After school.

After I had my lunch, I quickly ran towards my room as I locked it, making sure no one could disturb me right now.

I then took out my phone from my drawer as I dialed my bud, Manav's number.

Uthale bhai, Rohi madam ke ijjat ka sawaal hai!

(Pick up the call, dude. Rohi madam's image is on stake!)

After some seconds he picked up the call as he answered, "He-" "Hi hello ka time nahi hai bro, bata Akshit ne kya bola Rohi ke baare mein?" I rant to him when I realized he doesn't know anything about Rohi's feelings for Akshit.

("There's no time for hi hello bro, tell me what did Akshit said about Aarohi?")

"Uhmm.. tu mujhe yeh kyu puch rahi hai?" He asked, using a voice which I knew he used when he was suspecting something.

("Uhmm.. why are you asking me this?")

"Tujhe hi puchungi of course, kyunki bhai toh baat hi nahi karta kisi bhi ladki se." I say, dodging that voice gracefully. "And Rohi hi mari ja rahi thi since she took 'his' name." I added, as he uttered a hmm.

("Of course I'll ask you only, because that dude doesn't even talk with any girl."

"And Rohi was only getting impatient since she took 'his' name.")

"Usne bas pucha ki woh Aarohi thi kya?" He states, while I sighed in relief. "By the way, does sh-" "Na na na bilkul nahi! Arre ek dusre Akshit ki baat kar rahi thi woh!" I cut him off as I nervously giggled.

("He just asked, was that Aarohi?"

"No no nope! She was talking about some other Akshit!")

"Uhm.. Mein puchne wala tha ki does she have some spare time since I needed some help with a chapter but nevermind.. " He mumbled as my eyes widened.

("Uhm.. I was about to ask that does she have some...")

Bas abb karlo baat!
Aaru pakka maaregi mujhee

"Kuch toh jhol hai babu bhaiya.." He suspected as I denied it again.

"Achha unn dono ko chhod, tu drive pe chalegi to Paris Tales Café? It's been a while since we have gone on one" He offers as I go into deep thinking.

("Ok leave that, wanna go on a drive to Paris Tales Café?...")

Drive huh..

Drive..

Drive?

OMG YES A DRIVE!!

"YES KYUN NA- Han han kyun nahi Manvi! Par ek shart par.."

"Aur woh shart kya hogi Yakult madam?"

"Hum.. aur do logon ko le chale?"

In the car.

And that's how I got this baboon and Akshit jiju to get in the drive with us.

'Damn I'm so proud of myself! Good job Yukti, good job!' I thought as I patted my own shoulder proudly.

I immediately whipped out my phone from my pocket when Manav started driving as I texted Yukti who was patting her shoulder for god knows what reason.

Yakult ki dibiya
+91xxxxxxxxxx

Me

Oh memdi yeh sudden drive
ka kya chakkar hai??

Her phone went off as she looked at me and I motioned her to check it.

Yakult ki dibiya
Hehe bro you don't need to worry
about anything :P

Me
??????

Yakult ki dibiya
tu bas enjoyyyy karrr (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)

"Enjoy kar?! Kya matlab enjoy kar?!"

("Just enjoy?! What do you mean just enjoy?!")

A silence.

'Karwali bejjati pagal? Kis kundli mein janam hui thi main omG?!' I thought to myself.

"Ehehe um.. Don't mind this dumbo please, you're so random Rohi haha!" She laughed as I laughed along while she aggressively patted my back (more like hitting it but moving on-)

'Cute.' I thought as I saw the girls having a secret feud.

(Su : *aggressively coughs*
Akshit : Aapki shanti bohot hi madadgar rahegi ma'am 🙏🏻
Su : kya matlab abb fictional characters mujhe roast kar rahe??)

"Oye Yuku by the way, did you inform maa and aunty about us being on a drive?" Manav looked sideways towards Yukti as she answered, "Han han keh diya hai, aunty ko pehle se bata diya tha"

"Maa? But aunty ko toh pata hai naa ki you're comin-" "Manav Yuku ki mumma ko bhi maa bulata hai, diaper buddies thing you know?" I heard Ms. Govind said as I looked at Manav with a tu-abhi-se-unhe-maa-bula-raha look and he gave me a yes-I-do-so-what? look.

And after we drove ahead for a good fifteen minutes when suddenly Yukti said, "Manviii, I crave chips yaarr, can we get some from that store in the petrol pump?" "Bro there is literally a supermarket nearb-" "Ae tu chup kar, abhi pohochne k liye 20 minute lag jayenge so it's better to buy it from there na!" Yukti stated as everyone agreed.

"Actually, I am feeling thirsty as well so.." Akshit said and was about to get out of the car. "Haww tu Aarohi ko car mein akela chorna chahta hai?" Manav gave him a shocked look. "What if isse kisine kidnap karliya? Kya jawab dungi mein aunty ko?" Yukti added.

("Haww, you wanna leave Aarohi alone in the car?

"What if someone will just kidnap her? What will I answer to aunty?"

"Aur kitna drama karna hai tum dono ko? Jaldi jao aur jaldi aao aur mere liye bhi paani lete ana." Ms. Govind ordered and they went inside the store quickly.

("How much more drama will you guys do now? Go fast and get me a water bottle as well.")

Again a silence.

"Umm, so how's life lately?" She started the conversation. "Good, what about you?" I questioned back. "Hmm.. it's just fine." She replied and I just nodded.

"Well I don't want to sound rude but I never really saw you around before 10th, where were you studying before 10th?" She asked but this time it made me rethink about the past which I, well didn't love the most if you know what I meant.

"I did homeschooling after 6th grade and before that I used to study in the same school as present but even I rarely saw you around." I provided a fact which she wasn't expecting, that's what her expressions said.

"By the way, today at school I heard you taking my name...any reason for that?" I asked out of curiosity. "Well, I- umm-" before she could complete her sentence the 2 weirdo returned back. I heard a small sigh escaping her mouth.

Manav passed me and her water bottles and then started to drive again. The traffic was so good that we reached the café nearly after 40 minutes. We booked a table for the four of us and ordered snacks and coffee.

Meanwhile...

"Did you finally tell him?" Yukti asked but Ms. Govind just ducked her head and shook it in negative. I don't know why but I think there's something going on between these two.

"All good ladies?" I interrupted. "Han bas madam ko iss baat ka bura lagg raha hai ki uske story k liye ek achha plot nahi mil raha hai." Yukti informed me.

("Yes, it's just that she is troubled about finding a good plot for her story.")

"Oh you write stories as well?" "Well yes but I'm just an amateur you see." She replied but looked a bit hesitant. "Wait really?! You never told me, though." Manav joined the conversation bringing the food with him.

"Bataya tha, par aapko humari saheli se fursat miley tab na humari baat sunenge!" Ms. Govind teased him. "Han yarr! mujhse bhi sirf tu Yukti ki he baatein karta hai. Ms. Govind bhi teri dost hai yeh toh mein aaj jaan raha hu." I added controlling my laugh.

("I've told you but you were too busy with my dear friend to notice or listen to anything else!"

"That's true! You only talked about Yukti to me. I'm getting to know this today that Ms. Govind is also your friend.")

"Han? Tu meri baatein karta hai? Hayee meri Manvii." Yukti flirted and Manav was looking as red as a tomato. "Bas bas guys, warna mere dost ko sab tamatar samajhenge." I said, keeping my arm around a shy Manav's shoulder while the girls laughed.

("Really, you talk about me? Oh my Manvii."

"Enough guys, or else everyone will mistaken him for a tomato.")

We enjoyed our time and dropped Yukti and Ms. Govind at Yukti's home as Ms. Govind said she wanted to have some 'girl talk' with Yukti. Manav then dropped me home and drove off.

"Maa, kahan ho aap?" I looked for my mother. "Aagaya tu? Bata kya kya masti kari?" My mom asked, sipping on her tea while reading a magazine.

("Mother, where are you?"

"You're home? Tell me, what fun did you have?")

"Bas aapko miss kiya Mamta jii" I said, kissing on her forehead and sitting beside her. "Badmaash kahin ka! Maa hun teri yeh Mamta ji kya hota hai?" She pulled my ears and later she was all shy.

("Nothing, I just misses you Mamta jii"

"I'm your mother, remember? What is this Mamta jii?")

I may be calm and quiet in front of the world but with the people I trust and love, my inner child never fails to come out. And teasing and troubling my mother is the one fun thing that this kid loves to do.

Then, I had a nice study session and was also done with my dinner when I received a text from Manav.

Manav
+91xxxxxxxxxx

Manav
Bro, did you notice something
today?

Me

What?

Manav
The way Yukti was flirting with me
so much...

Me

Well yes, but she might be just
teasing you
#NoFalseHope

Manav
Tu na mujhe khush na hone de
mujhe :")

Me
Aree aree, soo jaa bhai!
Sapne mein bhabhi se puch lena, thik?

Manav
Yeh v thik hai! :)
Gn bro

Me
Gn Gn.

I turned off my phone and went to sleep but my mind was occupied with what all happened today, 1st day at school, 1st ever interaction with Ms. Govind and the evening at Café.

My thoughts were mainly focused towards one person, Ms. Govind. She gave such a happy vibe to my 'oh so boring' life and it's not so familiar for me to interact and connect with anyone so quickly. Even with Manav, it took me 2-3 weeks when I joined back in 10th grade to just befriend him again. And even with Yukti it's not like we are 'good friends' yet.

'What's so different about you
Ms. Govind?' I rubbed off the thought and dived into the dreamland.

♡

Sushi's note: Hey readers, thank you for the love that you guys are showing for this book. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Keep on voting and commenting. And don't forget to take care of yourself and drink loads of water.

With love
《Radhe Radhe》