Mahreen ramp-walked towards us in her high heels, her grin getting brighter by each step. Behind her, Hriaan, Jiya, and Tejas followed. While Hriaan and Jiya were bickering about something, Tejas was looking at other students.

They stopped beside Mahreen, who started pulling my cheeks as soon as she saw me.

"So cute," Mahreen commented.

I let her do that for some time and stopped her as my cheeks had started hurting. I didn't understand what she found cute in me.

"Hey, Shorty." Hriaan patted my head.

I glanced at Jiya for help, and she scolded Hriaan and Mahreen to stop troubling me.

"You are such a spoil-sport, Jiya," Hriaan teased.

"How are you, Boomer?" Mahreen asked.

"I am fine, Mahreen, and my name is Bhoomi," I said. "Can you please not call me Boomer?"

Mahreen pouted. "Why not? It sounds so cute though - just like you."

"I don't like it," I replied.

"Really?" Tejas asked, and everyone looked at him as he fixed his stare on me.

I gave a short nod. I thought that Tejas would ignore me, and for the first time, I also wanted him to do so because I didn't want him to showcase how much he loathed me. What my inner voice had said in the morning kept echoing in my mind.

If Tejas didn't like me, and there was no reason for it too, then I should be happy to not come in contact with him at all. He is really honest and doesn't feel the need to hide his emotions - also, I shouldn't forget his blunt remarks.

I should just accept that I have no right to judge his personal preferences, and I am not even that close to him to ask him about my doubt. I am already aware of the gap between us which I foolishly felt like ignoring. Just because he is not behaving like I want him to, it doesn't mean that I should let my spirits down.

He is my role model and inspiration, so I think I should not cross my limits. Trying to crash into his personal life wasn't a good idea after all. So what if I was on the same team as him? It doesn't guarantee that I made a memorable impression on him or changed his views about me. I think that instead I made my image worse in his eyes.

Therefore, from this moment onwards, I will go back mentally, and remind myself to always be aware of my reality. The trainee program of Sarthak Pawar is just in its beginning phases, and considering my present performance, I can't even guarantee that I will make it into the final team.

Yes, in order to impress Tejas, I have to work hard in improving my dancing, but I guess most of my energy is spent thinking about his reaction only. If I had actually caught his attention, then he would have treated me the same like he did Akshay and my other crew members.

But, as I finally realise, Tejas never even deemed me worthy of his attention for more than a second. As for him spending time on me during our team rehearsals, it was his responsibility to look after each member. I don't know if I will ever be on the same team as him again or not, but I should stop keeping unrealistic expectations.

Right now also, I know that he is not happy to see me. I can't control his emotions. I feel sad, but I should be strong enough to face the reality. My dance idol doesn't like me, and that's the truth. No ifs and no buts, and no whys and no hows.

It is what it is.

I felt some clouds of concerns fading from my mind. I moved my lips downwards and scolded them to not act on their own. I squeezed my eyes because I knew I was staring at Tejas with wide eyes due to muscle memory. I took a small step back and removed any traces of curiosity or sadness from my face.

"You in this world, Shorty?" Hriaan asked.

"Yes," I flashed him a small smile and again pulled a poker face.

I kept my eyes everywhere except Tejas. It was actually hard to act like that, but I knew it was necessary for me. I was doing well, but I felt Tejas's stare on me getting intense even if I wasn't looking at him.

Do not look, Bhoomi. Remember, it is for your own good.

"You are a b-girl, right?" Mahreen asked joyfully.

When I responded in positive, she enquired me why I didn't take part in any battles.

"I am not that confident," I replied.

"Why are you lying so openly?" Tejas commented.

I wanted to curse my luck. I inhaled a deep breath and managed to look at him like a normal person.

"I am not lying. I never took part in dance battles because I know I am not at that level yet," I said.

Tejas tilted his head. "Then who was battling against us in that underground dance battle? We know it was you disguised as Boomer, so why continue with the act?"

"Oh, that?" I asked, keeping my voice in check. "Sorry, I forgot about that. I thought Mahreen was asking me about participating as myself."

"So, Boomer and you are different?" Tejas narrowed his eyes.

Ganapati Bappa, what is this? Why is Tejas talking to me like this and not ignoring me like he always does? I don't want to have this conversation regarding Boomer because those memories are really embarrassing. Some of them are good, but most of them make me want to hide.

Relax, Bhoomi, just answer Tejas in short and keep your answers consistent. We know his reactions, so he won't waste much time on you.

I looked at Tejas seriously. "I won't say Boomer and I are different people, but Boomer was just a persona I was faking at that time. I again apologize for that day since we ended up breaking the rules."

"Come on, guys, we are also here!" Mahreen shouted. "And, TJ, stop messing with my cute Boomer, okay?"

I looked at Mahreen dejectedly. She smiled sheepishly and requested me if she could call me Boomer since she found it really cute and entertaining.

Seeing her enthusiasm, I allowed her as I didn't want to burst her happy bubble. She squeezed me, and I scrunched my nose as her heavy perfume clouded my nostrils.

"Mahreen, Bhoomi is not a toy," Hriaan scolded.

"But she is really small and cozy." Mahreen grinned.

"That's true though."

Hriaan chuckled when he saw me glaring at him. He never left a chance to make fun of my short height. Jiya and Akshay also joined the wagon in teasing me, and I noticed Tejas standing with his hands in his pockets as his eyes kept shifting between his friends and me.

"Can't even trust what's real and fake nowadays," Tejas commented.

Mahreen snarled at him. "What are you mad about, TJ? Can't you stop being so serious all the time?"

Hriaan agreed. "Chill, bro. What's with your mood swings nowadays? Want me to call Ayzere to fix you up?"

All of us felt chills run down our spines when Tejas fixed Hriaan with a deadly stare.

"If you have a death wish, then be my guest," Tejas grumbled in a very low tone, but all of us heard it loud and clear.

Hriaan shook his head and went closer to Tejas. I was afraid that they would start fighting, but when Hriaan pulled Tejas's cheeks and asked him if he was hungry, I saw Tejas look at his friend flatly.

"I know you can't control your hunger pangs, TJ. Don't worry. As long as you have me, I won't let you starve" Hriaan said as if he was talking to a toddler.

"Stop fooling around," Tejas warned.

Instead of arguing, Hriaan hugged his friend and patted his back. "There, there. You will feel okay soon."

Mahreen and Jiya broke out laughing, and Akshay also chuckled when Tejas tried to throw Hriaan off, but Hriaan hugged him more tightly.

"Hriaan, I will beat you if you won't stop," Tejas huffed.

While others were enjoying the funny exchange and passing comments, I noticed Hriaan mumbling to Tejas. I wanted to hear what he was saying but due to Akki, Jiya, and Mahreen laughing like maniacs, I couldn't decipher Hriaan's words.

I wanted to ignore my curiosity, but the way Tejas's eyes snapped at me before again landing on Hriaan made me want to know what was going on between them. Slowly, Tejas's rage was replaced with a stoic expression, and he rolled his eyes when Mahreen asked him if he enjoyed the special treatment.

He smacked Mahreen behind the head and cracked a smile when Hriaan began singing nursery rhymes.

"I am surrounded by idiots," Tejas said.

Hriaan and Mahreen exchanged glances and started singing at the top of their voices.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky!"

Tejas looked at his friends in disappointment. "I am going to my lecture."

He moved his feet and went past us. Mahreen and Hriaan followed him and kept teasing him while repeating the nursery rhyme. They got hit but still continued.

"Who will say they are grown-ups?" Akshay wondered.

"We also act the same way, Akki." Jiya smiled, and Akshay agreed.

Jiya also took her leave, and we remembered that we also had a lecture to attend.

"Professor won't let us in now," Akshay said.

"Yup. Let's go to the cafeteria then. I am hungry," I suggested.

"So, TJ isn't the only one who was hungry."

I shrugged. I knew Akki was pulling my leg, so I didn't react. He tried to tease me but gave up when I didn't give him satisfactory reaction.

"Why are you so dull today?" he asked and frowned at my ignorance.

"Stop talking nonsense," I scolded.

He stopped bothering me once we ordered food and began munching. Like earlier, I noticed Akshay's gaze roaming over the place.

Did he forget that Suhana was in her lecture?

I opened my mouth to comment on his behaviour but shook my head to myself.

What if there is actually something going on between Akki and Suhana, and I jinx it? Even if I can't confirm it by hundred percent, I am sure Akki does have interest in Suhana. And it is not just about dance.

Akshay is already very sensitive about the love topic and acts like he is suffocating whenever we discuss it. For now, I won't ask him anything because he may start doubting himself. He is my best friend, so he will himself tell me for sure once he is confident about his own feelings.

I enjoyed in silence as my best friend kept checking his watch and blabbering to distract me. I smiled at his antics.

After leaving the college, I called Arushi to know if she was at home. Akshay and I wanted to do group studies, but Arushi reminded us to come in the night if possible because she was not at home.

Since our tutor was not available, Akshay and I decided to spend time at Vibhan's dance station.

When we reached there, our crew was busy doing rehearsals.

"Rehman and Shlok, maintain your balance properly!" Ritvik Bhaiyya yelled.

While Akshay joined Ritvik Bhaiyya in guiding our crewmates, I sat down on a vacant tyre and stretched my arms. I checked WhatsApp and ignored the hundreds of notifications. I muted the group Yukta had made for all the fangirls of Tejas and Ayzere.

I closed my eyes in order to take a short nap, but the earlier incident of Hriaan and Tejas kept dancing in front of my eyes.

I forced myself to think of other stuff and fell asleep while doing so. When I woke up, I rubbed my face with my palms. It was a really good sleep and much needed too. I got up to freshen, and once I returned from the washroom, I noticed that my crew was huddled together.

The sky had turned a shade of pinkish orange - I realised I slept for two hours. I joined my friends, and they were engrossed in picking out the clothes.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"We are getting ready, what else?" Rehman replied plainly.

"Where are you all going?"

"To see The Emperors perform!"

Seeing my confusion, Vibhan explained that they wanted to observe the high-profile rival crews, and The Emperors had themselves suggested for our crew to come and enjoy the show. They had even given free audience tickets.

"Wow, you guys have gotten really close, haven't you?" I teased.

Yasir grinned. "Of course. By the way, you wanna come along?"

I refused. "What will I do there? I am not even active part of the crew."

"Who said you are not, idiot? And how come you are refusing when it is The Emperors we are talking about?"

I waved my hands. "Whatever. Anyways, I and Akki are having group studies at Arushi's place."

"Really?" Yasir asked confusedly. "But Akshay is joining us tonight."

I directed my murderous glare at Akshay. He gave me his puppy eyes and told me to join them.

I thought for a minute. "Arushi will really kill us if we bail out after troubling her."

"She won't," Akshay responded. "She had no problem when I asked her about tonight. So, wanna come along?"

I couldn't believe that Arushi let us off the hook just like that, but she was already acting weirdly since the morning, so I didn't ponder much.

"I will drop you home if it starts getting late," Vibhan suggested.

I gave in since all of them wanted me to accompany them. This time, I was going to observe The Emperors as an audience and not battle against them.

Wait a minute, I am not the one who battled them. It was Boomer!

And Boomer is you, Bhoomi.

Damn it. Boomer is not even a real person, but his ghost is surely haunting me.