Chapter 6 - "The Sweetness Of Friendship"

We have come far. Together. We had started spending time with each other. Helping each other in studies. Making assignments together. And it felt so comfortable. Something that was between us had grown into friendship. A beautiful bond.

I came to know a lot about her in just a month. She was a shy, introvert girl. Being just two years younger than me, she used to be a child sometimes. But I noticed one thing. She was spontaneous in front of her closed ones only. Still, she used to stay quite much. Her views on me never changed, but she had started calling me her 'best friend' and it satisfied me so much. Hearing her say that she could trust me gave peace to my ears.

I was in the garden of the college when I saw her walking towards me. This garden was our meet up place.

"Hello. What's up?" She spoke, sitting beside me on the bench.

"Nah. Nothing much. Was just thinking about our friendship." I mentioned, smiling at her.

"Oh! Hmmmmm. I keep thinking about that quite often. I can't believe I can call you my best friend just in a time of a month!" She said, observing the sparrows flying here and there.

"Aah! Even I can't believe that. We are so strange. No?" I asked, still not averting my gaze from her face. She was indeed beautiful.

"No. Not strange. We are unique." She smiled, turning towards me.

"Ye Ali, Rhea kahan hai?" I asked, slightly surprised about their whereabouts as I usually find them with Avni.

"Wo library mein hein. Love birds!" She again turned towards the sparrows and I smiled at her mention of love birds.

"Oye mere Love Birds? What's up?" We heard DD almost screaming as he jumped to sit near our feet.

We both laughed at his mention of love birds again but she still chose to clarify,"We are not love birds Mr Dayal!" I didn't know why but it pierced, right in my chest.

Before I could lift up the burden of my heavy heart, I found DD laughing. Uff! His unending laughters.

"You both look cute together. Your friendship ko salute!" He said, making my heart skip a beat. I still kept on looking at her while now she was busy in random banters with DD.

Her eyes were so expressive. Her hair were so smooth and silky. Her features weren't that sharp, but I loved them. Her chubby cheeks had always gave me an urge to pull them. And that tempting mole above her upper lip! That was so freaking beautiful. It had always drove me crazy.

I noticed, her gaze suddenly diverting towards me. She ignored. But the other moment, I could see her looking at me, confused. She again glanced at DD before asking him,"Why is he staring?"

I immediately turned my gaze away, embarrassed. "I wasn't staring at you!" I chose to lie.

"Huh."

"See. Aren't you perfect for each other? Yes! You are!" DD again started his blabbering. It somewhere felt satisfying to me.

"Shut up!" Avni smacked his shoulder, earning a chuckle from me. Though DD was my friend, since I had become friends with Avni, they both had started sharing a great bond. So did I with Ali and Rhea. This bond of us 5 was fabulous. I felt lucky to be a part of this beautiful friend bond.

"Actually. I am a bit confused. Neil, you aren't speaking much today. Why? I mean, you are the most blabbering person, talkative!" DD spoke, to which I poked my tongue out while Avni just cackled. I loved to see her smile, especially when it was because of me.

"See. They are here." I saw Ali and Rhea coming towards us as they took the bench opposite us while DD was still sitting in our feet.

"Love birds!" I continued to which they all laughed. Rhea and Ali's friendship had blossomed into love some time ago. Their love was such examplry. I was really happy for them. They were so freaking cute together.

"What's going on?" Rhea asked.

"Nothing much. Was just teasing the love birds here!" DD spoke, eyeing both of us.

"I am gonna kill you DD.!" I warned, looking at an equally irritated Avni.

"Arrange the ambulance Ali if you want him to be safe." I spoke, rolling my sleeves up.

"Uh oh! Relax boy! He isn't wrong either." Ali said, winking.

"You guys are impossible. Like, why are you hell bent on matching us both?" Avni spoke, irritated.

"Acha na. Sorry." DD was the first one to apologise.

A silence followed between us. Though three of them were chit chatting, all we both could do was to stare at the trees in front.

"Avni." I called out stealthily, after few minutes.

"Hmm."

"Nothing." I spoke. I really didn't know what I had to say. I just really liked calling out her name.

I kept on looking at the trees and birds in front of me. It felt satisfying. Having her beside me was always so peaceful. Her company was the best one. I could spend hours and hours talking to her without getting bored. Something was there about her that kept me hooked.

It was after moments that I felt her strong gaze on me. My heart skipped a beat. I didn't have the courage to look at her back. But, I really liked the way she was ogling at me. It again felt so damn peaceful.

Moments had passed. I didn't turn towards her. Nor did she turned her gaze away. This perfect moment was so serene. I so badly wanted to look into her eyes. But there was something that stopped me. May be the intensity. Her stare was so intense that I was afraid I might die under that.

And then I couldn't take it anymore. I immediately looked at her and still found her staring.

"Stop staring now." I said, lifting my hand to reach her eyes and closed them. She got startled and may be my touch sent shivers down her spine. I could feel her shudder a bit.

I pulled my hand back. She looked away. "I wasn't staring at you!" She said, I knew it was a lie.

"Liar!" I spoke, shifting my gaze back to the singing birds.

"Look at those girls. I was looking at them." She pointed towards a group of girls that stood far beside me.

"Oh really? Whatever." I still looked at the birds. They were so attractive.

We didn't start at good terms. She said she didn't like me at all. But amidst all that, we became friends. And the Sweetness of our friendship was worth it.

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This is a filler sort of update. I really don't know what I did with it. Bear please.

Looking forward to your votes and comments.

Much Love