She walked away from Ehaan, gripping my elbow. Piercing her nails on my soft skin. I gasped in pain as blood started oozing from it. "Get the hell out of my life. Don't you fucking..." But before she could continue, she was jerked away from me. A loud sound echoed in the entire corridor. Ehaan had gifted Mia with a tight slap around her cheek.

I stood there. My eyes widen in shock. Did he slap his girlfriend? Why? Stupid! For you! My heart was screaming in joy, excited. But my mind was halting me. Why would he? Maybe they were having some arguments before I arrived and it was a result of it. It wasn't a mystery that Ehaan lost his calm easily. But I had never seen him hit a girl before.

Mia glanced at Ehaan with painful hazel orbs. Her lips shivering as she was stopping herself from busting in tears before us. "I had warned you enough. Stop! Messing up with her." I couldn't glance at Ehaan, but his dangerous, deep voice was indicating he wasn't a person to mess with it. He seemed fuming in fury, his knuckles rolling into a ball.

Her eyes wandered from him towards me. The revulsion towards me in those beautiful blue orbs couldn't be missed. She had started hating me.  "What does she have?" Her eyes roamed from the top of my hair to the shoes under my feet. "An ordinary, foolish, naïve girl." She twisted her face in disgust. "You're rejecting me for her?" Her expression spoked the volume. It was unbelievable! So was it for me! I couldn't believe my senses. Why would he choose me over his beautiful, mesmerizing girlfriend? Surely, he was mad over her for some reason and she was mistaking his acts.

He would clear her doubts soon. I waited for him to utter something that could erase the doubt planting in both our minds. I couldn't allow my heart to believe it. It would raise my hope and I was scared for it. He was out of my league; my growing interest was complicating things further. Much to my displeasure, he didn't voice a word out. Grabbed my wrist without glancing at me once and dragged me along with him.

Mia kept on blabbering, cursing, pleading but nothing worked. He kept increasing his pace as if all he desired was to walk away from the lady who was turning insane with each passing second. He didn't stop even when my legs were knocking each other. The few teacher crossing by was eyeing us suspiciously. His grip grew tighter each time, I tried to pull away from him. I couldn't match his pace.

I sighed in relief when he halted in his track, my head spinning a little with his high speed. "Where on the earth..." I met with Anuj furious eyes and opened my mouth but Ehaan interrupted him.

"Get out!" He ordered towards the person sitting on the jeep. At that moment I realised we had reached the parking lot, standing in front of Ehaan parked black jeep. Anuj was standing beside Aarav who was sitting on the passenger seat. He was staring at Ehaan with a confused look. "Aarav don't make me repeat my words." He was sounding much calmer, holding his bottled-up fury yet his gritting teeth was giving off his exasperation.

Aarav didn't take a minute stepping out of the jeep, the minute his feet landed on the ground. Ehaan glanced at me, his face emotionless yet the inbuild anger powering his brown orbs. Radiating the burning fire within. I gulped getting scared for a minute before maintaining my posture. "Get into the jeep." He ordered, yelling he wasn't in a mood for a denial. His two friend was staring at us, hoping to be offered some explanation.

Without giving a thought I got into the seat. Trying to calm my nerves, everything was happening at such a high speed. I wasn't able to make sense, what was even happening? "What..." Aarav had opened his mouth to interrogate but Ehaan win over him.

"Where is the first aid?" he inquired making them tense.

"What's the deal, Ehaan?" Anuj jumped, his eyes spying on me before rolling back to Ehaan but soon landing on my hand. Without wasting a second he was next to me. "Who did it?" He interrogated sounding concerned as well as furious. I huffed in annoyance, wasn't wishing to witness another angry lion.

"Would I fucking be given the first aid...?" Screamed Ehaan causing me to jump from my seat. While the rest two seemed least bothered, Aarav rolled his eyes walking towards the driver seat and pulling the first-aid from the drawer.

"Here we go," shaking his head at Ehaan as he handed it to him. Soon, Ehaan grabbed hold of it. His jaw clenched, eyes turning cold. He was masking his emotion, the fury was powering his senses. He was trying to control his emotions but it was overwhelming him. His hand grabbed cotton, dipping some liquid into it. He took my wounded hand and tried to apply it there. His eyes were busy rooted on my bruises, getting darker with each passing second. His grip on the cotton tightening, the wound was further triggering his fury.

"Ehaan, I am fine..." I whispered, meekly. Slowly reaching for his hand with the cotton, squeezing it in assurance. His eyes jerked from the wound towards my orbs, those cold orbs send a shiver down my spine. He diverted his gaze away from mine. Finishing his work, he pulled his hand away from mine not for once peeking at me. What was he even? For a minute he would convince me, he cared. But a second later pull himself in such a manner that I was assured he hated me.

"Drop her home." Muttered Ehaan walking towards his destination. Away from me, I kept staring at his retreating figure.

"What's wrong with him?" I heard Anuj annoyed voice.

"I will look after him, you carry on." Whispering so, Aarav followed Ehaan.

Anuj got into the driver seat. The engine was pulled on. The blissful, cold air was provided with some relief to my confused mind and upset heart. "Who did that?" He questioned back after minutes of silence. I thought he wasn't planning to forgive me any time sooner and was adamant to offer me his silence

"Mia..." I muttered not wanting to shield her deed. There wasn't any response, he was stunned with my revelation. I glanced at his face, I needed some answer. My curious mind needed to calm a little. "Why did she do that?" His eyes met me for a second before he diverted them towards the road.

I wasn't answered for minutes and anticipated I won't even be offered one. "She likes Ehaan..." he replied, I raised my brow. That didn't answer my question. He stroked his hair as if having second thoughts. "She was possessive towards him from the beginning. Shooing off any girl trying to move closer towards him. Ehaan wasn't even bothered to correct her, he wasn't fond of relationship either..." He stopped, I nodded not forcing him further.

"She is getting insecure of me." I continued, I had guessed it. "She doesn't have to..." his eyes again met mine. "Ehaan choice is better," I chuckled finding it awkward to speak it to his friend. Though I considered Anuj as an elder brother yet he was Ehaan's friend. He stared at me for a minute longer before diverting his eyes.

"You need to stop degrading yourself..." He commented at the end after a minute of silence.

"I am shielding my heart from shattering apart," I whispered, it was meant for me yet I knew he heard those words. I had seen Mia breaking into pieces, I knew I wasn't that strong enough to handle it. That was also a reason, I couldn't let myself hate Mia.

"Why did you all were searching me? How did you know that I hadn't returned home?" I questioned as we reached home and he parked the jeep. Anuj had received a call from Aarav to pick them up. They could have come along with us yet Ehaan had to behave like an idiot. Deep down, I wanted to glance at him. Wanted to know if he was fine? His last state wasn't displaying the same.

"We had found you strolling into the staff room and we were waiting outside of the building for your departure. You never made it to the school bus," I knitted my brow in suspiciousness. Why they would do that? It wasn't like school was getting locked any sooner.

"Why so?" I interrogated further but he diverted his eyes. It grew my suspiciousness but I let it go for the moment.

"Hmm... we couldn't let you again get locked in the building." He offered a playful wink. I pressed a smile not convinced. "Why staff room?" He inquired, sudden mention of it brought back the conversation I had with the professor.

"Mr Patel, my maths professor called me." My voice turned heavy as I voiced it before him. Unlike him, I wasn't good at concealing my emotion. Anuj eyes raised in concern, his orbs radiating curiousness. "As I bunked the class, he was showing a cold shoulder towards me after our last exam. I hadn't scored well in his subject." I expressed my bottled up emotions, the tears slowly flowing from my orbs.

"What he said?" His hand tightened around the streeling wheels.

"He won't allow me to answer board..." a sob emerged from my mouth. "I couldn't let my one year go to waste... I..." Soon crying miserably as he pulled me into a hug. He stroked my hair, slowly. Comforting me, whispering motivating words.

"Don't worry... he might be just scaring you. Professor often does that." He attempted to convince me, I nodded though I was assured he was serious when he spoke those words out. He was determined not to let me seat for the examination. I broke from Anuj, pressing a smile. Assuring him that I was fine.

"You might be getting late," I spoke, getting out of the jeep. "Would had called you in if it wasn't them waiting for you." He smiled at my words.

"I know..." and suddenly glanced at his call. "Shit! I hadn't ended the call." He shook his head at his foolishness, I giggled at him. Waving my hands as he drove away from me.

____

As each minute passed by the anxiety within me grew to the extreme level. I sat in the living area, though the tv screen was switched on I couldn't force myself to connect with the latest episode of my favourite show. Unlike before it couldn't divert my mind from the latest event troubling my senses. I had to convey to my parents about the professor demand to meet them. I was stressed about their reaction, to scan disappointment on the face that should display pride.

I was humiliated with myself, I felt ashamed of my being. I brushed off the emerging tears. The thought was further degrading me, I needed to stop my mind. And the call ringing grabbed my attention. It was Rudr! But why would he call me? He had disappeared from the playground on glancing at Samaira. I was confused with his acts as if he was planning to keep it hidden.

I hesitated to pick up his call. I had heard the conversation of Anuj with his friend. Though I wasn't trusting anyone yet I felt Rudr would utilize the opportunity to degrade Ehaan. Or why would he have grabbed me inside and on purpose play the screen in the hall? That action had resulted in the event having no winner. Maybe he attempted it to defeat his competitor.  Our school had no head for a year. Not that it would make any difference.

Giving it a thought, I answered the call. "Hello!" I murmured, there was silence but he responded.

"Took you long..." He sounded disinterested. His behaviour towards me was different for the past few days. He seemed furious but was talented enough to hide it behind his joyful face. "You hadn't attempted to contact me, aren't you interested in knowing the truth?" He paused, sounding different. He had never spoken to me in such a manner. As if he was doing a favour. I kept quiet, appalled by him.

"Seems like your friend had succeeded in manipulating you against me." He concluded as I wasn't providing any response.

"It isn't like that..." I defended. "I am not in a mood," I confessed; his tone took a drastic change on listening to my broken voice.

"What the deal?" He inquired sounding concerned. The Rudr I was familiar with was back yet I didn't feel comfortable.

"Related to studies..." I informed, "will talk later." With it, I hung the call. My mood was off and his further stern behaviour triggered me more. It wasn't bothering me if I came across as rude. I slide the phone on the couch walking towards the kitchen. Needed some ice cream to wander my mind from the mess that I had created for myself.

As I walked out of the kitchen with a bowl full of chocolate ice cream. I heard some shuffling and soon the door was pushed open, dad accompanied by mom entered inside. They seemed tired yet their face had the glow. They smiled at me. My heart was beating loudly. I wasn't prepared to have the conversation. I needed some time to analyse how to initiate the conversation resulting in a less dramatic consequence.

My eyes wandered from dad to mom. Mom walked in blabbering about some recent plans while dad stood on the doorpost, his eyes spying on my action. As the grip over the ice-cream bowl tightened. I press my lower lip in concern, dad could sense my emotion without mentioning it to him.

"Ranuak, it isn't necessary to attend it." She sounded displeased as she washed her hand before grabbing a bottle from the refrigerator.

"Alisha, he is our boss." Dad diverted his gaze from me, expressing his exhaustion as he took a seat on the couch. "We need to attend his son reception." He shook his head. His action clearly indicated they had an argument about the matter. Mom wasn't convinced as she had a huge disliking towards big parties as me. Carving for some rest after a stressful day at work.

"Fine..." She huffed, having a sip of the water.

Dad sighed moving his gaze from the television screen towards me. "Get ready we need to reach the venue by eight." He informed me; I widen my eyes in surprise. They had attended parties before but I never accompanied them. The one associated with business people.

"Me?" I was appalled, kept the bowl of ice cream on my lap.

"Yes, the boss had specially invited the family members. He seemed very much happy with his son marriage."

I wanted to deny but glimpsing dad drained face compelled me to agree. As the small distraction would free my mind from the latest events of my life.