AFREEN

It had only been a week since Diya and Sam's break up, but, already you could see the change in our group dimension.  The whole College got a hot new topic to gossip about.  We could hear whispers and people were pointing at Diya as we passed. We ignored all that or atleast tried to. All our so called friends were showing their true colors. Meghana, Sanjana, Harshad and Chavi sided with Sam, while Abhay and Harsh were neutral and obviously, Ana and me sided with Diya. This did not mean that we all didn't speak to each other. Just Sam and Diya weren't speaking to each other. Sanjana, Chavi and Meghana were fine, but, they bitched about Diya behind our backs. All in all,  our group kinda disbanded. I could see so many faces in the class  ecstatic about this piece of news. Sam didn't help make things easy either. He found various ways to humiliate Diya in front of everyone. 

Ana, Diya and I were in the canteen and some place further all our 'friends' were sitting. Harsh and Abhay had come and chatted with us for a while,  but now,  were sitting with them. I saw Ana looking at them wistfully. She caught me staring and smiled sheepishly. I felt bad too, that we couldn't all hang out like before. 

"I have a major problem." I said. 

"What?" Diya asked. 

"You know how my dad is? He gets easily influenced by people, especially my aunt. We had been to a family get together last week and there everyone was talking about my marriage!!!!!! I thought Dad wouldn't take it seriously,  as he had promised he would wait for my B.Sc to get over. But guess what?" I stopped mid-rant, my eyes wild and helpless. 

"He is groom-hunting for you?" Ana, piped in. 

"YES!!!" I exclaimed and continued, " And some groom is going to come see me this weekend. I need some ideas, to do something to make him reject me. To top all that,  he is ten years my senior and an Engineer. My dad is all set that this is the guy.  What am I going to do?"

"Did you tell Farhan?" Ana asked.

I nodded and said, " He's tensed. He needs to complete his M.Tech also. And we need atleast three years time till he settles. How am I going to pull that off? I shouldn't have told him. He has exams and now he's not focused on that,  all because of me." 

I pulled my head in my hands and tears threatened to flow down my face. 

"Look. Seeing the guy is inevitable. If its not this guy, then, your Dad will bring someone else. See the guy and reject him." Diya said.

"It's not that simple. If the guy says okay, then they will pressurize me. Nobody's on my side at home." I said, dejected.

"Well, look plain. You already look like you'll fade away and make yourself pale and look dead. He will automatically reject you." Ana said.

I looked at Diya and asked, "Any better ideas?" 

"Heyy!!" Ana exclaimed, clearly offended.

"She's right you know. That's the only option you have,  other than breaking a part of your body." Diya said and both of them started giggling. 

I glared at them and said, "I think I like the second option. God!! help me." 

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After all the tiresome classes, Diya, Ana and I were heading out of the gate. Ana and Diya were making fun of my situation when,  Ana suddenly stopped. Naturally, Diya and I stopped. People were pushing past us to get out. Ana looked flat out scared. 

"Babe, you okay?" Diya asked.

Ana was biting her lower lip and was looking at us with wide eyes. 

"Why did you call him here?" She asked Diya.

Diya looked at me confused. "Call who?" She asked.

"Abhi, who else." She said.

We both looked at Ana, as if she had gone nuts.  We were yet to go out of the college gates and as far as I knew we hadn't seen him. Technically,  I had yet to met the brothers,  But, Diya would surely have made his presence known.

"Ana, I didn't call him here. I don't know why you feel like I would call him, knowing how uncomfortable you are?" Diya said, exasperated.

Ana just shook her head. Diya got a message and she paled and looked at Ana in shock. 

She handed her cell to me.

Dev: Outside your college. Abhi is with me. Fair warning. ;)  

I looked at Ana in shock.

"How did you know he's here? " I asked.

"What!!!" Ana squeaked and mumbled, "Just a feeling." 

"Just so you know, I didn't call them here." Diya said, while, Ana narrowed her eyes at her. 

"I swear." Diya said. 

"I believe you." Ana huffed, "But, what to do?" She was panicking. 

It had been quite a while since Abhi and Ana had spoken. There was something between them, neither wanting to acknowledge it. Ana was always running away from anything remotely close to affection from a guy. Now, finally there was someone willing to chase her and hopefully, would catch up to her, fingers crossed.