chapter 8

      As Aarushi laid on her bed trying to put her hairs into a proper braid her phone dinged making her halt mid-way. xxxxxxxxxxx:HeyAre you busy?     She blinked at the screen trying to recall who even it was. She scrolled the chat and realised it was the same guy who returned her earring. He wasn't given enough importance to be saved in the contact list . The pop up notifications kept on getting ignored as Aarushi wasn't really interested in any kind of those. xxxxxxxxxxx:Do you think we can meet up?I actually have something to tell you.       Finally she spared it a glance and it didn't take even a second thought for her to categorise the guy as creep. xxxxxxxxxxx:If you please. Tomorrow same time main gate. See you there. I believe you will come.       Though there wasn't much to react , still it kept on giving her an unsettling feeling.  He bumped into me once , got my number, met to return earring and now wants to meet up ? What is he? A total creep! She frowned and turned her phone off.       The next morning begun with Aarushi already forgetting about his texts in the rush of her practicals. She cursed the college all the way for making them attend practicals so early but went nevertheless. " Ughh. These practicals annoy me. Why they have to be early morning?", Neeta complained as she massaged her own shoulder. " They don't even bother to provide tables. My legs are all worn out from standing so long", Malini joined while Aarushi just hummed in response. " Who are you even looking for?", Malini questioned as she noticed the other lingering around while looking at the lab and nearby directions. " Huh? No one. ", Aarushi avoided the question by walking ahead and joining them ranting on how the college practicals tortured them .             The talks continued but Aarushi couldn't help zoning out every now and then. Who was I looking for? Obiviously no one. Then why was I even looking? But she didn't come today. I didn't see her since morning. But she never missed practical -" What say?" "Aru??" " AARUSHI???" " Huh? Yeah sorry I zoned out-", " You surely did. You have been zoning out a lot. What's wrong?", Malini asked as she stopped walking and folded her hands like some strict mom who just caught her little one stealing candies in her absence.    " It's nothing-" " You did come!!", the unexpected popping up of the earring guy did worsen the situation as Malini's gaze turned even more suspicious. " I knew you will come. ",the boy said , his entire focus was on Aarushi as if no one beyond them existed. " Who is he?", Neeta stuck her nose in between as a matter of habbit. " Myself Abhijeet"  , he introduced. " And you are?", Malini asked raising an eyebrow. The boy didn't really have an answer to that. Total creep. Aarushi wished she could just voice herself loud. The boy helplessly smiled looking at her hoping she'd answer for him. Malini still hadn't let go off the question and her expression were obivious for it.      " Abhi! ", a male shorter than Abhijeet interrupted them and dragged the male away saying it was something important. Abhijeet just turned around once to mumble a quick sorry and wave his hand as he ran off. Sadly, earning no reaction from any of the three . " What even was that?", Malini asked. " I don't know. " " Me neither. " Both turned to Aarushi at that.        " Didn't he just say you'd come??", Neeta asked and Aarushi stared at them equally clueless. " He messaged me yesterday asking me to come meet him at main gate." Neeta looked around and then back at the two. " This doesn't look like main gate to me. ", she said and Malini chuckled. " He is weird. " " Why do you even know him?" " Well I actually accidentally bumped into him and ended up loosing my earring which he happened to pick up and he returned to me. That's all. ", Aarushi gave them a brief of whatever happened till now. " And then out of blue he messaged you asking to meet him?", Malini asked and she nodded.     " Be aware. Such creeps are everywhere.", Malini warned and Aarushi gave her her usual ' yes mumma ' . " And that's how our poor Aaru is still single." , Neeta teased earning a glare from Malini. " That's cuz she deserves better. " Malini defended."Yeah . Yeah go ahead. Raise her standards to some Prince Charming who'd break moons and stars for her?" " Why do you think everyone deserves a two legged cockroach like you?" " Excuse me !" " You are excused!" " Dare you say anything about my boyfriend!!! " " Oh why? Truth is bitter? " " Nikhil is the most handsome man alive okay? " " And that's why they say love makes you blind. "