Sorry for the late update but things haven't been the best in Kolkata. The Amphan cyclone caused a lot of damage plus my pet, Choco wasn't well so I had to take care of her.

Long chapter ahead.

Happy Reading.

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It's Sunday and I have nothing to do! I am done with my badminton practice, done with all my assignments, done Netflixing. Done everything!

Arya, Navu and I were supposed to go on a besties day out but Arya ditched me at the last moment and Navya, well we haven't really talked after what happened in the library.

I am okay with them being together, it hurts, but it's okay. After all, Navya is my sister and Manik was a friend too.

He was way more than that.

But right now, my focus isn't them or him. My focus is on how to get over this boredom. I have forgiven and forgotten him. I am over him. I don't care if he lives or if he dies.

Wait. Ughh. I am not supposed to think about him.

"Nandu come down. Let's have lunch." Amma called me from downstairs and I headed towards the dining room. As it was Sunday, Appa was also there with us.

I sat down on my usual place and Appa was sitting on the head chair. Amma was still serving us.

Our house is big. Well, it's kind of a villa. A two-story home with a swimming pool and a lawn and five bedrooms. Perfect for a family like mine. Although we can afford a way better and bigger home, we prefer this, our home sweet home.

Amma sat down after serving us dosa and chutney. A typical South Indian lunch.

I was gloomy, eating slowly with a tired face. Appa noticed it and asked me, "Beta is there any problem? Anything you want to share with us?"

"No Appa, why do you ask?" I questioned him back.

"I am your father. I can understand everything just by looking at your face. Is something bothering you? Umm.. any boy problems?" Appa asked and it turned really awkward for me.

I was always that good girl who stayed away from falling in boyfriend kind of things and my parents knew it and now suddenly them asking me about my relationship status indirectly was embarrassing.

"I do not have a boyfriend in case you guys are wondering," I answered straight up.

"Beta, we know we haven't been that open with you but-" Appa was saying but I cut him off.

"Then why now Appa? Is it because now if I get close to some guy and that guy turns out to be your business rivals' son you'll be in trouble? It has always been business for you Appa." I burst out and bolted to my room.

I was sad. The people I rely on are always the ones to let me down. I love Appa, there's no doubt in that, but there's a certain kind of love that is missing from our relationship. He has provided me with everything I could ever wish for but not the love I craved for from my father.

"Kanna, open up. Appa is sorry." He banged the door. My cheeks were stained with tear marks and my eyes were watery.

He came back. For me.

Somebody actually came back for me.

I opened the door and hugged him tightly hiding my face in his chest. I hiccuped a number of times before calming down.

Appa took me to bed and we sat down on it, he held my hands in his and said in a gentle tone, "Kanna it's okay if you don't want to share what happened. But I want you to know that I love my baby. And that it's not only business for me, whatever I do, I do it for you. So that you don't have to face any problem in the future."

"Sorry, Appa. I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just that things haven't been the best for me. I need some time to figure it all out. Figure my feelings out. I hope you understand." I told him with my head down ashamed of the fact that I yelled at him in the middle of our meal.

We were sitting there when a notification popped up in my phone. I leaned over to get a hold of my Samsung C9 Pro. I unlocked it and saw a message from Aryamann.

"Who is it Kanna?" Appa asked, softly patting my head.

"It's Aryamann. Apparently, he is going to school to watch the football match and wants me to come along." I said digging my head into the phone screen reading his text.

"You should go. You must be bored here."

"Okay then. I'll ask him to come over and pick me up."

Appa left my room after pecking my forehead. I was feeling much better seeing the warmth in his eyes for me. I called Arya and he assured me that he'll be here in half an hour.

As promised, Arya arrived exactly thirty minutes after in his chauffeur-driven car. It was a red Audi A8, impressive.

"Oh ho aaj toh somebody is looking extra gorgeous." Arya complimented getting out of the car. My attire was sober, a white crop top with deep blue jeggings.

"It's because this is not the school uniform Arya. Meri shakal jo thi wahi hai."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny. How is a guy supposed to compliment a girl when the girl is Nandini Murthy the spoilsport?" He replied sarcastically and I in return just shrugged my shoulders.

We sat together in the backseat and the car sped off from Murthy's Residence.

We reached Space in a matter of fifteen minutes and steered towards the stadium.

It's a rich-ass school.

"Arya let's look for the perfect spot to sit. Thoda saamne or else I won't be able to see only. Tall guys are everywhere." I explained.

"Lol. Okay Chotu let's search." I huffed at the nickname he gave me which he ignored and went ahead of me.

I was about to follow him when a guy blocked my way.

Oh I know him.

"What's up Harshad?"

"Nothing much Nandini. Get ready to see me win and Manik Malhotra lose." He boasted.

Wait Manik? Damn! How could I forget? He is The Player of our school.

Anyways I don't have to worry about it. After the confrontation I don't think he will even try to talk to me.

"Don't underestimate Manik, Harshad. After all he is quite famous for his footballing skills."

"You are interested in him, aren't you?" He quizzed with a suspicious face. I was taken aback but me being me, had to retort back.

"That's none of your business, Harshad."

"Oh so that means you are interested in me." He replied with a stupid grin.

"What?"

"I mean Manik and I are the hottest guys of the school, so if not him then me." He said taking a step towards me to which I immediately took a step back.

"Unless you are more into girls." He said leaning towards me.

He's got to be kidding me.

I kept my hands on his shoulders and kneed him where the sun doesn't shine.

Sorry Harshad's future kids.

"Oww." He let out a painful cry whimpering backwards.

"Sorry Harshad. Next time keep a distance while talking to me or better, don't ever talk to me. Bye."

I tried walking past him but he held my wrist. I looked back at him, his one hand still on his groin.

"It's Manik, isn't it? Wait till I defeat him today. And then you'll come running back to me." He said stuttering here and there from the pain I caused him.

"You should try your luck in stand-up comedy rather than wasting your time in football, Harshad. Trust me you have a really good sense of humor." I said with a sarcastic smile, jerked his hand off my wrist and went back to search for Arya.

"Yo Nandini! Here. I got the perfect place." He waved from a distance and I took long strides to reach him.

"What took you so long?" Arya asked as I sat down beside him.

"That douchebag Harshad was trying to make a move. I kneed him in his baby-manufacturing machine." I said taking the popcorn from his hands.

"You did what?" He laughed uproariously.

I rolled my eyes at him and concentrated on the cheese popcorn while he continued laughing holding his stomach.

I mean what's there to laugh so much about it?

"I bet he is not the first one trying to make a move on you. You kneed them all?" He asked calming a bit.

"No man. But he is the first one who tried to kiss me without my approval just after calling me homosexual indirectly. I mean who does that?" I stated with disgust.

"Does that mean you have kissed?" He asked all of a sudden being super serious.

"That's the only thing you heard? Seriously?"

"Answer me seedha seedha. Yes or No?"

"No. Alright Sherlock Holmes? Don't you think we should call Navya too? How much time is left for the game to start?"

I saw him talking a breath of relief before nodding his head.

"A good half an hour. We are too early. I'll call Navya, wait a second."

*****

I was standing in the locker room tying my boot's laces. I was nervous for the thing I was going to do was highly unethical. A hundred thoughts in my mind, a single name in my heart. Nandini.

I was deep in my thoughts when a ringtone broke my trance. My ringtone, to be precise.

I fished out my phone from my Ferrari kit bag and saw Navya's name flashing on it. Without giving a second thought I picked it up.

"Hello, Navya? What's the matter?"

"Leave all this. I called to tell you that Harshad tried to kiss Nandini-"

"What? That bastard! I will fuckin' not leave him." I was enraged. How could he even try to get close to her? I will dig his grave right fucking today!

"Oh hero. Nandini doesn't need you to defend herself. She kicked him in his 'baby-manufacturing machine' as she said." She replied being proud of her best friend. I could feel the curve forming on my lips.

"She did? Wonderful. Serves him right. That means I gotta be careful around her too. After all I want her babies to be perfectly healthy."

"Her babies? Wha- how cheesy Manik!"

"I know." Both of us guffawed for a while.

"But seriously Manik, I called to tell you that she will be in the stadium. Please, whatever you do, think about it a hundred times. I will be with Nandu if she needs anything. Okay?"

"Yeah okay. And don't worry, I have thought about this more than a hundred times and for now, I just need to get out of this relationship. It will be my first step towards Nandini." I said, determined to execute my plan. Today.

*****

"You do like me, don't you?" I asked Aryamann looking at the entrance waiting for Navya.

"No- I mean yes, I mean wha-" Arya stuttered badly looking at me dumbfounded.

"It's pretty evident, you know. But one thing I don't understand, why? Why me? There are so many other girls who would love to be with you." I said turning towards him.

"You are Nandini, Nandini. Perfect in all aspects. You don't realize it Nandu, but you are the dream girl of every sane guy. There's something about you, it's just- ah leave."

Now it was my time to stare at him, I was shocked as well as happy, but then why not Manik? Why doesn't he like me? Why the heck?

"So? Umm do you like me too?" He asked, his eyes turning softer.

"To be honest, no. I don't. And I want to clear this here only. I don't want any future conflicts between us because of this. Do you still want to be my friend?"

"Yeah of course. Stupid feelings. Chill you are my friend first. And don't let the things I said earlier get into your head." He said tearing his gaze from me looking at the ground.

"Mmm hmm." I hummed.

"Do I not have a chance? Like a teensy weensy one?" He asked again looking at me, but this time with a naughty smile.

I just shook my head and laughed while he stuffed his mouth with popcorn laughing along with me.

"Can we not tell this to Navya?" He said as he saw Navya approaching us.

"Umm okay." I agreed and we greeted Navya.

She sat between Arya and I and gave a side hug to me. We smiled at each other as we saw the players emerging from the dugout. Manik was leading the Fiery Crew representing the Red House and Harshad was leading the Mermen representing the Blue House.

What a game it's gonna be.

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2143 Words

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Feel free to point out any kind of grammatical errors. I will happily correct them.

stbunnicula
She is the one who helped me, no scratch that, she is the one who wrote the new description of Scars of Love and I absolutely love it.

TheFantasyCommunity
Thanks for providing me with the best.

KaynatK01
She wrote a review for this book which helped to understand where I was lacking, thank you!

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Thanks for being so considerate.
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Published On- 22 May 2020