chapter 3

Getting seated inside the classroom, Anshika received a few more compliments from her friends before Ruhan walked in, his hands dug inside his trouser pockets. Aditya walked along with him smiling at Siya, while Anshika turned her head outside the window as soon as she saw him walking inside."It is so presumable that you're purposely avoiding him." Siya said to her."Siya, please I don't want to talk about it now. I don't know how else to tackle this.""I get what you want to say, but by doing this you're just....""Siya, please, I know what you're saying. Okay, I'll try being more casual.""Not casual, spontaneous." She corrected her friend."Yes. Even I'm finding this awkward."Anshika couldn't avoid not to avoid Ruhan during recess, which made Siya get annoyed.Few days passed by, when Anshika kept thinking of Ruhan, and was in major confusion of everything that was happening at school.The sudden change of Ruhan with her kept her fluttery throughout, when occasionally she would feel angry on him to notice her after her changed looks and would question on his lust and think about his girlfriend, who used to be a major matter of gossip since she was not of the same school. However, everyone knew who she was and most of the people of their class followed her on social media. She had the most exquisite figure one could ever think of to be of a teenager and she would always participate in fashion shows in the interschool fests.Dwelling over these thoughts, Anshika observed herself, loving her new figure and then thought although she looked like those girls whom boys would fight to date she was not the one who would love hanging out with boys and party. Rather, she was a quiet girl, who used to have average looks and would only stick by a known few students in class, avoiding all parties and gathering. She only had crushed on Ruhan and never thought of talking to him about her feelings due to her shyness, not because she was insecure, but because she presumed Ruhan to be a partyholic like his friends. It was midnight, and the Srivastavs were quiet strict in raising their daughter. She would have to submit her cellphone at the drawer of her parents' room, before going to bed. Tossing around on her bed, crumpling her bedsheets she deared to talk to Siya about what she felt like, but she couldn't. She lied awake on her bed throughout the night not being able to sleep. Anishka eagerly waited for Siya's arrival to school the next day. The bell rang, but she did not arrive. She felt angry on her friend for not coming and tried to avoid an eye contact with Ruhan as he entered the class looking at her. She felt uncomfortable and nauseus and excused herself to the medical room from the teacher. After a while of rest and taking medicines, she was shocked to find Ruhan standing in front of the medical room door. She almost gasped looking at him and tried to get out of there avoiding him.He smiled at her as he saw her, however, she refused to smile back and walked on her way. "Anshika!" She heard him call from behind and immediately stopped  at her position, waiting for Ruhan to arrive.Leaning at the wall she stood, blushing at Ruhan,"Yeah?", she said."How are you? You looked so unwell in class."She got a rumble in her tummy, however, controlling herself she said,"I'm fine. What made you come here?""Concern."He said.Confused, she said,"Concern? For me?"And immediately shifted her gaze from him."Yeah, do you mind that?""Noh...... thanks for your concern.""Anshika can I ask you something?""Yeah, go ahead." She said biting her lips and digging her fingers in her hands. Ruhan noticed the fact of her being uneasy and said,"Don't mind but I think that I'm making you feel uneasy. So we'll talk later.""No you're not!" Anshika almost blurted out and felt embarrassed once again.Ruhan laughed a bit, to which she felt easy and let out a gentle smile."We can talk during the recess if you want to." Anshika said slowly, immediately repenting on what she said."Sure! I'm looking forward to it."Anshika smiled at him and they got into class, separately enough for anyone to notice.