Chapter 12
Ishika circled in the same spot looking at her surroundings, particularly she was finding a way, and this was the second time in the day she lost herself. First time she did, she found the caf and just sat there. Now Dhruv had left because he had things to take care of as a cultural head. Antara called ten minutes ago, and Ishika left to meet Antara but didn't realize that she was still not familiar with the paths and where they lead. Why did she tell Dhruv to go along his way when he asked if he should drop her? She felt stupid to actually let some one drop her with in the campus itself. If she thought telling him 'yes' would sound stupid than she feels stupider now.
She turned around yet again reading the building names. Antara said she would meet Ishika in the parking lot where she parked her car in the morning. The same parking lot that was nearest to the atrium, but where the hell was that? Just then a familiar face passed by but she didn't have the voice to call him over. She sighed and cursed herself. She is an idiot.
"Lost?" the voice called in front of her. She looked up to see Yash trace back his steps.
"I look like an idiot don't I?"
Yash smiled, "No not at all. Where are you headed?"
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Ishika asked first to make sure she was not about to take his time away.
He shook his head, "Was just heading over to the dorms and hang out with Raj and Jayraj. I am sure they can wait some time."
Ishika gave a sheepish look as she answered his initial question, "I am supposed to meet AT in the parking lot I believe the one at the east entrance." She was not sure of the direction.
"The main lot that divides the whole campus in sections," Yash said as he nodded.
"How do you know that's the one?"
"Because that's where AT, infect all three of us parks our car most of the time. It's rare for us to park in the lot."
Ishika nodded and started walking with Yash as he asked if she had been alone all this time? She learns that Antara and Yash have their last class together.
"No, actually Dhruv found me, but then he had to leave so I didn't stop him to show me the way."
Yash eyed her, "Dhruv left you to get lost, that is not him. Are sure it was Dhruv and not some one else messing around with you?"
"Alright may be he did ask me," Ishika laughed, "But it just felt stupid to tell somebody to drop me with in the campus itself."
"You told me."
"Well, by that time I had no other option. It was better to make a fool of self then start walking in wrong direction and loose myself more into the maze."
"Next time until you get the map memorized, ask," Yash told her, "And no, it does not make you look like a fool. Everybody is lost on this first day. I remember my first day here, at that time I didn't even know any one. Unlike you, you already know the most popular group in college."
"Will keep that in mind," she said as the duo neared Antara.
"There you are what happened? I was starting to get worried," Antara said as soon as she spotted her friend.
"Relax girl, I am safe and sound just lost myself. Thank God Yash here crossed the path." And that is when Antara actually noticed Yash. She was too busy worried on why Ishika had not showed up twenty minutes past that she didn't see any one around.
"Next time, you call me." She said after giving a small acknowledging smile to Yash, which he returned back with a nod.
Ishika rolled her eyes, "Next times'" letting the sentence go for both Yash and Antara. Pulling out her car keys she walked few spaces down to her car, "Zoom out, right behind you."
Yash gaped as he saw Ishika's car, "That's her car? I saw it in the morning and was wondering whose it was as I had not seen it before, at least not one in blue."
"Yup that's her car. Thanks to her uncle who gifted it to her about a year ago." Yash nodded quite impressed, while Antara added a mumble, "Rich people just have to show off their wealth." She said opening her car and sat in.
Yash narrowed his eyes at the closed door. Yes, he had caught the mumble for the first time realizing what she might have been actually feeling about him. Did she really felt of him as some rich brat showing off? Now that he thought about it, he was always on top of the latest brands and gears. So was Dhruv. So where the rest of them, he never realized that Antara out of all the people always excluded herself when it came to getting new brand or model the day it got out. She will have it, but months and months later.
He saw her back out and zoom away and shortly after Ishika followed. He smiled and waved at her as she waved when passing him. "Thank you," she yelled over.
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"Ishika," Varsha smiled as she saw the two girls walk in trough the glass doors. She walked over to them, and gave Ishika a hug as the girl pulled her arms open, "How are you?"
"I am fine. I hear you have been busy," Ishika said.
"Works demands busyness," Varsha smiled and looked at her daughter, "How was your first day in the new college?"
"Amazing, I am really glad Antara is here. Or else I don't know how I would have survived it."
"Oh she is lying. She would have been just fine with out me," Antara said and walked towards the door that read Employees Only.
"No I am not. I am for real, the first time I stepped in that college I felt as if I should go back, but today I thought, hey it does not harm in giving Xi'an a chance."
Varsha shook her head as she leaded Ishika through the doors that Antara went through. Putting on the waist apron that looked like a backless skirt over her jeans followed by the cute lopsided girly cap or fashionable knitted hat would be the correct way to describe it, she was about to say something when Ishika interrupted.
"This is your uniform of the caf, it is so cool."
"No, I re-modified mine," Antara said as she posed like a model, one hand over the back of her hair pushing up her hair a little.
"Oh I forget we have a fashion designer in the house," Ishika continued, "I am telling you, I want something cool like this when I start working here."
"What?" Varsha asked as soon as she heard that. She looked up putting down the packet of cups she had just pulled out from the stock to take outside behind the counter.
"Didn't Antara tell you? I am going to join her here."
"Who is going to join us here?"
All three ladies looked at the inside door as it opened.
"Aalekh, look at what Ishika is saying," Varsha said to her husband.
"Hello uncle," Ishika greeted as she stepped up and leaned down to touch his feet for blessings.
"Dear you have grown up a lot, I didn't even recognize you at first," Aalekh commented as he pulled her up and took a good look at her.
"Aalekh," Varsha called, "Are you even listening? Ishika wants to join here. Like as an employee."
"What?" Aalekh echoed his wife's exclamation. He looked towards his daughter who gave him a I ' didn't ' know ' how ' to ' tell ' her ' no look.
"I will go take over the register," Antara said and rushed back out the door she had entered.
"Why?" Aalekh asked.
"Well, I will be looking for a part-time job soon enough. I thought I could work here along with Antara. But if you don't want me I can totally understand." Ishika replied.
Varsha blinked a long blink before she said, "It's not that beta but you don't need to work and what will Shekhar and Kalika say?"
"I am sure uncle will be fine besides it's you guys. It will just make him assured if I am working around trusted people."
Aalekh and Varsha exchanged a look; it was not exactly Shekhar that they were worried about. It was Kalika, she didn't like them or the caf if she found out that Ishika joined as an employee over here all she will do is let them down saying the couple did this on purpose by employing the niece of the famous businessman into their lowly caf. Shekhar yet does not know how Kalika had behaved with them few years ago and they didn't even tell him. It was better to not ruin relations and also Kalika had never entered through their caf doors since then.
"How about you discuss this with Shekhar if you do really think you want to do this and then we will talk and see if there is a place to squeeze in one more or not," Aalekh finally said as he tried to smile.
Ishika grinned, "Oh thank you."
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Next Part: Chapter 13
There goes the next chapter. I really hope you guys will like it.
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