💙

|Don't call it cliché, we're a fairytale. Difficult to reason but soothing to believe|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

We were watching Sammy and Chhaya who were busy playing volleyball or it would be better if I say smashing the ball on the heads of the boys from the other departments whom both of them had a crush on but acted ignorant as they hadn't been asked out by them until the final year.

You can also call it a stress relieving play because the fury of my girlfriend's earned someone else's boyfriends a crack where it hurt the most, each time the cheerleaders came in the support of the players.

Warning : Do not mess with the girls of Six and Kick!

Period.

I clutched my belly watching the guy howling in pain where Sammy knocked him out, just when our phones chimed together. I unlocked my screen and checked where our class representative had posted a notice where the principal had asked us to assemble in the auditorium for an important announcement.

"I'm not going, yaar!" Bhavesh groaned burying his head in the pillow of mud as he rolled in the ground thinking it to be his bed.

[ Yaar - Buddy]

"Chalna to tujhe padega, Bhavo!" Vivek said as he just then returned from the library after returning his and mine borrowed books, "Now get up fast-" He said, threatening to stump on his feet.

["You have to come, Bhavo!"]

"Sammy! Chhaya!" Sarah called dusting off the mud from her clothes, "C'mon we need to go to the auditorium. Princi is calling..."

Sammy shook her head dodging the ball and yelling back from far away, "Let me play the game. You all go."

"She's not going to listen." Sarah implied acknowledging me before walking away, "You call them."

"Sammy!" I called out which didn't work so I nudged Vivek and Bhavesh who wordlessly read my mind shouting on top of their lungs in union.

"Ruchi is not feeling well."

"Do you want to go home, Baby?"

Sammy's shot missed the guy and the ball hit someone else, spilling the fries which the opponent team captain's girlfriend was eating, making me gasp. As both my friends left the game and rushed to my aid.

"Yeh kya kiya-"

["What did you do-"]

Bhavesh and Vivek, like the inconsiderate humans they were, laughed their asses off on the poor girl whose dress was smudged with the chilly sauce that might lead to the captain being dumped today as the girl got a reputation among the peers.

"Use lag jaati toh?" I asked, stunned by their subtle grade of gratitude while feeling bad for the girl. "I'm talking to you, tubelights!"

["What if she had gotten hurt!"]

"Sanu ki?" Bhavesh said.

["How does it concern us?"]

"Apna kaam to ho gaya na, Baby!" Vivek added.

["Our task is accomplished, Baby!"]

"It's inhumane to hurt someone else for your benefit. Someone could do that with us too.." I preached but I was sure that no one was listening to me, "Tum logo ko ho kya gaya hai?" I asked in disbelief.

["What is wrong with both?"]

"Tu na apna blood pressure mat chada!" Vivek calmed me, "Thand rakh!" He told me rubbing my arms, "She is alright anyways and we helped her in a way-"

["Don't raise your blood pressure! Keep calm!"]

"How? How did you help her?" I ridiculed, "By getting a hit on her face with the ball?"

"She probably got a good reason to dump her boyfriend who's good at nothing but sports. Thanks to our efforts! Anyway, that girl was dating him because of his popularity in the arts department." He told me instead, making me feel crazy, "Just think about it once, if that boy gets single then there are chances that Sammy might get a date atleast till our farewell."

"This is not a reason, Vivek!" I affirmed, "You want Sammy to be a replacement in his life? A supplement that could be lent when he has nothing to rely upon?"

"You're taking it on the wrong side-"

"Don't tell me, Vivek." I halted his excuse, "Tum log kab samjhoge-?" I tried to make sense, "Koi bhi kisi ki life mein kisi dusre ki jagah nahi le sakta. Things could be replaced but humans are and will always be irreplaceable. You can't substitute them or the emotions connected to them with someone else."

["When will you understand-? No one can take the place of another in someone's life."]

Vivek looked at me with uncertainty, probably finding it hard to digest my words while Bhavesh didn't get anything I spoke, so he gave me a thumbs up and inserted his headphones back in his ears.

"Hey!" Sammy came and turned to face me, "What happened? Is your throat hurting? Do you want to go back home?" She rained her worries and I glared at the boys who didn't meet my accusing eyes.

"Sammy!"

"Huh, what happened?" She asked, catching her breath from the game. "We'll just go for a checkup then my home where you can rest."

"No, Sam-"

"Vivek go get the car from the parking lot and we'll meet you out-" She began ordering in a hurry while packing my belongings.

I pulled her back and hugged her tightly. Can someone apart from blood too can love me more than her? What would I have done without having her in my life? Maybe, I would have been a step close to being insane.

"Main theek hoon." I whispered, "Tu hai na, phir mujhe kya hoga?"

[I'm fine. I have you, then what will happen to me?"]

"You called me-" Her eyes were doubtful.

"Uh..no-" Vivek tried to speak but knowing Sammy's temper, I took hold of the situation, saving both of them from a blunder.

"The CR left a message. We all need to gather in the auditorium. Sarah called you but you didn't pay any heed so I made them call you this way."

"Kya, yaar!" Chhaya stomped. "Abhi toh maza aana shuru hua tha." She grumbled. "The rust might have dusted off a bit more from their heads." She referred to the boys and I couldn't help but sigh.

["What, dude! It just started to get interesting."]

'Why do you need the attention of someone who does not care, Chhaya?'

Even though I had an urge to ask her but kept quiet knowing I did the same once but maybe both time and reality worked to turn me sensible.

"When did you start playing tricks, Baby?" Sammy questioned, amazed by my audacity which wasn't mine in the first place. I pouted, imitating her when she wants something from me, "Leave it, you came. Now let's go."

"I never said that I will be going to hear the old man's wise words." She voiced in sheer aversion.

I shook my head in opposition, "You'll have to come with me." She refused. "For me." She refused again. I whined, hugging her waist like a kid while trying to displace her feet from the ground, "Chal na.. ab kya per padu tere?"

["Let's go.. shall I beg you now?"]

"What will I get by abiding you?" She demonstrated not even slightly ashamed to ask me a favor in return. How can an unemployed girl like me fulfill her vicious demands? Cancel whatever good I said about her earlier because Bhai was absolutely right when he quoted, 'Samiksha Khanna is a suave witch crashing the lives of Batra siblings for some past revenge.'

"Kya hua? Batti gul, my Baby?" She bullied me so I had to reply back with a counter offer.

["What happened? Why are you quiet, my Baby?"]

"I'll accompany you for shopping."

But, the sorceress refuted with a gross simper.

"I'll skip my coffee hour with Bhai and help you with the test next week." I volunteered half-heartedly because drinking coffee with Bhai and talking about our day after the dinner had been our year old ritual until Bhai's enemy, my best friend annexed our lives.

"Bas-?"

["That's it-?"]

I scrunch my nose in annoyance fed up with her greed. "Shut up!" I reprimanded but yet gave up like everytime, "I'm asking Bhai that you'll come for a sleepover this weekend and convince him to agree without scolding you."

She grinned victoriously like the world cup was in her hands, "Ab chal!!" She offered her arm lovingly, "Main jahannum tak bhi chalungi tere sath, meri jaan."

["Now go!! I'll escort you till hell, my love."]

"No need." I cringed by her caramelized couch, "I'm good. Find another hand for your stinky hand on your visit to hell." I pushed her away, "And try to bathe at least once a week Sammy. You reek of chocolates!!!" I yelled before running away with my bag before she could interpret my humor and have catched me.

My laughter bubbled through my chest when I turned back to see Sammy taking her anger out on her brother while I rushed for my life. Sometimes, being mischievous felt so good like floating in the clouds-

"What the hell!!!" I yelled colliding with someone who was marching blindly from the left corridor and landed on the ground with a loud thump which was damn painful for my butt.

Arghh...what's wrong with my life?

I tried to sit up but failed and then my anger directed towards the criminal of my poor fall. Ouch, that hurts like hell!! Innocent or not, I'm not going to leave this person today. One day or one moment I chose to be careless and met with an accident that too without a vehicle on the road except some stupid boy who thought it was great to crash into a little thing like me.

"Are you blind?" I shouted aggravated, "Can't you see me coming from here? What did you think, huh?" I carried on like a cracked banshee, "I am not going to apologize for your intentional mistake, mister! Get an appointment from an ophthalmologist or else I am going to do the honors." I erupted without a break, "My Bhai is a good resident doctor, for convenience I'll give you his number too."

How immodest is this chap?

Besharam kahi ka! Abhi tak sorry nahi bola. Aise log apne aap ko samajhte kya hai? Hum kya pagal hai? Akad to dekho iski abhi tak nahi utha zameen se, beghairat insaan!!! Ruk, abhi batati hu ise main...

["Shameless guy! Haven't even said sorry yet. What do he think of himself? Do I look mad? Look at his arrogance, he hasn't stood up yet from the floor, disrespectful person!!! Wait, I'll teach him a lesson now..."]

"ENT ke doctor ka pata bhi bata du kya tumhe!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs but this imbecile was heedless.

["Should I tell you the address of an ENT doctor too?"]

Having enough, I crawled near his sprawled frame and picked up my tote bag resting on his face with the intention to smack it back on his dumb head so my words could seep in through his void senses. But, my hand freezed midway just like my fuelling anger which was calmed down with an icy feeling. The emotions roared up high in my nerves, my eyes left unblinking by the sight of my guilty criminal, who was Aryan fudging Mallik.

Holy doodles!!! It was Aryan Mallik who I was a second away from striking on his amused face. Oh my goodness! How could I act like a spoiled baby inside the campus peculiarly why in front of this lad?

Oh, you're a Baby.

"Shut up! It's just my name!" I brawled back to my mind.

"Ruchi!!" Sarah who saw me, rushed to my side from the ladies loo in the end of the lobby, "Oh! What happened? How did you fall?" She showered me with queries while I was tongue-tied.

"Fuck!" He mumbled if my ears and eyes were working now again. Well, I should say that word to myself.

I fudging fudged up real bad!!

Sarah helped me to stand up and snatched away my bag from Aryan while I looked on dumbfounded by my uncontrolled mouth which for sure had landed me in trouble.

Aur ban ja Jhansi Ki Rani!! Morcha kholne chali thi na tu, le tera tamasha ban gaya!!!

["Go, be the queen of Jhansi!! You were about to lead a march, but you have become a spectacle!!!"]

Now, I definitely doubt my audacity. Sammy was right, I had outgrown my wings a little too much.

Ab kal tak pure college mein yeh khabar aag ki tarah phel jayegi. Meri phooti kismat!!! I so wished to smack my head against the wall. Mein apka favorite bacha nahi hu kya, bhagwan? I looked up.

["Now till tomorrow this news will spread like inferno in the whole college. My bad luck!!! Am I not your favorite child, God?"]

"Tu theek hai?" Sarah posed worriedly.

["You alright?"]

"Tu mujhe auditorium khich ke le chal." I whispered in her ears trying to avoid the man I was a second close to beating.

["Drag me to the auditorium."]

"Par kyun?"

["But why?"]

"Jesa kaha hai wesa kar warna mein Vivek ko bol dungi ki tune hi uske organic chemistry ke project notes chori kiye the..." I blackmailed my friend even if I had no qualms for doing it but I can do anything right now to avoid this situation or maybe an attempt to cover my embarrassment.

["Do as I asked else I'm telling to Vivek that you stole his organic chemistry project notes..."]

Sarah's eyes widened in horror making her to argue in support to her act, "You can't do this! I kept them back in his bag after-"

"Yeah, after plagiarizing his hard work." I commented, "You take me now else you're having a serious talk with Vivi-" I hissed.

She begrudgingly complied with my wish and dragged me to the auditorium leaving him behind. I settled on one of the seats watching the students had just started to fill in which relaxed me.

I'm saved. Good going!

I forgot about Sarah who glared at me waiting for an explanation when I milked her for my wish again even if I was apologetic for my foul play.

"No word out about this episode else Vivi and you-"

"Maine kuch nahi dekha!!" She squeaked and fell back on the seat beside me.

["I didn't see anything!!"]

Thankgod!!! Four less people for an explanation.

"What do you think the Principal wants to lecture us about?" Vivek pondered when all of us had finally settled down waiting for the college principal to make his appearance. It was a task though because two lousy bees were still disinterested.

"Discipline!"

"Uniform!"

"A new set of codes and conducts."

"Don't do this or don't do that."

"Yeah! Why don't you kiss your arse?" Sammy rattled.

"In no bloody hell! You pervert." Bhavesh condemned.

My mood had already deteriorated recalling the entire fiasco I executed and couldn't even put a finger on any sane reason for me being moody. I wasn't pmsing and neither anger was forte then why did I lose hold of my actions?

"Attention everyone! Principal Sir is here." The woman on the podium alerted, drawing out my divided attention on the stage.

"Good Morning to all the students and the commited staff of our university. I hope you all are doing well and getting accustomed to the studies of your semester. So coming to the main point as you all are aware that like every year this year too our institution would be organizing an excursion for everyone so that it would help you refresh yourselves before the exams. All the interested students can enroll themselves for it starting from this Friday. Especially the final year students, you should definitely go for it as it's your last year here. Well that's all for now. Thank You students! Have a good day everyone."

"So finally this bald old man had decided to have some fun."

"He won't be joining us ofcourse."

Oh, this was the trip Bhai and BadePapa was talking about. Though, it sounds repulsive, I really think I should be going for one first and last time. Who knows after the engagement whether anyone permits my wishes or not? But, again my say won't matter unless Papa gives me permission. But, I have never been to any excursions before this so it should not be a problem? He would allow me, wouldn't he?

Just then the great wall of arrogance stepped into my way. Not again! I'm not in a mood to entertain her. Why doesn't she understand?

"You coming, boring girl or like every year you'd decide to hide in your house for childish adventures?" Geetika cocked a smirk at me when I along with my friends were departing for our homes.

Unknowingly my eyes found her boyfriend's because anyone here could simply guess this mean question was directed towards me. I would never have gone on such trips but now I was intrigued badly. I am a nerd but actually a good dumb to not enjoy adventures with such amazing fellows like them. How did I miss them and the fun that they poured altogether. I was missing the perks of life until now.

I am sure my friends anticipated a cocky reply from me like I had been giving for a few days but I took them off-guard by smiling at my supposed bully walking away without a care.

I didn't need to worry about some rodents feeding on my misery right now. I've got a pretty busy life to work upon unlike them.

Because one genius man had once quoted that, "Tension lene ki nahi, dene ki cheez hai!"

["Tension is not to be taken but to be given!"]

Lots of Love,

ANKITA