chapter 20

[ Aarushi's P.O.V ]      I felt her hand slide down to intertwine her fingers with mine. My entire body turned stiff. It wasn't that nobody had ever held my hand but it felt different with her. A weird feeling of excitement . I wished to scream and hide for some reason.      I don't even know why am like this around her. It's not that I believe the rumours about her to be scared. Also she is pretty opposite with me of what they talk about her. She is sweet, annoying at times . Okay most of the times but still she helps me everytime. She understands me like no one else.     " You live nearby here if am not wrong?", she asked , catching me off-guard. It took me a while to put the words into a meaningful sentence and comprehend. I nodded and she stood there . I looked at her confused. " I don't exactly know where. So you gotta lead. ", she said with a chuckle and I came to my senses . " It's fine. I can go from here. " , I assured nervously when I myself wasn't sure. " You look nowhere fine. " , she commented and I had no otherwise to say. I know how pale I look when am scared, so it would be obivious even if I lie.        I simply walked ahead still not letting go off her hand. I realised her grip was no longer tight . It was as if I was dragging her while she simply let me. Infact I was the one holding onto her two fingers . Should I let go? I didn't want to though. " Forgot the way , did we?", she teased and I looked away letting go off at once. Bold of me to assume she can't be annoying for once. I stomped ahead but still could hear her chuckling. She ran to catch upto me wrapping her hand around my shoulder pulling me closer. " Don't be angry baby.", she whispered near my ears and I tried to move away which obivously wasn't possible due to her grip.           Finally we arrived at my doorstep and I had successfully yanked her hand away from me. We had enough of distance between us to make sure my grandma doesn't get any stupid reasons to tease me. I rung the doorbell and as accepted it was answered by my granny. " Oh Sakhu you are back?" , she asked , it wasn't as if it was my first time returning from college or I was out for years but still somehow she was always excited to welcome me home.       " You have brought a friend home? I haven't met you before kid. Have I?" , she asked as she turned her attention to the one besides me . Vibha bowed a bit and shook her head negatively. " It's my first time here. ", she replied with a faint smile. " You are ?" granny stared at her for a while but didn't let her answer, " Let me guess. "  I knew this is going to be a mess if I don't shoo away Vibha now.  " Granny she-" " Vibhavari! Right!?" ,she  exclaimed like a little kid who just now got its first word correct. Vibha nodded her head with a smile. " I am really honoured that you know me. ", she sounded too polite for her personality. I can't beleive her .     " Come in. Come in my child. Make yourself home. ", granny dragged her in. " Granny she has wo-" " Aigoo! You shut up! ", Granny shushed me before I could even say anything. So now this girl steals my granny from me as well? What's wrong with her? Can't she just go home? Don't have anything better to do?" Kavita look . Sakhu has brought a friend home. Bring her something to eat. ", granny went in calling for my mom who sticking to her principles of ' atithi devo bhava ' was out in a jiffy with a glass of water and some chivda and biscuits  .      " You must be Vibhavari, if am not wrong?", mom chose that to be her very first question as she stepped out with a tray in her hands. " Sit sit.Make yourself at home. ", she gestured and Vibha sat on the sofa as mom placed the tray in front of her on the table. " We all saw the sketch you made. Aarushi has been boasting about it more than she did for her board marksheet. ", mom said and they maybe blind enough to not catch on it but I did see her smirk before fake smile. " Woah- I wasn't sure if she'd like it. ", she replied and I can't beleive the change in her always mocking tone to be this well. She seriously has skills for pretending, this girl!       " Like ? She literally was so obsessed with it! We heard about it for hours and now it even is a part of her personal treasure!",mom decided to expose me and everyone in the room besides me was enjoying it.       They need to stop!!!