Manvi reached home around 11.30pm. Ruhana opened the door, she asked "itni late mannu?"

"mumma wo time ka pata hi nahi chala sorry" Manvi replied.

She got inside and moved into the room.

She changed to the nightwear, and lay down on bed to sleep. Ruhana entered inside the room, she turned off the lights and left.

After Ruhana left, Manvi kept Shruti's dress into the school bag and slept.

The next morning, she got ready to leave for school. She sat on the dining table for breakfast.

Vineet asked "kal party kaisi thi?"

Manvi answered "bahut hi mazedar papa.. humne dinner kiya dance kiya khub masti ki"

Ruhana spoke up "ab masti sab band kardo next week se pre board exams hai tumhare"

Manvi nodded and said "don't worry mumma.. iss baar kuch gadbad nahi hogi sab thik hai"

The bus arrived and it horned, Manvi picked up the bag "Acha bye.. after school bio tuition hai.." and left.

Ruhana sighed.. "itne mahino se biology tuition jaa rahi hai.. fir bhi yahi result"

"Are tum pareshan mat ho.. abhi exams hone do fir baat karte hai" he said.

St. Xavier's School

Manvi meet Shruti and returned her dress "le teri dress"

Shruti smiled and asked teasingly "yeh toh bata kya hua kal?"

"Are kuch nahi.. humne dinner kiya, dance kiya aur kiss kiya" she whispered in her ear.

Shruti looked at her "haww.. bas itna hi??"

They sat on the staircase, she asked "haan... aur kya?"

"Are.. matlab kuch nhi hua?" Shruti asked.

Manvi glared at her "kya nahi hua??"

"Are paagal! Actual love.. the feeling.. the moment" Shruti spoke up.

She looked at her bewildered and got it what she meant. She eyed her "tere aur Rajeev ke beech hua?"

Shruti smiled.. "kabka..."

"haww.." she said.

"kya haww? Bf and gf ke beech ye common hai.. tu picture nahi dekhti kya?" she asked.

"Are dekhti hun.." she thought for a while... "Are haan yaar.. kal professor kuch karte karte ruk gaye.. lekin kyun?"

"mujhe lagta hai wo sharmate hai.." Shruti said.

The bell rang, Manvi said "chal class mein.. baad mein baat karte hai.."

They moved to the classroom. The school ended, Manvi went to the library. Aarav was arranging the books into the shelf.

She asked "aap librarian hai jo yeh books arrange kar rahe hai?"

Aarav looked at her and smiled "nahi.. lekin kabhi kabhi dusron ka kaam bhi kar lena chahiye"

Manvi smiled and sat on the chair. He settled opposite her. She said "waise kal aapne jo kiya.. mast tha"

"Tumhe pasand aaya kaafi hai mere liye" he said.

"Acha professor mujhse pehle aapki sach mein koi gf nahi thi?" she questioned him.

"nahi thi kitni baar kahun.. hoti toh kuwara nhi baitha hota ab tak" he replied.

"Wo toh hai.. lekin aap single rahe kyuki aapko meri life mein aana tha.. jo hota hai ache ke liye hota hai" She spoke up smilingly.

He smiled "tumhe bahut knowledge hai na ye sab ki?"

"of course hai professor manvi is always up to date" she replied..

"Miss Google ab hum zara exams ki tayari karle?" he said.

She nodded and they began studying. She asked "professor aapne sab bata diya lekin wo sawal ka jawab nahi diya jo pichle 2 weeks se aapse puch rahi hun main"

"Manvi maine kaha tha na tumhe uska live demo nahi de sakta hun main.. khudse research karlo" he said.

"offo! Aap na.. agar fail hui toh meri galti nhi hogi" She said in warning tone..

"sirf uss ek topic se tum fail nhi hogi.. ab chalo baaki revise karte hai" he said.

"so batao definition of the reproductive system?" he asked..

She tells him, he smiled "Good..."

"professor this is too boring.. final exam ki revision mein koi new tareeka dhundiyega revise karne ka" she said.

"tumhe har cheez mein masti chahiye hoti hai kya?" he asked.

She nodded positively.. "I hate getting bored.."

He pats her cheeks "all the best for exams.. abhi jao.."

She nodded and left.

The pre-board exams had began, it has been two weeks since she had not seen Aarav. The last exam ended and she came out of the hall running and hugged Shruti.. "finally exams are over.."

"haan.. haan.. pata hai itni khush kyun hai.." shruti replied.

"are yaar.. tujhe pata hai in exams ke chakkar mein professor ko dekha tak nahi do hafton tak maine" Manvi complained.

They started walking.. Shruti said "Acha sun pre board exams ke result ke baad prom night hoti hai tu aa rahi hai?" she asked.

"of course aaungi yaar.. what is the cost?" she asked

"Tina said iss baar hamara batch bahut ache se karne waala hai.. toh it is about three thousand" Shruti said.

Manvi thought and replied "Shru... papa toh maan jaye par mumma shayad na maane itne costly.."

Shruti spoke up "hmm.. main kuch arrangement karun?"

"nahi rehende... I will talk to them.. Tina se puch na koi discount wagera nahi hai kya?" she asked.

"usne kaha professors ke liye 30% off hai tickets aur agar kisi student ne sabhi subjects mein A se upar laaya toh free entry principal ki taraf se" shruti said.

"haww yeh baat pehle nahi bata sakti thi main.. biology thoda aur ache se kar leti.. usme toh C bhi nahi aayega mera" Manvi said deject

Shruti whispers "professor toh tera bf hai.. unko bol marks badha de.."

"paagal hai.. gussa karenge wo.. aur main aise nhi kar sakti this will be wrong paas hongi toh khudki mehnat se cheating se nahi" she replied.

"Waah waah.. Miss Google kya baat kahi hai aapne" she said.

Manvi glared at her and said "don't call me Miss Google, wo bas professor bula sakte hai samjhi.."

"haan haan thik hai.. chal ab.. 2-3 din mein result aa jayega" Shruti said.

"tu jaa mujhe important kaam hai" Manvi replied and run away from there. She searched for Aarav but was unable to find him anywhere.

"kaha hai ye? Maine kaha tha unse exam ke baad mujhse mile wo" she said.

She sat on the stairs with tears in her eyes.. "Ek toh do hafte se mile nahi aur ab bhi nhi aaye.."

She kept her head in between her legs and remain sitting there.

Someone came and placed hand on her shoulder, she looked up. He asked "kya hua? Aise kyun baithi ho?"

She stood up and jumped on him, hugging him "aap kaha they? Maine kaha tha na aapko mujhse milna exam ke baad.."

"waha aata toh sab students mujhe gher lete phir tumse kaha mil paata" he said.

She separated from hug and looked at him "toh ab tak kaha they aap?"

"kaam tha important.. tum bhi na.. kabhi kabhi ek dum 5 saal ki bachchi ki tarah behave karti ho" he said while wiping her tears.

She smiled.. and asked "aapne mujhe miss kiya 2 weeks?"

"nahi kiya" he said.

She looked at him in anger, he smiled.. "ye kaisa sawal tha? Of course kiya hoga na"

She held his hand and said "chalyie mere saath"

"kaha?" he asked.

"aap chalyie na.." she said and walked with him.

She brought him to the biology lab. He asked "why are we here?"

"professor.. pre boards toh ho gaye khatam.. aur apna syllabus bhi.. and boards ke liye abhi 3 months baaki hai.. aaj kyun na wo aap mujhe live demo de de jo topic adhura rah gaya tha" she said.

He looked at her and said "manvi tum.."

"aapne kaha tha ki main khudse research karlun aur samajh lun.. samajh gayi main.. and I want you to give me the live demo now.." she said.

He eyed her.. she looked at him for a moment and kissed his cheek lightly. She kissed his lips, he was shocked with her move. She an tackled her hands with his. He also started respond back. Her hands then moved to his shirt and she opened up the button.

He held her hand and left her "Manvi suno.. yeh galat hai.. tum abhi.. sirf.."

"shh.. bahut bolte hai aap..maine kaha na.. syllabus must be finished.." she said.

"no.. suno tum.. I don't want any trouble for you.. hum isse zyada aage nahi jaa sakte hai samjho" he replied.

"but.." she said dejectedly. "Aap mujhse pyar hi nahi karte"

"Aisi baat nahi hai.." he replied

"aisa hi hai tabhi mujhse door rehte hai aap..mujhe baat hi nhi karni hai aapse.." she said, picked up her bag and left from there.

He sighed.. "kitni ziddi aur nasamjh hai yeh.. Aarav tumhe apne aap pe kaboo rakhna hai.. wo chahe jitna bhi bahak jaaye.. tum nahi bahakoge.." he said to himself and left for home.

To be continued.