Bus#126W - Chapter 12

“What was that about?” I questioned Arpit as I caught up with him.

“What?” Arpit asked, genuinely surprised.

“Why did you blow her off like that?” I couldn’t believe the smartest guy I knew could be so stupid.

“Blow who off? I just said we’re going to class. I said something wrong?” Utter horror was written all over his face.

I couldn’t help it. I threw my head back and laughed loudly.

“You’re so dumb!” I managed to say through my giggles.

“Naina, what’d I do wrong. I just said we have classes.” The sincerity with which Arpit was explaining to me prompted me to laugh even louder.

“Okay, okay! Look, you don’t walk away from your lady love without saying a decent enough goodbye. EVER! Especially not when she’s seen you holding hands with another girl.” I explained seriously.

“Oh crapoli! Seriously?” he stopped walking, thinking about what a blunder he had made. After a moment, he asked “Which girl?”

“Me dufus!” I reminded him.

“You?!” he looked at me incredulously. “You don’t count!”

“You know that,” I said, pointing at him. “And I know that” I pointed at myself, “But she doesn’t.” I pointed to Sneha, who was talking to a bunch her friends.

“You’re not saying that she thinks you and I are..” he franctically moved his hands around.

I nodded.

“Crapoli!”

With that, he was off, racing towards Sneha. A couple of minutes later Sneha glanced my way and smiled.

I watched her for a moment. It was an honest smile. Arpit had told her.

I acknowledged her smile. One girl to another, we both conversed silently

I raised my eyebrows and indicated towards Arpit. Boys! They are so stupid.

She smiled slightly. Yes I know.

I pursed my lips together and shrugged slightly. I’m sorry by the way.

She acknowledged my apology with a slight tilt of her head and a blinding smile.

I walked back to the class, satisfied that all was okay between Arpit and Sneha.

There was just one thing bothering me. I still didn’t like Arpit being with Sneha.

Bus#126W - Chapter 11

I stared at him, thoroughly confused.

“What, it just means that..” I stuttered.

Arpit let go off me and started walking away slowly.

“Arpit, please!” I grabbed his arm tightly, “Why are you taking this seriously!”

He shook my hand off him, “Because,” He started, his voice low and controlled, “You’re supposed to be my friend. You’re supposed to be the one who knows me inside out ..” He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words, “And even you think I’m not good enough. Why Naina?”

I touched his face lightly, “I think you’re wonderful Arpit. The sweetest person I have ever met. I just meant that I cannot imagine the two of us together. But I love you. Surely, you must know that.”

In that moment, there was nobody around us. Not Sneha, not Pooja, not the tens of students walking past us. A small smile started to appear on Arpit’s face.

“I know you do, it’s just..” He hesitated, “When people see me with Sneha, I know what they’re thinking and it sucks that my best friend feels the same way.”

There it was, straight as an arrow. I couldn’t deny his accusations. I hung my head in shame.

“Would it help if I said I’m sorry?” I asked sincerely.

“Yes.” He said simply.

And voila, everything was perfect again. Well, almost everything. I still didn’t like Sneha and I didn’t know why but I had enough sense than to bring it up at that time.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” Our perfect moment ruined, we both turned to look at the intruder. Sneha.

Instantly, my hand fell away from his face.

I smiled at her. I could afford to be nice to her. I could at least try.

“Hey Sneha, how are you?” I was as genuine as I could be.

“Hi Naina.” If I didn’t know better, I would have thought she was being icy.

“We’re going to class, see you during lunch?” Arpit told her casually and started walking.

Sneha’s eyes followed him. I could see the sudden hurt in them. She hadn’t expected him to walk away from her.

“Coming Naina?” Arpit called out from a distance.

Sneha turned to me, disbelief reflecting on her face. For some reason, I couldn’t hide my glee too.

 “You bet!” I flashed a bright smile at her, and made my way towards Arpit.

Bus#126W - Chapter 10

I rubbed my eyes vigorously. It was morning already. I had slept off on the floor, waiting for the phone to ring. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t called.

Maybe I should have called back, but that was just so not normal. Arpit always called back. Always.

And yesterday? Yesterday I had told him something which should have made him call me back whether   he wanted to or not.

I dressed slowly, I would be meeting Arpit only in class. I hoped it wouldn’t be awkward. The restlessness stayed with me on my way to school.  I could barely sit still. I had to find out what was happening.

On the brighter side, all the nervous energy helped me in the practice sessions. The sports teacher was beaming from ear to ear.

“Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!” he patted me on the back after the session got over.

“Wow, you were great today!” Pooja was sitting next to me, sipping some water.

I smiled back at her, all that running had calmed my frayed nerves. “Thanks!”

“Say” She inched in a little closer, “Is it true your friend Arpit is dating Sneha Gill?”

I froze, “What?”

“I knew it couldn’t be true,” She said. As I looked away, she gasped, “Oh my god! It’s true!”

I nodded gently. What else could I say?

“Naina!”

Involuntarily, I smiled. Arpit. I turned towards him, he had Sneha in tow. Luckily, he had the sense to leave her with her group of friends before he came up to me.

As I watched him walk towards me, I thought about Arpit and I. The nauseating wave came over me again. I most definitely did not have anything for him. Even the thought was making me sick!!

The closer he came, the more confident I was of my analysis.  

“Hey.” He said.

We stood there awkwardly, facing each other in silence.

“Hey,” I started, “Sorry about last night.”

Relief flooded his face. “Oh thank god Naina! What happened to you?!” He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned towards me as thought a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

I had to laugh, “Look at you! So relieved!”

“What did you expect! I got so scared, I didn’t even call you back!” He was trying to suppress his laughter too now. He sobered up quickly, “What happened but? Suddenly?” He questioned.

I sighed, “You know how it is. I get weird sometimes.”

His grip around my shoulders tightened, “Naina, what was it? You can tell me.”

“Relax Arpit, if it makes you feel better, just thinking about it was making me sick!” I said jokingly.

“Wait a minute, you find me that repulsive?” He wasn’t laughing anymore.

Bus#126W - Chapter 9

I clutched my stomach as the thought intensified. “I’m feeling sick Dhruv.” I reached out for his arm.

“Hey, what happened?” He grabbed my hand to support me.

“Just get me home please.” I was leaning on him now. Poor fellow, I don’t know how he managed, half dragging, half limping but somehow he got me home.

My mum came running as she saw us, “Naina! What happened, are you okay?” She put her arm around me. “What happened to her?” She turned towards Dhruv, when I didn’t reply.

He shook his head, “I don’t know, she suddenly said she felt nauseous. Maybe something she ate?”

My mom nodded, “You must be Dhruv, thank you for getting her back.”

“I’m okay,” I mumbled when I could. “Just feeling weird.” I started walking up to the house without saying goodbye to Dhruv.

I could hear my mum and Dhruv talking, but I didn’t care. I had to speak to Arpit. There had to be only one logical reason why Aprit and Sneha’s relationship was bothering me so much. I had to suck it up and face it. I dialed his number.

“Uh hello?” classic Arpit dialog.

“It’s me, I have to tell you something.” I was breathing hard, my heartbeat was so loud, I could feel the drumming my ears.

“Sure, you okay?” His voice was full of concern.

“No, I think I have feelings for you.” I made a disgusted face as I blurted that out.

“Uh.. What?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but I have this weird feeling and I don’t know what it is and I think this is the only logical thing. What else could it be right? it makes sense too, you’re my best friend and I don’t like your new girlfriend.  Are you there?” I paused to take a deep breath.

“Ummm, Naina? Is this some kind of a joke?”

I hung up abruptly. Joke? He thought this was a joke?

“Naina?” My mum knocked on my door.

“I’m okay ma.” I yelled without bothering to open the door. I hoped, if I didn’t, she would go. I knew Arpit would call back. He always did.

She knocked once again and walked in. “You look okay now.” She commented.

“Ya, I don’t know what it was.” I did feel better actually. Maybe I had just needed to get it out of my system.

“I just had a very interesting conversation with Dhruv.” She said casually.

“Oh you did huh?” I tried to act cool too.

“Who is he?” She was looking at me carefully now.

“Just a friend.” I busied myself in unpacking my bag.

“Naina, he told me you met on a bus. Really?” her tone conveyed disapproval.

“It wasn’t like that ma. He’s okay, he dropped me home today, didn’t he?” I sat down on the floor, I knew I was in for a loooong lecture.

“But you didn’t know that right?” She was trying to reason with me. I didn’t say anything. I was far too distracted to pay any attention to Dhruv.

“But he seems like a nice guy and he tells me he’s from St. Peters. Maybe you could ask him for some tips for the entrance exam.” She came closer and ruffled my hair. “I just want you to stop being so naïve. Just because Dhruv turned out okay, doesn’t mean everyone will. Okay?”

I nodded. Anything to get her out of my room. Arpit was going to call me back any minute. I was sure of it.

I stayed up the entire night for his call, almost willing him to call me.

He didn’t.