On the first day back at school, we received our terminal exam answer sheets.

I had managed to scrape through all the subjects, which I felt proud of since half the class had failed in at least one paper.

Ms Koppikar spent the entire first period lecturing us about what was going to happen to our future if we continued like this.

But I was barely paying attention since I was busy sulking about my pathetic social life.

I caught up with Ishaan during the computer lab period.

"Hey, how was Amritsar?"

"Um? It was good", he said.

"Good, that's it?".

"Yeah", he muttered.

The bell rang just then.

I wasn't going to give up. "I saw the Golden Temple picture on your insta. It was fab!"

"Yeah it was".

Duh! I was at a dead end for a second. Ishaan took the chance and ran out of the lab.

Just like that!

I sighed as I picked up my manual and slowly walked out of the lab.

As I made my way back to class, I bumped into Yuvan.

"Hey. How are you?" he asked enthusiastically.

I instantly cheered up, "I'm good".

"Had a nice vacay?"

"It was okay", was all I said. I didn't tell him about the saree fiasco. I didn't tell him about my parent's grilling me about Yuvan. Neither did I tell him that they had asked me to break ties with him.

"What about you? Good one?" I asked.

"Nah. I was stuck at home. I barely went out", he said shaking his head, "It was a bit sickening".

"I know right", I laughed.

"Was that Ishaan Rastogi I saw on my way?", he asked.

I perked up at once, "Must have been. Why do you ask?"

"Just. He's your friend na?"

"Best friend", I said a little too fondly about someone who was barely talking to me.

"I see", said Yuvan, his tone, slightly frosty.

"What happened?"

"No nothing" he smiled, Shall we go for lunch?".

"Yeah. Sure. Come", I said, glad at the change of topic "We might have chicken today".

"I hope it's tandoori", said Yuvan and we both laughed. I couldn't help feeling how people thought of Yuvan as the typical 'it' guy and saw him as intimidating or snobbish. He was so easy and just like anybody else.

All though lunch, I couldn't talk about anything other than the farewell night which was in two days. Yuvan didn't talk much though. He just nodded to whatever I said and kept eating. I thought maybe he was focusing on the food right then and didn't pester him.

After lunch, I was back in class. To my relief, our teacher was not there yet. We had a test in commerce and I hurriedly ruffled the pages trying to study at least one paragraph but it was almost impossible with all the noisy chattering going on aruound me.

The noise came to an abrupt end when we saw group B's class teacher standing at the doorway, hands on her hip and a frown on her face.

"What's going on here?" she thundered, "Don't you people have anything to learn? We are not able to work in the staff room with all the noise coming from this class! Which period is this?"

"Commerce mam", we cried together.

"Your teacher will be here in a few minutes. Sit quietly and learn, all of you", she said and cast a sharp look around the classroom before walking away.

The chatter resumed again. It didn't stop until our commerce teacher finally arrived.

All of us instantly stopped talking and quickly started flipping the book idiotically, trying to do some last minute mugging.

"That's it people. Please close your books. No more learning", she said crisply.

But right then, Ms Agnes spoke through the intercom, "All the eleventh and twelfth graders, please assemble in the auditorium for a career guidance seminar right now".

Nobody was particularly fond of those stupid seminars, but right then everyone started screaming and woo-hooing.

Fortunately, our commerce teacher is a good sport and didn't take it seriously. She just said, "Okay people. You're having a good day. But you'll write the test tomorrow. That's final".

"Yes mam" we chorused.

Everyone quickly put away their books and hurried downstairs to the auditorium.

We took our seats and in a few minutes, a middle aged lady who was obviously the speaker and a young man who was probably her assistant walked in.

We all stood up and clapped. The session began. It was the usual boring session of how one should choose our career paths carefully to ensure our so called bright future.

Honestly, the first time I attended this kind of seminar, I felt all motivated and boosted and whatever other feelings you're supposed to get. But right now, I was struggling to not doze off in my chair.

Just when I was thinking I was going to fall asleep, the woman said "Alright, so now we'll move to the Q\A session".

God! I hate that! It's so creepy when the speaker starts pointing out random students in the audience and ask us to answer some stupid question.

I was usually lucky in such seminars and the speakers never pointed me but this time I was having a very bad feeling that my luck was going to run out. And sure enough...

"You", the speaker said pointing her finger right at me.

I tried to cover myself behind the guy sitting in front of me, but it wasn't working.

Her assistant ran upto me and thrust the mike in front of my face. I stood up hesitantly.

"Your name, my girl?" she asked.

"Hina"

"So Hina what are you planning to do after school dear?"

"MBA", I muttered.

"A little loudly dear. Did you not have breakfast?" she jibbed. I felt like throwing the mike on her face.

"MBA" I said loudly.

"That's nice. In which college?"

God!

"IIM", I said making no attempt to appear enthusiastic.

"And could you tell me the full form of IIM?"

"Indian Institute of Management", I said quickly, hoping she would end it there. But the lady was in no hurry.

"Oh very good. Very good", she said as if she was speaking to a five year old who had just successfully recited the alphabet to her.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"Ahmedabad".

"Wow that's wonderful. Now you may sit dear".

Thank God!

"If the impossible event, of me becoming a student body president happens, I'll ask to cancel these stupid seminars", I told Kimayra on our way back from the auditorium.

"Oh please do", she said in agreement.

"I'm going to the washroom. Are you coming?" I asked.

"No. Give me your notebook. I'll take it to class".

So I handed my notebook to Kimayra and made my way to the washroom upstairs.

But as I turned up the stairs, I was in for a shock.

I saw Yuvan. With Rakul. And they were hugging.