Besotted

CHAPTER 2 Part 12

12
RECAP- Prerna asked Bhuvan to cut all ties with Aashima. Let's see whether he chooses Prerna or his conscience....

Bhuvan that day, I remember, was bewildered & upset. I knew it was cause of Prerna, but was unaware about the exact argument. He didn't return & joined us at the open stage, neither did Prerna. I did mentioned about him not returning to the others but they didn't cared much & Bancho told he might be with Prerna & as a result, won't join us.

I was with Sid, Bancho, Riya & Arshia that time when suddenly Raj joined us & offered me my favourite Fresca apple drink. I would often visit the canteen just to have it. Though I knew the reason behind it, I thanked him & accepted the bottle. It was cute but I still asked him as to why he's offering it only to me & he replied its just cause only one bottle was left & gave it to me cause it was my favorite. I was astonished by the way Sid & he had been noticing me, so precisely. I hadn't declared the drink to be my favorite, but Raj knew & I liked it. I was in awe...

After the bell rang, we returned to class where I espied Bhuvan sitting at his place with his head down & Prerna wasn't around. I, along with Bancho approached him & asked if he were okay, but he didn't replied. He seemed off & on being asked by Bancho about what happened, he just blew up & asked him to leave him alone. He wasn't at all okay & I was worried.

I told Bancho to approach him after he gets stable, but he was too carefree & said- "Arrey tum chinta kyun karti ho, wo apne aap hi theek ho jaayega banc... aisa pehli baar nahi ho raha hai" But I felt it was something deep & I asserted in my always favorite dramatic mode, holding his hand- "Nahi, par idk mujhe kuch serious lag raha hai. Plz usse baat karna. Maybe he needs someone to talk, tum toh uske best friend ho na" & at this point, he couldn't refuse me. I've mastered the art of convincing people, no one could refuse me after I let out my puppy eyes, hehe!

The last class had been arranged with the music teacher as our English sir was absent. We had to head to the music room where, on knowing I'm a new student & love to sing, I was requested to sing something. I don't remember what I actually sung, but it was some classical song with too much aalaaps & the ma'am & sir both loved it so much that they asked me to join the morning prayer choir group & also roped me in for further cultural events.

I got many praises. Bancho was spellbound as he had only listened to my song covers over Instagram which were mostly Hollywood or soft Bollywood melodies. But whose feedback I actually wanted seemed to be ignoring me, although he was listening to me carefully. It was none other than Bhuvan, who would sit beside Prerna reacting as if he heard nothing & just seemed uninterested. He wouldn't even look at me, he would just stare at the walls or the ground & respond to Prerna gently whenever she told her something.

By this, I understood he was trying to avoid me. Love won over his conscience. I went on to recollect whether I've done something wrong to him when suddenly, Bancho said "Kya gaati ho yaar tum ban.. Matlab itni speed pakdi phir bhi tumhari tongue tits nhi hui" & hearing this, girls around me looked at me uncomfortably while Sid, Raj & other boys smiled & mumbled among themselves as they knew he messed it up. It really took a moment for me to process what he just said, it was this spontaneous & unexpected. The room was compact & we sat on mats in a huddle, almost everyone heard that. He was literally destroyed but I was glad the teachers didn't heard anything as they were busy in some discussions.

I noticed Bhuvan with his mouth agape & eyes widened, mumbling into Bancho's ears- "Tu ye kya bole jaa rha hai" And Bancho pressed his fingers to his mouth & tried to defend himself the very next moment- "Aaa, sorry! Mera wo matlab nahi tha.. main kuch bhi bol deta hoon Aashima. Plz..." He was just desperate to convince me & for a minute or two, I was just tryna process it. And when I finally got it, I was like- "Banchoddas, okay okay.. shaant ho jaao" and he became quiet at once while I noticed the others awaiting me to get mad at him.

"I know tum wo mean nahi kar rahe the. Tum tongue twist kehna chahte the na?" I added & saw his face brightening up with his cute smile while the faces of Sid & Raj faded cause of disappointment. "Dekha, I got it!" I said smilingly & he cheerfully replied- "Tum samajh gayi banc..? Kya baat hai!" while Bhuvan added- "Kyunki wo samajhdaar hai, teri tarah nhi hai". It was after so long I heard Bhuvan speak, but then Prerna pinched on his arm & he again went silent.

"Tum sachme gussa nahi ho na?" enquired Bancho while I agreed & he again tried to confirm- "Pakka na?" & I replied with a smile- "Pakka! I understand, kabhi kabhi ho jaata hai aisa. We do fall in weird situations, par iska ye matlab nahi ki itti si baat ke liye gussa hi ho jaaun" Bancho then smiled & added- "Kaash sab tumhare jaise hi hote" & I f****n felt that, it was that intense.

I had previously guessed how much problem did this guy had to bear just cause of being frank & candid, but that day I literally felt that it was just too much! The girls were still making faces, so I just declared- "Ho gaya na yaar! Itni si toh baat thi, usne jaan boojhkar nhi kiya. Aur waise bhi he apologized, so just end it here!" & Riya supported me. So, finally everyone agreed to ignore everything.

And Prerna now replied to Bancho's last statement- "Huh! Sabke itne bhi bure din nhi aaye hai jo iski tarah banna pade" & Bhuvan passed her an annoying stare but I still smiled at her. "Tum kabhi kuch accha nhi bol sakti kya Prerna?" said Varun while Arshia said- "Bas apni khunnas nikal rhi hai". Raj asserted me- "Kuch nhi, tum ispar dhyaan mat diya karo" and I finally broke my silence- "Hehe, main apni jaisi toh single piece hi hoon, koi doosri milegi nhi. But she's right! Mat banna mere jaisa" and everyone were just looking at me with questions in their minds. Bancho asked too- "Matlab?" but I didn't wanted to answer further & luckily, the teachers decided to resume the class & asked Bhuvan to sing something as he was their favorite.

The moment he started singing, I remember being lost in his voice, he was this melodious! And I admit if anyone would've caught me looking at him at that instant, he might have thought, or I say believe, that I was in love with him. I guess Prerna might have noticed that. "But you know, I fell for his voice that day. That's love in its purest form, for me" I said to Surekha...

As the class got over, it was the end of the school as it was a half day. While wearing shoes, the Mansi said- "Dekha! Aisa, hi hai Banchoddas" & Tia continued- "Aisi hi gandi baatein karta hai" while I simply replied- "Yaar, aisa toh sabke saath hota hai kabhi na kabhi. We don't mean to say something but we say it. Aur waise bhi boys ke beech toh chalti hai aisi baatein, nikal gaya galti se uske muh se, but he didn't meant it"

The very next moment I had Bhuvan pass by me with Bancho & Prerna. I called him from behind & he turned back. I approached him & asked- "Bhuvan! Sabne mujhe bataya ki maine kaisa gaaya, par mujhe tumse jaanna hai. Tum nhi bataoge?" & Prerna held his arm tightly & came closer to him. I really needed his feedback cause it's been long since I practiced classical & him being trained in it, he was the only one who could give me a genuine one. But he was silent.

Prerna continued- "Tum itna bhi accha nhi gaati ho, jo Bhuvan se raaye lene aa gayi" Listening to which Bancho was about to say something but I held his arm to cease him. "Sahi kehti ho, Bhuvan ke toh aas paas bhi nhi aati hoon main. He's exceptional!" replied I & noticing that Bhuvan wasn't making even an eye contact with me, I was leaving. "And thanks for motivating me! Aur mehnat karne ke liye" I smilingly added & left. Banchoddas followed me whereas Bhuvan was upset & couldn't join us even though he wanted. Prerna said to him- "Good boy, haan! Tum sachme mujhse kitna pyaar karte ho. I love you" & hugged Bhuvan.

Whereas Bancho approached me & asked if I'm alright. I replied- "You know what, I don't care mere baare mein koi kuch bhi bole ya soche. Ab kuch feel nhi hota, kuch farq nhi padta" and he added- "Accha hai ki tumne farq nhi padta. Padna bhi nhi chahiye kyunki tum best ho. Kisi aur ka nhi pata, par mere liye toh ho" with a bright smile. "Aiyeee, how sweet! Tum literally mood lift karna jaante ho" added I & joined my girls, who were enjoying snacks too when Sid & Raj approached me.

That's it for now guys!!!
hope you all like it ❤🤙
Lemme know in the comments &
make it reach the masses 🥺
Part 13 will be out next week!!
Stay tuned
~KIA🙏