Karan is searching outside when he finds her coming  from the rest room. Relieved,he observes her walking leisurely with a slight smile on her lips.As there are students around he just stands there hoping she would notice him.

Drowned in thoughts,she is about to pass him when he coughs to gain her attention.She is surprised looking at him,

Preetha: What are you doing here?

Karan: I came for you.

She feels happy for his concern,

Preetha: I just went to restroom.

He nods but she observes that his eyes are wandering and understands it's not the right time to talk,

Preetha: Let's go!

She takes a step past him when he holds her hand,she looks at him,

Karan(caring): You ok?

She pauses for a second before answering,

Preetha(smiling): More than ok!

This is what he wants and they leave inside seperately.

Its the time to announce the groups who are promoted to next level. The first group is The Claws and they hug each other shouting while Karan claps for Preetha seeing her so happy.

The list goes on while Preetha gets disappointed everytime when it's not Karan's group.The last name is to be announced and all are waiting at bated breath. Preetha is praying crossing her fingers,Aadya is biting her nails,Karan is wishing for his group,Rishi is thinking about who will be the competitors.  

And when host announces The Wings after a long pause Karan's group bump into each other feeling elated.Preetha jumps in happiness while her team see her confused.Sensing their gaze,she composes herself,

Preetha: What?

Sandy: That's our opponent group and those are our rivals.Ok!

He says as if she doesn't know while she nods obediently at him.She looks at Karan who chuckles,hinting her that he saw her dance and Sandy's lecture. 

As the first round is finished,the host asks them to wait for the second round and wishes them luck.The students get dispersed while the contestants are thrilled about the next round the remaining are excited for today. 

Preetha's group decides to celebrate in their favorite cafe outside the college.

Rishi: C'mon Mickey!

Nodding she sits on his bike and they all start with their bikes and move to their destination. 

CAFE

The six settle themselves at a round table ordering their favourites,

Rishi: So guys! This is for our first win.And next cheer will be after winning the finals.

Sandy: Then we don't cheer with coke of course. 

While the boys smirk,girls sigh at his innuendo.Cheering their cokes,they take thier first sip,

Vicky: What a day yaar.Seriously!

Sandy: Thought we would surprise others by Preetha but Karan sir gave us shock.

Rishi: That was not the song they selected.Right?

Vicky: Yes but Karan sir changed it last minute and his inclusion was also sudden.Heard them while coming. 

Meera: He did a good job!

Sandy: Good? Its called fantastic.

Veeksha(amused): You know its like he was singing for someone.I mean his voice,gestures everything was like he want someone to know how he feels and he said it through that song.

Meera: Right I observed it too.He was same as Rishi but your feel is because of Preetha.(thinking) Does that mean Karan sir too sang for a girl? 

Rishi gets startled listening her,he immediately looks at Preetha who is drinking her milk shake in her own thoughts.Sighing,he glares at meera for saying that,she clicks her tongue and continues drinking her coke. 

Veeksha(happy): Wohh....... that's a new point.Does Karan sir have a girl in his life?

All of them ponder about it with a bit of excitement as gossips are always interesting,

Vicky: Except his achievements as the Chief of Luthra's there is nothing in the news or in rumours.He is one of the very few affluent kids who has a righteous record.

They humm,

Veeksha(circling the straw): Haaa......he is as pristine as a glass.Don't know who buys it!

They laugh at her words while Meera chokes on her drink,

Meera: Buys it? Do you think he is some chocolate or a bag to buy?

Veeksha(shrugging): What's wrong? Girls buy boys.It's how our indian system works.If I knew his price I will buy him selling my everything.

They look at her raising their eyebrows while Preetha glares at her which soon turns into smirk,

Preetha(mind): He is not for sale Veeksha because I already bought him.(she realizes what she just thouht) bought? Really Preetha? Thank god he is not here to hear me.

Vicky: Unfortunately he is Karan Luthra and you can't afford him.

Sandy: And yeah girls don't buy boys if anything like that we pay for everything you buy from nail color to Netflix,from dresses to dates.You people won't take a penny out of your expensive purses.I really don't know why u carry them!

He comments while Vicky and Rishi hi-fi him making girls glare at them,

Veeksha(narrowing her eyes): You spend on us but take entire amount in a single go from our parents including simple and compound interests in the name of dowry.

The girls nod supporting her when Rishi dives in,

Rishi: Hey Dowry is prohibited.

Preetha: Legally it is but really it's not.Though you guys won't accept you definitely expect something from girl's family.Don't talk like saints when you are not.

She admonishes,

Vicky: That's not true.We won't expect anything but their love but you expect a lot from us.

He sees the boys who nods agreeing,

Sandy: Ofcourse.We don't need anything.

Preetha(smirking): Ok Sandy won't you take if your in laws give you a brand new Range Rover?

He widen his eyes at her tempted at the thought,

Preetha: And Vicky a part of food business for you?

The girls knew she hit the right point seeing the boys silent reaction when Rishi barges in saving his friends,

Rishi(shrugging): That's not dowry.Those are the rewards we get for bearing you.

Vicky and Sandy look at him happily and nod their heads vigourously getting along with him,

Vicky: Right.....we won't mind taking rewards.What say Sandy?

Sandy: I love rewards.

Girls: Hypocrites!

They shove the boys while they hifi and finally everyone burst into laughter.

It's time to leave,

Meera: Chal Preetha!

She is about to stand,

Rishi: Nah I will drop her.You go!

Meera: Why? Singing another song for her?

She chuckles, he glares,

Meera: Drop my friend safely.

Ordering she dashes outside afraid of his reaction,Preetha laughs turning to Rishi who is scholding Meera in his mind,

Preetha: So tell me teddy bear why did you stop me?

He stops doing what he is doing and smiles looking at her,

Rishi: Because I wanna treat you. 

Preetha(rubbing her palms): Wow..... what's that?

She directly comes to the point without even bothering to ask why he is treating,

Rishi: Your favourite orange cake.

She widen her eyes in happiness and hugs him,

Preetha: Thank you....thank you....thank you teddy!

She shakes him while he laughs at her,

Rishi: I have to thank you.Though you don't want to but you did it....you sang for me and I can't tell you how happy I am.So it's my treat to you!

He kisses her forehead and she smiles,

Preetha: Yayyy now c'mon where's it.I can't wait.

Rishi: Then don't wait!

She sees him surprised when he whistles and as if it's a signal the waiter comes with a dish and places it infront of her.

Excitingly,she opens the lid to see a delicious cake with something written on it,

To my Super Singer,

Congratulations!

A bright smile steals her lips seeing the words and hugs him instantly,

Preetha: Ahh Teddy.......You are the best!

She kisses his shoulder while he soothes her back,

Rishi: I have to be best when you are worst.

She slaps his back while he chuckles and she gets out of hug,

Preetha: But why did you order the full cake?You know we can't finish it.

She asks licking the frosting with her index when Rishi stops her taking more,

Rishi: I know but 4 people needs a big cake.

Preetha(annoyed): We are just 2!

Rishi: The other 2 are right behind you.

Saying it he quickly closes her eyes,

Preetha(confused and excited): Arey?

Rishi: Shuu.....!

Saying he signs the persons to come front,

Rishi: 3....2...1....Go!

He takes off his hand and she opens the eyes when they hear a shout,

Mahi and Varun: Surprise!

Her eyes widen seeing them,

Preetha: Di..... Jiju!

And quicky latches herself onto them.They hug her kissing her hair,

Mahi: How's the surprise Mickey?

Preetha: Superb!

Varun(correcting his collar): I planned it.Ofcourse it has to be.

Rishi(raising eyebrows): Ahaaa?

Varun: Haaa!

Preetha & Mahi giggle seeing them while Rishi widen his eyes,

Rishi(hastily): No Mickey I planned it.He is telling lies.

Varun: Acha ok don't whine like a girl.You are looking ugly.

He chuckles and sees the girls who sees him raising their eyebrows,

Preetha &Mahi: We don't whine.

Varun clears his throat and smiles forecibly,

Varun: Who said you girls whine? Who? Rishi..... You?

He asks Rishi who smirks looking at him,

Rishi: No....You!

Varun glares him but sees the girls,

Varun: Me?N...No.I....I meant....wi...shine not whine.

He unknowingly comes with an excuse and he gets relaxed instantly,

Varun(smiling brightly): Yeah.Right.......Girls just shine don't whine.

All of them settle down shaking their heads at him,

Varun(muttering): Thank god. Nah....thank my brain.Its awesome!

He sits between Preetha and Mahi,

Mahi: How are you Mickey? Everything fine?

Preetha: I am fine di.How are you? How is mom and d....dad?

She wobbles at last, understanding it Mahi holds her hand,

Mahi: We all are fine and we miss you!

Preetha: I miss you too!

Varun: I miss you three!

Rishi: I miss us four!

And their emotional moment breaks down with both the boys comments and they slap on their shoulders,

Rishi: Ok now.......the cake is waiting to be devoured yaar.What are we waiting for?

He says when Preetha remembers she want to share today's events with them,

Preetha: I forgot......di you know what happened today.

Mahi: Ofcourse we know and that's why we are here to celebrate our Mickey's singing.

Preetha is surprised as how did they know,

Varun: You see this .....(shoving his shoulder)Rowdy Rishi here.He is the one who kept us udpated.

Preetha smiles looking at Rishi when Varun clears his throat,

Varun: So Sis cum sis in law you can look at him afterwards.But I can't wait looking at the cake.

She nods excitingly and cuts the cake while they all clap for her,

Varun: Happy birthday to you!

Mahi shoves him,

Mahi: That's not her birthday.Idiot!

Varun: I forgot.Ok.....Happy Singing to you.Many success to you!

He sings and they all sigh but laugh seeing him.She feeds the cake to them and the three feeds some in her and some on her face and she returns their favour.

After a good session of laughing, rubbing the cake on their faces and cleaning it,they settle down on the chairs,

Varun: Now show me how you sang? I will say if it better than me or not.

Rishi: Don't even compare with you please.If she is Shreya Ghoshal you are a bathroom singer.

Varun(shrugging): What's the difference? Both are singers.

Mahi & Preetha chuckles for his answer while Rishi palms his head,

Varun: Dikhao na?

Rishi opens their class chat in WhatsApp, it has all the performances of the groups individually.He opens their performance and shows it to Varun and Mahi.

They are astonished by her singing as the video goes on they enjoy it completely.

Mahi: Wah! Your voice complimented the song Mickey.Its so beautiful!

She hugs her sister tightly and kisses her cheek,

Preetha: Thanks di! Jiju how's it?

Varun(casually): Theekey!

Preetha: Theekey?

Varun: Utna bhi khaas nai hein par ok.Not bad!

Preetha and Mahi narrows their eyes at him and look at each other and the next second he bursts laughing because of their tickling.

They continue doing it till he apologises,

Varun: Acha ok ok it's superb extraordinary.

Then they stop smirking,

Varun(annoyed): Gone are the days of honesty!

The girls huff at him while he quickly takes Rishi's mobile kept on the table to avoid them.

Rishi: I am gonna bring fries and tissues.Do you want anything?

Preetha: Teddy I am coming too.

When Varun is swiping the videos he suddenly stops at one and plays it.

It's Karan's singing video.

Mahi: Chali gayi dono.Yeh log bhi na ......

She stops seeing Varun who is watching something keenly.Leaning his side,she too watches it and her eyes widen.

Mahi: Karan!

Varun looks at her,she looks at him and they look at Preetha who is with Rishi laughing at the counter.They resume seeing video and by the time Preetha and Rishi reach them they close it.

The four enjoy their time chattering and teasing eachother.

They are at parking lot when Mahi hugs Preetha,

Mahi: Next time you meet tell Karan that Kuch tho bahot pehle hi hua hein!

Preetha widen her eyes coming out of the hug while Mahi and Varun leaves winking at her.

And contined in the next part......

No matter what but January always brings  the happiness.

Happy Pongal!

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