Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
July 2017
                          
"5450! That's how much you spent yesterday!" Sicko finally exclaims!
                          
Moksh lets out a low whistle. I roll my eyes and sit with my chin on my hands. Muskan comes into the classroom and sits next to me.
                          
"What's 5450?"
                          
"₹ 5450 is the amount that THIS BITCH spent on Tiwari! In a single day!"
                          
Her eyes widen and she looks at me.
                          
"₹ 5450!? What for!?"
                          
"Can you guys stop saying 5450?" I mutter while banging my head on the desk.
                          
Sicko huffs and then says, "I'll round it up to 6000 then!"
                          
"You're supposed to round it to 5000! Do I need to teach you basic maths?"
                          
"I seriously doubt I'll need to take maths lessons from you." Ouch. It's been more than a year in Topper Ahmedabad, yet it still hurts.
                          
"Me, Tiwari, Sicko and Aish went shopping yesterday... For their upcoming Model United Nations. Tiwari didn't have formal wear so our beloved offered to get it for him." Moksh replies. Yeah Moksh and I are friends now. It's been a weird year.
                          
"Oooh... cool family trip!" Muskan coos and starts giggling. Hell no.
                          
"Not my family!" I and Sicko shout at the same time. Muskan looks on in amusement.
                          
"YOU are not family. You guys never will be. You have no idea what family means." He points at us and says. Two can play at that game, you pretentious slut.
                          
"And I mean... I've never really had the big happy family... And even if I ever do, you guys wouldn't be a part of it... Maybe Nandini and Pari... Even Moksh cause he's like a brother to me... but Sicko is the last person who would want to be there." His face suddenly hardens. Bull's eye. I try hard to conceal my smile.
                          
"Yes exactly. See? There are no feelings between us! I only tolerate her because she's useful sometimes and she tolerates me because I'm her boyfriend's best friend. Any other assumption is insane and blasphemous!"
                          
I purse my lips to control my laughter. So I wasn't wrong when I concluded that he overcompensates.
                          
*******
                          
I open the glass door, step inside and look around to see all sorts of black suits around me. The hotel lobby is full of delegates and all team members. It's drizzling outside and as a result of that, it's a bit nippy with the air conditioner on full blast. I stand in a corner and call up Kiddo. He doesn't pick up the call and I feel someone walk towards me as I look up. Neeraj, my junior in school.
                          
He grins at me and extends his hand towards me. I shake his hand.
                          
"Ayesha di! Didn't really think you'd make it!"
                          
"Of course I would! I've been looking forward to this."
                          
"Well, there was still speculation whether or not you would be here for sure."
                          
"Well, I am an anonymous part of the organizing committee..."
                          
"Why not let it be known!?"
                          
"Didn't want the attention..." Also, Kiddo gets really weird if I'm in a position of power. And I'm trying to avoid it.
                          
A waiter comes to us with pina-coladas and we take one each. "Can't imagine what that's like."
                          
That is the exact moment Kiddo walks in the door. He looks around, spots me and his forehead creases in the same way as it does, whenever I'm talking to a guy. He walks towards us with a straight face.