chapter 49

[Aru's p.o.v ]      She'd been weirdo all day. At morning she was distracted then she left me alone after the main gate and told she'd be back by break, which she wasn't and then I saw her with her ex. They are thinking of getting back together and she said he had appologised for creeping me out in his attempt to make her jealous. I don't understand them though. Why dump her when you love her? That's not my business to deal with but still. I had assumed she doesn't want him anymore but she's thinking of giving him chance it seems. Even that ain't my concern but why am I so bothered about it?        I don't know but my entire day went gloomy gloomy after it. I didn't want to go college the next day but here I am thanks to practicals. I clung to Neeta all the time though my eyes kept trying to get atleast a glance of Vibha. I wasn't into whatever funny incident she was telling yet had to fake a laugh.  Why ain't she here? My eyes rooted on the gate.           We were allowed inside the lab and yet she wasn't here. I was way to upset about it that a part of just wanted to drown her in the Dil HCL .         " Ayyy . You'll break it . Do that when you give your ID card not mine. ", Neeta snatched the glass rod and beaker from me . I definitely overstirred whatever it was. " Go get the conc. H2SO4 from there.", she ordered handing me the testtube holder and shooing me away with it. I reached over to the beakers holding the acid and before I could reach for it another hand grabbed the dropper.      Those rings and bracelets, I recognise them very well. I don't have to look to know who , my stomach already has those knots forming within . She dropped a few drops in my testtube before filling her own . " Can't have my sweetheart hurting herself. ", she whispered near my ear before walking away. As if I was going to dive in it to fill my testtube but that was insane. The way it made my insides flutter was insane.        " Did you sit there to make it or what?", Neeta asked as she took the testtube holder back from me. My eyes reached the far end of the table to sneak a glance at her and there this weirdo was already staring in my direction smirking. I was casually looking around, I shouldn't be this embarrassed to be caught. Why am I then- I got back to performing the experiment , don't want another scolding from Neeta for messing up.        I tried, I mean I genuinely try to focus only on the experiment but there was nothing I could do till the test tube was dry and so my gaze kind of just trailed here and there and landed where it shouldn't. She looked so damn fine when she was focused. I envy her partener sometimes, not like mine is bad but it's just- I don't know. I didn't know I was staring until she looked up and smirked . Girl even had the nerves to keep the eye contact until I looked away, and I can tell she was still staring.      " I asked you to heat it and not grill it. You are going to break it! Are you seriously after getting me fined?" Neeta snatched the holder from my hand asking me to quietly record the reading.      I was busy sulking when we heard a breaking noise. All the heads turned in the direction. This idiot? I looked at Vibha who stood there holding the test tube holder and the test tube had blasted I can tell from over heating whatever solution it was. Seriously a dummy. Besides her  stood her embarassed partener who wasn't even the culprit but still scared while this dummy was least bothered. This is how chill I want to be in my life.       We exited the lab and the first thing I did was go check on her. " Are you okay?" " Should have asked that to the testtube. Poor thing was broken.", she joked it off and I rolled my eyes grabbing onto her wrist looking at the band-aid she had gotten there. " Just a cut , I swear nothing much. ", she explained but I hadn't let her hand go. " Are you that worried about me?", she asked leaning closer to my face and I had to step back since she doesn't understand what space means.       " In your dreams." , I threw back before and glared at her before she could use her ' A lot more happens in my dreams. ' " You should be . It's all because of you!", she whined like a baby as she held onto my wrist brushing her thumb against my palm. " How is that my fault?" " I was busy staring at you." I lost words at that. " Then how even is that my fault?" " It's your fault for being this beautiful.", she said entangling her fingers with mine. " You are sick. Did you drink chloroform?"" No I am high on love."" You surely drunk phenoptheylene in there." " Whatever convinces my love."      I tried to get my hand back but she won't let go. What's wrong with her? " Let go!""No."" Leave!"" I won't "" Vibha!"" Yes love?"" Let go off my hand."" Never in a lifetime. Not even if you ask me to."     I froze at that. Weirdo. I shook off her hand but she still was adamant. " Ughh. Whatever."          I just dragged her behind me . Neeta raised an eyebrow questioning me. " Glued your hand?"      " Got a leech attached."  I love the frown I earned at that. Neeta tried to supress her laughter but failed so she changed the topic. " Malini would be out in a few minutes she's getting the sign." I nodded. " Sitting for lectures?"" When have you ever seen us?"  I shook my head and looked at the leech on my hand. " You?" " Anything for you love." This time I was purely embarrassed. Not in front of my friend, not in front of Neeta of all my friends.     Neeta choked on air and looked at me with wide eyes. " She's an idiot. Don't mind her. ", I blurted out and dragged her behind me.  Once we were out of earshot I stopped. " What the heck you are upto?" " What?"" Why would you say that?"" So you want to keep it private?"" Keep what- see, I don't know why you think this is funny. It is not. But please stop it? Okay?"    Her face fell , like really bad. She looked away and back at me, nodded. " Anything my beloved wants. "" Thanks."      She did let go off my hand. I don't know if I was relieved or felt guilty looking at her. I was thinking of initiating a conversation but someone had the plans to interrupt, someone being her creepy ex.     " Are you free today evening?", he asked and I looked back and forth between them.  She looked at me.     " What time are lectures ending?" ,she asked me and I just blinked. " How would I know? 5 or 6 maybe?", I blurted out.       " Whatever you have after 7", she said and he nodded with a smile. " Catch upto you then- Vibha. ", he said and left waving at her while she only nodded as an acknowledgement.        So they back to using nickname? I had the urge to ask but instead rephrased my question into a taunt.  " So studious are we?" She wrapped her hand around my shoulder and pulled closer. " Priorities you know?", she whispered and I looked at her. "I thought you agreed to behave?"" Did I?" " Yes you did. "" Can't remember."     I flicked her forehead.  " Oww . What dude?" " Thought this would help you remember." " Come here I will show you what does. "      She chased after me as I ran up the stairs giggling. We reached the class almost and she held me into a hug from behind while I continued laughing as she tickled. " Okay okay. I lost . Please stop. ", I begged and she finally stopped just hugging me." Leave?" " If I don't want to?" " Ughh. Do because I am asking you to !"" Why?" " Because....you love me!" " Ayyy! That's cheating. " " Now leave."     She reluctantly let go and I was about to walk in when I saw Sneha standing behind us with an awkward smile. Now this is weird. " Umm Hii?"" Hello. " , she replied timidly. I was trying to step away from Vibha but girl swung her arm around my neck. "Hello there. ", she greeted her and Sneha seemed more nervous now. " Hii."     Her phone rung and she looked at the I'd. It displayed " Moron." I don't have to assume much, I know whom she calls that. " You go ahead , I will be back in a jiffy. " , she said walking away leaving me alone to be embarassed.      I and Sneha walked in and settled together on the front desk. She had been looking at me for a while so I decided to meet her gaze. She finally asked what I might have dreaded she would     "  Are you two - you know - umm a couple?"