CHAPTER 10 - THE CONCLAVE PREP

"बेपनाह चाहने से लेकर बेपरवाह

हो जाने तक का सफर इश्क होता है!"

~•AUTHOR'S POV •~

📍VSR SCHOOL OF COMMERCE,HYD

Geet and Anaya were attending their lectures and suddenly a student entered their classroom.

"Excuse me sir, Actually Arun Sir and Priyanka ma'am are calling Geetanjali of 3rd BA Economics" he informed .

Geet was wondering why she was called by them and her professor replied writing on the board " Geetanjali will come after 10 mins and inform her where she has to meet them".

Geet stood from the chair and asked him where she was supposed to meet them.

He informed her to meet them in the auditorium

The lecture ended and Geet rushed to her auditorium .

~•Geet's POV •~

I entered the auditorium and texted Anaya to inform the professor of the next lecture the reason why I am not in the class .

I went near the stage where sir and ma'am were waiting for me.

"Sorry ma'am, Actually I was in my lecture so I couldn't come on time "

"No worries Geetanjali and let remaining students come and we will begin our meeting " she smiled and asked me to sit.

Before I could ask anything, Taani entered from the door along with 4 students. Why is she here?! But I thought of not giving her attention .

Arun Sir started the meeting

"You all must be wondering, why have we called you here? Well, it's a proud moment for us that Hyderabad has been selected by Ministry of Youth Affairs to host National Youth Conclave as a part of G20 presidency"

We welcomed this news with cheers and applause. .

One of us asked " Sir, if Hyderabad is selected, why have you gathered us here? " and we all laughed hearing this.

"Well, our college has been selected as the venue and you are the event coordinators" Ma'am informed opening the file in her hand.

She looked towards me and told everyone

"Geetanjali Kanwar Shaktawat is the Head coordinator of this event "

Everyone was happy to have me as head except Taani.

Taani stood up and asked "Ma'am if you don't mind, can I be her assistant? Because how she will manage everything by herself "

"Are you okay, Geetanjali?" Sir asked me to know my opinion.

No, I know why she wants to be my assistant and I don't want any problem in this event because it is at the national level and will be attended by students from various parts of the country.

"No but , if you have no problem, can I have Mohit as my cohead because he is good at management ?" I said, smiling widely, looking at Taani's flop plan.

"That's a Good Idea!" Ma'am gave us the badge of student coordinators and we are now head coordinators of the event.

.

.

.

.

.

📍At the canteen

I kept a meeting with the coordinators and divided the work. I assigned Taani to look after the decoration part, as the faculty who is handling this, is really strict and perfectionist

I want Taani to be busy so she won't get time to irritate me.

Mohit and I were making list of all the works which has to be done

"Geetanjali, Do you want something to eat?" he asked, closing his laptop.

" No, if you want you can have it " I replied looking at the laptop screen, mailing to the different colleges asking them to participate.

The event is after three weeks but we are finding it difficult to cope up due to the short span of time.

.

.

.

.

.

📍 HOSTEL ROOM ,JAIPUR

~•Dhruv's POV •~

My lectures were completed soon, so I returned earlier and Garv is in the college lab.

I was free today, no work, no assignments and no club work.

I was watching a movie on my phone and I heard Garv opening the room door.

"What happened to your lab coat ? "I went nearer to him and started examining what was on his coat.

" Avni from the biochemistry department just poured the potassium dichromate on me," he said angrily, removing his coat.

"It must be your fault otherwise she won't do this " I said , giving him a water bottle.

"Really? Am I your enemy? Or is she your best friend? Make it clear NOW " he said, folding his hands and walking towards me.

Before I could say anything, I got a phone call from my professor.

I talked with her and checked my whatsapp as she had sent me an invitation for an event.

I opened the PDF and I was a little surprised, a little nervous and a little confused. My face was a clear index of what was going on in my mind.

"What happened? " Garv asked, peeking into my phone.

NATIONAL YOUTH CONCLAVE

organized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and VSR School of Commerce .Hyderabad

Date - 10 & 11 of August 2023

He read the message and I was numb. My hands were turning cold.

I wanted to attend this event but I never knew her college would be the host of it . I can't even say no to this opportunity but what should I do?

.

.

.

.

.

THE NEXT DAY

📍AT COLLEGE CANTEEN

Garv was already waiting for me .Vihaan and I took the chairs and started discussing the Youth Conclave.

"Dhruv, where are you going to stay? Are they providing any accommodations? "Garv asked while eating the pasta.

"I have no idea, I have to find it, this is what ma'am has informed me" I replied.

"I guessed they had given the contact details on the invitation," Garv reminded me .

I opened the PDF and found two numbers of student coordinators.

I dialed the first number and was waiting for the response.

•~Geet's POV ~•

Mohit and I were sitting on the stairs and were discussing the no. of participants registered till now.

My phone starts vibrating ,it was a call from

Book Magnet 📖

My jaw dropped and started thinking how he had found my number. I didn't give him yet and why is he calling me?

Before I could answer, it ended.

After a few moments , I heard Mohit's phone ring.

I guess it was from a participant as he was clarifying the doubt.

Also I was wondering why he had called me and I decided I will ask him tonight and also it has been more than two days since we talked.

.

.

.

.

****Time skip ****

📍Geet's Home.

Time, - Around 8.30pm

We were having our dinner and suddenly we heard my mumma's phone ringing.

I guess, today is National Call Day,that's the reason why everyone is calling each other!

"Acha aap ho. Muje laga ye number kiske hai. Khamma Ghani Meera baisa, aaj aapne hame yaad kiya? " she said as soon as she answered the call.

(Khamma Ghani - a phrase used for greeting.)

(Oh it's you. I was thinking whose number is it? What made you miss me today?)

Who is Meera baisa? Nevermind, I should have my dinner as I am so hungry and tired at the same time.

"Acha, hotel mai rukne ki kya jarurat hai, uska khud ka ghar hai yaha, yehi reh lega, 3 din ki toh baat hai" she continued.

(Oh, what is the need of staying in a hotel? When he has a family over here. He can stay here . It is only about three days)

Avanti and Kavya start murmuring between them about their assumption who it can be.

I guess someone is visiting us but who is he or she?

I was seeing my mother requesting to stay at our place instead of the hotel. I don't want anyone in my house because I have an event and the guest will not make me do my work properly.

The call ended and aapsa asked whom she was talking to.

"Anand bhabha k friend ki wife ka call hai, Meera baisa ka. Sirohi wale! " she said..

(Meera baisa, wife of Anand brother's friend, who is from Sirohi)

Meera baisa and Sirohi, she is Dhruv's mom.

Hearing this, I dropped my spoon on the floor.

Who is coming, Shivu jija or him?

Avanti taunted, "don't you know, how to hold a spoon?"

I replied "Don't worry about the spoon. And It's me who is the eldest among us. Learn how to talk to your elder sister "

My mumma asked us to stop our fight and

She continued "Dhruv ko kuch 2 3 din college event ke liye Hyderabad aana hai, jis college mai ana unhone keh dia ki rehne ka tum dekho toh woh aapki hotel me book krne ka keh rhe the room. Mene keh diya ki hotel me kyu rahega, uska apna ghar hai yaha. Hamare bache jaisa hai, pehle mana kar rahe the par maan gaye '' she said, passing the salad to aapsa.

(Actually Dhruv is coming to Hyderabad to attend a college event which is for 2 to 3 days. The college who is organizing told them that participants should look after their own stay. They were asking to book a room in your hotel. But I suggested he has us and we are like a family, he is like our child. She was denying before but Atlast she agreed to it)

Aapsa agreed and my over excited sister Kavya started celebrating and cheering with her glass.

"Mr. Cricketer aa rahe hai! Maza aayega! Par woh kiske room mai rahege?" she asked all of a sudden.

(Mr. Cricketer is visiting . It will be so fun. But in whose room will he stay?)

We have 4BHK, one room is for our parents and the remaining three are for us.

"Mere toh exam hai warna mai kahi aur shift ho jaati " Avanti said looking at me.

(I would have shifted somewhere but I have exams)

I looked at Kavya and she "mai toh de bhi du, par mera bed chota padega and unko niche thodi sula sakte hai "

(I am ready to give my room, but my bed is so small and we can't let him sleep on the floor)

And now I was left.

"Geet, tu kuch dino ke liye Avanti ke room me chali jaa . 3 din toh adjustment kar hi sakte hai, tere exams bhi nahi hai " Aapsa suggested.

(Geet, why don't you shift to Avanti's room. You can adjust for three days and you don't even have your exams)

My inner voice "why me??? I have no other option except saying yes. I am his friend, I am happy he is coming here but still I don't want to make it uncomfortable between us"

Unwillingly, I nodded my head.

.

.

.

.

****Time skip ****

~•Dhruv's POV•~

I told mumma that I will look after the hotel booking but now I have to stay at her place. Already I am finding it difficult to stay away from her and now I am going to stay at her place for 3 days.

Garv has been teasing me from the moment he came to know that I am staying at her place.

I don't know how I am going to manage it . The chain of thoughts was disconnected when I noticed her message.

" Hi, What is the event you are attending and when is it?"

Me - Hello. I had no idea what our mother's were deciding behind us . I wanted to stay at the hotel.

Her : O God! I asked you about your event details so that I can know how far is it?

Me - I am attending the National Youth Conclave at your college.

Her : That means you called me to clarify your doubt? This morning?

How did she know it was my number? That's the reason she didn't pick up but how she knows everything about me including my contact details

Me : Are you a hacker? Secret Agent?

Her :No.. Can I call you? I need to talk to you about something important and I won't be able to explain it in the text. Only for 10 mins?

Me : okay. I will call you. Wait for 5 mins.

I informed Garv that I was in balcony and he started his teasing game again

"Mere bhabisa se baat karne jaa raha hai? "

(Are you going to talk with my sister in law?)

I denied and told him to shut his mouth.

He was busy with his practical work and I managed to go to the balcony. I closed the door because he couldn't hear who I was talking to.

I called her and she picked up in the first ring itself.

Her : Hello. Are you comfortable ? Garv banna didn't ask anything?

Her Questions. They will never end.

Me (clearing my throat intentionally) : Hi, everything is safe. Tell me what we should do now?

Her : See, my family has decided you will stay in my room.

Me : I can't stay in your room with you.

I said without letting her complete what she wanted to say, actually.

Dhruv, stop stop. WHO TOLD YOU TO ASSUME THIS.

Me : I mean. Why? I will sleep on the sofa or on the floor but please don't make me sleep in your room.

Her : Book Magnet, I don't have any issue if you stay in my room. But we can't let our family know that we are friends. That will create an issue .

I realized she is right, we can't let our family know about our friendship.

Me : OK then, will we act as if we don't know each other?

Her : Exactly! We won't talk to each other as Rainbow and Book magnet. We will stay as Dhruv and Geet.

Did she just say Dhruv? I can hear it again and again and again in her voice. She called me Dhruv .

Me: Okay, Ms. Shaktawat! I mean Rainbow.

Her : Don't worry. You can stay in my room and tell me your food preference so I can make it for you because I know you won't say it by yourself even if you don't like the particular dish.

She is going to cook for me. I guess she doesn't want me to feel uneasy at her place. That's the reason she is asking for it. Dhruv ,your feelings shouldn't become a hurdle in your friendship. You both are good friends.

I heard her calling me in between "Are you there? "

Me : yeah.I don't have any particular preference. I will eat whatever you cook. But how did you get my number? We never talked about our phone numbers.

Her : Because of Abhi bhabha.

And then she explained everything to me about how she got my number.

I asked her, "Then why didn't you inform me beforehand that you have my number?"

Her : I thought we would never need our number until we have our instagram and I know you got my number from the pdf.

Me :Yes and So, You are the head coordinator ?Congratulations.

Her : Thank-you . And don't worry we will be attending together for two days from 9am to 6pm. I will be the anchor for Day 2 and you will get to know how talented Geetanjali Kanwar Shaktawat is!

Saying this, she chuckled.

I never heard her laughing .Thanks to this phone call that made it possible.

Me : I guess we should sleep now. See you soon . Good night. Sleep well. Don't overwork and otherwise you will get dark circles.

~•GEET's POV•~

He is worried about my dark circles.

I replied " Don't worry about that. Make sure you are able to protect yourself from the girls who will be present over there."

Him : Let's see Rainbow. And I have you as my bodyguard. I mean you are there to shoo them away

Did he really think I am gonna stay by his side all day during the event? But I am happy that I will get a chance to see him again.

Me : So jaiye. Good night. Take care. See you soon and all the best.

( You should sleep now)

Him : Good night. Thank-you and same to you. See you soon.

We hung up the call.

.

.

.

.

.

First of all thank-you for loving CRUSHSHIP. We have crossed 200+ votes on our book.

.

.

.

And THANK-YOU authoravni for giving your inputs for this chapter. Yes she is the one behind the potassium dichromate incident.

.

.

.

VOTE TARGET - 17??

.

.

.

You can follow me on instagram @avinaphile for more updates and spoilers.

.

.

Hope you enjoy reading it and don't forget to vote and comment down below.

.

.

.

Take care and lots of love ❤

See you soon in the next chapter

Avina,

.

.

.

THANK-YOU FOR READING 🌼🎊🐣