Dil Jaanta Hai | ✔

twenty-five

||CHAPTER 25||
《¤》

"Ham Armaan ke dost hai... Arvika hai kya?"

Silence greeted them before Armaan did. They were stupid, oh so stupid.

"Tell them I'm not here," I commanded him before he could walk towards the door.

"You said that you were not ashamed of being friends with me."

I snapped my head back at him. Maybe it's the contacts that makes him look intimidating.

"Trust me, I'm not... and I don't know what they are doing here-"

"Armaan?"

Both of us whip our heads towards the door, and find three pairs of eyes looking at us.

"Armaan?" His sister calls out again.

"Haan..." he trails off, looking at me, "Yeh mere dost hai, ammi mai aapko bolna bhool-"

"There's a misunderstanding, actually," I interrupt, backing towards the door. "Sorry, please give us a minute? Mai abhi ayi."

Once I'm out of the door, I grab Arnav's hand and drag him upstairs, towards a landing, making sure that the others follow.

Once we're out of the scene, I glare at the three of them: Arnav, Ishita and Vansh.

"What the actual hell guys? Did you seriously have the nerve to follow me here? Baukhla gaye ho kya?"

"Baukhla tho tum gayi ho yaar!" Arnav starts. "Tum Armaan ke saath yaha par kya kar rahi ho?"

The accusation in his voice got to my nerve. "Mai apne dost se milne ayi hoon. Isse tumhe matlab?"

"Par Nerdy Qureshi koi ladki nahi hai," Vansh defends his best friend.

"Tho woh to meri galti nahi hai, I can't change his gender. And maine kab kaha mai kisi bandi se milne jaa rahi hu??"

"Exactly! Tumhe koi tho details dene chahiye thhe-" Arnav counters.

"Kyu doon? Tum mujhe bata ke ghoomne jatey ho kya?"

"Look, Arvika, this place doesn't look safe," Vansh says, trying to be calm. "This locality is known for shady business and we just wanted to make sure you're safe."

"Guys, calm!" Ishita's voice overpowers our argument. "Ye jagah soundproof nahi hai, woh neeche tumhari awaaz sun sakte hai."

I fold my hands, leaning against the wall and looking away.

No one speaks for a moment until I decide to.

"Look, if you guys came all the way here, stalking me for my safety, then Thankyou, but you can go now. And FYI Arnav, Daadi ko pata hai mai kaha hoon, you guys don't need to be Mr. Plod."

"We aren't leaving this place without you," Vansh's gaze doesn't waiver. "Tumhe yaha koi cab bhi lene nahi ayegi, yaha ka rasta bhi pakka nahi hai, ubad-khabad hai."

"There you go," I unfold my hands in frustration, "judging this place again. Have you guys like grown up here or something, because you sure are acting like you know this area."