Dil Jaanta Hai | ✔

twenty-three

||CHAPTER 23||
《¤》

I wouldn't have known that Karan Bahl was sneaking off, or in in this case, during recess if I wasn't doing exactly the same thing on Tuesday. Armaan Qureshi and I were roaming the corridoors of the second floor, sharing a packet of biscuits sold only in his locality, which he normally got for lunch daily, and as we walked past the library, when my gaze landed on the slightly ajar door of the Psychology classroom.

"Fir ammi ne mujhe kaha- kya hua Arvika?" He stopped his narration when I abruptly halted in my tracks, taking cover behind the wall so that I could see what was going inside.

"Shh," I placed my index finger on my lips.

Karan seemed to be having a heart-to-heart conversation with Mr. Gaur, the young Einstein doppleganger, Psychology teacher. I couldn't make out the faint whispers but I did hear something along the lines of 'Dad kaise hai?'

"Armaan," I whispered. "Bell abhi bajney hi wali hai. Why don't you go back to our class? I... I have something to discuss with Mr. Gaur."

"Mr. Gaur? Par tum P.E. me ho na?"

Shit. "Yeah, I am... but I think I might reconsider taking Psychology. Learn a bit about mind manipulation and stuff, you know?"

He seemed convinced, "Oh, okay. See you later."

I saw him going upstairs and turned around, only to be staring up at Karan Bahl's questioning eyes.

"Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?"

Okay, I seriously needed to work up on my lying skills. "Tum yaha pe kya kar rahe ho, dude," I glanced behind him. Mr. Gaur was arranging his desk. "Break mein bhi padhai? Tujhe pata hai maine tujhe kitna dhundha, and tu yaha pe sadd raha hai?"

Alright, that went way better.

He sighed, pulling me with him to climb the stairs and reach our floor.

"Mujhe bhookh nahi thi," he grabbed the biscuit that was still clutched in my hand, "par ab lagi hai."

"Do you honestly love Psychology so much that tu apna break bhi uspe kurbaan kar de?"

We entered the classroom where our group was already seated. Karan's arm went around my neck, pulling my in a side hug as we approached the others. "Vicky, tu mujhe ignore hi kar, I am honestly more comfortable with you that way."

"Oh really?" I ask, fist bumping Ritwik for no damn reason. "Because I recall an afternoon when you were in so deep an agony, that you had to pull yourself out of your comforts and confine in my residence."

"Behen, itni hi kadak angrezi agar tu Negi ki class me phade na, tho woh tera kuch bhi nahi bigad sakti!" Ritwik exclaimed before Karan could reply.

"Woh waise bhi mera kuchh nahi bigad sakti," I said with an attitude, standing with a stance, hands folded.

"Grades ke alawa," Ishita chimed in. "Grades se yaad aya, since tomorrow's a holiday because of Eid, are you guys up for another group study session? Because Maths mere palle nahi pad raha, aur meri didi apne college wapis gayi hai."

I considered the fact that these group study consisted more of an unplanned indoor picnic, and gave in. "Sure, I'm in," I pursed my lips. "Just kal shaam ko mat rakhna. Baaki koi bhi time chalega."