With a two pointer by Ved, the finals ended and our college won the basketball tournament along with soccer and table tennis. Unlike how my volleyball team celebrated, Ved's team was calm and composed, showing their years of experience in the sports arena.

One hour later, every player was present in the auditorium to receive the awards and congratulate the winners in the prize distribution ceremony. When our turn came, we formed a line alongside the other two teams and received our certificates and medals from the Dean of the host college who as expected was happy because his home team won.

But unlike our fellow beings who had rotten expressions on their faces even while holding the golden trophy, my team was making the best out of each moment and jumping up and down in front of the cameras. After annoying the idiots, we left the stage for other teams and enjoyed rest of the function.

I really wanted to embarrass Natural Heater when his team was getting the first prize and being praised for their excellent performance, but I had to hold back because I was already tired from all the dancing I did for my own team. I was waiting for him to return so that I could irritate him but he was called by someone who liked a reporter and taken to a different corner where a small studio was setup.

Hmm... I forgot he was a sports celebrity. I observed him and decided to work hard myself so I could achieve that position too and then boast about it to everyone.

"Sandhya, let's go. Coach is giving us a treat," Payal informed.

My eyes lit up on the mention of free food, and I joined my team after shooting a last glance at Princess who was busy giving an exclusive interview to a sports magazine. Once we reached the cafeteria, everyone got themselves loads of snacks and filled their plates to the brim. Coach scolded us to think about her wallet, but Payal told us to just ignore her and eat all we wanted.

It was her last official match, so it was kind of a farewell for her too. We thanked her for her leadership and assured her that we would keep our team's reputation intact even after she left. She smiled at all of us, and Usha Mam hugged her while crying.

Others also began shedding tears after their emotional moment and group-hugged. We clicked a lot of pictures as sovenirs and some of the older team members even had parting gifts for her; I promised Payal that I would give her mine when we returned to college.

She nodded, and after hugging each one of us again, we dug in our meals. We ate like we were starved for months and then went to fool around the college. The sun was already down the horizon and there was still no sign of Ved - I was getting bored.

I searched for him for some time and went to stroll through the soccer ground for fun. It was really huge, maybe bigger than our own football ground, but no matter how much better it was, my college was always the best.

I put my earphone buds in my ears and put my songs on shuffle. I started running when 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' began drumming in my ears, and I lipsynced along with it. I noticed a few students walking around and playing in the ground, laughing and enjoying their college days.

I stopped after running four laps and slumped down on the green field. I took out the earphones and let my body and other senses cool down before I went back to my room and packed my bags for tomorrow's departure.

I was thinking about the afternoon match and replaying the events in my mind. Every time I remembered the horrified faces of the host team, it filled me with immense joy and gratitude towards my Coach and team for supporting me without any doubts.

"Can I sit here?"

I nodded without looking, and Nikhil made himself comfortable beside me. He fidgeted in his spot for a minute and sighed loudly. I ignored him but when he continued doing that, I snapped my head at him and narrowed my eyes.

"What is it?" I questioned.

Instead of answering, he pouted and looked in the distance. I told him to just say what he wanted, but he was busy playing the role of Devdas in the middle of a soccer ground.

(Devdas👆is a fictional character from an Indian movie by the same name.)

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked.

"Tell you what?" I enquired but soon realised what he was talking about.

Did his parents or Lakshya bhaiyya tell him everything? So, Nikhil is going to lecture me now?

"If you considered me your friend, then why did you hide it from me?" he accused.

"Because you didn't consider me your friend, that's why," I retorted.

"I know I was a douche bag but I was not thinking properly. You were there all the time, helping me while causing troubles along with it, but when you actually helped me by talking to my parents, you vanished? And you blame me that I am a coward for not being able to share my thoughts with anyone?" Nikhil stared at me with mixed emotions.

"I am actually confused," I confessed. "Can you explain what you want to say exactly?"

"Ved is right; you are really dumb... and slow - even slower than snail," he commented and shook his head.

I slapped him on the head. "Are you here to insult me?"

He took a deep breath and continued, "I am sorry, Sandhya. I should have believed in you and never doubted your intentions. Honestly, I was really jealous of you - Mom and Dad always kept giving your example and comparing us non-stop. I tried to ignore it but couldn't control my patience when they started doubting my dreams too.

"I told them what I wanted a lot times, but they ignored me and when I thought that I could rely on my older brother, he also didn't take my side and told me to just act like a mature person. And then there was you; always studying and being obedient."

"Obedient and me? Didn't you see me doing so many crazy things behind my parents' backs?"

"But you never got caught!"

"For that, you have to be clever." I smirked.

He rolled his eyes and dismissed my over confidence. "I know this is a weird timing to ask for it, but can you forgive me for not trusting you? I was actually surprised to see the change in my parents' behaviour, but they acted so well that I wasn't able to doubt them. A lot of time, I noticed Mom trying to ask me something but Dad would always stop her.

"And whenever I talked with Lakshya bhaiyya on phone, he would divert the talk to something else and ask me about other things. I was suspicious that they were hiding something from me, but I wasn't exactly sure. My doubts were confirmed on your Dad's birthday and then later in Bhaiyya's promotion party where both of you were having a conversation about me without me."

"You were eavesdropping?" I complained.

"Is that all you heard? I am seriously worried for my best friend - how will he survive his whole life?"

"I heard everything, okay? But just like I told Lakshya bhaiyya, I did it without any selfish thought, and I knew you would have reacted negatively after knowing that I directly talked to your parents. I know how your mind works, Nikhil. And also, you needed some time and space to recover from your earlier situation. I had already pressurised you a lot; I just didn't want to break you beyond repair and have you thinking bad of everyone around you - especially your family.

"I had realised my mistake and did what I thought was right at that moment. I know I should have been honest with you, but I was afraid too. You can't blame me for thinking about your well being!" I grumbled.

"I am really sorry!" Nikhil sniffled and began crying.

What the hell? This boy sure can cry rivers without any warning.

"Will you stop? Everyone is looking at us; they will think that I am the one who made you cry," I scolded.

"But you did," he deadpanned.

I pursed my lips and let him cry his heart out. Anyone looking at us would have thought that he was mourning for getting rejected by a girl. His eyes had turned red just like his nose, and his whole face had become flushed. I gave him my handkerchief, and he took it and wiped his nose.

"Keep it," I said when he told me that he would return it later.

"So, that's why you were taking free rides to the college from me?" I asked.

He nodded and told me that he couldn't think of how he was supposed to bring up the matter to me. His parents and brother had told him to clear out our misunderstandings himself and try to sort out the whole situation without any prejudice.

"Have you forgiven me?" he questioned.

"I don't have anything against you, dumbo. I know I was expecting you to understand my thoughts, but I wasn't also doing the same for you. I was only thinking about how to get you on right track without taking your perspective in consideration. If I had been in your place, I would have also reacted like that if someone was forcing me to live a life I didn't want to.

"Both of us made mistakes, so I guess we can't blame each other for messing up." I grinned.

"That's also true, but thank you for having my back," he said.

"Aw. I am so touched. By the way you have become smarter, Nikhil; I wasn't expecting that from you," I teased.

Nikhil wiped his eyes and punched me on the back. "I was always smart."

"Mr. Pink has more brain cells than you, dimwit." I smacked him behind the head.

"Who is Mr. Pink?" he questioned while blocking my another hit.

"The teddy bear you gave me out of the blue," I answered and managed to punch him in the stomach.

"So, I am forgiven or not?" he queried.

"Stop saying the same thing like a broken taperecorder. I will first beat the shit out of you like I always wanted to and then you are out of trouble," I told him and did as I said. We mutually decided to have a duel and close that chapter for once and all.

We were still young and if we just got stuck in one problem, then how were we supposed to move on and tackle bigger issues in future? Apart from our family, the only people we can turn to in need of help are our friends, so if we don't communicate with them too and clear our misunderstandings, then how will we learn about life?

But again, whether family or friends, we can't take anyone for granted. We should be grateful for what we have at the moment and work hard for our dreams because our lives our are own responsibilities, not anybody else's.

"I give up; I am tired." Nikhil panted and spread out on the ground.

"Loser," I commented and sat down beside him.

"I am hungry," he said.

"Same pinch. Let's go or others would finish off the whole menu," I suggested, and we got up from our spots.

We started heading towards the cafeteria while bantering, but I sensed a familiar figure nearby. I told Nikhil to go ahead and when he left, I moved towards the shadows where Ved was practicing to become an assassin.

"Only Shreyas is capable of camouflaging, you know," I taunted.

Natural Heater scratched his head as he came out of the hiding and stood before me like a kid who was caught stealing candies.

"Why didn't you join us?" I questioned.

"I didn't want to disturb you guys." He shrugged.

"Is that so, Mr. Celebrity?"

Ved grabbed my head and pressed his knuckles on both sides. "How did it go?"

"We beat each other up," I replied.

"Wow. I wasn't expecting anything else too," he mocked.

"By the way, Nikhil told me that you called me dumb and slow." I glared at him.

"That's a world known fact." He smirked.

"If I am slow, then you are slower than me!" I accused and kicked him in the shin.

Before I could move, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.

"Sometimes good things take time, Sandy Pandy. Learn to have patience, or you will get overwhelmed," he adviced.

I stared at him for a minute and then nodded. He reminded me that I was hungry, and we should get to the diner before it got closed. I followed him and smiled to myself while looking at our clasped hands.

"You played well today," he commented.

"I know right?"

"I am happy to see you so confident." He gave me a tight-lipped smile.

I ignored his sarcasm and pushed him forward. He pushed me back and flicked me on the forehead when I moved my hand to grab his hair - wrong move.

"Are you also planning on becoming bald?" I asked.

"This is my signature hairstyle," Natural Heater retorted.

"Whatever. I miss your curly hair though," I mumbled under my breath.

Ved gave me a knowing look as if he sensed my next words. He gave me a warning glare but I shot him a mischievous smile as I brought up one more nickname from my invisible diary.

"Bird's nest." I stuck out my tongue at him and dashed away.

Ved ran after me and tried to scare me while laughing like a murderer - I didn't remember when was the last time I actually played with him.