chapter 89

      Vibha’s hand still rested on her thigh but she was surprisingly calm and Aarushi almost had forgotten about it as she was absorbed back in the story that was almost to its end. The professor excused herself to get rice and Niharika followed her while Sneha went to dispose of the plate.       Aarushi was just answering Sneha who asked if she needed anything and just as Sneha turned about to leave Vibha gave her thigh  a sudden squeeze making her let out a low squeak. She immediately tried to kick Vibha again but only failed thanks to Vibha’s hold on her thigh.        “Atleast let her eat in peace?”, Prisha taunted and Vibha only gave her an uninterested look.         “Should I kick her on your behalf sister in law?”, Prisha asked and with just a single nod she aimed for Vibha’s leg. Suddenly her mock expression turned into a tight lipped smile , her eyebrows frowned .     Aarushi looked at her then at Vibha who still had her calm expression but  with a faint smile . She then looked below the table . Poor Prisha had her leg caught between Vibha’s feet and she couldn’t even pull back only enduring the soles of her shoe digging into her leg.       “Sister in law- please?”, she begged to Aarushi who immediately slapped Vibha’s thigh.    “Leave  her.”, she ordered and Vibha gave her a look of disbelief but let go nevertheless.        Rest returned to their respective seats and Vibha was back at her torture. Aarushi had finished eating and was just having her sweet dish when she felt Vibha’s hand start moving slowly upwards. Her body tensed at the sensation. She looked at Vibha and knew protesting was useless. The other sat there as if she wasn’t doing nothing.           She felt her hold suddenly get firmer her hand moved teasingly upwards making Aarushi’s heartbeat rise. She was sitting straighter than ever trying not to react but her face was already flushed . And Vibha showed no sign of stopping.      “ Vibha.”, she called out to her in shaky soft voice. Vibha only hummed at her. “Get me an ice cream.”, she ordered knowing very well nothing else was going to make the girl get her hand off. Vibha frowned aware of her girl’s attempt to escape her; but she won’t be Vibha if she refused her love.       “Sure.”, she got up and a series of ‘me too’ came from the table . Aarushi only chuckled knowing it was going to keep Vibha off for enough time.        After they had finished eating and disposing off their plates the teacher went back to the room to rest and Sneha and Niharika joined her . Prisha had to call at home and then she said she would go inform the boys of the plan and time.     Vibha and Aarushi were taking stroll in the compound walking side by side since Aarushi said she felt too heavy after eating.       “I swear I will kill you if you do something like that again.”, she threatened softly as there were still people around.    “Do what?”, Vibha asked innocently trying to get on her girlfriend’s nerves. Aarushi glared at her and Vibha immediately changed her defense, “ Don’t blame as if you weren’t the one who started it.” Aarushi’s face flushed at the reminder of her own actions and she couldn’t put up a proper counter statement. So she only blurted out a plea, “Please, just don’t embarrass me in front of everyone.”       Vibha chuckled but gave her an agreeing nod.     They were still walking side by side and Vibha’s hand itched to hold hers but now given the warning she just couldn’t decide if she should.       Aarushi caught on the nervous movements. It only brought a soft smile to her face.      All these months of being together and you acting all flirty and dominant and still nervous to even hold my hand.       She slowly intertwined their fingers Vibha momentarily hanged and looked away. She bit down on her lip as she felt her heart thump heavily against her ribcage.     Dang Vibha can’t believe all it takes is her holding your hand to send your heart sky rocketing over the ninth cloud.      Aarushi decided to pull more strings while she could and wrapped her other hand over Vibha’s arm practically clinging to her arm . Vibha was now having seriously hard time trying to act all cool while her cheeks betrayed into a flushed smile.     They had been walking around for a while when they spotted the three boys seated together under the tree.   “Looks like some kind of serious financial discussion.”, Aarushi commented and Vibha scoffed and added, “With Rupesh as some desperate agent trying to sell his plan and Kaustubh as the wealthy grandpa who is stingy about his money and Manas as some lovesick idiot who is more invested in the handsome agent.”   “How about we go help him get a lifetime policy?”, Aarushi suggested and who was Vibha to deny her love?    They walked over to the three and indeed it was a heated discussion about some investment policy.     “Hey guys.”,Vibha greeted and Manas immediately stood up to offer them a seat and Rupesh followed the suit still totally absorbed in stressing his point.      “What is this about?”, Aarushi asked once Rupesh took a pause to breathe.    “It’s about an insurance policy.”, Manas summarized and before Rupesh could go about reexplaining the whole thing Kaustubh interrupted with a terrified expression, “This guy is basically explaining us a insurance policy and in last 35 minutes he-“, he bit his lips shook his head and with wide eyes and wide mouth conveyed his disbelief, “He successfully convinced me I am going to within 2 years of my marriage with 3 children and an unemployed wife with both of my parents retired with no pension.”   Then he clasped his hands together, “I don’t even have a mom. She died when I was 12 and my dad- he owns a fucking supermarket ! How is that going –“    “That is not even the point.”, and once again the two began bickering with Rupesh bombarding him with all the worst possibilities that could take place. His gaze altered between Vibha and Kaustubh and Vibha caught that, since those two were the only ones listening and answering while Manas stood rubbing his temples and Aarushi though tried her best it all went bumper and by no means she wished to step into that heated pool of arguments.        Vibha rested her arm on Aarushi’s shoulder. Aarushi looked at her amused because that wasn’t so Vibha way of keeping her hand. Just as Vibha had expected; Rupesh so immersed in the topic unconsiciously mirrored her action resting his arm on Manas’s shoulder who stood besides him. She waited a few more minutes before sliding her arm all the way and wrapping it around Aarushi’s shoulder who once again gave her a confused look.     Is she doing this so I don’t feel left out?     As expected Rupesh too had his hand thrown around Manas’s neck pulling him down along everytime he bent to match Kaustubh’s eye level and tone.      “Guys! I am tired . I am taking a nap. I will meet you guys here by 4 as planned.”, Manas excused himself and left.   “ I will go as well. I am sleepy.”, Aarushi too said and left, leaving the three to their discussion.        She initially only wanted to go back since the topic was the last thing that interested her but now she decided to go check on Manas first. His expressions seemed a bit down and that worried her.      “Manas”, she called out to him and he stopped mid way turning around and offering a polite smile despite his exhausted face.   “You okay?”, she asked and he pressed his lips into a thing smile. She could already tell he wasn’t but she was not going to stress it if he chose to lie about it.    “Honestly speaking, I am not.”, he confessed and leaned against the fence staring at the ground. “Want to talk about it?”, she offered. He nodded and sighed. “It’s just- I don’t personally like when he starts yelling and shouting like that. I don’t see the need to raise the voice. I think it kind of spoils the atmosphere.”, he said and shrugged his shoulders. Aarushi nodded. She understood what he meant. He himself had been soft spoken since she knew him and he didn’t look the type who would start yelling even if he was mad, so it wasn’t surprising that made him uncomfortable.     “He – well he’s always been like this though. He gets hyper easily. Short tempered. But he ain’t  bad. I mean he never holds grudges. He is like an active volcano,bursts and cools down immediately. But I don’t like when he bursts like that. Especially over trivial reasons.”, he added and stood up straight again pocketing his hands .   “Why don’t you tell him?”    “Tell him what? Lower your voice? I don’t like when you yell? On what basis?”, his voice laced with pain as he uttered the next words, “I don’t have any such authority. Who am I to him to even say that?”    “Ain’t you guys bestfriends?”, Aarushi asked.     “That’s just a word. He would call me childish if I use it and demand he lowers his voice.”, Manas chuckled at it himself but it seemed like he would do anything to confront the matter.     “You won’t know until you don’t try.”, Aarushi insisted but he only shook his head,“I am beyond hopeless . I – I don’t dare to put my friendship at risk for something I know I can’t ever have.”     Aarushi caught how he did look like he had simply given up and only wished to run away. That reminded her of how she had been no different. But in her case she atleast knew Vibha harboured the same feelings whereas for him- he didn’t even know if his bestfriend even liked guys.     “What if he is homophobic and hates me?”, he had voiced his fear and she couldn’t come up with a solution to counter it. It had only gotten worse. Infact it wasn’t even half a day he had shared his story with them and he had gone down this much on his hopes.     “So we find out that first.”, Vibha piped in almost scaring the life out of him. He immediately checked around like a thief caught in act.    “Don’t worry. They are busy blaming each other for who lost the key.”, she assured him . “How are we-“   “Leave that to me. But if I get you the answer to that question would you get the courage to make the first move?”, she asked her voice surprisingly mocking and Aarushi just realized what he meant by not liking certain tones from your loved ones. Well atleast she could correct her, not now though. She decided to save the scolding later for when they were alone.     “ I-I would still be risking our friendship?”, he asked and looked at her nervously feeling the disappointment in his own words.     “Well if you try you get 50-50 chances. Either a yes and a lifetime with him or a no and a life without him. But you atleast don’t have to live in regret of not doing so.”, she and he nodded. “But if you don’t do anything at all,”, she continued eyeing him sympathetically , “ You are simply going to waste your life in hiding. You won’t even be able to enjoy his presence nor express your feelings. You will be stuck in shadows and trust me- that will be worse.”   “I-“    “Take your time. Whatever you decide we will be with you.”, Aarushi piped in with a smile and decided to drag her girlfriend away before she could push him from being disappointed and hopeless to being depressed and guilty.    “Thanks.”, he said and held out the key from his pocket, “I-I will go tell them it’s with me.”    Vibha nodded and stepped aside to let him go.    “Also-“, she called out after him and he stopped and turned around . “Sunset would be a great timing to propose.”, she said and he gave her  a firm nod with a bright grin.   “Sunsets are beautiful.”