The next day Zamia and Zaara were returning from college in an autorickshaw when Zaara suddenly realized that Zamia had been very quiet the whole way.
'Zamia? What's wrong with you?'
She looked at Zaara.
'The supermarket guy. He's Ayan. Met him yesterday.'
Zamia had told her about Ayan and Ada.
'Oh' Then she started laughing. Zamia scowled at her.
'Zamia, you should be happy. I mean it's not like they're going out now or anything.'
'Shut up Zaara. He looked so sad when Ada was talking about her new house. Thank God she dint mention her new boyfriend!'
'Wait. What exactly has made you sad? Are you sad because your supermarket guy turned out to be your cousin's ex-boyfriend or because they aren't together now?'
Zamia thought for some time. 'A bit of both. I mean I wish he wasn't Ayan. And I wish Ayan and Ada hadn't broken up. It's almost like I'm thinking of two different people.'
Zaara looked at her for a long time and then finally spoke when they had paid and got out of the auto.
'You're mental.'
'Yeah, I know that.'
'Zaara, are you sure you don't have a brother?' Zamia asked after some time as they got into the elevator.
'Yes. Why?' Zaara asked.
'Nothing. But are you sure? Ask your parents about it.'
'I'm sure I don't have a brother Zamia.'
'Really?'
Zaara frowned. 'Why?'
'Well, Imran Khan looks like he could be your brother.' Zamia said, smiling sweetly.
The elevator had stopped at 8th floor and Zamia ran out before Zaara could react.
'Zamia! You wait…'
The door to her house wasn't locked so Zamia opened the door and rushed in through a narrow passage that led to the living room. Zaara ran to the door but stumbled on the threshold and was about to fall when someone caught her just in time.
She straightened up cursing Zamia under her breath and was about to thank whoever had saved her but when she saw the person in front of her all she managed was 'YOU?'
Who else? It had to be Sahil. He let go of her quickly. Just then Zamia came back to see where Zaara was.
'Hi Sahil. What are you doing here?'
'Mum asked me to give some book to your mother. So I came here directly from college. I need to go now. Umm, Excuse me.' Zaara was blocking the way to the door.
'Oh sorry.' She stepped to a side.
'Zamia stop smirking' Zaara said as soon as she had closed the door.
'What? Me? Smirking?' Zamia said trying to make an innocent face and failing.
Zaara glared at her.
'What? I'm just happy coz you two look so good together. I'm sure your brother, I mean Imran, won't mind either…after all Sahil is my brother.'
And then began the tom-and-jerry-chase.
The first week of College went by quickly. So far Zaara was enjoying college. They had finished with the bridge course and from the second week their actual lessons were getting started. Zaara had her first Hindi class on Wednesday and she was nervous. Until now she had been successful in avoiding Brian but since the number of students opting for Hindi as their second language was very small, commerce and arts students would be having Hindi classes together.
Zaara went to classroom no. 3 with her classmates who had taken up Hindi as their second language. She sat down with Pooja. Sahil sat down on the other side and turned to say something to her.
'Err…Zaara…'
But then the Principal's secretary came to the room and asked Sahil to come to the office. He got up and left and just then the students from the other batch arrived. Brian was the tallest. Zaara tried to hide her face by holding a book in front of her while Pooja started giggling. Brian looked around, spotted Zaara and rushed to her.
'Hey Zaara' he smiled at her.
'Hi Brian' she tried to smile back.
He kept Sahil's books on a seat in front of them and sat down even as Zaara said
'Brian, that seat's taken…'
'That's ok. They won't mind, I'm sure. Anyways where have you been? I was searching for you all over the college.'
'You were searching for me? Why?'
'Zaara, of course I was searching for you. We're friends!'
Friends? She felt like kicking him. She dint what to say now but then she noticed Sahil entering the class.
He came to them and then saw that his seat was taken.
'Excuse me, this is my place.'
'Oh yeah, I kept your books there. You mind if I sit here?'
Sahil looked at Zaara with one eyebrow raised. She nodded with pleading eyes.
'Yes I do.'
Brian looked irritated.
'Common dude, what's your problem with sitting there.'
'Nothing. I just happen to like that seat a lot. So move.'
'Err…Brian, I think you should sit somewhere else. It's his seat after all. It's only fair.' Zaara said.
Brian got up and went away grumbling.
'Thanks.' Zaara said.
'Your welcome. But who is he?' Sahil asked.
Just then the Hindi professor entered the class. They couldn't speak after that. After Hindi class they had lunch break. Once their Hindi lecturer had left Zaara grabbed her books and rushed off before the others had even got up.
'What's wrong with her?' Sahil asked Pooja.
She laughed. 'I guess she wanted to go before Brian could come over to talk again.'
Sahil frowned. He got and left the classroom. After lunch he saw Zamia and Zaara at the canteen. The two were laughing about something.
'Hey.'
'Hi Sahil.' Zamia said.
Zaara smiled politely.
'Are you going to tell me now who that Brian is?' he asked Zaara.
'Brian?' Zamia looked shocked and stared at Zaara.
Zaara explained to her what had happened.
'And you dint tell me till now!' Zamia said accusingly.
'I was about to…' Zaara said.
'Who is Brian?' Sahil asked.
'Why are you so interested?' Zamia asked.
'I was just asking. Anyways I came to ask Zaara if…'
But then the bell rang and they had to rush off to their classes.
