A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

~Mark Twain

Jagruthi

"Where are they Manju?" I asked sitting on the burning hot bleachers, Why are all these made of metal?

"How would I know? I had to check all the notice boards for this stupid cricket practice schedule." She snickered back at me rubbing the sweat of her head.

We are waiting here from the last hour and I can feel the sun sucking the life out of me, wasn't it raining in the morning? I guess the seasons have mood swings too.

"They are coming. Hideee!!!" She yelled and pushed me off the chair making me land on my butt.

"Ouch! My butt and leg hurts. What if I died?" I whined at her stupid little actions.

"Dying from falling off a chair, Stop being dramatic Janu. Can they see us?"She asked peeking between the chairs.

We ducked down as they came by the bleachers. Devansh, Aarthav and Charan came by placed their bags down.

"I am changing here, I am too lazy to go back to the changing rooms." Aarthav announced and started taking his shirt off making me close my eyes.

"Manju, he is taking his shirt off here. What the heck? I didn't sign up for this." I yelped at Manju who's flustered red looking at Aarthav semi naked.

Someone's blushing for the first time in their life, looks like my plan is working.

I looked up again and there was Devansh shirt less looking into the bag for something, glistening as the sun hit his body. Is this like a golden hour, cause he is shining like a huge chunk of gold, smiling with his friends.

Oh my god! Why is my heart beating so fast? My throat is so dry, I need some water or I am gonna go there and touch him.

Move your eyes away from him, or else we are gonna have a heart attack.

I am trying but I can't, my eyes are like glued to his body. Is he really shining or am I just imagining?

Are they gonna change their pants too?

You are a pervert, I don't wanna live in you anymore.

That was just a question, it's not like I wanted to see him naked.

Suddenly I couldn't see him anymore, because Manju covered my eyes with her hand with her freezing cold fingers.

Let me calm myself down for a minute, deep breaths. I've seen so many guys without shirt on TV but looking at Devansh was an ultimate experience of all, I can't get that smiling shirtless Devansh out of my head.

"Are they done?" I whisper asked her.

"How would I know? My eyes are closed too." She yelled back in a whisper. I huffed and settled down, We can still hear their muffled voices, so we sat still calmed my mind and body till the sounds disappeared.

"I think they are gone now." I told her and she took her hand off my eyes.

I adjusted my eyes to the new found light and looked around, they left and are far away playing. I looked a Manju, who looks mortified. We crawled hiding towards their bags which are in the front row

"I am really regretting my plan, I didn't want to see that. Which one is his bag?" Manju asked me with a tint of red on her cheeks.

Is she thinking of Aarthav?

Just because you are a pervert, doesn't mean she is.

"I think one of these two, that black and yellow cosmic one is Devansh's." I told her and she gave a stinky eye.

"I am not stalking, he is my lab partner." I scoffed at her and opened one of the other bags, to look for a book with a name, she rolled her eyes and started going through the other bag there.

"I found it, Look at that ape's handwriting. Looks like he really forgot to evolve." She laughed at his stupid scrambles which looks like a toddlers art. He is stupid and that ape calls me dumb, in a few seconds he is gonna pay.

"Done!" She announced after a minute and put the phone back.

"How did you unlock the phone?"

"Do you think he is talented enough to have a complicated passcode? It is 1234, Dumb ass.."She snorted and we both got up to leave happy at our accomplishment.

"Tch...tch... What is the nerd herd doing here?" Aarthav asked Manju with smirk on his face grabbing the water bottle by us.

Think of lie, you are an expert at it. Your whole life is lie,

You are so mean.

"I am here to talk to Devansh about lab record." I lied while Manju held my hand tight, looks like he is believing me.

"I think he is busy Manju, I can get it later. Let's go." I said looking behind as everyone from the cricket team coming towards us.

Before we could run away, another guy from my class showed his phone and that arrogant little smirk Aarthav has dropped like an apple that hit Newton's head.

"You little piece of a nerd, you are so dead. Why did you do that?" He yelled at Manjula and they started chasing around while I stood there

After a few seconds all the other guys left and leaving me alone with the only person I yelled at in the lab. I didn't wanna be with him for anymore than I do, and I don't want to look at him.

"Jagruthi." Devansh called me out as I was looking at Manjula, so we can leave.

Ignore him and walk away, walk away.

Stop chanting and move your fat feet. MOVE!

"I am Sorry, Jagruthi. I didn't mean to be rude in the lab." He begged standing before me.

Don't think about his shirtless body.

I can't help it, all I can see is him being shirt less.

"I don't wanna talk to you Devansh, please leave." I said looking everywhere but his face or body.

"What happed to your leg?" He asked, making me look at my leg, my pants are ripped from the knee and it was bleeding, might've happened when Manju pushed me off the chair. I was so involved with his naked body that I neglected my own body.

"This is such a big cut, how can you not feel the pain?" He bent down sitting on his legs and inspected my wound.

Suddenly I could feel all the pain as he kept sympathizing me, and I winced looking at the blood.

"It's nothing, I have to leave." I said to him looking for Manjula who's having a heated conversation with Aarthav.

"Sit here! I will be back." Devansh got back on to his feet and walked away.

I couldn't move, I didn't want to look at my leg and it's just gonna remind me of the horrendous things that happened to me. So, I kept looking at Manju and Aarthav do divert myself. They looks like 10 year old married couples fighting with each other.

"You are so careless, look at all the blood. Let me clean it up." He came back running with a first aid kit and started working on my leg.

I just forgot all my anger for a second there as we was cleaning up all the blood with cotton balls and some liquid thing that stings. Devansh was kneeling before me and cleaning my wounds in the cricket ground where everyone could see his actions.

He was talking but I just couldn't hear anything all my concentration was on him, his beautiful eyes expressing pain, worry and concern.

Where is his male ego? How did I miss out on this nice human being?

"Janu! What happened?" Manju yelled coming to me pulling me out of Devansh's trance.

"Are you blind now? She is bleeding and my friend over there is helping her." Aarthav retorted making Manju stomp on his feet.

"Oww...Lady monster, I am gonna file a defamation and physical abuse case against you." He said hopping on his one good leg making me chuckle.

"You deserved it, and I hate you, you ugly little bug." Manju screamed back.

"You are a bug, and a thief."

"Ughhh... I can't breathe the same air as him for one more second. Disgusting pig, you reek like a trash can, move away from me." She pushed me away and stood beside me.

It's fun to see Manju all riled up, and only Aarthav can do that. She looks like she is about to tick off with anger anytime soon.

"Aarthav don't, Why do you keep fighting with them all the time? " Devansh stood back and broke their cute little banter apart before Aarthav could reply.

I looked down and the scratch was completely wrapped up with a a bandage neatly, he knows his medical stuff.

"Why do you always support her? This annoying queen here dared the nerd to announce the world that I am an ape and dumb. These two ruined my reputation." Aarthav complained about us and Devansh gaped at me.

Looking at Aarthav's face, I feel guilty of my actions, I really did ruin his reputation with my little stunt.

"I am sorry Aarthav, I did it for fun, we didn't mean to hurt you. I am really sorry. Let's go Manju." I apologize and stood up.

"Don't apologize Janu" Manju said glaring at Aarthav.

"Can you walk? Do you need help?" Devansh asked me with the same concern, his eyes make me forget the whole wide world.

Why is he so nice to me? When I literally told to buzz off!

"She can walk, and we are leaving. You are so done when I have my chance at this dares." Manju said grabbing my hand as she helped walk.

"Aww.. Someone had fun with Aarthav. I think you guys make a cute couple, he always brings out the worst of you." I said holding her and she chuckled.

She didn't give me any comeback, Awesome. Someone's got a little crush.

"What's going on between you and Devansh?" Manju asked as we were out of their sight.

"Nothing!" I shrugged at her.

"Like I believe you, He was like Can you walk, do you need help? I can carry you my princess." Manju imitated Devansh with a goofy smile on her face.

"He didn't mean it that way, he was being nice." I supported him and I immediately regretted looking at her suspicious face.

"He likes you!" She announced and making me stop walking.

"No, he doesn't! Why would he like me? He has a girlfriend." I told her not believing what she said.

I always keep reminding myself that he has a girl with him, or else I will lose my mind.

"So, you like him?" She questioned me and I went pale at that question. I didn't expect that.

"OMG! You do like him, my pumpkin princess Janu likes Devansh." She yelled and squeezed me.

I looked around to see, if anyone heard my stupid friend here. Thankfully it was just us.

"Don't tell anyone." I sushed her and we walked back to the hostel.

Nidhi and Kajal were shocked when I showed the message and how Manju completed her dare, as usual we left out the Devansh and my part, but Manju has been squealing like a dolphin every time Devansh's name came up making me regret saying that to her.

I lied on my bed that night and promised myself that I will ignore these feelings, he is literally another girls man. I shouldn't be doing this, this is not fair and this might be a trap. I have to stop thinking about that god complex of man.

So, I ignored him, the next days when he tried to talk to me, ran into the opposite direction when I see him coming. I was doing really great because no other lab has partners and Digital lab is twice a month, I can and will do this.

Now we are sitting in this Chemistry class where Rao sir is explaining corrosion. I just don't know why I am doing Engineering, what is the purpose of me learning about these things when I don't know if I am gonna ever use them or not.

What is the purpose of my life? What did I ever do that helped the planet I live in get better?

I should become a cupid, now that I am really good at setting up people with the guys. I should do a dating website, a web developer may be.

My phone vibrated in my pockets pulling me out of the existential crisis I was getting sucked into.

Kajal: I am diving in, pray for me guys.

Which mean Kajal is asking out Randhir bhaiyya any minute now, I'm scared and excited for her. What if Randhir Bhaiyya says no, What if I get her humiliated like I did for Aarthav? I should be there for my friend incase anything bad happens to her.

I looked at Nidhi, I gave her a nudge and wrote on my book.

I'm going sneak and be on lookout for Kajal in case something happens, Ask sir and come out after few minutes!

She nodded and I slid out of the class through the back door, perks of sitting close to the door.

I ran towards the CSE wing and found Kajal and Randhir Bhaiyya walking in the balcony talking. I peeked through the wall without getting caught, I can't hear anything they are saying. What do I do?

I felt someone tap on my shoulder, Thank god Nidhi is already here I thought to myself.

"Let's go into that room, May be we can hear something." I said and walked into the nearest room without gaining their attention.

I went to the window closer to Kajal and Randhir bhaiyya to listen their conversation.

Why can't they talk louder? If I go any closer, I will definitely get caught. Why the heck is Nidhi making so much noise.

"Shhh.. Keep Quiet Nidhi. I can't hear anything." I said sushing her.

Better, I can her them now.

"So, will you be my date to the Charity ball?" Kajal asked Randhir fidgeting her fingers.

Aww! My kindred spirit. She did it. I'm so proud of her.

"Yes a thousand times YES! I was planning to ask you but you beat me to it." Randhir bhaiyya said and held her hand bent is head and kissed her on the cheek.

Kajal blushed at his words, OMG! She is all red. I told her she could get a Hritik Roshan on her first day. Randhir bhaiyya might not be as good looking as HR but they atleast are on the same scale.

Yay me! This was a successful mission. My friend has a date to the ball now and Randhir bhaiyya likes her too. I did it, My friend got a boyfriend she likes. I wanted to scream in happiness, yell out loud but that would ruin their moment, I held Nidhi's hand not able to hold the excitement bubbling inside.

Why is her hand so rough, and big. What happened to her soft little fingers? This is not my Nidhi's hand. I looked at the hand which looks like a man hand and moved my eyes up slowly and found Devansh looking at me with a smirk.

Oh My Fudging Fadoodles.

Devansh! Really Devansh.

Where the heavens is Nidhi then? What is he doing here? Why couldn't I check if the person was Nidhi or not?

Stupid Dumbo! Look what you did. You got your arch nemesis's boyfriend alone with you in an empty classroom.

I tried my best avoiding him all week, All the hard work is now down the drain. Devansh tried to talk to me but I found ways to run away from him. But, now I'm stuck in a empty room all alone with him.

I shouldn't be talking to him, he is like a cigar to my lungs and cholesterol to my heart.

DANGEROUS.

Happy Realization day!

He is the trap Sahastra's waiting for me to fall in. I can't get into that trap. This should be some kind of trap right, When the hottest and handsome guy in the whole grade wants to be friends with you? When he especially knows that his girlfriend ruined my life. Please help me god, I don't want to be in this situation right now.

What should I do?

I need an invisible cloak to hide myself or I could use the vanish spell from Harry Potter.

Evanesco! Evanesco! Evanesco!

Hope you enjoyed all the couples.

And I suck at keeping up with my promises. So sorry that there is not much of Jagruthi and Devansh together. This time I swear on my life that there will be more. If I don't keep up with my promise just kill me 😜.

And the next chapter is gonna be juicy, so wait for it.

Also, is it just me or is Tom Hiddleston a.k.a Loki's voice in this video so soothing. I just can't stop myself from replaying it again and again.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Or maybe I should get a life.

Anyway, Don't forget to vote and comment.

Love,
Sneha