chapter 10

       Aru waited for response but on receiving none she tensed a bit. " Don't tell me you fell asleep." " Vibha?" " Vibhavari?" . She took out her phone , turning on the selfie camera to check on the other. " She really did." Aru mumbled sighing and looking at the screen. " She looks one of those puppies. "  she joked to herself.  somehow it was difficult to resist clicking the picture. Let's say her finger accidentally slipped clicking the middle button. It looked so perfect. She felt weird nervousness take over her as she looked at it. And the fact that Vibha still was sleeping on her shoulder made it even weird. She once again raised her camera to get a better look. Yet again she clicked a few more pics.    What's even wrong with me? But she looks so cute. Aru checked her phone and realised she isn't going to make it to this lecture as well. All thanks to this sleepyhead. She sat there quietly watching the three pups play around having nothing better to do. [ Time Skip ]     Aru's phone rung breaking the peace there. [ On Call ]Aru:Hello? Malini: Where are you? You went home without telling us?    She didn't know how to answer this. Where was she?Malini: Hello?Aru : Where are you?Malini: We went back. We have class to attend.Aru : Oh okay. Malini: Yeah. Aru : I will be sitting for last two lectures and then return. Malini: Okay. Aru : Yeah. Bye. Malini: Bye.        Aru sighed as she cut the phone. Luckily the question was successfully avoided. " What time is it ?" " 4:15 " " I slept that long?" " Hmm" " You didn't wake me up?" Aru fell silent at that. " Why?" " I don't like disturbing anyone who's asleep. " Vibha looked at the puppy who too was fast asleep. " So am nothing special?" , Vibha asked pouting " You are!" Aru unintentionally reacted . " Really?" " Get up! I need to attend atleast last two lectures. " Aru  ignored her gathering her phone and bag, she pointed at the puppy and said,  " Get him off me ." Vibha lazily picked up the puppy who was disturbed by sudden change in surface.     " You gotta sleep down there now. She has lectures to attend." , Vibha spoke to the animal who probably didn't even understand a single word. Aru chuckled at how messy yet cute Vibha looked. Her hairs all scattered over her face , eyes not fully opening , her sleepy voice , lazy moments everything was funny to her. " Don't laugh. Help me up." Vibha extended her hand and Aru just gave her an uninterested stare. " Please." Rolling her eyes , she helped the girl nevertheless.     " Let's go home. " " No we are attending the lectures " . " Not we , you. " That earned Vibha a death glare enough to have her change her decision within an instant. " Woah woah. Calm down. I am coming. Don't scare me. " she teased , pretending to be scared . " You have no choice. You wasted my so much time. .." " Was it really waste of time?"  Aru looked at her eyes and she actually looked offended. " Well not really , it's ...." she couldn't change her statement and Vibha didn't even wait for her to do that. She just walked ahead.      What now? Is she really offended? I shouldn't have said that.         She stood there turning back to take one last look at the view . A small smile crept on her lip. It was one of the best times perhaps . She needed to appologise. She got down from the door looking at the slightly dark staircase. Was it dark earlier? She hadn't noticed these details while coming but the way here was really lonely and deserted. Pretty more creepy. She left? What now? How do I go back? I don't even have her number. I gave her mine but I don't have hers.      Aru felt her legs go weak at her thoughts. She stepped back. Back onto the terrace. Atleast it was lit up by the daylight. What after it gets dark? How will I go back ? I don't even know where I am. I shouldn't have- " You are staying there?" for the first time the mocking stern voice felt like a huge relief and she ran down till the second last stair Vibha was standing on. Her usual cold face back . She wasn't having the mocking expression or playful smile she often displayed around her. That somehow disheartened Aru . The mischievous grin replaced by a blank stare wasn't helping at all. The look which annoyed her was missing and this poker face was scary .    "I- i am sorry. ", she mumbled, her voice almost inaudible. " What for?" " I didn't mean to -" " It's fine. Let's go back. Lecture begins in 10 mins." she said leading the way . Aru tagged along like a lost puppy. She wasn't alone anymore but that didn't mean she wasn't scared at all. Suddenly Vibha stopped,  turning  around to face her. Aru stood in her place waiting for her to say something. " Scared , are we?" " Kind of ." Vibha extended her hand for the other to hold. " I am here. Don't worry. " those mere words even with flat tone felt a lot more better than she had even thought words to .     Without a second thought she  held her hand and let her lead. " Vibha.." " Hmm..." " Can we come back here again? " That earned her an amused look. " I thought you said it was a waste of time?" " I'd like to waste more. " Vibha didn't have any better reaction than an amused laugh. " Please?" " If you are going to ask that sweetly how can I even refuse?" Aru clinged to her arm like some happy koala. Vibha let her. She found it pretty amusing for someone who actually avoided her like some mosquito.           " Same way?", Vibha asked as today the two had headed out together to go back home. " Yeah. Two lanes ahead of you. " " Why do you know where I live?" " Because you live in middle of my way back home. " " So you stalk me way back?" " Why would I?" " Then why do you know where I live?" " I just now told you !" " That's not a satisfying reason. " " Go find another for yourself then. " Aru stormed ahead making Vibha run after her to catch up.     " It's so late. If only you'd listen to me and skip the last lecture." " Why do you need to attend them all?" " What are you trying to achieve 100% attendance?" " Do you even understand anything those professors teach?" Vibha's complaints, not a single one had received any response but that didn't discourage her from continuing. " I guess your home is here?" Aru stopped near the metal gate of a decent bunglow. It wasn't too huge or luxurious nor too small and shabby. It wasn't overly decorated or poorly maintained. It was just perfect. Perfect to be called home.      A neatly maintained garden with pinkish shades of various flowers adorned the front . Even the metal gate was beautifully made to give a welcoming look . The two storey bunglow had a balcony on the first floor and probably a terrace room on the second . A white coloured swing for minimum 4 people was placed in the ground while one for a single person on first and terrace had slightly smaller than ground floor swing. It was enough for her to guess Vibha's love for swings. Also the colours chosen were pretty simple without any added decorations . She had always been captivated by its simplicity.     " Nope." "Huh?"  Vibha suddenly stepped forward engulfing the bewildered girl into a tight hug." Home is where the heart is...."