Prachi's POV

I was worried sick. Varun hadn't showed up to the class yet. It was kind of irrational of me, since he was late everyday. He preferred the least amount of school time possible.

But I was still worried. What if he had done something to himself? What if he hadn't shown up because he was... Dead or something? I shuddered.

There was a sudden hushing in class. People sat on their benches, and as I was wondering what was happening, Varun entered.

The class broke into a "strip, strip, strip, strip!"

Someone screamed, "show us your tiny body!"

I cringed, then looked at Varun. It was wierd how Varun was not going to his bench, head down, like he always did, but instead was standing on the elevated platform, scanning the crowd.

He then stepped down the platform, and I thought he was going to walk to his place, like he always did, but he walked toward the classroom door and locked it.

Ok, what?

He then returned to the platform and to my extreme wierd feeling horror, he let out a victory sign, with two of his fingers held up, and and smiled widely, before removing his shirt!

WHAT ON EARTH?!?

Everyone quietened down. There was pin drop silence. No one dared to breathe. We were witnessing something we had never imagined in our lives.

"I just need a pole now, and I am the sexiest stripper in town!" Varun exclaimed, and we just stared at him, most of us wide eyed, mouth hanging open, yet a teeny tiny smile on some faces. Many were amused, but I was just confused.

Is he high? That is the ONLY explaination. Shit. Is he doing drugs now?

I was worried all of a sudden, but for a different reason. What if he had actually consumed drugs? He was pretty upset the last time I saw him, to the point that he wanted to kill himself. If he was out of his mind enough to think of killing himself, he could even do drugs.

Oh no! What if the teacher finds out!

Before I could think of a way to stop him, he bowed down, and said, "Thank you." After pausing for a second, he said, "No, actually you are welcome. Not all are fortunate enough to see these sweet abs," he said, pointing at his almost flat chest.

Varun wasn't very well built. He was thin, and his short height and skinny built made him look really small. Although, I had begun to feel that he looked as tall as Shubham, who was five six or five seven.

Then Varun wore his shirt and went ahead and unlocked the door.

******

It was lunch break. Nisha, Ravi Ananya and I were eating our lunch together. Ananya and Ravi were arguing about something, but I didn't care. My heart was pounding as I was waiting for someone to pick on Varun.

Even the smallest movements shook me.

"Prachi!" Someone said, and I turned towards the direction, to see Ananya, Ravi and Nisha staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"We have been calling your name for three minutes and fourth four second now." Ravi said.

I blinked.

"We know you are in your la la land with Varun but you cannot leave your friends like that." Ananya said, nudging me with her elbow. I just gave her a deadpanned look, even though she was partially, only partially, right.

Ravi gasped. "But you told me I was the love of your life!" He said, and Nisha sniggered

"Oh please Ravi, I am the love of her life." Nisha said.

"Nope, it's Varun." Ananya said.

I don't know why, but what Ananya said suddenly caused butterflies in my stomach.

"Ok, are you guys don-" I was cut mid sentence as I heard Ashish talk to some people on the other side of the class, rather loudly, "his name is there in the Guinness book of world records."

"For the shortest person?" Karan said loudly. By now people had quietened a little, so their voices were clearer. They were pretending to have a conversation, emphasis on pretending.

"No, for the dumbest person." Ashish said, "although he is the second shortest person. The first is Shwetha"

"Shwetha!" Subham said.

"How is he the dumbest though." Karan asked,

"Because he is stupid." Subham said.

"No, dude that's not the reason." Ashish said, "it's because his head coincides with his knee. So his brain is literally in his knee."

Half of the class started laughing.

"That was a bad one." Ravi said.

"So bad." Nisha agreed.

"I know." I couldn't agree more.

"How do I take my brain out of there? I need help!" Varun said. The four of us whipped our heads towards his direction.

Varun was standing next to Ashish.

Did Varun just say something? Like, a reply to an insult?

Which alternate universe had I entered?

"You can't. Some people are just born with defects." Ashish said, looking at his friends and laughing, and a few people joined him. I think most were shocked about the fact that Varun was saying something.

What next happened is something I wasn't going to forget in a long time.

Varun lifted his leg, so that his knee kicked Ashish's butt.

I gasped.

The class gasped.

Ashish looked at Varun, correction, glared at Varun, the glare strong enough to give anyone the weak knees. No pun intended.

He hit the table next to him loudly.

"Did you just kick me? Did you just KICK ME!?" He shouted. My heart pounded in my chest.

What is wrong with you Varun?

"I am so sorry dude! I didn't even mean to. It just happened on its own. It felt like my knees just got a mind of their own!" Varun said, acting utterly shocked.

As soon as Varun said that, the class literally burst out laughing.

My mouth was wide open, when corner slightly lifted to reveal a shocked smile. My expression was mirrored by my friends. That was the last thing any of us had expected Varun to say.

It was the best thing to see that Ashish was left speechless.

"Bad boy." Varun slapped his right knee, then went ahead and sat down on his bench.

A laugh escaped me lips. Ashish glared at me. I quickly shut up. He then stomped out of class.

I looked at Varun, whose bench was on the complete other end of the classroom as mine. The very next second, he looked at me. I smiled widely, mimicked clapping, showing him that I was impressed.

He cracked a small smile.

It was small, but it was real. It was more real than any smile I had seen him smile.

And it was gorgeous.

I was suddenly overtaken by this desire, this strong urge to run to him and hug him. I quickly looked away. My stomach erupted into a bunch of butterflies as I thought of the hug on the terrace. At that moment, even though I was so worried, my entire body felt hot, my heart pumped furiously and ofcourse, there were butterflies in my stomach.

"Oh my god, Prachi." I was snapped out of my thoughts, to see Nisha, Ananya and Ravi staring at me.

"What now?" I asked.

"You are red." She said, and I suddenly realised how hot my face felt.

"Really?" I asked, pretending not to know.

"Did Varun really impressed you that much?" Ravi asked with a snort.

"What? No! I mean it was impressive, but that's not why I am blushing." I said, feeling pathetic at my attempts of lying.

"Then why are you blushing?" Nisha asked.

Before I could think of an answer, 

"Wait a minute. Oh my god, wait a minute. Do you have an actual crush on Varun?" Ananya asked, and I choked on my saliva.

"What?" I asked, incredulously.

Even though I acted that way, deep down, I knew it was true.

I had an elephant sized crush on Varun.

******