Chapter Nine: Is This Friendship Or Love? ❤️
During the week, Rashmi continued to study for exams, went to see Suman's play, and then went to the Night-Out place with Suman and Veer.
"Wow Veer," said Suman, "This place is awesome! Thanks so much for bringing me here!"
"Glad you like it," he said. "How about you Rashmi?"
"It's, um, great," lied Rashmi, blushing her face off.
Rashmi and Veer covered their ears from the loud music.
"Suman, do you wanna dance?" asked Veer.
"Sure," she said gloomily. Then she noticed Rashmi and was quick to end all hopes of her leaving. "You wanna come with us, Rashmi?" she questioned smugly. Her problem was solved--thank goodness for easily maniputable friends.
She shook her head, slipping into the background. Suman and Veer went to go dance but Suman wasn't close dancing which Rashmi least expected her to do anyway. She wasn't really looking at him but seeing if anyone else she knew was there. She suddenly saw Karan, Naina, and Nitesh, Karan's friend, dancing at the opposite side of the club.
Oh no, she thought. Karan's here! I can't let him see me dance with Veer! I'm going to have to make Rashmi dance with him and keep him company again.
"Hey Veer, I gotta go talk to Rashmi for a sec, I'll be back."
Suman quickly rushed towards Rashmi. She started panting loudly with her face down. Rashmi lifted her face up.
"What happened, Suman? Why are you panting so loudly?" she asked terrified, thinking something happened to her. Suman put her hands in Rashmi's hand and gave her 'the look'.
"Rashmi, I need you to be with Veer again while I'm with Karan."
"No way! I'm not going to dance with Veer so you can be with your hottie boyfriend."
"Come on, Rashmi please! I promise, I won't leave you alone with Veer after today." Once she turned away, she saw Karan coming her way and started getting scared. "Rashmi please! I'm begging you! Please dance with Veer! Karan's coming my way."
"Okay, fine, I will," she said and saw Karan standing behind Suman.
"Hey Sweets!" he said joyfully, "Wanna dance?"
Veer came to see them, and that just made Suman even more worried. Rashmi started giving Suman 'the look' to make up a lie and she thought of one and said,
"Veer, these are my friends from school."
She introduced everyone to Veer and told them that he was with Rashmi when Veer wasn't paying attention.
"Come on Suman, let's go dance!" said Karan.
"Uh..." she muttered.
"Come on!" he interrupted.
"Okay, but I'll only go on one condition: If Rashmi dances with Veer."
"Suman, what are you---"
"Don't worry, Rashmi. It'll be fun! Veer's very nice! You'll have a nice time with him!"
"But---"
"Bye!" she shouted and ran off with her friends.
Rashmi was alone with Veer and started to blush. He started to dance but she just stood there, looking at how other people dance.
"Don't try to look at other people dancing," said Veer. "To be honest with you, most of the people here are bad dancers, like me."
She gave him a smile and cracked up a bit. "Come on, trust me," he said. She slowly reached out for his hand, and started to dance.
"You're a great dancer, why don't you come here more often?"
"I don't know, I guess I don't really like loud music."
"Me neither, but I heard that Suman liked to come here, so I brought her here."
"Oh,"
"Suman doesn't seem to like me very much, I feel like she's avoiding me or something."
"Yeah I'm getting that feeling too, do you want me to talk to her about it?"
"No, I'll talk to her about it myself. Let's just dance for now."
"Actually Veer, I'm having a headache from all this music. Can we go outside?"
"Sure, should I tell Suman?"
"No, don't disturb her, let her be with her friends," she said, "and hottie boyfriend," she whispered.
"What did you say?"
"Oh nothing. Let's go."
They left the club, and sat next to each other on the bench. It was a beautiful, breezy night and the two of them looked solemnly at each other.
"I, well, I'm planning to cancel the Joraa with Suman."
"Oh, so we won't be hanging out anymore?" Rashmi sighed.
"No, we'll still see each other at school."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"And I guess we can get together sometimes."
"Yeah,"
"So Rashmi, are we considered friends?"
"Yeah, we're friends." Rashmi and Veer brought their hands together and shook hands.
"Rashmi; I have something to tell you: I L---"
"Hey! What are you guys doing out here? I've been looking everywhere for you!" Suman hollered from the club entrance.
Rashmi and Veer froze there with their hands clasped together. They slowly turned their heads towards Suman.
Chapter Ten: Uh-Oh 😲
Rashmi started to get worried on what Suman would think they were doing outside sitting next to each other on the bench... alone. But, she will tell her the truth.
"Hey Suman. We didn't tell you we were out here because you don't like to be disturbed when your with your friends," explained Rashmi.
"Yeah, that is true," she said. "But still, what were you guys doing out here?"
"I started getting a headache from the loud music, so Veer decided to come outside with me to give me company, and then we were just talking about school stuff."
"Okay, but why were you guys holding hands?" Suman asked with a daring expression.
"We weren't holding hands, we were shaking hands," she said as she was blushing.
"Um, okay," replied Suman, still confused. "Well I'm done dancing with my friends so let's go home now."
Veer called his driver to drop the girls home. They said there byes to Veer, but Veer only payed attention to Rashmi. Even when they weren't looking at each other, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She continued walking and he continued to stare. Suman tugged on Rashmi's arm after entering the house and dragged her upstairs into her room.
"I know what's going on. You like Veer don't you?" asked Suman with a sluggish smile.
"What!? No I don't."
"Yeah, you do. I see the way you look at him," she said in a mean tone.
"You're just saying that to tease me."
"No, I'm not. I'm serious. I know you do, you just don't want to admit it."
"Suman, if your going to keep talking about that, then I suggest you leave my room right now!"
"Or what, you're gonna start hitting me with pillows again?" she said in a slightly mean way.
"No, I'll tell your parents that you're not interested in Veer and that you make me be with him while you're off at some other place having fun with your boyfriend!"
Suman got really tensed and couldn't handle the truth being let out in front of her family. "Fine, you win this time! I'm leaving!" she shouted.
"G'-night Suman!" Rashmi said making a sweetish smile, as she giggled.
Chapter 11: The Final Decision 😊
After that evening at the Night-Out place, Veer asked Suman to come with him and she would come and bring Rashmi along with her, but after a little while she would run-off and go somewhere with Karan or her friends. Veer noticed the pattern that was going on and had a feeling that Suman didn't really like him that much.
He text messaged Suman telling her to meet him at the school cafe after school. He didn't get an answer for two hours. He asked Rashmi to talk to Suman and before science class started, she did. Suman had arrived early in class, sitting in her assigned seat. Rashmi noticed that there was three minutes left before class started, so she came and sat in the chair next to her.
"Suman, Veer wants to meet you after school at the cafe."
"I know, I don't want to meet him."
"Look, I know how much you hate him and stuff, but he has to talk to you about something that's really important."
"Alright, I'll meet him, but you come with me too."
"I can't, he wants to meet you alone."
"Really?"
Rashmi nodded.
"Ugh!" she murmured.
After school ended, she went to the cafe while Rashmi waited at the entrance. She noticed Veer sitting at a table. She pulled up a chair and sat across from him. She noticed the serious look on his face and wondered what he wanted to talk to her about.
"Hi Veer, Rashmi said you wanted to talk to me about something? So, what is it?"
"Hey Suman, Look you know how I've been trying to meet you all the time and was trying to get to know you?"
"Yeah,"
"Well, I feel like I still don't know you, because you always leave whenever I want to meet you."
"I'm sorry Veer, but it's just that I've been so busy with end-of-the-year projects, sports practices, etc."
"Well, I don't think you would be that busy to at least talk to me for 5 minutes about if we should be together or not?"
"Veer, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about. Look, I don't want to hurt you or anything but I'"
"We can't be together'right?" he finished the sentence for her.
"Um, Yeah," she said feeling a bit of pain.
"Thanks Suman. That's all I wanted to hear. I'm not upset with you, but I'm glad that you told me the truth. It's okay, I'll just have to have my Joraa with someone else."
"Oh, okay," she said.
"I'm sorry to call you hear like this in such a hassle, but the thing is that I have to make my final decision by tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh, it's fine, I understand," said Suman.
"Well I'll see you around," he said as he got up.
"Yeah, see you," she said.
Chapter 12: The Surprise 😉
It was a Wednesday afternoon. Rashmi and Suman were home all day because they had the day off. The day was pretty boring and we weren't expecting anyone to come to their place. Suman was lazily moping around, flopping on and off the furniture.
Nani was downstairs sitting on the sofa when she heard the phone. She finally picked it up after letting it ring for a minute.
"Hello?" a familiar voice uttered.
"Veer, It's you! What a pleasant surprise, did you want to talk to Suman?" she asked with great expression.
Oh god, Veer thought while his eyes squinted. Man, I can't stand that lady! Cool down Veer. Just cool down and try to talk to her.
"No, but I'm coming over to talk to you all about my final decision. I'll be at your place in five minutes."
"Okay, I'll go tell everyone! See you soon dear!"
"See you!" he said and hung up, anxious to get away from the overbearing lady.
"Thank god," Veer said wiping the sweat off his face. "That lady gives me the creeps every time I hear her voice. And talk about that big nose! Nasty man! Nasty!"
"Suman, Divya! Come downstairs! Veer is coming in five minutes to talk about his final decision!" Nani hollered excitedly.
Mrs. Thakur and Ammo came downstairs and Rashmi and Suman were at the top of the stairs.
"What the heck is Veer coming here for?" she asked. "I thought that was the last time I'd see him."
"Didn't you think maybe he wanted to talk to your Dad about that?"
"Well, I could have told him?" she stubbornly argued putting perfect hands on her hips.
"Oh sure. Do you really think that Veer would believe that you'd do that? I mean, he's already lost trust in you, how can he trust you on that?"
Suman ignored her and went downstairs.
"Hey you!" Nani hollered at Rashmi, "Go upstairs and don't come down till Veer is gone!" Rashmi slowly crept up the stairs, hoping to catch sight of Veer.
"Ma, what's your problem?" asked Mrs.Thakur. "Why do you have to disrespect Rashmi and be negative towards her all the time?"
"Dear, you don't know these kinds of people. They have ways of getting what they want without asking anyone." Nani defended aggressively, "So anyways, I can't wait to hear all the great things Veer has to say about Suman. I know they both are perfect for each other and after their Joraa is fixed, we'll call Sunil (soon-eel) and tell him about this and then we have to make preparations and---"
"Alright Ma, I think we get it," said Mrs. Thakur. A few moments later, Veer walked inside the Thakur house and everyone plastered a smile, except for Suman, on their face.
"Welcome Veer," said Mrs. Thakur. "Please have a seat."
"Thanks Mrs. Thakur."
"So tell us what brings you here today?" she asked.
"Mrs. Thakur, I have something to say to everyone."
"Sure, go ahead and tell us!" Nani said excitedly. She couldn't wait to hear Veer's remarks on Suman.
"I came here to say something, not only to Suman, but to everyone. Where are Rashmi and Mr. Thakur?" Veer asked.
"Rashmi is upstairs and my husband is at a meeting for work."
"Can you please call Rashmi? I'd like her to know what I'm here to say."
"Alright Veer, as you wish. Rashmi, come downstairs, sweetie!" called Mrs.Thakur.
Rashmi came downstairs quickly and stood near Suman.
"I'd like to tell you all that...I have cancelled my Joraa with Suman, and we both decided that we aren't really made for each other," he said looking at Suman, and she nodded while looking at him.
Everyone looked quite shocked, especially Nani, because she thought she would hear positive stuff about their future relationship. Then Veer came towards Ammo, while she was holding a tray full of tea.
Veer stood in front of her and said, "If I may have your permission' then I, would like to have my Joraa with your daughter."
Upon hearing this, Ammo drops the tray and the cups fall crashing to the ground. Everyone stared at Veer in a surprised way. Suman started staring at Rashmi, and probably thought she secretly liked him without telling her. Rashmi, who was scared and shocked at the same time had no idea what the whole family would say about Veer's decision. She ran as fast as a cheetah up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door to avoid hearing any complaints or refusals.
"Um'Veer," Mrs. Thakur began to say, after watching Rashmi leave, "I really believe we should think about this first, but we'll tell you our final decision most likely tomorrow."
"That's alright," he said. "I'm really sorry. I had no idea you all would be so shocked about hearing this. I really thought that Suman would tell you all about the decision we made at school about not having our Joraa with each other."
"It's okay, Veer," she said. "Rashmi is pretty shocked but don't worry, I know she'll agree soon. I'll ask my husband to talk to her about it."
Suman's face turned red and she started trotting up the stairs, ignoring the situation. Mrs. Thakur spotted her quickly and stopped her.
"Suman," her mom said in a serious tone.
Oh God, Suman thought. I am so dead! I hate you so much Veer! She turned around and asked her mom what happened. "Come back here." Suman came back down stairs and stood in front of her mom and Veer.
"Why didn't you tell us about the final decision you guys made?" her mom asked in a serious tone.
"Oh, yeah, I'm so sorry for not telling you Ma. I totally forgot about that! I'm really sorry Veer!" she said calmly to both of them, making a fervent smile.
"It's okay, Suman. At least they know now," Veer confirmed.
Yeah, and thanks to you, I'm gonna be busted now! Suman thought angrily.
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