The perfect couple (RTMC ff) (reply on page 51) - Page 19

CHAPTER – 10

Charu entered the room after coming back from college. He hadn't returned yet. She was about to go to the washroom for changing when she noticed his wardrobe half open. There was something in the lower-most shelf. She moved to it and turned to check if he was coming.

When she completely opened it her eyes glittered as she saw a splendid guitar.

Taking out the guitar she sat on the bed and started playing its strings. She wasn't any good at playing it but guitars always fascinated her. She had only played the strings for a few times when her fingers froze on seeing the shoes in front of her.

Smiling sheepishly, she nervously looked up at the glaring boy with his arms crossed and brows raised.

"I was just seeing it" she said gulping in.

"How dare you open my cupboard?" he asked sharply.

She fidgeted for some time and then said "It was already open."

"I see" he said pretending to think and then asked suddenly raising his voice, "Does that give you the liberty of ruining my stuff? " he asked snatching the guitar from her hands.

"I wasn't ruining it. What happened if I touched it once?" she asked indignantly standing up.

"Look I am not like grandma or dad who would endure your nonsense around. I hate when anyone interferes with my things and my life. Do you get it?" he said no more referring to the present incident.

She stood there with unshed tears and spoke as a tear left her right eye "Teacher didn't teach you at school to share?"

"What?" he asked and almost laughed at her irrelevant remark. But she ran out quickly without answering him.

He sat on the bed unable to hold back his grin anymore.

******************

Half an hour later, Charu was sitting in the garden, still crying, when she saw Sid and Rohan entering through the main gate in two bikes respectively.

"Why are you crying Charu?" Sid asked worriedly.

Charu looked up at him "I am not feeling well."

"Then why are you out and did you call the doctor? Isn't Adi at home?"

"Don't take his name. I hate him" she shouted suddenly.

Rohan and Sid exchanged amused look as they had heard such a thing from a girl against their friend for the first time.

Sid asked Rohan to talk to Adi while he'll stay with her. He sat down beside her as Rohan went in.

"But why do you hate him?"

"I've never seen such a –" she paused and continued suspiciously, "You are his friend then why should I confide in you?"

Sid smiled at innocence with which she asked him and said forwarding his hand "because we are friends too. Remember?"

She smiled and said shaking his hand "Right. Hmm so where was I? I have never seen such a selfish and self centered person in my life."

Sid smirked inwardly at his friend's destiny.

But he liked Charu as his friend. She was too innocent and frank.

"But why are shedding your precious tears because of him?"

"He spoilt my mood."

"Hmm. But Charu he is not that bad you see. All this is quiet unacceptable to him" he said trying to explain her.

"So all this is acceptable to me? But he behaves as if-" she stopped as Sid's cell rang.

"Charu I'll have to leave. It's urgent" he said canceling the call.

"Girlfriend?" she asked smirking. He smiled amusedly thinking how quickly she had wiped off her anger.

"No, I am not as lucky as your husband" he retorted smiling mischievously and left her frowning behind him.

*****************

It was an hour later, when Adi came out of his room with Rohan. Rohan hadn't mentioned anything about Charu as he knew his friend wouldn't like it.

But he was surprised by Adi's searching gaze wondering all over the living room as they came out of his room.

"Are you looking for someone?" he asked smirking.

Adi glared back at him stopping his smirk right then. He again looked around frowning. There was a peculiar strain on his forehead. He knew whom his eyes were searching. Rohan looked at him with an amused look as he hadn't seen him worried for anyone ever in his life.

"You wait here. I'll come back in an instant" he said rushing towards the kitchen. He looked into all the rooms, in the balconies, even on the terrace but she was no where to be found.

Now he was seriously worried. He came back to the living room running his fingers through his hairs in irritation.

"Didn't you find her?" Rohan asked him finally.

He was now too worried to try and hide his concern anymore.

"No" he said shortly.

Rohan smiled as he finally admitted that he was searching for her "She must be outside."

Adi was little doubtful about it as it was almost dark outside. But he immediately strode out closely followed by Rohan.

He scanned the whole garden, the backyard, even behind the thick trees as he could fully expect her to hide out for annoying him. He turned to Rohan unable to control his pounding heart anymore "I shouldn't have shouted at her."

Even Rohan was worried now "Don't worry Sid was there with her. She was crying here outside. But where are they now?"

"What Sid was there?" Sid may be with her. Sid was his close friend but he knew his attitude towards girls. He trusted Sid completely otherwise but he wasn't able to trust him when it came to girls. He had never minded Sid trying for his chances with girls. But now it was her. He couldn't explain why but he couldn't even imagine such a thing about her.

He quickly took out his phone and dialed Sid's number. But when he called him Sid said he had left early and she wasn't with him.

"Calm down Adi. Why don't you try Charu's cell?"

Adi looked at him and said slowly "I don't have her number. I don't even know she has a phone or not."

He was getting agitated by every passing moment. He had never felt so helpless ever before. He sat quietly on steps of the bungalow crossing his fingers and his elbows on his knees.

His heart was racing with the thought of her safety.

After almost an hour, he sighed in relief as he saw her entering the gates. He got up immediately as she came in smiling.

"Where were you?" he asked with forced calm.

"I went to our neighbor's house" she said innocently.

"Couldn't you inform me before leaving?" he demanded frowning.

"Why should I? As if you cared" she snapped making a face and strode into house haughtily without letting him speak anymore.

His gaze followed her retreating figure with an astonished frown and his lips made a complete 'o'. But soon he turned to Rohan composing himself, "I can't believe I wasted so much of my time over this-this- whatever…Sorry dude, your time was also wasted because of me."

"It's ok" he replied shortly and asked smirking "So you care about her?"

Adi looked away irritatingly "No ways. I was worried because grandma and dad would have slaughtered me if anything happened to their so called 'sweet princess'" he snorted and then completed coolly "That's it."

"That's it?" Rohan asked amused making him even more irritated.

"She's childish" Rohan said.

"I know" he agreed.

"But she's cute too" Rohan said narrowing his eyes.

He knew that too but kept quiet shifting uncomfortably not meeting his penetrating gaze.

******************

Adi's whole gang was sitting in the canteen, laughing as they ragged a nerdy looking guy. Suddenly Adi's gaze fell on the canteen gates and stilled there. Charu entered the canteen with both her friends, in navy blue top and white knee length jeans skirt. He turned his eyes to his soft drink, but the unsteadiness in his eyes did not go unnoticed by Rohan. He turned around to find her and smiled to himself.

While the rest of the group kept teasing the pitiable boy with huge specs, Roshni concentrated on him, when he suddenly withdrawn his participation in the ragging session.

She was about to ask him if everything was alright when she noticed him stealing glances at a group of girls in the nearby table. She confusedly followed his unsteady gaze. She had never seen him like this. She looked at the girl in blue with hatred as the other two friends were completely unworthy of his attention. But what agitated her most was that he was hesitating to approach the girl. That meant there was something different with this girl…

She turned to the group again and said excitedly "Hey guys, leave this nerd, I have another better source of entertainment."

"What is it?" one of the guys asked.

"Look there, isn't she the one who cried on fresher's first day?" Roshni smirked pointing Charu with her eyes.

Adi looked up at the mention of her and turned in her direction.

"No, Not her." he snapped almost instantly taking the whole group with surprise.

Rohan and Sid smirked at his weird reaction while Roshni fumed.

"Why not?" Roshni asked raising her brows.

"Umm… Because she-she'll irritate by crying and – and I am bored. Let's go back to class."

"What is wrong with you Adi? We don't have next period" another girl with them reminded.

"And we'll have fun" Roshni protested.

"Fine" Adi said irritated by the knowing smile of Sid and Rohan.

"Hey Charu, Anki; look, that group is staring this side" Niru said excited.

Ankita turned back a little "Yes. God I am nervous."

"I am nervous too. How am I looking?" Niru asked abruptly.

"You are worried about your looks?" Charu asked in disbelief and then added, "Stupid they are all seniors. They must be laughing on us or may rag us."

"I know. But look Aditya is also there. At least he may notice me today" Niru said hopefully.

Ankita looked at Charu for her reaction but she simply rolled her eyes.

"Forget it. I am going to place the order. What should I order for you two?" Charu asked getting up.

"Go now. This is the right moment. That girl is going to the counter" Roshni told a Samar from the group.

"Leave it guys" Sid said listening to her. He and Rohan were initially enjoying Adi's reaction but became serious as Adi stopped protesting.

"Samar, don't listen to him. You just go."

Charu was returning with a tray full of three cold drinks and sandwiches when Samar blocked her way.

She glared at him angrily but was trembling from inside. Adi glanced at them fidgeting restlessly as he kept blocking her path at her each sideward step.

"What do you want?" she finally asked nervously.

"You" he said bending his head a little making Charu gape at him with a sinking heart but she soon looked down feeling highly humiliated with the roars of laughter of students. Encouraged by his friends, he grinned at her pitiable condition but turned as he felt a strong grip on his color from behind.

"Adi?" he asked confused and awkwardly nervous at the sudden rage in his grip and fuming eyes. Charu quickly looked up, stunned by the abrupt mention of his name.

"Stop now" he commanded gulping his anger and then added looking at her, "and you, leave."

The whole group stood up at his sudden and unusual behavior.

Was he Aditya or she was imagining him? She gaped him contemplating if she was day dreaming…he and helping her? But she came out of her thoughts with a jolt, when he demanded angrily, "Didn't you hear me?"

Yes, he was Aditya only. Who else could shout and order her like this?

She blinked nervously and then left looking down, not able to understand if he was helping her out of humiliation or was humiliating her himself.

He pushed Samar forward leaving his color and strode out of the canteen.

Roshni stood there furiously frowning at the girl. What was wrong with him and what was in that idiotic fresher that he gave such special treatment to her? She had always wanted Adi to be a little possessive for her. But he hardly showed any signs of distress even if anyone proposed her in front of him. And now when one of his friends was playfully flirting with this girl he reacted as if he would break all his bones if he even inched another step towards her.

When Charu reached the table, Niru was literally jumping on her chair "He looked so handsome when he was holding that rascal. He is so nice. Just like my hero. You are so lucky Charu. I wish that guy had come for ragging me" she said dreamily.

Charu grimaced at her unique wish of being ragged while Ankita smiled as she finally saw the spark in his eyes for her best friend.

Adi banged his hand against top of his car agitated. Why did he react like that? Why did he feel like tearing that guy apart when he inched closer to her? Why had he started behaving weirdly? There was something in him that was drastically changing and only thing he could tell for sure that he hated this change. Whatever the reason may be but the entry of this girl in his life and recently in his mind was surely a bad news…