Days passed by after the incident in the playground. We had decided not to take part. It convinced Mom that I lied to her because I wasn't desiring to land in granny's place. After trying twice to provide a justification, I let her think whatever she desired. Not that her thinking would change the reality.

I was sitting on the back of the seat, staring out of the window. The beautiful greenery around could provide peace to anyone. The bonus was the cold bliss touching my warm cheek. I loved it about roaming, blissful silence and eye-rewarding view. The messy, slightly curving hairs dancing with the wind and disturbing my view.

"It upset Arun... I couldn't blame him either, Siya behaviour wasn't rewarding." Mom and dad were having a discussion about the events taken place in grannies. I shook my head, plugging earphones and selecting my favourite list. Closing my eyes while lip singing the lyrics, a huge smile spreading on my lips. Happiness, a peace that was offered by music to me. Least bothering myself with those painstaking hours. Yes! I was exaggerating it, it wasn't that painful yet I was bored. Even if I attempted I could never get along with my cousins, there never was much to talk about.

We never had many topics to share, I never enjoyed them talking about their boyfriends and hangouts they shared with their friends. One reason was, I never had anything to add on my part. The only time I passed was with my small cousin, she was two years old and more approachable than her bigger sister of my age. I enjoyed my time playing with her even she was fond of me rather than with her own sister.

That made me smile, I had someone who adored my company. I opened my eyes as the sounds of horns disturbed me from the music bursting in my ears. I again played it as I was so lost in thoughts that I wasn't able to enjoy the lyrics with my whole heart. As I was on the verge of closing my eyes, someone grabbed my attention. Or should I say those dark brown orbs! He was staring straight into me, was he so fond of staring?

I moved my eyes towards his face, amusement showering it. He was sitting on the driving seat of a jeep with his eyes trained on me. I looked away though his eyes didn't inch away.

"Aren't they from your school, Ru?" Mom questioned, why she had to notice them? I rested properly on the seat, thinking that would escape me from his gaze.

"Hmm..." I hummed in response.

"Do you know them, Ru?" Dad sounded rather concerned so unlike mom who was curious to know about them being in our school.

"Hmm... seniors, they are seniors," I mumbled to myself but they could hear me in the quiet car. I switched off the music, those dark brown orbs had spoiled my mood. We were waiting near the signal and unfortunately, their jeep was parked beside us. I slowly moved my gaze to glance at them. They were wearing a blue jersey and obviously our school name was imprinted on them. So, maybe that brought mom to the conclusion.

There was one unknown figure, the only girl but she wasn't like other girls labelled as popular. Unlike wearing an extra short dress, and tons of makeup. She was in one of the blue jerseys, cheering as she sat with rest on the back of the jeep. I found Varun, Anuj on the back while Aarav was sitting next to Ehaan in the front. They were celebrating maybe worn a cup. Anuj caught me staring at them and passed a smile, I gave a nervous one again darting my gaze in another direction. I thought looking at another side would be a good idea but I was highly mistaken. Another jeep of nearly the same as that of Ehaan was parked.

"Shit!" I muttered to myself. I kept myself hidden as much as I could, on the jeep was sitting Rudr along with his gang and the only person I knew was Kunal and Mia whom I wasn't desiring to encounter after that incident on the playground.

"Oh, see who is here! RUHI!" He called it out extra loud. No! Please, my parents were along with me. What would they think?

"They know you?" I heard the appalled voice of mom. Please, only if the ground could open and hide me from the upcoming conversation. It wasn't a big deal for schoolmates to know each other but it was for me, highly my own classmates recognized my name. Senior knowing me was huge a deal!

"Hmm... yeah... I mean..." What was I going to answer? And the way I was putting up words making dad more suspicious. He won't ever like me associating with such guys.

"How are you girl?" I heard him again speaking, couldn't he stop? I stared straight, was the green light ever coming? Glaring at the red one, I looked back at Rudr. He was acting as if we were long lost friends, I never had a proper conversation with him.

I smiled at him, an awkward one. What do you expect from a reserved girl like me? He was a stranger, not even a friend! "Why you disappeared from the dance practice? Are you no longer participating?" He inquired, how come he knew? Mia was present when Samaira informed Varun, was he doing it on purpose. What the hell was wrong with signals? This was more frustrating than the visit to granny. I wish I had agreed to stay there for a night, I wouldn't have to undergo the torture.

"Hi, uncle! Hi, aunty!" he greeted my parents, why was he behaving as if he was my friend. Had he forgotten that his sister insulted me on the playground around his same number of friends? I glanced at Mia who was uninterested in the conversation, catching glimpse of the jeep on the other side. Ehaan's jeep! She had fallen hard and deep, not even Samaira was so over Varun.

I planned not to think about it just concentrate on the signal before me. And suddenly the green light popped, I sighed in relief. And without me mentioning dad pulled from there. I couldn't thank dad enough for it.

"They seemed quite nice individuals, why didn't you talk to him properly?" Mom turned to look at me. I widen my eyes, from which angle he looked nice?

"Better she didn't..." commented dad, shutting the topic.

After few minutes mom again spoke, "so you really participated in the competition?" I wasn't going to provide her with any response, if I did I would burst upon her. How could she believe I was lying to her? "Why you backed off from it?" She inquired behaving as her curious self.

"Hmm... I gave it a thought and felt I would be messing with an important year of my life. I didn't want to do it," I was lying but I couldn't share the truth. It was much easy to wrap the conversation than sharing my humiliation.

Mom turned again, unlike earlier she seemed concerned. "If you enjoy doing it don't push yourself back. It will be worth it!" I was surprised as those words were offered by mom, not my dad. Later the ride was filled with silence and I was thankful for it. As the car halt near our house and I was on the verge to rush from it but dad words brought closure to my plan.

"Ruhi, help me with some files in the back." He mentioned while mom walked inside making me and dad stay behind. He handed me some files also carry some by himself. "Is there something you want to share? Does not participate in the competition had nothing to do with those not so decent guys?" His eyes were hopeful that I would answer his question with truth not pull another lie. I couldn't blame him, they were in such attire, shouting and cursing waiting for the signal to go green. Any father won't like his daughter associating with such stupid guys.

"It was... we didn't go well together. They are different, dad." I whispered not looking directly into his eyes as I knew I would stop seeing his reaction to my words. "And above all is self-respect right?" At last words, I stare at him. He offered a smile and patted my head.

"Yes! Never let anyone harm your self-pride." He winked at me while I giggled. I could approach dad more easily than mom. It was strange but he understood me better!

___

The day of the school started with me sharing with Samaira about my Sunday. From hanging in granny's place to encountering a 'not so pleasing gang'. She was amazed as well on listening to Rudr pleasing conversation skills. I had seen Samaira avoiding Varun on every occasion she got. Not ignoring in a way one would call rude but any sane person could guess that she wasn't interested in talking to him anymore.

At moments, I felt guilty as I knew the reason behind her attitude was me. At the same time, I felt glad that she kept me above her childhood crush.

"Varun was also present," I mentioned it twice, maybe she would give it a second thought. I knew she was hurting herself with ignorance. If I felt guilty seeing Varun sadden on his attempt going to waste, it couldn't go unnoticed by her.

"Stop always opposing me. You're my bestie, you should support my decision." She sounded annoyed. As I was always against her crush and when she moved on from him I was encouraged to not do it.

"Maybe I was wrong... maybe you were correct about him," I suggested and as a daily routine, she ignored my comment. I rolled my eyes at her, "are we going to the cafeteria?" I questioned, causing her to hesitate. Going there would mean meeting Varun and she was escaping from it.

"I had brought my tiffin..." she mumbled.

"So, again I will be landing in that crowded heaven." Samaira giggled on listening to my description for the cafeteria. She knew my disliking the place. "You make it a point from tomorrow, bring a tiffin for me as well." I glared at her before walking out of the class.

Not at all interested in greeting anyone on the way. Only if anyone would know me, credit went to my introverted nature. On the way to the cafeteria, I was deciding on want to eat. Busy engrossed in my thoughts, I walked inside. A huge wave of displeasure crossed my skin on seeing the large line before me. I had wasted enough time on having a conversation on Sunday, as during class hours it wasn't possible to have a proper conversation.

As I stood in the line, tapping my feet on the floor waiting patiently for the line to move further.

"Ruhi!" I heard someone calling my name, as a reflex action I turned towards the source. As my eyes travelled around the cafeteria, it came and rested on the person. I was least interested in speaking, I stared at him keenly. Why was he showing interest in me, suddenly? I could feel others staring between me and him. Without wanting, I had ended up becoming a centre of attention.

That hazel orbs were least bothered about the attention, his mere words had brought to me. His black hairs, brushed by his hand to keep it in its desired place.

"Nice meeting you once again!" He exclaimed loudly as if grabbing more attention from the crowd and the smirk on his lip, was indicating he was doing it on purpose. "Hope, you aren't going to ignore me today." With those words, he gave me a mocking smile. That was embarrassing, him expressing it aloud. I knew my ignorant behaviour hadn't gone unnoticed by him but uttering it around the whole school was another level!

I was thinking of an excuse, his eyes moved for a second away. "I just love your name... Ruhi...!" Again, his voice loud enough and giving more emphasis to my name at the end.

"Stop, pulling stunts Rudr. It's not at all enjoyable." I heard an interrupter. I turned myself to glance at the person, Aarav stood from one of the tables. He was sitting with the rest of his friends, my eyes landed on the pissed Ehaan. His hands gripping tightly on the edge of the table, as he always in that murderous mood? I mean, whenever I encounter him. I could glimpse a lion ready to attack his prey. Diverting my gaze, I glanced at the other members on the table. The girl was again present at the table accompanied by Varun and Anuj, they all seemed pissed with the conversation taking place in the cafeteria but only one black orb conveyed concern and it was directed towards me by Anuj. It confused me, why would he be concerned? We were mere strangers plus he was a bad boy. Friend of a person who had broken a girl heart without a hint of remorse touching his heart.

"Where am I pulling stunts?" Rudr bounced back, "I am talking with one of our juniors." He winked at me, I widen my eyes at him. What was he up to? I doubted his intention!

"Bro, stop it. You will worsen it more," at that minute I realised Mia was also present in the cafeteria. And she was sitting exactly opposite to the table Ehaan was. A position where she could get frequent glimpses of Ehaan.

"The way you don't want me to jump in your decision, I would ask you to don't." Rudr wasn't sounding at all pleading but warning his sister not to speak a word after it. Maybe they had some argument over it. I had enough of the drama happening around me. It seemed as if each one was playing some mind game with others. Earlier I felt only my life was so complicated at such a young age but I was mistaken, their life was hell a lot complicated but I had no idea what their life was about!

I stood there, the queue was moving at such a small speed. All I wished was if I had also brought tiffin, I wouldn't have to experience the drama happening and the worse part was I was the centre of attention of the crowd. They might be thinking, who the hell was I? 'Popular gang' of our school was fighting due to me.

"Don't tell me you got interested in her." Came a response from the person, I unexpected. His look a minute back conveyed he was going to rip Rudr head off his shoulder. And a minute later he was offering a smile to Rudr. I told you, complicated!

"Interested?" Rudr raised a brow at the statement. Man! Please could the earth swallow me? "Hmm..." Rudr was spying with his keen eyes and I wasn't at all liking the attention. "She seems unique, different from others I met!" He sounded genuine. And I was startled with the way he put it, no mocking, no smirk, no mischief but a genuine compliment. Was I imaginary things? I knew he was interested in me for his personal benefit and it had to do with something of Ehaan but why his compliment seemed genuine? Ruhi! Have control over yourself, they are bad boys and knows very well to manipulate girls!

The room was silent before someone burst into loud roar of laughter. Confused, I stared at the source. His eyes shutting a little, as that rough sound of laughter, touched my ears. It wasn't passing through his spirit, it was a fake one. But it gave me a view if that guy ever laughed for real it would be a melody for anyone's ears. He had a very good voice that was hidden behind his rough one. I couldn't believe my own analysis, could a person possess two voices? I shook my head, I was losing it!

"Unique! Different! You got to be kidding me," he paused continuing with his laughter. "Mia, I thought your brother had a great choice not something like her." That made people around join with him in the laughter. Something inside me shattered at those words. Good choice? Was I that bad! I knew boys like him or in general anyone wouldn't be interested in me but him expressing it aloud. It hurt man! "I mean... look at her!" His eyes spying each part of my body and I felt disgusted by his gaze. He made me feel inferior, like his girlfriend. I could understand why they ended up together both had the same thing in common, humiliating others to gain respect! Disgusting mentality!

"We have better people..." I interrupted him, I had enough of him. Enough of his humiliation and enough of his friend. He was popular, he got good looks. He was gifted with talent but that wasn't giving him the power to humiliate me, make me feel garbage. I might be not possessing good looks but it was none of his concern. Egoist fool!

"Yes! Better people those who can make the short skirt more shorter so the guys roaming around could have a better look at their thigs. Yes! They are better as they attend school not to study but impress guys. They are surely better than me because they change their boyfriend as if it's shoes. Each day a new one! Matching with their outfits. Definitely, you deserve someone like them." I voiced it out fuming in anger. Least bothered I was standing in the cafeteria and the whole crowd was an audience of my speech. The only thing I knew at the moment was he crossing his limit. I might be not someone bold, someone who like fighting but I had my limits and he had crossed them.

I walked out not waiting for a minute. Before moving I hadn't failed to glimpse at his wide dark brown orbs, it amazed him. He wasn't expecting the response, as he considered me someone too coward to speak up for herself. I wasn't someone courageous but could never tolerate arrogant people, they should know how to talk. Slowly his eyes darken the way I had seen in the auditorium but before he could express a word, I had rushed out of it. And as expected a tear rolled down my cheek, it frustrated me. Those tears never left me alone, I wasn't sad but mad! Why my heart wasn't understanding it? Why it always had to experience each emotion with such a loud force? I brushed it off making my way to the washroom. Hoping my life wasn't going to complicate any further!