CH-11 My Safe Haven

"HE'S INTO GUYS?" Riya shouted at the top of her voice, making both Shravani and Anushka close their ears with their hands.

"Stop shouting, Riya!" Anushka commands.

Ignoring Anushka's words, Riya walked to the bed where Shravani was sitting with her legs crossed, acting too calm as if it was too obvious or she hadn't said something that had shaken others. She held both her hands and said," Look, Shravani, this is October going on. Not April, that you will prank me. And if you wanted to joke around or prank your new friends, we get it. right Anu di?" 

Too confused with Riya's behaviour, Anushka reluctantly nodded while Shravani just watched. too calm for herself. "See, now prank's over. You can now that you were successful in pranking us!"

"But I never said it was a prank. I am serious." 

"It can't be true." Riya muttered. Shravani felt bad, but after coming this far, she decided to not to go back. "You seriously don't believe me? Aish. I trusted you by sharing my friend's secret, and here you don't even believe me. great. I mean, I get it, you like him, but you didn't bother to trust me at all. I was trying to help you." Shravani said, acting pitiful, melting Anushka's heart. She walked up to her and said, "No, Shravani. We trust you, and we love to be friends with you and Riya. I told you earlier that you need to stop this crazy liking of yours. And see now you got your heart broken in the end."

"Hey. Did you like him that much?" Shravani asked.

"Hmm, but I know it's an attraction only. It will fade away after some time, and Riya, you know that even if he wasn't into boys, you would still end up rejecting. Have you seen the line?" Anushka tried making her understand, but she nodded and left.

"Was I too harsh?" Shravani muttered.

"No." Anushka said while closing their room, facing her.

"Huh?" 

"I know you lied."

"What? no why would I?"

"It's because I know him." She chuckled while Shravani's eyes popped out in shock.

"You.. know...... You know him?" Shravani asked. Anushka laughed seeing Shravani's flustered state and said, "hmm last year I was leading the team which he is leading. I am the one who suggested his name. I have talked to him."

"So he told you he was straight?" She pouted while Anushka laughed.

"Oh god! Shravani, you are so cute," she said, pinching her soft cheeks.

"Aish, stop pulling Di." She again laughed and said," Which guy on this earth tells that he is straight or not?"

"Then how did you know? Preferences change!" Shravani said.

"ya but not his when he was much in love to stay away from girls."

"Huh?"

"Last time when we were preparing, everyone noticed how he was always on the phone. i did not want to invade someone's privacy, nor the team or, you can say, no one had the guts to. But then he very harshly rejected a girl in the canteen and lost his temper. Getting a proposal was not something sudden, but his reaction was, and later on, he didn't show up, so I asked his friend and guess what he said." 

"What?"

"he said," Uski bandi naraz ho gyi thi becz she saw him getting proposals. So since then, I know."

"oh I see. But then why didn't you stop me?"

"How can I stop his girl who is protecting him from other girls?" She said and laughed.

"Who is his girl?" She stammered, blushing.

"I swear, Aryaveer, being the biggest grump in the world has got the cutest girl for himself. I am jealous."

"I am not."

"I would have believed you, but sorry, even if I want to, I can't."

"Why? And how are you so confident about it?" Shravani asked.

"Because Aryaveer doesn't take favours or break rules for just anyone."

"What?"

"You don't know?" Anushka asked while Shravani nodded in denial. "He especially asked me to save a place for you, even if you don't take the test. You submitted your form quite late, but even if you didn't, you would have been here because of him."

"Ah! I see. That's why he never once asked me to fill out any form or anything. Now makes sense. But wait. Why did you agree?"

"well because he helped me once."

"I see. But I feel bad for Riya now." Shravani said, "It's fine anyway, usko reject toh hona hi tha. It's better, it's just an attraction."

"True. But will you tell Arya about this stunt of mine?" Shravani asked in a little fear.

"Of course not. Why would I even do that? I am a girl's girl, darling, and I solely believe in not sharing what's mine, so even if I didn't know about you, both still would have supported you. Chill."

"You are really kind."

"I hear that often, cutie," she said, pulling her cheeks before they too went out.

The first day passed like a montage.

From exploring the campus to endless laughter, from clicking photos to complaining about tired feet, everything felt light. There were introductions, inside jokes formed too quickly, and that specific thrill of being somewhere new with familiar faces.

The competition unfolded alongside it all, woven into the day rather than announced with ceremony. Registration desks buzzed with names being called out, clipboards passed around, and rules explained twice because no one was really listening the first time. Teams huddled in corners, whispering strategies, pretending to be calm while nerves betrayed them. Some looked confident, some terrified, most somewhere in between.

Aryaveer moved through it all with practised ease. Giving instructions. Checking lists. Making sure everyone was where they needed to be. He spoke little but noticed everything, correcting a mistake before it became one, stepping in when chaos threatened to bloom. It was clear he had done this before. It was also clear why people listened when he spoke.

Shravani watched parts of it from a distance. The whistles, the practice rounds, the way different universities sized each other up like unspoken rivals. There was pressure in the air, but it never weighed her down completely. Not today. Today still felt like an escape.

By evening, tiredness settled into bones, but excitement refused to leave. Everyone talked at once, recounting moments as if they'd happened weeks ago instead of hours. The campus no longer felt unfamiliar. It felt claimed.

And just like that, the first day slipped away,
leaving behind sore legs, hoarse voices, and the quiet understanding that the real intensity would begin tomorrow.

By night, the campus wore a different face.

Fairy lights traced the garden paths like fallen constellations, and at the centre of it all, a bonfire crackled to life. Flames rose and dipped, throwing warmth into the winter air and painting everyone in soft amber. Jackets were pulled tighter, hands stretched toward the fire, laughter carried farther than it should have.

Someone suggested music. Someone else complained. Then someone louder announced 21 dares because "truths are boring," and just like that, a circle began to form. Phones came out. Cheers followed. Groans too.

Aryaveer didn't even pretend to consider it.

"I'll pass," he said easily, already walking toward a bench a little away from the fire, laptop bag slung over one shoulder. Work waited for him, competition schedules and attendance lists that refused to care about bonfires or dares.

Anurag declined just as quickly, earning dramatic boos.
"I only play these games with my girlfriend," he said, unapologetic. "Respect the loyalty."

Shravani tried too.

"I'll sit this one out," she said, polite but firm. Too many strangers. Too much noise. Too many eyes. But her roommates heard none of it. They dragged her back into the circle, promising it would be "fun" and "harmless" and "just for tonight."

The game began.

Dares flew around, silly and loud. Someone sang badly. Someone had to imitate a professor. Laughter echoed, rising with the flames. Shravani stayed quiet, hoping to blend into the background.

Shravani tried finding a place to sit as everyone settled down. "Hey!" someone from behind came.

"Gosh! You scared me." "I am sorry," the boy said. "Hey, aren't you the guy I met earlier?" "You remember!" the boy asked, astonished, and blushed. "I don't have goldfish memory. So tell me, what's your name?"

"Hi. Myself Rohan. 2nd year." Hi I am Shravani. And despite you being cute, you are elder then me. I am in my first year." While shy Rohan looked down, unable to reply. "come let's sit." Shravani offered. And he sat.

The game started with a lot of fun and chatter. Shravani became comfortable with Rohan, who enjoyed her time, while someone, on the other hand, regretted not being there to play that stupid game.

"Did she take Yuvi and Kavish's advice seriously! I will make sure to punish them once I return, filling nonsense in her brain. Look how he is sticking to her."

"You will make a hole." Anurag mocked.

"What?"

"You will make a hole in those two. You came here to work, so focus on that." Anurag teased.

"Shut up."

"If you are so bothered about her talking with other guys, then why do you pretend to hate her?"

"I don't pretend. I do hate her." Aryaveer said, looking somewhere else.

"sure and I am Queen Victoria." he said, rolling his eyes.

"But they look cute, right?" Anurag again spoke, "What rubbish." "I mean, just look how comfortable she has become within an hour, and here she was not even talking to anyone except us or Anushka."

"Rohan! Shravani! Rohan! Shravani!" Everyone started hooting their names as the bottle stopped on Rohan, "Dare?" he asked. "A couple dance with any one of the girls present here," He hesitated, but looked beside him. "So who are you asking?" Shravani asked teasingly.

"you" he said. "What! sorry I can't." Shravani refused even before he could say anything.

"I have really not talked to any girl except you who is present here. Help me out. I can't embarrass myself. It will be a small dance. Quick one."

"I get you, but still, I don't think I can."

"You just said we are friends. Can't you help me? Please."

"Fine." she said, sighing while Rohan stood up, everyone waiting for him to choose a partner, and when he offered his hand to Shravani. It was chaos. Everyone started shouting their names.

"Looks like you lost even before you tried," Anurag said, but he just stared at them.

"Wearing her hair tie on your wrist is useless if she doesn't know you have allowed yourself to be called as hers. claim before you regret." And that was all when he left.

Shravani stood up for herself. "It's just a dance", she muttered. She was about to hold his hands when Aryaveer shouted, "Why are you not picking up my calls?"

completely forgotten about the dare, everyone looked at them both.

"call? I didn't receive any."

"Just check how many times it rang." he said, mocking her. She checked her pocket only to realise,"How am I supposed to know you called when my phone is with you?"

"She gave her phone to him!"

"Are they that close?"

"There is definitely something going on." everyone muttered, but did both of them care? never.

"I don't have it." Aryaveer replied plainly.

"What you don't have?" Shravani asked. "Your phone. I don't have it."

"Are you serious? I asked you to keep it until we reach the rooms since I don't have pockets in my dress. Where did you drop it now?"

"I didn't pick it up in the first place."

"mein na tumhe chodungi nhi agar mera phone nhi mila toh."

"mene kab kha mughe chodo? hold me tighter instead," he muttered. She raised her eyebrow, but he shook his head and said in disappointment, "seriously Vani. You are going to hurt me for that non-living thing?"

while Shravani was shocked. It was as if she were in a dream. 

him talking casually

him casually, calling her Vani 

him showing emotions.

"Will you seriously do that to your Arya?" Aryaveer again spoke, and she knew she fucked up for real. She turned only to look at Anushka, who was enjoying the show. 

"Pinch me." Shravani muttered.

"What?" Anushka asked.

"Pinch me!!!" and she did. "ouch!" It's real. This is not a dream."

"What's wrong, Vani?"

"Huh?"

"What's wrong... Nothing. Nothing's wrong."

"So where is your phone?" he again asked, and she snapped back to reality. He is being sweet because he knows he did mistake.

"Dear Arya," she walked closer to him. Hold his hoodie from the front. And pulled him towards himself. and 6ft3inch guy bumped into her as if he was light as air.

They were too close. He had bent his head, making their faces inches apart from each other.

They forgot about everyone. And everyone was too shocked to even comment. Some were admiring, some were shocked, some were jealous, while some started recording, not missing the gossip. But for them. But for them, everyone else faded when they stared at each other. Aryaveer didn't plan this. He just wanted to make sure everyone present knew she was off limits, while Shravani, thinking he was acting and using those words to calm her, decided to play along. And why not? Where else would we find an opportunity to make sure everyone knows Aryaveer Singhania is not everyone's cup of tea, and stay away from him?

Suddenly, someone started coughing. They broke eye contact, but she still didn't let go of his hoodie. They were still close.

"If I lost my phone again because of you. I will make sure you go bankrupt and never lose even the most useless thing, you have. So you better come and find it."

She finally let go of him and was about to go as Arya was ahead, but suddenly Rohan held her hand. Arya glared at him. Too hard if glare could kill. Rohan would be lying under 10 ft now.

"Dare?" Rohan asked. Aryaveer jerked his hand, losing his grip on Shravani. "It has nothing to do with her. So better keep your hand to yourself if you love them." he said, but only for him to hear.

Seeing the tension, she said," I am sorry. I need to search for my phone. You can continue it with someone else. I need to go. Sorry." and held Arya's hand pull him away from the crowd. She kept muttering curses nonstop, blabbering how she trusted him with her phone.

The dining hall was exactly opposite the ground where they were playing. After walking straight for 20 minutes away from them, Aryaveer suddenly held her hand.

"What now?" she asked, fully irritated by his behaviour. "We don't have to go there to check your phone."

"And why so, your highness?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Ahem... actually. no it is like...."

"Speak clearly, Arya." she sighed. "You are not allowed to get angry at me," he warned her.

"How much more can I get angry at you than I already am?" sarcasm dripped, but he cared about his safety.

"Promise me first." "You are seriously good at testing my patience right now," she said, but he just stared at her. Giving up, she said, "fine I promise. Now tell quickly, we are getting late."

"Your phone is here." he said and took out his phone from his pocket.

"What the hell!!" "Before you shout at me, listen. I thought it was my phone in the pocket, so I never bothered to check it out. I just realised that I have my phone in my hand the whole time."

"Wow! Great. We came this far from the place, and you just realised it?" She asked, being too suspicious. But of course he didn't wish to disappear from earth and tell that he only found this idea to avoid her dancing with that Chirkut. He nodded.

Shravani wanted to beat the shit out of him, but his handsome face did its magic as soon as he showed his innocent eyes 

"Fine. Let's go back." she sighed, too tired.

"You still want to go back?" 

"Where else should we go? Do you have anywhere to go?" Of course, he knew where to go and what to do. he was the devil disguised as a human. He didn't want her to go back and had planned how to keep her occupied to avoid going there.

He went to a room and took two rackets and a shuttle before coming out. As soon as she saw the rackets, she was overly joyed.

"Are we going to play? Together?" she asked excitedly.

"depends on how much you know to play"

"I am a champion, okay. i used to beat so many people back in Delhi." she bragged.

"They were kids, Shravani."

"And what am I? Grandma?" she mocked.

"They were younger than you, of course, you could beat them." he sighed.

"I can even beat you." she said in full confidence while he smirked and said, "We will see that."

And that's how the unannounced competition started. 

No one was ready to lose. They both were too good at always keeping the other person on their toes. and this made both Aryaveer and Shravani more excited.

2 hours passed, but none of them realised until they got calls asking to get back to the hotel room.

"I can't feel my hands anymore," Shravani complained as they walked back to the room beside each other.

"Who asked you not stop and play a friendly match as war." he mocked.

"How mean of you."

"sure in the end, I am mean." he again mocked, turning his face.

"You know I didn't mean that." she said calmly.

"Switching sides, are we?"

"Nope. I am only on one side. I just love to tease you."

"hmm why not?" he was still not satisfied. Things didn't settle well with him. She was comfortable with a stranger in an hour, but after knowing each other, she didn't bother to tell anything that happened back there. She is fine with getting hatred but does not speak about the reason of disappearance.

"Even if I say or not, I hope you know you are my safe haven. And this won't change whether you claim to hate me or not. it won't change how I feel.

"I..." Aryaveer had no words to express what he was feeling.

"You don't know, but you always save me from difficult situations whenever I am stuck. You care about me more than even I can for myself. So you don't have to say anything. Just listen. It's not always necessary to reply when you are not sure."

"look the moon. Isn't it beautiful?" She gazed at it after the heavy silence. "Sure it is," he replied this time, but while looking at her. His gaze held too many emotions, which she avoided looking at, and he avoided speaking it because both knew none of them were ready to face the storm.

They decided to live in the moment, forgetting all past mistakes and equation just walking beside each other, away from the world's chaos. Just them. 

................................................

CH- 12 Dear Hubby

Morning arrived with a different kind of energy.

Not louder. Sharper.

The exhaustion from the previous day still clung to everyone, but it was layered with anticipation. Today wasn't about endurance alone. Today was about clarity.

The announcement echoed through the arena early.

The second round was tougher.

Each team had to build two things within the given time.

• A small but functional app
• A short animated video that acted as its demo, explaining the idea, the flow, and the impact

No exaggeration. No long explanations.

"If your video can't explain your app," the coordinator said, "your app probably doesn't understand itself."

Aryaveer gathered his team of five near their workstation.

"Okay," he said, voice calm but decisive. "We're building something practical again."

He sketched the idea quickly. A Smart Campus Assist app. An app designed to help university students navigate daily campus life. Not just maps, but real-time solutions.

The app allowed students to: 
 Locate classrooms, labs, and offices through a simplified campus map
 Receive instant updates on room changes, cancelled lectures, and campus events
 Raise quick service requests for issues like broken projectors or unavailable labs

Simple. Useful. Scalable.

Aryaveer looked around. "We don't overbuild. We make it understandable in sixty seconds."

Work was divided instantly.

"Aryaveer," Anurag said before he could assign himself anything, "you take system flow and final integration. Make sure nothing feels disconnected."

Aryaveer nodded.

"Anurag, backend logic and chatbot responses. Keep it lightweight."

"Anushka," Aryaveer turned, "you're on animation. Storyboard the demo video. Make it feel like a student's day, not a tech lecture."

She smiled, already opening her design tools.

"Rahul," he continued, "frontend. Clean screens. Three clicks max to reach anything."

"And Neha," he added, "testing and narration scripting. You'll break the app before the judges do."

The clock started again. This time, there was no panic.

Anushka's animation came alive frame by frame. A student rushing to class. A last-minute room change notification. A quick fix raised through the app.

Anurag's chatbot responded without lag. Short. Accurate. Human.

Aryaveer stitched everything together, trimming anything unnecessary, ensuring the video mirrored the app perfectly.

By the final hour, the demo ran seamlessly. The animated video played first. It didn't shout. It showed. And when the app followed, every feature matched the story the video told. No confusion. No glitches. They had nailed it. Not by doing more than required. But by understanding exactly what was required.

Six hours passed faster than anyone expected.

By mid-afternoon, the arena shifted gears. Laptops closed halfway. Teams lined up. The hum of coding gave way to the sharper silence of judgment.

Presentations began.

One team showcased a fitness tracker app designed for college students. Clean idea, decent execution, but the animations stuttered during live use.

Another team presented a local delivery aggregator, promising speed and affordability. The concept drew interest, yet orders failed to refresh in real time.

A third team unveiled a smart attendance system using QR scans. Efficient on paper, but the scanner froze twice during the demo.

Then came the most attractive pitch of the day.

A visually stunning AR-based event discovery app. Smooth transitions. Bold colours. Applause even before the demo finished.

Until it crashed.

[VOTE]

Filters failed to load. The AR overlay lagged. Features overlapped each other. The idea shone, but bugs dimmed its impact.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

When Aryaveer's team was called, he walked forward without haste.

"This app," he began, "was built for students who are always in a rush."

The Smart Campus Assist app opened on screen.

He explained how a student could open the app in the morning, instantly see schedule updates, room changes, and campus alerts. One tap to locate a classroom. Another to raise a service request. A quick chat for doubts that usually take hours to resolve.

"No extra steps," Aryaveer said. "No unnecessary features."

The animated video played alongside the demo. Every scene matched the app's flow. Nothing felt separate. Nothing felt forced.

"This isn't about innovation for the sake of it," he concluded. "It's about making everyday life easier."

The app ran smoothly till the last click.

Applause followed. This time, it stayed.

By nine in the evening, the results were announced.

Shravani stood near the front row, hands clasped, tension written across her face. She had been quiet the entire time, eyes never leaving the stage.

"And the winners are.."

The name echoed.

Their team.

For a second, there was disbelief. Then noise. Laughter. Relief.

Photos were clicked. Smiles froze into memories. The way the worry finally slipped away. 

Backstage, before anyone could say anything, she hugged him tightly. He didn't need words to know. She was happy.

"Yeah," he said softly, hugging her back. "We won."

"Congrats," she said, pulling back just enough to look at him.

"Thanks," he replied, then added, "to your idea."

She frowned instantly. "Shut up. It was your hard work."

Anushka cut in with a grin. "Okay, but that creative idea was yours. So it's a win-win."

Shravani rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself.

Soon after, the team boarded the bus, trophies packed safely, exhaustion finally catching up.

The city lights blurred past the windows as they started their journey back home. 

It was painfully obvious how hard they had worked.
From PowerPoint slides to last-minute testing, from caffeine to concentration, they had squeezed every ounce of energy out of themselves.

By the time the bus rolled onto the highway, exhaustion won.

One by one, everyone fell asleep.

Aryaveer and Anurag, however, decided to take turns staying awake, just in case someone needed to get down or required help. Responsibility didn't clock out even after a win.

Somewhere in between, Shravani made a quiet decision.

She chose to stay awake with Aryaveer.

And knowing her as well as he did, he didn't stop her.

They put on a rom-com, volume low, screens glowing softly in the dim bus. Hardly an hour passed before her blinks slowed, head tilting slightly.

Before he could even interrupt or suggest she sleep properly, she was already gone.

Peacefully asleep.

Her head rested on his shoulder, arms linked around his, holding on as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Aryaveer froze.

His heartbeat, on the other hand, did not.

It started racing, loud and unruly. He placed a hand over his chest and murmured under his breath,
"Shant ho ja yaar... kahin woh tujhe sunn kar uth na jaaye."

The movie was forgotten.

Completely.

All he could focus on was her calm face, relaxed features, the way her breathing evened out. He stayed like that, unmoving, until Anurag passed by, glanced once, raised an eyebrow, and smirked.

Around seven, the sun decided to interfere.

Golden rays slipped through the window, disturbing the duo. Anyone looking at them would have sworn they were a long-lost couple, reunited in sleep.

Aryaveer stirred.

The moment his eyes opened, he was greeted by the most beautiful view.

Shravani, still asleep, had shifted closer, side-hugging him now.

He knew it was wrong.

He knew he should move.

Yet when her eyelashes fluttered, he shut his eyes again, pretending to be asleep.

She woke up seconds later.

And gasped.

"Hayye rabba, Shravani," she panicked internally. "Aaj toh tu gayi. Aaj toh taane aur daant ki tsunami aane wali hai. Par meri kya galti? Insaan raat mein hi sota hai. Aur agar isse problem hoti toh isse mujhe utha dena chahiye tha. Right? Meri koi galti nahi."

"Yaar, kitna bolti ho," Aryaveer muttered suddenly. "Abhi achha-bhala chup thi."

She stiffened. "You... you are awake?" she gasped.

"How can one sleep after you wake up, Rajdhani Express?" he teased.

"Shut up."

"Btw," he added, pretending to think seriously, "last time tum chup kab thi, yaad hai?"

"Viva mein," she murmured, barely audible.

He laughed. Softly. "Oh God, you are crazy."

He ruffled her hair gently and said, "Rest. We'll reach in fifteen minutes."

Her cheeks burned.

"Sorry," she said after a moment. "Woh... I slept... it wasn't intentional. Pareshan ho gaye honge na?" she said, clearly referring to the way she had clung to him.

He chuckled.

This time, he closed his eyes for real, adjusted slightly, and kept her head more comfortably against his shoulder.

"Ittu si toh ho tum," he said quietly. "Kya hi pareshan karogi."

She stayed blushing for the rest of the ride.

When has life been calm since the moment Shravani Gill decided to grace her presence in my life?

It is always chaotic with her. Whether it was 3 years ago or now.

Her presence is needed to calm the angry beast inside me. Whether I like it or not. Just like now.

Early morning, I had to report to the coach since last week I was absent because of the trip, and the next few days went by in adjusting and catching up with assignments and lectures. 

Being an uninvited captain for the team is literally a pain in ass. I have to always be on my toes to make sure those brats work hard for the team, and apparently, while I was away, they got into a fight among themselves regarding something stupid, and I was getting a lecture from that old man to keep them in line as if I am being paid to teach them manners. 

My hands are tied from saying anything to him, all because of our family connection. I would have left this so-called title of captain long ago. But even though I want, I can't, nor would I. There are many reasons behind it. With the current team, I trust no one but myself to lead them. They all have the will to win, but they lack the will to stay together. They lack consistency. I love having power. Blame genes. So even at the most exhausting point, I never regret. While my last reason is currently sitting beside me. After Mom, she has been rooting for me the most selflessly. Fun fact, being the great cheerleader of my life, both of them have no idea about a single rule of football. But don't I hate her?

Funny. How can the heart hate the reason it beats? 

She owned it even 3 years ago; she owns it now. But I am not stupid enough to give in until I get to know what I want. 

By the way, did I ever confess? The feeling of being pampered, being the centre of your girl's life, is the best feeling.

Before anyone misunderstands why I am hurting her with my nonchalant behaviour, a little pain is worth the pain I suffered day and night in those six months, isn't it? And it's not like I have forgiven her. It's just that I have given up on hating her because I cannot help it, no matter how hard I try.

I am tired of hating her all those months, that I have decided to do nothing until she herself comes up. 

"Arya.. bolo na kuch. dekho Kavish ko." Shravani called me. We are all sitting in the cafeteria where, except for eating, everything is happening. I sighed and said, "kya bolu mein? meri konsa chalne wali hai tumhare aage?" 

"rhene do tumse kuch nhin hoga. chup hi thik the." she said angrily while others chuckled.

"mein konsa apni marzi se bola rha tha." I murmumered.

"Bhai teri toh abhi se nhi chal rhi, soch date aur phir shaddi tak kya hoga!" Aksh teased.

"uski chalti rahni chaiye. kafi hai." I said nonchalantly, and before Aksh could tease Shravani again said, "I will disown you as my brother and make sure your position of being my bestie's boyfriend is gone too. phir dubara girls hostel ki diwar chadte rhna andar aane nhi dungi na milne dungi. dhakka aur mar dungi."

"Kis kis ko apna bhai banati rhti hai?" I asked her. Finally, interested in their cat mouse fight.

"tere liye competition kam kr rhi hu." she winked. 

"jisko bnana hota hai usse toh nhi bnati." I whispered, looking at Yuvi, who always flirts with her to make Riddhi jealous. But she never did. Lol 

"Stop being childish. that's not safe place to be." Kavish again argued.

"how can anything happen to me with you and Arya by my side? At least get a good reason."

"what exactly is the topic about?" i asked.

"oh finally you decided to know what we are arguing about since the last 20 min in front of you!?" Kavish scolded.

"What happened?"

"Your girl wants to attend our practice match. evening once." Kavish said while Vani nodded.

"It's no." I said. 

 "but" she again argued.

"End of discussion, Shravani. Dare you ignore my words! I still remember how you barged in changing room a few months back." 

"That's why I am nicely asking you." She smiled wickedly.

"You can't go until you have connections with any of the playing members. smgho baat ko."

"Is that needed?"

"yes definitely. see even I want to help you, but my hands are tied too. It's fine, I will help you with other things ok?" Kavish said all in one go.

"And if I say I have a connection then?" she asked quietly.

"Impossible. Who is it?" Kavish asked.

"His Future Wife" she said calmly while pointing at me. 

What the hell.

"WHAT!!!" they all shouted at same time while I was still frizzed.

"Done. I am done. Do whatever you want. I am out." I said while standing, only for her to pull me back and sweetly said, "Dear hubby, help me out now or I will make sure you don't have a peaceful married life." 

"I.... you..... I..." why the fuck I am shuttering.

"The Great Aryaveer is shuttering. My life is complete."Aksh said. 

" Me too," Kavish said.

"Count me in." Yuvi joined in.

"Arya, your ears are red. By any chance, are you blushing?" she whispered in my ear, only me to push her back on her seat and say," Why the hell are you obsessed with getting married rather than anything else?"

"It's simple. Dating can end with a single word: break up. But our marriage will only have two ends."

"What?" they asked in union.

"It's either us with cute kids or him in blue drum." 

"WHAT!"

"you... you stay away from me. dangerous woman."

"I am not joking. I am dead serious. If you want, I can announce here. wait lemme show you." she said in all go while about to stand on the chair, but I pulled her down and said, "Class. You are 10 mins late for your class. Quickly go."

"oh no." she checked the time and ran with her bag, not before saying bye in my ears.

"She is crazy," Kavish muttered.

"Congrats, you just got booked for a lifetime." Yuvi laughed.

"well can't expect anyless from our Shravani." Aksh said jokingly.

While I chuckle and think. < She is crazy, but she is mine>

...................................................................