The new year started with a lot of things and one of the major things was something that made Divya get to be close and understand Madhav even more. It was the second week of January, While these things were one line and as the days neared came the next big announcement of the Student of the year.

The student of the year was considered one of the best moment in the college, it was during this time the whole college saw what really politics, fights amongst the teachers looked like, and how really student of the year wasn't really a competition, but as well an opportunity to get best of friends from the huge crowd when people lost the fame.

Nothing had seemed as dirty as this game, when people would begin to get all the certificates they could, when false attendances would be placed in, when bets would be placed on who would be the next student of the year and when many of the hearts broke as the results would turnaround overnight.

Divya clearly remembered what a blunder had occurred the day when last year the student of the year was announced. Her friend had won the title but on the day of the annual day it was decided the award was to be shared by two people. It was a complete blunder, but what had come across her path was even more than that.

It was a week before the forms were to be submitted that she had received a call from Ms Jain, and she knew everytime that she received a call from her there had to be something big.

"Divya, dear I called you to tell you that the forms for the student of the year are here, please inform your classmates and I hope even you are applying for it, I really hope you do."

"Umm I wasn't sure maam, but I guess I will." Divya replied.

"Ohh no, yes you do, please come and collect the forms from me." And that was decided Divya was to apply for the student of the year.

The process for the application had begun. Somewhere it seemed as if the whole college was in an anticipation. Each of the applicants had begun to make a list of things that they had done. The coordinators would sit with a list of things that they could add, while the other had as well asked the students to get all the possible certificates that they have since they had started college.

Everything and anything that was certified under the candidates name was to be mentioned.

Divya herself was a bit confused. She had many things, her internship at HPCL, her achievement as a signed author at an international publication, her different posts at various institutes, her interviews that she had done with various authors and what not. Just a day before the final day of application she was called in along with other students to look at the application that she had prepared, her professor looked at her and asked,

"This is it? Don't you have some academic achievement or may be things related to university or something like that. Though this is quite impressive it would have been a cherry on the top."

As Divya sat back in the chair completely exhausted, she let out a huff and said "No ma'am this is all I have... anything other than that which I could add from these list of things?'

"No dear, but maybe it would be a bit better if this was more sophisticated and well written, how about you prepare it in resume form, according to the years."

Divya nodded her head and began working on the things. She knew there were a lot of talks that were going around. It was just yesterday when she was having her lunch with Nandini when she told her how Madhav and Kavya had placed a bet on who would win the student of the year in the female category. Divya was a bit offended at that time.

People around them were taking this whole thing at a completely different level. It wasn't as if their lives would come to an end after this. There are people who have been working for it from day one, and if they are deserving they should get it. These bets, these scheming, going around each others backs, giving false hopes to all including her was of no use at all.

She clearly remembered how a few people had been coming around, wishing her best some even had guts to say, "What do you have to worry about... it's a clear picture that it is you who will be winning this."

And Divya for some reason knew, these people would be the very first ones to avoid her like a plague, if something was to go wrong and she were to lose this whole thing.

When the applications were submitted and a few days later they all stood in the line for the interview, this time right outside the principal's office all dressed in their best suits and formals, Divya so wished she would make it through this.

People had given her a false hope, but then she thought, all these times she had given her best to the college, it didn't matter what time it was, she would always be there to work for the benefit of the college. Never in all these years she had thought that she would be awarded this award hence she should do this, it was all because she had to make sure that things go well, and she as well as the committee flourished well.

It was the fact that tomorrow if ever she wasn't the one to win this, she would never give up on the responsibilities that she held, like that of the people whom she had come across in the past one month – did she believe she should be the one to deserve this award.

Divya was still fiddling with her sleeve buttons when she felt someone standing right behind her, as she turned around, she was a bit shocked to see Madhav with a clean shave, his hair combed well, dressed in his checked blazer, standing so close to her.

"Hii, nervous?' he asked. Divya took a step back and stood leaning by the long windows as she replied.

"Yeahh, a bit but right now irritated, this Rishab won't stop his trap." As she pointed out towards the said person, Madhav shook his head,

Rishab was one of those students who had been behind this title from the day one. But then there was a fine line between being passionate and being silly. He was the silly one. Taking up responsibilities and marketing it out to people in such a way that it sounded more like boasting than voicing it out and being subtle about it.

Many students hated his guts for the way he played around with his words, saying something among the group of friends, a completely different story to the seniors and being a whole different person in front of the professors. Though with time it was understood by all, but none could actually question his CV for his actions and tales proved all of it.

People knew from the boys it was him who would win the award, but then there was as well Madhav and Naveen two best candidates having attended international conferences, star performers in academics and known by all through their co- curricular.

But above all there was one thing that was so much more for Rishab that the college and he himself had failed to get into the college, and which Divya was so glad about.

"Ohh, Mr. General Secretary of the college, how are you doing? Did you finally got the notice for Election of students council." Madhav asked. His voice and aura were as taunting as he had intended it to be. Divya let out a small snicker as she nudged him not to start with it. She knew there was no going back when this topic was to be started.

This was how it happened every time Madhav and Rishab were to come face to face.

"Ohh Hi Madhav , nah, unfortunately the university didn't approve, but then no issues. I always have backups you see, no GS but then I was at least the CR for the CC, and then founder of the E-cell, don't forget that."

Divya tried her best to ignore the statement of him being the CR as a backup. It was never a backup she knew how he had landed there, for it was her who let him land there, if it wouldn't have been for his professor she would have never accepted him in the team. But then Rishab never knew when it was that he had to stop making a fool of himself.

"If you want you can ask the vice – president, I had only accepted their offer because they said they will let me go if the elections were to be held, and that the CRs will then come under the Students Council." As soon as Rishabh Was done with his statement, Divya stood up straight and said,

"Rishab I am telling you this for the first and the last time. I have never, and I mean it, I have never judged you for all the things that you do and say, I know you might have your own reasons... but remember to always know the two sides of the story. We never wanted you to be the CR, because we knew you would have your tantrums the way you did. Secondly the CRs were appointed all because we knew there won't be any SC in future, and lastly it was your coordinator who gave us a word that if you were to offend me and not listen to me, she would change you for the next person that was good in line be it on the day of the annual day or today itself as well. So never ever think that you were generous enough to work with us, rather it was the other way around."

The whole corridor was in complete silence as Divya saw him smiling like an idiot again, she continued, "I as well never wanted to say this but Ma'am felt sorry for you that's why she appointed you as the CR. And that's the worst thing that could ever happen to a so called deserving candidate. Trust me even if you have a strong CV today, 90% of the faculties inside would be sorry for you that you lost many of the posts for who you are, and might as well give you this award. And if it is me who is saying this then trust me Rishab each and every word is true... for I have never said any evil things even to my enemies, and you are just an acquaintance to me dude."

Divya picked up her bag and went down the stairs to stand in the shade, all of a sudden she felt repulsed as well as sad for what all she said.

"Shit yaar, why did that idiot have to open his mouth? I never wanted to say that to him" Divya exclaimed as soon as she and Madhav went and stood in the shade with many other people around them.

"You were a bit harsh there I agree, but then you know someone once told me that you should never say sorry for what you think and speak, as it is many people do not think and speak and if you are doing that you are already a great person...so just don't be harsh on yourself."

"Yeahh, I know that, it was one of the few good things that Aryan used to say."

"Ohh really, you have heard this from him? Divya why aren't you in our college fest if you have heard this? It's not to all and in front of everyone that he says this." Madhav asked as he then pointed out her jacket and said, "Give me your balzer."

Divya began pulling out her hands out of the sleeves as she said, "I was working in the fest during my FY our group was quite close knitted with the heads because my friend was Dia who was an HOD herself, but I never liked the way Aryan worked or his attitude for that matter, and then again, being in fest meant I had to give my 24 hours to it. I already had other priorities; I had just a year, and many things to do at one time. I had to give up on it to get those many others."

"Like?" he asked as he then started to put on the jacket but his hands got stuck into the sleeves.

"Be careful, it's my brother's I had got it altered for the day." Divya said, as Madhav smiled at her and said, "Yeah I could tell that, any ways how does it look?' Divya made a face, and was somewhat glad he never pestered on the things that she meant when he asked again.

"So what was so important that you gave up on the fest?' Madhav asked, as he handed back the jacket to her.

"I had to finish my two books, I wanted to be in Milange, do detour and then CC. The fest would have given me great friends and experience, but at that time my books were important for me, outside this college there is a world and out there, there are many people who know me as a girl who is in college and has authored two books on an online portal. That image was more important for me."

"You sound so passionate... When did you start writing? All I know about you is that you write wonderful captions for the BTM page." They stood by the wall, both of them lost in their own world, Divya couldn't understand what could be the possible reason for the questions that he was firing away, but each of them that he asked made her think, none of his questions were such that she had answers to... she hadn't really given these things much thought, now that she was here standing for the interview did she realized things as well happened the way they did.

"I started it after 12, CBSE gives you a lot of options but then, to know that you are actually good at creative writing and something other than academics, I guess it's a bit of time with yourself that you need... and when I realized in 12 years of my schooling and junior college I never got that."

"Ohh God you are from CBSE?" Madhav asked as he sounded so excited as if he had found a long lost friend out there.

"Yeahh she is, you didn't know?' Divya heard Nandini's voice as the two turned around to see her huffing as she walked up to them and she was late again.

"Nandu I had called you thrice." Divya complained as Madhav helped Nandini with her bags and stuff.

"Yeahh I was getting ready at that time. By the way, how many have already gone inside?' she asked.

"None as of now, I just hope the principal won't be there during my interview." As the two friends conversed, Madhav shifted aside to attend a call.

"Guys when will this start I have to leave for an event." As soon as he said this the peon came outside and called out a name. They all waited outside for about half an hour and once the person came out, all jumped on her to ask what all questions were asked. While Nandini worked out on getting the information Divya observed the way Madhav was fidgeting and said,

"If you really have to go, why don't you talk with the peon and ask him to let you in first. I will talk with the people here. I am sure they won't mind."

"You think so?' Divya nodded her head as Madhav talked with the peon and Divya handled the candidates, all agreed as it was well understood how important it was for him.

Madhav then was the third candidate to walk in and give the interview. 20 minutes later when he came out, Nandini, Kavya, Fatema and the rest of the group once again went up to him to ask how it really went off. While the others were glad that he would be soon gone for they will be let off the weird antics that he had been upto.

Madhav walked out of the shelter area and took the stairs. When he saw Divya, he walked up to her and said, "Thanks a lot, and listen, just calm down everything will be alright. '' Yeah?"

Divya nodded her head and went back to take her place. She was once again nervous just the way she was when she had come there first. She never realized that it had been 3 hours already that she had been standing there and till now she was so calm and composed her attention completely on Madhav trying to tone him down and busy in their interesting conversation that she forgot that she was even nervous out there in the first place.