Mandira had never imagined to see that annoyingly handsome face again. The man she both loved and hated.

“Purab Sir!?”

Mandira was going to hug him but Vidyut held her arm. He was quite shocked at her willingness to hug another guy.

Purab was hiding his face under his palms out of embarassment.

“This girl will remain stupid,” he mumbled under his breath.

“Both of you know each other?” It was Vikram who asked this question.

Purab nodded even though he wanted to deny all his connections with Mandira. And Mandira too nodded enthusiastically.

“So you don't remember?” Purab asked Vikram. Vikram had no idea what he was supposed to remember.

“Vikram, remember four years back you came to meet me in the university and a chappal came flying towards you and hit your nose?”

“Oh, how can I forget that embarrassing day?” Till date he ended up cringing whenever that scene flashed in front of his eyes.

“It was Mandira's chappal. This cartoon used to be my student,” Mandira was that one annoying student who used to eat his brain as her daily snack.

“Ohhhh! That's why Vikram Bhaiya looked a little familiar,” and finally Mandira realized the reason behind the sense of familiarity she felt towards Vikram.

“Oh, so it was you,” who would have known that the young girl from that embarrassing incident will one day get married to his brother.

Vidyut, Kajal, and Vaidehi were quietly standing in the background because they had no idea what was going on.

“How about we continue the chat over the breakfast?” Vidyut asked and everyone nodded. All of them sat down on the dining table and began eating the Dal Parantha.

Mandira turned towards Vidyut who was sitting on her right side, “Vidyut, you know, I was Purab Sir's favorite student.” Mandira was full on flexing her bond with Purab.

Purab frowned at her, “Well, Devika used to be my favorite student. She never scored below nine-five in psychology. While you always struggled to even score eighty in it.”

Vidyut couldn't help but burst out laughing at how Purab roasted Mandira so effortlessly. But his laughter died down when Mandira passed him a deadly glare.

He turned towards Purab, “Purab Bhai, Mandira and I were actually coming to your university today.”

Mandira passed him a look full of curiosity, “We are going to the university today?”

Vidyut nodded, “Yeah, to get you enrolled in the MPhil program.”

Purab coughed a little, “You mean, I'll have to bear her again?”

Mandira frowned, “I'm not that annoying, sir.”

Vidyut caressed her back, “You should decide your research topic.”

“I already have a topic,” Mandira replied proudly.

“What's that?” Purab asked her, although he had an idea of what her research topic could be. She had a keen interest in abnormal psychology and he could bet that the topic was related to that.

“The relationship between childhood trauma and the development of dissociative disorders.”

“Oh, nice,” Vidyut praised her even though he had no idea what it meant.

“Okay, I'll get the paperwork done today,” Purab nodded.

✿ ✿ ✿

Mandira and Vidyut stepped out of the university after doing the paperwork.

“Vidyut, thank you so much,” Mandira wrapped her arms around his torso, not caring about the bodyguards who were following them or the students passing by.

“It's nothing, Mandira,” he caressed her back.

“Aye, but what if Amma opposed it?” Mandira grimaced.

“Aye, my Amma is very open-minded. And I already told her about your admission. She praised me instead.”

“Oh, really? That's great!”

A group of boys were playing football in the ground and that reminded something to Vidyut.

“Mandira, you know, I saw you for the first time in this university,” He shared a little hesitantly.

Mandira passed him a surprised look, “When and how?”

“I did BSc and MSc here only. I was in my final year of MSc and you must be in your first year of BA. Almost six years ago.”

“Go on.”

“Umm... remember when one evening a few MSc students were playing football and the football came flying towards you?” Vidyut was trying his best to hide the nervousness.

“How can I forget that day? I was at bed rest for a whole week because of that brutal football hit.”

“Well, I was the one who kicked that football.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Mandira began pinching his waist brutally.

“Ouch! Mandira, it was six years ago!” Vidyut winced while trying to stop her from pinching him.

“You didn't even apologize that evening and ran away from the football ground.”

“Arrey, you were already infamous in the entire campus. And I wanted my last year to be peaceful.”

He wrapped his arm around her again, “Calm down, baby. Do you want ice-cream?”

“Yeah, chocolate flavor,” She still had a cute frown on her face.

Vidyut took her to a nearby ice-cream parlour where she ate three cones of chocolate ice-cream to cool down her anger.

✿ ✿ ✿

Vikram had just returned home from the office when he saw Gargi, Vaidehi, and Kajal sitting in the living hall and laughing amongst themselves. He ignored the scene and was about to leave but Vaidehi stopped him.

“Bhaiya! Come here! Gargi Didi has a good news to share.”

Vikram ambled towards them and asked, “What good news, Miss Gargi?”

Gargi shared the good news with a smile, “Vikram sir, I'm expecting my second child.”

Vikram broke into smiles and congratulated her, “Congratulations, Gargi. But you should be on your maternity leave now.”

“But, Sir, if I took leave then who will cook food for you. Your tastebuds are hard to satisfy.”

Kajal intervened, “Don't worry, Gargi Didi. I know someone with exceptionally good cooking skills. I'll tell her to meet you. You can test her cooking ability and decide if she deserves the job.”

“That will be great. But I will continue working till the time all of you are here.”

✿ ✿ ✿

“Hey,” Vyom sat down beside Manyata who was busy chopping vegetables while sitting in the verandah of her house. He put a shopping bag in front of her.

“What's in it?” She asked while chopping.

“Bracelets. In red, pink and blue. Red one is for you, pink for Devika, and blue for Sanjana. And yours have a tracker in it.”

“Why?”

“I don't know. It was his idea.”

“Okay, I'll ask him whenever he appears.”

“You are coming to the Bachelorette tonight, right?” He asked while eating a piece of carrot.

“I don't want to. Veronika and her minions will keep throwing verbal daggers at me,” the look of displeasure on her face told how much she despised Veronika.

“How about I lock them up in a room?” He was serious about doing that.

“That will be great,” But Manyata thought he was joking.

“I won't let them get on your nerves. And bring Devika with you too.”

“Why?”

“Haven't you noticed? Yuvraj is interested in her.”

“Okay, I will try. But if she refused, I won't force her.”

“Perfect.”

✿ ✿ ✿

“The blue one is definitely mine,” Sanjana picked the blue bracelet and wore it on her wrist. Then she looked at the remaining ones and asked her sister, “Manya Di, which one is yours?”

Manyata was ironing the black saree she was going to wear for the Bachelorette party the very same night.

“Oh, was it red or pink? It must be pink,” She replied.

“So the red one is mine?” Devika asked while pulling out a black Anarkali suit from her luggage.

“Yeah,” Manyata nodded.

“But don't wear them tonight. They won't look good with your black outfits,” Sanjana gave them a fashion tip.

Manyata and Devika got ready for the Bachelorette party, and kept Sanjana's fashion tip in mind.

•••

Oops, Devika got the bracelet which had a tracker in it. 😯

•••

What will happen at the Bachelorette party? 😁🤫😉

•••

Six years ago, Vidyut hit Mandira with a football. Four years ago, Mandira hit Vikram with a chappal. Then Vikram should also hit Vidyut with something to make it even.

•••

Btw, Mandira's favorite professor has entered the story! Do you like Purab?