The following evening, our dining table, around which my family usually sat down to have happily serene meals, turned into the battleground of a soundless emotional warfare.

On one side were my parents, a united front, strongly facing me, their adversary on the other side. It was the perfect example of a virtuous, law-abiding couple trying to peacefully discipline their delinquint of a daughter, in an attempt to make her see sense.

The only difference was that their daughter was herself too decent, boring and a total wuss to be a delinquint.

Aarna, on the other hand, was rapidly snapping her head back and forth, mischief dancing in her eyes. Pinning her stare at our parents and me again and again, she noisily slurped her milk, which she always insisted to have with dinner instead of breakfast.

It seemed as if my epiglottis had taken a wrong turn and lodged itself over my oesophagus, making it physically impossible for me to swallow. Pushing my plate away, I finally forced myself to address my parents.

"So," I began, attempting to disguise the quiver in my voice, "can I go?"

Their reaction was so instantaneous, it was almost as if they'd been stung by a bee. While previously ma and papa had tersely listened to me narrate the plan, growing stonier with each word, now they chose to show their disagreement by ignoring my question completely, loudly clanking the cutlery as they ate.

I waited patiently, the heel of my left foot tapping the floor. A part of me felt a twinge of guilt for forcing my parents to allow me to do something they clearly disapproved of. I couldn't remember an occasion when my parents had directly refused me, their refusal was always subtle. Not saying that happened often. My creators had perfected the art of parenting. They never failed to get me anything I needed, usually a bit more than what was absolutely necessary. Yet, they didn't always get me everything I wanted, unless it was my birthday, but even then there were exceptions.

Over the years, I had learned to recognize the signs of their dissent. My father would become restless, continuously wiping the growing bald spot on his head, while my mother would plaster an enormous, toothpaste commercial-worthy smile on her face, one that never reached her worried eyes.

I had the pleasure of seeing my imagination come to life once they finished eating. Papa looked longingly at his empty plate, as if he was wishing for more food to apparate so that he could postpone the inevitable conversation for a few more minutes. Realising that was not going to happen, he leaned back on his chair, running his white, scented hankerchief over the back of his head. At the same time, ma leaned forward, folding her hands on the table, her lips stretched so wide that I was afraid I'd spot chunks of semi-digested food in her stomach.

Oh no! Not the good cop, great cop treatment please!

"We thought about this...trip of yours," she slowly said, in a strangely deep voice. "How would you go again?"

"By train..."

Papa fake-gasped loudly, forehead creasing in exaggerated concern, "it is the most dangerous mode of transport! Trains get into accidents all the time!"

"I'm sure I'm not that unlucky..."

"We can't simply let you go based on your luck." Ma sighed, her tired eyes creazing at the corners, "what if something happens?"

"Well, something can happen right now too!" I said, starting to grow annoyed, "there can be an earthquake in which our building might collapse right at this moment. Technically, I'm not safe anywhere."

"Okay, point taken," my father grumbled. "How about you travelling with so many boys? I'm not quite onboard with that idea."

"You know all of them, you've met all of them!" I cried, exhasperated. "Aryan and I have grown up together, if something happens with me and him, it would be incest and I'm really not into that. Let's just directly cut Vivaan's name from the list okay? He's with--I mean I hate him," I said, quickly correcting mh little slip up about Radhika. If ma comes to know about Rads and Vivaan then she'll tell her mom and Radhika would kill me. "As far is Aditya is concerned," I continued, "well, he's practically an old man. And Karan's the most nauseatingly well-mannered person I know. For Gods' sake, if a building's on fire, he'll still hold the door open for all scampering women!"

"That's not well-mannered, that's stupid," my father grunted at the same time my ma asked, with a slight knowing glint in her eyes, "what about Kian?"

My palms started to grow sweaty as heat crept up my neck. I tried to answer as nonchalantly as possible, "what about him? He's a good friend but c'mon, I don't like him that way. Expect better from me ma."

"Kian's a very handsome young man," my mother observed.

I know that.

"Handsome? Really? I don't think so. I don't reckon any guy is handsome. Boys are ugly, disgusting creatures, no one can like them. I mean, I've never liked any boy. Infact, I don't think I'll start liking boys before the age of twenty-five, if at all," I rambled, unable to stop.

Two contrasting reactions surprised me. Papa looked as pleased as a cat with milk while ma muttered, "sure..." under her breath, disbelief dripping from her tone.

"Okay Ashiana, let your mother and I discuss this for a while."

I nodded and pushed my chair back, getting up. Quickly collecting everyone's plates and dumping them in the sink, I went to my room and settled down to revise, determinantly ignoring my phone.

I could hear them calling every parent of all my friends. They even talked to Karan's uncle! God knows where they got his number from. After all the phone calls, they started talking to each other in low, hushed voices, making it impossible for my strained ears to catch anything.

I pushed all thoughts about their decision out of my mind and continued practicing equations. Two hours later, it was almost midnight and they were still talking. Feeling a bit dejected, I changed into my pyjamas and was just preparing to go to bed when ma slowly cracked the door open.

"You're still awake!" she exclaimed walking inside, followed by my father.

"Yeah...I was just going to sleep..."

"Well since you haven't," she started, taking a deep breath, "I think you might be interested in what we have to say."

She nudged papa who was intently scanning my open notebook, a gleam of approval in his eyes when he saw no mistakes in my answers for physics.

"What?" papa asked her, rubbing his side. Then he noticed me staring at him eagarly and understanding dawned on his features.

"Ah!" he said, sitting down on my chair. "Yes...so we talked to the parents of your friends and I think...we think, that you all are responsible enough to go."

"Really?" I confirmed, a slow grin appearing on my face.

"Yes. But young lady, remember that we trust you. Be responsible, don't do something we won't like and have fun but be careful."

"Also," ma added, "first get a good result in your board and other exams."

I was already nodding furiously. "Yes, yes of course."

"Good," they said in unison as they backed out of the room.

"Sleep well," my father whispered, before clicking the door shut behind him.

I did exactly that as I hopped on my bed and pulled the covers over me, with a gleefully excited smile plastered on my face.

{[]}

"Have you talked to Aditya? Since the last paper?" Karan asked me on the seventh day of Navratri, exactly three days before the first term result declaration, which was scheduled on October first.

"Yes...I texted him yesterday, asking about his exams. He said they were fine. I don't know why he's absent today." I said, offering him my pickle sandwiches.

"Did he sound okay?" he inquired again, picking and chewing on it.

I gave him my best deadpan stare. "It was over text genius, I don't know if he sounded okay or not."

"That's not what I meant," Karan groaned, "he has a habit of not sending emojis when he's feeling down. He's yet to realise that but you'll see if you text him frequently."

"Oh...in that case, he actually did sound fine. He sent me four smilies."

"That's a relief."

We continued walking around the field, silently munching our sandwiches. My thoughts went back to Aditya. I couldn't believe I failed to pay attention to him. I was so busy ranting about my superficial problems that I was unable to notice the pain behind his smile, the heaviness which laced his words, his everyday struggle in general.

Am I really that bad a friend?

Or am I just plain ignorant?

Because as much as I hated to admit, it was a fact that I still didn't care enough. Even now my greatest concern was related to my goals, my future. I became worried about him only during times like this, when Karan, his true friend, anxiously voiced that Aditya could possibly be suffering from depression.

I was most certainly not a good friend.

And I hated that.

Hence, I decided to change that.

{[]}

On the third day of Durga Puja and eighth day of Navratri, I found myself appling blood-red lipstick on Alia's little brother.

"Is Zafar ready Ashi...oh my God how cute!" Alia cooed, entering my room.

Her brother blushed as he stood awkwardly, receiving all the gushy compliments from me and his sister.

Dressed up as little lord Krishna, the most popular avatar of God Vishnu, in all his childlike innocent glory, he blinked rapidly in an attempt to avoid the flashes of our cameras. Adorned in an outfit consisting of yellow dhoti kurta, peacock feather on his head, held by a golden coloured plastic circlet, with a handful of necklaces and bracelets around his chubby neck and wrists, he resembled every bit of the beloved child God.

"Where the heck is my sister?" I enquired, once we had finished playing camerawomen.

As if on cue, Aarna entered the room. Dressed up in the traditional outfit of turmeric-yellow lehnga-skirt, matching blouse and netted flowy duppatta, she looked as regal as the younger version of Goddess Radha, if not more. Artificial gold bangles hung from her slender wrists and like Zafar, a couple of long gold necklaces rested against her abdoman, while dome-like earrings jiggled every time she moved her head.

"Humpf," I bit the inside of my cheek to force back the smile. Placing my hands on my hips instead, I said, "twirl."

Rolling her eyes she did as told, her skirt flaring around her, before she shyly murmered, "do I look pretty?"

Unable to control my smile anymore, I got on my knees and hugged her small frame, careful not to ruin her clothes. Pulling back I declared, "yeap! You look pretty. The prettiest, most beautiful girl I've ever seen. And you," I grabbed Zafar's wrist and tugged till he was beside Aarna, "are so handsome you'll make the actual God Krishna jealous."

Alia cooed loudly as another blush broke out on their faces. Hastily joining our huddle, she helped me motivate the two until they were filled with confidence.

"You'll do great, both of you! she assured them, "now, would you like to go over the routine one last time?"

They nodded and Alia led them to the drawing room, but of course on the way, they were stopped by my parents, who wanted to snap more pictures. Finally, the beats of their familiar song filled the house, followed by Alia's authoratative voice. I was about to join them when my phone vibrated in my jeans. Unlocking it, I scanned Kian's text.

'Hey! My mother decided to extend her Diwali shopping trip, so I might not make it...or be very late . Wish Aarna and her partner luck from my side. And M really sorry :('

My good mood dimmed considerably and I chided myself, angry that I allowed his text to affect me. But in all honesty, I was very much looking forward to spend this evening with my friends.

"You call that honesty?" my subconscious tutted, "when in reality you were looking forward to spend this evening with one particular friend..."

Shrugging my depressing thoughts away, I exited my room to join Alia and the kids.

"Oh good you're here," Alia said as she saw me. "We need to go c'mon, Aryan's waiting, he just called me."

"Did he now?" I wiggled my eyebrows, albeit a bit creepily.

"Shut up Ash! Let's go." She huffed, turning pink and dragging me towards the elevator, Aarna and Zafar hurrying beside her.

"We're going ma! Close the front door please." I yelled over my shoulder.

"I would sweetie don't worry. Have fun! Your father and I would come down there in twenty minutes," she yelled back.

My reply was cut short by the doors of the elevator snapping shut. I glanced over at Alia. Her face was flushed in anticipation as she pinned her eyes intently on the display, lip syncing the numbers of the changing floors.

At last, when the doors binged open on the ground floor and Aryan came into view, leaning against a wall of the lobby while checking his phone, Alia's face lit up like an automobile's head light. She practically ran out of the lift and left me alone to usher our siblings out, carrying their props and everything.

Her cheesy reaction was not one sided however. For as soon as he saw her, Aryan immediately pushed his phone deep in his pocket and stood up straight, smiling shyly.

"Hey," Alia greeted him, halting just under two feet away from him, slightly invading his personal space, though he didn't seem to mind.

"Hey," he replied breathlessly, nervously running his hand through his cropped hair.

I wanted to puke.

Bloody lovesick teens

Ignoring the nagging voice in my head, which told me they were actually pretty cute and I was just being petty, I cleared my throat. Both of them snapped out of their cozy little bubble and faced me, blushing furiously.

No sooner had Aryan finished saying "hi" to me that his eyes landed on Zafar and Aarna. Crouching down on his knees, he handed a chocolate to my sister, who, no stranger to his pampering, readily accepted with a gap-toothed smile and kissed his cheek.

Zafar, on the other hand, sceptically eyed the bar of Five Stars and gave Aryan a cold look, as if sizing him up. This lasted for a few seconds before he finally sighed and grumbled, "I don't like caramel."

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. I tried not to guffaw at the seven year old's overprotective nature as Alia scoldingly called out, "Zafar!"

Aryan's smile didn't waver from its place. He simply reached into his pockets and whipped out his stock of chocolates. His potential girlfriend's face melted at the sight and her brother also loosened up to him, picking a Dairy Milk from Aryan's hands.

Why is it so easy to bribe children? I was enjoying that!

The two boys nodded at each other, as if to say "you're cool" and Aryan got up, dusting his knees. Turning towards Alia and I he said, "shall we?"

"Please," I nearly shouted before Alia could say something sappy, and marched towards the building's exit, not bothering to wait for the infactuated idiots.

As our small group walked to the open park in front of our society, where the Navratri fair was held, I was painfully aware of the conversation between the almost couple, which even the loud chattering of the now sugar-charged kids couldn't dim.

"Can I ask you something?" Aryan had said bashfully, when at the same time I had screamed inside my head, "you already did idiot!"

"Sure," Alia replied instead, in an equally shy voice.

"I don't want to offend you I just...don't know how to...you're Alia Khan right? You're Muslim so how come you're...not that you cannot celebrate...I mean--"

To his surprise (not mine I already knew), Alia interrupted him with a chuckle. "Oh God you're adorable!"

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I'm not offended silly, it's natural to be curious. And to answer your question, no. I'm half Muslim. My mother's Hindu and I identify with Hinduism as much as I connect with Islam. Plus, I like festivals in general."

"Oh...that's...wow! Their love story must've been great!"

"Yeah it was..."

There was silence for a while until Aryan cleared his throat and said, again, "umm...what's you favourite colour?"

I almose wanted to kill myself.

At last, ten minutes later, we stepped in the loud, cheerful buzz of the fair. I was sick to death by the mini game of twenty questions that was going on, literally behind my back.

After coming to know that the children's dance competition would begin only after the Durga aarti, the customary worship of Goddess Durga, we all joined the crowd facing her magnificent idol.

Reverberating chants of Sanskrit mantras surrounded me as I stood there barefeet, with hands folded in front of me. In that moment of peace amongst all the noise, I asked the Goddess only one thing.

Give me enough strength to fulfill my dreams ma...

{[]}

A half hour later, I found myself roaming around the lively fair alone. Having ditched Aryan and Alia forty minutes ago as I was tired of third-wheeling, I had visited all the stalls by myself. My parents had retired home, with a dozed off Aarna on papa's shoulder, after assigning me a deadline of midnight.

Bored to tears, I checked my phone to see the time.

9:15 pm.

Deciding to go home early, after buying that one cute bracelet which had caught my attention, I moved towards the said stall.

Halfway there, I whipped around, hearing a familiar voice shout my name.

"Ashiana! Oye! Here on your left!"

Feeling an unexpected burst of giddyness in my chest when I spotted Kian, waving frantically in my direction, I did the unthinkable.

That's right, yours truly Ashiana Pathak dashed towards Kian, the same way a bee flies towards a sunflower, and engulfed him in a tight embrace.

"Thank Gods you're here! I was so bored."

That was not entirely honest. The truth was that I was bored and was missing him.

Bloody lovesick teen hormones.

"You're hugging me," his muffled voice said in my right ear, sounding dazed.

"Oh, sorry..." I started to pull away, thinking how awkward he must be feeling, for his hands were limply hanging by his sides.

Preventing me from letting go, he quickly wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing us together as he huskily whispered, "I never asked you to stop."

All forms of speech had escaped me so I didn't bother to form a reply, choosing to silently bask in the warm hug.

After a while we broke apart, realising that we were standing in everyone's way. The tips of Kian's ears had turned pink, while I could feel dizzying heat creeping up my neck.

"Mind showing me around?" Kian asked a few moments later, a crooked grin appearing on his face.

That was enough for me to ignore the beginning of awkwardness.

For the next couple of hours, we went to each stall, trying on all kinds of stuff, from extra large traditional headsets to ludicurous masks, oversized Harry Potter t-shirts to chunky bracelets, everything. In the games' stall we lost a hundred rupees each while trying, and failing, to hit the targets with the hoops. In the end, tired and hungry, we attacked the food stalls with uncivilized enthusiasm.

It nearly felt like a date.

By the time it was eleven thirty, we settled on a rusty old swing, located in a semi-secluded corner of the park, away from the hustle and bustle of the fair.

My cheeks ached from smiling too much and I couldn't feel my legs. Slowly moving the swing, we settled into a comfortable silence.

"This was fun..."Kian said, sounding as happy as I felt.

"Right? I almost don't want to go home." I sighed, remembering something, "ever since I was five, Aryan and I would visit the fair on Navratri..."

"You had a cool childhood..."

"Yeah." I smiled sadly, nostalgia kicking in, "and to imagine that I would most probably be away from home this year, in some hostel, thinking about all this," I said, motioning in the general direction of the festive party.

"That's sorta a rule of growing up, giving up all the fun," he said softly.

"Then I hate growing up."

Kian let out a low, deep laugh, "think of all the good things you'll get as a grown up."

"Like?"

"Like a degree." He shrugged, "and a job."

I chuckled as I saw him grimace at those weak suggestions and dryly muttered, "can't wait."

Silence enveloped us once again as I closed my eyes and leaned back, enjoying the carass of the light breeze on my face, from the back and forth movement of the swing.

"Why did you push Aryan and Alia together?" he asked, out of the blue. "I thought you hated high school relationships. I mean, that's why you didn't want to be my girlfriend right?"

I slowly opened my eyes to look into his. "I'm not sure if I'm the right person to tell you this but...let's just say that Aryan doesn't have the best family...it's only him and his mother and interactions between them are minimal, as Sharma aunty has to work two jobs to support them, hence he tends to get...lonely. I try to be there for him but that's not possible all the time...so in a way, he kind of needs Alia. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's crazy about her. Also," I shifted closer to him and unknowingly lowered my voice, "I never said I didn't want to be your girlfriend."

A strange expression crossed his features as his eyes darkened. Scooting a bit closer, he lowered his face in level with mine and whispered, "so you actually like me?"

Alarm bells were ringing in my head, the logical side of me asking to move back immediately. But there was a teeny tiny voice in my head, which grew stronger with each passing second.

I don't wanna move away...

"I think I've already confirmed that..."

"Just...wanted to hear it again." His eyes were now glued to my mouth, which was enough to make up my mind.

I decided to go with the insane part of my brain.

There were fluttering buttermonsters in my stomach, there was electricity crackling in the decreasing space between us, there was the feeling of his warm palms travelling up the length of my arms, and there was the knowledge of mine inching towards his shoulders.

Unfortunately, at the same time, there was a vibration in my jeans.

I jumped away from Kian and quickly checked my phone. It was a text from ma, reminding me that I had to be home in under ten minutes.

"I need to go," I said, my tone somewhat regretful.

"Yeah me too...let's go..." he replied, composing himself, "but today was fun."

"Yeah."

Before standing up, he stopped me with a lingering kiss on my cheek, squeezing my fingers, "happy Mahaashtami."

Completely taken off guard, I could only gape, feeling that spot burn.

{[]}

Hello fellow magical muggles!! (See Gracie, you're a magical muggle now...still not a witch though)

Yes I know that magical muggles is an oxymoron, no need to shout.

Anyway, long chapter eh? I'm sorta happy with this one, are you?

Also, how do you like the book so far? We're more than halfway done, wo hoooooo!!

Soo......if you guys liked this chapter then please,

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Have a blast today!!

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PS: I guess I'm kinda sorry for the almost kiss...forgive me?