Two kg tomatoes
One kg onions
Two and a half kg potatoes
250 grams okra

"Hey Sandhya!"

"Wait. I will forget the sequence," I said and continued walking in the market.

"Wait up."

"What the?" I turned around and saw Nikhil approaching me.

"Hi Nikhil but you messed up the list. I will have to recount everything again," I said and tried to remember everything mom told me to buy.

"Running errands?" he asked and I nodded.

"Why don't you just make a list on the phone?" he questioned and I told him I forgot my phone at home. Mom sent me to buy groceries in a hurry and shoved me out of the house telling me the items faster than Eminem. I couldn't even grab my phone.

He showed me his shopping bag and I chuckled. We shopped together and luckily I didn't forget anything. Mom would have made me go back to the market.

"You live around here?" I asked.

"Yup," he replied as he paid the coconut seller money. We chatted about random things as we made our way out of the market. He pointed his finger at a street and told me his house was few blocks away.

We parted ways and I thanked him for accompanying me. Nikhil was a good guy unlike someone I knew. How could they be best friends?

I reached my home and gave mom the shopping bags. In return, she gave me the whole bucket of butterscotch ice cream. Yay!

The clock showed 4 pm and I was spread out on my bed scrolling through YouTube. I watched a lot of short movies and parodies. Should I open a YouTube channel too? What would be the concept though? I threw the idea away.

Ping!

I opened up the Facebook notification.

Nikhil Avasthi has sent you a friend request.

After checking his profile to confirm he was the same Nikhil I knew, I accepted the request. Instantly, he messaged me and we began chatting like we had known each other for ages. In between, I kept checking his pics and frowned whenever Ved's face popped up in some.

He had to be everywhere, didn't he? Majority of the pics were of them playing basketball and travelling. I wanted to travel too. I should make a plan with Surbhi. We could go for trekking atleast.

My arms started aching and I realized I had been talking to Nikhil for two hours. I had been holding my phone above my face and it fell down three times too. My nose must be squashed now.

I told him I was tired and he also agreed. He said he had assignments to complete but didn't realize how the time flew away. I was already done with my assignments and had whole Sunday free tomorrow. What should I do?

After dinner, I had a movie marathon with dad. Mom retired to her room. She was exhausted with today's activities since I was at home too and I kept asking her for food every minute.

I eat a lot but I get no results. I have been trying to increase my weight since 10th grade but no use.

"I am the winner!" I announced as my father yawned. He had been trying to keep up but was failing. We were on our fourth movie and his eyes had started to droop.

I told him to go and sleep. He shook his head and tried keeping his eyes open. He just didn't like to lose.

"Go dad. You will fall sick if you continued." I grabbed his arm and pulled him up. He nodded his head and went to his room.

"Goodnight, Pa," I said and closed his room's door.

I watched the movie and played some games. It was 3 am now and I was still on the sofa munching on bits of popcorn and trying to kill the terrorist who suddenly appeared from my right. In the game of course.

Ping!

I paused the game and checked my phone for the message.

Nikhil: You awake?

Me: Yup. How did you know?

Nikhil: You are online. Duh.

Oh right. I forgot to log out. I messaged him back asking why he was awake.

Nikhil: Doing assignments :(

Me: You can do them later in the day. It's Sunday!

Nikhil: Yeah I know. Got to go to play later. Won't have strength after that to do homework. That's why I am doing it now.

Me: Then what did you do today?

Nikhil: Busy running errands for mom.

Me: Right. Okay then. Ttyl. Continue with your work. I am busy killing some terrorists. You disturbed my gameplay btw.

Nikhil: Not sorry. Gn Sandhya.

Me: Good night, sleep tight.

I replied and he went offline. I logged out myself and suddenly felt the urge to log in again. After thinking for few minutes, I logged in and my thumb hovered over search button.

Click it. Don't. Click it. Don't. Oh heck with it. I clicked and Ved's profile showed on the top.

17 mutual friends. Haha, so funny. I checked his profile and read every detail in his bio. With every word, I felt more and more inferior.

I checked his profile pic. He was standing on a cliff with his back towards the camera, looking at the setting sun. How much I wished to jump in the picture and kick him off.

I scrolled more and mostly the pics were about basketball tournaments and parties. I stopped at one pic. Ayush was in it. Ved had his arm around his shoulders while Ayush had his arms crossed across his chest.

They looked younger, maybe around 15 or 16. I was jealous. Ayush was smiling so naturally. His babyface hadn't changed much.

Now he always frowned whenever he looked at me. We are friends too. Were. Why was I depressing myself over some photos?

They never welcomed me in their friend circle in school. Ayush did but he also drifted away. I considered him as my best friend then. Why did they both hate me so much?

Why did I hate Ved so much? Because he bullied me? Yes. Then why did I offer him to be friends at Parth's party? Because I was afraid? Yes. Why? I don't know.

He was so intimidating. I never liked people who intimidated me. Add to that his bullying. My dislike turned to hate and I guess he hated me since the moment he saw me.

I started feeling nostalgic as the past memories flooded my mind and played like I had a projector in front of my eyes. Something wet rolled down my face.

Why was I crying? For someone who didn't even want to talk to me? Past was past. I was an idiot. I just spent 1 hour crying over my broken friendship.

I logged out after cursing Ved. He was the root of all the problem. Only if he hadn't gotten in the same college as mine I would have been at peace now. Wait a minute. He wasn't bullying me nowadays.

Why? Do you want him too? No! Of course not.

It was strange though. I thought after recognizing me he would make sure to make me suffer everyday.

He didn't. Not yet except for hitting me with basketball. I should be happy. College life was busy as it is. Moreover, he was an athlete too. Yes. Keep yourself busy Ved and, Ayush, you duffer, continue ignoring me.

I don't care. I am going to live my life peacefully. I had enough good friends then why should I care about them? I won't.

I switched off the TV and went to my room. From tomorrow onwards, I was going to focus on my friends and studies. That's it. No more stressing about Ved and his empty threats. No more Ayush and getting sad over his ignorance. No more!

"Good night Sandhya," I said to myself and fell asleep. I dreamed about the time when I was in 4th grade and had just come 1st in my class. Ved's expression was priceless.

He thought I couldn't outrank him. I did. Finally. In your face, Ved. Now what were you going to do? I should have known better. That's when he took his bullying to another level. We were kids.

Was it possible to have that much hatred when you are a kid? That's scary.

My dream turned into a nightmare and I woke up with a sour mood. Ved, you jerkface. Let me sleep in peace atleast.

I huffed and got up. I only managed to sleep for 3 hours. I decided to take a walk. I changed into my track pants and went to the park.

I rounded the park's perimeter four times and got exhausted. I rested myself on a bench while some people continued with their exercises. I realized I was missing something. Oh right. Self defense classes. I would talk to dad today.

I could already imagine myself kicking Ved's ass if he tried to bully me again. I would keep a foot on his prone body and laugh evilly. That would make such a nice picture. With that motivation, I got up and made two more rounds. Ved could be useful sometimes.

Wait for me Ved, I will catch upto you soon.