"Leo..
Leooooo..
Leoooooooooo!!"

Kanishka yelled frustrated at the end pushing Vijay as she applied lot of force behind her hand, because of which he almost dashed on Jenny. Managing to balance himself, he turned towards kanishka giving her an "Are you mad?" kind of look muttering the same from his mouth.

Listening "leo" he was sure the person was none other than Kanishka, and though she was tapping her hands on his shoulder, he didn't turn ignoring her calls completely. Mentally deciding to not turn until she calls him by his real name he stood still expecting the call of 'Vijay' but what he got was an ear piercing yell with a push completely free.

"I'm calling you, can't you listen?!! Are you deaf?"

"No I'm not, but I am sure you will make me one!!"

Vijay exclaimed poking his finger inside his ear, his eyes narrowed at her who stood with her hands on her hips. He continued

"Leo isn't my name!!"

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion listening to him. Giving him a baffled look, she asked

"It's not your name?"

"Noo.. Are you insane? It's .."

"Oh I get it now!!"

''Thank god finally!!"

"I get it, it's your horoscope!!!"

Vijay facepalmed, he gave her ''Are you even for real?'' kind of look, but she didn't seem affected by it even a bit. His eyes squinched as he heard her speak again.

"I know you look like a moron but still I didn't know you were that big of a moron to mention your horoscope in front of your name!"

"For god sake, it's not my horoscope, it's my surname!! Haven't you heard the name leo Messi before?"

"Oh ok I get it"

As kanishka spoke taking a pause, Vijay released a sigh, shaking his head thinking finally she understood, but only then she continued.

"You belong to his family?? Get me his autograph please"

"I'm not from his family!! What are you even saying?"

Vijay stated with a crie face, he was done trying to make her understand and with every word she spoke his urge to break his head only excelled.

"You don't belong to leo family! Your horoscope isn't leo!! Then why the hell do you have leo in your name??"

Vijay frowned looking down "It's just a surname, and by the way why am I even explaining you this?"

Vijay pressed his lips together listening her whisper "I don't know", and before he could say anything she put forth a question asking him his horoscope, thinking she still has doubt over his horoscope he told her the same.

But his eyes narrowed watching her start laughing at the mention of his horoscope 'cancer'. Giving her a look "What was funny in that??", He stared her who was laughing with the back of her hand covering her mouth.

"Cancer Vijay!"

She whispered chuckling hard, passing her an uninterested look he shook his head.

"By the way I came to tell you that, it's the correct time for.."

She took a pause looking at him, "for?" He questioned uninterested looking up at her face who smiled wide saying

"For changing your name!! From 'Leo Vijay' to 'Leo Parajay', Vijay doesn't suit you anymore"

She said with an innocent smile on her face, he shot her a glare finding her mock him as his name meant 'victory' and since they lost she was suggesting a name which meant 'loss'.

"See lizard"

Said Vijay all of a sudden pointing up from his finger. Expecting her to look up, he smirked thinking in that meanwhile he would stamp her loafers and run away before she would realize, but he was unaware of her fear of 'lizard'.

Listening to it, kanishka's eyes widened and with a panick-struck face she ran as quick as she could not minding to see even once where lizard was. Vijay's eyes which were fixed on her foot ready to stamp it anytime snapped as she moved and to stamp her leg he had to stretch his own leg. In that process his other leg slipped and losing balance slipped he tripped down landing on his bum causing everyone around him to laugh at him. He frowned hitting the ground, as his trick backfired on him.

***

"Abhi bhag!! (Abhi Run!!)"

Kanishka yelled behind the turned backs of Abhishek and his team, who were approaching towards their school bus. Listening his name, Abhishek who was often called Abhi by his friends, turned his head slightly looking for the one who yelled, but then finding none he continued walking chucking it, thinking the yell might not be for him but for someone else.

"Abhi bhag chal!! (Abhi Run fast)"

She yelled again louder this time making everyone chuckle slightly, hearing the call again Abhishek knew it was for him and he turned back completely to find Karan and his teammates stand. He found kanishka was pointing finger at Aman and finding her tell the same thing again pointing towards Aman, he turned back continuing to walk.

He doubted if they were actually playing with him. The word 'Abhi' also meaning 'Now' in Hindi, brought the uncertainty in his mind if the call of Abhi was to refer to his full name 'Abhishek' or it was the actual hindi word being spoken to Aman.

Finding Abhishek turn, Kanishka quickly turned towards Aman pointing her finger towards him, yelling the earlier words again. Aman understood what she was trying to do and acted as if the words were meant for him walking quietly.

"Chal nikal Abhi (Get Out Abhi)"

She yelled, Abhi was losing his patience, and as he looked to turn Vijay spoke

"It's not for you, chillaxxx dude!!"

Abhishek shot Vijay a glare, and then at kanishka rolling his fist entering the bus ignoring the yells of Kanishka behind which he knew was for him but he could do nothing about it as what Vijay told even she would repeat, and that would be a bigger embarrassment.

Vijay controlled his chuchkle, he knew those calls from Kanishka were meant for Abhishek, and he was enjoying the helpless look of Abhishek. First time someone was making him angry and he could do nothing about it but sit back and listen.

Smiling at his thought Vijay looked to climb the bus, but ceased turning back listening to her yell

"Bhag leo (Run leo)"

His smile vanished as he turned his head shotting at her an irritated glare, he looked to climb down the bus but Abhishek voice stopped him from doing that

"It's not for you, chillaxxx dude!"

Abhishek mimicked his earlier words in exact similar tone of his, A smirk playing on his lips looking at Vijay who bit his tongue under his teeth listening to him, silently walking past and taking the seat behind him.

Looking outside the window, Abhishek found Karan and all his friends laugh giving each other hi-fives, looking at their happy self he frowned a little. His eyes somewhere craving for that happiness they seemed enjoying, which had nothing to do with their victory.

The happiness was intact even when they were losing at one point, and it was nothing but the content feeling in their heart of being with the ones they knew were always with them, be it in their loss or win, and that faith empowered them to the win.

As he turned his head the other side, he frowned deeper not finding Jenny next to him but at the farthest other corner at the window seat of the opposite side. Her head leaning against the window as she looked out watching nothing at particular, finding her sad his head bent realizing he was the reason behind it.

"I'm sorry"

He whispered looking down, feeling guilty of all his acts. The realisation dawned upon him as the bus started, shifting his gaze one final time back to Karan and his team, a small smile tucked his lips as he murmured in a low voice

"Thank You"

In life, we learn lessons. Sometimes it comes in terms of win, so sometimes in terms of loss. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, life's most important lessons are the one we end up understanding the hard way.

***

"Bhaiya come soon please.. I can't wait anymore"

Tanu groaned, it was 5:45 in the evening and they had not returned yet. She was going desperate to know the results, and just then she heard the knocking on the door.

Running quickly she unlocked the door to find Aman standing, a tight zipped smile on his face. Hugging him tight she whispered "I missed you!", Aman smiled wide hugging her back.

"What happened in the competition?? You guys won right??? And where's Karan bhaiya?? Why didn't he come with you??"

Tanu bombarded him with the questions breaking the hug, Aman smiled saying

"We have to go before it's late, Come fast"

"But where??"

"You just come, stop asking questions now, come fast!!"

Tanu nodded, giving rest to all the questions running in her mind she locked the door, sitting on the carrier behind his cycle circling her hand around his stomach as he started paddling.

She smiled wide hugging him close from behind keeping her head rested on his back. She loved sitting back on his cycle, as it makes her feel a strange kind of peace within her heart.

Hence despite of them asking her to learn cycling, she always denied saying she was scared of it which she actually wasn't, and instead always demanded to sit back though sitting on the carrier was painful at times.

"Let me sleep na bhaiya"

Said Tanu shrugging her shoulders a little which were also leaning on Aman's back. As her eyes remained closed all the while he drove, she didn't realise when Aman stopped cycling.

"We reached!"

Said Aman smiling wide tapping her wrapped hands around his waist. Though they had to reach park before sunset, he drove slowly careful of not disturbing her cute little nap. He was extremely careful of the humps on the road, either slowing down or avoiding it driving from the corner making sure she doesn't get hurt when cycle take a lil jump over the same.

''hain??"

Tanu opened her eyes not understanding, Aman controlled his chuckle when she pulled her hands back in haste getting down from the cycle as the realisation dawned upon her.

"Such a sleepyhead sister I've got!!"

Aman teased, as he parked his cycle. She bent her head looking down feeling embarrassed. Turning towards her he found her head bent, grinning at her he pinched her cheeks lightly making her smile with his words

"But I don't mind, I love you how you are!! Now be quick, before it's sunset"

As she smiled wide looking at him, he grinned holding her hand walking to their sunset spot where Karan was already sat doing something. Listening to the footsteps noise, he quickly slipped the thing into a cover pushing it into a nearby bush preventing it to be seen.

Tanu came running hugging Karan who expected it, breaking the hug she questioned frowning

"I missed you so much, why you came here?? Why suddenly here today? And by the way what happened in the competition?? You guys won?? "

"I will give you all your answers, but right now sit and enjoy this view, you are here at the correct time, sun is about to set!"

Tanu nodded and they all sat watching the sunset. Aman signalled something to karan from his eyes who nodded, quietly taking the cover out from the bush without catching her attention.

"First you tell me to watch sunset, then you only close my eyes, I don't understand!!"

Tanu complained when Aman blindfolded her with his hands. Aman raised his eyebrows a little listening her words, Karan smiled removing the cover and taking out the box keeping it in her hands.

"Now you will understand!"

Said Aman removing his hands, her eyes fell on the big plane box.

"Wowwwww... Pizzzaaaaaaa"

Tanu exclaimed yelling, her eyes twinkling as she yelled causing Karan and Aman to exchange looks.

"But isn't it too heavy?"

Tanu asked frowning at the weight of the box staring at it with a confused look before turning to Karan who smiled saying,"Open and find out yourself!!"

Looking back at the box, Tanu carefully opened it from the side. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the laptop neatly packed inside the box. Her mouth open as she looked at the duo flabbergasted.

"Whose it is?"

"My neighbour kid's!!!"

Karan looked at her with a sarcastic look, before muttering again

"It's yours ofcourse, we have bought it for you!!"

Tanu gave Karan an unbelievable look before looking at the laptop once again, which seemed really costly for them to afford. Her look questioning how did they manage so much of money, understanding the same Aman and Karan gave each other a look before Karan started speaking.

"We won the competition, and this we bought from the amount we recieved as scholarship!!"

Tanu mouth hung open as she heard this, she questioned

"What will you say when your parents will ask about this scholarship??"

"We never really mentioned about scholarship at home!!"

Aman replied, Tanu looked down and as she looked to hand over the laptop to Karan back, Aman held her hands realizing what she must be thinking.

"You know why Karan participated in this competition though he was so scared of his stage fear??"

Tanu looked at Karan and then shaking her head as 'No' she shifted her gaze to Aman who smiled touching her cheek from his other hand

"For you!! Just for getting this scholarship for you he participated. You know the competition was standing on a tie breaker, and the same Karan who once feared to walk on stage, not only walked fearless but also delivered a flawless speech overcoming his fear winning the competition. It's not a gift, it's our love for you."

Aman smiled patting her cheeks lightly pressing gently his other hand on her cheeks. Turning towards Karan, a tear ran down her cheeks as she hugged him tightly encircling her hand around his neck.

"You wanted to do online jobs right, now you will be able to with this laptop, we will teach you and you will be soon earning for yourself!!"

Karan said smiling wide at her, who smiled back with glassy eyes.

"Another benefit and you know what is that??"

"What?"

"You can see my handsome face even more clear in video calls!!"

Aman said smirking passing his fingers through his hair.

"Ufffff.... Seriously"

Tanu rolled her eyes laughing at his words, karan smiled and then commented dramatically furrowing his eyebrows

"Don't copy my dialogue!"

"OH, have you seen yourself before? You look like a monkey"

"See who's calling me monkey!!"

Karan commented smirking at Aman making Tanu laugh. Aman's smile vanished getting his reference, rolling his eyes he muttered "Whatever" only to make Karan and Tanu laugh harder. Watching them hi-five he frowned turning his head elsewhere.

"Let's go"

"Where?"

"To eat pizza"

Karan said pinching her cheeks gently, who grinned wide jumping on her place listening to him. Quickly slipping the box into the cover, both got up. But Aman didn't, he sat there motionless, his head turned in other direction acting miffed from them.

Thinking they would ask him sorry requesting him to join them he sat waiting for their call but then finding none of them speak anything, he looked towards them from the corner of his eyes only to find no one around.

His mouth hung open as he found them walking towards the exit leaving him behind.

"Wait for me as well!!"

"We don't wait!! Be quick"

Karan yelled behind grinning, he was well aware of his tantrums and hence he stopped Tanu from calling him earlier, signalling her to keep quiet winking at her. As they walked they knew watching them leave he would come himself, and looking at the same happen when Aman came running behind them they couldn't help the big smile from spreading over their lips.

***

"Aman by the way is your brother back home??"

Kanishka asked Aman who didn't reply anything just the way he had been ignoring her questions right from the time he picked up the call.

It's been 20 minutes kanishka started explaining the entire happening of the competition to Tanu, not leaving a single stone unturned be it for the topic of competition or of taunting and teasing Aman.

"Aren't your hands paining kanishka??"

Suddenly asked Aman to her, Everyone else understood what he meant except the one who had to understand.

"Why??"

Asked Kanishka not getting what he meant looking at her hands scanning for any hurt marks or wounds but found none.

"It is speaking from morning, thought would have started paining by now!"

She raised her eyebrows listening to him replying back in no second

"Considering what you told, your hands should pain, because more than me, you use your hands for styling your hair!! I feel even now you will have your hand amidst your hair"

Aman paused listening to her, pulling his hand back which was on his hair as said by Kanishka, he bit his tongue.

"I knew it!! You and your hair!! Some day when you go bald, what will you do? You will touch Karan's hair then??"

"Don't pull me in between please!! I'm not letting anyone touch my hair"

Karan said, making everyone laugh, As Aman didn't reply she said again breaking his trance

"What? Are you imagining that now??"

"I don't have time for your meaningless talks, I'm sleepy, bye good night guys!!"

"Horror dreams!!"

Aman heard Kanishka's voice amidst the other wishes as he cut the call. Smiling at it he fell back on the bed, thinking about her earlier words he facepalmed whispering

"She's mad!!"

Touching Karan's hair when he doesn't havee his own hair to touch sounded too moronic but yet he imagined it, shaking his head at it.

A broad smile appeared on his face thinking about Kanishka and her logics. Pulled his blanket over him he thought to sleep, but sleep was far from his eyes and so was Kanishka's who lied on her bed recollecting the memories of the entire day.

"He's an Idiot''

A small smile made its way on her lips as she said that, all of their arguments playing in her mind. Hugging her teddy bear tighter, her thoughts lingering over Aman who wasn't exactly what she had thought him before.

He indeed had attitude issues, but he wasn't a bad guy. He was tough outside, but was a normie inside. He also cared, but he didn't show it openly and his actions were proof of the same. When Karan was on stage, she could see the worry in his eyes. He was a good friend just he had his own ways to express.

He had his own ways for everything, which she felt today. She would not mind him being her friend, but she wasn't gonna say it for sure. With all this thoughts surrounding her mind, she didn't realise when sleep took over her.

***

"Thank you, my teddy"

Karan said picking up his teddy, thanking it for helping him overcome his fear of Aditi's eyes.

Looking at the teddy's blue button eyes he got reminded of Aditi's blue oceanic ones. Placing the teddy back on the table, he lied down on his bed, smiling wide as Aditi's face flashed in front of his eyes.

He was really happy that today he didn't feel nervous in her presence, her eyes didn't cause havocs inside him zoning him out. Though he felt his heartbeat deceiving him everytime he looked into her eyes or she looked into his, he could maintain his calm posture.

Now he could speak to her having lost his nervousness around her and hence his fear of getting himself embarrassed in front of her. And he couldn't be more happier about it.

As he reminisced the day's events one moment really warmed his heart and that was she calming him asking him to take deep breathes when his stage fear was too heavy on him. He couldn't admit but more than this gesture, what soothed his fear was her smile which gave him the confidence that he could do it, and pushed his stage fear far from him.

As the feeling of contentment filled up his heart, a question arose in his mind, thinking which he dozed off

"She's so sweet, I would love to befriend her, but will she befriend me?"

He always wanted to speak to her and befriend her but his fear around her held him back. But now after he thinks he is comfortable around her, he doubts if she will befriend him. And he wasn't the only one thinking that.

"He's actually so sweet, I would love to befriend him, but will he be friends with me?"

Aditi questioned herself frowning a little, as she looked to sleep. She was happy speaking to him today, he was being himself for the first time unlike before where he used to be nervous and shy. This was the reason she always held her back from speaking to him.

Speaking to him she realized he is nowhere a boring person and a nerd she had considered him. He was a lively person, and was nowhere boring. She enjoyed his company, she really loved the way he captained throughout the competition, and this win was also a result of his captaincy.

She smiled thinking over all the happenings of the day, the last thoughts which crept in her mind bringing about a smile of contentment before she fell asleep being:

"It's ok, it doesn't matter if he considers me as his friend, he will always remain a good friend for me"

Everything happens for a reason, before this competition they didn't know anything about each other, whatever they believed they knew was nothing but presumption.

This competition enabled them to learn and know each other more, and that's one important thing on the path of becoming friends. They were already tied up together with a beautiful bond named friendship which was because of the trust and respect they had for each other, just that they are yet to realize and accept the same.

The journey of friendship has begun, and now the awaiting is the begining of their journey which leads towards each other. Nowhere soon, nowhere far.

***

Hello everyone!!

How was the update??

Who all are eagerly waiting for their journey to start?? Because I'm..

How was the their gift for Tanu?? Had u expected something else?

P.S: Prologue, introduction and the first 3 chapters are edited completely.

Do check out if you guys got time and let me know how is it. Anyhow do check introduction, have added some more things! I updated late as I was busy editing the earlier chapters, Don't mind me till I complete editing my previous chapters completely, after that I will be quick:)

Meet you all in the next chapter, till then

<Bye,Tc❤️>