chapter 51

[ Vibha 's p.o.v]       It was all going so well , it's difficult to ignore her though but I clearly can see it has effect on her. Afterall moron's plan ain't that bad . I had risked using my phone throughout the lecture to create the required impact as he had suggested. She had been silent entire time until she finally asked the question I most anticipated.       This he had stated could mean either she was insecure about loosing me or could be a casual question depending on tone. But either ways to ask something like that she'd consider me close enough .      But it took an unexpected turn when she misinterpreted my reply. What I meant was to tease , like are you jealous thing- but she thought I considered her inferior and I panicked so bad at that . I don't even know what all I said but she started laughing.     I paced around my room recalling every word I said. ' I see you more than that. I see you more than just a friend.'  I burried my face in cup of my palms. Why the hell would I say something so out of blue.       Did she hear it? What would she think if she heard that? Is that why she turned silent? No but she turned silent when I said I thought I hurt her. Was it because I put it right after she was having a series of laughter?      " Arghh!!", I yelled tossing myself on the bed while pulling at my hairs out of frustration. What if she thought about it? What if she turned awkward after hearing that? " Why would you do such a stupid thing Vibhavari?" , I said that out loud while hammering my forehead with my fist.       " What stupid thing did you do now Vibhavari?" , my father's voice entered before him and his knocks. I sat up straight facing him. " What happened?"  , he asked settling besides me. " I kind of straight up confessed in panick ." He looked unaffected by it. " So?" " So?" " It's not like you didn't go on throwing offer to be your girlfriend at her before. " I looked away embarrassed. " It's different."" How so?"" I was teasing her back then and this time it just kind of slipped in panick. "" What were you so panicked about?"     My lips pressed together in a thin line sealing the confession. Should I tell him I had teamed up with the moron to achieve to my love and his crush? And that he's out here helping get her because he believes I love her and that she reciprocates my feelings. He won't be so happy with it though. Dad never really liked him. And the idea of involving him in this after he had dumped me , surely he won't welcome it. " It was about something she asked casually and I kind of came rude so I thought I hurt her and in an attempt to convince her that's not what I meant, I kind of got it slipped.", I told him , it's not a lie , just a selective truth. " You know what?" " What?"" I think you should just forget all the dating tips I gave you. You are anyways going to end up doing whatever comes first out of your instincts. And I think it's better. Rather than acting up now and later having problems; let her get used to your unpredictable nature. Perhaps she'd like you for it.""Like me for?"" For who you are. You never know, what may impress whom. " ,he said it with a smile enough to assure me .      Perhaps letting my true feelings disclose won't be that bad of an idea. Who knows if she takes the hint and gets confident enough to confess her own. We shifted the matter aside and went for dinner.      It was my bed time scrolling hour when a message from the moron popped up. [ On Text ] Moron:Let's go on a date next week To the amusement park . I have the tickets.Me:Why?Is it your birthday?Moron:I don't think doing this much is any helpful. We need to push it further so she can feel the fear of loosing you. Let's go on a date and click some pictures.            I stared at his message until the letters echoed in my brain. Ain't it too much ? What if she feels ditched? I have done it once already and I can't hurt her. What if she feels betrayed ? Worse what if she just believes I like him and gives up on me? Moron:HeyVibha?Vibhavari?    The phone kept dinging and I frowned at the screen. Me:I don't think that's necessary. Moron:It is. You have only this year to make her yours. Next year you'd both be busy with boards and then she even might change colleges. Perhaps you two would never catch up again the same. Only those greetings and smiles. You ain't seeing but the time is limited. You have just till annual exams and if you can't till then, then I'd say you should rather drop the idea of pursuing her later.      He was right to some extent , it would soon be end of this year and next year is crucial but doesn't mean we won't ever meet. Also we live in same locality, but what if she just gets a college out of town? What if she gets too busy in her new life and forgets me? Moron:Vibha , you aren't going to do anything wrong. You are just supposed to make her feel the urgency to recognise her feelings so she confesses to you.       His messages now had turned convincing but deep down I still had my doubts . But it was just a few photos and an amusement park date. What harm can it possibly do? Vibha:Sure then. Let me know date and time. Moron:Yep. [ Aru's p.o.v ]      I was glad we were back to being goofy around each other. That awkward silence was killing me. Perhaps I should stay out of her personal matters, especially her dating life.       I had been pondering over the same thoughts , especially the ones when she panicked. ' You are more than that. You are more than just a friend. '  a smile crept up my lips. She actually considers me important. And this time I could tell she wasn't lying. The way she panicked when she felt she hurt me. The look in her eyes , that scared face , it could be anything but a lie.      " What's so good about that dry vegetable?", dad broke my thoughts and I looked at him. Was my smile that noticeable? Did I space out or something?       " How dare you - then go cook for yourself. ", mom snatched his plate and glared at him. I didn't understand what all happened until I zoned back in but all I know is mom was eating in kitchen and dad was well now left at the mercy of his own skills. Ofcourse, I know grandma ain't interfering, it was his fault. She'd only mock a ' You deserve it '.     " So the roses in garden have finally started to bloom?" , granny asked and I looked at her puzzled. " No , how would they? Its hardly a week-" " Not those in pot dear. " , she said with a smile and I looked at her confused. " Huh?"" Who is it?"" Who is what?"       She gave me her ' are you for real' look. " The reason of this smile."      Now I finally get where this is going. I frowned and continued eating. Dad was busy appologising to mom and I know it's taking him minimum two , weeks , four sarees , and half his salary. I won't interfere either.       I successfully managed to avoid her and bury myself under the blanket. Vibha's softened voice never once abondoning my thoughts.     ' You are more than that. More than just a friend.'     The more I stress on the words the more complicated their meaning gets. She meant it to comfort me because she felt she hurt me by saying it wasn't my business. It wasn't something that weird as much as my rethinking it made it seem. More than just a friend? Bestfriend? Close friend? Special friend?       ' Be my girlfriend ' her whisper tickled my insides as if it weren't in my thoughts but her actually saying it up close to me , holding me in her embrace leaning right next to my ear. What's wrong with me?     I grabbed the blanket an turned around hugging it . " Are you trying to strangle  this oldie right here??" , granny complained and I realised I grabbed the wrong one. " Sorry." " What's going on with you?"" Nothing."" Sure nothing."" Good night."        Thank you so much Vibha, for getting me in trouble even without being physically present.