Her shoulders deflated. "I've liked him since long. To be able to get something you wish for isn't something that happens with me regularly. But anyways," she sighed and looked at her fingers. "I'll figure something out."

I felt pity for Nikita. I knew it wasn't because she couldn't resist but because she was tired of resisting for so long. She's tired of the pressure from her family, she's tired of walking on the path they want her to walk on. I've observed that most of the kids who are spoilt actually have pretty strict parents. Not saying that Nikita is some spoilt brat neither being judgemental but just saying on basis of my observation. It's like the more you try to trap someone, make them abide to rules and regulations, the more they want to escape, want to break those so-called rules. It's the way the human mind works. The more you try to stop it from something, the more it craves for it.

"Has your opinion about him changed?" Alisha inquires pulling me out of my thoughts. I point at myself and she nods confirming that the question is indeed directed at me.

"Who?" I ask dumbly.

"Ayansh obviously. He put the jacket over your shoulders so you don't feel cold." She says dreamily and I itch to throw something at her face.

"Maybe he puts jacket over every girl who feels cold." I state.

Nikita chuckles and Alisha looks at me in disbelief.

"You've a very twisted sense of humour." Nikita comments.

I wanted to say that I wasn't kidding. On the contrary, I was pretty serious but Alisha beats up to me.

"She doesn't has one to begin with." She smiles and shoves the last morsel of aloo paratha in her mouth.

I shake my head and get up. "Just five minutes left for the break to be over. Let's get back to our classes."

"You aren't coming with us after college?" Nikita asks me as we were walking.

"No. They're bringing some changes in orientation program so they need student feedbacks on it. Then, they're arranging conference on the day of intercollegiate competition that's going to be held in our institution. So we need to prepare for that. Plus, the Dean said that to help us in our intercollege project and research work to prepare reports and presentation, he has called someone who can guide us which I feel is pretty stupid but whatever." I brief her.

"What's stupid in that?" Alisha inquires.

"I think our group which consists of students from different streams is capable enough to carry out everything on its own. We don't need a guide or a mentor. But I guess the Dean wants to take the extra mile to win since the competition will be in our college in a month." I shrug.

"Makes sense. Best of luck." Alisha says in understanding and gives me a side hug.

In the evening, we were all gathered in the seminar hall. We in the sense the eight students including me who were selected for the competition as a group. As a team leader, I should actually sit in the front but I sat behind everyone because I'm sleepy and I can't help the yawns that keep escaping my mouth every now and then. It would be really embarrassing to let others notice how least interested I'm in today's meeting when everyone is actually anticipating the arrival of the person who's gonna help us considering I'm the team leader.

It has been more than fifteen minutes and we're still waiting for the Dean and the person accompanying him. I've half a mind to get up, leave and pick myself a coffee at the cafe opposite our college. I'm in the midst of another yawn when my mouth snaps close and my eyes widen at the sight of the people who entered the hall. More like the specific person who entered.

I don't think I've been more awake today then I'm in this moment.

"Not this again! What did I do to deserve this pain?" I grit out in frustration and I don't realise that I was well audible to others until they all turn their heads to look at me with confusion. I force a smile and shake my head.

When I look forward, his eyes are already looking at me. He doesn't look surprised as if he expected this. Ofcourse, he expected this, he expected me. He would've got the list of students probably before coming here. But he doesn't look pleased either. He looks as if he would be anywhere but here. If that's the case, then I'm pleased because mutual feelings buddy. I tear away my gaze when the Dean calls my name.

"You okay Inaaya?" He asks.

"Yes sir." I give him a polite smile.

He then proceeds to introduce Ayansh to us and vice versa. Ayansh looks awkward. He hasn't said a word since the moment he has arrived, just forced a formal smile on his face during the introductions. He's just patiently listening to whatever is being said by the Dean with his gaze on the floor. He's fiddling with his fingers and is tapping his foot. He looks nervous. I almost believe he's the shy kind but it doesn't fit perfectly into the narrative that has been offered to me by him. The guy had the audacity to propose me when I didn't even remember him. I don't think I'm moving on from that incident anytime soon. But then in the supermarket he was so desperate to avoid a conversation with someone, admitted that he wasn't a great conversationalist. It feels as if he carries different personalities everywhere. Weird-

"So we're done for today."

I blink and press my lips together. Realisation dawns upon me that I haven't registered a single word that the Dean had been speaking all this while because I was so busy figuring out a random guy and so intrigued by the way he was tapping his feet. Like really Inaaya? So disappointed.

We all stand up and mumble a 'thank you'. When we're told we can leave, I feel relieved. I stand up only to be called up by the Dean. Ayushi, with whom I've been the closest in the group asks if she should wait for me outside but I usher her to go. The rest of them wave at me and leave. I grab my bag and walk up to the front.

"Inaaya," he smiles at me. I'm grateful that he trusts me a lot, believes in me and apparently he also feels that I'm one of the best students that the institute has ever had but moments like these really make me dislike the fact that it's me and not someone else. Why me? I don't even make an effort to look at Ayansh because I'm already loathing how the entire time he occupied my thoughts. "Take his number," he points at Ayansh and me being stubborn still doesn't avert my gaze, "and make a group so it will be easy to coordinate."

I nod reluctantly. I can't believe I've to exchange numbers with him. "Tell me you number." I say as politely as I could and open the contacts app in my phone.

Ayansh tells his number and I save it.

"Anything else, Sir?" I ask out of courtesy, internally praying that he asks me to leave. I really need some fresh air.

Nikita had said during the break, "to be able to get something you wish for isn't something that happens with me regularly" and I don't think I've ever related to her more than I do in this moment.

"You two can meet and Inaaya, you can brief him about everything. I know y'all have already decided the theme and all so just fill him up with the progress." The Dean says to me and I feel my throat going dry.

It's this moment when I turn my neck to look at Ayansh who looks at me blankly, more like helplessly. It's comforting to know that his emotions match with mine.

"So when should we meet?" I grit out painfully.

"I'm usually free after six." He says in a clipped tone.

At this point, I'm really wondering if the Dean can feel the tension radiating from the two of us because it would be really surprising if he can't with the way our interaction hardly has anything close to being nice or friendly. We're literally forcing ourselves to speak to each other.

"I've my piano classes tomorrow so we can meet on Wednesday if you don't mind." I say.

"Fine with me." He agrees and I know that's the end of this conversation.

"Great. It's sorted then." The Dean says cheerfully and I give him a small smile.

"Yeah. We'll do our best." I say earnestly. "I think I should leave now."

"Ofcourse. Go safely."

"I will." I give him a last smile, turn at Ayansh, give him a polite nod and leave the hall.

I think I can finally breathe now.

*

Wednesday evening came sooner than expected. It's one thing to accidentally run into Ayansh Mehra but another thing to personally call him up, tell him the location of the meet and show up for the same. To even think that we're going to work in a team, as a team doesn't give me good vibes. It's making me nervous, making me feel confounded and somehow I know it's a terrible idea.

I told him to meet me at the Sunshine cafe opposite our college at 6:30 pm. I take a deep breath and enter. My eyes search for him and I spot him at one of the corner tables. He's sitting with his elbows propped on the table and forehead rested on his clasped hands. I walk up to him and knock on the table to get his attention and sit on the chair opposite him.

"Oh hey," he says and I can sense the discomfort by the way he looks at me, smiles at me. He doesn't even know what else to say.

"Hello." I somehow have the urge to make him feel comfortable. If we're to work together for a month, talk to each other, make plans, take decisions then we need to get rid of the awkwardness between us. I really can't function if every meeting with him is going to be suffocating. So I add, "Sorry for making you wait."

He looks a little surprise. Is he surprised at my apology? If yes, then I don't blame him because I'm surprised too. "It's alright. It has just been five minutes since I've been here." He informs me.

The waiter comes to ask our order. I order a lime mojito for myself and he orders a cold coffee again. Does he still fear that I might end up spilling a hot one?

"You know right that I won't spill coffee on you again?" I say sceptically.

He looks at me as if contemplating his response. "That's- that's relieving to know."

I really feel like laughing at his acceptance that he really thought I would do it again. We sit in silence because we both don't know from where to start. I realise that it isn't going to work this way. "Listen- "

"Okay- "

We both speak at the same time and stop after a word. He chuckles and I do the same.

"You first." He tells me.

"As much as this is difficult, we've no other choice." I start and he nods. "Let's be civil and act professionally. It's just a matter of one month we've to see each other and work together. Let's keep whatever happened till now aside and focus on the task." I keep it short and to the point.

"I wanted to say the same." He admits. "We can do this."

"We can." I smile, genuinely.

Our orders arrive. And the next half an hour we spend sipping our drink and me filling him up with all the information and progress regarding the project. He makes notes and it's impressive to see how serious he's about the whole thing. I also envy that his handwriting is better than mine. Mine isn't bad but his is better.

"So your age is 23?" I ask once we're done with everything.

"22." He corrects me. "I was enrolled in school a year early."

I nod. "I'm 20."

"Oh okay." He retorts awkwardly.

He didn't ask me but I felt like telling him since he told his. At the back of my mind, the apology that I owe him is still bothering me but I'm unable to bring myself up to say it. It's pathetic I swear.

When the bill arrives, Ayansh pays the money before I can say something. I open my purse to take out the amount to return him.

"No need of it." He interrupts.

"I don't like when people pay for me." I say sternly as I keep the money on his side of the table. I hear some yelling so I get up.

A few tables away from us, I notice a commotion. I walk a little forward with my bag over my shoulder to get a better view.

I don't see when Ayansh comes and stands besides me. "I think we must leave." He whispers.

"One second." I hold up a hand.

"It's not our matter. They'll deal with it."

"One second Ayansh." I say a little harshly to stop him.

"I'm sorry Sir. It wasn't intentional." The waiter murmurs, keeping his gaze to the floor.

"Your sorry doesn't fix it." The man who was sitting lashes out at him and stands up. "Will you be able to pay for my expensive suit?"

"I'm sorry. I lost my balance due to the push from behind and the latte fell on you. I can take you to the washroom to get cleaned." He apologized again, desperately. I could feel the embarassment radiating from his voice and I felt horrible for the poor guy. Imagine getting yelled and disrespected my someone and people are just watching helplessly? Awful.

"Push from behind?" The man mocked. "Stop finding excuses. If you don't know your work then quit it." He screeched and the waiter flinched at the tone. "And does your sorry fix my suit? Do you even know its price? Pathetic, useless people." He humiliated and that was the limit of my patience.

The other staff of the cafe had also gathered and were apologizing. It actually raised my temper because instead of throwing that arrogant piece of shit out, they were bending down in front of him. I made my way to go to his table. I could hear Ayansh try to stop me but it didn't matter.

"I shouldn't have come here. Infact, nobody should come here. Such careless and unprofessional staff- "

"Apologise." I said to the man firmly.

He turned his gaze and looked at me curiously. "Who are you?"

"None of your business." I state. "But apologize to them for being so mean and rude unnecessarily."

He stares for a couple of seconds and then laughs. "Unnecessarily?" He shakes his head in disbelief. "Do you even know who I am? Don't involve yourself in matters which doesn't concern you."

"You're a pathetic man who just knows how to abuse people who are inferior to you. And oh, not to forget, someone who has anger issues and needs help." I say calmly, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.

He clenches his jaw and looks away before looking back at me. "You're a woman so I'm not raising my voice at you," he says, pointing a finger at me. "But be in your limits and get lost. Don't mess with me. It won't be good." He warns.

"I'm flattered." I fake grin and place a hand on my chest. "What an ideal man you're, aren't you? Someone who doesn't raise their voice on women, instead threatens them." I hear someone chuckle and I see the man's temper rising and nostrils flaring. "Apologize and leave." I repeat myself without beating around the bush.

"And what if I don't?" He raises a brow at me.

I look at him blankly and then smirk. The next moment he knew was his shoes were wet too.

"What the actual fuck!?" He shrieked and I swear it was so satisfying to hear.

"Wow. Your shoes are wet too." I said keeping the glass back on the table. "Now you can say that you got wet in the rain." I added lamely.

When the man looks up at me, I knew I'd ripped his last thread of patience.

"Apologize and leave." It wasn't me who said it. Before the man could say something to me, Ayansh speaks up. I didn't even know when he came and stood beside me.

"I'm sure you wouldn't like to mess with us. Would you like to mess with the Mehras who own Riswan?" His voice is firm but something doesn't feel right. My gaze falls on his hand by his side. His fist is closed tightly but I can see it trembling. His face is stoic but he's nervous. I can see it, I can feel it.

I look back at the man and his face is pale, drain of all colour. Obviousfuckingly! Nobody would want to mess with people who own multinational companies and are so powerful. I hate when people use their background to win some argument or battle. That's the reason I avoid bringing up my own background until and unless I don't see any other way.

"Having a higher status doesn't mean you keep humiliating and disrespecting people who are at a lower level. If you don't have the decency to behave well with others who are serving you then stop visiting restuarants and cafes and other such places." I tilt my head and repeat calmly, "So apologize for your behaviour and leave."

The man doesn't look me in the eye. He keeps his eyes on the floor and says in a small voice, "I'm sorry." Immediately, he picks up his briefcase and leaves.

The waiter and staff start thanking us but Ayansh leaves. Excusing myself from everyone, I follow him outside. It's raining. I see him leaning against the wall on the left under the roof and staring upwards. I walk and stand beside him. I don't say anything neither does he. He looks a little shaken up and that concerns me.

"Do I need to apologise for anything?" I inquire, because I wanted him to be comfortable with me and now I feel as if I've pushed him out of his comfort zone.

He shakes his head quickly. "I'm sorry." He mumbles closing his eyes.

I want to ask what he's sorry for but I don't because something tells me that he doesn't want to talk. He wants a moment with himself and I give him that. I lean against the wall too. I start texting my brother when Ayansh speaks up.

"You don't need to call a cab. I can drop you if you want." He tells me and I chuckle thinking that he assumed that I was booking a cab for myself.

"I was texting my brother. He said he'll pick me up on his way back home. He'll be here in a while," I explain. "You can leave by the way."

"No, it's okay." He says awkwardly. "I'll wait till he comes."

At any other time, I would have reprimanded him and let him know that he doesn't need to wait. He doesn't owe me that nor does he need to wait thinking that I'm a girl but I don't. A silence envelopes us and for the first time ever I feel comfortable with him, in his presence. Not uneasy, not awkward but comfortable. We stand there without exchanging any word. The rain falls, the people talk, the vehicles move and we seem to be at a standstill.

I've never been someone who loves rain yet I can't help but admire the moment right now. I don't know what's different but I think that the fact that I spoke up for someone, took a stand for the right makes me feel peaceful and good about myself. I wonder if Ayansh feels the same about himself too while he's lost in his own thoughts. I turn my head to look at him and I pause as my eyes fall on him.

And I think as if I'm noticing him for the very first time.

A smile plays on his lips. Not forced, not formal but a sincere one. The smile that makes people look beautiful, the smile that makes you want to smile, the smile that makes my heart skip a beat. The night hides away the hues in his hazel eyes but they fail to dim the way they twinkle as they gaze at the pelting rain. His one hand is shoved into the pocket of his black trousers and his other hand is outstretched, letting the tiny drops of water meet his palm and then slip away through the gaps between his fingers. He's wearing a white shirt, its sleeves rolled up almost till his elbows. He isn't fair but he isn't dusky either; his complexion is somewhere in the middle. He's lean, not bulky, not too muscular and that gives him a boyish charm. He's a little taller than me, maybe two or three inches. His hair isn't set. It's ruffled, some strands fall on his forehead but he doesn't bother to push them back. He looks carefree, something that I think I must be seeing for the first time since we met.

He must be handsome generally but he's beautiful in this moment.

Ayansh cups his palm and let the water accumulate. Then he splashes them upward with a childlike innocence and his smile turns into a grin, the twinkle in his eyes never fading.

For sometime, I think he has forgotten everything around him. For sometime, I feel I've forgotten everything but him.

He withdraws his hand and I blink. I swiftly turn my gaze to my front when I feel him turning his face towards me. I can feel my heart pounding against my ribcage. I don't know for how long I had been staring at Ayansh but just the knowledge that I'd been staring- more like admiring him- makes my skin flushed. I hear him say something but my mind doesn't register his words. The sound of a blaring horn makes me look in its direction. Relief washes over me when I see my brother. I don't even turn to look at Ayansh again.

"Okay bye." I say hastily and before I could listen to him back, I rush towards the car with a hand over my head.

I sit inside the car. My brother is saying something. Maybe he's scolding me for running in the rain since I hear words like umbrella and coming but I don't register anything completely. I don't look out of the window to see if Ayansh is looking towards me, if he's still standing there or has he got to his car. I press myself against the seat and let out a breath.

And it's only when my brother starts driving that I look behind to see Ayansh's car taking a turn to go in the opposite direction.

***

Guess this has to be the first chapter in this book where I honestly feel satisfied with my writing. I really, desperately hope y'all liked it. Do give me your reviews. Also, lemme know what y'all prefer more, author's pov or the character's? Love to all. Have a great day :)

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