It Happened In Florida

1.Tejasswi

I love being your third wheel........
.......Said no one, ever.

Tejasswi, Kabir, Ashrita and Manish were all part of the Engineering batch of the same college in Versova. Teja and Ashrita participated in the Times Now Fresh Face of the Year competition together in 2010 winning it respectively from their domains and that was a start of a new friendship. Manish originally hailing from Nainital was undergoing his Cricket Training in Mumbai while also pursuing his graduation, fell in love with Ashrita in the very first week of College during the Fresher's Party. They had a very cliched meet cute, stuck in the elevator together for hours during the party due to a technical fault. They were inseparable since. Kabir was Manish's roommate.

Kabir and Tejasswi used to often hang out with the group together. Both their friends always hoped there would be something more than a platonic friendship. But they always laughed it off saying they were better off as friends. Tejasswi in her first year of College got an acting offer for the ITV show 26/12 and had a super packed schedule then. Attending college, then shooting for twelve hours she was so exhausted by the end of day she just came home to sleep seven hours and repeated the same cycle nexr day everyday.

It was during their third year of college when Manish had a big breakthrough and was recruited to play for Royal Challenger's Bangalore. He became the first Indian to score a century in the IPL. Ashrita being the proud girlfriend planned a surprise party for Manish.

*Flashback*

"Teju, come on you have to come to the party. It's been ages since we last hung out" Ashrita said on call while Teja was waiting for her next shot in the vanity turning pages of her current Dan Brown.

"Acha baba, I'll see if my EP agrees to clear my schedule, now they are calling me for the shot, bye see you soon".

Teja gave her last shot for the day and headed home to change for the party. Luckily it was Sunday tomorrow and also a day off from the shoot. No college no shoot. She can finally sleep in.

Teja had a blast at the party, reuniting with friends, laughing over old times, and sipping wine without worrying to get up early tomorrow. She had happy tears by midnight. She missed this. Most of the guests left by then and eventually only Manish, Kabir, Ashrita and Teja remained. It was then Ashrita revealed how she was almost confirmed for this Tamil movie by a big production house. They all jumped and screamed, and took turns congratulating Ashrita.

"I am so happy and so proud Arshu, I know you'll rock it," Teja said hugging Ashrita. And then Manish and Ashrita retreated to their bedroom for the night.

"Wanna finish the wine?" She heard Kabir while she was sitting on the swing on the balcony waiting for her Cab.

"Oh I already called for a cab"

"It's pretty late, why don't you stay back here and I'll drop you home tomorrow in my car" It was pretty late actually, she lost the track of time catching up with everyone. It wouldn't harm to stay.

Seeing her hesitance Kabir insisted again and promised to drop her home early morning.
"Come on stay, let's finish the wine, those lovebirds are not leaving the bedroom soon anyway"

Teja chuckled. "Ok but you'll have to drop me off before 5, I need to reach home before baba wakes up."

"Deal. Now let's refill your glass".

"So how's your boyfriend?"

"Ganpati Bappa which boyfriend are you talking about?"

"How many do you have? I thought you were dating your co-star Jay. I think I read an article in the newspaper"