Aarohi's POV:

"Yo nerd, you done eating?" I look up and see Karthik grinning at me, a bag slung over his shoulder.

I glare at him. "Shufff uff I'm fryinn foo eaff", I say, as a few pieces of bread fly from my mouth.

Karthik laughs. "Now faff's fuff plain fekfy", he imitates me and I throw an apple at his face.

He ducks and it hits Pari di on the head. She glares at me and says, "Hurry up, Rohi! Your college starts in half an hour and you have to bid every single one of us goodbye because we'll be gone by the time you come back."

I finally swallow before answering, "Fine. Just let me grab my lunch and I'll be out of your hair- ouch!"

I glare at Pari di who smirks at me. She looks at the apple which has now fallen at my feet after getting hit on my head.

Karthik laughs and they both high five each other. I roll my eyes and grab the apple and keep it inside my bag.

I walk towards my family, not before slapping Karthik at the back of his head on the way. I bid farewell to each and every one of them and promise to visit them the minute my vacations commence.

Finally Karthik and I make our way outside, to his one true love- his Queen Bee- his Royal Enfield.

I snort.

"What?" Karthik asks, as he turns the ignition of his motorbike on and gestures me to sit down.

"That's such a cliché. The bad boy with the bike. Next thing I know you'll be wearing leather jackets and smoking cigars and vandalising public property", I laugh as I easily slide on the bike.

I love his bike. It was originally his brothers', but since they started driving, they gave it to Karthik.

"Those aren't bad ideas", Karthik grins. "I will definitely be vandalising public property soon. And you know you will be held liable for my actions. Since it was your idea."

I snort. "That won't work in front of the police."

Karthik's grin just widens, and then he frowns all of a sudden.

"What?" I ask him. "Shouldn't we get going already?"

He turns around to look at me. "About yesterday..."

My heart clenches. Oh no. I have worked so hard to avoid bringing up that topic, just so things wouldn't get awkward. He's totally ruining my effort.

"I'm really sorry", he apologises sincerely. And then looks down. "I don't know what came over me. I let my emotions get out of hand.. And.. I shouldn't have violated your trust and I don't want to make things awkward between us. I mean we just became friends once again-"

"Best friends", I interrupt.

He smiles slightly, a tinge of pink on his cheeks. "- best friends once again, and I don't want to spoil our friendship by acting like a dick, so I hope you forgive me. I'm truly sorry."

I heave a huge sigh of relief. To be honest, I don't know what came over me yesterday either. I just went with the flow. It was the first time I've ever felt something like that around Karthik.

And maybe, I can still slightly feel it, as hard as I may try to push those feelings away.

I pat his back, not knowing what to do and he gives me a weird look. I laugh. "It's okay, Karthik. Such things happen. And..." I don't know how to say this, but I have to. "Stop blaming yourself." I look down, not wanting to meet his eyes, especially since I am trying so hard not to blush. "I didn't exactly discourage you, did I? I mean..." I just trail off, hoping that we would get my point.

When he doesn't say anything, I look up to meet his gaze, to see him looking at me with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Are you saying you enjoyed it?"

I hit him hard on his arm and he yells, "Ouch! You violent psycho!"

"Just go!" I say. "We have twenty minutes to reach college."

He laughs. "Hold tight, babe."

"Don't call me babe", I warn him, putting my arms around his waist, as tingles resurface all over again. Damn these wild hormones.

He just laughs once again and then drives like a maniac. I don't complain, mainly because I trust him, and I myself love riding fast. The adrenaline rush is fantastic.

We reach college in no time. Once he parks, I get down and he looks at me, and starts laughing. "Your hair is all over the place." And then he stops abruptly and his eyes widen in horror. "Fuck! I didn't give you a helmet to wear! What the hell was I thinking?"

I laugh. "Karthik relax. We made it to college safely. It's okay."

He just shakes his head. "It's not okay. What if we-"

"Stop worrying over stupid things, pighead", I deadpan and he slowly grins.

"Fine. Just this time." He then puts an arm around me and we start walking towards the lockers, as everybody gives us weird looks and starts whispering amongst each other.

"Are they dating?"

"But didn't they hate each other?"

"Is Karthik blind?"

"Damn Karthik's one lucky bastard", one of the guys says, not bothering to whisper. "I always wanted to tap that ass."

Karthik makes a move towards that guy, looking furious, but I hold him back. "Don't bother, Karthik. They're not worth it."

"Hey!" Hanshu greets me and then her eyes fall on Karthik and they widen in surprise. Behind her, I can see Aish and Roshni mirroring her expression.

Hanshu looks at us, and then starts hyperventilating. "Oh my God! Oh my God! You guys are dating, aren't you?! I totally shipped for you! Ha! I told you guys-"

"Wait, what?" I cut her off, and stare at Aish and Roshni who are carefully avoiding looking at me. "What does she mean by that?"

Karthik then pulls me closer to him. "C'mon, baby, why should we hide what we feel for each other? Everybody's going to find out one day or another anyway."

Hanshu then gives out a mini-squeak and starts dancing on the spot. "This is so amazing!!"

Aish and Roshni are trying very hard not to laugh. But it doesn't last for long as they burst out laughing, and Hanshu looks at them, befuddled.

I push Karthik aside. "We're not dating. We're just back to being best friends."

Hanshu looks at me seriously. "Ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahi ho sakte." (A girl and a boy can never be just friends)

Karthik pipes in. "Ye joke tha?" (Was this a joke?)

"Haan tha, to?" Hanshu replies. (Yeah it was, so?)

"I don't like jokes!" Karthik tells her, pointedly.

"I don't like you!" Hanshu retorts, in an even higher voice.

Roshni is looking highly bewildered, while Aish says, "If you guys are done imitating Rahul and Anjali from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, then can we please get going? We have classes to attend."

Karthik looks at me. "And I thought you were the biggest nerd on Earth."

Aish rolls her eyes and shoves Karthik aside. "Just because you're my best friend's best friend, that doesn't mean I like you, Pratap. I'm keeping an eye on you. You better watch your back."

Karthik starts chuckling, but Aish gives him such a lethal look that he actually cowers back.

"Your friends are all mental too", he hisses at me.

"I'm not your best friend?" Roshni asks Aish, giving her a puppy-eyed look and Aish groans.

"Don't do that, Roshni, you know I can't resist your- fine, fine- you are my best friend too. Happy now?" Aish playfully glares at her while Roshni gives her a big smile.

"What about me?" Hanshu wails.

"You too", Aish sighs. "Now can we go?"

"Hey wait!" I say, remembering all of a sudden. "Roshni, what happened with your date with Sahil?"

Karthik asks sharply, "Sahil who?"

Roshni raises her eyebrows. "Sahil Trivedi. Why?"

Karthik's expression turns extremely serious. "Don't date him, Roshni. Trust me, he-"

Roshni cuts him off. "Thanks for looking out for me, I guess, but I'm not dating him. We was a big dull dud. And he kept boasting about himself throughout the date."

"Did he try to make a move on you?" Karthik asks her, his tone still sharp.

Roshni's eyes widen. "No. I actually made some excuse and left him alone halfway through the date."

I peer at Roshni thoughtfully. That is so unlike her.

"I-", Karthik begins but I cut him off.

"Hey Karthik, do you mind giving Roshni and I a minute?"

He looks at me and then after a moment nods and says, "See you in class."

"You guys go ahead", I tell Aish and Hanshu, and they nod as well. I know they already know why Roshni left the date midway. She just has to tell me now.

"Spill it", I tell her.

She sighs. "He was acting so weird. He was constantly holding my hand, and at first I thought it was romantic, but then he started acting perverse. You know what he did?" Her eyes are filled with tears now. "He trailed my bare leg with his foot under the table. I felt so violated, Aarohi, I didn't know what to do."

My jaw tightens and I hug her tightly as she starts sobbing.

"I will kill him", I vow and Roshni giggles through her tears. "I knew you would say that", she says. "But don't worry, I got up and pushed him away, and he grabbed my hand once again, stopping me from going. I tried to pry it out of his grasp but he was so strong." She sobs some more.

"That sick bastard", I say, as rage flows uninhibitedly through my veins.

She smiles and looks at me. "But you know what happened next? My Prince Charming saved me!" She giggles and I stare at her, perplexed.

"Come again?"

"There was this guy and his friend at the cafe where Sahil and I were", she smiles at the memory. "He was so cute. And so strong. He immediately got up from his seat, because Sahil and I were causing a bit of a commotion, and he calmly asked me if anything was wrong. Sahil just asked him to butt out and I asked Sahil to let me go, and that's when the guy became furious." She blushes for some reason but continues, "Then Sahil twisted my hand and the guy punched him without a warning. All four of us were thrown out, but it was so cool!"

Her eyes become dreamy and I laugh. Typical Roshni. Only she would dream about an unknown guy as her Prince Charming.

"If only I could meet him again!" She sighs as we make our way towards our respective classes. "I somehow have this feeling that I will meet him again."

I restrain a snort. "Well, good luck with that. See ya at lunch!"

She waves me goodbye and I turn towards the direction of my class only to bump into the she-Devil.

"You", she sneers at me.

"What's up, Raveena?" I ask, lamely. I'm just too tired for a retort right now.

"Didn't I already tell you to stay away from Karthik? He's mine!" She mutters, angrily.

I shiver dramatically. "Oh no, I'm so scared." I roll my eyes. "Bbye now."

I walk around her but she grabs my hand and I turn around sharply and jerk it off, causing her to stumble on her heels and fall. I want to laugh but she does the most unbelievable thing. She grabs my legs while falling, making me tumble on top of her.

"Oof!" I ejaculate, as I fall on top of her with a thud and she shrieks loudly.

"Eurgh! Get off me, peasant!"

I quickly get up and look at her to scrutinise the damage that I have caused. She's still on the ground like a sprawled eagle and I suppress my urge to laugh at her face.

"Need help?" I ask, keeping a poker face.

"I don't need-" she snarls and then stops and blushes furiously. "Oh hey, hi Karthik!"

I look up to see Satan looking at me and Raveena in amusement.

"Wondered where you'd gone, nerd", he says and I just flip him. He laughs. Our friendship has always been this weird.

"Karthik", Raveena wails, pouting. "Please help me up?"

I roll my eyes at how childish and extremely clingy Raveena's being. It's highly pathetic. Karthik simply nods and helps her get up. She leans onto him and then trails her finger on her arm.

And that's when smoke starts coming out of my ears.

What the hell?! Why isn't he asking her to back off?

I walk towards him and tug furiously at his arm, removing it from Raveena's hold.

In my defense, I did it for his own good.

"Let's go to class", I say furiously and the bell rings. Dang it. We're late.

Karthik starts laughing as we walk towards the classroom.

"What now?" I ask sharply.

"I love it when you're possessive of me", he grins and I almost hit him on the head. But on the inside, my stomach is jiggling weirdly.

"Don't flatter yourself, we were just getting late", I deny his claim.

"Liar, liar, pants on fire", he sings and I roll my eyes.

"Shut the fuck up."

We enter the classroom and the professor glares at us for being late. I take my seat next to Aish, with Karthik sitting behind me. To the other side of me is Raunak.

"Hey Aarohi", he greets me.

"Hi Raunak", I smile.

"I texted you, but you didn't reply", he accuses me but his eyes are full of humour.

"Sorry, it slipped my mind", I say, sheepishly.

"Why weren't you there in college for two days?" He asks me.

"What are you, a detective?" Karthik hisses angrily from behind and I almost giggle.

Raunak just rolls his eyes.

"Silence!" The professor says loudly. "No talking otherwise the whole class gets an extra assignment, to be submitted tomorrow."

Everybody groans. I swear the professors in this college are pure evil.

After three horrendous hours of continuous lectures, we are finally graced with the ring of the bell. And it couldn't have come at a better time. Because Karthik Pratap, my best friend, had almost decided to get both of us thrown out of class today.

He was up to his pranks as usual.

Today he made a paper plane and threw it at the same professor, as he was writing on the board, and it hit his back and fell down. All of us were trying very hard to suppress our giggles. And Karthik's constant comments and singing weren't helping.

"You know what the professor should write on the board? 'I must not look like a baboon's backside'."

"Isspiderman isspiderman, tune churaya mere dil ka chain; dekh ke tujhko dil mera dhadke, main to ban gayi teri fan!" (Spiderman, spiderman, you stole my heart's peace; my heart beats fast looking at you, I became your fan!)

"I have a pen, I have an apple- ugh! Apple-pen!
I have a pen, I have pineapple- ugh! Pineapple-pen!
Apple-pen, pineapple-pen. Ugh! Pen-pineapple-apple-pen!"

"I took a pill in Ibiza. You know why I took a pill in Ibiza, Lizzie?"
Poke, poke.
"Lizzie?" "Lizzie?"
I had sighed. "What?"
"Do you know why I took a pill in Ibiza?"
"To show Avicii you were cool?" I asked.
"Nope. I didn't want to get pregnant."
At this both Raunak and Aish had snorted loudly, and I had struggled to keep a straight face.

"Pssst! Lizzie!"
"I'm trying to study here, Karthik!"
"But- I wanted to ask you something important."
"What now?"
"Melody itni chocolate-y kyun hai?" (Why is melody so chocolate-y?)
"Melody khao, khud jaan jao (eat melody, and get to know it yourself)", Aish had replied and Karthik had said solemnly, "I am seriously thinking of making you my new best friend."

"What's going on over there?" The professor's voice had boomed in the classroom and suddenly everybody was on high alert.
"Karthik Pratap, stand up at once!"
Karthik had stood up, without a care on his face.
"Care to explain what was going on back there?"
"Well, sir", Karthik began. "You see, I was trying to prove to Aarohi over here that if I generate enough low density sound waves, it will create a frictional force high enough to cause disruption in the progress of your class, but simultaneously low enough to not prompt you to throw me out- although every action does have an equal and opposite reaction."
I had rolled my eyes, but I was trying to suppress a smile. Karthik and his bullshit.
The professor was not amused. "Be glad I know your father. Now sit down and keep quiet."
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"And Aarohi- try to concentrate on what I'm teaching, rather than on what Karthik's blabbering. I could hear him singing that awful Bhojpuri Spiderman song from here itself."
At that, everybody had laughed really hard.

"Hey Aarohi", Raunak calls as I'm leaving the class with Karthik and Aish, both of whom are laughing at something Karthik had said.

"What's up, Raunak?" I ask him.

"I wanted to ask you something", he trails off.

"Okay....?!"

Karthik and Aish are now standing next to me, looking at Raunak intently.

Raunak rolls his eyes, but appears slightly pink. "Would you like to have icecream with me later on? After college?"

Before I can answer, Karthik says firmly, "No."

I turn and glare at him. "Yes. You don't dictate my life, Karthik. I want to have icecream with him."

He glares at me as well. "No, because you're grounded and I have to drop you home."

"I can drop her home", Raunak offers but Karthik scowls and says, "No. I don't trust you."

I roll my eyes. "Karthik, stop being a-"

"Babysitter", Aish adds, sniggering and I suppress a giggle.

"I'm her friend", Raunak points at me.

"But you're not my friend", Karthik points at him. "So, no."

"I'll see you after college, Raunak", I say, firmly. "The icecream stand outside University, right?"

"You're not going", Karthik seethes.

"Yeah", Raunak nods and smiles. "See you there! Bye Aarohi! Bye Aishath!"

Aish's eyes widen at Raunak's farewell. "Er- bye", she mutters, turning slightly red.

Karthik is meanwhile fuming at me. "You're not going."

"You're not my dad."

"Fine." He then grins slyly at me. "I'm coming with you then."

"Damn it Karthik, you're so infuriating!"

We bicker all the way towards the cafeteria and Karthik sits with Hanshu, Aish, Roshni and me today. He usually never sits with us. He always has lunch with Mehul and Kaushik. Both of them are in the same University, but are studying business administration. They join him for lunch everyday.

Yes, I noticed things about him even though we hadn't been on talking terms before.

"Hey fucker!" A voice calls out from behind us and I spot Kaushik and Mehul walking towards us, smiling at me and Karthik, and then somebody gasps from my right side, and I turn right to see Roshni in shock.

"Oh my God! It's him! It's Prince Charming!" Roshni squeaks.

"What?" I ask, discombobulated.

"Hey, it's you!" I turn around and see Mehul staring at Roshni in recognition and then things click into place.

"Mehul was the one who punched Sahil that day?" I ask her and she blushes and nods her head.

She gets up and stutters, "H-hi! It's n-nice to s-see y-you."

He looks her up and down and she turns even red. He's not checking her out, because the next second he says, "You seem fine. Did that asshole bother you again? Are you okay?"

"Y-yes!" She squeaks. "I-I mean, yes I'm okay. And no, he hasn't bothered me."

"Sahil?" Karthik's eyes widen. "What did he do?"

Mehul and Kaushik fill him with the details and he laughs after hearing that Mehul had socked Sahil in the face.

They sit down and all of us have lunch together. From the corner of my eyes, I can see constant eye contact between Roshni and Mehul. Hanshu and Kaushik on the other hand are arguing over which series is better- Lucifer or Supernatural. Hanshu has a big crush on Lucifer and I can see she's getting all worked up over Kaushik saying he hates Lucifer. Aish is watching them in amusement.

Karthik has finally convinced me to let him come and have icecream with myself and Raunak. More like, threatened. I had to concede; his threat of tattling on me to my parents worked like a charm.

After college gets over, Karthik and I ride (with helmets this time) towards the icecream stand outside our University to see Raunak already standing there. He smiles at me but his eyes become slightly guarded on seeing Karthik.

I wonder why.

He doesn't say anything, anyway, and it's after we order our icecreams, does he speak up.

"Actually, Aarohi. I wanted to ask you something."

Karthik stiffens next to me, and he continues. "Well, more like I need your help with something."

I look at him, slightly puzzled. "Okay.. What do you need my help with?"

"Actually it's about Aishath."

"Okay.. What about her?"

He looks down, and I can see his cheeks turning bright red. "I like her. I would like to ask her out."

Karthik visibly relaxes by my side and then chuckles and says, "I knew you'd be my friend!"