False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

~Plato

Jagruthi

"Janu! I am so freaking proud of you but I am surprised that you did it. Did the Dean yell at you?" Nidhi asked me coming out of the class as soon as the bell rung.

The Dean left after inviting Karthik and me, so I just sat out with Karthik explaining him the biggest blunder of my life.

How could I let myself do that? Should I keep quiet when some useless person is barking at my dad? My parents are my life, say one thing bad about them, you will meet the furious me.

"No, he didn't. I don't know what came over me to talk out infront of everyone like that." I lied to her holding Karthik's hand tightly.

I can see everyone coming out of the class looking at us and whispering. All my classmates are smiling at me, why now?

"I didn't know you know so much about the government. You freaking killed Sharath, he deserves it." Nidhi squealed in excitement.

"How did you know that Jagadeesh Dhanraj studied here? It's not there on Wikipedia, after you left Karan and his friends checked." Sammy asked squinting his eyes.

I know it because he is my Papa, the one you spoke on the phone, Idiot.

"I saw their names on the Alumni board." I told him looking at Karthik. I can't lie to them looking in their eyes anymore. This is getting hard by each second.

"I saw that too. Anyway, Dad's friend invited us for dinner this Saturday. So be ready by 8 and I'll pick you up. And I'm not going home this Ugadhi, me and friends are going to Bangkok for one last vacation." Karthik informed me about his vacation plan and covering up for the dinner with the Dean.

Sammy, Nidhi and Karthik started talking to each other when I went into the class to pick my backpack.

There he was sitting in the class alone in his desk, the man I want in my life but I can't, Devansh.

"Are you okay?" Devansh asked me with worry written all over his face.

"I'm fine. The Dean didn't say anything bad." I told him.

"I'm proud of you. It's so good to see you open up with everyone." He said looking at me with my favorite eyes.

Devansh is proud of me, There is a glint of admiration in his eyes and that just made me happy to the core.

"Thank you! I didn't mean to talk but I was furious when he started saying stupid stuff about my Pa...Chief Minister." I quickly rectified my Mia before I spilled out the truth.

Just tell him and brand your father as a liar. Everyone will know about you and he will lose his job.

That was a slip of tongue. I promise to not do it again.

"Did you say my Chief Minister?" Devansh said smiling at me and lowered my head in embarrassment.

Why do I do this every single time?

"Are you waiting for someone?" I asked him because the classroom is empty.

"Yeah, I was waiting for you. I thought you would want someone to talk to after the Dean but I didn't think throughly I guess." He said looking at the door.

I turned to the door and found my people talking to each other. Devansh is waiting for me. How is this guy so sweet? And why?

Because he like you dingus.

I know but this is too much, his actions are making it harder to stay away from him.

"Thank you so much. I feel better now and I'm glad that you waited for me." I said and pulled the last zip of my bag, smiling on the inside that he cares so much about me.

"I'll wait for you forever." He whispered but I heard it.

I just want to go there and hug him, once please. I can't do this anymore.

Just shut up and leave, this won't end good.

"Devansh, I have to leave. Bye, Take Care." I told him quickly and walked out.

I knew if I stayed in the room with him for one more second, I would break all the promises.
I just can't help myself around him. He is my kryptonite, that can't stay away from.

I saw Devansh leave as soon as I came out with a pained look on his face. He is hurting because of me.

"We are going out today for dinner Karthik bhaiyya. And don't worry we will get your little sister back safe." Nidhi told Karthik and he nodded.

After I told Nidhi about Manju we planned to cheer her up with a dinner. We talked for a while and started to leave back to hostel to get ready for dinner.

"What were you and Devansh talking?"Nidhi asked me and I went pale in shock.

I am feeling mortified, should I tell her the truth? How will she take it?

"Oh that, it's nothing. We have lab tomorrow right, he wanted me to send my Lab record pictures after I'm done with it."I lied looking at my shoes.

Sometimes lying is the easy way out, I freaking hate my life. I lie about my parents, I lie about my childhood. My whole life story which everyone knows is a lie, now I have to lie about Devansh too.

"That's weird, Why would a topper ask you for notes?" She asked me scrunching her eyes not believing a thing I told her.

"Oh my darling, He wanted the experiment values not my notes. And I'm hurt that you think that my notes are stupid just like me."I faked my hurt changing the topic away from Devansh.

"You know I didn't mean it that way." Nidhi mumbled as we reached the room.

"Manju, Kajal! Nidhi said that I'm dumb because Devansh asked me to send a picture of my Digital lab record." I said to them as soon as walked into the room, with a fake sad tone.

Nidhi opened her mouth in shock, Manju rolled her eyes at me at my behavior.

Wait and watch Nidhi, I can act way better.

"Sorry Janu, you know i didn't mean it that way." Nidhi said and looked to me for a reply.

"Did you really fall in that sad trap again? You do know that she is a Dram Queen."Manju asked making me shocked.

"Really Manju, you take her side now." I asked her throwing my hands in the air.

"She is a freaking Drama Company." Nidhi said throwing her backpack on the bed.

"Hey, stop troubling my Cupid! She is the best." Kajal said looking into her phone giggling at her messages.

"I regret playing Cupid now, she is so involved in her texting and doesn't even care about us anymore." I said to the others banging my head.

"Yeah, this girl is living in her own la la land these days." Manju said agreeing with me.

We teased Kajal a bit more, went out for dinner came back and completed my assignments for tomorrow, but I still don't think Manju is back to normal.

As usual I went to college and the wonderful things was every girl in my class appreciated me for the debate yesterday. I was a nobody in this class and today everyone wants to talk to me.

Weird! how things and priorities change because of one incident.

Now it's time for the worst class ever Signals and Systems. I looked at Jeeva Mam trying hard to explain Z transform transfer function.

If she says Z one more time I'll chop my head off. This subject sounds like Arabjc and Mandarin to me, I try hard to listen to the class but the subject flies by my head. I hate Fourier, Nyquist and all the other dudes for their stupid contributions to this subject.

Thank goodness the bell rang before she could say anything. After this snack break we have Digital Systems lab, so me and Nidhi are packing our bags when a familiar voice called my name.

I turned my head to the voice and found Karan and his friends staring nope glaring at me.

"Just because you won the argument yesterday doesn't mean you are famous now. I spared you because the Dean was at the door." Sharath said with his stupid arrogant face.

Huh! What a funny joke? He spared me unbeaten. I ignored him as usual because I don't want this mess again.

"Can't you talk now? Serves you right loser." Karan joined the crew of Making My Life into a misery club.

"Devansh! What do call someone who makes fun of a girl who they lost to?" Aarthav asked loudly gaining everyone's attention.

"A dud, incompetent, weak, pathetic, useless! I don't know man, there are too many words for it." Devansh said looking at me with my favorite eyes of his.

A smile formed on my lips as soon as I heard it. Did Aarthav support me?

Wow! That's a miracle.

"Mind your own business Devansh!" Karan yelled at them.

"You should try that too, instead of bothering her." Devansh backed me up.

Nidhi pulled me with her from the class before I could see the whole fight.

"Why did you drag me away? I wanted to see what happens." I asked her adjusting my bag straps.

"Don't you remember what Karthik bhaiyya told you? No staying in the room when people start to fight. And it's better to walk away from those worthless idiots." Nidhi mumbled repeating Karthik's words.

I shrugged at her in disappointment and walked to the lab. We place our books at the teachers desk and settled down in our designated areas.

Everyone joined the lab, Ram sir explained the 4 bit parallel adder and how to make the connections and gave us the time to work on the circuits. Just like last semester, Devansh and me are lab partners.

Can you believe it it's been almost 4 semesters since I joined this college?

"Find the 7483 IC." Devansh told me interrupting my thoughts.

I looked that stupid number up in the kit and placed it in his hands with force so all the pins poked him.

He hissed in pain, he didn't comment anything for hurting him. After asking him to not talk to me, yesterday was the first time we spoke to each other. That's what I wanted too but now I feel like that was a bad idea.

"Stop looking at my face and connect the ground and Vcc." He ordered me.

"Why are you so bossy? Are you a single child or what?"  I asked him connecting the pins.

"If that's your way of knowing about me it's not going to work. And I gave you my word that we won't talk unless required." He answered completely ignoring me.

I'm so fed up with my stupid word. Devansh is a nice person, just because I have feelings for him, I can't push him away. He is a nice person and I would like to have a chance to be friends with him at least.

"I didn't ask you to be mean to me. Ignore the promise and let's be friends." I told him forwarding my hand.

You can't ever be friends with a guy you have feelings for. This is the step 1 you are taking towards the inevitable doom.

Just shut up! I listened to you for the last 6 months and it just gave me so much pain. You are disqualified to give me any kind of advice when it comes to Devansh and me.

"Just so you know, I didn't break the promise you did." He said and held my hand.

The moment his hand touched mine, there were happy bubbles in my stomach making me curl. How can his one touch affect me so much? Why does he have so much power on me?

Because you are giving him the power.

AHHHHH...I am not listening to you anymore. I told you that already, keep your advices to yourself.

"Don't make me regret it." I said pulling my hand back from his hold before I gave in to the feelings overpowering my body and mind.

"I am a single child and I'm not bossy. You're head doesn't seem to be here so I had to say it louder. What about you do you have any siblings?" He answered my first question and asked me his working on the adder.

"No! I don't have any. But my Mama blackmailed me that she would make one if don't listen to her." I told him thinking about the day in Mexico.

"Your mother sounds fun." He said pushing his shiny black hair away from his face.

How I wish I could touch his hair and run my hands through it just like the other day?

Aarthav came to Devansh and they started talking to each other about random stuff, I remembered sad looking Manju and started cooking up my awesome plan to cheer Manju.

"Aarthav, Could you do me a favor?" I asked him as politely as I could in a sweet voice.

That ape looked around in shock not believing the words that came out of my mouth.

"Did she call me?" Aarthav asked Devansh in shock and he nodded.

"Why are you being nice out of the blue? Do you want me to kill someone, I am not doing your dirty work." He asked me with an unbelievable expression while Devansh just laughed at us.

"You don't have to kill anyone, I just need you to cheer up my friend. I tried my best but I failed and asking you is my last resort." I asked and gave him one of my million dollar smile.

This ones to cheer you up Manju, he better be worth it.

Don't worry, he will take care of it.

"What happened to Manjula?" He asked with a frown.

Ooh! He knew it was Manju without me telling him, and so I narrated him the whole Vikas story and Aarthav was furious when I was done and now I am sure that he definitely has hots for my cute little Manju.

"Here is her number, just annoy her do whatever you can to get her out of it. And most of all don't tell her that I did this." I told him, wrote Manju's number on a paper and gave it to him.

"Consider it done My Queen! You will get your happy friend by tomorrow." He said and bowed at me while I rolled my eyes at his stupid action.

One wrong move from him, Manju is gonna dig our grave.

I know she can be super scary, even Karthik is scared of her.

"Don't worry about Manjula, Aarthav will take care of her. I think he fancies her." Devansh said to me as Aarthav left.

"You think so, me too! That's why I asked him for help. I hope he does cheer her up." I said and prayed to god that Aarthav won't act like an Ape and mess it up.

I felt Devansh stare at me with an amused look on his face. He looks so good...

Friends don't creep out friends with creepy looks.

"Let's play 27 questions. So we can know each other better." I told him pushing away all the stupid thoughts out of my head.

"Isn't the game 20 questions?" He asked raising eyebrows.

"Yeah! But I like 27 better, I'll start. Describe yourself in one word?" I asked shrugging his question off.

"Conscientious. Ummm...What is your biggest fear?"  He answered and asked me his question.

"My biggest fear is losing the people I love." I told him truthfully.

After the abduction of me and Mama, I have this fear inside me that something will happen to them, with the constant threats on TV, people bashing my parents that he is not worth it. I have this panic mode for them always playing around in the back of my mind.

"What's your proudest accomplishment?" I asked him pushing the fear for my parents to the back changing the topic to good things.

"Joining this college on a full scholarship being a non English medium student." Devansh said and I saw his chest swell in pride, a small smile forming on his lips.

I never knew that he speaks English really well. He way better than so many people in this college. I'm so proud of him for his accomplishments.

"Who was your first crush?" He asked looking at me.

Devansh is my first crush if you don't consider celebrity's. Because I never went anywhere my whole life. He was the first boy, my eyes jumped looking at, my heart stopped beating for.

"I have a lot of celebrity crushes like Ansel Elgort, Paul Walker, Theo James, Christiano Ronaldo, Sidharath Malhotra and the list goes on." I told him turning the power switch on.

"I thought you have a crush on our CM, and that's why you knew so much about him. He has so many fan clubs and people drooling over him." He told looking at the circuit and checking for the results.

He thought I had a crush on my father. OMG!that's so weird and eww.

Hey! but he doesn't know that he is my father so it's okay I guess.

"My father and mother work for the government, so I know a lot about it." I replied.

What a lie, What a lie, what a lie.

Technically they do work for the government, so I didn't lie.

You and your twisted truths, Just don't get too close to the reality.

"What's the most unusual thing you ate?" I asked him.

"I have asthma, so my mother took me out for this natural treatment which was supposed to cure it. They drop a 2 inch murrel fish into your throat. I was 8 and I couldn't swallow it I felt the fish move in my throat."

"If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would that be?" He asked noting down the values.

"Chicken Biryani with gooey warm chocolate dessert any day." I told him imagining a sizzling brownie with vanilla ice cream on top, my mouth started watering at the thought of eating them.

"You look cute, I'll get you one in the future maybe. What's your nickname and why?" Devansh told me and I blushed at his compliment.

"My mother says that I am her love so she calls me Janu., everyone calls me that. And my father calls me precious. What's your nickname?" I asked him closing the book.

"My parents call me Ansh. My grandparents used to call me Dev. I liked it when you called me Dev the other day you reminded me of them." He said piercing me with his innocent eyes and pained look on his face.

I wish I could take his pain away. He looks so sad. The society hates when men show emotion  but they are human too, how much can they build up inside. I like that he is showing his emotions.

"Okay I will call you Dev from now, you can call me Janu." I told him calming down my heart which is in agony looking at him in pain. I wanted to hold him and comfort him and take his pain away.

The bell rang and everyone in the class started moving.

"We will continue the game in the next lab, and I forgot to thank Aarthav for supporting me with Karan and his friends. Can you tell him that for me?" I told him pulling the circuit off the bread board.

"Sure, don't you wanna thank me?" He asked feigning hurt.

"I thought we are friends Dev. If you want me to thank you then I will." I told him and there is smile on his face as soon I called him Dev.

I could just die looking at him smile at my words, what is happening to me god?Before he could answer me Sammy and Nidhi came to me and I walked way with them after waving bye to Devansh.

Today gave me a hope that we could be friends, and we can control over feelings for each other. And this was the best digital lab I ever had, I am glad we decided to take this step.

I think I delivered my promise here. What do you think about the friends decision?

If you were a super hero what would your name be? If you didn't think, do it now.

Wanna know mine?

KILLER QUEEN 😬 And this is my song

She is a killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime 🎶🎶

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Love,

Sneha