CH 10 || The Unanticipated Proposal

Saavi

******

I stepped inside the big building of my school nervously. The fear of encountering the people who bully me is not leaving me, but I had to come. I can't run away like a coward, I will have to face it myself.

Taking a deep breath, I went inside the library. Dhruv and the others came early and studied with me, even Jai joined us. I was not feeling comfortable, because I didn't want anyone to see us together. The moment any of my bully will see me with Dhruv and the others, they will do something to me no doubt but they might do something to them which I don't want.

After the bell rang, I ran to the classroom. As I was about to enter, I tripped over someone's foot and was about to fall when a pair of arms saved me from kissing the ground. I looked to find the same green eyes looking at me with concern. Composing myself, I was about to leave when Dhruv held my hand and said to someone,

"Apologize."

"What did I do?" I heard the familiar voice and found it was one of Jai's friend.

"You did it deliberately. I saw it with my own eyes. Apologize, now."

"I won't," he said and started laughing with others.

"Apologize, Nikhil." came Jai's voice.

"What? What's wrong with you? You, out of all people is saying that?"

"Yes, you did wrong and now you have to apologize for that," replied Jai.

"What if I don't?"

"Then from now on, I am not your friend."

I had to meddle in to stop them from arguing and I went to sit on the last seat. Riddhi came and sat next to me. Dhruv and Namit chose the parallel seat, while Arjun and Rohit sat on the seat in front of us.

The whole class was shocked and staring at our direction. Jai and Nikhil have been best of friends and now Jai was sitting on the seat on the front of Dhruv, alone. Niharika was glaring at me and I could sense something was going on in her mind.

During the chemistry lab lecture, everyone went to the lab but I stayed behind making an excuse. I was trying not to be seen with the elite group and I even succeeded but only in that lecture.

I thought to go to my perfect hideout place during lunch, where no will find me but Jai found me before I could go there.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"Mrs. Pathak called me." Lying about the reason I started to go away when he said, "The staff room is that way."

"Yeah, I know," I said and moved towards the direction of the staff room.

"Saavi, wait. I am sorry."

"It wasn't your fault Jai. What Nikhil did was...."

Cutting me off in mid, he said,

"I am not talking about Nikhil. I know you don't bring lunch because of me. I am sorry." Saying this he hung his head low.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I have forgiven you already?"

"Then why are you here and not in that cafeteria?"

Now, what was I supposed to say? I kept quiet and he took me to the cafeteria. As soon as I entered the cafeteria, those who knew me looked at me as if they have seen a ghost. Of course, they would behave like that after all, I stepped into the cafeteria for the first time in my life. Dhruv came towards me, held my hand and took me where the rest of them were already sitting. Jai left his old friends and joined us too.

I could feel all eyes on me and I was getting anxious. Dhruv held my hand which was on my lap and intertwined them. He leaned closer and whispered in my ears, "Calm down, don't get anxious. Nothing will happen to you. I won't let anything bad happen."

Moving back he smiled at me and gestured me to eat. He brought different varieties of food. I was thinking about how did Sheela Aunty managed to cook all these in the morning.

After lunch, everyone was going back to the class and I excused myself as I wanted to use the washroom. Cleaning my hands, I wiped them with tissue and when I turned around I found Niharika with her friends.

I tried to move but she blocked my path. "Where do you think, you are going huh?"

"Class," I replied and moved from the place but she pulled me back harshly holding my arms.

"Girls, this little witch has got a voice. Did you guys hear? She spoke without stuttering?" and they all laughed.

"So, the last week when you didn't come, you were approaching the elites of our school?"

"What the hell is wrong with you Niharika? Do you even know what are you saying?"

Grabbing my mouth with her hand she spoke, "Of course, I know bitch what am I speaking."

"So tell me, how many days you have been sleeping with Dhruv and Jai, that they are sticking to your side like glue. Oh wait, you must have slept with Arjun, Rohit, and Namit too, right?"

I shoved her hands and shouted, "ENOUGH."

"I didn't know you think so low of me." I was about to go but again someone pulled me by grabbing my hair. It was not Niharika, but when I saw the person I was shocked. It was none other than Shivani, that girl who I once saved from being bullied. I know that she has become Niharika's friend but she was only a spectator of me getting bullied till now.

"You are cheap, that's why we think low of you. We don't even know whose illegitimate child you are." Shivani spoke the venomous words.

Those words cut me like a knife. How could someone say something like this? What wrong have I done to deserve all this? I tried to free my hair but was not successful. One of Niharika's friends was holding my hands and Shivani was holding my hair, Niharika was about to slap me and I closed my eyes but her hand never reached my face. I opened my eyes slowly and found Riddhi holding Niharika's hand.

"Dare you touch her, I will not think twice before taking an action against you."

"How can you guys hang out with her. She is so cheap, downmarket, and most importantly chara...."

Riddhi didn't let her complete her sentence and shouted, "Enough, don't you dare say that word. She is my friend and I know her better than you. So you better shut your mouth."

Niharika and others left from there not before glaring at me. And as soon as they left, Riddhi hugged me. She was crying and I was consoling her.

"Why are you crying?" I asked while rubbing her back.

"How can't I when I saw those idiots bullying my friend." A small smile appeared on my face and she asked,

"Why are you smiling?"

"Because I had no idea I have got such a good friend." Saying this, I wiped her tears and we both went to the class, after cleaning ourselves.

****************

The rest of the week till the exam went normal which was unexpected by me. Niharika and some other students were furious and jealous because of me getting close to Dhruv and the group but I didn't care anymore. Some were uninterested which was more than fine for me, but there is one thing which was concerning me and that was Shivani's behaviour. Earlier she used to look at me with sympathy, which I didn't like but from the past few days, she has been looking at me as if she was disgusted by my presence. I tried not to think about it much as it was a matter of a few days. Jai made Nikhil apologized to me and I don't know how he did that. I forgave him because his apology was genuine. And on the last day of the school, a lot of people came to apologize to me, those too who were only a mute spectator of me getting bullied. I became emotional at the sudden change in their behaviour and was more than happy. I couldn't ask for more. Finally, I could go

to London without any hard feelings.

But could I leave Dhruv and go to chase my dreams? What the hell! From where did that thought come?

From your mind mocked my inner self.

Why can't I go without him? We are friends and friends support each other and I am sure he will support me when he will get to know that I am going to London for my studies.

If you are friends, then why do you guys hold hands in the cafeteria every day.

And my inner self won't stop mocking me.

He held my hand on my first day of the cafeteria to help me so that I stop getting anxious.

You were fine from the second day itself but you didn't tell him and let him hold your hand.

Friends do hold hands.

Then why didn't you held the hand of any other guy besides him?

Stop it, you are getting on my nerves now.

I am stating facts. You like it when he holds your hand, Just accept the fact.

It's not like that.

It is like that. And do you know why?

Why?

Because you have feelings for him.

"What?" I yelled startling everyone. I was at Dhruv's place doing group study with my friends and at the same time I zoned out and started having a conversation with my inner self and now I embarrassed myself in front of everyone.

"What happened? Are you fine?" Dhruv came towards me and my heart started to beat wildly with our proximity.

"Yes..yes." I stuttered in response and excused myself saying I wanted to drink water. I ran to the kitchen and started to calm myself.

"What's wrong with me?" I mumbled to myself.

"Nothing." I heard Riddhi. She followed me to the kitchen with a bottle in her hand.

"The bottle was there, but you didn't notice." she pointed my silliness which I just showed in front of everyone. She handed me the bottle and I gulped half of the bottle.

"It happens," she said

"What happens?"

"When there is someone more interesting to look at, we decide to ignore our surroundings. That's what happened to you."

I couldn't get what was she trying to say. "That's what happens to me when I look at Rohit." saying this she winked at me and left.

Did she notice me staring at Dhruv? Shit! Now, what will I do? She will think wrong of me. But why was I even staring at him?

'Just accept the fact, you like him.'

No, no that's not the truth, I told myself and got back to study.

***********

Something is wrong with me because from the past few days all I think about is Dhruv, I see him everywhere, whenever he comes close to me my heart starts to beat weirdly. The problem is I can't even avoid him, because then my heart demands to see him. Only I know, how I have been able to concentrate on my studies these past few weeks. Today is the last exam and I will be telling my friends about my plan of going to London. I just wish everything goes well.

The paper went well and when I came out of the exam hall, I didn't find anyone. Finally, I spotted Nikhil so I called him.

"Where are others?" I asked not seeing anyone there.

"Ah...they...ah..." he struggled to answer which I found weird.

"Saavi," Dhruv called and Nikhil left saying he had some important work and he will meet us later.

"Where is everyone?" I asked going towards Dhruv.

"They left."

"Left? Already?" and he nodded.

"Let's go. I will drop you" Saying this he took me to his car. We both sat inside and Rana Uncle drove to my address. All the while I could feel Dhruv was staring at me. And when I turned towards him he moved his gaze and started looking outside the window. There was a different kind of silence in the car. It felt like he wanted to say something to me but was out of words.

The car stopped in front of my house and Dhruv got out too saying he wanted to drink water. Entering inside my house I kept my bag on the chair and was about to go to bring water when Dhruv held my hand and turned me around.

And then my heart again accelerated. "You remember, you promised me that you will grant me a wish."

He was talking about the wish I granted on the day Jai came to seek an apology from me. I nodded remembering it.

"So, will you give me something, if I ask you to?"

I was thinking about what it could be. He has everything and what can I give him?

"Will you go out on a date with me tonight?" He asked leaving me stunned with The Unanticipated Proposal.