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the naive rebel|
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: smooth af
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Did you ever think, of this? Let's try playing with a character sooo different than Inaayat. ;-)

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MISHTI
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'So, next week. Final.'

Inaayat's message pops up on my phone, it's been almost two months since we last met her. We do chat and call regularly but between her work and academics and my studies, we hardly did get time to meet.

Contrary in her case, we do manage to meet Ishaan quite regularly. He lives close by and Nikhil being so attached to him, pulls Sameer and me along with him whenever he goes to meet Ishaan.

It's been difficult without Inaayat, in all honesty. She was my only friend and with Garima pursuing the course through correspondence, I am alone. I try talking to other girls of my batch but I just can't simply connect to them. They are different than I am. Some are way too studious while another party like animals.

I haven't been able to find a person who is like me, you know, who enjoys home. Whose idea of a party is good food or close-knit get-togethers.

The other reason for not making friends is well, Nikhil. He has goofed around with many girls in our college, and the remaining ones crush obsessively over him. So even if I try making a friend, either that girl will have a past with him or would persuade me to ask Nikhil to date her.

It's weird.

Not that I ain't used to his ways, but now it's kind of different. He has been my friend since the start, we had met in the library where he had begged me to help him pass. Those were the days.

And then, I just got used to his flirty ways. He hasn't dated many girls, but he enjoys attention so he is always between them, flirting and cheerily talking to them.

A habit I am used to. These days, he's acting strange, distinct. And honestly, I like that. I never knew I was so irritated with his early ways that when he stopped doing those, I feel relieved.

Now,

Finally, after two months we all are going to meet Inaayat in Mumbai. Ishaan will be driving us because as he says,' I don't trust you all.'

The semester is going to end the next month which means we are going to be bombarded with a season of exams very soon. And to compensate for it, our seniors have arranged for a pre - valentines day party.

Which again makes no sense to me.

The words in the textbook before me jumble up, and my eyes feel droopy. It's nine in the evening and I am already sleepy. I had barely caught any sleep the last night after Nikhil and Sameer pulled me to attend a wedding, where we were simply not invited.

Anything to escape the mess food.

After Aayu and Garima left the college, Nikhil and Sameer have taken up the responsibility to not let me feel alone. They know I haven't succeeded in making new friends and therefore, they try pulling me along wherever they go. Though, it's not something I want them to do.

They both have their own set of friends and I am well aware of that fact. They have stopped attending parties or hanging out with their friends because I am not invited to them.

But, they need to know that they can't stop their life. I keep telling them to go and attend them and also assure then that I'll be fine but no, they simply don't listen.

I know all their concerns are also caused by the step I had taken, and I still do repent it. It was a dark phase and I do not want to go back there. I feel bad and terrible that I dug that grave for myself. I am been an over-thinker but I won't let myself seep into that phase, again just because I am left alone.

I keep telling them, that I am stronger than I was before. And they always respond with an 'I know' but, it's not right. It was all my fault, I have made myself look so weak in front of everyone that now they are scared to even leave me alone.

I-

'No. Mishti, stop blaming yourself. Not right. Red zone. Stop. They don't go because they care for you. Shut the hell up.' I chant.

I am way too consumed in replaying my therapy session in my head when I feel a soft pat on my left shoulder. The sudden movement shocks me and I hurriedly look towards my left side.

"Hey. Did I startle you?" The guy asks, and if I am not his name is Piyush. We have many classes scheduled together.

"Kind of?" I sheepishly tell him. I look at him and then at my notebook. Does he want my notes?

I don't want to give them again. Once they take it they return it only after exams and this time I am not going to meltdown. I am not going to give my notes. Yes. I am going to be strong.

"See, if you want my notes, you need to give it back by tomorrow, without any fail."

I am stupid. Can anyone please, knock some sense into me?

"Oh-no actually. I ain't here for the notes. I wanted to ask you something?" He sounds so confused. Pausing his sentences and then completing them.

Do I talk that way too?

"You are no more engaged right?" He quickly whispers the statement, unsure of my reaction to it. Well, the devils had made my engagement or as they said marriage a piece of public information and Garima's exit wasn't a secret as well.

"Yes," I reply. I need to get back to my studies, I can not leave today's topic for tomorrow. Ishaan is going to kill me if he comes to know that I have a backlog and still decided to come on the trip to Mumbai. He has taken the role of a teacher (a very strict one) and a mentor along with being a great friend for the three of us.

"Uhm, Mishti?"

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking something." This conversation is getting weirder. He needs to complete this discussion quickly.

"So, So, I. Okay, see, I wanted to ask if you are going to the party. The one that's next week?"

Does he want the notes I'll make next week? Wait, why is bunking classes to attend the party? The party's at night and bunking classes to select clothes are over the top.

But ain't I bunking the classes too?

"No. She is not." Before I can open my mouth to answer, I hear a voice behind me answering it for me.
Why is Nikhil in the library?

He strides towards the table I am seated on, his eyes concentrated solely on Piyush.

When I turn back to face Piyush, he looks as bewildered as I am.

"She is not. And you can leave." Nikhil orders him once he is standing right in front of him and next to my chair.

"Excuse me?" Piyush tries, and I just turn my chair a little to face them. My neck has started aching due to the strain of craning it and my books are being neglected, again.

"Leave." Nikhil's voice resonates in the library and the librarian shushes at us.

Piyush looks at Nikhil and then at me as if he is waiting for me to speak something. And, I don't know what to say, but as a good person, I start.

"Piyush-"

"It's Pranay. You know what, leave it." He corrects me and leaves the library angrily.

"I shouldn't have said the name aloud, right?" I mutter for Nikhil to hear. Anyone would have gotten angry if they are called with an incorrect name.

"That's your concern?" Nikhil sounds frustrated and I finally decide to do some labour by standing up.

"Yes, why?"

"He was fucking asking you to be his date for the party!" He is almost shouting, but he doesn't look angry.

He was?

"Oh. Wait, I should go and tell him that I am not in Pune that day? It looked so terrible when he had to go angrily-"

"If, suppose you were in Pune, you would have accompanied him to the party?" He edges closer a little closer.

I didn't even know his name, but if it would have been mandatory to enter as a pair I would have asked for the entry and after that would have gone separate ways. Or, to be honest, I ain't even sure if I would have attended the party.

Sameer would have come with his *new* female friend- Ruhi, whom I am yet to meet and well, Nikhil would never enter a party alone. So there was no point to prowl in the event alone.

"I don't know? I wouldn't have gone to the party, I guess." I tell him. His eyes, something flashes in them as he continues looking at me intently. The intensity bores into my soul and I am nervous.

"And," He starts, slowly and dangerously framing his words, his tone lowering the baritone to something which manages to evoke tingles run through my body.

"If I asked you to be my date?" And from the frustrated tone he was using, he jumps to a voice filled with reluctance.

"Why would you?" I don't even think before asking him my question. It was like a reflex action but his face morphs into a furious look, his eyes darken and he takes another tiny step, now standing way too close to me.

Did I say something wrong? There's silence and he doesn't speak anything. I don't even dare to open my mouth as I wait for him to respond to my query.

"Because I like you."

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Yes. there's gonna be a part two. don't worry. 😂

Next bonus chapter would be on Ishaayat, though.


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