Dedicated to my Silent Readers❤

The flawlessly crafted pretty paper hangings, assorted posters, banners, new flowerpots, a wide variety of different coloured balloons, everything was decorated all around the college, giving us the perfect festival ambience.

The much-awaited and anticipated Students Celebration day was here. We got to hear from our seniors that this was one of the best celebrations conducted by the college where students can unobstructedly perform anything according to their wish.

Considering it was a program at college, I picked to wear my new, brown-coloured abaya and my brand-new, black high heeled shoes, instead of the black abaya, which I usually wear.

I stopped gawking at the beautiful handcrafted decorations which were in every corner of the campus and rushed to the auditorium where the program was about to commence. I reached there late, but gladly, no major program started. Just those monotonous inaugural speeches were going on. I was least interested in listening to those speeches.

Even though the actual program didn't commence, the auditorium was still packed and crowded with students. My friends were nowhere visible amidst the crowd. So, I called and asked where exactly they were seating. They informed me they were on the right side of the auditorium so, I proceeded there.

I pouted looking at my friends as some sat on the seats, and some stood in the corner of the auditorium. The reason was that there were no seats left for us to sit. But we adjusted to stand in the corner and sit on the chairs taking alternate turns.

Shortly after the speeches were over, the primary program was going to start. We saw some of our senior girls, some girls even from our batch who previously stood in the corner, proceeded towards the front row. And then they sat on the floor in front of the stage. We all joined them and sat on the floor. Now, we could see everything more clearly than sitting on the chairs as we were at the front.

All the tables and chairs which were on the stage was now riddling for the dance programs, so we started talking as it could take some time for the dance programs to start. That was the time when I came to know that Ziya had a crush on a boy who was in our batch itself. His name was Ishaan Wahab, a religious introvert, tall with a fair complexion with a beard and a cute dimple on his right cheek whenever he smiled. The irony was he too was from Shaym's department. For some reason, I felt like he was also a boy like Mr Cute.

Shiril, Zuha, and Fathima were taunting poor Ziya non-stop, and we enjoyed watching them. Shiril's character was not at all like how we prophesied her to be; attitude and badass. Instead, she was extremely sweet and innocent in the inside. Her outer appearances of the straightened hair and her way of attitude walking was just her nature. She was almost similar to Ziya.

I realised at that moment that we should never judge a person by their appearance and first impressions. It was sworn that the first impression with a person you to encounter in your life could be good or bad. But that does not define their character.

Asudden, Jina asked, "Where are your spectacles, Fathima?" That's when some of us noticed she wasn't wearing her specs. She rejoined that she started using contact lenses, and now, she didn't look like a nerd instead looked more pretty.

Straightaway, the program started. Many boys from different departments danced, and the next team which was about to perform was the boys from our class. Some boys appointed us to take the video on their phone's when they saw us sitting in the front. It was the best view to watch and take videos of the program.

As soon as they sprang their dance, all of our jaws were half-open. We all were so dumbfounded by seeing their performance. Everyone in the auditorium was squealing and cheering, some even sang the song loud for them for their awestruck performance.

Sitting in this place was the best choice we all made as we managed to get the perfect video, but one among us was blindly focused on one particular person on the stage. As she was sitting near me, I was able I notice her easily.

Soon, their dance ended and everyone clapped their hands and whistled for them. Then, she opened her mouth, "Did you guys see that? The way Zayn danced! Woah!" Issa was squealing with enthusiasm after witnessing the dance.

Zayn was a boy in our class, he was another type of extreme introvert and he rarely comes to the class, mostly skipping. He never mingles with anyone and even around boys, he was introvert and very reserved. All of his friends were in the Statistics Department, so whenever he rarely attends the class, he runs to the next department to meet his friends as soon as the bell ring is heard. None of us got a chance to talk or chat with him. Considering we all follow him on Instagram, I guess through that he knows our name.

"Yes! His steps and expressions were different from the rest of them! He was the star of today's program," I replied. Even some of the senior girls who were sitting near to us were so impressed by their performance and we saw them squealing too much.

"Yeah, man! Did any of you take their video?" Issa probed curiously.

"Their video or Zayn's video? Is someone having a crush on someone?" Jina started her taunting session towards Issa. She simply stuck out her tongue and shook her head. I gave her the phone in which their dance video was taken by Jina. I guess this is crush season.

Considering Shaym, Ishaan and Zayn were introverts, I declared, "Let's all crush over these introverted boys," Raising my hands, I did a high-five with Ziya and even Issa joined. So now, an introverted girl, Issa, has got a crush on an introverted boy.

That's when Zuha stated one of her opinion to which we all were dismayed to hear, "I don't think Zayn is completely an introvert because whenever he comes to my class to meet his friends, he talks normally, and we have even chatted on Instagram."

"Huh? Zayn messaged you?" I was appalled to hear that.

"It's not exactly chatting. It's just that he replies to my story, and sometimes, even I reply to his story," Zuha stated casually.

"Issa, you also reply to his story and become friends with him. It's so simple," Jina suggested.

"No, if I suddenly message him out of nowhere, he will understand that something is off and I don't want him to think like that," Issa told to which we all shook our head.

"No, you fool. He won't suspect you because we are from the same class, so it's not a big deal," I said because my situation and hers were different and was a little easier to deal. She could effortlessly become friends with Zayn, whereas I couldn't even attempt to be friends with Mr Cute as things would be awkward between us.

After that dance, so many performances were held. Then, the anchor announced the next performance was by the final year boys. I got hysterical as Mr Cute was going to dance. I promptly gave my phone to Jina to take a video from the perfect angle as I wanted to watch his dance properly. If I choose to take the video, then I wouldn't be able to watch his dance performance whilst relishing as it disgraces my concentration.

Enervated jazz-themed music was being played whilst the stage was empty. It was the background music to which one by one senior boy's leisurely came to stage in a form of ramp walk. Mr Cute was the first one to come from the right side as he was always the main person of every program. He was wearing a red loose shirt, wore black shades, so I brazenly stared at him, without moving away from my gaze. But later, it hit me that, I was not able to comprehend or discern on where he would be looking because of his shades, but I didn't care about that at the moment and continued to gape at him. He paced to the centre of the stage, streaked a keen attitude pose whilst folding his hands on the chest, stood in front of the stage for a few milliseconds, glanced at the audience one last time and walked back.

Now all of his friends were present on the stage, the ramp walk ended, and the song to their dance started. My eyes bulged out and a mere laugh left from my aperture witnessing their dance. The reason was, it was not exactly a perfect dance performance like how I presumed it to be as twenty people were dancing in twenty steps.

They were literally enjoying the moment than dancing, swaying to their fullest with so much pleasure. Mr Cute was in the middle, he was spot choreographing the dance but his friends were dancing other steps and it seemed like they didn't bother much about the dance moves. It was undoubtedly evident from their performance that they were not prepared for the dance program. However, even then, it was sterling to watch, and I savoured watching his energetic moves besides his unique killing smirk, which he plastered on his face throughout their rumpled dance.

After a short while, all the programs ended pretty late so, without wasting our time we decided to go home. The college was going to close for study leave as semester-end exams were starting in two weeks. We all went to the bus stop after drinking a cold Appy fizz from the nearby shop as we were exhausted and thirsty. I didn't have any confrontation with Shaym that day, and I was hoping to see him when the college reopens.

When I reached home, I immediately opened my Instagram and uploaded Zayn and his team's dance video first as my story. Later, I uploaded Mr Cute's dance, the part where every one of them was dancing in different steps. That was the part which I enjoyed watching the most as it was fun to see.

I even had an ulterior motive inside me on why I uploaded that video in my story. Undoubtedly, it was to get attention from Shaym as I know he would view it in no time. I also added a small caption along with the video.

"Final Years!😂🔥"

Precisely after ten minutes, he sent a laughing reaction to my story. Mission success! I pronto took a screenshot of his reply reaction and shared it with my group members.

•••

Sooner than we thought, our study leave commenced. Study leaves were the time which portended to waste doing things other than studying. On the grounds of this reason, I began to watch Korean dramas.

During the time I was watching, I got a notification on my phone. It was a friend request from Farhaan on Snapchat. I immediately accepted it as there was no reason to deny or reject it. Soon after that, he sent a snap with bit emoji which had a caption, 'HELLO'.

I also decided to send him a snap and later, we started chatting. Farhaan was an entertaining person to converse with as he was a non-stop chatterbox. He was so engrossed in the conversation as he kept on asking different interesting questions and told his stories which I never asked. The topic he mostly talked was about his college life and how he was going to miss everything in a few months. Even I felt melancholy as well when he mentioned about his last few months in college.

Out of nowhere, he started talking about his crush. Farhaan told that he had a crush on his classmate when he was in his first year. However, within two days, he became close and made her as his friend. The feeling of likeness was transpired and later she turned out to be his best friend. Well, his character was like that as it was his speciality, an ability to befriend everyone easily.

Asudden, he asked,

"Do you have any crush on someone?"

Oh no! Did he get to know that I have a crush on Shaym?

I stared at the screen for a few seconds as I was bewildered by his extempore question. After pondering for about three minutes, I eventually replied,

"No"

"That would be a lie.
At least for a short period, you didn't have a crush on any of your seniors?"

Came his probing question.

"No, I didn't get one."

It was an absolute lie. The next question Farhaan asked almost purloined my breath away.

"Is it Shaym?"

Oh my Allah! I was beyond appalled by seeing that message. How did he know that? Oh no, did I make it so obvious in front of them?

I briskly replied to him.

"No, no. 😅"

I reason why I added the emoji was to make it look natural. Soon, the topic changed back again about college. My throbbing heart stopped as I got relieved. Since the chat with Farhaan was on Snapchat, I was not able to take a screenshot and share it with my group. Hence, I just told them about all his questions and suspicions. They assured saying to me that  he might have randomly asked about Crush and Shaym without meaning anything.

Exams started, and first years and final years were having exams on a different date. Therefore, I was not able to see Mr Cute from campus. However, due to exams, I didn't even get time to remember him.

Exams ended pretty well sooner than we all expected.

•••

The college reopened after a ten-day, semester vacation. I was so excited to go to college because it was my birthday. Almost all of my friends gathered around the department and wished me a Happy Birthday by singing the song loudly when I proceeded towards my class.

The bell rang for the classes when it was nine. I took a seat in the middle row and settled in. When I was about to take out the book from my bag, Issa jerked me up.

"Naiza, you want to know something amusing?"

"Yes, Issaa!" Now I was eager to know what she wanted to tell.

"Zayn replied to my story!" she exclaimed and showed me her phone.

Today was BTS Jungkook's birthday as well. Issa was a BTS army and was pretty crazy about them. I do admire them and all other bands, but I was not such a prominent army like her. She uploaded a picture of Jungkook with the caption,

"1stmiracleofseptember."

To this Zayn, replied, "2nd Ranbir Kapoor and then me," Issa read out loud and showed me the message whilst grinning. Although she already knew that his birthday was this month and even remembered the date.

That's the perk of being a good online stalker.

However, the interesting fact was that his birthday was on September 22, and Issa's birthday was on October 22. I came to know about this when she started boasting on both of their birthday date's coincidently being the same. Now, it would be fun bragging together with Issa about our crush.

As it was the first day of the new semester, there was no afternoon class. We thought to go home early as some of my friends were tired. We strolled towards the main gate and stood near the tree. But the area was empty, Mr Cute and his gang were nowhere around the campus.

My friends suggested that we should go home, but I ached to see him today, and it was too early to go home and also my birthday. I contemplated going near his department to check whether he was there or not. Nevertheless, no one was interested in accompanying me to his department as it was at the backside of our college, a little far so the walking distance was long.

Eventually, Fathima agreed to come with me understanding my feelings. Even I was lazy to walk till there as it was sunny and the sun was directly falling to our body. But I shrugged off those discomforts and paced towards his area. When we were almost near his department building, I started getting neurotic and said to Fathima,

"Let's go back. I don't think this is a good idea."

"Naizaa, we have almost reached there. So, no backing off. Let's see him quickly and go home," Sha replied, dragging me.

Outside the department, I was able to see Shaym and some of his friends sitting on their bikes. He was standing with one of his friend who was on the bike. The moment I saw him at the entrance of their department, I lowered my gaze and walked glaring the ground. I decided to walk past, ignoring him. When we were almost near to enter the entrance gate of the building, I heard him asking his friend, "Why is she here?"

His voice was loud enough for both of us to hear clearly. I didn't know if he intentionally said it out loud for me to hear or whether he accidentally spoke. But one thing was clear from his question that he noticed me.

When I heard his question directed towards his friend, I hastily strolled inside the building and entered the 1st-year Computer Science class, where one of Fathima's friend was studying.

"Fathima, let's go from this building only after Mr Cute and his friends leave. I don't want to create more embarrassing scenes," I spoke to which she agreed.

After fifteen minutes, we got up to leave from there, and I requested Fathima to check whether he had gone from the entrance gate or not. Thankfully, he was nowhere near that area, which meant that he had left with his friends. So, we straight went to the bus stop where the rest of my friends were waiting for us.

During the entire bus ride from college, my mind got occupied with endless questions. I pondered upon all the possibilities on why Shaym asked something like that to his friend.

Did I do something to him? No, right? Then why he like this!

•••

I replied 'Thank you' to all the birthday wishes I received. I even captured a pretty decent photo after class and requested Anna to upload it on her account as a story for my birthday because Mr Cute was following her. I was hoping that he would see her story on Instagram and later send me birthday wishes.

I heard the doorbell ring whilst playing on the phone. Without looking through the window on who it was, I opened the door and got startled to see my friends standing with a cute cupcake, topped with a small candle on it. They started singing happy birthday in Korean, as they knows how much I loved hearing it. What bequeathed me in happy tears was because of my few friends who didn't know the Korean language learned the lyrics for me and sang loudly. I thanked them gleefully while blowing out the candle, and I got happier by their surprise visit.

After that, I asked them as I was still startled and confused. "But didn't you guys go home?"

I had seen Issa and Zuha getting down from the bus at their stop as their house were before mine. I even bid goodbye whilst they got down from the bus. The rest of my friend's houses were after mine but, I didn't see them getting down on my bus stop.

"Well, we did get down from the bus so that you won't get any clue of our surprise. Then the rest got down on the next stop, and we all took an auto to come here!" Jina answered, chuckling with happiness as their plan was a success as I never thought to get a surprise like this. I welcomed them inside whilst they handed me over a cover they bought which had club sandwiches.

We all ate in my room and sprang our non-stop talking. Momentarily, my petite gang has become a big gang with new friends. While Anna was looking through my dressing table, she found nude shade Hudabeauty lipstick and applied it all over her lips. She looked beautiful and cute as she rarely wore make-up.

Suddenly, I got an idea and took out a bridal design headpiece from my jewellery box. Then, I took out my Aunt's Saree from the wardrobe and handed it to her and said, "Come on all, let's make her a bride and play." It was what I used to play with my cousins when we were small.

Dolling up and playing things like this with my cousins were mandatory, but this was the first time ever in my life playing with friends although we were grown-ups.

Zeyna, aka Zey, was our official make-up artist as she had a little experience in this field. She was also a skilled professional photographer. Anna looked stunning wearing the black saree which had a maroon velvet border and golden sequence work at the corners. She was dolled up with light make-up and resembled like an actual bride ready for her engagement.

Seeing the pretty fake bride, Jina suggested, "Let's all upload her picture on our story with the caption '#Annagothitched' and prank everyone!"

Woah, that was an amazing idea.

"What do you say?" I asked Anna, after all, it was her fake engagement that we were going to make public.

"Yes! It would be fun." She exclaimed, giggling as she was more than excited.

Instantly after hearing to her approval, we all uploaded it as our story. Within minutes, we all started getting many replies from our college friends.

"Mabrook!"

"Congrats!"

"Anna got engaged?"

Dazzling us, many of our other friends from college took a screenshot of Anna's picture, and they uploaded it as their story. Momentarily, the prank was getting a bit serious. We promptly removed all of the photos we uploaded from social media and responded to the people who re-uploaded that we did this prank just for fun, and Anna was not engaged. The scene was hilarious and repulsive at the same time.

In the evening, they left, and it was a pleasant day spent by countless fun moments with my friends. Nevertheless, I still hoped that Shaym would message me to wish a happy birthday, but disappointing he did not.

Assalamu Alaikum

Sorry for updating late🙊and  please bear with Naiza's drama in few more chapters.

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Lots of love💕
Thatabayagirl.