The award function for the student of the Year, like every year would take place during the Annual day of the college, and hence once again Divya and Nandini were on their toes. With the two of them having their respective roles of designing, selecting the performances, Nandini herself was performing along with Kavya, Manav and Atharva.

As the final day of the rehearsals arrived, Divya made her way into the auditorium and took a seat beside Ms. Maheshwari. The lady had her pants twisted and she really couldn't understand what she would ask for at the last moment. As Divya went through the schedule that they had made, Nandini and kavya walked into the room along with their team...it was their performance. Keeping the documents aside Divya sat straight to watch the performance. As the team glided on the song, Divya couldn't help but smile at the way they all looked. She wished if only Nandini and Atharva could have been paired together, they would have looked even more cute together....the lifts would have been perfect just the way their enacted chemistry looked.

As the last song came along and the girls lifted the boys, the whole room fell into deep hooting... it was amazing and Divya was so proud of them all. The group gathered around Ms. Maheshwari who pointed out a few things and gave certain suggestions and then called out for the next group, she then turned towards Divya and said,

"Divya dear please go and check on the other side if the practice for singing is going well, I will be there in the next hour."

"Sure ma'am" Divya walked into the room and smiled at Aisha who sat with yet another faculty who was looking at the performances here. The song Moh MOh ke dhage was being practiced, divya sat beside Aisha who whispered into her ears,

"When do you think the results for student of the year will come?'

"I don't really know, they should be out by now...it's really frustrating now. Since the morning that I am here everyone is coming and congratulating me, as if I have already won, it would have been really a different case if they all would come and console me later on if I wouldn't but none of them would be even seen around, and I am so sure about it."

Divya saw the way Aisha gave her a tight lipped smile, even she knew she was nervous. The two of them were in a neck to neck competition. Where Divya had achievements of national and international level, Aisha had university ranks and ranks in courses related to university. Even Divya had a few but they all summed up for just a year, whereas Aisha had been there for all the three years.

"None of them have come as of now, but it's really frustrating...." Even before Aisha could say anything else Gautham came and Hugged Aisha. He looked so happy, and no matter what Divya could feel her heart sinking, all that little hope that she had was wiped off, her heart pained in the most rueful manner, she had never thought that she would actually be affected this much by such a small thing. There were so many things that were there for her, yet she felt sad, disappointed, all in all everything that could spell loss.

As the two broke the hug, Gautham smiled at Aisha in a very teasing manner...his eyes then went off to Divya, "Ohh Divya, I am as well so proud of you." Both the girls as confused as they were, they couldn't believe anything that Gautham had to say, but the way the rest of the commotion began with Aisha's coordinator coming towards the auditorium with such loud galor Divya knew it was official all that was left now was the official letter to be given to Aisha.

"Who won in Boys?' she asked, her voice cracked which she covered with a fake cough as the winner himself walked into the room.

"Ohh Rishab.... Rishab won in the boys category." As Gautham smiled at her widely, she wondered didn't he hoped for it as well. She remembered the way he had been working towards getting certificated in the sports category... but then looked at Aisha and the way everyone was around her, though she was happy for her she was sad.

As the commotion settled in, Aisha's Coordinator walked in and said, "Congratulations Aisha my student of the year."

It hurted like a bitch...however Divya found herself jumping and hugging Aisha, and as the two hugged tightly did Divya realized, no matter what she was happy... Aisha deserved that award as much as she deserved it, and it was better it was Aisha then anyone else.

"No, Divya wait...thank you soo much, but I do not believe in anyone of them, let me get the letter first then only I could believe in it" she then turned towards Gautham and yet another friend of theirs who were all circling her and had successfully pushed aside Divya who walked towards the other side of the room, trying to concentrating on the practice. As she walked there she heard Aisha saying, "Guys how impractical you are, don't you understand anything can happen in our college, what if the decision changes,if ever this result is not true, either one of us is to be hurt and that is not right...this is no joke."

But Divya knew it was real, the award was given to Aisha, and as much as she hated it, she felt bad for herself. At that moment she wanted to get out of that place, go back home and get into her bed and cry. She knew she wasn't this person, but for once she wanted to do that. She wished someone would have been there with her at that moment so that she could hug them and cry on their shoulders.

"Di, what are the results for the student of the year?' Priya asked. Divya couldn't say what she really wished at that moment, she really wished for a shoulder to cry on, but she surely couldn't take up Priya for that, this girl was yet to understand the workings of the world and she had to show her that her sister was strong and that she could actually take failures quite very well.

Hence, Divya smiled at her and said in the most casual way possible. "ohh, Aisha won that... How cool na?'

"Noo di, how is that possible... your cv, your achievements even your interview was so great, everyone in the college thought that you would win then how is it possible that she won and not you. Tell me di, how many people knew who Aisha was...does anyone know her the way people know you? No di, that's not done all these people are real assholes...how can they do this to you?' A smile spread across Divya's face as she looked at Priya, they had always been close and she knew Priya was as much hurt by the news as she was. She took hold of Priya's hand and said,

"You know this was just a competition, over the years this won't even matter...but what would matter is what I learned from this. I learned no matter how many people know you, what matters is because of what it is that they know you...is it your good deeds, is it your bad deeds, your achievements and what all things that you failed at. You saw the way people were after me expecting that I would win this award but I couldn't...why? "

Priya shook her head and retrieved her hand, "I don't want to listen to your philosophies...what's wrong is wrong."

"Exactly what's wrong is wrong, but Priya if ever I am wronged here there will be somewhere that this wrong will become right, so what I didn't won this competition we will try and make you win it...you can win it for me, and now I even knew where and what all things that I lacked in... we can improvise them in you, you can step back into the competition in your last year and give it a shot...maybe you can get a revenge for me?' The two girls smiled as Priya was then called up for her practice. Divya was once again busy assessing the whole thing when one of the members came and said that Ms. Maheshwari was calling them.

As she walked into the other room, she found Gautham and Aisha standing there as well walking closer Ms Maheshwari began explaining them her requirements and then said, "Ohhh Gautham, Divya you go and meet Suraj Ma'am the price distribution coordinator ...and congratulations you have won the Best student organizer award. Thank you so much guys it really means a lot to me, all the things that you two had been doing all this while."

Both Gautham and Divya looked at each other and smiled brightly. Though the pain and sadness of not achieving the student of the year was still there, but that one wrong was done right by this. As the formalities were done and both of them received the letters, Divya walked up to her coordinator and the Member faculty and handed the letter to them. She didn't even bother to open the letter and see what was written in it.

"Ohh my GOD Divya congratulations...I am soo happy for you.'' Both the faculties stood up and hugged both Gautham and Divya. Soon the four of them fell into a fit of conversations until they were called back for some work.

======

It was surely evening when finally Divya and Gautham had sat back in a seat, however this time not in the auditorium where the rest of them were seated, rather in a classroom away from the whole chaos. The room thankfully was perfectly cooled with the lectures being recently adjourned. Divya kept her letter on the desk and slided a bit down so that her head rested on the desk behind her.

"Tired already?' Gautham enquired, as he himself rested his head on the desk over his folded hands, his eyes observing Divya.

"I am Exhausted, a lot of emotional drama has happened in one day." A chuckle escaped her lips as she sat up straight and then leaned her hands on the table and sat looking back at gautham. "You as well wanted that award right?"

Divya didn't know why she had to ask that at such a moment, at a time when she herself said that there had been a lot of drama...but she needed to know what he thought, how was it that the others who had lost it were dealing with their failure.

"I wanted, but I had as well known that I would never get it...there is a huge difference in both."

"Yeahh I guess, Just the way you and Reeba are just friends and not in any kind of relationship." The way Gautham sat up straight, a faint smile along with that tint of blush on his cheeks had a lot to say even before he could have replied.

"That's quite a valid statement there Divya...but dude those chutiye people they made Aisha the student of the year!" Rishi's voice boomed through the door of the classroom as he walked up to them and sat on the desk in front of the two. His disheveled look gave a lot of stories for Divya to cook up and come to conclusions, but then she knew better than to come to any conclusions when it came to Rishi... it could be anything, a fight, a banter with any of the girls from their group, or even his lazy ass walking up to college in whatever clothes that his hands landed on.

"I know...but then I as well received this." Divya handed him the letter. Now that she was saying it loud it sounded more like a compensation award, 'since we couldn't give you the student of the year, you can take this.'

"These people are assholes, I know what kind of nasty games they are playing... Aisha's coordinator is announcing all over the college that you weren't there even in the top five candidates, and then there is our Ms Jain, and the people who saw the marksheet claiming that it was either you or Aisha. I don't understand what kind of Games are they playing here this time." Rishi's words made Gautham and Divya look at each other, if whatever that Rishi was saying was true...then there was a huge blunder, but then again what proof did they have here...nothing, and with the annual day just a few hours away they cant even take any drastic step towards this.

Divya breathed out a huge sigh and said, "Rishi it's okay, if it's Aisha then let her be... as it is I am being awarded the best student coordinator, how does it even make a difference?'

"You very well know it makes a lot of difference, through out the three years these professors have been making us do so many things, that stupid Ms. Jain, she even made me do offerings at the sabha mandals during weekends so that I could fill it in my CV... and then those internships at Reliance, that logistics company which ultimately turned out to be a fraud....dude I had to sweep floors at those aashrams!!"

Both Gautham and Divya fell into a fit of laughter, they felt really sorry for whatever that Rishi had to go through but then they were glad none of them had done all that he had done and faced such injustice.

"Rishi you really washed those floors...I am really sorry man, now that I think of it your pain and loss is way bigger than mine...especially when you lose out to someone as stupid as Rishab." Rishab's name was like that of oil to the fire as Rishi yet again began ranting while Gautham and Divya laughed at his expense. They didn't want to but they couldn't help themselves as well.

"Laugh all you want, some day I am telling you Divya these assholes are going to come and beg in front of me." Rishi snorted as he shook his head and straightened his shirt.

"I am sure Rishi they will, you have a long way to go."

"So do you Divya, don't get stressed out because of thsse stupid people, I can actually see you going to so much heights with your books and what not..."

Divya couldn't say anything for she was speechless and glad. Glad because Rishi though for the first time he was there to talk with her heart to heart, he laid out all his frustrations there right in front of her and consoled her in his own unknowing manner. Maybe he didn't realize but all those curses, that heartfelt laughter....that was what she had needed from the moment she had got the news of the award. It seemed as if somewhere it was rightfully said, the ones who have similar pain are the ones who could cure you best, and many times they themselves wouldn't realize that they can as well be the reason to make someone feel whatsoever .... But okay.

==========

The annual day was even more of a hectic scene where quite to Divya's surprise her achievement of getting her books published on an online platform was announced in front of everyone by the principal. And then as she was being awarded there was huge loud of applause along with hooting, she couldn't help but smile as it kept on going until she was off the stage and even after that as Gautham took his awards, she was sure her parents who were seated in the front rows were so happy for all the praises that she was receiving.

Once all the performances were over and the show was brought to an end successfully, Divya had walked out of the auditorium in search of food. She was hungry beyond limit and couldn't really wait for anyone. She took her coupons from the refreshment team,collected her lunch box and went and sat by the waiting area where the photography team was busy transferring their pictures into their hard disks and laptops, although Divya had quite little to no knowledge about these things.

Divya had just sat down and was about to put a piece of pav in her mouth when Simran walked up to her and said, "How the hell could you start eating without us?' The young lady, however, sat down right infront of her along with the rest of the gang. Divya slagged her shoulders tired like anything and said,

"Dude I cant even stand right now, I am really hungry.. let me eat something then I will get back to your taunts...okay?" while Nandini, Edwin, Kabeer laughed their ass off Divya stuffed her mouth with food, she didn't realized when both her pavs were finished, she was still hungry and was about to go get something to eat from the canteen when Kabeer saw her confused face and asked,

"Do you want some more Pav? I don't like this."

"You know you are a savior!!" stretching out her hand she took both the Pavs from him and was about to eat yet another piece of Pav when someone took hold of her hand and stopped her, the way divya's head snapped at the person who stood beside her table had the whole table fall into a fit of laughter.

"Rishi what?' Divya practically yelled. She only wished to be able to eat peacefully. At Least till her stomach was half filled, if not full.

"What are you doing here eating? Come with me, we have to take pictures this is not done man, come..." There was no going back with Rishi who dragged her, Nandini and Simran along with him towards the group where everyone was taking pictures. The moment Divya reached there she was swarmed with people along with Nandini to take pictures. Their group loved to call it a wedding reception where one person would stand and all those who want to take pictures will one by one come and get the pictures clicked while the photographer who most of the time is none other than Kavya's best friend and the tom boy of their class Shruti.

As one by one everyone took pictures Divya saw Madhav standing there watching the whole fiasco. The two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other. Divya couldn't really say why but felt a bit conscious in his presence her heart began beating so loudly as if she was quite nervous with that small gesture. But then at the same time she was confused because she had a gut feeling that he would open his mouth and say something really nasty that would spoil her mood, and she was in no mood to get into a conversation with him.

"Divya smile." Shruti yelled at her as she got her phone ready to take a picture of Rishi and Divya. Once that was done Divya went aside as Madhav came and stood there. He himself was dressed in a formal shirt for god knows what reason with his hair that was pretty messed up as he adjusted them again and again before every picture. It made her chuckle the way he would comb them, take a step back and get a picture clicked with his lower jaw being stretched such a way that he would show his jaw line. As Divya observed him... he didn't really have that prominent jaw line and wondered why he even made an effort.

Once Nandini was done, Shruti turned towards her and asked, "Divya you want to click a picture?'

Divya looked around as everyone looked at her, as if expecting her to go and take that picture. She nodded her head and went and stood beside Madhav, her one hand went around him at his waist, so did he as they smiled at the camera. The scene however was getting awkward when Divya's eyes went off to Priya who stood there watching them clicking pictures.

"Ohh you know Madhav, this idiot girl there, we were clicking pictures with Ms Jain a few moments ago and she didn't see Ma'am there seated between us...this girl pointed her fingers at us and said 'You suck'..." Kavya quickly turned around and began jumping as she as well joined into the story telling.

"I swear we all had gone so shocked for a moment, but then Divya quickly covered it up by saying she is talking about me." The picture was done, and Divya didn't knew how did it come for she never got a chance to have a look at it, because Madhav turned towards her his lips stretched out in a huge laughter as he said,

"Ohh but then this couldn't be as bad as you getting the award for best student organizer rather than Student of the year...Kavya I will be waiting for my Dosa party."

"Ohh hello, on the day of the interview things had changed even though you had said that Divya will win...I don't owe you anything."

"You two don't owe anything to each other...rather you guys owe me one." The trio turned towards Aman who walked towards them all the while adjusting his blazer. "I had told you guys at the end politics will come into picture."

"I swear that is true, Madhav tried to find out what all happened...or is it that you already know about it?' Kavya asked. the more they talked about it as if Divya wasn't standing there made her feel really uncomfortable, clearing her throat Kavya said, "You guys continue I will get going."

"Ohh hello, where are you going?' Aman asked. However Divya fiddled with her fingers and her eyes went off to each one of them as she said, "Priya is waiting for me and I am yet to finish my lunch. I will join you guys later on."

"Well I guess even if I have to go, I have a flight in an hour or so." Madhav said as he checked the time on his phone.

"You are going home?' Kavya enquired. Her hands moved off towards her hair gathering them up and tying them into a ponytail.

"Yeah, dad called me, my brother needs my signatures on some important bank and business documents, I will have to go."

"So when are you planning to come back?'' The environment turned into a completely different mode as Divya subtly excused herself from the group and went towards Priya who was ready with their bags to leave for home. The day was over, the Award function and her duties as the vice president of the college were over...now all she waited for was to reach home, to take a bath, have some amazing food and then to go back on the terrace and gaze out the stars with a cup of coffee.

It had been a long while she had done that... maybe she could make it a small routine for about a few days that she was going to be home now. Divya thought as she made her way outside the gates of the auditorium all the while bidding byes to the ones that she met on her way.