"Choose someone who loves you the hardest when you need it the most"

Arshita's Pov

I was standing on the front porch of my house's door waiting for Shubman, and as soon as his car came in view I ran upto it and settled myself on the passenger seat.

"Drive" I said.

He started the car without asking any question and after some minutes spoke up "What's wrong" he asked.

"I'm fine" I said.

"That doesn't answer my question Arshu" he said.

"Mom was home and I wanted to be away from there" I said looking outside.

I told him that I and mom argued two nights ago when I returned from our trekking trip. They dropped me home near midnight and I thought that mom wouldn't be home but she was there waiting for me.

Next day I didn't came out of my room just to avoid her and just came when I wanted to eat something. It felt like the longest Sunday ever.

Finally today was Monday and I had an excuse to leave house and go out. Mom had hidden my car keys when I was asleep. Cuz I always kept them on the table near my bed and they weren't there the next morning.

I didn't asked mom about it because that's what she wanted me to do, instead I called Shubman and told him my situation and he came to pick me up. When I tried to say sorry for all this, he said "It's fine, I would have picked you up cause' that would be helpful for our relationship"

"Meri car se Iss relationship ka kya lena dena?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Acha leave that, think of it as your contribution to the mother nation" he said casually.

"Really" I said trying to fight back a smile.

He would have known that how upset I was for that car thing and how the things were between me and mom, so if this was his was to cheer me up, it was working.

"I'm serious" he said glancing at me sideways. "You are reducing pollution by not driving vehicles" He said.

"It's fine Shub" I said smiling, "It's really okay"

He looked at me for a second and then focused back on the road speaking softly "She can cut your allowance or maybe take your phone"

I sighed and looked towards him, "I don't care, even if she kicks me out" I said.

We reached the college and as soon as I got out of the car Shubman also came out and stood beside me and when I looked at him, he suddenly took my hand in his.

"This way everyone will know that we're really dating" He said and I nodded saying "okay"

"Everyone's wondering what's up after that kiss on Friday" He said smirking and I looked down trying to hide my blush.

"Ho gya chale ab" I asked him and we laughed and entered the college.

We were walking when he again spoke up, "So I was thinking" he said I looked at him, "that since we're girlfriend - boyfriend now, we should start acting like it" he said wiggling his eyebrows.

"We are holding hands, agar ye relationship ke liye kaafi nhi hai to aur kya hai" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"We'll see" he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

We walked past everyone in tur hallway holding hands and we did got many reactions when suddenly Shubman kissed my cheek when I was busy rumbling things in my locker. I was taken aback by his sudden action and my cheeks heated up instantly and I ran off towards my class.

I saw Aditi and she was looking at me and Shubman and our intertwined hands. I made my way past her without showing any feeling like I didn't even care.

When the truth is that I did care.
___

Shubman waited for me at my locker for lunch and I didn't know he was being serious about acting like a couple because kept his hand over my shoulders and was being really cheesy.

"I heard ki tum mujhe next week tk dump krre ho" I said fighting the urge to smile.

"Really?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

I told him about what I heard in the washroom when a group of girls were talking about me and Shubman that it's impossible that he is in an official relationship.
I heard a girl saying, "She's just another whom I guess he'll dump next week, he's with her just because she's playing hard to get"
"Yaa she's just playing card on him" another one said.

"Woww I wasn't aware that you were playing a card on me" Shubman said nudging my shoulder.

"Shut up" I said.

"Arshu" Shriya sais happily and a soothing look made its was to her face when she saw our intertwined hands.

I was reminded of Saturday night when we came down back down from the ropeway Shubman suggested to hold hands so that they'll know that we had made up. "This way" he said taking my hand in his, "They won't ask if we made up or not"

They surely were convinced after looking at our hands and so without further talking we headed to have dinner.

"Kya chl rha hai" Manjot asked.

"Fogg" I replied and high-fived Mandy taking the seat Shubman pulled out for me.

"You need to be away from him" Abhay said giggling.

"Nthng much, mai aur Arshu Baat krre the ki how she was using tricks just to get me to like her" Shubman said smirking at me.

"And eventually, I was playing hard to get" I said chuckling.

"Inside joke" Shubman explained when everyone was giving us weird looks.

"This is what we needed, another couple at our table, we weren't getting enough of Abhay and Chia" Nagar said laughing.

"You love us" Shriya said throwing a fry at him.

"Wahi toh reason hai tum jaiso ko jhel lete hai" Manjot said dramatically.

"Kaun kisko jhelta sbko pta hai" Abhay said hitting Mandy's head and everyone laughed.
____

By now I was used to the feeling of walking into the history class and sitting beside Siddharth. I entered inside and sat on my seat but Siddharth was not there, maybe he was late.

I thought he would enter the class after five minutes or so. Fifteen minutes passed but he didn't came and now I was restless. A part of me— a little part of me that was fucking worried because Siddharth wasn't someone who skip classes without a reason.

The bell rang after forty five minutes and I got gathering my things from the desk and as I was heading out sir called for me, "Arshita Arora"

"Yes sir" I stopped in front of him when everyone left the class.

"You're Siddharth Sharma's project partner right?" He asked and I nodded murmuring a "yess"

He picked up a rolled piece of paper and forwarded it to me saying "I want you to hand him this"  It was the project description that he gave us today.

I took it sighing cuz handing him this meant going to his house which was a very difficult task for me.

I reached the parking lot and Shubman was standing there waiting for me. As soon as he saw my face his smile faded and he asked me "What's wrong?"

"Can we make a stop before you drop me home" I asked.

"Of course. Where to?" He said giving a why not gesture.

I swallowed looking at him and tightening my grip on the folder. "Siddharth's house"

Shubman stopped the car infront  of Siddharth's house.

I looked at at the door and back at the folder in my hands and again at the door having a debate with myself in my head.

Shubman looked at me and said "Do you want me to hand him this?" he asked.

I shook my head signalling a no and got out of the car.

I walked upto the porch and stood there breathing uneasily. I could feel my heart thumping loudly. It seemed so difficult to knock that door which I used to barge without warning few weeks ago.

Without even looking back I could feel Shubman's gaze on me. The feeling of him being here with me was somewhat comforting. It felt as if I wasn't barging in the enemy territory without any backup. It was s kind soothing feeling to have him here with me.

With all the courage I could have gathered at the time I rang the bell. I wanted for some seconds but no answer. I again rang it, no answer. It was weird because Siddharth's dad always had an off on Monday and both of them usually hung out at home on Mondays.

I stepped back and kept the folder near the porch keeping a stone on it. I came back to the car and sat down on the passenger seat turning to Shubman. "No one's home" I said and for the rest of the ride I was silent, deciding whether I should be relieved or stressed.
____

I was in the middle of drying my hair when my phone rang.

At first I thought it was Siddharth because I had texted him afyet a long time just to tell him about the folder I dropped at his house when no one was home.

I didn't wanted to answer it but when I looked at it I found it was Shubman calling.

I picked it up saying, "Hello"

"Bad news" He said in the lieu of hello.

"What" I asked in confusion.

"I forgot to hide the dress you wore for the picnic" he said a bit stressed.

"Di's dress?" I asked "So?"

"Mom saw it and I couldn't explain what that dress was doing there in the laundry." he said and I could feel him rubbing the back of his neck.

I didn't know where this was going so I kept quite and waited.

He swallowed and then in a low voice spoke up," My mom wants to meet you "

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Heyaa guyss!
Hope you all are doing fine.

So here is the update and I'm sorry for keeping you all wait all these days, for this late update as I was a bit busy.

But here I am back and I hope you all will like this one, if so then don't forget to press the star button and and obviously your lovely comments.

❤️❤️💖💖