Chapter 1

#TWO YEARS BACK#

*Mihira Pov*

"She is going to stay home even today?" I closed my eyes hearing my Dad's question.

"Yes! It's been three days and I think the problem is major than we thought." Even though my eyes are closed I still rolled my eyes hearing that from my Mom.

"Did she got bullied? Is that why she stopped going to college after the first two days?" As expected from my Dad to think like that and I can't blame it as it is his occupational hazard.

"I don't know! When did she ever express her thoughts? I wish she is still a kid who used to share every single thought of hers." I couldn't stop myself anymore and stood up not able to hear those words.

"Mom! Dad! I am not getting bullied or anything. I am just skipping college as usual as I did during my schooling. And I can hear what you are discussing. Okay?" I asked staring at them.

I can't believe they are talking about such issues sitting before me while I am having my breakfast peacefully.

"And if someone really bullies me, I will inform you for sure. Why would I torture myself when you would just take strict action? And I would tell you even if someone else is getting bullied. Let's not forget that the Principal is staying in the next building." I continued making him smile.

"At least we should voice out our thoughts to balance with you hiding everything, right?" he pointed out.

"Dad! What am I hiding? What can I even hide? I am not rebelling or something and I am not even dating anyone." I groaned sitting down.

Mom laughed while patting my hair but opposite to that action, she mumbled, "You are not even telling us about your first day in the college or crushes and even why you are skipping college this soon."

Because I am embarrassed and I just need some time to overcome it. I smiled not voicing out those words and finished eating realizing I should just go to college.

Feeling embarrassed inside is better than listening to this discussion. I don't know what reason they will think of if I skip another day.

"I am going to college." Saying that I stood up to leave but Mom immediately stopped me with a worried look.

"Are we forcing you?" I smiled hearing that question.

"If I say that you both are forcing me to do something against my wishes then I am the worst child anyone could have." Saying that I rushed out before they can worry more about me.

I need to rush otherwise I will be late and the excuses I have to give would make me regret to even decide to attend my classes today.

"You are finally here? Are you feeling fine?" Kavitha whispered the moment I sat beside her as the class already started but to my luck, the professor didn't say anything.

"Yes! Did they start teaching properly? It's not even a week since the college started, right?" I whispered back realizing how everyone is so serious in the class.

"Of course! The first two days when you attended were the only days during which they were casual. But the next day everything feels too rushed." She explained and I groaned not liking it at all.

I should have just attended the classes and forget about everything else. If not for my parents I thought of not coming to college for two more days.

"By the way do you remember the guy I told you about? We started dating from the past two days." She whispered and this made me forget about everything and stare at her in shock.

"You said he was just a crush from the intermediate. How did this happen?" I asked frowning.

She somehow told me everything about her the first day we met. I never met someone like that as I feel like I know her for a long time even though I met her for two days after which I even skipped college.

"When you were absent I felt bored and didn't want to talk to anyone. I found him standing near his vehicle two days back and confessed my feelings. Surprisingly, he accepted them and he even remembers me as his junior. It's been a year since I saw him but he still remembers me." She got more than excited while saying that and I calmed her down before we get caught.

"Congratulations! You are really lucky." I whispered smiling.

"I am really lucky. We both never talked to each other previously but surprisingly we both joined here and even became classmates. I am glad that I know someone from the previous college." She smiled back while felt more guilty.

I don't remember her at all but she actually remembers me as her classmate from the intermediate. At least I was honest to tell her the same but she didn't mind at all saying there were too many students in our class and there is no need to know everyone.

Maybe even I am lucky to meet her here. Everything is not as bad as I thought when I had to join this college instead of the one I chose. Well, that one rejected me and I can't do anything about it.

But I should have applied for another college or something instead of just these two. Ugh! Maybe I am not that lucky.

*Rakesh Pov*

"Wait! Your girlfriend is bringing her friend now?" Rekha asked frowning at me when I adjusted another chair to our table.

I can understand her irritation as after our gang formed last year we never allowed anyone to join our table. Even if they want to, none of them brought any other friend here but I started doing it for two days and now another person is joining us.

"Even I want to tell her to not sit with us but I didn't know how to say that without being rude to her, Rekha." I mumbled sitting down but she continued to frown at me.

In our gang, she is the one who takes a longer time to open up along with Kalyan. While the rest of us are easy to get along with and that's what makes me feel guilty for forcing her to get adjusted to this situation.

"Let him be, Rekha! It's the first time he is in a relationship. Don't be too hard on him." Vikesh commented before laughing at my expression.

"How can she even like you in the first place? She really deserves to sit with us so that we can understand her more." Abhi joined him to tease me.

Well, I accept that sentence but she really likes me and it's not a bad idea to see how it goes. To the top of that, she was junior and not some stranger to be wary about it.

"She is coming and it is better to be careful with your behavior." The ever gentleman Kalyan mumbled and we turned to see her walking towards our table while dragging someone with her.

"How is she handling her tray and her friend at a time like that?" Vikesh whispered but I am looking at the person she is dragging.

"Oh! She..." I closed my mouth not remembering her name but she was definitely our junior.

"She is our junior too, right?" I asked glancing at Abhi and he nodded before taking a bite from his food.

He really loves his food, doesn't he? Why is he always that concentrated while having food like this? And he is the only one to bring lunch from home too in our gang. Well, he is the same during classes too.

"Hi! She is my friend and also classmate from my previous college." Kavitha introduced her while smiling at me.

"Mihira!" her friend whispered her name before sitting down beside Kavitha as I added the chair beside mine.

"They all are our seniors now and from the same department but these two are from our previous college too. You may not remember them too." Kavitha continued.

"Too?" I asked frowning at them.

"She didn't remember me when we met on the first day here. She is kind of lost in her thoughts most of the time even now." She replied while her friend groaned hearing those words.

"I already apologized numerous times." Mihira mumbled while staring at her tray.

"You need not apologize at all. I was just preparing them if you don't remember them tomorrow or whenever you meet them later." She explained smiling while I shook my head.

"I am Rakesh and he is Abhilash. We are from the same college as she said. They are Rekha, Kalyan, and Vikesh." I introduced everyone before we started our lunch.

Kavitha and I continued to chat while others were talking among themselves except for Mihira. Maybe she is just like Rekha too but she looks more than awkward to sit here as she is the first one to leave the table the moment bell rang.

"Wait for me! I will be going back to my class. She must be not wishing to miss any more classes as she was absent for the last few days." Saying that even Kavitha left the table.

"Why is she saying everything about her friend near us?" Vikesh asked frowning.

"That just means she must be saying everything about me near her friend." I groaned thinking about it.

"Are you sure this is what you want? It is not right for her if you are dating her just because she is the first one to like you." Kalyan asked in a serious tone.

"Exactly! What is our age? It's fine if there is no relation we had during this age." Abhi joined.

"Says the one who flirts with everyone who shows interest in you." I mumbled rolling my eyes.

"I am not saying I don't do that but at least I make sure to not hurt anyone. But she will be hurt if you are not serious about this." Abhi pointed out and I sighed knowing well what they are saying is right.

"I know! And I already told her that I am just accepting her proposal as I need some time to get to know her before which I can't say anything about my feelings." I explained and they nodded accepting that.

"You must know me already that I will not hurt others like this." I added frowning at Abhi as he was my friend for a long time.

"Yeah! But we don't know what action may hurt others and it is better to be careful." He mumbled back before getting up as we need to go back to our classes.

Everything was that simple with me trying to know about my girlfriend and spending as much time with her while trying to be considerate regarding anything it feels new from her. And her friend just kept quiet all the time as she is getting dragged to our table every day without fail by my girlfriend.

But then after a few days, I had to stare at the lunch box Abhi got from home in shock as this is the one I was holding for my girlfriend in the morning as she had to go to the washroom. Now he is holding it and opening the lid normally.

"Wait! Didn't you say it is your friend's?" I asked glancing at Kavitha who is also staring at that in shock.

"Oh! I passed the wrong one. Aunty packed for both of us but I thought of giving this to you instead of that one." Mihira finally talked a long sentence but that just made all of us more confused.

"What is going on?" Kalyan asked them to which Abhi just sighed saying, "We are neighbors!"

We were shocked after hearing that but it's not a weird thing. However, why did both of them kept quiet regarding this is the main question now?

"I thought you didn't want them to know that we knew each other, Mihira." Abhi mumbled glancing at her.

"I thought you wouldn't want them to know and not the other way around." Mihira pointed back.

"Why wouldn't I? I already forgot everything. I didn't want you to feel awkward." He shrugged in a relaxing manner.

"Why would I feel awkward? You didn't do anything wrong. Just like how I expressed my feelings, you expressed them back. If I don't respect your decision then where is the honesty behind my feelings?" she asked finally relaxing in her position.

"What is going on? Will you both stop talking in circles and be straight about it?" Vikesh asking staring at them and I kept quiet waiting for their answer along with everyone else.

It seems like what I thought is simple is not that simple anymore and there is so much that I don't know about my so-called best friend.