12. PANCHI

                                    

                                          
The  whole   day  I  couldn't  get  Vihang  out  of  mind.  It  was  annoying  how  this  was  becoming  a  regular  thing  for  me.  The  last  thing  I  want  is  to  think  about  that  jerk  and  yet all  I  was  thinking  about  was  what  he  said  earlier.  After  Sid  told  me  about  the  dinner  I decided  to  stay  back  and  catch  up  on  my  play  rehearsals  as  I  was  already  behind  because  of  all  the  Aryan  drama  going  on  lately.  And  I  thought  it  would  take  my  mind  off  everything.
 I  directly  went  to  Sid's  house  with  him  because  he  had  a  fight  with  Abheer and  was  too  upset.  "Awe  look  at  you  both,  probably  laughing  at  one  of  your  inside  jokes." Sid  commented  instantly  as  we  entered  and  saw  Vihang  and  Vartika  laughing.  For  a  second  I  was  shocked  at  what  I  just  saw.  Vihang  laughing.  In  all  these  years  I  have  never seen  him  smile  let  alone  laugh.  Watching  him  like  this  took  me  back  to  the  incident  he was  talking  about  earlier  today.
"I'm  telling  you  that  girl  is  bad  news.  Stay  away  from  her."  I  heard  Vihang  say  this  to  Sid. I  was  finding  Charu  aunty  because  she  said  she'd  help  me  wear  sari  for  the  fresher's party.  It  was  one  of  my  Dida's  sari  but  I  didn't  know  how  to  drape  it  so  I  asked  aunty  for help  and  she  was  more  than  happy  to  do  it.
 I  pretended  that  I  didn't  hear  their conversation  because  I  already  had  some  idea  that  Vihang  doesn't  like  me.  I  ignored  it and  went  to  the  party  with  Sid  coz  I  didn't  want  to  spoil  his  mood.  At  the  party  when some  seniors  tried  to  bully  Sid  I  started  a  fight  with  them.  "Nobody  makes  fun  of  my  best  friend"  I  said  and  started  hitting  those  two  guys  with  my  bag. 
 They  ran  but  some teachers  caught  us  and  reported  to  the  dean.  We  were  about  to  get  suspended  when Vihang  pulled  some  strings  and  got  us  out  of  this  mess.  "Thank  you  Bhai  you  are  our hero" Sid  said  hugging  Vihang.  He  acted  as  if  he  cared  for  me  in front  of  his  brother  when I  already  knew  the  truth.  "A  villain  disguised  as  a  hero.  That's  what  you  are.  I  know  you hate  me  so  next  time  don't  act  like  you  care  about  me."  I  told  him  after  Sid  left. 
"How  are  you  Panchi  beta?  Why  do  you  look  so  weak?"  Charu  aunty's  voice  bought  me back  from  my  trip  down  the  memory  lane.  She  hugged  me  and  ran  a  hand  through  my hair.  Both  uncle  and  aunty  love  me  as  their  own  daughter.  Charu  aunty  reminds  me  of  my  Dida.  She  is  the  kindest  and  the  sweetest  person  I've  ever  met.  I  always  wonder  how someone  so  grumpy  like  Vihang  can  be  her  son.
 "I'm  good  aunty.  How  are  you  and  how was  your  trip?"  I  asked  her  and  gave  her  a  warm  smile.  After  the  initial  greetings  I  offered to  help  but  she  said  everything  was  already  done.  Vihang  left  soon  after  Sid  stormed  out in  anger.  "Panchi  can  you  give  me  hand  with  this?"  Vartika  said  and  I  went  to  the  kitchen.  She  told  me  to  clean  some  plates  and  left.  Aunty  was  already  gone  to  console  Sid,  so  it  was  only  Vihang  and  I  in  the  kitchen. 
"you  know  it's  creepy  to  watch  someone  like  this."  He  said  without  making  any  eye  contact.  In  a  span  of  short  I  have  learnt  a  lot  about  him  and still  there  was  a weird  tick  in  my  stomach  to  know  more  about  him.  I  rolled  my  eyes.  "please  you  are  the  last  person  I  want  to  see  right  now."  I  said   continued  to work  ignoring  his  smug  smile.