Sweet and Salty ~ (GxG) (Book 3: The Sweet and Sour series)

Bumpy Beginning

"Won't you say hello to the class princess newbee?", the girl arched one of her perfect brows as her dark hazel eyes shone in a mysterious glimmer.

Satyavati was glued to her place as her eyes travelled from a pissed Hera standing a few feet back with a murderous body-language to the honey skinned girl asking for her attention.

Two hazel orbs pinned her with a seductive glare as the plum lips curled a little around the corner with a mischievous smile. For the second time that day Satyavati's heart skipped a beat.

"Pardon the delay m'lady. It's an honour to say hello to the princess indeed", Satyavati quickly composed herself and returned the mischievous smile with her most effective lady-killer one.

A deep shade of crimson creeped onto the girl's honey-coloured cheeks as she placed a small hand on top of Satyavati's gigantic palm put forward.

Satyavati gently kissed her fingers as the girls accompanying her started giggling.

Urmi, one of the newfound friends said between the small giggles, "We were about to introduce you to her Satya. She is Ved. By all means yes, she is the class princess. A three times consecutive winner of the title of annual prom queen."

"Impressive", Satyavati gently let the small hand go and asked, "The girls here were about to take me to the canteen. In case you do not have other appointments I would love to invite you for lunch. My treat."

"Why not?", Ved tucked a stray lock of brown hair behind her ear as she bashfully replied.

"Didn't you bring your lunchbox today?", Mara, another of the girls asked.

Ved just rolled her eyes in reply.

"Wow I thought you didn't like the canteen food", Purvi snorted.

"Let's say I will take this one time break from my home-made luxury to accompany you guys", Ved shrugged and held Satyavati's hand turning on her heels towards the canteen.

Satyavati could tell her relationship with other girls was not up-to-the-mark. They probably didn't like the fact that Satyavati invited her off the bat. Though she couldn't find a reason to not liking Ved, still she didn't want to make assumptions.

People can take a really different shade once the initial warmth wears off. And Satyavati could tell that the girl had an aura of significance around her. She was clearly not close to anybody. That could only mean that she was interested in her. The mere thought made Satyavati cringe.

She was not there to connect with people, to make new relationships. A conservative, all girls boarding school was the last place she would want to be in if not for their sudden move in the middle of the school year. She knew Devjani was already sacrificing enough to keep her safe and away from trouble. She just had to make out of the school without messing up. Nobody could find out who she was, what she was.

"Why don't you join us as well Hera?", Ved stopped in front of the girl standing like a statue with her back glued to the wall and asked casually.

"Yes please", the other girls insisted. Satyavati could already tell everybody wanted Hera around.

"Not in the mood", Hera's voice was cold, her eyes fixed on Satyavati with the same malice Satyavati couldn't make the heads or tails of.

"Suit yourself", Ved gave a smile that could mean a lot and almost dragged Satyavati by her hand through the hallway.

Even while leaving Satyavati could feel Hera's piercing glare boring a hole on her back.

Rest of the day went by almost the same. Hera retained her hostile attitude, not even making eye contact with Satyavati, let alone talking to her. The other girls helped Satyavati with notes. Teachers pretty much promised to help her with anything she may need to settle down in the school. During every break between two classes Ved came to Satyavati's desk and chatted with her.

Satyavati came to know that Ved was a straight A student too. She was the only one giving Hera a hard competition for the top position on the scoreboard every year. Besides  she was a good ballet dancer. She hailed from a wealthy family of Simla. Her father was involved in mining business, her mother an international ballerina.

The relationship between the girls in class and Ved was pretty much formal and cold. She mostly kept to herself, studying or watching basketball practise on school-ground. On the other hand Hera, who was also from a well-to-do family was loved by everyone. She was super popular amongst others. Everybody had stories to tell of how helpful or friendly she was.

The relationship between the two girls stood a question mark to Satyavati's eyes. Hera was eyeing Ved with an expression that Satyavati couldn't properly decipher. On the other hand Ved was avoiding Hera altogether as if she didn't exist.

Satyavati didn't want to be a part of whatever was cooking between them. She just wanted to finish school without being noticed. Though she couldn't figure out why Hera was so mad on her, yet she decided it would be better to just blend in with the rest of the class. Hera was popular. No matter her reason of sudden wrath, she would get over it in no time if Satyavati managed to stay put.

The biggest surprise however was waiting for her at the end of the day. Since Satyavati reached school a little late she was directed straight towards her class from the principal's office. Her luggage was resting at the school's storage.

After the end of last period, the dorm manager led Satyavati through a maze of hallways towards her dorm room.

"Here you go", manager handed Satyavati over the keys as they stood in front of a door at the end of the hallway on second floor, "This is your set of keys. It includes keys of the door, locker and closet of your room. Make sure to not loose it. I'm tired of replacing locks all year."

Satyavati nodded. As the manager left she entered the room. It was bigger than she expected. Bigger than her bedroom in their new house. Two ends of the room were fitted with two beds, study tables, bedside tables with lamps and wall closets. A small door on the middle of opposite wall from bed led to a common washroom.

One side of the room was bare except the basic furniture. The other one looked well inhibited. In fact messy. Books and clothes littered the bed and study table.

The room was devoid of any life. Whoever Satyavati's roommate was, she was not yet back from class.

Satyavati wasn't eager to meet anybody either. She needed a bath badly. So she quickly arranged some of her clothes into the closet, leaving one of the two bags to arrange for tomorrow; threw her school bag on the bed and quickly jumped into the shower of the bathroom.

The water was cool against her skin. She lost all sense of time while taking bath. Suddenly her ears could pick up the door of the room opening. Aware that her roommate was back and may need to use the bath too Satyavati quickly dried up and put on her clothes.

She breathed deep and came out of the shower with a warm grin to say hello but the grin soon faded as her eyes led to the person sitting across from the door on a bin bag at the far end of the room.

"Good lord", the words escaped Satyavati's throat as her eyes laid on the perfectly sculpted woman sitting graciously on the dirty bean bag, the woman she desperately wanted to stay away from, she was none other than Hera!