PIHA'S POV:
3 days later [9th June]

"Group number 1–001 Haider Minhas, 099 Aksh Gupta, 013 Piha Deshmukh, 014 Quadir Bhatt, 031 Siya Wilson."

It surprises me. Our roll numbers were based on our ranking. How can someone like Haider be Rank 1.

I sigh and dig my sight back into the A4 size sheet given by the professor—filled with details of the entire course.

"That's it. So we have 20 groups. As you all might be knowing—you all are junior residents, so you have to work in shifts. Each group will be assigned a specific department which changes every month. If you are unavailable you can ask your group mates to complete your work for the day but please submit the request letter first. I hope ever thing is clear. Year 1 is easy if you take it seriously from the start if the year. All the best and I hope you do your work seriously." With that the vice principal leaves followed by the class professor.

Amazing.

Just Amazing.

I have both Haider and Quadir in my group. If he hadn't clearly mentioned that changing the groups wasn't allowed—then I would've done that this very second.

Getting up, I begin to move and wait for Khushi who seems to be having a conversation with her group. Do I have to do the same? I turn my head around and watch my group doing the same.

Sighing once again, I walk to where they are standing only to hear Haider, "great. Now I have my brother, a crybaby, a fucking NRI, and a goddamn rank 99–who I guess barely managed to pass his MBBS. Wow, how lucky of me!"

Which one of that am I? You guessed it right—a crybaby.

Sometimes I wish everyone was like Raghvansh. How perfect would the world be, but it apparently is not. Never mind, I have Ansh.

The others don't dare to glare at him and his brother only shakes his head in dismay. He lifts his head and spots me instantly, "Piha?"

I drill holes into his eyes and shift my gaze to Haider.

I'm not weak. What people say shouldn't matter to me.

Haider doesn't glare at me this time, in fact, he doesn't do anything at all. Just stares whilst I glare at him.

Avoiding the awkward situation, I lean against the desk behind me and unlock my phone. As expected I have few messages from the person I just cannot get out of head.

Ansh : good afternoon, Venus.

Ansh : I'm bored :-(

Ansh : dammit, I wish I could just have a super power in which I could skip time, and I would skip forward by almost 10 hours.

Ansh : I should stop behaving like crazy.

Ansh : when does your class end? 12 right or is it 12:30? I don't think I'm that patient Pihu.

Ansh : okay, it's like 12 right now and I guess your class will be till 12:30. I'll be off now, I have to go meet your parents. Wish you were there. And also Venus, I booked your tickets for tonight—I know you told me not to, but till you would get out of class and book it, they could have been full. I wouldn't be able to bear that. I hope you aren't mad at me.

Ansh : I should get going. Miss you.

We're meeting???? Okay, ways to act surprised, Piha. Anyway, as you see. I'm going to Delhi today, which we planned about 3 days ago. He was sad about the fact that couldn't came to Chandigarh despite the fact that Delhi—by plane was just 1.5 hours away. He is obviously a busy man. But given that I'm back to being a college student now, I do have some free time.

So yes. Raghvansh, basically the entire Delhi warriors team will be reaching Delhi by 6 PM today and they have their grand dinner and ceremonies which go on till 9:30 PM—which is the same time by which I reach Delhi.

I leave for the Airport at 6:15 PM, which is just 15 minutes away from here, fortunately. My flight lands at 9:30 so I can comfortably reach where Raghvansh is living by 10 PM.

And, I land back in Chandigarh by afternoon the next day. Which means I have a good 12 hours to spend with him.

That was a great plan.

"Piha," I hear someone say. Lifting my head, I watch Quadir—who probably wants to say something.

"Hmm?"

He hesitantly speaks up, "Piha, I have to te-tell you something."

What would he possibly want to tell me? I nod, "what is it Quadir?"

"Can we talk outside?"

—————

"Piha, I don't know about you or the guy Haider spoke about. But I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you. I'm really sorry on his behalf—it was not his place to tell you something like that. Please forgive him, Piha. He can be a little rude sometimes but he's not a bad person at all. I know you're offended but, things just slip off the tongue sometimes. I hope you don't hold a grudge against him or me," Quadir finally ends his apology and I flinch in surprise.

That was very sincere of him.

But.

Why would he apologise, it wasn't his mistake. Only if that asshole of Haider at least realised he was wrong. I sigh and turn my head sideways, "Quadir, you don't need to say sorry, how was it your mistake? As for Haider, he would have apologised if he actually felt he had done something wrong. Never mind. Anyway, I'm not holding a grudge against you, why would I?"

He grins, "I understand, Piha. But I can't help but feel guilty, you were crying, and you went back without having dinner. I did not see you for the next few days either. It got me a little worried, honestly. I didn't even have your phone number or any social media to check on you. I hope you feel better now."

I smile awkwardly, "oh god, you saw me crying too? Feels quite weird to hear my miseries from someone."

"It's fine, Piha. Not the first time I saw you crying right? Don't think of it that way, it's alright to cry. It doesn't make you weak," he tells me as he leans against the wall behind him.

I agree with him and do the same.

"Join us for dinner then?" He questions.

I pass him an apologetic smile, "I would love to—but I won't be there for dinner today. You can ask Khushi though!"

He looks at me curiously, then opening his mouth, "where're you going?"

"Delhi. To meet a friend." I could feel my heart jump in excitement—for the 100th time today. How could the thought of meeting Raghvansh not excite me?

But friend?

Was he really just a friend, Piha?

Was he? He was supposed to be.

The word friendship sounded foreign all of sudden. What was happening? Did I feel for him the way friends weren't supposed to?

Why do I not feel surprised?

——————

[9.5 hours later}

Picking my bag up, I walk out through the exit gate and take a deep breath. It was the air of Dehli—it wasn't very refreshing or healthy so I could expect the least.

I eye my wrist in search of the time only to realise I broke my watch a few days ago—about which I may or may not have ranted to Raghvansh for almost an hour. It was my favourite watch after all, no other could replace it. Even though I wasn't crazy about watches as such—I was very possessive about it, mom and dad had gifted it to me the day I got admitted into AIIMS. It was about 6 and half years ago, yet, I loved it dearly.

Anyway, I don't plan on buying one anytime soon.

Shrugging the thoughts off, I open my phone.

Ansh : Piha, I sent Rohan to pick you up, my manager. He told me he's wearing a red hoodie and black denim and a cap. If you aren't able to spot him, then call me okay?

I look up and spot a guy wearing the same as he looks around. Okay. That's probably him.

I type to Raghvansh quickly.

You : found him Ansh.

Walking up to the guy—I place my phone back in pocket, "Mr Rohan?"

His head snaps in my direction instantly, "your name? For confirmation purposes." "Piha Deshmukh." I let him know. He nods and gestures me to walk further, which I do.

Opening the door of the Audi—I take a seat inside.

Hmm. Is this Ansh's car? But, didn't he have a Mercedes? Okay, it could be his manager's car too. No surprise, he is crazy rich too.

Sitting in the drivers seat, he begins the car, "Ms Piha, I hope you're comfortably."

"Yes. I am," I tell him.

He switches on the radio only for it to play English pop—which wasn't really my taste, but listening to new songs was no bad.

I lean back comfortably in the luxurious car and adore the interiors.

"Ms Piha, are you and Raghvansh Sir dating?" I widen my eyes and feel my heart beat against my chest. "You can tell me, anyway, I should be knowing it as I'll have cover it up for him."

I yell a no, "there's nothing between us, okay? We're just friends." Finally taking a deep breath, I grab the bottle placed next to me without caring who it belongs to.

The guy laughs only for me to pass him a suspicious. Okay, of course he cannot see me given the fact that I'm sitting in the backseat.

"Is something wrong?" I question placing the Bisleri back after taking a sip.

"Absolutely not." He continues driving as I look across the other side of window.

It has started raining and the temperature has gone down which contracts the warm atmosphere of Chandigarh. I watch people outside walk wearing thick sweaters, the city is crowded as always—and beautiful too, giving justice to the nation's capital title.

A year before, I was studying here, but this city never felt like home—it doesn't now either. It was amazing in its own way though.

I was so happy back then. I still am, but the reasons were different.

A tear slips down my cheek as I wipe it immediately and smile through my blurry sight.

I was over it, but that was a part of life which I will cherish forever. I can't imagine going back there again. I wouldn't be able to take that pain again.

I stop racking my brain. Piha, you're here to meet Raghvansh. Yes, and didn't want to ruin it due to my stupid thoughts.

"You look very young, Piha, are you a student?" I hear Rohan's voice.

I nod, "I'm doing my Post graduation."

"Great! Which field? Engeenering?" Why would he assume? Not everyone does engeenering, right.

"No, no, Medical it is. Masters in Surgery to be specific," I tell him with a sense of pride. I was enjoying doing it, I loved every single part of my profession.

He turns back for a second as he looks at me, "that's so cool! Raghvansh Sir is also a doctor. You know, even I wanted to be a doctor, but then I have hemophobia, so my parents advised me not to. Anyway, I don't think I have it in me to study that long."

I let out a giggle. I had heard that so many times. It was longer, but it was worth it.

"Okay. Then, I should call you Doctor Piha. So, Dr Piha, we'll be at Leela in a few seconds. Do you want me to call Raghvansh Sir or will you?"

"Leela?" Though I've lived in Dehli for like 6 years, I have no clue about the hotels or Restaurants. The only place I used to visit outside our campus was Roman's apartment or the hospital he used to work at.

"The Leela Palace. You don't know? It's really cool okay? If the party isn't over, you can go around and see- wait Raghvansh Sir is calling me. I'll tell him we're here."

An idea quickly strikes across my mind, "wait! Tell him we're stuck in traffic or something. Or maybe I haven't landed as yet."

He passes me a confused look through the mirror, "do you really want me to do that."

I nod.

Why would I do that? Of course I wanted to surprise him.

~

Author's note *

That was a bit over 2K words long, honestly, it did take a while to get it done.

I hope y'all are enjoying the interactions between Quadir and Piha, just like I am and not to forget her college life too.

There wasn't any Piha-Raghvansh in this chapter—but there will be in next one and it will be just them ;)

Hope you liked it, do let me know. Please do vote and take care!