Chapter 7 - The Quarrel

When the car was halted, both of them hopped off while Sparsh obediently followed Ayaan. As he stopped next to a familiar door, he pressed the doorbell. Sonal appeared at the door with a smile.

“Hey… Let’s go Sparsh, anyway, these two men will bore us to death.”

She looked like she is relieved to see Sparsh on her doorstep. Without acknowledging Ayaan, Sonal strode out with her. Ayaan facepalmed thinking what has gotten into her and went inside the house only to meet hungover Ron who is in a disheveled state, drinking plain water and glaring at a surface as if it was its fault that he has drunk beyond his limit.

“What’s up with you guys? One twin is snatching my girlfriend away while another twin is busy treating his hangover.”

Ron kicked his leg and threw a napkin over him causing Ayaan to laugh at his misery.

Sparsh never thought that she will ever make a friend who will drag her out of her mundane life only just for shopping like how it’s shown in movies. But here Sonal became someone from movies and dragged her to the shopping mall.

“I just love this color. This looks more bright on my body. What say?”

Sparsh smiled politely and corrected Sonal’s back zip of the mini-dress she was trying out. Even though Sparsh wanted to leave this mall and have a lazy weekend with herself for company, for a change, spending time with Sonal is really refreshing.

“You know what, I am damn hungry, lets leave this store and head to food court what say? Hope we will get something to nurse your hangover okay?”

Sonal asked her and Sparsh said yes while she went out of the trial room. One thing she noticed is, Sonal has warmed up to her real quick. They went to the food court and Sparsh took a seat as Sonal was busy ordering. As her order arrived, she hurried to the table where Sparsh was seated and started munching loudly without any care for the person opposite to her. But after a couple of bites of her roll, Sparsh came on her view.

“Umm sorry yar, I actually got so hungry that I totally forgot I should offer you.”

With a sheepish smile she gave Sparsh the roll which she ordered for her. In silence both the ladies were filling their stomach and that was when Nikhil noticed Sonal as he entered the food court. He got determined to face her and tell her everything about her feelings. He rushed towards her as if he ha caught fire on his back and when Sonal turned towards him, he just wanted to dig up a hole and bury himself six feet under.

“Sparsh?”

Clueless Sparsh looked up towards Sonal while she kept on shooting glares towards Nikhil. And at the same moment, she carried her bag and held Sparsh's arm and stood up from her seat while fuming in rage. Sparsh as well stood with her and her gaze landed over regretful and dejected looking Nikhil who seemed like he is going to dive-in and hold Sonal’s legs and beg anytime.

“Sonal hey… just listen to me please...”

Angry Sonal brushed Nikhil’s shoulder and led Sparsh away from him while he looked like he is frozen.

“I thought you and Nikhil will banter to the end. I thought you will kick him or hit him to take out your pent-up frustration.”

Sparsh commented, as she thought this might make Sonal go back to him as she sensed that there might be an unfinished conversation between them. And as expected, Sonal went back to Nikhil. As she reached the spot where she was sitting before, Nikhil, lifted his head and looked a bit hopeful. But a loud grunt escaped him as Sonal kicked his shin with full force.

“Asshole! I can’t believe that I liked you so that you could play with my heart as if I am some stupid chew toy.”

Sonal screamed on the top of her lungs which led to the crowd in the mall turn to them.

“Soni yar-”

“F*ck you Nikks. I am in no mood to listen to any of your blabber at the moment. All I wanted to tell you is never show me your face ever and act as if you never exist. Every time I tried to come closer to you, every time I dropped hints at you, you ran away as if I am touch-me-not plant. You fool why can’t you understand that I like you in every way possible. Every time I look at men in dating app I feel like no one can match you and all I need is you. But I guess I was mistaken.”

She turned to leave while he held her arm and stopped her.

“I… I am sorry, even though I had a huge crush on you from the day we met in our high school. But I can’t even imagine us dating alright? I can never break the bro code with Ron. Please underst-”

“Bro code?”

Sonal questioned as he gulped down his own saliva and looked away. She gestured him to explain.

Meanwhile, Sparsh decided to take a picture of the couple and send it to Ayaan. As soon as it was sent, text notification started to flood like anything. She jumped at the tone and then opened the text box only to see numerous text messages from Ayaan asking numerous questions.

‘Where are you?’

‘Where is Sonal?’

‘Why is she with Nikhil? Where are you both Sparsh? Send me your location.’

‘Give me your location now.’

‘Now Sparsh!’

Hastily she sent her location and felt nervous as she felt that she is doing something wrong. Well she must not mind about all these things as everyone surrounding her are for temporary. But oddly, her spending time with them seems right all the time she does.

She never happened to know what Nikhil said but Sonal grabbed him by his shoulder and pulled him into a kiss. Obviously the crowd surrounding them were enjoying the scene and Sonal felt like she proved a point to Nikhil as his expression was priceless.