Neel looked at Rhea. She looked at him and stuck her tongue out mockingly. He just rolled his eyes and turned away.
'What is his problem!' Rhea clenched her fists. Ms Monica welcomed her into the club.
"Have you ever painted before?" She asked.

Rhea looked down, "Well, in my childhood I used to,"
Neel continued painting, "We're not talking about mud cake handprints on your hut walls,"
"Neel!" Ms Monica rebuked him, "Sorry, he's a bit rude but he's good by heart,"
"Yeah, totally," Rhea laughed sarcastically.

"You can grab a canvas board and start painting right away. That is your workstation. If you need any help, feel free to reach Neel. He's the best painter here," Ms Monica smiled.
"Okay," She went towards her workstation. It was just beside Neel. She peeped into his canvas board and was taken aback. It was all black and grey, it was a dark painting, showcasing death and destruction.

"What the hell are you drawing?"  
Neel looked at her, "Mind your business,"
"Satan worshipper," She shook her head.
"What has worshiping God given you? You're skinny and ugly," He smirked.
"You! Nevermind, dogs will bark," She smirked back.

"Like you?"
"NO! GO TO HELL!"
"That's what I'm drawing,"
"Is your head always drowning in weird stuff?"

"At least I have the courage to drown myself in something I truly want," He looked at her. She was about to say something when the bell rang and he threw his paintbrush into the water bowl and removed his apron, "Alright, pack up. The second bell has rang, go home now," Ms Monica said.

He picked up his bag and left the room. Rhea stood there quietly,
"Arorhea?" Ms Monica patted her shoulder.
"Huh?"
"Pack up,"
"Oh, yeah,"

She went back home and then went straight to her Crash course center. She entered the class and looked at Ember. He was arm wrestling with AJ. Her eyes narrowed, "What in the..."
"If you lose AJ, samosa treat to me!" Meenu said.
"Bhai, itna khaegi to eek din fat jayegi," AJ said.
(Tn// If you eat this much, one day you'll burst)
She slapped his back.

"What you guys doing?" Rhea walked to them.
"Rhea!" Ember smiled, "We are arm wrestling!"
"I can see that. But why?"
"I want to show desi people's power to goree people," AJ said.
(Tn// Goree means white)

"Why is he our representative?" Rhea seemed worried but then looked at Ember's skinny arms, "Nevermind," She covered his mouth while laughing, "Go for it,"
"Ready guys?" Meenu, who was suddenly the referee, said with all enthusiasm as if the prime minister himself had invited her to comment on Fifa worldcup, "GO!"

The fight started and finished in a second with Ember's victory. The enthusiasm was a waste. AJ had let two people down. One was Rhea, second was Ember. Yeah, Meenu doesn't give a shit. She wanted entertainment and food. And she got it. Propagandists. 

"Aww man, you almost broke my wrist! What the hell do you eat?!" AJ said.
"Red meat," Ember smiled.
"Everyday?" Meenu asked.
"Yeah! I love red meat,"
"Isn't that beef?" AJ asked.
"Yes,"

"Ye dange bhadakwaega," AJ said.
(Tn// He'll cause riots)
"Who cares? My samosa treat, AJ!"
"After class, okay?"

"Wait, you bloody white boy. I will defeat you!" Rhea said.
"Women power!" Meenu clapped her hands.
"#Metoo!" AJ shouted.
"...Dude, that is for some other reason,"

Rhea sat before Ember and looked dead into his eyes. He smiled and held her hand. She blushed and slapped his hand, "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Erm, arm wrestling?"
"Oh-Oh yes," She held it back again and he wrapped his fingers around her hands.
"Now hang on! Why are your hands so big?!" Rhea opened his fist and pressed her hand over it, "Look!" She compared them, "My hands are half his size!"
"His fingers are very long, that's why," Arjun said.

"Cute," Meenu smiled.
"I know right?" Ember smiled back.
"THAT'S NOT THE- Nevermind. You're all idiots," Rhea shook her head.
"If hands are the problem, we can use something else," Ember suggested.

"Like what?" Rhea asked.
"Science says that your tongue is the strongest muscle of your body, wanna fight?" Ember smiled.
"Fighting with your tongue-..." Rhea turned red.
"OH MY GOD EMBER!" Meenu turned red next.

"Sahi hai bahi, do teen line mujhe bhi sikha de. Mera be kaliyan ho" AJ asked for help.
(Tn// Cool dude. Teach me a line or two too. I'll be fortunate) To Arjun, Ember was now like a love guru.

"Let's stick to hands," Rhea held his hand.
"We can do that too," He held hers back, "So, you think you'll win?"
"Of course! If I don't, I'll do whatever you tell me to," Rhea said.
"Whatever, huh?"
She blushed, "Wait-"

"GO!" Meenu and AJ shouted. Ember started pushing down and Rhea applied her entire strength to push his hand back up, "That's it bro, don't go soft!" AJ shouted, "You need to stay hard! BE A MAN AND DESTROY HER!"

"What the fuck are you saying?! Shut up!" Meenu started beating the shit out of him. We now had two fights going, Ember and Rhea, and Meenu and AJ. The later was more aggressive. 
"ABE BAS BHAI! CHSMA TOD DIYA MERA!" AJ shouted.
(Tn// Enough bro! You broke my glasses!)

"Damn it, I can't move an inch of it!" Rhea complained while pulling Ember's hand using both her hands. Ember gently took her hands down and she lost.

"EMBER WON!" Meenu shouted while AJ looked at his broken glasses, "Bhai, nuksaan hi khatam nahi hote,"
(Tn// Damages do not seem to end)
"Class! Sit down!" The teacher entered the class and everyone sat back. Ember wrote a note and passed it to Rhea, "So, you'll do whatever I want?" He drew a lenny face and passed it to Rhea while sliding it on the table. He was covering his face with his hands and hiding his smile.

She looked at him and then wrote something on the piece of paper. She passed it back to him, sliding it on the desk, 
"What do you want from me?"
He wrote back, "What all can you do?"
She wrote back, "What the fuck am I?"
He laughed and wrote back, "I don't know. Let's find out ;3"

She wrote back, "You're such a weird ass!"
"You like my ass?" He wrote.
"NO! When the fuck did I say that?!"
"Wanna see it?"
"NO,"
"*Unbuckles belt*"
"Lol. You won't do that in class"

"Bet?" He wrote and passed it to her.
"Wait-You're seriously gonna unbuckle your belt?!" She was writing when he began unbuckling his belt and Rhea lost her shit, "ABE OYE!" She threw her bag on his head. He fell from his seat on the floor and the teacher finally turned back.

"Arjun?! Are you eating during my class?!" 
Now that Ember had fallen down, there was no aerial obstruction between AJ and the teacher.
"No?" He choked on his lays, "No!" Arjun began dying and Meenu passed him some water. He choked on the water and began wheezing. The water fell on his books, "FUCK! HAHAHA" 
He yelled and the teacher looked at him like a hungry owl, "You dare swear in my class?!"

"No!" Arjun continued coughing.
By then, Ember popped out from under his desk and sat back on his seat. He was looking down, laughing his ass out while covering his mouth. His eyes were watering. Meenu and Rhea were cracking up behind their notebooks.
"Meet me after class," The teacher said.

After the class, Rhea got up and ran out of the class, "She's running away!" Arjun shouted and the teacher held his ear, "You'll come with me before you run away,"
"Sir, I only ate one chip,"
"SHUT UP!" 

Ember chased her. He ran after her at full speed. She felt her heart race, but it was an exciting feeling to be chased by him. She turned to look where he was, but he was not following her anymore. She seemed disappointed and began walking. 

"You gave up so easily, Ember!" She laughed as she unlocked her bicycle.

Ember stood leaning on the wall, breathing heavily and holding his stomach. His hair fell over his forehead. He pressed his hand over his heart and closed his eyes, he whispered,

"This is just a dream,"

-To be continued

Neel
Can't I Touch Your Heart?