AVENGING LOVE

Chapter 18 : It's Called Jealousy

It was ten minutes to 9, when Abhimanyu stepped into the classroom with Neil. His eyes searched for a particular someone but didn't find that person. Frowning, he took his usual seat; first in the right row, and had barely made himself comfortable, when he saw Akshara stepping into the classroom.

She was wearing a high-waisted black jeans with black vest and a short waisted denim jacket over it. Having her bag on one shoulder. With a face, that was stoic of any kind of expression.

“Akshara!”

Sameer, who was sitting on the first seat of left row, grabbed her attention and the class became deadly silent.

“Wanna join ?” - he asked, motioning towards the empty seat beside him.

Abhimanyu's head snapped back towards her. He knew, she was not going to sit with him now. But he didn't want her to sit with Sameer either.

‘Don't! DON'T!’

He kept chanting in his head while waiting for her answer with bated breath.

~

The way every student was looking at her currently, made Akshara annoyed. She knew they were staring at her because she had shown herself after yesterday morning's incident.

But didn't they have anything else to do ?

Taking a deep breath, she smiled sweetly and adressed them.

“I know guys my face is too pretty to take eyes off it, but it's rude to stare you know. We're in the final year of BBA. Should be knowing such basic manners. Don't you think ?”

Everybody's face flushed with embarrassment and they quickly got back to what they were doing before her arrival. Rolling her eyes, she made her way towards the first seat of left row, willing herself to not look in his direction as she crossed from the front and took her seat beside Sam.

“Good morning Akshara. You look beautiful.” - Sam said as soon as she sat, making her chuckle.

“You started again ?”

~

AGAIN ?

Abhimanyu's grip tightened on the pen he was holding.

What did she mean by again ?

“Well yes. If I have to get you to keep helping me on the assignment, so...” - Sameer said, trailing off mischievously.

WHAT ?

She's helping him in assignments ?

He was in danger of breaking the pen into pieces now.

She threw her head back and laughed. The twinkling sound, reaching his ears. But the fact that she was laughing with Sameer, just irritated him further and the pen in his hands, finally snapped into two.

He threw the pieces on the floor with such force, that it made a harsh sound, grabbing everyone's attention and making the class to go silent once again.

Her gaze snapped to him and their eyes locked from afar.

‘You shouldn't have sat with him!’ - he complained through his eyes.

‘Why ? It's my choice. I can sit wherever I want!’ - her eyes replied back.

His anger rising to another level, he grabbed his bag and stormed out of the classroom.

Failing to notice due to his temper, that he and Akshara, just communicated THROUGH EYES!

~

“Why are you so concerned about the matter anyway ?”

Abhimanyu and Neil were sitting in the cafeteria as the recess had started, where Abhimanyu was ranting on and on about Sameer becoming close to Akshara.

Abhimanyu glared at Neil.

“I don't understand why aren't you ? Okay I did bad with her but she is your friend. Right ?”

“She is. That's why after first lecture, I took her aside and talked to her. Told her everything about Sameer.”

Abhimanyu leaned forward in his seat. Eager to hear further.

“What did she say then ?”

Neil didn't know if he should burst out laughing or bang his head on the table because of his oblivious friend, who was jealous in all the languages of the world but wasn't realizing it.

“She said and I quote : ‘Thanks Neil. You and Riya are my true friends. Don't worry. I'll be careful as I'm not planning to get fooled again’.”

Abhimanyu's heart gave a sharp pang at hearing that. Guilt flooding his system.

He had spent the whole night, twisting and turning in bed.

Restless.

He had thought that he'd be at peace after taking revenge of his insult from Akshara, it hadn't happened that way. Infact, he was feeling unsettled.

Ruffled.

Like a person who's been told that he's going to die soon.

And seeing Akshara with Sameer last night and this morning, hadn't helped either.

“So at her reply, I said okay and left.” - Neil broke his chain of thoughts, turning his attention on him again. “Because honestly, she's a grown up girl and can take care of herself Abhi. So relax.”

Abhimanyu, once again, looked at him. Disbelief written all over his face. He opened his mouth to say something but Neil beat him to it.

“Why do you care so much ? And don't give me any shitty excuses please!”

Neil said raising a hand. Looking so done with his bestfriend.

“I'm simply concerned because after what I did to her, I don't want anything bad happening with her. You can call it my guilt.” - he stated as he picked up his coffee to take a sip.

“Really ? So you would be okay if she's with someone sweet and nice ?”

His hands stilled in mid air.

Feeling his heart dropping to his stomach.

‘Akshara with... someone else ?’

‘NO!’ - his insides screamed. Surprising him to no end.

Neil noticed his frozen state. The look of dread on his features and he sighed.

“Abhi...” - he said gently, grabbing his bestfriend's attention. “What you're feeling is not just guilt, concern, sympathy or whatever irritating title you give it. It's called jealousy.”

Abhimanyu placed the mug back on the table with a thud.

“Are you crazy ? Why would I be jealous ?”

Neil leaned back in his seat. Willing himself to not throttle his childhood bestfriend to death!

‘Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.’ - he thought, shaking his head helplessly.

~

Author's Note : Ah! Abhi in jealous and denial mode. 😌💅🏼

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