Ritik's POV:

"Are we not supposed to talk about it?" Sakshi asked breaking the uncomfortable silence between three of us. Me, Viraj and Sakshi, We haven't talked with eachother since last night. No greetings, nothing.

"Ritik." Viraj called forcing me look at him. I knew they both were going to ask so many questions to me and so I wished to avoid coming to college however Riyaaz sir ordered me to meet him today and I was unable to deny it.

"Talk about what?" I finally spoke. I was prepared for their questions but honestly speaking there was nothing to talk about. Whatever happened last night was done already, No one can change it.

"Why did you say that?" Sakshi asked again. She looked very much annoyed and if it was possible she wouldn't have mind pulling my ears.

"Say what?"

"Stop being ignorant man. You said you like Nia even though everyone knows you don't and.."

"I do like her." I stated cutting her sentence. She and Viraj both had their eyes wide open when I said that so I thought it was the end of the discussion as they both were too shocked to reply anything however when Sakshi asked her next question, I was the one who got tongue-tied.

"And what about love?" She asked as she came and stood directly in front of my bike. At that moment all I wanted to do was turn on the ignition of my bike and drive from there as fast as I could however I was scared to do that after I saw Sakshi's face turned into a light shade of red because of the anger and her cat like eyes were looking at me as if they were going to kill me with just a simple look.

"Why are you silent now? Few seconds ago you were very boldly showing me your ignorance and attitude, what happened now?" She asked again. Whenever I get into a serious argument with her, I really feel like I jumped into a graveyard dug by myself. Not knowing what to do next, I looked at Viraj asking him to control his girlfriend's anger however he ignored my request. Fine, I guess I will have to face it on my own

"Tell me clearly what do you want to know?" I asked.

"Fine. Tell me you mean whatever you said yesterday and also tell me that you didn't regretted it after you saw Kiara cry."

"She didn't cry. Like a small baby, Her eyes are always watery and moreover she just asked whether I actually like Nia. I don't understand why you are making a big deal out of it." I replied confidently.

"Stop giving a blind-eye Ritik. You very well know she cried! That 'Do you?' from her was the saddest part of my whole life. Her eyes screamed how much hurt they were and yet you want to ignore it?"

"I agree. That 'do you?' from her was really heartbreaking." Viraj spoke making me to look at him. Once our eyes met, he gave me a nod as if he was saying that whatever he said was the truth.

"I don't care. Leave that aside and tell me, do you think Nia heard us?"

"I don't think so, why?" Viraj asked. Unlike Sakshi, he was in pretty normal mood. I turned to look at Sakshi, even she looked curious to know what it was.

"I don't know, she has been continuously smiling since yesterday. She didn't ask me anything but I have a feeling that she heard us." I replied. Yesterday after the party when I dropped her home Sakshi and Viraj were also with us so we didn't talk but today morning when we met, she was smiling continuously and looked very very happy.

"So, what's the problem in that? You like her Ritik, she should know that right?" Sakshi again challenged me to reply. I don't want to fight with her atleast not now when I'm already tensed.

"You know why are you tensed now? Because you wish she didn't heard you and that is because you never meant what you said. You said it so that you can hurt Kiara because you were jealous to see her with Akshay." She continued.

"I didn't do anything to hurt her." I corrected. I had no intention of hurting Kiara and I know I didn't hurt her atleast it doesn't looked like that.

"But you did!"

"Do you really think she is hurt? Does her face have a slightest bit of hurt on it? No Sakshi, she doesn't care neither she cried yesterday." I said and made Sakshi to look at the place where Kiara was very happily talking and playing with Akshay. Her face didn't had anything called as 'hurt' on it.

"Ok. I'm sorry but what about you said Yesterday? Do you seriously like Nia?"

"Someday I will!"

Kiara's POV:

"What happened to you?" Anika asked following me everywhere I went. I already told her I was fine yet she was not ready to listen, she kept saying I was not fine and that I should tell her the reason. Sometimes I feel very very lucky to have her, I mean who wouldn't love a friend who understands you more than you do yourself? And a friend who never leaves your side no matter whatever happens? I'm so blessed to have her.

"Nothing. Do you know where Akshay is?" I asked, I really wanted to meet him but neither he was receiving my calls nor he came to meet me like every other day. I know he was hurt yesterday but that doesn't mean, he will ignore me.

"I don't know where he is. Now please stop and answer me what happened to you? Why do you look like you cried?" She asked again, this time forcing me to look at her.

"She won't answer that, I will tell you." I heard a voice say. Damn Akshay, not a good timing and definitely not a good idea to tell Anika about yesterday.

"Let's go. I will show you something." I said and was about to take both of them with me but was stopped when Akshay took hold of my hand and warned me to stand still.

"Please no." I requested however it didn't had any effect on him. He started narrating the whole incident that happened last night, when I almost thought he was going to tell her everything he stopped!

"Sameer scolded her for something that I don't know, that's why she was crying."

Anika looked at me and then back at Akshay. Frankly speaking I don't remember the last time when Sameer scolded me and Anika being my bestfriend knows about that so obviously even she was confused.

"Sameer scolded you? Why?" She inquired. I don't know, Sameer never scolds me now. This stupid Akshay messed everything. I signalled him to answer her however he ignored me.

"Nothing major. He was angry and unfortunately took that anger on me. Let's go, we have lectures." I said and pulled her out with me. Lectures? Nah I'm not going to attend them.

"Thank you." I said to Akshay the moment we were alone. Anika was walking little ahead of us and was busy with her mobile so there was no way she was going to hear us out.

"Shut up." He replied and looked away.

"You are not going to cry, are you?" I asked as he looked very very sad. I knew one day or the other he was going to break his heart and also warned him about it however he was too ignorant to accept that.

"I'm not! I know Ritik doesn't feel anything for her other than friendship." He stated confidently. When I asked him what he meant by that sentence he very clearly said that Ritik doesn't like Nia and whatever he said was just out of anger.

"And why would you say that? Listen I know you like/love Nia but when they both confessed about liking eachother it's not a good thing to assume things. Ritik and Nia have spent a lot of time together, maybe now he really likes her."

"Do you really think Ritik meant whatever he said yesterday?" He asked almost as if he was challenging me to answer.

"I don't know. It's his life and I'm not interested to interfere in it and even you shouldn't."

"Aren't you hurt?" He asked looking straight into my eyes.

"No."

"Not even a little bit?"

"Not even a little bit." I replied.

"You act far better than what I thought. Anyway, keep fooling yourself." He said and started walking a little ahead of me. Now why is he angry? I swear I hate it when someone gets angry or hurt because of me and here this idiot who is a person very close to me was both hurt and angry.

"Hey I'm sorry." I apologized following him however he ignored me like I was non existent.

Ignorance, no matter from whomever it is....it really does hurt a lot.

"Will you listen to me? I'm sorry. I didn't wished to make you angry but trust me I don't like him then why would I get hurt?" I asked.

"Leave it Kiara." He said and started walking again. Here I was chasing him infront of whole college and he had a nerve to ignore me.

"Akshay please don't run. I can't see you get sad or angry because of me." I said little bit angrily. This time he stopped and looked at me.

"Why Kiara? Why can't you see me angry or sad because of you?" He asked in a very dramatic tone, the same which we see in movies. Very dramatic soul but atleast I was happy to see him getting back to his normal self.

"Do you really think I'm going to answer you saying, ' because I love you'?"

"Nah, I know you won't say that because you love Ritik."

Damn why can't he get over it? I don't love Ritik.

"Let's not talk about this, Please." I requested.

"Ok. Did you see Nia today?" He asked. Yeah I did, she looked very happy. I answered the same to him and got a nod in return.

"Do you think she heard Ritik?" Akshay asked. I recalled yesterday's incident where she was out of the room when Ritik confessed that and also she came after two three minutes, so I don't think Nia heard it.

"I think she did." Akshay answered his own question. When asked why he thinks that he said that before coming to meet me he went to see Nia and she looked very happy and the glow on her face was totally different than other days.

"Oh ok." I replied. If Nia heard Ritik what will happen? Maybe I will soon get to hear about dating news.

"Kiu baby, look at this." Anika said as she came towards me and passed her mobile. Kiu baby? Something is really up. I took the mobile from her and looked at the screen hoping not to see something which I don't want too however the luck is never on my side, It was our defaulters list and as always it had my name in it. By now, the message for the parents meeting of defaulters must have already got delivered to my mom's phone and she must be very angry.

"What is this?" Akshay said snatching the phone from my hand.

"I knew it. I already told you to attend all your lectures but you never do so this was going to happen." He said proudly. Here I was already tensed and instead of helping me out even he was giving lecture about my poor attendance.

"Akshay, mom will scold me. She warned me to attend every lecture." I said and told him everything that mom said while warning me, which included her death glares and her threat of cutting my allowances. Earlier I didn't took it seriously however now I can clearly see it coming on my way.

"So what?" He asked. I have my dance class today so I needed to go home first and if I do that now I will get to see my mom in very angry state but it won't happen if I'm accompanied by someone. Anika can't come with me as she needs to go home early so there was only Akshay left who could have helped me.

"Are you free today?" I asked.

"First tell me what are you planning to do?"

"Nothing. Come home with me today, I need your help. Bye. Take care." I said and left from there taking Anika with me before Akshay could have refused to come.

"Why are you taking him home?"

"So that mom won't scold me. I will just go, change and then will leave for dance class. When I will return mom won't be much angry."

"Haha, she is your mom Kiara. She can scold you in front of anyone and everyone. Not to forget you have a family reunion today at your place." Anika reminded. Oh no! That means getting scolded infront of everyone. As Anika said mom really won't mind scolding me infront of whole family.

"I'm definitely taking Akshay with me today atleast he will help me to run from there or else I can't even imagine being scolded infront of everyone."

***

It was 4:30 pm when I went outside my home. My class was at 6 but because Akshay had to go to gym at 5:30, he forcefully brought me here.

"Don't worry aunty won't kill you, let's go." Akshay said and got out of the car. Killing is ok, scolding is not. When it comes to roasting my mom has aced that talent.

"Hey, even she is wearing red." Akshay said and turned my head towards my right. His happy voice was enough for me to figure out who 'She' was. Nia used to hate red but now she wears it only because it is Ritik's favourite colour.

"Some people look fools when they wear red." I replied and started moving ahead. My sentence was directed towards him and luckily he didn't misunderstood me thinking that it was directed towards Nia.

"Exactly, for example your Ritik."

I ignored it and went towards the main gate where Nia was standing busy attending a call. I gave her a smile and went inside only to see Sameer and Ritik talking with eachother and both wearing red.

"Why is everyone wearing red today?" I whisper asked Akshay.

"I don't know but it may be a sign for you to stop here." He said scaring me more now. I assured him to be back in 10 minutes. I went upstairs got ready hurriedly and came downstairs, mom was still in the kitchen so I thought maybe I will not have to face her wrath now however she came out of the kitchen before I could have ran from there.

"Why is your name in that list again?" She asked.

"Because she only attend statistics lectures." Dad replied coming out of the kitchen. Dad was cooking? I can't wait to taste the food.

"Yeah and ends up scoring least marks in it." Mom replied and I heard both Ritik and Akshay laugh. Sameer didn't had any expression on his face because he is used to this and also he is still sad about that cheater girlfriend of his.

"Mom please no fun about that." I requested. I was going to ask for help from dad however he was too busy talking with Akshay.

"Fine. Find a tutor for you or I will."

"Ritik can teach her, I heard he is very good with numbers." Akshay spoke. Damn you! I glared at him however it was too late.

"I not going to." Ritik answered very arrogantly. Why does he have to be rude about it?

"I mean, my practice sessions starts from tomorrow. I will get busy with them." He said further. As if it the practice was not there he would have got ready to tutor me.

"No problem. Vihaan will teach me." I said and found everyone looking at me.

"He can't, he hates stats." Akshay spoke again. Man, you don't even know who Vihaan is.

"No problem, I will teach her." Nia said as she came and stood beside me. It was my turn to laugh as I'm definitely going to agree with Nia's help and I'm not letting Akshay come there.

"Thanks my child." Mumma said to her and faced me, she said she will talk about the defaulter's list after I return home and then went back to the kitchen. That's means I still have to face her wrath.

I thanked Nia. As what Akshay said she really looked very very happy. Both Ritik and Nia were wearing Red. Did they already talked with eachother about their feelings?

"Bye uncle. I need to go now." Ritik said and stood up to leave.

"Ok son. Come soon and tell the same to Aarav." Dad replied.

"Let's go." He said to Nia and went out of the house.

Are they really in relationship now?

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