chapter 19

      " What the hell!?", she stared at the other two who were covered in dust and mud not completely but enough to make them look like they had a mud war or wrestled down there. Aru looked up at her , her eyes still held the tears which threatened to fall . " Are you okay?", Vibha asked , as she held onto her shoulders stepping a bit closer to check upon her.  Her eyes which first looked like they'd murder someone were now filled with worry. Aru was too scared and relieved at the same time to answer anything. She literally threw herself into other's embrace.     Vibha stood frozen. Her entire system already finding error in any reaction to the unexpected action. Riya who saw her stand as still as statue decided to help . She simply took Vibha's hands placing them gently, one on the crying girl's hairs and other on her back. She snapped her fingers in front of Vibha as if playing the resume button. Vibha blinked startled but still regained herself and gently rubbed the crying girl's back.  Riya stood in front of her instructing her. ' Say something to calm her down!' she mouthed and Vibha looked at her helplessly. ' Something like I am here don't worry.' Lilly joined the dumb shares game while Kritika was busy dusting herself     " Do I even exist?", her complain was suppressed by Riya and Lilly grabbing her mouth. Lilly glared at her while Riya dragged her away . Lilly quickly mouthed ' All the best ' as the three got out of the sight leaving them both on their own. Vibha didn't knew if she was happy or tensed but right now that wasn't important. " Shh . Its okay am here. Calm down.", she whispered, hoping she herself didn't sound freaked out." Thank you.", Aru mumbled back and suddenly all the little confidence she had gathered faded with the vibrations she felt on her neck. She tightened the hug nevertheless. Slowly rubbing the other's back hoping it'd calm her a bit.     These morons seriously went out of the way to do this. She knew they did it for her but this was too much. Finally after what felt like eternity passed in milliseconds, Aru pulled away. Her eyes all puffy and red from crying , her cheeks still had the tear stains , her nosetip slightly red . It made her look adorable though at the moment it only got Vibha worried. She gently wiped her cheeks as she cupped them to make the girl look at her. " It's over. Am here. Nothing will happen. Okay?", her voice unusually gentle and her always mocking expressions pretty soft to make anyone believe her at the instant. Aru nodded slowly as she held onto other's hands.       It was her first time seeing Vibha look this soft and affectionate. Aru wouldn't have believed if anyone said this always annoying girl could be this caring. She had expected Vibha to have only two moods:' Annoy others ' ' Get annoyed '. This was indeed a rare side. For the first time the smile she wore wasn't fake or teasing. It was genuinely affectionate one. She looked at her as if looking at the most precious one. Her expressions unusually calm and seemed to have no other hidden motive. How Aru wished if the other would be like this always.    " How do we get out?",Aru suddenly stepped away breaking the staring contest as she looked around what looked like lane maze. " I know the way out. So don't worry. I will drop you home.", she said as she held onto Aru's hand dragging her along. The two walked in utter silence with Vibha's hand holding onto Aru's wrist as her other hand held onto the phone checking map .Aru kept her gaze fixed on the road while trying to not recall the past few moments which now embarrassed her .      Aru was having enough hard time with her own thoughts when she felt Vibha's grip loosening and her hand trace her way down to her fingers intertwining them with her own.