Chapter 3

*Mihira Pov*

"What is it?" I asked walking closer to the window finding the curtains still closed like they were from the day I expressed my feelings.

"I was feeling cold and that's why I closed them." He mumbled ignoring my question while I rolled my eyes because the day he closed them is summertime and from where did he got cold.

"Okay! What do you want to talk about?" I asked still looking at the curtains not wishing to show him that I don't believe those words at all.

I guess I was in a rush when I confessed everything but those three years when we couldn't hang out like normal felt more than abnormal for me and I didn't want that to continue but my solution just made everything a mess.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked adjusting his bag while checking time as he is going to join his friends for a trip they planned with the exam completed for them while I just got my results.

It feels a little different to talk about this but he has been busy with everything and I want to base my next life decision on today's matter for sure.

"I... I don't know why you stayed away during college but I thought maybe because I just finished my schooling while you already got used to the college. But it's been two years and it will three years if I add the time when you finished schooling. I just..." I paused realizing I am confusing myself more than making him understand.

"I understand, Mihi! We were close to each other from the time my family shifted to this place and that's like ten years already even though we were never classmates. But everything really changed and we both were busy with our things after I finished attending school, right? I heard you will be joining the same university and we may get closer like we were before." He assured me smiling.

That's what I don't want to happen. If I am really going to attend the same university then I want a change in our relationship but not the one like before.

"I like you, Abhi! I don't know when or why but I like you and I don't want to be just a casual friend or childhood friend after meeting again at the university." I expressed without pausing or hesitating for a second while he stared at me in shock.

"You can take your time. I don't mind no matter how much time you want to take." I added but I want the answer within a week for sure as I am going to apply soon and make a decision.

"I... I already have a girlfriend." I didn't expect those words though and it was disappointing but I didn't feel any hurt.

I thought if I had confessed earlier then everything would have been fine but his next words caused me to feel so embarrassed that I never want to see him again if possible.

"I heard you wanted to join another college and that too another city to stay at the hostel but had to join here instead." I was brought out of my thought hearing those words.

"Yeah! If I had stayed at the hostel then even my parents would have been relieved not thinking much about me. You know how their jobs are." I explained the excuse I thought reasonable at that time when my parents asked me why I suddenly wished to go away like that.

"But my attendance was poor and I don't know why they need to see that instead of my marks. So, they just rejected me and I had to join here itself." I added clearing my throat.

"If not for your friend, you wouldn't have exchanged a single word with me at college, right?" he asked and I just nodded still showing my back.

"I thought you were past that incident but..." he trailed off and that's when I laughed not believing that sentence.

"You know why I don't want to be in your presence. You didn't just reject me but you..." I shook my head not wishing to say anything.

"Yeah! I realized how stupid I was to say that. I am sorry, Mihi!" he apologized, and what worse is that he is really genuine and how can I show my anger anymore after that.

"It's okay! Is this what you want to talk about?" I asked frowning because he must have got another reason otherwise he would have talked to me about this long back.

He is never the one to be straight with the words and always skips to have such complicated conversations and that's what made him get dumped by his three Ex-girlfriends from the gossip Kavitha passed.

"My friend is really angry that I made you both to not join us again during lunchtime." He explained and I couldn't help but smile hearing that.

"It's not because of you. She wanted to see whether there is some impact of her on him and is waiting for him to call her directly to join you all as she kind of forced him in the beginning." I explained sighing still not believing the tactics she has.

"Oh! I will advise him to do that but will not talk about her intention." I know he will not and that's why I told him without hiding it.

He may be really dumb when it comes to his relationships or anything related to him but he is more than alert with other people's relations.

"That's all? I am sure she will join you guys from tomorrow." I assured him and decided to leave as everything is settled now.

However, when I was about to turn around, I felt his presence behind me and he opened the curtains saying, "I wish you to join us too. Let's not be distant like this, Mihi. We were friends for ten years, remember? And you are the only one to be with me for that long."

I stared outside and found my room window where the curtains are not even closed because I was waiting for him to get back to normal and open these so that we can get back to the old phase we were in.

"Okay!" I replied turning around with a smile covering my face and he smiled back showing his dimples just like every time.

*Abhilash Pov*

After sending a message to Rakesh to ask his girlfriend to join himself as my friend is not the one holding her back, we both climbed downstairs only to find Mom and Dad arranging the food on the dining table.

"Mihira! Have dinner with us today. I heard your Mom has to stay longer because of two cases." Mom called her but she shook her head.

"Dad is returning early today, Aunty. Mom wants me to give him home food as he had outside food these two days." She explained smiling before waving her hand to leave.

"Then take this curry to your place. Don't work hard in the kitchen this soon. Later you have to do it for sure, right." Mom said while arranging a box for her.

"Maybe I will marry someone who knows to cook, Aunty. I will even make him train under you." Mihi laughed while expressing her wish while I rolled my eyes.

"Find someone like that only, Dear. My son can't boil water even if his life depends on it." Dad complained making me glare at him.

"As if you can do it." Mom complained to my Dad and this time Mihi and I chuckled seeing their bickering as they continued.

"Why are you laughing? At least learn from your cousin, Abhi. He is very good at everything and even becoming a cooking specialist and I heard he is going to travel around soon to learn more about cooking." Dad said glancing at me and Mihi and I stopped our laugh at the same time hearing those words.

"I will be going." Saying that Mihi rushed out holding the box while I groaned still not believing how stupid I was that day.

****

"Why is he acting like he didn't miss her yesterday at all?" Vikesh commented after the love birds walked away finishing their lunch soon with Rakesh showing that he is hesitant to go like that while his girlfriend is enthusiastic like always.

"Maybe she should have waited for a few more days before accepting his wish." Mihi commented frowning and I chuckled at her serious expression.

"They know what they are doing, Mihi. Don't think too much about them." I advised her but she just rolled her eyes while finishing her lunch.

"So, he really calls you with a nickname. How many years were you both friends for?" Vikesh asked and continued to ask more about me.

"You really know how to talk? I thought you would wish to stay as silent as possible." Kalyan joked when she continued to answer without getting tired.

"Don't get deceived by her talk. She is known for being silent for a long time." I warned him while waiting for them to finish their conversation.

"Even we got deceived thinking you don't like to talk while having your lunch." Rekha mumbled while staring at me with a confused look.

I shrugged before staring at Vikesh who shifted his place to sit beside Mihi and it seems like one day will not be enough to satisfy his curiosity.

"Why are you so interested in him?" she asked with a confused look.

"He is trying to search for his weakness so that he can make Abhi join his basketball team." Kalyan explained.

"Basketball? He is really good at that. But I heard teams are already done." She mumbled frowning.

"One of the members left our team last week and we need another member soon within a week otherwise I have to choose the one who is really not good at that game." Vikesh whined showing a sad face.

"Oh! I think it is better to choose that person and train him rather than taking him." She suddenly said gesturing me and I sat straight feeling shocked hearing those words.

"Why?" we all asked looking at her to which she smiled sweetly at me.

"It is better to train someone from the beginning than to handle his demanding personality. Just imagine how many conditions he will ask for if he joins the team. Don't you think?" she asked glancing at Vikesh while everyone chuckled hearing those words.

"I am not demanding... I mean not that." I had to change my sentence seeing her disbelief look.

"Fine! I will ask that person. You are right, Mihi. I can call you that, right? I am your senior after all." Vikesh said standing up while she nodded.

"Fine! I will join the team and show that you are completely wrong." Saying that even I stood up and he immediately nodded while I continued to glare at her.

"Let's see!" saying that she left us to go to her classes while we all started walking to our and I still can't believe she uttered such things about me.

****

"He completely joined the team, right?" Kalyan asked when we stepped out of the class and Vikesh nodded showing the list I just signed my name.

"Is he still mad about the afternoon event?" Rekha asked joining us when she saw my expression.

"How can she say that about me?" I asked no one in particular.

"It seems like she really knows you better than us and that is not a surprise. Don't you think this wouldn't have happened if she hadn't said that?" Kalyan asked gesturing the paper Vikesh is holding right now.

"When did you became this emotional?" Rekha asked shaking her head.

"I am really glad you both didn't let him know all this until I got the signature." Vikesh thanked them while I stared at them in shock.

"Where is your girlfriend?" I asked Rakesh who stood in silence beside us with a lost look.

He got into a better mood after everything settled with his girlfriend but now again what is with this dark mood. I am also trying to control my temper for the way I just got played by concentrating on him.

"I am supposed to go on a date with my girlfriend as her classes are finishing early today along with us but she just messaged me saying she has to meet her friend's boyfriend today as he is going to give them a surprise visit." He complained while I shook my head.

"How are you this whipped, Rakesh? You were so disinterested before or were you just putting on airs before?" I asked and everyone waited for his answer.

"I don't know! I am confused thinking what if I am like this just because she is the first one to propose to me and it doesn't matter with her personally. If it is that case then I am completely wrong, right?" he asked ina worried tone.

"It's okay! It's not like you are deceiving her or something and you are quite honest with her too. You will know the answer for it soon." Kalyan assured him along with Rekha while Vikesh and I were lost not knowing what to say.

"But who is this friend of hers? We just met Mihi, right? She has another friend or is it someone not from this college?" Vikesh asked when we walked out of our campus building to reach the parking lot.

"She has only Mihi as her friend right now. I was talking about Mihi only." He replied and we all paused to stare at him in shock.

"She went to meet Mihi's boyfriend? But she just... confessed..." Vikesh trailed off while Rakesh shrugged off as nothing else matters to him right now.

I shook my head before walking again and found both of them standing near the entrance after we took out our vehicles.

However, when I found the person whom they are meeting as he just walked closer to them while waving at her, I couldn't move a step ahead and sat dumbly on my bike.

"What happened?" Rekha asked reaching beside me with her scooty and others too reached me.

"It's my cousin!" I whispered when he smiled at her lovingly and she smiled back while her friend is smiling too seeing them.

"But... Teja told me that he likes you." I suddenly uttered seeing her dejected look.

"What? Who?" she asked looking at me with a confused look.

"My cousin! You remember him visiting my house, right? He told me that he is interested in you and thinks you are really a good person." I explained smiling while she just stared at me with a blank expression.

"Let me know your decision. I am getting late right now and need to go." Adding that I rushed out when my friends continued to call me as I was already late.

After meeting them near the college entrance, I sat into the van they booked and opened the window before pausing my action finally realizing what I have just done.

Did I just say all those things to her when I just rejected her feelings? Oh god! How stupid can I be? What I just said is worse than rejecting her, right? I thought groaning while holding my head and wishing I can take it back.