*Rashmi Pov*

"What?" I mumbled picking up the call not able to ignore it anymore.

"What are you doing?" hearing that question and the voice, I really wish I hadn't touched my phone at all.

Maybe I should have switched it off, but then that person would have barged here. I am already mad with my dad for slamming the doors in the morning and now this person is disturbing my hard earned sleep.

"I am sleeping." I know I have to cut the call right now otherwise I will not get a chance.

"You are still sleeping? It's afternoon, Rashmi." I think I am just a second late and I should have just avoided that.

"Why are you even calling me? You are supposed to go on the trip, right?" I asked, sitting up and glanced at the clock to see the time.

"And where is that girlfriend of yours? Why is she letting you to disturb my sleep?" I continued not giving him a chance to brag again about his trip.

I am already tired of hearing about it for the past one month. I am thinking maybe he even wrote about the trip in his exam papers.

"She is right beside me and she is involved in this call too. And about that trip..." he trailed off and I grinned.

"Your trip got cancelled?" I asked not at all hiding my happiness.

"I knew you were jealous. You acted like the trip didn't matter and now your true colors appear." His girlfriend commented.

"My dear Chitra, I was not particularly jealous about the trip, but about the fact that you guys kept on teasing me about not having a boyfriend. I mean, how could that idiot boyfriend of yours planned a trip during the holidays but for couples? Does singles don't have a right to live in this world?" I expressed my feelings still grinning about the fact that the trip got cancelled.

Now, my college life will not start with them bragging about the things they were able to enjoy and tease me on the sideways.

"Will you both stop?" Kalyan interrupted her reply and I can sense his irritation.

"You are the one who called me and disturbed my sleep. And now you don't want me to talk?" I asked him shaking my head.

"This is an emergency situation, Rashmi. We need your help." He replied in a tired tone.

"In what? To run away from home and get married?" I asked sarcastically.

"You would be the first one to call our parents if we ever plan that." Chitra as usual left a comment as a response.

"We need you to come with us to Kanpur." He ignored both of us and just uttered those words.

"Why?" I asked him frowning.

"It's been like two days since I returned from Kanpur and you want me to go back?" I added not understanding his request.

"I wouldn't have asked it was not serious. He didn't get the admission in that university." His words paused me and I just sat there stunned for a few seconds.

"Are you serious?" I asked him not believing his words.

"Very! So, we are leaving today evening to reach Kanpur and it would be better if you come with us." He replied and I just can't believe it.

"Rohan called me today morning and he wants all of us to come there. The situation seems to be serious, Rashmi." He added and I just sighed.

"Can't you guys skip holidays to cause trouble?" I asked, looking at my luggage which is still unpacked.

I just need a few items, right? I wouldn't be staying for long and they need to leave for trip within three days.

"Pack for a long stay, Rashmi. I will not give you my clothes." Chitra voiced out throwing away my plans regarding the luggage.

"We will pick you up at six. Don't make us wait and definitely pack for a long stay." Kalyan added before I can counterattack Chitra but he made me realize the main point I missed.

"Long stay? For what? You guys are really not going to the trip because of him?" I asked, frowning and that stupid just hung up not answering my question.

Of course, they relayed the message and now I will just move like they wish. Why am I actually listening to them right now? I asked myself opening my suitcase and started arranging my clothes to keep what I just need.

"Are you serious, Dad?" I asked him feeling disappointed watching his reaction regarding my decision to leave for Kanpur.

"Of course! Why are you so shocked?" he asked, frowning and took my luggage into his hands.

"I mean... I mean I am your only daughter. I just returned after a long stay in Kanpur without showing my face. And you are actually happy with me for going back just after two days. I am just sad." I replied sulking.

"Will I be happy if you just stayed at home alone during your holidays? You should spend the holidays with your friends. That's why I was asking about the trip Kalyan is going to." He said opening the door.

"Like I already said, that is a couples trip. How can I go?" I asked, glaring at his back.

"Get a boyfriend and go." He replied shrugging.

"Dad! Am I really your daughter? They all are going to this trip lying to their parents saying it is just a group trip. While here when I am stressing about the word 'couple', you want me to go? I am very disappointed, Dad." Pushing him aside, I walked off towards the gate ignoring his laugh and opened it.

"It is because of you only. Who asked you to tell me everything about your crushes and..." I stopped him waving my hand when I saw Kalyan and Chitra standing before us.

"And?" Kalyan asked, looking at Dad.

"And nothing! Take my bag and let's go." I ordered, pushing my bag towards him and glared at my Dad.

"You are worse than my friends." I mumbled, but he just smiled at me.

"I will take some leave by the time you return." He rumpled my hair and I smiled back at him but immediately frowned remembering his earlier words.

"You better!" warning him I rushed towards Kalyan's car and sat in the back.

"What is the fight about this time?" Kalyan asked starting the car.

"He wants me to get a boyfriend and go to trip with you guys." I replied, closing my eyes and as expected they both burst out laughing.

"Are your parents fine with you leaving early?" I asked opening my eyes.

"They are out of town for their own vacation, Rashmi. Do you really think they would have allowed Chitra to stay over at my home?" he asked snorting.

"Why not? I stayed at your home so many times." I replied shrugging.

"I am his girlfriend." Chitra pointed out smirking.

"More like the person whom his parents don't like?" I asked smirking back.

"Do I have to drive listening to all this?" Kalyan groaned.

"Anyway, you will stay at my house. It will be midnight and I don't think Mehrin's parents will appreciate you barging into their house at that time. You can leave tomorrow to her house if you want." Chitra explained.

"They wouldn't mind, but when you really want me to stay with you, I don't want to take away this request of yours." I said grinning and she just scowled but slowly smiled.

"Finally!" Kalyan whispered which I totally ignored closing my eyes.

Who would have thought that I will actually be close to these two all those years back or shall I say six years back? Kalyan's family is like the talk of the town in Noida but I never met him before college and somehow I became close to his family along with him. I still remember when I met him that day.

#PAST-SIX YEARS BACK#

"Why are you not coming with me, Dad?" I asked him frowning.

"Why are you not allowing us to come with you?" I glanced to my right side to see a guy and probably with his parents were having a conversation.

"You didn't even let me pack any food stuff." I whined while he just rolled his eyes.

"Why did you leave the suitcase at home? I prepared all those things for you. Who knows what bad things you will eat? Why will you not take the train tomorrow and take the bag too? Or else I will call someone to get it for you right now. Maybe we can come this weekend to drop that." That lady is just not stopping and I couldn't help but concentrate a little on that conversation too.

"I will eat well and study well, even though you will not ask me that." I mumbled getting on the train.

"Just take care of yourself and stay safe." He said, waving and I just glared at him.

Before I can wave back, a guy pushed me while getting inside and I couldn't help but hear him saying, "Don't forget my pocket money."

The train moved and I walked towards my seat not able to see my Dad anymore because of this guy. When I reached my seat and sat down, I heard my phone beeping.

I opened it to see a message from my Dad. I adjusted my luggage and sat comfortably in my seat before opening it.

I know you will take care of all the things better than me. I will just hold you back if I come with you. And if you had taken the food items then it would trouble you to carry all the luggage. I am sure you will have proper food and it is not that different place from here, right. Call me whenever you want to talk to me.

I smiled typing, 'You need not tell me, Dad. I know you.'

I glanced up to see the same guy from before struggling with his luggage. He definitely did a good thing by not bringing the luggage his mother was talking about.

After a few minutes, I am just to settle because he still couldn't adjust the luggage. I sighed and pushed his luggage by pressing on the top and it finally moved.

"Thanks!" he mumbled and sat in his seat.

"Kanpur? Junior college?" he asked, looking at me.

"Yes!" I replied before glancing at the window.

"Which college?" he asked and this time I acted like I didn't hear him while searching for my earphones.

"I am joining H.N junior college." He added and this time I stared at him in shock.

"You too, then. I am Kalyan!" he said smiling.

"Rashmi!" I exchanged my name with his and glanced at the window, but immediately stared back at him remembering his parents' faces.

"Your Dad..." I trailed off and he gave a nod.

"Yup! He is that famous person only." He mumbled.

"I just knew him because he is my Dad's boss." I said, not wishing for him to misunderstand my question.

"Don't tell anyone about him when we go to college." He said and his words just confused me.

"Why would I say anything and why would I talk about you?" I asked to which he just laughed.

"When we are friends, we will obviously talk about each other to other students." He replied and I just stared at him for a few seconds before plugging in my earphones and started hearing the songs.

Friends? What is wrong with him? Who would be friends within just a few minutes after exchanging names?

"First time studying away from home?" he asked after some time.

I thought we will not talk again as he was just busy with his phone all this time. I gave him a nod, not wishing to have any type of conversation with him.

"I am studying in Kanpur from the time I was in the fifth standard. My Dad didn't want me to study in Noida as he thought his fame would influence my studies. Thank god, he is just famous to that particular town." He continued.

"You guys have many factories and many other businesses and Your family, even does a lot of charity for social causes. Your Dad earned his fame." I mumbled.

"I know! I don't have any bad feeling about that. It's good that even my new friend thinks that way." He said smiling and this time I promised myself again to not involve in a conversation with him.

Somehow I was able to keep that promise to a point, but ended up talking to him. I thought this is the only conversation I will have but he was in my class too. And he already has a group of friends he studied with for many years together.

He still thought I was his friend and I too talked comfortably, but didn't want to be that close to him. However, I ended up as a part of his group after we finished eleventh.

The problem is that, to this day he still thinks I joined that group because I was his friend. He just don't know the truth and there is no need for him or anyone to find out the real reason why I joined his friends group.