"So how's college?" Sid asks, chewing, and simultaneously making a disgusted face. "Hospital food is terrible." He wrinkles his nose, in an adorable manner.

I lift the soup bowl, and then take a spoonful. "Open your mouth, Sid."

"You are feeding me?" He seems genuinely shocked. "Are you in love with me or something?"

I snort loudly. "Yeah, that's what it is."
I pinch his nose and his mouth automatically pops open. I shove the spoon inside. "Just shut up, and eat."

Sid grins toothily. "So how's college?" He repeats.

"Boring as usual", I say, making a face.

"Do you miss me?" He smirks.

"Ofcourse, every single second", I answer, sarcastically.

He laughs and says, "I knew it."

Almost two weeks have passed since the whole Elsa fiasco in the hospital. Dad and grandpop talked out their differences over dinner. Mom almost had a mini heart attack when she saw grandpop and dad coming home, grandpop's arm around dad's shoulder, laughing like old pals who have just been catching up. She was even more astounded when grandpop winked at her once they got inside and whispered to her, "He's a keeper." I was on all fours, laughing so hard that my stomach ached. Grandpop is undoubtedly hilarious.

"How's Elsa?" Sid asks, licking his fingers.

I throw him a disgusted look, to which he goes "What?", before answering, "She's great."

"Does she miss me?"

"Hard to say, she hasn't really told me anything of that sort."

He rolls his eyes and says, "So when are you planning to bring her here again?"

I smack the back of his head in response and he instantly says, "Kidding, kidding, ouch, you crazy animal, it hurt."

We talk about general stuff afterwards. I have been visiting Sid almost everyday. When I go home from the hospital, Elsa licks my fingers, and wags her tail excitedly, as if she knows I was out meeting Sid. I think the typical hospital smell reminds her of him.

"How long will you be here?" I ask him.

"The doctor says I am recovering very quickly and he has assured me that I'm stuck in this hell-hole for only one more week", he smiles brightly.

My face lights up. "That's great news, Sid!" I hug him. "I'm really happy for you. Your parents must be relieved that this ordeal is almost over."

"Yeah, they are." He pauses for a minute before continuing, "Did Tanvi go to college today?"

"Yeah, why?" I ask, suspiciously.

"Nothing, just wanted to ask you how she was holding up."

Tanvi had recently broken up with Mayank, when she found out that he cheated on her several times with various girls. I think Tanvi was really relieved, to be honest. She was finally free of him. And I had never seen her more happy, and pumped up.

"To be honest, I think she could not be more happy", I grin at Sid. "Mayank was a compulsive, aggressive son of a bitch, and he deserved what he got", I add nastily. Tanvi had slapped Mayank when she caught him making out with the college bitch, Sakshi. Both Mayank and Sakshi were left red-faced.

Sid laughs. "She deserves so much more", he comments.

"Yeah, she really does", I agree. "She's a gem of a person."

Sid nods his head vigorously. "Yeah, she's so amazing, and caring, and kind, and-"

I look at him in surprise. I've never heard Sid talk about somebody with emotions. What is wrong with him?

"I know all of that", I snap.

He looks at me, scared. "Are you mad at me?"

"No, ofcourse not!"

"Then why did you snap?"

"Happens at times, get over it", I say, gritting my teeth. Why is this bothering me so much? Is it because I have a feeling that Sid has feelings for Tanvi? So what if he does? Why am I upset about that? Is it because I have feelings for Sid?

OH MY GOD.

"I've got to go", I tell Sid, and without another word, I rush out of the room. I start my motorcycle and zoom towards my house.

All the while, only one thought occupies my mind. I like Sid.

And this is something I cannot come to terms with. I am already hyperventilating.

Calm down, Alia, calm down. This is not as bad as it seems. Is it?

I reach home and run towards my room. Nobody's at home. I find Elsa sleeping inside, but she wakes up as she hears me enter my room. Wagging her tail, she runs towards me, and I pat her. She licks me all over the face. "Get off, you silly little girl", I laugh. "Elsa, stop! I can't breathe!"

Elsa gives me one final lick on my nose and waits expectantly. I sigh, and give her a treat. She munches on it happily as I shake my head. "You mad, greedy, little doggy", I say, affectionately.

I then remember why I had rushed home so fast, and my heart rate accelerates. I sit down on the floor, my head in my hands, and Elsa sits next to me.

"What am I going to do, Elsa?" I ask her. As if she's going to reply. She looks at me innocently.

"I like Sid! Damn it, why did I have to like him out of all the people?" I yank some of the hair on my head in frustration. Elsa looks unconcerned.

"Wait. Back up a second." Elsa tilts her head. "How did I just reach to such a random conclusion that I like Sid?"

I look at her, hoping that she could answer. When she doesn't say anything, and just licks my palm, I continue, "So, I just have a hunch that Sid likes Tanvi. And that made me what? Jealous?"

I look at Elsa again, asking for help. She eyes me with interest.

"No, I wasn't jealous, I think I was- angry- I guess. Because the way Sid was talking about her, annoyed me. Why did it annoy me, exactly?"

Elsa rests her head on my thigh and I stroke her head. "I guess it's because I have never seen Sid like this before. And I guess I'm mad at me, because I thought I knew him. And also probably because I had expected him to tell me something like that, not for me to find out about it."

Elsa doses off, snoring a little. "Let me think. Am I attracted to Sid?"

I close my eyes and picture Sid. Sure, he is good looking and looks quite appealing, but I am not attracted to him in any way.

"Do I want me and him to date?"

I think about Sid and me dating, while Elsa is drooling all over my pants. I look at her lovingly, as I think again about Sid and me being a "couple". Euw no! I can't even think of him that way. Or look at him that way. He's the only person who is closest to me apart from Tanvi. He is my confidant. He's just one of my best friends.

That's it! I sigh in relief and laugh aloud. Elsa wakes up, trying very hard to open her eyes, but goes back to sleep almost instantly.

I don't like Sid! I feel giddy with relief. I give Elsa a huge, wet, sloppy kiss on her forehead, and say,"Gotta go, Elsa. I have to meet Tanvi."

I get up and my phone rings at that moment. Sid.

"Hey, Sid", I say, calmly.

"Alia, where did you run off to? I was really worried!" He says, angrily.

"Really?" I stifle a laughter. "What did you do then?"

"I called the first person I could think of."

"And who may that be?" I smirk.

"Tanvi", he says, slowly. "She has been searching for you, she may come to your place now- are you at home?"

"Yes", I say, and the doorbell rings. Now we're gonna have some fun.

I rush towards the door, and open it, Elsa at my heels. Tanvi stares at me and gushes out, "Thank God you are here, Alia! Sid and I were really worried- he said-"

"Wait a second", I interrupt her, and she looks confused. I put my phone on loud speaker.

"Sid, Tanvi's here, say hi to her", I say, trying not to grin.

"Hi-hi T-Tanvi", he stutters through the phone.

"Hey Sid", says Tanvi, nervously, running her fingers through her hair.

Elsa barks as she hears Sid's voice. Boy, is she intelligent. I worry her IQ is more than mine, at times.

"So, since when have you guys been going out?" The question throws both Sid and Tanvi off, completely.

Tanvi fidgets, and answers, in a small voice, that I can barely hear her. "A week."

"Is that so?" I cross my arms across my chest, and look at her angrily. "And now, you decide to tell me."

"Alia, we decided it was best not to-" begins Sid, but I cut him off. "I'm not done talking to your girlfriend, mister. You are next." Tanvi gulps.

"Tell me the story", I command.

Tanvi sighs a little and says, "Sid and I always used to find each other attractive, but he used to flirt with every single girl-"

"Hey, that's not true!" opposes Sid.

"-and I was dating Mayank, so we didn't really do anything about it. But then as we got to talking even more, we sort of fell in love. And then almost at the right time, I found out that Mayank has cheated on me. I broke up with him, and Sid asked me out, and I said yes." Tanvi finishes, a little sheepish.

"Well why didn't you tell me before?" I complain.

"Well we didn't know how you were going to react-" says Tanvi.

"-and Tanvi thought you like me", interjects Sid.

I snort loudly. "You guys are so stupid! As if I could like Sid!" I laugh.

"Ouch", says Sid, but I know he's just acting.

"So do you love him?" I ask Tanvi.

"I do", she says, blushing.

"And do you love her, jerkface?" I ask Sid, through the phone.

"I do", he says, his voice ringing.

"Now you may kiss the bride", I laugh, sticking out my tongue.

Tanvi slaps my arm and exclaims,"Alia!", whereas Sid says,"Believe me, I have been waiting to do that."

"Euw, Sid, gross", I say, wrinkling my nose. "Bbye now, I want to spend some quality time with your girlfriend." And before Sid can say anything, I end the phone call. I bet he must be cursing me right now.

I look at Tanvi, who grins, shyly. "Let's go and play with Elsa", I suggest. "You can give me details then." She nods, and we go to our room.

In just a few short weeks, everything has fallen into place. It seems so perfect, so unbelievable. And absolutely amazing. What could go wrong now? I ask myself, smiling.

I think I'm going to find that out very soon.