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"Now? But how?" She asked completely baffled.

"Just go with the flow okay? And don't kill me for doing this." I told her being damn serious.

"Doing what?"

"This."

And I hugged her with all my force hiding her in my arms. I could understand she was petrified. I could literally imagine her eye balls bulging out of the sockets. She was going to say something but I immediately shushed her and broke the hug. I looked her in the eyes and mouthed Trust me to which she simply gave a nod.

"You go in I'll come later." I said this and indicated her to go inside the school as the gates had opened now.

She gave me a confusing look but nevertheless, went inside.

As soon as she disappeared from my sight I turned and saw Soha approaching me.

As per my plan.

"Woah Soha. Come let's go." I said first being surprised with her 'unexpected' entry and then trying to 'cover' my reaction up.

I am a good actor I must say.

"What were you doing with that Navya?" She was very firm. I mean she said it out as if she didn't even care that her boyfriend was hugging some other girl a few seconds ago.

I definitely knew that we getting into a relationship was an experiment for both of us and that she didn't love me enough to get hurt by my actions. Unlike Nandini.

"What? Me? No way. I... I mean you must have seen somebody else. Come na let's go inside." I stuttered a bit also in the middle to give all of this a real feel. I thought she would display some anger or atleast attitude but she just brushed it off and walked in with me.

I was stunned. No honestly, I thought she would break up with me then and there. For first hugging some other girl and then lying on her face. But she didn't.

Poore kiye karaye par pani fer diya.

Entering the school premises I felt somebody's stare at me. I turned around but saw nobody. I chucked that weird feeling and started thinking of how to execute Plan B.

What? Of course I had a backup plan. Although I was pretty much sure Plan A would work, but now that it didn't, I thought of taking Navya's inputs in Plan B.

I sat at my usual seat and for once glanced at Nandini's place. It was unoccupied. I tensed up a bit. My body posture got stiff, anybody could say that. I turned my head towards Navya's seat and she raised both her eyebrows at me demanding an explanation for the hug. But I guess she sensed the uneasiness in my expressions and body language so she didn't stretch it more and gave me a comforting smile.

Just then Nandini walked in and settled down at her place. I took a sigh of relief and looked at her lovingly.

The class started and I diverted my attention from her to the teacher who was blabbering some shit. I was not a tad bit interested in it so I started chatting with Cabir and Dhruv.

We were talking about anything and everything when I saw a petite figure coming in my direction. Is this really happening? Is Nandini really coming to me?

Slow motion mei she was coming. Ayee hayee school uniform mei bhi she was looking no less than a model.

My mouth was open a bit when I felt somebody moving me gently. Then that gentle moving changed to vigorous shaking. I zapped out of my dreamland and saw it was Navya who was shaking me. Behind her stood my dream girl who for once was mine but then my stupidity kicked in.

"Manik? Manik? Back to Earth." I heard Navya but all my attention was on the girl who was looking at her wristwatch. Probably, waiting. But waiting for what?

"Hey we have a project to finish. Remember? We three. You, me and Nandini. We have the next period free. Me and Nandini are heading to the library. Please grace us with you presence." She finished with a sarcastic smile.

Typical Navya.

"Yeah sure. Ladies first." I showed some chivalry and let the girls pass.

I have never done any project neither was I planning to do this one but kya karu even God wants me and Nandini together that's why he got us in the same group.

Acha okay I agree it's about alphabetical order and all. But still bhagwaan ne hi M aur N ko itne paas paas rakha hai.

"I wanted to be with Navya yaar." Cabir expressed his grief.

"And I wanted to be with Nandini."

What? Did I just hear it right? Dhruv likes Nandini? Then sorry brother I won't let her be anybody else's.

But still being a good friend I asked, "Why? Do you like her or what?"

"Dude. Almost everybody likes her." He replied in a duh tone.

"Yeah right." I remarked and left immediately after.

On the way to library I was thinking ways of hooking Soha and Harshad up.

Don't be surprised guys. I know she likes him. And maybe he likes her too. I mean I have noticed okay? I have seen her ogling at him from a distance.

Harshad is quite charming but not more than me of course. I didn't realize when I had reached library. But then what I saw made my blood boil.

I saw Nandini and Aryamann talking to each other sitting really really close and that Aryamann was leaning towards her more to hear what she was saying. It was library so they couldn't talk loudly. But this is too much. I always knew this guy is not good. Taking advantage of my Nandini. Wait I'll show him.

I took aggressive steps towards them and was ready to pounce on him when I saw Navya glaring at me, again.

I dug my nails in my palm to suppress my anger. I stood there still for some moments but then my saviour, Navya spoke up, "Let's get started? Aryamann ja na yaar kaam shuru karna hai."

"Ha ha ja raha hu." And with that finally he walked away.

I sat in front of Navya and they both started discussing which topic to choose, materials required etc. etc. Sometimes I would just stare at Nandini, sometimes I thought about the plan.

I thought about why particularly did Soha like me? Money is one of the factors for sure but then again everybody in Space is quite well off. Looks? Arre but looks to Harshad ke paas bhi hai. Pyaar toh nhi ho gaya usse? Nope agar hua hota then she would have blasted this morning seeing me with Navya.

Is it for popularity? Yeah. This must be it. I was quite popular, all thanks to the bad boy image of mine.

Football bhi acha khelta hu.

Oh shit. Why didn't I think of this before? Damn it.

I know exactly what to do now.

Thinking of a perfect plan, I passed a goofy look to Navya. She, when noticed this understood that mere dimag ki batti jal gayi hai and raised both her eyebrows with a vibrant smile on her face.

The smile was intact on my face when Nandini spoke up, "Umm guys I want to say something."

"Yes Nandu say na." This time it was Navya.

"See I know you both like each other. If you guys are thinking that I will raise a question on your relationship then please don't think like that. I have no problem at all. Seriously."

What the actual hell? My jaws touched the floor as I stared at her with big eyes. Even Navya was shocked. We were too shocked to say anything. Seeing our faces Nandini continued.

"Woh I saw you guys hugging earlier today and then in class also you guys were passing each other looks and now you both were smiling at each other. It's okay. I mean I am okay with you guys after all Navya, you are my bestestt friend and I understand you. And Manik you too, abhi nahi sahi but once we were also best of friends so please trust me guys."

Ho gaya satyanaash. I'll commit suicide now. No seriously, here I am planning so many things just to get her love back and she is thinking me and Navya are together.

Matlab God. What? Nahi kya hai? Mei hi mila hu apko?

"Nandu you are getting it all wrong-" Navya was making her understand when Nandini cut her in between.

"Manik please this time break up with Soha first then do whatever you want to do. Please don't do the same to Navya what you did to me. I request you she is like my sister." She finished, gathered her things, and left.

"Arre Nandini listen to me." I shouted but I was immediately scolded by the librarian for disturbing others and breaking the rules.

Being tired of all the things I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and looked at Navya. She seemed to be very much neutral about it.

"Aren't you upset?" I asked her.

"Yeah. I am upset. But I know when you will be done with your plan, she'll get to know everything and will eventually come around. Aur dost toh wo meri hai hi. So I am not tensed. You just hope that your plan works otherwise garbar ho jayegi. See, I am upset because she thinks I'll ever hit on you but then see from her point of view also na. Her mind is not working straight and all credit goes to your betrayal." I asked her a simple question but here she was giving me long long bhashans. I can't take it man. And what betrayal? Okay it was a betrayal. Kind of. But my intentions were not wrong and I am paying for my deeds too. What more do I do?

"Suno. You solve this Nandini matter and I, for your information, have got an excellent idea. I'll look after that. Bass after this I'll be free. Bye." Saying this I left the library.

Sorry but what I am going to do might not be good but I will do this. This is the only way through which I'll be able to get out of the relationship without even actually breaking up with Soha. After this she will herself break up with me. That's for sure. Itni saalo ki dosti mei I have understood that all Soha wants is attention.

If I will ruin my own image in front of the whole academy, she will never accept me publicly. Which means she will break up with me.

Thank you Soha for keeping that condition that day otherwise I wonder what all I would have to do to make you break up with me.

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Published On- 25 March 2020