Chapter 1
Asha
'Bye mumma, seriously I like my hair like this!' I mumbled as my mum ran her fingers through my hair with a stern expression but a sparkle in her eyes.
'Beta, you can't see yourself! Tumhare baal toh tumhare pyaare chehere ko puri tarah se chupa dete hai.' She tried to explain for the millionth time but I still didn't get why she didn't like it.
'Okay ma, you know aap bahot sweet ho lekin super annoying about my hair'
'YOU are super annoying about your hair and stop pulling my cheeks like that beta, maa hu mai teri. Anyways bus catch karne ke liye GOOD LUCK!'
I waved my license at her that I had just gotten yesterday and she let out a sigh, annoyed she couldn't threaten me about the bus anymore.
'Bye!' I yelled at the door, undoing my hair and bringing my fringe into my face. Then I quickly ran off smiling naughtily.
'Haye yeh ladkiya, teenager attitude to saha nahi gaya, ab madam 21 ho gayi' She let out a heavy sigh and closed the door.
I felt her smile as I walked into the lift and swivelled the car keys on my index finger feeling excited about showing off my new sports car, of course they would be jealous. Roshini, Dia, CJ and Simmy were definitely going to be all 'ooh and aah', and hopefully Shaila, the bitch too. I wasn't sure though if there was something behind all that attitude. I sighed, I'm losing my mind again as my friends would say but they hadn't seen her awful parents.
I stepped into my amazing and sleek sports car and drove off to a mixture of hell and heaven. Both were exaggerations but that's what school, work and college seemed like, just most of the time the hell bit of it came to our minds at first thought.
'Asha! How are you yaar?'
'Dude your half an hour late again!'
'Honey, one week ki entire gossip humne kar li and now you come?'
'Shhh!' Roshini gestured with her hands to stop everyone talking, and I gave a sigh of relief a little too early, 'Come on guys, give her time to make up excuses' she smiled with sarcasm.
I was baffled by this behaviour from my friends, they were suddenly acting as if I have been away for months and they didn't even notice my sports car! I frowned, of course, they were trying desperately not to pay attention to it and make me forget about it too.
'Dudettes I know exactly what your trying to do and it's not working,' I pouted and raised my eyebrows at them and got the same actions in response. 'Meri pyaari sports car ko ignore karna chahte ho?'
'Haan haan haan! Not fair you're rich.' Simmy said giving me evils. Roshini, Dia and CJ instantly agreed.
I laughed at my childish friends, gave a hug to each one and Dia caught me up with the gossip. It was nice to be back even if college was a lot of work. But one thing I didn't want to do was bump into Rohan.
'Sorry man,' he managed before he stumbled backwards, swinging his arms uncontrollably.
'Oh its-' I started but then I realised who it was, 'you. Always running into me'
'How lucky am I' he replied sarcastically, finally getting hold of himself, 'Anyways tum baar baar mere amne samne rehti ho so it's not my fault, it's your fault'
'Tum hamesha aise hi behave karte ho, stupidly. I mean we both were going round the corner from opposite directions so it's not necessarily 'someone's fault' ' I exclaimed annoyed at his dumbness. I really hated him because he was so egoistic and irritating. I was relieved when the bell rang just to realise that we're going to the same classroom. Hell.
Roshini was busy with Varun so I was alone because my other friends were in different classes. We walked together in unbelievable silence but fuming with anger inside. I slammed my books down on the table while Roshini was busy chattering away to Varun.
'Roshini, sit here naa,' I gestured her to the two empty spaces next to so Varun could join us if he wanted. She shuffled beside me with Varun and glanced at him shyly while twirling her black hair around her index finger nervously. He also couldn't stop himself from smiling as he moved a bit closer to her. Hmm...I thought to myself, so there is more to this err 'friendship'. I needed to have a little chat with this friend of mine.
'Seriously yaar, I really like him but how did you know? Is it obvious?' Roshini started stressing about the hints she might have given off.
'Nahi yaar, nothing like that. Bas shayad mujhe samajh mein aaya kyunki main tumhari bohot achhi friend hoon? I smiled but it obviously didn't help much.
'But vo bhi toh achha friend hai. To iska matlab use bhi pata chal gaya?' She spoke through her horror stricken face. It all looked really melodramatic but I seriously didn't want to mention that to her.
Come on, of all honesty, Varun had known her since 10th grade and had helped her when her mother finally remarried but to an absolute jerk. He helped her get through to this jerk and actually gradually, both step-father and daughter were now getting along. They had graduated together and everything and had ended up sharing a flat when Varun's parents were desperately bankrupt and had also helped him find a job to pay for his education fees. They were bound to fall in love.
I was deeply involved in my thoughts when Roshini shook me and laughed, 'I'm really a drama queen sometimes'
I really loved how she could laugh at herself, 'I'm glad it's only sometimes yaar' I said imagining life with Roshini always being so dramatic. But I knew she was really nervous inside still and so I said that she could talk more about him if she wanted.
'Pata nahi, kuch alag notice kiya?' she bit her lip trying to recall a few obvious hints.
'Tere bare mein ya uske?'
Uske bare mein..'
'Tere bahut paas aaya jaa raha tha aur apne aap ko teri taraf dekhe smile karne se rok nahi paa raha tha.'
'Haan smile to bahut kar raha tha aur jab bhi mein uski taraf dekhti thi to voh idhar udhar dekhni ki koshish kar raha tha.'
'Hmm... tu usse bataygee ya uske confession ka wait karegi?'
She nearly bit her nails then laughed, 'Arre yaar this nervousness is killing my nails now! I think thoda aur time doongi phir kuch nahi bola tho main hi boldoongi.
Then she said this really dramatically with actions and a posh British accent, 'I will get down on one knee with red roses in my hand and ask him 'Will you be my boyfriend?' What do you say Asha?'
I burst into hysterical giggles as she performed this hilarious act while she was still on one knee. Then I heard an annoyingly familiar voice.
'Asha and Roshini, since when did you two err... get together? Mer toh dill toot gaya Roshini,' he sniffed with more drama.
'Go away dude, humme akela chod do,' and realising what I had just said I added sarcastically with a big grin, 'We need some 'alone' time, so if you could please excuse us?'
He laughed and walked away, I guess this was a record, I saw him, I spoke to him and it wasn't an argument.