Soon after we came Rishikesh, we came under the heat of our teachers who were making up for the time lost in picnics and celebrations.

I couldn't see how they were going to make up when the biggest event for the eleventh and twelfth graders - the farewell night, still remained.

The advantage of studying in a boarding school is the fact that most celebrations are held at night and last till midnight since there is no fear of 'having to reach home in time'.

The farewell night is the most celebratory event for the eleventh and twelfth graders.

The eleventh graders and teachers organise a grand party on a weekend night every January for the twelfth graders. It is the last official celebration of their school life and its filled with performances by their juniors, DJ night and lots of food.

This time the farewell was scheduled for the night before Mahar Sankranti so that everyone could get a holiday the next day.

Under different circumstances I wouldn't have anticipated the farewell, since I usually hate crowds and parties but I was now looking forward to hanging out with Yuvan so I shared the eagerness of my classmates.

In the meantime we had our terminal exams approaching in December. But nobody in my batch were keen on learning at all. They just wanted to pass somehow, so that they could focus on the Christmas holidays and then the farewell after that.

We managed to complete our terminal exams without any major disaster. Everyone was happy and eagerly anticipated the Christmas holidays.

But throughout the last two months, there was one major thing bothering me, namely Ishaan.

The last time, I spoke to him it was, before Rishikesh. Kimayra knew what was going on but didn't ask me anything.

But then Yuvan had come and I was so occupied with him and my own other stuff that I could barely focus on Ishaan.

On the day before we left for the holidays, I finished my packing and took a walk down the backside garden of the hostel, when I finally ran into Ishaan alone. It felt like I was seeing him after forever.

"Hey!" I said enthusiastically. I felt like I was seeing him as I always had before two months. As I always had for five long years. As I had seen him, before Kimayra came, before Yuvan came. When it was just the two of us.

"Hey", he muttered without meeting my eyes. My bubble was instantly broken.

What the heck was wrong with him? This was not my Ishaan.

"What happened?", I asked finally.

"It's just this.." he began but then stopped quickly, "Never mind".

"Is there anything you want to tell me?", I persisted.

"No. Nothing", he said shortly.

I just stared at him in disbelief. Ishaan had never behaved like this in the five years that I'd known him. I was starting to get alarmed. There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"Well, I'll get going then", he said and literally ran towards the building.

I entered Room 208, after ten minutes to see Kimayra was sitting right in the middle of a pile of clothes, towels and lotion bottles with her suitcase in front of her doing her packing. Naira was not in the room, fortunately.

"Why the long face?" she asked looking at me.

"It's Ishaan. He hasn't spoken to me properly since the Rishikesh trip. I don't know what's wrong with him".

"Really?" she asked faking surprise, "I was talking to him in the morning and he seemed fine. He even told me he's going to Amritsar with his parents to enjoy these two weeks".

"Amritsar? These two weeks? He told you that?" I asked totally flabbergasted.

This was too much for me to take in.

So Ishaan was having a problem only with me. He was not going through anything at all. He was even going on a bonding picnic with his parents! To Amritsar! And he hadn't told me! But he had told Kimayra!

And why did the last two things bother me the most?!

I couldn't help feeling a sting of jealousy and a slight coldness towards Kimayra.

"Are you alright?" Kimayra asked looking at my face.

"Uh-what?" I stammered, "Yeah I'm fine", I said finally.

"I think you should talk to Ishaan. Maybe he's just jealous about the whole Yuvan thing".

Ouch! That almost hurt me physically.

I said nothing to Kimayra. I just pulled out my own suitcase and started to pack strongly avoiding her gaze.

Ishaan? Jealous? This was absurd! Why would he be jealous?

The next day, we all said goodbye to each other as we left. Everyone was eagerly talking about farewell and discussing the where they would buy their farewell sarees. Before leaving, I caught up with Yuvan to say goodbye.

He took my hands and shook them vigorously, "So have fun! Text me on Insta. We'll meet after two weeks. Alright?" he asked.

I nodded, "I can't wait for the farewell".

He smiled and then we turned to see a Volkswagen come up the drive way. Yuvan turned to me, "We're here. Bye then", he said and reached out for a brief hug before getting into the car. He continued to wave at me till I could see him no more.

I then shifted my focus to find Kimayra and Ishaan. To my dismay, I saw only Kimayra standing near the entrance. Which meant, Ishaan had left. Without saying goodbye. I sighed and made my way to Kimayra.

We had stood together for hardly a minute before another car came up the driveway and I knew it was hers.

"Dad!" Kimayra cried and waved.

"I'll see you then", she grasped my hand for a moment and then let it go, and she ran over to the car and lept in. She didn't turn around to look at me after that.

I was sure the hand grasp would have been a hug if we hadn't spoken about Ishaan the previous night.

First Ishaan. Now Kimayra. Great.

After a few minutes, I saw my own parent's car come up. Without wasting time, I ran and jumped in.

Now for two drama free weeks.

Or atleast that's what I thought.