Chapter 8- THE PHONE NUMBER

AFTER ONE WEEK…

📍 College Cricket Ground, Jaipur

~•Dhruv's POV•~

So, Rainbow and I have started talking, finally . It is the first time I am feeling comfortable around a girl, who is my friend now. Also, Today is my first day of cricket practice for this academic year.  So basically , I am not a captain but an overall player of my team.

"Dhruv, come here " I heard  my coach and Garv calling me for practice. Yes, Garv is the captain ,unfortunately. Just kidding. I wore my helmet and pads on my legs.

I forgot to mute my phone otherwise the coach will leave no stones unturned to scold me. I checked my phone  and , yes it was her message,showing on my lock screen, sent an hour ago. I guess she is in college right now as per the time.

"Good morning Book Magnet. All the best for your first day at the practice session. Don't  make yourself hurt by being a ball magnet. Just joking, see you at night. Take care "

Her message radiates so much positivity which is enough to make my day.

I remember her mentioning last night that she has never seen a cricket practice, especially a college team session .

She didn't ask me directly to show my practice session.So I made a plan why not fulfill her little wish! I  asked my college junior to record my videos of  whether I am batting or bowling and send them after the session gets over.

*** Time skip***

AT NIGHT

I am so tired after 3 hours of practice in the morning and 2 hrs in the evening. Garv was massaging my legs as I did massage his legs before.  In between he got a call from his home and he went to the balcony side to talk because of network issues.

I was waiting for her message. I kept checking my phone every 5 minutes because I don't want her to wait as we only get time during the night .

*tring*

@geetanjali_kshaktawat replied to your story.

Geet - " You should not play in this sunny day,Ask your coach to make some arrangements like tent or AC 😂 "

Me - "You should rate my batting skills, and it's normal to play during the day and which cricket match is held inside of a  tent? "

Geet - " IDK. Leave it Book Magnet. I don't have any idea about this game. Now Tell me How was your first day?? "

Me - "it was good but it also made my body to scream out of the pain "

Geet -  "You should rest now. I will talk to you tomorrow "

The moment I read she will talk to me tomorrow . I don't want her to go .I know she doesn't want me to disturb  but I want her to talk with me, share her details about the day etc.

Me - " That's completely fine. But I guess we use our hands while typing?? BTW how was your day at college "

Geet - " yeah! My day was pretty good. 2 lectures were canceled! I have plenty of work to get done. I want to complete my assignments, presentations and I have to prepare for my competitions as well" (sent with a sad emoji)

Me - "So much work!!  I know you will do it.

Geet - " I know, Geetanjali can do everything. O God, Next Friday is Anaya's birthday. Anaya Mehra, she is my best friend and I don't know  what should I gift her?"

Should I suggest some gifts? Won't it feel like I am trying to interfere in her daily life? Wait, when is her birthday? I don't know her birthday either, not her college name .

Me - I know you will find something good to give her. BTW what's your college name?

Geet - What?  You have been my friend for more than a week and you don't know my college name. That's so bad. I am not gonna talk to you. I found your college name by myself. St.Stephens College . It is in Mansarovar. (Jaipur)

Is she working as a secret agent? She knows so many things about me but I don't know much about her.

Me - please Rainbow tell me? !!

Geet - Okay. Fine. VSR SCHOOL OF COLLEGE. AND TELL ME WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY. I SHOULD WISH YOU OTHERWISE BOOK MAGNET WILL SHOW ME TANTRUMS FOR NO REASONS 🤭

I never knew her side of being so dramatic and friendly. I always thought she was a silent and  egoistic person and also one who blames  without knowing the truth. But she has such a beautiful and childish heart.

Me - January 24

Geet - that means, I am younger to you. It's November 25.

Me - So you are 19?

Geet - No, I  am 20.

Me - Well, you are old. Not me. I am 19

Geet - Aap mujse Chote ho? Really? Majak kar rahe ho na?

(You are younger to me? Are you  joking?)

Me - Should I send my birth certificate?

Geet - No. That's OK. I can't believe you are 19. You seem like above 20.

~•GEET's POV•~

Wait a minute, he is 19. That means he was born in. 2004? I was born in 2002. I had a crush who is 14 months younger to me!!!!??!

Geet, back to reality!!! No crush!  Let him be your friend.

He sent me his ID card.

IT'S TRUE, HE WAS BORN IN JAN 2004.

He hid his face with an emoji.

Dhruv  - What happened?  Are you there?

Me - Nothing. What made you put an emoji on your face? I don't have any intention to give you evil eyes 😏

Dhruv - There is nothing like that! I will show you some other day.

Me -Okay ! Shall we play Skribble?

Dhruv  - What is it?

Me - It's an online game. I will draw and you have to guess it. We will get chance one by one .Shall we keep 5 rounds?? Like 5 chances to draw?

Dhruv - Okay. Send me the link.

I went to the website and created a room of 2 players to play. I copied and sent him the link. I was waiting for him to join.

Book magnet joined the room. I noticed  him entering the game room with the nickname  I  have given. Aww, So sweet of him.

I thought of giving him company and changed my name to Rainbow.

So the game started. Time limit was 60 seconds for each drawing. He was drawing the word which he had selected from the options he got . Basically I have to guess as I don't know the word . Is it a mug?  Bucket?  I started typing my answer in the box and all were wrong. Time up

The answer was " Glass "

Hold on, which  glass on earth looks like a bucket. He should learn drawing soon.

I had three options to choose from. I chose a butterfly.

I started drawing on my screen. It was perfectly drawn and he guessed it on his first try.

He got the points. I was so proud of my masterpiece I have created on my screen.

We continued to play the remaining rounds.

After the game ,we played for nearly 2 times again  and I lost it in both.

I went back to instagram and started typing a message before that his message was already arrived

Dhruv - Get your eyes checked tomorrow.. 😏

Me - Why?  That's your fault. You don't even know what a coffee mug looks like.

Dhruv - I have drawn correctly. You were able to not see it due to your age. Budhe ho gaye ho!! 😂

[You are now a old person ]

Me - nahi hu, aap majak mat udao.

[I am not, don't tease me ]

Dhruv - Budhe budhe budhe budhe.

[Oldie, oldie, oldie, oldie]

I was getting frustrated by his words and without wasting a moment.

Me - Mann kar raha h phone ke bahar aakr daant tod du.  Gussa mat dilao

[I wish I could come out of phone screen and was able to break your teeth and don't make me angry. ]

Geet, what have you done? You just gave him a warning. Huh? Should I say sorry!!? He has seen the message and not replied.

He started typing and my heart was on my mouth because I can't afford another drama. This is what I am doing with him from last month , warning him and saying sorry.

He replied " Todna bhi mat, warna ladkiyo ka college ka attendance kam ho jaega 🤭😤 "

[ Don't try to do that otherwise the college attendance of the girls will come down ]

Like seriously,  he thinks girls attend college to watch him.  SUCH A SELF OBSESSED PERSON he is .

~•Dhruv's POV•~

It is so cute when she gets frustrated. I really like her way of warning me everytime. Every girl tries to impress a guy but she never leaves a chance to warn me.  And I like that.

She is typing something…..

Geet - Why are you so worried about their attendance? You should worry about your teeth!!

I smell jealousy. Should I make her jealous, a little more? Why not?

Me - in my 2nd year, a girl tried her best to hug me. I denied her.  Atlast,  she was able to do that. You know what? She even kissed me on my cheeks. 🙈

It's a lie. I don't even look or know the names of the girls who are in my class.

Geet - Do whatever you want. Kiss her, dance with her, hug her, bring her gifts. Who am I to judge what you do   in your life!? 🤨 Take care, I am sleepy.

It was a joke, she got hurt. No no Dhruv, stop her and tell her.

Me - wait listen!!!

Geet - What?  Who am I?  Ask that girl to wait who has KISSED YOU ON YOUR CHEEKS.

Me - That's a joke!!  I have never seen a girl or talked with anyone except you.  I was teasing you. I guess you are jealous. .

Geet  - No, I AM NOT!! I think we should sleep now .Otherwise we will be sleepy  tomorrow. Good night. 🙂

Me - Good night!! 🌈

After few days............

Date 5 July 2023

Time-7.30am

At Jaipur

"Garv, wakeup, we will be late for the college", I asked my friend who doesn't want to get up and yes it's our first day as final year students.

"2 mins" he said, tightening his grip on his blanket.

"I am ready Garv and going downstairs to have my breakfast "  tickling his foot.

He woke up and went to take a shower.  I was waiting for him and I heard a ringtone.

*tring, tring*

Another notification from the app.

She goes to college at 8am. It is still 7.45am. Let me message her.

"Good morning Rainbow. Have your breakfast and keep updating"

She replied "Good morning Book Magnet. Have your breakfast as well and all the best for your college life "

In the meantime Garv came out wearing his shirt.

"5 minutes, just 5 " he asked me to wait, showing his hand and fingers indicating 5.

I nodded.

"What are you doing? Using your phone while having your breakfast? That's not a good habit!! "I texted.

"I had my breakfast for your kind information. I'm just going through  some pictures of Nick and Rishi" she replied.

PICTURES OF NICK AND RISHI?? Who are they? Her college friends  ? Her cousins?  Nick is not an Indian name. Maybe he is nikhil and has a nickname as Nick. I was thinking who they are and I can't ask her more otherwise she would take a sign of jealousy. BTW Why am I getting jealous?

"Dhruv, let's go "

Huh?

I diverted my attention from her Message to Garv.  I was not able to frame a sentence.

"I am calling you for the fifth time,  you were the one who was getting late and now you are acting like a deaf and using your phone"  Garv taunted giving me my bag and switching off lights and fans of the room.

We went downstairs to our hostel, had our breakfast and I didn't reply  anything after her message.

*At Dhruv's college*

First lecture

Indian Literature  - Modern Age.

Garv went to Block B for his lectures. I am in Block E.

The professor entered the classroom and we all wished her. But I was not able to concentrate on what was going around me. I only remembered Nick and Rishi, Are her parents fixing her engagement?  But she is so young. Suddenly, I heard someone tapping my shoulder and calling me

"Dhruv, ma'am is asking you something "

It was Vihaan's voice, one of my class friends who was sitting beside me.

"Yes, ma'am" I stood from my chair.

"Is everything okay? Is your health fine?"my professor asked, turning the pages in the book.

I nodded.

"Good, tell me the role of Geetanjali , especially when it comes to Indian English literature ?"  she asked looking at me.

As soon as I heard Geetanjali, her  small smile, her sparkling eyes were framing an image in my mind and my heartbeat was on marathon .

I don't know what to say.

"Rainbow," I whispered ,I didn't do it on purpose.

"Dhruv, Ma'am is asking about Geetanjali, not Rainbow" Vihaan interrupted between my thoughts and I guess he heard me saying it.

"Tell Dhruv, what happened? Geetanjali is your favorite work, you have even presented it in a conference  we had last year, " the professor asked, writing Geetanjali on the board.

First, Nick and Rishi, now, Geetanjali,  I will turn mad one day.

"I don't know" saying that everyone in the class gave me a spotlight from their eyes as if I have done something wrong. Before I could react ,

The bell rang

"Dhruv, come and meet me in the staff room" She ordered, removing her specs.

O GOD, Today is my first day in my final year and what am I doing?  Standing in front of everyone  and  answer the questions in the staff room!!

**Time skip***

College canteen

Garv and Vihaan were already chit chatting. I went to the staff room because what I did in  the first lecture.

I lied to my professor that I had a mild headache and she understood that and told me to take care of my health.

"welcome, Rainbow "  Vihaan gave me a chair and yes he was teasing me.

"Rainbow?" Garv asked, looking confused.

Vihaan started explaining what had happened in the first lecture and I took my novel to read and put on my earphones to avoid their irrelevant questions.

Garv  as usual was not able to control his laugh.

"GEETANJALI IS THE REASON " he said stressing the words one by one and I could hear that.

"IT IS ABOUT RABINDRANATH TAGORE'S WORK " I warned Garv by catching his hand  under the table

"Really? You know what Vihaan, he has started drinking tea only because of GEETANJALI" Garv said, stretching the word Geetanjali.

I don't want Vihaan to know which Geetanjali is he talking about!?

Still, Garv was laughing like as if he saw something funny.

"He is talking about the conference. Ma'am has mentioned that I have presented about it" I said to stop his mouth from blabbering .

"But Dhruv, why are you not saying the name Geetanjali and using Tagore's work or it? " Garv asked, winking at me .

"Vih…. "before Garv could say anything.

"Shut up, Garv"I said, closing his mouth with my hands.

Finally , the topic of my first lecture came to an end. Thank God.

📍Geet's college

~•GEET's POV•~

Our third lecture was canceled, so Anaya and I thought of  going to the library for assignment work.

We went to the books section and I suddenly noticed the English literature section consisting of huge collection of books.

I walked towards the section and forgot about Anaya who was with me. I left her in the economics section.  I started thinking

"He likes to read. This is how he would enter his college library and run his fingers on the books. His books are so lucky that they get chance to see him everyday "

I really wanted to see him the way he would find the books to read ,checking the back cover or title . I remembered he had sent me a list of books he is reading this month. I took my phone and went to photo albums to see the screenshot I had taken. Yes, I did take it.

I went through one by one and also started searching in the section. I found one of them.

Everyone has a story by Savi Sharma.

I recalled he suggested that I should read THE 5am CLUB to make me understand the importance of waking up early.  I found that book as well.

"Geettt , what are you doing here? You have started reading?" Anaya asked me checking  the book names which I had in my hands.

"yeah "  holding her wrist, coming back to the economics section before she say something.

We found our books needed for assignments and borrowed the same from the library.

I checked my phone and it was a missed call from Abhi (Abhimanyu) bhabha.

My phone was silent when he called me.

I called him back but it was busy.

We headed towards the canteen and sat on our chairs. Anaya went to order  and brought something to eat.

My phone rang and it was Abhi bhabha.

"Hello, bhabha kaha busy the?  Bhabisa se baat kar rahe the?" I teased him.

(Where were you so busy? Talking to sister in law on a call? )

"No, I was on a call with my friend" he replied

" O please, don't act smart. Jab bhi call kro busy hota hai"

(Your phone is always busy whenever I call)

He was denying that he wasn't talking to his fiancee before few moments when I called.

"Ruk, mai tujhe proof send karta hu! " he said.

(Wait, let me send you a proof)

I heard a notification and he had sent me a photo, I opened it and it was a screenshot.

My eyes were surprised and I don't know what should I say now. Scream? Act normal? Ignore?

Dhruv Deora Jaipur and below of it,  his number were displayed along with time and duration of the call.

That means he was right, he was talking to a friend who is none other than Dhruv.

I returned to the call and confirmed who is Dhruv?  He is none other Book Magnet. I wasn't able to speak anything for a moment and informed him I was in college and I should go back to my class.

He asked me to call back once I reach home.

I got his number. What should I do now?

I was staring on my phone screen and heard Anaya asking me to have my samosa.

I kept my phone away and I was able to feel whole zoo fighting in my stomach

because of what has happened in last 5 minutes.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Vote target -12???

It's my longest chapter I have ever wrote!  Hope you enjoyed reading it! Don't forget to vote and comment down your thoughts.

.

.

.

Positive criticism is always welcome

Let me know if there is any grammar or spelling error.

.

.

Also, follow me on instagram - avinaphile for more updates and spoilers.

.

.

Happy Reading!

Take care and Lots of love  🌈 🌌🌠🎠

Avina ❤