chapter 7 The Scoundrel

Aditya, though was a great friend of Akshi’s- yet somewhere or the other she regretted the day when their mom’s had met, as it was through their moms that Adi and akshi had met and then became friends.

She knew that he is a great guy but then, a boy is a boy after all…and since he has that ‘Y’ chromosome with him all his life, with it came some of the most nasty habits some of them were, his not at all tolerable – every-time – hungry nature, or be it his teasing habits or his dirty socks which lay everywhere in his room.

She hated him for that. But when he would be all goody goody while completing her assignment when she would be ill, or helping her to sneak out on a grounded evening she would love him from the bottom of the heart.

Well that’s what friends are for!

But times like this when Adi would be in trouble which would include a girl and especially when it is Arshiya, she would make good use of the situation and that’s what she intended to do.

Akshita hid herself behind the pillars which helped them give oh so sweet shelter to be where it was and looked at what was going on.

“I swear Adi these projects and festivals are taking a toll on me, you know this time I didn’t even play holi! The chemicals are so harmful I tell you.” Arshiya kept on rambling about her ohh so many problems without realizing that the person to whom she was talking to was not at all interested in it.

Adi in all matters only wanted to go away from there. It was times like these that he loved to be friends with Arnav whom Arshiya hated a lot, but it seemed as if all the gods were having a great laugh at his misery as there was no sign of his savior. He really despised to be with a girl like Arshiya- one with no brains at all.

“chemicals are so harmful” he thought sarcastically. Every chemical is harmful my dear , he wanted to say but rather kept quiet.

‘where are you Arnav???’ Adi thought of giving a fake smile to let arshiya know that he was there in the conversation. It had been a few minutes now, he really abhorred his guts to come from this way.

Sometimes it’s quite fun to see your friends in misery, it gives you a peace which nothing in this world would give you. And after a very long time Akshi and pihu were somewhat having the same feeling – adi getting irritated by Arshiya!

But then there is as well a drawback, which akshi had never liked in the relationship called – friendship. Till the time it's you who is irritating your friend you would always welcome the feeling , but as soon as you find someone else doing that – you would turn into that tv serial millionaire possessive boyfriend who would be ready to kill that person harming his girlfriend and in this case – friend.

And somewhere Akshi knew that soon this was going to wake up in nitya’s heart who had as well joined her to enjoy their friend’s misery.

Arshiya for a change was just talking, and there weren’t any hand movements. Adi loved it when girls would come all over him; it gives him the feeling of being popular- but for some odd reason this girl would always make him run far away from her.

“Arshiya don’t you have a class?”, Adi asked . He desperately wanted to get out of this situation.

“come on Adi , not even the first bell has rung and you are talking about class. Well I have a computer first … so chill I can go whenever I want , that shakuntala won't say anything.” Arshiya replied, flipping her hair back in a flirty way.

Did she think this looks sexy or cute? God it's nothing but yuk’ Adi thought while giving a small smile to her, as well as praying to god to show some mercy on him.

But it seemed that God was on a great vacation, as Arshiya took hold of his hand and pulled him towards the banyan tree which was considered as a lover’s point in their school.

He was really scared, didn’t know what to do. If it would have been someone else then he would have excused himself, but he knew if he would make an excuse to go somewhere she would tag along with him. But that wasn’t the only reason he as well wanted to save Mohit and Abhi. Though Mohit was quite acquainted with this, he knew right now he needed to get his shit together; and for Abhi…well-being the new bieee of this school he wanted to save him from this molestation – what they all called it.

He kept on nodding his head and smiling from time to time. But soon he felt Arshiya entangling their hands together…this was it.

Adi was about to detangle himself from her hand when he heard a voice, which mostly gave him an irritated feeling, but they say right when you are in trouble, then even the devil seems to be a God.

“Adi, you idiot ! I have been seeking you all over the school and you are here , having time of your life?”, Nitya said with her hands on her hips trying to give her the best intimidating look.

“whats wrong with you? “, Adi asked. Somewhere though he was in need, it seemed as if his ego was way bigger than his need to get out of this situation.

“My problem is that you forgot your tiffin at home and now your dad is here looking for the class teacher.”

As soon as the words settled in Adi’s brain, like a jet plane he was off towards his classroom to take out his book so that he could fool his dad that he was actually studying, which according to his dad he does once he goes to school.

“what happened to him?”, Arnav asked as soon as he came to the class. For a change he was happy. Or was it the same thing that he felt since last one year when he got into a relationship with kushi.

Khushi! The name itself gave him butterflies as well as a racing heart beat.

Girly much ! but what can one do when he finds his love. That's what he thought , he was in love with khushi, and every day just like today whenever he gets up to the lovely voice of his girlfriend his day is what the people call as FABULOUS.

Listening to his question the trio of girls- Akshi, pihu and Nevi , fell into a fit of laughter . They still can’t believe that their ohh soo intelligent friend actually fell into their trap and even after about half an hour is still sitting with his book in his hand studying God knows what as the book is tilted upside down.

“umm , adi one minute first of all” Arnav took the book and kept it straight and then as well joined the girls looking at the horrid face of their friend.

“Now will you stop this drama of yours? Your dad isn’t here!”, akshita explained again for the millionth time. And for a change, Adi replied, “I don’t care if he is here or not, I am not going out of the class till the time I don’t get a good girlfriend , damn that girl she would have raped me!”

It was proved that their friend Adi has a mental problem. But what seemed better for them was that he was quietly reading or studying or whatever he was doing as the questions and tantrums which were followed after that ‘maun vrat’ were quite stressful!

But though this group of friends were having a problem, there was one such person who though was standing far away looking at them, knew that there are so many things to know about each and every person in this class…especially in that group and he was happy to be a part of this group of friends who were though weird , but had a relationship which couldn’t be named , rather only felt and experienced.

Abhi had always been in search of such relationships, being the son of an army officer he had got him to live a life which was quite different, the only people you could socialize with - were his mom and elder sister. His dad would be seen once in a while, who would hardly be known were there in their life or not.

He has been through so many schools, so many places, but it seemed as if he has got a solace, a place to be called his own. It felt as if he was no longer a hippie.

Arnav saw Abhi looking at them and smiling to himself. He walked towards him, it was weird to see people get acquainted to others so easily, but Abhi was an exception. He has managed to irritate Akshi to such an extent that she had wanted to stay at home, he was the one who got a warning note on the first day of the school itself, but what made him shocked was that this person though is handsome is so down to earth and was able to make that place in his and his friends heart which they have made for each other after such a long time.

“won't you help us to get him quite?”, he asked as soon as he reached him. Abhi just smirked at him and walked towards Adi and said, “Are adi could you please do a favor for me and omkara?”

“yeah what is it?'' Adi asked if he didn’t want to scare off Abhi. According to Adi we need to be good with newcomers no bullying nothing, but if you would meet him alone …well try and do that you will come to know.

“could you please go to that girl …Arshiya and ask her to give me the names of all the girls who are interested in basketball?”

“I am sorry Abhi, are you talking to me?... actually I have to finish the periodic table today itself, excuse me for now…next time I will do it pacca.”

With that said he sat down with his science book – straight in front of him leaving his friends all gapping at him.

“Scoundrel ..’ everyone said, leaving all the worries of that periodic table to be handled by Aditya.