When Dhun came out of the bathroom cubicle, a couple of girls – Meghna and Harsha were in there fixing their make-up. They casually greeted her. "Hi, Dhun."

"Hi..." She told them and washed her face.

After she was gone, Meghna turned to Harsha. "I think she was crying in there?"

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I think I heard a sniff. And did you not see her eyes. She was definitely crying."

Meanwhile, Rithvik waited in the canteen, thinking... And Dhun walked in. He saw Dhun, but upon seeing him, Dhun turned around and walked in the other direction. She did not want to deal with him right now. Rithvik was further confused by her reaction.

"Dhun..." He called her. But she did not stop. He got up to follow her. "Dhun..." He caught up with her and caught her hand.

"What is going on?" He asked. "We need to talk, right?"

"Well, I did come to talk to you." She turned to him, "But I was brushed aside like some random girl."

"Sorry, I was in the middle of something."

"Yeah. And I was not important enough to give attention." She was angry. "You did not seem like the person who kiss me back yesterday...."

"Dhun, I am sorry. But I really was in the middle of something important."

"Okay." She said. "You know what? It's okay. I tried...Okay? If you don't like me that way, I can't do anything about that."

"Dhun, you are not listening. It is not about you."

"Great, It is not even about me. I will just leave." She turned around.

"Come on.... Don't be so dramatic. I was dealing with a fight with Ansh. So I asked you to wait. I am talking to you now, na?" Dhun does not budge. "Dude, please.... I cannot lose all my friends in one day." He also was frustrated now. "You are my friend. I don't want to upset you. But... Look, I am going through something, okay? So I am sorry. I don't think I can do this."

Dhun looked at him, not fully able to believe that she just got rejected. She was just feeling numb inside. "What?" She asked.

"It's not about you. It's the timing." Rithvik said. "The timing is all wrong. And timing is important. I don't think I can give you enough attention right now. I am not in a position to start anything."

Dhun felt so heartbroken. She looked away, trying to not cry in front of him. She felt so stupid to have confessed to him. She always was wary about telling him her feelings. Rithvik had always felt so unattainable for her. She did not want to lose his friendship as well. But now, this was happening.

She held her tears back and gulped them down. "So I am getting rejected." She said.

"Dhun, I am sorry," Rithvik said.

She nodded, still dignified. "You know..." She struggled to get the words out. "I wouldn't have done what I did last night if I thought I stand no chance. I had a feeling that you love me. In whatever way. Because when we were young, on my tears you did not hesitate to give me your most prized treasure."

Rithvik looked confused. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"But I guess I was wrong," Dhun concluded. "But it is okay. I will deal with it. Take care then..." She turned around and walked away.

Take care? – Rithvik did not know what she meant by that. He was just left a whole lot confused.

So he walked to the classroom and sat in an empty space. He did not understand his own feelings. It was muddled and complicated. Besides, all his attention was on this problem with Ansh right now.

Ansh came and sat by Rithvik. Rithvik looked at him, "I thought you needed space." He said. Ansh ignored him. "What is the status with Dhun?" He asked Rithvik.

"I rejected her."

"What?" Ansh snapped. "I thought you liked her."

Rithvik opened and closed his mouth a few times, stupidly. "I ...don't know." He said. "The timing is wrong."

"What timing? Just because the timing is not right, you give her up. You were all 'I can't stop thinking about her' and squealing and jumping around last night."

"I know. But then I totally forgot about her when I fought with you. If I really liked her I would not have, right? So..." He looked away, "Plus I have never felt that way about her till yesterday. So it's weird if I just feel that way just because of one kiss." He looked back at Ansh. "Well, a kiss between two people can be good. It can be awesome. But that does not mean I love her or something."

"Hm..."

"What Hm?"

"Nothing, you just felt a bit too excited last night for a person having no feelings for the girl."

Rithvik was kind of tongue-tied now. "But the timing is all wrong and...."

"And what?"

"I can't go date someone after telling you to give up the one you like."

Ansh stared at Rithvik for a while. Processing what he said. He understood that Rithvik was trying to be not 'selfish' here. Ansh appreciated that. But He did not know if it was selfish on his part if he let this be and not encourage him to pursue Dhun. But he let it be.

"But couldn't you have rejected her in a nicer way? The girls said she was crying in the bathroom."

"Who"

"Dhun."

"What? No... How do you know?"

"I heard the girls talk in the library. That Dhun Mathur was crying in the bathroom. Dhun is not a common name. So it is probably her. I don't think there is another Dhun Mathur in this college."

Now he felt worse.

Evening came, and they were about to go home. The boys were walking to their bikes when Rithvik saw Dhun walking ahead of them. He stopped. He felt weird inside. He watched her walking away. Ansh noticed this, but he did not say anything.

Rithvik sighed and scratched his head.

"Rithvik." The union guys called him then, "You are coming, right? To the boys' hostel. A lot of work is pending now."

"I was thinking of going home today. My sister will be alone."

"What, yaar. You left the party early too. Do you know how much work we did after you left? We are short of hands."

"Okay... okay....coming," Rithvik said. And Rithvik went with the guys.

Ansh met Roli outside their apartment building. She came up behind him and 'boo'ed him, and laughed when he was startled. "Not funny," Ansh told her. But she laughed on. Ansh got lost in her crackling laugher for a second. A smile came to his lips automatically. His heart filled up. But he was reminded that he is not supposed to feel all these feelings.

"Rith called," Roli said, as they began to walk inside the apartment. "Said he is going to be late because of the college festival arrangements."

"Yeah."

"So did your guys' fight get solved?" She asked.

"Kind of."

"What is 'kind of'. By the way, what was it about?"

"Hm...it is almost solved now so..." Ansh avoided her eyes.

"Meaning I am supposed to stay away? So even you don't want to tell me."

"It's our issue. Between Rith and me." Ansh said, feeling bad that Roli was frowning now. "Sorry." He added.

They got into the elevator.

"So... about your college festival, are outsiders allowed?" Roli asked.

"Yeah. Students from other colleges are coming. But I don't know about school students though. I am not sure if they are allowed."

"We are going to wear normal clothes, not our uniforms. Who will know if we are school students or not."

"They will check ID card."

"But you can get us in." She looked at him. "My friends and I are coming."

"Have you gone mad? What about your brother? If he comes to know about this, he is not going to let you be."

"Who is going to tell him?" She shrugged. "I am not. And I am sure you won't either. Right?" She made a cute face at Ansh. "Please, Ansh..." She knew that Ansh was melting. "Come on...yaar." She said. "I need some relaxing time. Or else this 12th grade is killing me."

"Okay okay," Rithvik said. "I will try."

"Not try. Do..." she added.

They reached their floor and got out of the elevator and walked to the doors. Roli took out the key from her bag and opened the door. Ansh noticed this. "You are alone at home, right? When will your parents be home?"

"Have no idea." She shrugged. "Can I come hang out at your place? Aunty is there na?"

"Yes." But he was not so sure about this idea.

"I will get bored sitting home. So I can come there for a while, right? And you can tutor me or something. I'll come after changing." And she walked into her house without even giving Ansh a chance to reply.

In a while, Roli changed out of her school uniform and rang the bell to Ansh's house. Ansh's mother received her with love. "Roli beta.... How are you?" She asked. They were not that close, but not really so distant either. Roli liked Ansh's mother, and especially her cooking.

Roli sat with her and told her all about her life while eating the dhokla she made.

Meanwhile, Ansh was watching TV and getting a bit agitated. He had promised Rithvik that he will stay away from Roli. But it felt wrong that she was now in his house, in his space. This was equally making him go crazy and feel guilty. She was looking especially good that day in a white t-shirt and yellow cotton shorts. Thankfully the shorts were not too short.

When Roli was talking to his mother, Ansh called Rithvik.

Rithvik was with the guys in one of the rooms in the boys' hostel. They were trying to tally up some money. "Hm. Tell me." Rithvik attended the call as casual as usual.

"Will you be late?"

"Hm... a bit. There is a lot of work left. Why?" Rithvik asked.

"Just for your information. Roli is at my place."

"What?" Rithvik sat up.

"I mean, ma-papa are here as well. But still... She is talking to ma and eating here."

Rithvik calmed down from his initial shock. "Okay..." he said. "But you promised. No advances."

"If you are so concerned about your sister, you should not leave her alone at home and come home early," Ansh said bitterly. "And I won't cheat. I promised you something. I will keep the promise." He hung up the call.

He continued to watch TV when Roli came to him and sat by him.

"Ansh, I have this doubt in Trigonometry." She has brought her notebook with her. But Ansh turned to her with a cold expression. "Roli, I am sorry to say, but I cannot tutor you anymore." He told her. Roli blinked in confusion. "What? Why?" She asked.

"I have to study too. I cannot allocate all my time to you." He said. Roli was kind of hurt and offended. Ansh could read that from her expression. But he continued. "So you manage on your own from now on."

"What are you doing right now?" Roli asked. "You are watching TV. You are not studying right now. So can't you help me with it?"

"No." He said. "Because I want to watch this program. And if you really need a tutor, ask your parents to hire one. You go to coaching classes on weekends anyway, right? Don't they teach anything there?"

"Why are you being mean all of a sudden?" Roli asked, angry.

Ansh's mother came hearing the argument. "What is happening?"

"Aunty, look at this. Ansh is saying he won't tutor me anymore."

"Arey, Ansh... Teach her, no..." His mother took Roli's side as well. "Why can't you? You can watch TV later. Just help her out in whatever subject...."

"Ma, you stay away from this." He turned to Roli, "And Roli, I am not your free tuition. I have things to do with my life. And you have a brother, right? Ask him to teach you."

There were slight angry tears in Roli's eyes. "Fine, don't teach me. I don't want to beg for anything either." She angrily got up with her notebook and stormed out of the house.

Ansh felt really bad, but he thought this was for the good.

Roli who was back in her house flung her notebook away. She felt like crying. Tears were already rolling out. She sat on the couch and wiped her eyes in frustration. She could not understand why she was feeling so heartbroken at this. She could not understand her emotions.

Rithvik finished counting some money and tied it with a rubber band and placed it on the table. He then turned around to look at Maneesh sitting behind him. "Maneesh Bhai. It's done. Can I go home now?" Maneesh looked at him. "I have told you no, my sister is alone at home. So..."

"Okay Okay. Go.." Maneesh said.

"Thanks, bhai..." Rithvik got up from the table.

Just then Varun came in looking through some list. "Rithvik... The full list of second-year students participating in the events is with you, right?"

"No." Rithvik, tried to remember where he placed it. "I gave it to someone to make a softcopy..." Then he remembered that he had given it to Gayatri from the Computer Science department who is the second-year representative. He called her.

"Oh... I gave it to Dhun Mathur." She said. "She types faster, so... It will be with her," Gayatri said. "She is your friend, right? You can call her."

"Okay..." Rithvik hung up the call. And looked at Dhun's number. He hesitated for a second. And then decided to call her. The ring went for a while. But she did not pick up. So he called again. But this time also, she did not pick up the call.

He saw that she was online on her Whatsapp. So he texted her

'Hey, Gayatri said the list of students participating in events is with you. Varun Bhai needed it.'

The double tick and blue tick came in the chat, which means she saw it. But then there was no reply. In a few seconds, Varun's phone beep and he check it. Dhun had sent him a soft copy of the list. "Yup. Got it..." Varun held up the phone to Rithvik.

Rithvik looked at Varun's phone and then at his mobile. He kind of did not feel okay about what just happened.

He hesitated but then sent Dhun another message. 'Are you angry with me?'

No reply.

'Dhun?' he sent again. He definitely saw the messages, but no reply. Rithvik felt bad He did not think his rejection will affect their friendship. Also, he did not know how he felt about never talking to Dhun again. He kind of felt hurt and guilty.