************************************

Seth turned around to see Lavanya calling to her. she had Aroohi with her, who for some reason had a sour face.

"Hello," Seth said greeting them both.

"Well - Um- Seth... I -Um- wanted to ask you something" Lavanya said uneasily.

Parth and Smith were giving Seth the look which said already-man, Seth just rolled his eyes.

"Ask away Lavanya," Seth said turning back to both the girls.

"Well you see, I  noticed that you live near me. Is it okay if we both accompany you" Lavanya said.

"No problem but, I have never seen you at the bus stop," Smith said giving a coy smile.

Seth too was wondering that, as he really had never even seen her once.

"Well that's because we take the bus one stop earlier," Aroohi said with a huff.

Seth now remembered the other bus stop that he and Samar had seen before. Seth usually didn't pay much attention in the bus so she could've easily gone unnoticed by him even if they took the same bus.

"So how much stop difference is there between you both" Parth asked, she was walking beside Lavanya.

"We both get down on the same stop," she said and Seth looked up, "Actually I just live a few block behind his building"

He really should start paying more attention to the people around him, Seth thought.

"So does miss hot-tempered lives in your building too" Smith pointed out and Aroohi glared at him.

Lavanya looked at both of them expecting Smith to get a punch or slap but when it didn't come she continued.

"No, she just accompanies me till halfway. She gets down near the highway junction to get another bus"

"Do you live far away?" Parth asked curiously but backed away quickly as she scowled at him.

"Does she always has a scowl, sneer, or glare plastered on her face?" Smith asked making everyone laugh.

"You got problem with it boy," Aroohi asked seething.

"Nope, none at all" Smith said holding up his hands in mock surrender.

They all reached the bus stop and continued chatting, Seth was the quietest of all.

Soon the bus came, Seth and the girls climbed in. Seth went and took the seat at the back as usual. Not to his surprise, Lavanya took the seat beside him, while Aroohi sat beside her.

"Are you always so quiet and moody" She suddenly asked.

"Yeah, I am like this why," Seth said turning from the window to look at her.

"Oh, girlfriend problems," she asked, Seth looked at her not knowing what to say.

"I am sorry... I shouldn't have said that" Lavanya said suddenly turning a little pink.

"It's alright and no I don't have a girlfriend. I just never thought that anyone would ask this directly to me" Seth said assuring her.

"Well I wouldn't too, it's just because of some influence on me," Lavanya said and rolled her eyes at Aroohi.

"That answers my question," Seth said giving a small smile.

"Yeah, anyways what did you say about not having any girlfriend," Lavanya asked.

"Well, what I meant was I don't have any" Seth said simply.

"You must be kidding me, it's alright if you don't want to tell me"

"No, I am telling you the truth" Seth again said just as Aroohi got up to leave as her stop came.

"Well you are so cute, I can't believe you don't have a girlfriend," Lavanya said not looking at him. She was waving bye to her friend.

Seth didn't answer immediately, he was thinking. Many girls have told him that he looked good and even handsome but, no one has ever called him cute.

"I don't like to have a girlfriend," Seth said as the bus started moving again.

"Don't tell me you are afraid of girls" Lavanya said looking at him wide-eyed.

Seth couldn't help but laugh at this, "Yes I am a little" he said when he stopped laughing.

"Well your laugh suggests otherwise but, still it's alright," she said and Seth nodded glad that they were over this topic.

"Seth tell me when is your birthday" Lavanya asked. Seth looked doubtfully at her but told his birthday.

"Good, now you don't have to worry," Lavanya said with a satisfied smile.

"Don't worry about what," he asked slowly.

"About not having any girlfriend off course," She said as if just as the bus hit the bump and they bounced on their seat.

"whoa ouw.." Seth said as he got back on his seat "Why shouldn't I worry, are you going to be my girlfriend" Seth said, cutting the chase.

He thought that she liked him and that was what this drama was about, he didn't want to beat around the bush.

"Nope dumbo but, your big sis is going to find a girlfriend for you," she said with a wink just as they got down on their stop.

Seth walked her to the building and then started towards his own building.

A smile kept tugging on his face as the scene played again and again in his mind. Now he understood why she asked for his birthday.

Seth couldn't help but, give a big smile as the scene of her calling him brother came into his mind.

***

From then on all five of them started going together to the bus stop after college. While Seth and Lavanya came together to college.

They become so close friends in two weeks time that they even bunked a day at college to go and see a newly released movie – A sci-fi alien based movie.

All five of them went, even Parth. Who was reluctant at first but a little pressure from both his peers and a glare from Aroohi did the work. Smith and Seth both bought popcorn and coke to enjoy with the movie.

They even met Samar there.

All in all, they had a fun time together. Seth started to feel like college wouldn't be a bore now.

***

Seth had come home from his college, he had just entered the hall when his mother came.

"How was your day at college," she asked.

"It was good mom," Seth replied keeping his bag and shoes in its place.

"Well I have a news for you," She said and Seth looked up.

"What,"

"Your brother is coming back in a weeks time" she announced.