6

Aarohi's pov:

As I went home I didn't talk with anyone and went straight towards my room. Frankly speaking, I was disturbed, Very disturbed to see Nehal again. It's been hours since I saw him but the incident was stuck in my mind. It kept haunting me like a nightmare. I have been trying to forget that incident since past one year but now it feels like everything was recent. 

Nehal isn't a big concern for me, I didn't even have any personal issues or grudges for him, it is his friend or girlfriend, whatever relation they have now! It's quite obvious that if Nehal is here, she will be here too. I guess my meet with her is not too long now. I don't want to see her.

Sometimes even I don't believe that I could dislike a person whom I once loved the most. How does this even happen? I remembered her, my best friend, well ex-best friend for that matter. I have no relation with her now and I don't want to have any.

All my trust, all my promises were broken as if they never existed and who was the person to broke it? Well, the same person whom I called as my best friend. That day I learnt a lesson for life, people value their romantic relationship more than their friendship. Maybe that's how the world goes.

When she asked for forgiveness I could have easily done that but I felt betrayed. Man, I trusted her the most. Forgiving her was easy, forgetting everything was the difficult part.

My thoughts were broken when my cousin entered my room.

“Hey fatso.” he chuckled throwing a pillow towards my direction.

Man, I swear I lost 2kgs. I don't even think I look bubbly how. Then why Fatso?

“I'm not fat and even if I am, then it's ok. Being fat isn't a problem.” I defended.

“Oh oh oh, girl calm down. I was joking.” He said raising his hands in surrender.

“Why are you here?” I asked not wanting him to taunt me on any other thing.

“ I just came here to give you your headphones.” He said and kept the headphones on my table. When did he take them? Why he didn't ask me?

“Sorry.” He said before I could ask him anything. There was no point to ask now. Even if I do, I'm not going to get a satisfactory answer.

“Thank you.” He said and then took a chocolate out of his pocket making giggle because of the happiness. At least a good thing after a long day.

The following day,

I went out with my cousins for dinner. It is like a ritual for us, we do outings at least once a week. Sometimes even more than once but that is very rare because of the busy schedules of everyone.

The restaurant we went to was near Aaryan's house and I hoped not to see him. From the moment I heard the name of the restaurant I was praying, praying to not see him there but I guess luck is never on my side. As we were having dinner I received a call from Apeksha and I must say it is easy to talk to your boyfriend on call in front of our family but is definitely impossible to talk with your best friend, and so I went out to receive her call.

I was so busy talking to her when my eyes shifted towards the main gate of his house and I saw him coming out of it, looking as handsome as always. He was dressed like he is going for a party. Night out maybe. I diverted my attention from him and continued my talk with Apeksha.

After the call ended I was about to go inside but my traitor heart kept telling me to look back in the anticipation of seeing him again and on the other hand my mind told me not to turn. At the end, I ditched my mind and looked back but this time there was no one. I guess he went away. I felt sad and with the same sadness, I went inside and continued my dinner.

Next morning I got ready and as my daily schedule went to college but today I was not supposed to attain lectures as I wanted to practice for the speech competition. The competition was after two days and as we really wished to win it, we worked really hard and practised with full dedication. I was nervous but I was excited as well. I love doing new things and this was definitely one of them.

By the evening the practice session for today was done and the presentation was also ready. Now we were just supposed to wait for two days. Sara told us everything about the venue, timings and all. I was hell tired because of the hectic day today and I missed my bed, so I decided to go home as soon as the practice gets over.

I took my scooty and was about to leave the college when I saw HER. Riddhi! My ex-best friend. I was pretty sure that I will see her again but I wasn't knowing that it will be this soon. I was not interested to talk with her, so I just began to drive again but was stopped when she called me.

“Aarohi wait, I want to talk.” She said.

“I can't, I'm in hurry,” I replied without looking at her.

“Just two minutes, please, I won't take your time.” She said and I nodded her to continue.

“How are you? I missed you so much. You didn't even tell me that you took admission here. Have I done something that wrong?” She asked.

Really girl? Do you seriously have guts to ask that?

My temper raised but somehow I tried to calm myself.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“You know this is the problem with you, you never tend to listen, anyone, I already said sorry for what I did but you are not willing to accept it because of your very high ego.” She said and well it was enough for me to leave, so I started my scooty and left.

If she had said this to me some months back I would have cried but now, now none of her words affect me.

On the way I kept thinking about the incident with her, okay I agree I have a problem with my ego but it is still not for everyone. I'm unable to forget what she did to me. How can she expect me to forget everything and become normal again? It's not that easy. Let her call it my ego or whatever she wish but I can't just forget that. Ever.

I went home and was resting but still remembered meeting Riddhi, so I opened my Instagram account and simply started surfing it. I stopped when I saw a picture of Aaryan with Niharika. It was posted by Niharika and from the look, I guess the picture was from yesterday. They looked so happy together and within zero seconds jealousy took over me.

For that matter, I envy every girl who is with Aaryan and get jealous quickly. I wonder when will I stop doing that? Will I ever be able to do that? Will I ever get a boy who will make me forget Aaryan?

After two days,

Finally, it was the day of competition and as always I was hell nervous. All my friends were trying to comfort me.

What if I get stuck in between? What if I forget the part which am I supposed to present? And so many questions were running inside my mind.

“Stop it Aarohi. Everything will be ok. Don't overstress.” Said Sara.

“ Yeah," I replied.

After some time we got ready for the competition and made our way towards the hall. As we were passing I saw Aaryan coming towards us and my heart started beating at a faster pace. I was already nervous and seeing him added to it. After so much of efforts, I prepared myself for this competition and now I definitely don't want to spoil everything, so I avoided his gaze to maintain my sanity. I wished no one stops him but then again nothing happens according to my wish, Sara stopped him.

“Aren't you going to wish us?” She said wickedly, whereas he just smiled at her.

“Yeah, Of course. All the best everyone, do well.” He wished and his voice brought tingling sensation all over me. That's my favourite music. Everyone replied saying 'Thanks'. It was only me who didn't say anything. I was so busy admiring him that I literally forgot replying. Stupid you didn't reply him.

I tried to say thanks but no words came out when I looked at his eyes. What is wrong with me? Aarohi you need to reply him. I told myself and finally gathered the courage to reply but before I could say anything, he went away. DAMN!! What he must be thinking of me now? Why I didn't say anything? Why am I so stupid? I felt like crying and was about to shed tears but was stopped when Sara called me.

“Aarohi, let's go.”

We reached the hall and everyone got settled on their seats. Incident outside the hall was still running in my head. I kept cursing myself for not replying him. It was like an opportunity and I missed it. So damn stupid!

I looked at the surroundings and found the groups of different colleges busy discussing their presentation. I hope everything goes well. After some time the competition started. Two groups presented and the third was ours. The groups were so good that they already set the bar very high making me doubt at my abilities. You can do it. I said to myself and started the presentation. Every one of us said very well and it was definitely more than what I expected.

The remaining groups were also so good and I guess it's going to be really difficult for the judges to select the winner. The judges were principals of international college, but they were so friendly not like the arrogant type of judges.

After the competition ended there was a break of fifteen minutes and after that results were to be announced. I went to the restroom as I was very much tired and even stressed. Thinking of the results made me nervous again, and so I called Apeksha, but she didn't receive it. Girl where are you?

I went out of the restroom to search for her. On the way, I saw Aaryan coming in my direction but this time it was something different, he ignored me like I don't exist. This was the first time he behaved like this. Okay I know we never talked but still, he never behaved like what he did now.

Is he angry because of the today's incident? Oh, god! I should have said thank you to him, he even looked at me when I didn't respond.

“Hey, where were you?” Apeksha said from behind and I turned towards her.

“Oh, hi. I was looking for you.” I replied still thinking of Aaryan.

“Why do you look tensed?" She asked and I immediately told the incident to her. I expected her to say something good, but she started laughing.

“You are seriously idiot. It's nothing like that. You are overthinking. “

“Maybe,” I replied.

“Now come. It's time for your result.” She said and took me with her. The moment I reached there my hands felt cold and I started shivering. Not again.

One of the teacher started the announcement and thanksgiving ceremony was done. After that, it was the time for results. Everyone looked anticipated. The teacher announced the 3rd place followed by the 2nd. I lost hope because if 2nd and 3rd are not our ranks it was hardly possible for us to be the first place because there were so many good presentations given by the rest of the colleges. We lost. A feeling of sadness crept inside me. Anyway, let's see who won.

I looked at the teacher who was announced, she was taking a lot of time to declare it, enjoying our hopeful faces. When she finally announced the first place, I was frozen. She announced the name of our college as the first ranker. Am I dreaming? Sara hugged me and I realised that it's for real. We won!

Everyone congratulated us and finally the trophy was given. After clicking lots of photos with the trophy we went out of the hall.

Kunal came and congratulated all of us and then came Vivek. When I saw Aaryan coming towards us, I mentally practised saying thank you. I don't want to miss this opportunity. I was eagerly waiting for him to congratulate me but again something different happened. He came and congratulated everyone with a handshake except for me. I was shocked but still hoped that he will wish, but he didn't, he went away talking on his phone. I felt sad because of his strange behaviour. I was on the verge of crying and before I could do that, I decided to leave from there.

“Stop crying,” Apeksha said.

“I'm not crying.”

“Oh yes, It's me who is crying right?” She said, and I was not able to control my tears anymore.

“Why did he do that to me? I swear I tried to reply him earlier but no words came out of my mouth. How can he completely ignore me and…" I was going to say further, but she stopped me by pinching my arm. I got confused as what is she trying to do?

“Aarohi.” Someone called I turned to see Kunal standing in front of us. Oh, that's why she stopped me.

“Are you crying?” he asked and I become numb.

“No, something went in her eye,” Apeksha replied but still he was looking suspiciously towards me.

“What do you want?” Apeksha asked him.

“Nothing much. I wanted to talk with her but I think now I have something more important to do.” With that, he left and I just gave a confused look to Apeksha, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

After that, she dropped me home and warned me not to cry. I just smiled at her kiddish behaviour and went inside home. As I went to my room I was not able to control my tears. Why did Aaryan did this to Me?

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