"How he became my deskmate."
___________________________
"Bilirubin is a yellow chemical in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in your red blood cells."
"What does that have to do with this?" Harsh's brows furrowed in confusion. "It is present in all human beings."
"Of course, it is." Dhruv rolled his eyes. "But how did a dead person still have this chemical activated that too in excess amount only in his chest and no other part of his body? Are you getting it?"
Harsh's eyes widened in realisation. "Does that mean someone inflicted it in him after he died?"
"Why would someone do that to a dead person?" Dhruv mumbled more to himself.
Harsh ran a hand through his hair, huffing in frustration. "Just when I thought it was a simple murder..." he muttered.
"You know what? I think I'll be having a trip to Naveli."
"Should I come with you?"
"No, you're more needed here. I'll go alone."
"Alright. But Naveli doesn't have a railway station, let alone a airport. You'll have to take a train to Ajmer, I'll ask the Naveli SHO to arrange a car for you there." Harsh informed him.
Dhruv hummed and hung up the call. As he sat in his laboratory cabin, he thought about something to himself. He fixed his glasses on his nose and sighed.
Could it be that they are misuing this chemical for something? Was his death just a need? Because he witnessed something he shouldn't have?
___________________________
That evening, Dhruv entered his house and was immediately greeted by the site of his family collectively sitting on the couch. The atmosphere was lively and light.
The oldest in the Saxena family were his grandparents - 𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒎 𝑺𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒏𝒂, the dignified head of the household, and 𝑲𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊, his gentle yet sharp-witted grandmother.
His father, 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒏, was a renowned criminal lawyer, respected both inside and outside the courtroom for his sharp arguments and unshakable presence. His mother, 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒉𝒂, managed the home with quiet strength, holding the family together with her warmth and care.
Then there was his uncle, 𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒏, a talented architect by profession. Life had tested him early-his wife had walked away shortly after the birth of their son, 𝒀𝒖𝒈, who was now ten years old. Despite the circumstances, Yug was the bright spark of the family, loved and doted on by everyone.
Among his siblings, 𝑽𝒆𝒆𝒓, the second eldest, was still unemployed. Though he had finished his studies, he often drifted between ambitions, dreams, and excuses, his charm and easygoing nature making it hard for anyone to truly scold him. And the youngest, 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒊, was in her 12th standard, full of energy, curiosity, and a tendency to stir the calm with her playful antics.
"Dhruv bhaiya aa gye." Yug exclaimed, looking at Dhruv entering through the door. Everyone looked towards his direction, he gave them a warm smile. "I'll be back after freshing up." He said and left for his room.
Dhruv came down, and the whole family was already settled at the dinning table. He made his way towards his chair and sat there beside Charvi.
"How was your day, Dhruv?" Dadi asked him.
"It was.. decent."
"Decent? Hardly. It must've been thrilling, right bhaiya? Surrounded by corpses all day." Charvi chimed in, taking a bite from her plate. "Your job is literally the coolest!"
"Bhaiya, don't you see any ghosts? Like they show in the movies? Like they help you to solve their murder mystery?" Yug asked, as Radha fed him his bite. Yug, there, was a huge movie-junkie. His love was movies and shows were no surprise for anyone in their household.
"Of course, Yug. He does. He plays dollhouse with the female ghosts you know. Akele akele maze karke aate hai ye." Veer said the last part slowly as to only let him, Charvi and Dhruv hear it, and smirked at Dhruv, giving a high five to Charvi, who chuckled.
"I go there to examine the bodies, not play with them." Dhruv shot Veer a pointed look, then turned towards Yug. "Yug, ghosts aren't real. Stop watching so many movies. They are stupid and senseless." Dhruv told him, then smacked Veer's head making the latter wince. "Stop putting things in his mind."
This was like the gazillionth time he was telling this to them. Especially his dadi, who never fails to take him to the temple every sunday to get him 'checked' as she says. To make sure no ghost had possessed him. Talk about being ridiculously paranoid and unreasonable. And his mom, who always has a grudge about him choosing this profession.
Ignoring the chaos, Dhruv cleared his throat. "I have to go out for a few days regarding a recent case." He informed, gaining everyone's attention.
"Where?" Tarun asked, looking up from his plate towards his son.
"Naveli." Dhruv replied.
"Naveli? Why there? Why do you have to go there?" Radha asked, looking concerned about her son.
"It's a complicated case. I have to go there to check any traces from the crime scene. It's only for a few days." Dhruv explained, giving her a reassuring look.
"Maine toh pehle se hi keh rahi thi ye ajeebo gareeb profession chune ka kya matlab tha? Arre, koi normal scientist ya doctor nhi ban sakta tha? Lekin nhi janab ko toh lasho aur criminals ke beech rehne ka shauk chada tha." Radha vented her occasional mantra. She had started chanting ever since Dhruv told about his deciding to be a forensic scientist. She wanted her son to have a safe and promising job.
"Radha, let him eat in peace." Tarun told his wife. Radha shook her head, overexagerated, and continued feeding Yug.
"I'll have to leave tomorrow." Dhruv informed breaking the momentarily settled silence.
Tarun nodded at Dhruv, then turned towards Veer. "And you, Veer, how's your life going? Fun? College khatam huye ek saal jo gya. Kuch socha aage ka? Ye saari cheeze log school-time mein hi soch lete hai. Decide hua?" Tarun asked suddenly, catching Veer off guard by the sudden unwanted attention on him.
Veer's hand stopped mid morsel as he gulped. "P-Papa, there is still time, I'll decide soon enough." Veer mumbled, looking down on his plate.
"That's why you've been saying for the past year now." Charvi said, glancing at him sideways. He kicked her foot uneer the table, making her yelp. She scowled at him and returned his kick with a passionate kick of her own.
"She's right. How long do you plan to say this 'there's still time left' thing? When the time has actually passed away?" Tarun asked a little firmly this time. Veer's face fell.
What could he even do or say to that? It wasn't his fault he wasn't getting clarity and surity about his future. It's not like he isn't trying. He is. More than anyone knows... but there's only one thing worse than insecurity, anger, failure, doubt, fear-𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.
Because even the insecure can move, but the indecisive remains frozen.
Anger acts in haste, but indecision never acts at all.
Failure teaches, indecision silences.
Doubt questions, but indecision avoids the answer.
Even fear runs, but indecision stands still.
Indecisiveness makes you question your own worth, let alone others.
To think that you're not even able to make a simple decision on your own because of, god knows what, is just so... nerve wrecking.
Agar tum itna hi nhi kar pa rahe ho, ek faisla karna tumhe itna mushkil lag raha hai toh uss liye faisle pe chaloge kaise? Kuch nhi ho payega tumhara. Loser ke loser rahoge zindagi bhar phir pachtaoge agar jaldi faisla kar leta toh shayad... shayad. Saari zindagi bas uss shayad mein bandh kar reh jayegi.
But why don't they understand it's not easy? It's easier said than done. There are just too many what ifs, your own demons stopping you from deciding. It's not like you're choosing to be this way. You... just are. Even if you try to change... change for better... it's not easy. Nhi ho pata na yaar.
Veer sighed, thinking all that stuff in his mind. This was his never-ending internal battle. Which he hoped ends soon. He just wants some charity. Some... some thing. Something. Anything. To help himself.
Hope is what he's living by.
Seeing his silence, Tarun sighed and shook his head and towards his youngest. "And you, Charu," Tarun's voice pulled Veer out of his thought chain.
Now, it was Charvi's time to gulp. Though, their father was usually a strict but quiet man. But there were times like this when his inner lawyer came out, all of a sudden, making them stand in the dock.
"Your teacher called," Tarun continued, looking at Charvi.
Okay, what was it for this time? You see, Charvi Saxena had only one flaw-or so she thought-she was just too temperamental and impulsive.
Her habit of taking impulsive decisions and acting on impulsive thoughts never did her any good. Not yet, at least. Nor in the future, she thinks.
There were a few times when the impulsive decisions she took... okay, maybe most of the time, the impulsive decisions she took backfired on her or set the other person on fire.
She really needs to think before acting. But she can't help it!
And not to forget her ending saga with the thing called 'temper'. It wouldn't be wrong to say she had the worst and the shortest temper in their family.
Assignments not submitted? Negative, she copied 𝑨𝒓𝒋𝒖𝒏's
Grades? Decent. At least, she didn't fail.
Behavior? Nowadays, at its best. No 'physical' fight so far.
"𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒊."
Talking in class? Nah, that's not that serious, right? Her teacher wouldn't call just because she talked in class.
Pranks? She doesn't do any.
Cheating in test? They didn't have any test this month.
"𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒖."
Then what can it be?!
"𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑽𝑰 𝑫𝑰𝑫𝑰!"
She flinched abruptly when she heard Yug scream her name. She looked at him as if to ask, 'Are you insane?'
Yug shook his head, at the 'adult' in front of him like an experienced old man. "Everyone's calling you for so long. Where were you lost?" He asked, folding his arms.
She turned around to see, everyone was indeed looking at her. She smiled sheepishly. She just hoped they don't think anything stupid. Like, if you're a teenage girl in an indian household and you smile all of a sudden or even while looking at the phone or get lost in thoughts like this, the only thing that come to their minds is... ladki haath se gayi.
Tarun cleared his throat to gain her attention. "So, I was saying. Your teacher called," He looked at her, his gaze sharp, making Charu's heart beat fast. What did she tell him? Why was he building so much suspense? This is not some wattpad thriller book!
"She told me all about your... little outburst during the middle of a on-going lecture." Tarun deadpanned, looking at her sharply.
Oh.
Oh.
OH!
How can she forget about that?!!
___________________________
Later that night, Charvi sat on the terrace, looking at her stars. She had to. To clear her mind from the lecture she got. She looked up. Watching stars and moon and just sit there amongst them in peace and serenity and stability to calm her soul, clear her inner turmoil, tranquility - yeah, that was a lie.
Peace, stability, and Charvi never go in the same sentence. She would rather be jumping around, screaming on top of her lungs to create chaos than enjoy a moment of peace.
Now, what was she doing here then?
The answer is simple-waiting.
To save herself another lecture from her father, she was waiting there to complete her impending assignments so that there is no such call again, where her teacher feels the need to have a conversation with her father.
But assignments were boring and long and tough, and to save herself the struggle, Charvi only had one solution-𝑨𝒓𝒋𝒖𝒏.
𝑨𝒓𝒋𝒖𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒈𝒉𝒖𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊.
Her neighbor/ best friend/deskmate.
He was the golden boy, the perfect child, the 'sharma ji ka beta', whose examples your parents give you. The topper of the class, the most unproblamatic child, Mr. good-at-everthing, introvert, always polite, and sweet and...
The list goes on. If Charvi were to write an essay on him, the environment would be endangered by the amount of pages she'd need.
So, he was her neighbor. Naturally, they grew up together and were best friends, each other's ride and die. They went to the same school, were in the same class and had the same friend group, and were deskmates too.
Talk about too much coincidence.
Charvi chuckled as she remembered the incident about they became deskmates.
___________________________
FLASHBACK.
ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝕍𝕀
I walked towards my school, feeling uncharacteristically fresh today. It felt nice. Waking up in a nice mood, after having a nice dream and getting ready to go to school, having a nice breakfast, without hearing anyone's lecture and nagging. Overall, going to school in good mood so early was rare for Charvi i·e me.
Sigh... it were days like this that I crave and long for.
That doesn't come often nor stay for long. That was the backlog.
I reached my wing and made my way towards my classroom. As I was walking, suddenly a boy bumped into me with his steel water bottle, that fell right on top of my toes.
ARGHHHHH!
WHY DID I HAD TO HAVE JINXED MY OWN DAY?!
I wailed in pain. That hurt badly. I crouched down to soothe made toes, thank god, our school had thick shoes. Or my each toe would definitely have needed their own funerals.
The boy crouched down in front of me. I looked up to see Ayaan, a boy from my class. The head boy of our school, the second topper of our school after Arjun. He looked at me with an apologetic and worried expression.
"I am so sorry, Charvi. I didn't realise you were entering the class." He apologized, looking like he was having an internal debate on what to do next.
Let him save him the struggle.
"Are you blind! Couldn't you watch where you were going and who the hell holds a steel bottle filled with water so lightly in their hand for it to fall just after the slightest bump? Huh?!" I snapped.
The pain in my toes was overpowering all of my senses and was coming out in the form of anger. I couldn't think straight.
He looked nothing but more guilty about it. But at the same time, he looked like, he wasn't really appreciating my tone and words.
Who cares? My toes hurt badly. So, my anger is justified.
He bit her inner cheek. "Listen, I'm really sorry, okay. I didn't realise you were about to enter. I'm apologizing, right? There's no need to get so worked up." He said as if he was doing me a favor by apologizing, like I was overreacting.
Give me that bottle, let me do the same and then we'll see who overreacts when steel meets toes. I stood up, and he followed after. I looked at him, narrowing my eyes. My face was expressionless.
"Toh tumhare sorry ka kya mai achaar dalo?" I asked. My voice was calm, very calm. I was trying to be calm and not lose my shit.
Handle the situation like a mature person, Charu. I reminded myself.
He looked at me, confused. Firstly, I never interacted with this boy at all. Secondly, his expressions were weird. Maybe that's why I didn't interact with him. Or maybe because he ìs the head boy, always the center of attention, something that me and my gang hated.
I took a deep inhale and exhaled slowly. Aaj monday hai, Charvi, gaali nhi.
I gave him a dead look. "Watch where you're going next time. Ab hato yaha se!" I said and pushed past him to enter the class, leaving him alone with his sorry-freaking-steel bottle. My toes sting. I bet they'll turn greenish-blue due to blood clotting.
Dismissing my spoiled mood, for it to not spoil the rest of my day. I moved towards my seat. I sat on the second last bench of the cornor row, near the windows. And there, I saw my two favorite couples mingling and diving in the depth of love. (Note my sarcasm)
Karan and Aadya, Arjun and his... dear books. Karan and Aadya were chatting smiling, and Arjun was lost in his book world. Itni padhai karke kaha jayega ye ladka?
The five of us-Me, Arjun, Karan, Aadya, and Neil-we met in 3rd standard and became inseparable ever since. Arjun and I, were already inseperable by then. After they joined, we made a gang of our own. Unfortunately, though, Neil got transferred into another section when classes got shuffled.
Arjun and Karan sat on the last bench behind us. Karan and Aadya smiled at me, that I gladle reciprocated.
After taking my seat, I turned towards Arjun with a glare. "You didn't wait for me." I complained.
We were neighbors, more thsn that we were best buddies. He should have the decency to wait for me. I am a lady, after all. And he should know how to act gentlemanly.
Arjun took a lazy glance at me. "You were taking too long to tie your laces, and we were already in the school premises." He deadpanned.
Yeah, well, we came together, but my lace came undone. I was tying it, but it was taking too long. Or maybe I was doing it on purpose just to annoy him. It was hard to see Arjun lose his composure-but fun to see when he did.
But he just walked away.
Rude.
If anything, he should've offered help.
I narrowed my eyes at him, He gave his imfamous tight lipped, innocent smile, and Karan and Aadya rolled their eyes at us.
Aadya nudged my arm, turning my attention to her. "Do you know what happened yesterday?" She asked. I shook my head, confused. She clicked her tongue.
Ok, so gossip.
She had this look, which meant there was gossip, and the gossip was hot. "You know, Jiya and Manik," she began.
"The infamous couple from section C?" I asked. They were the couple of our school since c 5th standard. "What happened?" I asked, curiously.
"They got caught by Preeti mam in the back garden, sitting too close to not have something going on. And some even say they were holding hands." She said, and I gasped.
Oh god.
"What happened to them then?" I asked, intrigued.
Before Aadya could continue, the boys rolled their eyes at us. "Why are you both so interested in other's matters? It's none of your business." Karan said and Arjun nodded in agreement.
I gave Arjun a side-eye. While Aadya folded her arms, looking at Karan. He gulped under her glare and gave her a cheeky smile, avoiding eye contact, because now history was more interesting to him.
And they are NOT a couple.
Aadya shook her head and turned to me. "They were sent to the principal's cabin. After that," she shrugged. "Maybe their parents were called or something." She said, nodding her head.
"Damn, that was... something." I didn't have any suitable word. What to call it? They were such a sweet couple. Poor them. Another laila-majnu destroyed by our society.
Aadya and I, we both fell into silence after that, thinking about Jiya, Manik and tragic fate.
"Anyway, I sent a meme on the group chat. Why did no one reply to it, huh?" Karan complained breaking the silence, with pouty sparkles in his eyes.
"Simple. Because your memes are weird and boring and not funny at all." I said, shrugging.
He fake gasped, mock offended. "Oh accha, meri memes weird aur boring hoti hai?" He spoke, crossing his arms, leaning back against his chair. I followed his actions.
"Ji haa, Aadya tu bata, hoti nhi hoti iski memes weird?" I asked Aadya, turning towards her. Karan did the same, as if he was sure Aadya will support him. Huh, delusional fool. She was my bestie, of course, she'd take my side first. I was the bridge between them. They met through me.
"Yes, Aadya tell us, are my memes weird?" Karan looked at her expectantly, giving her the heart eyes. Aadya looked at him, and his eyes. I could practically see her melting into his eyes. She composed herself and looked at me apologetically. "Nahi hoti weird." She said.
Girl, what?!
"See!" Karan exclaimed, having this victorious grin on his face.
"Traitor!" I huffed. Love really makes people blind and dumb.
"Woh traitor nhi hai, bas tera taste waste hai." Karan said, looking at me with a smirk.
"Nhi, no, nope, na." I said, shaking my head. "Pyar mein andhi ho chuki hai ye!" I remarked. "Humara #behen-code bhul gyi." I gave her a side eye.
Karan scoffed. "Kuch bhi-"
I turned towards Arjun, ignoring him. "Objection. The witness's testimony is inadmissible on the grounds of partiality, as she possesses a demonstrable bias which compromises the integrity and impartiality required of credible testimony."
Karan looked at me confused and bewildered. "We get it, your father's a lawyer. No need to make it obvious. Care to elaborate it simple civil language." He taunted.
"Her statement is not applicable because she is clearly biased towards the oppostion party, i·e you." I stated, folding my hands over my chest.
"What? No, I'm not biased." Aadya said and I gave her a look. I turned towards Arjun again, our officially appointed Judge during the matters of gang conflict. "Your honor, what is your verdict in this?" I asked.
Arjun looked at all of us, shook his head. "Isn't it the universal truth that Karan has no taste in memes?" He said in a nonchalant manner. Karan gasped, looking at him with betrayal painted all over his face.
I grinned at my bestie, patting his shoulder proudly. "The verdict has been delivered. The gavel has struck. Justice has spoken."
Me: victorious.
Karan: overruled.
Scoreboard reads:
CHARVI: 1 KARAN: 0.
"Arjun's verdict is also not applicaple because he has zero knowlege outside of books." Karan said, agitated.
"I have just enough." Arjun countered.
"You're just trying to gaslight our judge because you can't take defeat well." I spoke in Arjun's defense. Karan and I were so ready to fight, but the teacher arrived and ruined the mood.
We all sat straight turning towards her. Her expression were stoic. She glared at every one of us, moving towards her desk.
"As you all must've known by now. A intolerable, and inappropriate thing happened yesterday." She said.
Isn't that quite a statement for what actually happened?
"And the school authority do not tolerate such behavior in our institution. You all think, you're old enough to indulge yourselves in such activities. You are not. You are in 12th. It is a high time to focus on your studies, not waste your time in such stupid things." She began.
Her eyes roamed all around the class. She sighed heavily. "The authority has descided to take a step against it." Whispers and murmurs spread through class. "Quite! We have decided that no girl and boy will sit together."
Aadya nudged me. "Don't you think it's unfair? I mean, not everyone is like that. And what's wrong with being in a relationship? We are all eighteen." She asked with a frown.
"True. There is nothing wrong with being in a relationship if you truly love and care for someone. You can't control your feelings. But at the same time, you should know the boundaries of the relationship that comes according to your situation. Which most people fail to. Maybe that's why the adults think a relationship at a young age is wrong. But yeah, if you love someone, you love someone. You can't let them go without trying. You should just be careful of the limits and not let it become a distraction." I said, shrugging my shoulders, dismissively.
"Wow," I heard Karan from behind me. I turned my head behind to look him. "Charvi-the relationship expert. Contact no. 123123. Feel free to call her for any relationship advice and consulting." Karan teased, in a mock serious tone.
I rolled my eyes at him, and shook my head, but Arjun caught my eye. He was looking at me... intensely. As if thinking something deep. Real deep. His ocean blue eyes looked so pretty when he was in deep thoughts like this. It made me want to dive in them.
The teacher's voice pulled our attention back to her. "All the boys and girls come, stand in line here, respectively." Huh?
Is she changing everyone's seats? No, no, no. But we are sitting accordingly, right? I don't want our gang to be seperated because they can't handle a teen relationship.
All four of us shared a look. Three of us, horrified, one serious. You know who's the odd one out.
We went to stand in the queue. But sitting on the back benches of the last row. All four of us were standing at the back. With Arjun being at the last of the boy's line and me being at the last of the girl's.
The teachers started making our new sitting arrangement by calling the girl's, and boy's names who were standing consecutively in their respective lines.
Yes! That's means Aadya will still sit beside me because I was standing behind her. We shared a knowing cheeky grin. I entangled my arm in hers.
The teacher started arranging the students on the benches. By the pattern of it, we will get our seats-last row, back bench. Good. I guess god is with us today.
Soon, it was the students got settled, and only 5 students were standing in each line of girls and boys.
Wait.
5 students?
Odd number?
Shoot!
"Tanvi and Siya, go to the second bench of last row." Mam said. Now, there were only three girls left in the girls' line. Me, Aadya and Diya.
I don't like where this is going.
Will I have to sit alone? No, please krishna, no. Whose answers or notes will I copy then if I loose concentration in class? Who will let me copy? Who will I gossip with? Who will-
"Sarthak and Mayur, 3rd bench of last row. Behind them, go."
Now there were three boys in their line as well-Arjun, Karan, and Ayaan, that bottle-dropper!
Mam turned to look at us. By the look on her face, I guess she was thinking the same. Odd numbers. "Aadya and Diya, 4th bench, last row." She said.
Oh no! Aadya and I shared a mortified look. My arm was still entangled in hers. Why god, why? Why are you punishing us for someone else's mistake? Why? Why? Why? We can't stay away from each other. Don't let them seperate us. Please!
Mere toh bhagya hi phoot gye. (Insert the elaichi's mother's infamous cry, iykyk)
Okay, I guess it was too much. Jyada overacting ho gyi. But the sentiments were real.
"Charu." I heard Arjun's voice. I turned to look at him with the same gloomy pout on my face. "The teacher is watching you both. By the looks of it, she doesn't seem to be enjoying waiting." He whispered.
"Ha, tum dono ka 'hum saath saath hai', 'kabhi alvida mat kehna' ho gya ho toh, chalo apni seats par." Karan added.
Huh! What would they know about our feelings? The feeling of seating away from your bestie.
I looked at the teacher, who was standing there crossing her arms, raising an eyebrow at us, tapping her foot on the ground, impatiently. "I'm not asking you both to break your friendship. Stop bring so dramatic and move. We don't have much time." She said.
Aadya and I shared a look and she went towards her seat. Now it was me alone...
"Karan, Ayaan, sit on the last second bench of the last row." Mam said.
Now, it was only me and Arjun left. And only the last bench of the last row was vacant. Will I have to sit with him? Yes, god, please! Sitting beside Arjun was even better then sitting beside Aadya.
I was completely fine with that!
The teacher looked at us, seemingly lost in thoughts. Maybe, considering whether she should make us sit together or not. I don't think she would, though. After all, no girl and boy should sit together, right? That was the whole point.
The whole class was looking at us, anticipating what was about to happen. Argh, I don't like this attention. Look somewhere else, guys.
After a good amount of time and consideration, she finally opened her mouth and then closed it. Just say something already, lady, my feet hurts. I just had a toe accident a while back. And it's hurting like a bitch. No cap.
"Arjun... Charvi, we both can go sit on the last bench." She finally said.
We both turned to move there, happily. "I'll sit by the window." I said and he nodded.
After we settled, Karan turned behind to look at us. "Wow, isn't this partiality?" He gasped, dramatically. "Girls and boys can't sit together, unless it's Arjun and Charu... discrimination alert!" He said, dramatically.
"Konsi partiality, konsa, discrimination, be? Ye bolna ki you're just jealous because it's not you sitting beside Aadya." I teased, with a smirk. Arjun had a teasing smirk on his face too. Karan looked flustered for a moment, he cleared his throat.
"Oh please, you... You're just happy because you're sitting beside Arjun." He said.
"Of course, he's my best friend. Bachpan se saath hai hum. Sab kuch saath kiya hai humne" I said proudly.
Poor him. Was he trying to tease us? Jokes on him. Arjun and I go way back when we wore diapers. I turned at Arjun smiling, but he was already looking at me with a strange look on his face.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing." He said, turning back to his book.
"Ae nhi, bata na padega. Jaldi bata kya baat hai, aisi ajeeb shakle kyu bana raha hai?" I insisted.
Because I'm a curious little thing. I don't take suspense well. If I want to know it, I gotta know it. I couldn't rest till I do.
"Ajeeb? Mai ajeeb shakle bana raha hu?" He asked, feigning offfense.
"Ji ha. So you better spill, why?"
"Maybe he was just trying to match your weird face." Karan chimed in from front, grinning like an idiot. Well, he is an idiot. Idiot.
"Chup karke samne dekhle warna yahi se book sar pe de marungi, samjha?" I placed a hand on the thick book in front of me, impathising my point.
"So violent." He muttered and turned straight again.
Arjun chuckled beside me and I turned to glare at him. "Itni hasi kyu phoot rahi hai? Meri shakal sach mein ajeeb hai kya?" I snapped.
He raised his hand in mock surrender. "Sorry, didn't mean no offense, madamè." He said. "And about the face thing..." he stared at me, as if taking in every little detail, he then shook his head. "Ajeeb toh hai." He said, with a smirk.
I gasped and hit his arm. He chuckled again. The teacher started teaching and all of our attention turned to him. Well mine turned towards the pigeon sitting on the window beside him.
The period was over and the teacher left. I was now, staring out the window beside me. When Arjun nudged me. I turned to them and saw Karan and Arjun both staring at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Why are you so silent?" Arjun asked.
"Don't tell me you took the weird face joke seriously." Karan said in disbelief.
"Hatt! Who would take you both seriously?" I said, dismissing him.
"Then, why are you so silent?" Arjun asked again. "Can't I be silent for some time for my mental peace?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"Knowing you, yeah, you can't."
Wth. Is it really that hard to believe I can be silent too?
"Bata na kyu chup hai." Karan promted. I huffed in defeat.
[Why are you so quiet?]
"Mai bas soch rahi hu.." I said, looking at both of them.
"Kya?" Karan asked.
"Seating arrangements. And I came to a conclusion." I turned towards Arjun. "Ya toh mam isse ladka nhi samjhti ya mujhe ladki." I said, nodding my head seriously.
Karan burst out laughing, including the boy beside. That's when I noticed it was Ayaan. The steel bottle dropper. Arjun shook his head with a smile and turned towards his books.
__________________________
Charvi shook her head, coming back to the present. She opened her book, waiting for Arjun to come with his notes.
Why was he taking so long? She'll probably doze off here at this rate if he doesn't show up soon.
____________________________
