Chapter 18

August was a busy month, for both Sameera and Shrithik. Because college exams were nearing. Sameera was busy studying and Shrithik was busy making the dozen of assignment of the students and teaching Sameera.

From the day exam announcement was done they didn't have time to goof around like they did.

It was the day before Sameera's last exam when Shrithik came inside her room with a big goofy grin. Sameera looked up and raised her eyebrows.

"What do you want?"

His grin got bigger.

"Maagie. Four small packets if you want to eat otherwise two."

"And why are you telling this to me. Aren't you supposed to make it."

He nodded and handed her twenty rupees.

"Yeah. I will. But go bring 'em."

"What?"

"Go bring four packets of Maggie. Small ones okay?"

Saying this he took her hand and pulled her up causing her to stand. And then pushed her out of the door. Sameera sighed and made her way to the shop outside her apartment building.

Shrithik was vibing to a song when Sameera came and handed him four packets of Maggie. Shrithik grinned and patted her head like puppy.

And Sameera swatted his arm away.

He was cooking it when Sameera came with her book and sat on the counter. She was looking exhausted.

"I really hate poems, old man. I hate literature. Correct me if I am wrong."

Saying this she kept her book aside and started reciting.

"Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this agony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling-"

"It's ebony, sweetheart."

"Oh yeah. It's really annoying you know. What's even the need for literature for a Chemistry major? I know how to speak and that's enough. If I could I will rea-"

Sameera was cut off by Shrithik keeping a spoonful of Maggie in her mouth after blowing the steam off. He held her jaw and shook her face.

"You are tired. Go get some sleep. Don't stress yourself."

Sameera once again started saying.

"No. It's nothing like that. I'm perfe-"

Once again she was cut off by a spoonful of Maggie.

Shrithik knew that she will never admit that she is tired. And Sameera knew that Shrithik was not gonna listen to her and will force her to get some sleep.

"So are you gonna feed me or what?"

As soon as she finished her sentence a bowl full of Maggie was set in front of her. Shrithik took a bit and gestured her to eat.

"I really don't mind if you will feed me. My arms are paining."

She muttered.

"Aww. Too bad. Finish it and go to sleep. Your arms will be back to normal."

"They are fine. I am fine. It's nothing. I was just not in the mood to eat."

Shrithik didn't reply but washed his bowl. Then turned to her.

"You finished?"

She nodded and handed him his bowl. After washing it he dried up his hands.

"Lift your arms up."

She furrowed her brows.

"What?"

"I said lift your arms up."

She nodded and did what he told, confused.

Soon his hands went under her knees and he picked her up bridal style and she squealed. Clutching his neck tightly she asked

"What are you doing, old man. I can walk. And I know you have muscles. You don't need to lift me up to show me."

He stopped in his track and looked down at her with a dead expression. Sameera gulped. He's really scary with that expression.

"Look sweetheart. I know I am no better than you but right now, I am tired and I want to sleep. But I cannot till you are slept because you will keep annoying me. And I am really not up for your crap. And I also know that right now if were to rock you back and forth and sing a lulluby you'll be asleep. So shut up."

Saying this he kicked open her room door and literally threw her on her bed.

"Sleep. And don't you dare get out of that bed."

Pointing his finger at her he said. Turning around he threw her duvet at her and switched off the lights.

Sameera groaned. She doesn't want to sleep but he was right. She was so tired that if someone was to really rock her and sing lulluby she'll be asleep in maximum ten minutes. But was there really a need to lift her up like that? It feels so romantic.

Getting the shitty thoughts out of her mind she finally slept.

Shrithik, on the other hand has been staring at his hands for fifteen minutes straight. His brain was working at a high speed. Would it have been better if he would have not lifted her? She was so soft. And she looked so cute with that panicked face and in his arms. He shook his head vigorously. From when did he started having such crappy thoughts? He really needs to get a hold of himself.

He looked at the clock. 8 p.m.

"Did we just ate Maggie as dinner?"

He wondered but shrugged it off. He really is sleepy to stay up and think about Maggie and a certain girl who cannot agree that she is tired.

____________________________________

Three weeks after the last exam, passed by in a blur. With some students relaxing and some still worrying about the results.

"I am worried. I don't know what will happen. Will I get decent grades? Or will I fail. Oh my god. What will I do?"

Sameera was sitting with Shrithik and her friends on her usual cafeteria table and Shrishti was rambling. Sameera rolled her eyes and looked out of the window.

She was really rambling for nothing. Shrishti was an intelligent girl and the sun will rise from west if she failed. Everybody was aware of it. So why was she making such a fuss. And it wasn't even like they were final exams to be worried about this much.

"Guys, results are out."

A student shouted and the whole cafeteria took their phones and laptops out and entered their roll number on the college website.

Every person of Sameera's group aced with decent grades. Everybody told their grades except Shrishti. She was looking.......sad?

Shrithik can also see that so he nudged Sameera and gestured towards Shrishti. Sameera quickly understood what he was saying and nodded.

"Um... Shrishti? Why are you looking so sad?"

Shrishti was looking at thin air. With the same lost look on her face she said

"It's 88."

Everybody furrowed their eyebrows.

"What?"

"My percentage. It's 88%."

"Okay. But why are you sad?"

"Because this is not what I expected. I aimed for at least 94% Sameera!"

She yelled and a tear drop fell down from her eye. Sameera frowned. So she was sad just because her expectations weren't met?

Shrithik scoffed and Sameera sighed.

"Oh...okay. All the best for next time."

Sameera smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

She knew that it is normal for a person to feel sad in a situation like this and it'll be okay after sometime.

But with Shrishti, it wasn't the case. She cried and cried for an hour. Next day also her eyes were puffy and the day after that she looked like shit.

Shrishti was acting like somebody close to her was dead. Her hairs were tied in a messy bun. Whenever she came she'll just sit quiet and zone out.

On the fourth day also it was like that. She came and sat down with her head on the table. Sameera was getting irritated by it. And as soon as she saw the tear drop on the table she burst off.

She slammed her hand on the table causing everybody to jump in surprise.

Shrishti also looked her with her tired gaze.

"Drop the act Shrishti. It's enough."

Raj and Maaya knew if she will say more, it will not end up good.

"Sameera, stop it."

Raj said and stood up. Sameera looked at him and calmly spoke

"What, Raj? She has to understand that nobody has died that she is crying so much. I understand that it was not what she expected but it's not something to cry on for four days. That's why I am saying, drop the act and stop crying."

Shrishti also stood up.

"So you think I am acting?"

Sameera nodded.

"Yes you are."

Maaya held Sameera's hand.

"Sameera. Don't."

"You only tell me if I am saying something wrong. Can somebody really cry for four days just because of six percent?"

"So you think I am acting. Why?"

Shrishti asked now standing up. At this point whole cafeteria was looking at them. Two girls fighting of the most popular group. It's not a usual sight. Shrithik was also standing leaning against the cafeteria door watching Sameera with amusement clear in his eyes.

"Because you are crying. Okay, so now tell me have you opened your book in last four days?"

Shrishti shook her head in no.

"That's it. If I were in your place, I would have been studying non stop and dark circles would have covered my eyes. You are crying because you want to be seen as the goody two shoes who cannot bear the loss of six percent. You want us to feel that you are so sincere and that you are crying for just some less grades. And if you really are crying for real then that's just pathetic."

Raj grabbed her hand and turned her towards him.

"Enough now. You don't need to speak your mind right now."

"Yes, I have to. I can't be around a crying person."

She turned to Shrishti and once again spoke

"One more thing I want to tell you that two students could have passed in the grades you got. Why am I speaking this much."

Muttering the last words to herself she took her bag and left the cafeteria not before having a look at Shrishti's face which was now covered in fresh tears.

"Pathetic."

She stormed off to the main campus gate.

Shrithik ran towards her and kept his hand on her shoulder.

"Hey sweetheart."

She glared at him.

"Hello."

"That was harsh."

He stated and Sameera looked up at him confused. He looked down at her.

"In the cafeteria. With Shrishti."

Sameera suddenly felt sad. Very sad. Now he was also taking Shrishti's side? Was she really wrong?

Her sadness was quickly covered in anger when he once again spoke.

"That poor girl was shedding a river of tears."

"Yeah that poor girl has been crying for four days. She's not even tried to smile. Go comfort her. Why are you talking to me? Go to her."

Swatting his hand away she stormed off to her house. Shrithik just stood there looking at the way she went.

"Was she jealous?"

He asked himself but quickly threw that thought in the dustbin. Why would she be jealous? And Shrithik didn't actually know how jealous people acted so he had no clue. But an unknown warmth engulfed him at the thought of her being jealous.

He smiled to himself and went to their home.

"Sweetheart! You left me there. What if I would have been kidnapped sweetheart?"

He yelled, hoping Sameera would listen past her closed door. Soon the door to her room was opened and Shrithik was soon tackled in hug. He catched Sameera just in time. She tightly clutched his waist and burried her face in his chest. Shrithik smiled and hugged her back. Keeping his chin on her head he rubbed her back soothingly.

She then spoke breaking the comfortable silence

"Don't think anything worng."

Shrithik chuckled.

"It's too late, sweetheart. I've already decided that we'll have a destination wedding."

Sameera smiled and then spoke

"Good to know our thoughts match."

Shrithik laughed and lightly kissed her head. They stayed in the position and suddenly he felt her shaking.

"Hey, hey sweetheart. Are you crying?"

She tightened her grip on him and buried her face more in his chest.

"Sweetheart. Tell me why are you crying."

He spoke sternly causing her to reply

"It's hard to g-get angry without c-crying."

He smiled and tightened her grip on her.

"There's nothing to cry on. And don't worry, I'll not tell anyone."

He whispered the last part causing her to laugh lightly.

She pushed him away and wiped the two-three tears that escaped. Traitors.

Looking up at him she spoke

"I'm sorry."

"For what? Ruining my t-shirt?"

"No. It's your duty to get your t-shirt ruined by your friend. But I am apologizing for snapping at you."

He smiled softly at her.

"Mention not. So..... you'll apologize to Shrishti also?"

She jerked her head up and looked him in the eye. And then shook her head.

"No. It was wrong for me to snap at you but I don't think I was wrong when I told Shrishti to stop crying."

He nodded but then a mischievous smile graced his lips.

"You know, I really didn't take you as a person to cry when angry."

"Only Bakugo can be angry as hell and still not cry."

"That boom boom sparky sparky boy?"

She nodded.

"Wait? You also watch anime?"

"Of course I do."

"That's great. How many have you watched? AOT, Death Note?"

Rest of their day passed by talking about anime. Sameera's crying was forgotten by both of them as they entered the world of anime.