*FLASHBACK*

Ved flashed me a small smile and said, " I am quite used to this. I don't mind anymore."

Giving a wry bye he left and I sagged into the couch, wondering about this little riddle called Ved.

I sit in silence for a while, listening only to my calm breathing  until a commotion from Dave's room caught my interest.

" But Dad I don't understand, why do we have to take him along?!" Dave's voice's decibel has long passed the 'I'm-too-pissed- scale'. He was in all probability talking to his ever-absent, 'every strand of hair black even at 50', billionaire father. "What do you mean he is important?! He will come along as always in his baggy clothes and taped spectacles! He is such a let down to our family name! You can't possibly invite him to a business conclave!" A pause and then, " No! I am not going to persuade him to come. Thank you for your precious time, Mr. Gaur. Bye!"

Just as always their conversation ends in a fight, well, I don't exactly know whether his father was furious too but a man who does not give much time to his son can't be that good, right?

Pushing a cushion under my chin, I mull over an idea, just a vague tinkling. I know my best friend is not a villain, he is just a kid who wants his father's attention but then there is Ved. He never gets anyone's attention but neither does he complain. Well, what if I were to get him the attention, not make him so invisible to others. What if I make others see the potential that I saw in him. Feeling much like Henry Higgins from Pygmalion, I laughed.

"Well Eliza, let's make a lady out of you."

DISCLAIMER- Makeover in progress. We apologize for the discomfort.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

I have been waiting here, in this stark white waiting room for Ved, and believe me whoever said that only women take time to get ready-lied!

"How long will it take?" I whine and stare at my wrist watch- 5 minutes to 6. The conclave does not start until half-past-six.

There is some shuffling behind the curtains which lead to Men's changing room and I kill the urge to sulk like a kid. It's getting late!

I was randomly checking my messenger when someone falls on the sofa- next to me. I mean it literally- not sit but fall! Startled, I turn around to look at the strange lady. She was young, perhaps a few years elder to me with her eyes wide and a shaky hand placed on her heart.

"Oh my! Have you ever seen such a perfection?!" She proclaims to the thin air.

Greatly questioning her sanity I follow her gaze and then I feel my jaws hitting the floor.

There standing near the linen partitions was Ved. His baggy clothes were replaced by form fitting tuxedos, those strong shoulders and perfect-V waist now visible under his white oxford shirt.His hands dug into the front pockets of his dark trousers and the long lapel of his coat had a small silver pin with white lotus, a symbol which I clearly remembered was of Dave's father's industrial group. For the first time I realized how tall he was- I had to crane my neck all the way back to look at him.

His blue gaze met mine shyly and I read his emotions at once- he was unsure.

I smiled at him reassuringly. "You look good", I said with a nod.

"Not like a clown?" He squinted his eyes skeptically.

"Not at all and don't tell me that those guys had to push you out just as they had to pull you in."

Ved  shrugged nonchalantly and I found myself laughing.

"Come on. You have a business conclave to attend."

"What?" He was surprised.

"Well, you don't think that I give makeover to people on my weekends just on a whim. Actually, Dave's father wants you to attend a business conclave in Community Hall in exactly," I glanced at my watch, " 30 minutes. Will you be happy to oblige him?"

I could see a thousand emotions pass through his eyes- shock, denial, happiness and finally, just a void of blue.

"Of course, if you want me to." His voice was just a light murmur and his vivid landscape of blue held me captive. I felt like he wanted to convey some silent message but hey, if there is any person on this Earth who is more clueless than me then it is- well, no one.

Breaking our eye contact, I looked at the employee who had attended us. He stood by the changing room oscillating his gaze from me to Ved and back with a ' I know what you don't ' smile on his face.

"Mr. Employee", I startled the man a bit, "This lady here", I said pointing to the woman beside me, "she seems to have some breathing problems, if you can get her some water."

Listening to my statement, she shot me a glare. How very confusing, I was just helping her!

Looping my arms around Ved's I dragged him out, "Hurry up! We are late!"

I felt his arms tense in my grip, "But why are you doing this?"

I bit my lips, comprehending my answer and finally settled on, "I want to be your Higgins."

" But I am not Eliza!" His lips were pulled into a frown. He freed his arm from my grip.

"You are equally talented, ambitious and invisible." I chimed as I fastened my steps towards the exit.

"Am I just a lab experiment to you?" His voice was a murmur, his emotions too hard to comprehend.

"An interesting lab experiment!" I corrected him and dragged him to the parking, this time he did not resist.

"The meeting is on the other end of the city, we won't make it in 30 minutes." He murmured as he sat behind me on my motorbike.

"You will since you have a Higgins like me!" He gave a startled yelp as the bike accelerated to an unbelievable speed in some minutes.

 Twenty minutes later, he got off my bike in front of an Anglo-inspired building which now had a red carpet rolled on its many a thousand stairs and a horde of journalists and security personals dominated the front portico.

"Thank you", he said as he ran his fingers through his slicked back hair, successfully messing them.

"Your welcome", I laughed at his endearing act. Giving me a bow, he jogged over to a middle-aged man waiting for him near the start of the carpet.

A look at his jet black hair, strong jaws and powerful aura I knew who he was - Dave's father. Ved raised his hand to give a final wave but I was already accelerating into the night, my eyes on his disappearing form in the rear-view mirror. 

_*_**_*_****_*_*_*********************************_*__*_*_*_*__*_*_*_*__*_*_*_*_

  It has been some days since I last talked to Ved. I see him everyday when his hood covered figure walks in and occupies the first seat. I watch as his aquamarine eyes settle on the book with interest, but here is a problem- so does every other female in the room.

Overnight Ved became a College heartthrob. One day he is an invisible geek, next day he turns up without his glasses and decent clothes (handpicked by me and posted at his address) and poof! The oestrogen level of the college just goes crazy.

" How can we be,like, so blind so as to not notice him?!" Tanya sighed on the canteen table on one fine day which was enough to turn it into a 'was' a fine day.

"What do you mean by that?!" Dave raged, "Are you checking him out? Do you not love me now?!"

I sighed and tuned them out but that was not all.

"My father actually asked him to make a speech on the stage at the conclave!" Dave shouted on the video conference with me and Vir that night.

"You need to chill, bro. I'm sure he messed it up." Vir played his diplomatic trick.

"Ahan, no. Had that been the case do you think that I would have been crying?"

I raised my eyebrow and Vir, skillfully hid his smile behind his hand.

"He nailed it?" I asked casually.

Dave glared at me before answering, " If that's the word but yes, my father has got many new investors."

The conversation dragged on until Dave ended it with, "You guys are my best mates! I know you both will never leave me." Those words carried so much trust, so much confidence on us that I could not help but notice his underlying insecurity- insecurity that his Father might favour someone over him.

From that night on I would often think about Dave and  Ved. I was not taking sides because to not like either of them was hard. Dave was my constant- my companion since years, he has seen me go through many phases and he had been my pillar in the most unexpected of times and then there was Ved, the intriguing stranger whom I wanted to protect at any cost. I wondered, if ever as improbable as it was, I were to choose between them then who would it be?

Vir snapped his fingers infront of me drawing me back to present.

My eyes steadily focused on his smiling face and the chirping and howling of my classmates.

"You know that your mouth actually hangs open while you day dream? Oh and was that a drool I just saw?" I inspected the side of my jaw which was sufficiently dry before hitting his arm playfully .

"Stop being a jerk!"I growled and yet my voice sounded unenthusiastic even to my own ears.

As if on cue, the sources of my constant contemplation entered the room.

Ved wore a black turtle neck with blue jeans, his hair were swept in every possible direction and 5 o' clock shadows grazed his usually clean-shaven face. If it was possible, his disheveled appearance made him appear even more dashing.

Those piercing orbs of turquoise met mine and he nodded. It was now a ritual for us, he would look at me and nod in greeting. We were not close friends but we were definitely more than acquaintances. As he took his seat I wondered for the thousandth time- has he  changed with his appearance?

Dave entered soon after him and took his place behind me.

"You are late." I noted as I turned to stare at him.

"Had to give a lift to Mr. Smarty pants. He woke up late." Dave shrugged out of his leather jacket.

That explains his disheveled appearance.

" You are finally warming up to him?" Vir asked skeptically.

"Of course not- he promised to do my homework for a month, too good a deal to pass up on!" Dave shrugged. Today he seemed in a surprisingly good mood and I voiced my view.

"Oh yes, Dad has invited me for a vacation to Hawaii, isn't that great?" He flashed me a big smile and I couldn't help but smile back. I've missed him so much. Dave Gaur was, at the end of the day, just a kid who wanted his father to notice him.

"Good morning", Th Professor rushed in and I turned to the front.Class dragged on as it always did until the last 5 minutes.

"We are going on an excursion to Goa. These are some paper works, fill them up and hand it over by Monday." The teacher informed and excited whispers broke out.

"It'll be fun! Beaches!" I exclaimed.

"And swimming", Vir smiled.

"And hot babes", Dave smirked.

We both rolled our eyes.

After the bell rang announcing the end of class, Dave and Vir ran out for their Basketball practice. I, on the other hand, took my time to pack the bag and walked out of the class but as my luck would have it, I rammed straight into the person standing by the door.

"Ouch, I am sorry." I whispered, rubbing my slightly sore nose.

"It's my fault. Are you alright?"

I looked up and found a concerned Ved hovering over me.

"It's nothing", I smiled reassuringly, "Are you waiting for someone?"

"Yes, for the Professor", he peeked in the room, " but he apparently left during our little episode." He shrugged.

"Oh. Well... I was leaving.."

"Can I accompany you since I saw your frineds leaving", he paused, "if you have no issues?"

"Of course not", I thrusted my hands into the pocket and started walking, "so you were late, huh?" I asked casually. His voice sounded different- more confident, more silkier. Does voice change with appearance too?

"Yes, no time to get ready." He looked down embarrassed while running a conscious hand over his rough stubble.

"Keep them, they look good on you", I said without thinking but on seeing his furious blush I quickly changed the topic. "How's life?" My voice was overly casual.

"Different." The side of his lip turned up.

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"Both. Bad is overshadowing the good through." He looked down at me through his long lashes and I looked away hastily- I have no idea why.

"Why?" I asked the verandah floor.

"Let's just say, I don't like finding love notes in my books, chocolates in my bag and crazy stalkers because of whom I have to run out of the parking lot." By now we had reached the exit of the building and he pulled on the hood as he stepped out.

"They must be scary", and crazy- I added in my head.

" Not really, they don't mean any real harm." He laughed watching my serious expression.

"Wait till the Valentine's ." I stated. His laughter broke off abruptly.

I turned to go to the parking but he stopped me, "Ah, Kathy I was wondering..." He shuffled a bit nervously.

"Yes?" I urged.

"Would you please give me a lift home?"

My  eyebrows shot up, " I thought that I scared you away with my biking last time."

"You did." He nodded. "But who does not like a little adventure?" He chuckled.

"Why don't you say the truth that you are scared of your stalkers and hence, you want me to accompany you?" I winked at him.

We laughed and walked to the parking.He had not changed a bit- he was still the same Ved, maybe a bit more confident and a bit less reclusive but still his heart was the same. Being with him was strangely liberating, we had this perfect wavelength and resonance. Looking at his smiling face, I wondered what was written in our stars.

_*_*_*_*_*__*_*88888888888888888888888888888888*_*_*__*_**__*_*_*_*__*_*_*__*_**_

A/U:-

Update after 3 months, oh sweet Heavens! I AM SORRY! Although I find it impossible that someone might actually read it but hey if you are- THEN I AM SORRY, MY FRIEND! My sister literally scolded me every single day asking me to write :P but  you see, I actually wanted to re-write the story from the very start . Then, one pleasant morning, that was today, I re-read the last chapter and I thought, ' It's not that bad. We can make something out of it.' So here I am! Enjoy! And disclaimer- If you wanna read this story, please message me. I just think that no one wants to read it except my sister :P and to think that girl already knows the climax and yet....! Okay, good night! Lack of sleep is catching up...