Hi, my lovely readers,

I am back again with an update and since you all didn't mention how would you like the updates to be-lengthy or short, I've given a lengthy update because as a reader, I like to read a lengthy chapter.

So my lovely readers, let's start with the chapter.

Siya's POV

I was shocked at my revelation would be an understatement. How can I so easily tell Akash about the fact that I don't have any friends when even Kriti, my first friend in college doesn't know about it.

I've always been confined and reserved when it comes to new people, so I don't know how could this information about me slip through my mouth.

Maybe the way he supported me, the way he cared about me and Kriti led me to say those words in front of him.

I am thankful to him that he didn't push me further to say anything when those words left my mouth.

Saying those things to him would eventually reveal my whole life, and I don't want to do it in front of him, at least not now, not when I know him just for 2 days.

If he comes to know that I don't even dare to stand for myself, he'll think that I am a loser and even he'll start avoiding me as my friends have done in the past.

I think it is better if I stay away from him and keep my guards up like I've been doing all these years so that nobody could make fun of me and eventually I wouldn't have to listen to harsh words.

I know for a fact that Kriti is somewhat aware of how strict my mother is and she would never reveal it to anybody, not without my permission.

With this thought of staying as far away as possible from Akash, I went to sleep.

Akash's POV

It's been a week since that incident and I noticed that Siya has been keeping her distance from me.

Me, Sid, Kriti, and Siya do meet every day at lunch and they also get extra food for us but she doesn't talk or mingle much with us. I wonder, did I do or say something wrong to her.

But when I ponder over the short or almost negligible conversations that we had since we met, I can't think of anything I said that should bother her.

I thought maybe she's an introvert so I should initiate a conversation with her, but whenever I do it, her answers are generally one-liner or to the point.

I am running out of topics now to initiate a conversation with her. I also referred to google to find some interesting topics with her to discuss but she is still the same.

Defeated, I tried initiating a conversation again with her on a topic that I think would interest her. If not, will need to take help from google again.

We were seated in the cafeteria again and were having lunch when I thought to strike a conversation with her

"So how are your classes going," I asked turning to her.

"Good," she said. Again one-word reply. I think the length of her answers is decreasing exponentially. Till last week she used to give me at least a one-line answer. This week it just decreased to one word. Next week, she won't reply to me at all and the later she would stop seeing me at all.

Oh my god, I can't let this happen. I need to do something fast or she would tell me not to show my face ever again to her.

I was about to continue the conversation when a boy, probably her classmate came to her and said "Hi Siya."

She turned towards him and with a smile, on her lips, she said: "Hi Rahul."

Did she just smile at him? I was dying to see her smile at me, to talk to me, and here she is talking to some other guy, smiling at him.

I looked at the guy, silently observing him as they were talking about some practical journal that needs to be submitted tomorrow. He was lean, shorter than me, and I was better than him when it comes to personality. I think I look better than him, then why doesn't she talk to me the way she is talking to this Rahul guy.

"I am sorry Rahul. I've completed it but I don't have it with me now. It's in my room in the hostel" she said.

"Okay then no problem, I'll come to your hostel today with you and you can bring me the journal, I'll give it to you tomorrow in college before submission," the Rahul guy said to her.

Looking at her expression, I think she was about to agree when my brain was running miles per hour to think of an idea to stop him from accompanying her to the hostel. As it is she is already avoiding me, I don't want to give anyone else the chance to accompany her to the hostel.

Suddenly an idea struck my mind.

"Have you completed your journal Kriti?" I asked turning to her.

"No bhaiya, I haven't completed it yet. I need to write it today" she said.

"Oh okay, then I think you can take Siya's journal for completing it. You've submission tomorrow right" I said.

She nodded and smiled at me mischievously like there is some plan going on in her mind. I ignored it and decided to deal with her later. I don't want Kriti to get any ideas about my feelings for her, not at least now when she is avoiding me like plague.

"Oh yes Siya, even I need your journal today for completing it. Rahul, can you please take the journal from somebody else, even I need her journal today" Kriti said turning to Siya and Rahul.

"Okay no problem, thanks for your time anyway, see you in class," He said. I was so relieved when he said it but my happiness was short-lived when Siya said "I am sorry Rahul, I can't give you the journal today but next time, I'll give it to you."

There will be a next time? I think I need to give this Rahul guy a piece of my mind before things go out of hand.

Seeing my expression change, Sid whispered in my ears " Don't worry it's just a journal."

"You already know most of the love stories in our college start with an exchange of journals. I don't want to take any risk when it comes to Siya" I whispered him back.

Sid just rolled his eyes and after exchanging a few pleasantries, Rahul went away.

Kriti was watching my whole time with a mischievous smile on her lips.

We then headed to our respective classrooms and after the classes got over, as usual, I and Sid were accompanying both the girls to their hostel.

To my disappointment, Siya was walking beside Sid today and Kriti was walking beside me.

At least she was smiling which reached her eyes at Sid's stupid jokes. I think, for now, seeing her smiling face is more than enough for me.

"You like her don't you," Kriti said looking at me.

Acting innocent, I said " Who are you talking about" not meeting her gaze.

"Oh come on Bhaiya, there's no need to act in front of me. You very well know who I am talking about" she said.

This little girl who used to roam around with piggy tails and always used to wear cute frocks has grown a lot, to an extent that she could read people.

"I don't know what are you talking about," I said.

"Oh come on bhaiya, the way you look at her, care for her, the way you crave for her attention even a blind person will be able to guess it," she said rolling her eyes.

Was it so obvious to guess it with my actions?

"Then why isn't she able to see it," I asked her.

"It means you agree that you like her," she asked, grinning.

I stopped in my tracks. I just realized that I was caught confessing my feelings for her, that too in front of Kriti.

Siya and Sid were a little ahead of us and couldn't hear our conversation. I was dreading Kriti's reaction as I thought she would ask me to stay away from Siya but her reaction was unexpected.

She jumped at me and hugged me like she used to do when we were kids.

"Oh my god bhaiya, I can't tell you how happy I am" she squealed the same way she used to when she was a child and used to get her favorite chocolate.

Listening to her voice, both Sid and Siya turned back and were looking at us as if we've grown 2 heads.

"What happened, are you fine" Siya asked, sounding worried, coming towards Kriti.

"I am fine, I just got excited when Akash Bhaiya mentioned a memory about our childhood. Oh, good old golden days, right Akash bhaiya" she said dramatically turning and winking at me.

"Yes of course" I replied, agreeing with her.

"Okay then, if it was such a good memory, why don't you share it with us too?" Sid said turning to me.

"We were just remembering that..." I was out of words when Kriti came to my rescue and said to Sid, crossing her hands over her chest "Why should we tell you about our memory. This is a secret between us right bhaiya" she said.

"Yeah this is a secret between us," I said, copying her words.

"Anyways we've reached our hostel and I need to complete my journal as well, right Siya," she said turning towards her.

"Yes you need to complete it as well," she said, agreeing with Kriti.

"Okay, then guys bye" we bid goodbye to them and headed to our apartment.

"Now tell me the real reason why was Kriti hugging you," Sid asked when we reached our flat.

"Why, are you jealous?" I questioned him back, raising an eyebrow.

"What, no of course not, why would I be jealous," he said.

"Hmmm...that I can see," I said to him.

I won't tell him the real reason for Kriti's excitement and as of now, it'll be fun to tease my friend.

I didn't get to discuss it with Kriti but seeing her reaction, I think she'll help me in winning Siya. I just hope that this doesn't affect their friendship.

Hi my lovely readers

Here's my today's update. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Well, I like all the songs of the movie Gangster, and I thought the song uploaded is apt for Akash's current situation.

Well, you must have got an idea that Kriti will act as a cupid in their love story but do you think it'll affect her and Siya's budding friendship?

Read my next chapters to find it out.

Also, please don't forget to vote and comment.

Till next update, tk cr bee

Signing off for the day

Tadas