chapter 87

    "Hey are you 24?", a stranger voice interrupted them and all turned to the intruder.      Aarushi and Vibha recognised him from earlier . Aarushi wasn't really pleased with that .      " Yeah. What about you?", Vibha asked and before he could answer Aarushi interrupted, " I will go find my partner. "    She left without waiting for her to answer. Sneha followed after hurriedly.    " I think your friend doesn't really like my presence.", he said laughing it off .      " Girlfriend. She's just possessive.", Vibha corrected and he nodded.     " I guessed so . But I didn't dare say my assumptions out loud. ", he revealed earning himself and amused look . " Neither of you are any secretive about it you know?", he explained himself.     Vibha's face bloomed into a friendly smile. " If not for my girlfriend being shy I would announce it to the whole world.", she said . He chuckled at her words.     " You are lucky though. I envy you.", his tone suddenly dropped as he said that. Vibha raised an eyebrow and he just pressed his lips together pocketing his nervous hands. " Well you are with the one you love. That in itself is like a dream to many. " , he explained his words earning slow understanding nods.     "One sided lover? Are you?" , she asked and he nodded again. " Got rejected? Or never confessed?", she inquired once again watching that tight lipped smile. "I know it's impossible.", he mumbled. " So never confessed .", Vibha rephrased it but a bit harshly for the already demotivated one. "What's the point?", he mumbled again.       " You'll never know unless you give it a try. Maybe it would work out?", she tried to cheer him up but he looked barely convinced. " I don't know about that but I just want to spend every moment I can with him .",  he confessed. " So what's stopping you?", Vibha asked.    He held out the folded chit displaying the number '14'  , " My token number." He earned a smirk from Vibha " Wanna switch?" , both offered simultaneously. " That's what I came to you for. ", he confessed with a dry laugh.      " Sorry I totally forgot to introduce myself. I am Manas .", he extended his hand and Vibha took the handshake. " Vibhavari."      " It's such a pleasure to meet you. Someone who doesn't judge.", he added and she smiled. " I can say the same. "  , she replied . " I hope we can be friends in future. ", he said and she accepted it with a nod parting ways with him at that.      " What the hell are they all giggly  about?", Aarushi mumbled as she walked around aimlessly with Sneha while her eyes  couldn't focus on anything else but her girlfriend talking to some other guy with a huge grin.     " You are jealous?", Sneha asked and Aarushi gave her a warning look.    " Okay okay. I won't say anything about that .", she surrendered immediately and got back to looking around asking people their numbers.         " 4?" , finally one of the guy matched with Sneha and both looked equally relieved to have finally found their pair. " I swear damn god I was going to grab a microphone and announce to look for you. ", he exaggerated as he wiped off his sweat.     " You are going to have breakfast first ? ", he asked her and she nodded. " Then let's go together.", he added . Sneha looked at Aarushi who gave her nod.     " You go first. I will go check on Niharika and Prisha. Gotta see who those two ended up with.", she excused herself leaving Sneha with her tree plantation drive partner .       Aarushi kicked the twigs underneath her foot as she aimlessly navigated her way through the crowd still looking for their partners while some who seemed to have found theirs were trying to get to know each other.      Aarushi's mind was clouded with the images from earlier. She couldn't get the smiling duo out of her head. There was some bitter feeling about seeing her girlfriend shake hands, smile and talk with that some guy who had helped her earlier. She bit down her lip and tried to regulate her breathing but neither of it helped relax her tensed expression.     When did I turn into such a jealous person??    She sighed as she stood besides a tree staring blankly into a distance.    It's just some tree plantation drive. Why am I mad that she is doing it with someone else?     She folded her hands trying to encage herself . Just when was about to walk away she felt a jerk against her bag and before she could react she was pulled into a backhug engulfing her into a familiar warmth.     " What-"    " Why is my baby so sad?", Vibha's voice tickled her neck and she squirmed in her hold.     " Let go idiot. There are people here. ", Aarushi complained wriggling out of her hold but Vibha only pulled her closer totally unbothered by passing stares they recieved. She only tested her head against Aarushi's shoulder making the other ticklish at her breath.      " Vibha I told you ! I don't -"     " Fine fine. "     Vibha reluctantly pulled away very well aware how her girl didn't like being 'over affectionate ' at public places.       " What are you doing here? Where's your partner?", Aarushi asked in a mocking tone looking around for that guy .     Vibha held her shoulder with one hand and gently turned her chin to make Aarushi face her . When there eyes met she spoke with the most sincere voice, "Even if it means to change the fates to be with you I will only accept you as my partner in every lifetime."      Aarushi stood still for a moment letting the words sink in and then suddenly blinked and stepped away from Vibha . " You are high in broad daylight. ", she grumbled walking away with Vibha's chuckle still audible in distance.     Vibha chased after showing her the chit. " I switched it with him. ", she revealed and Aarushi gave her an amused look and Vibha went on tell her the entire story as they proceeded to cafeteria to have breakfast.      " He seems like a nice guy .", Aarushi remarked at the end of the story and Vibha smiled . " See nothing to be jealous of.", she said and Aarushi looked away embarassed , " who was jealous?" "Awwww is my baby sulky again?", Vibha followed after teasing her.      They got their plates and were walking around looking for an empty table when Vibha's eyes fell on Manas waving at them . She nudged Aarushi and they went over to join him and the one besides him . He bloomed into his friendly smile as he welcomed them.     " This is Manas and Manas she is my Aarushi .", Vibha introduced them as they settled opposite to the two guys and Aarushi flushed at the ' my ' before her name. He nodded and smiled at them . " Hii . Nice to meet you. ", he said extending the hand over table and Aarushi shook it lightly. " You two look great together.", he complimented . Aarushi was shocked at the sudden compliment and then turned to Vibha who just shrugged her shoulders. That earned her a kick under the table from her girl leaving her wincing at the pain.  The two across the table chuckled at their antiques.       " Won't you introduce your partner to us?", Vibha asked Manas and he was caught off guard. His face turned pale . Aarushi saw his panick and gave Vibha another kick under the table and a warning glare. " What!?", she whined. " Hii . I am Rupesh . ", he introduced himself  when he noticed  Manas wasn't going to do that for him. " Vibha here. Nice to meet you bro .", Vibha introduced and fist bumped him followed by Aarushi , " I am Aarushi. " who only gave a courteous smile.     " You two have drastically opposite personalities.", he commented and Vibha smirked , " Opposites attract you know ?" She was in for another kick but luckily she caught Aarushi's leg right in time to save herself earning only a death glare.      " Can we join?", Sneha and her partner walked in and he asked as he stood by their side. " Sure bro. Have a seat. ", Manas immediately pulled one from another table and handed it to Sneha while the guy got himself one.     " Hyo guys. I am Kaustubh.", he introduced himself and Sneha followed with a low " Sneha " . Everyone took turns to introduce themselves and only when had they completed the round Prisha and Niharika walked over to them still arguing.      " They are Niharika and Prisha and these are Manas , Rupesh , Kaustubh.", Vibha introduced everyone in one go without giving the two  chance to even sit down. " That's better. I thought we were gonna have to keep doing that in loop.", Rupesh sighed in relief . " Get the chairs . ", Niharika ordered Prisha who gave her an offended look. " What am I? your slave?", she retorted and Niharika slammed her own plate on the table and went to get one for herself and came back with only one chair . The entire table watched silently as the drama unfold before them.       " You could have got the other one as well!", Prisha complained. " What am I ? Your slave?" , Niharika parroted her words and Prisha gave her the look of disbelief before going to get herself chair.     "They gave me old married couple vibes, are they?",  Rupesh asked and Aarushi shook her head. " Not yet ." , Vibha added. " Ewww why!? Why would you even believe my standards would drop that low ?", Niharika asked offended. " Excuse you!? What the hell do you think is low about me?", Prisha asked slamming her plate next to hers. " What is not low about you!?" " What is!?"     And the continued bickering all over the food .     " So you guys are friends from earlier?", Rupesh interfered steering the conversation in another direction. " We girls are . Met rest here. ", Prisha answered . " Yeah. I am her tree plantation partner.", Kaustubh added pointing at Sneha. " We are partners as well. ", Rupesh chimmed in pointing to Manas. Vibha smirked and Manas gave her a warning glare realising it was useless he turned to Aarushi with pleading eyes and she took the initiative to shut her girl up.     " So which room are you guys picking?", Kaustubh asked and everyone gave him clueless looks. " I am telling you pick the 2 nd cornermost room and let's all assemble out in corridor at night. I have some amazing night tales to keep you up for months wetting your beds. ", he spookily added . Vibha , Niharika and Rupesh immediately grinned joining in while the others had excuses for why it seemed like bad idea , especially Prisha.       " Those who won't come , I promise to scare you in your bed. Hide where ever you want , I will come looking for you. ", he creepily threatened . " Screw you!", Prisha cursed and a collective laughter echoed the table . " I will get us a coffee. ", Vibha told Aarushi and stood up . " One for me as well.", Prisha demanded as well . Vibha stuck her tongue out to reject. " You ain't my wife. Get your ass up and help yourself.", she added and left the glaring Prisha at the table.           " You need coffee or tea?" , Kaustubh followed her suite and asked Sneha . " Tea.", she replied . " I will get it for you. ", he said and left . Prisha stared at them with shocked eyes. Niharika stood up with her plate and Prisha immediately shot her head in that direction giving her expecting eyes. " What? You ain't my wife. Get your ass up and help yourself.", Niharika parroted Vibha's words to her and walked off. Those at the table had silent laughs on their lips watching the two bicker.      Not breaking the flow of this drama even Rupesh got up and Prisha looked at him with disbelief. " What about you? Tea Coffee?", he asked Manas who immediately declined, " It's fine I'll help myself." But was pressed down back on chair right when he tried to get up . " You sit down and order. I will get it for you princess.", Rupesh said his hand still pressing the other down by shoulder. " Tea.", Manas managed to blurt out without sounding too nervous and he was glad the other simply took it and left instead of analysing his pale look.    " Woahh- so you guys have decided to gang up on me and bully my single soul?", Prisha whined as she rested her head on her hand against the table. " I am an independent single. I need none of you . I will get my tea myself.", she suddenly stood up declaring and with her head held up high in air she walked away with her plate.     " I will go to washroom and be back.", Sneha said and handed her phone to Aarushi before leaving.      That left only Aarushi and Manas at the table . She looked at the direction Rupesh had gone and then back at Manas . It was enough of gesture for him to understand what she meant." Am I that obivious ?", he asked with a nervous smile. Aarushi nodded. " So you guys-" He shook his head with a sad frown before she could even complete. " One sided.", he replied. " So you like him?", she rephrased her question. He nodded nervously fiddling with his finger. " I am trying not to ruin our friendship by trying to get over my feelings but - " , he sighed . " And he's flirting ain't helping anywhere?", she asked earning a bitter chuckle.        " I can understand. I had it no better. ", she revealed and his eyes immediately lit up. " So you are telling me yours is same story as me?"     " Kind of . " , her reply had helped light up his face to some extent .     " So - you , do you think I have chance?", he asked hesitantly . " Yes. You never know. Maybe he has same feelings?", her words didn't change much of his confidence but atleast he dared hope for it. " So what do you think I should do?", he asked and before Aarushi could answer he felt a hand on his shoulder making his entire body tense up.     Aarushi's eyes widened adding panick to his face. He looked at her with about to tear up expression. The grip on his shoulder tightened.       " You are under right hands my child. We will make sure you get your Prince Charming, ' Princess' . ", Vibha whispered mimicking Rupesh's tone at the last word and Aarushi burst into laughter.      " I swear to god you two-", his words failed as relief and irritation flushed over him. Vibha got to her seat laughing and handed over the cup of coffee to Aarushi.      After he was done glaring at them he gave up, not the type to hold grudges. " So will you guys help me?"     " Help whom with what?"