Chapter 10 - A deal

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Shiva's POV

Harsha ran to me trying to catch her breath. She pushed the bun inside it's small cover into my hand.
"Is that it?," she asked panting.
"Hmmm, sure," I replied.
I just made her go get 4 buns separately as part of the bet, she ran four times down the 2 floors, across the ground, to the little shop.
"I thought you were going to ask me to do your homework or something," she complained.
"Now that you gave me the idea--
"NO!"
"You looked like you needed exercise."
"How very concerning of you," she said with a forced smile.
"Does one minute go by without you two getting in a fight," Anand said like a father, he even had the expression.
We went silent.
"No...." she compromised. Her face looked disappointed, "That's just how we communicate..., we're not fighting...we--"
"Exactly why are you making excuses for this, I think it was pretty clear you two were fighting," Keshav said confused.
Harsha looked at me, and I stared back with no expression whatsoever.
"I'm not making excuses, I'm just saying that we're don't hate each other--"
"Why are you trying to validate what terms you two are on? Does it mean anything to you," Sneha asked.
Damn she can be forward.
Harsha thought about it.
"I just want to make sure that we're friends like we've always been. Maybe we've become a little distant, but fighting is a part of what friends do....Right?" she said with the opened lid of her lunchbox in hand.
"Why are you all teaming up on me right now anyways?" she added.
Silence....
"You do know the question I asked was rhetorical, I was just trying to emphasize a point, I wasn't saying you two hate each other, just a little angry all the time that's all." Anand said, breaking the silence.
"It's a little cute to be honest," he agreed.
I stopped midway eating my bun, and started coughing.
"You didn't even eat anything," Keshav said, "What, you're choking on air now?"
Harsha had a "trying to process" face
"You know what Anand you're right, we were fighting each other and we do hate each other, what's cute about that? That's straight up horrible," she said sarcastically.
"For once I completely agree with you," I said.
"See we even stopped fighting because of you," Harsha said to Anand.
"What has my life become?,"
"And that was also rhetorical," Anand finished.

Harsha's POV:
"How are you?" he asked softly.
I stared at Keshav like he came from mars, "Huuuh," I yelled a little too loudly.
We sat on the steps near the ground, it was an optional P.E class. You get to do whatever you want pretty much. I was sitting there, when Keshav came next to me after playing a round of badminton. Keshav stared at me expectantly for an answer.
"Did you--" I stopped myself and exhaled, "I'm-I'm fine."
"Why are they so flustered?"
"I don't know, what would you do if someone that made half of your life insecure asks you how you ARE? Like-"
"I'm sorry"
"There's only so much I can take a day"
"I didn't really mean any of it, plus you cared less."
"I acted like I didn't care. I did not want to show that I was weak against you. But it did hurt me."
"Sorry."
A moment passed by.
"Do you like him?"
My head turned fast.
"Is it that obvious?"
I couldn't deny it, it would only strengthen his claim.
"Not really but during lunch it was."
"Ah." I paused, "Yes I do like him," I said softly
"He does too."
"I know." Now it was Keshav's turn to be surprised.
"What, then why don't--"
"I'm giving him time, it takes time, a lot of time. I've waited this much, a few months is nothing," I said chuckling. "It's been 5 years since we even talked, it'll take him time."
"I would make a deal with you..."
"What to make him jealous?" Harsha said in an obvious tone.
Keshav smiled.
"Isn't that a little too overused?" I said.
"Eh, it could be worse. But you didn't hear the rest of it. In turn help me make Sneha jealous."
Harsha burst out laughing.
"Bah ha haha ha, no waaaay. You don't--"
"Hey, I was respectful about your confession."
"Yeah but this is different. From spending less than 4 hours with her, I can tell you she has an ice cold heart. Making her jealous is like hearing a cat talk. Impossible."
Keshav shrugged, "If you don't want it, then fine." He started walking away.
"Hey, hey, hey, I was joking. A little help won't hurt for either of us," Harsha said catching up.
Keshav held out his hand, and Harsha shook it smiling.
"Deal ok."

A/N: We're reducing a lot of cliche of normal romance fictions. No love triangles (maybe)...But, as a reminder please vote and feel free to comment! It really means a lot 🥲 Thank you 😊

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