Waiting for You

Chapter 9 (Friends?.....)

Dhruv POV:

I sat in class, my leg bouncing under the desk like a hyperactive jackhammer. Today was a big day—our departments were collaborating on a project, and I had my sights set on working with Divya. After the whole mess with Shrey's phone message, I was sure she'd confront him, and by extension, get to know me better. But instead, she seemed more taken with him than ever. How was that fair? That guy eats cereal with water.

The bell finally rang, freeing me from the torturous wait. I threw my books into my bag with the urgency of someone defusing a bomb and raced toward Section-E in the third block hallway. My feet barely touched the ground as I sprinted, my mind already strategizing how I'd charm Divya into joining my group. I had to look cool, confident, like the kind of guy who knows the difference between a latte and a macchiato.

But then I noticed Maya, one of Divya's friends, trailing behind me at the pace of a particularly lethargic sloth. The stark contrast between my frantic rush and her leisurely stroll was almost cartoonish.

"Are you catching a bus from here or something?" I blurted out, my words tinged with impatience and surprise. Why was she always so slow? Was she trying to conserve energy for some unknown marathon later?

Maya looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of confusion and mild amusement. "What?" she asked, finally halting her glacial pace but not before giving me a look that said I was the odd one for speed-walking like a mall walker on a mission.

"I slowed down for you, but you're still walking like you're in slow motion," I said, waving my arms around for emphasis. It was like trying to have a race with a tortoise—if the tortoise was also reading a book and sipping a coffee while taking breaks to contemplate life.

Maya rolled her eyes, a tiny smirk playing at her lips. "Let's just say I'm not in much of a 'Dhruv mood' today," she quipped, finally matching my pace but with the same leisurely aura. Her voice had a touch of playful defiance, but her eyes... her eyes were a different story. They hinted at something deeper—maybe frustration, maybe tiredness, or maybe she just didn't like the idea of moving faster than a casual stroll.

Before I could come up with a witty comeback (or at least one that didn't make me sound like a complete idiot), a group of students swarmed past us, and I spotted Shrey. Seizing the chance to escape this awkward encounter, I quickly excused myself. "Later, Maya!"

I darted over to Shrey, throwing an arm around his shoulder with the enthusiasm of someone who hadn't seen him in years. "Hey, long time no see!" I said, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.

He gave me a deadpan look. "We met yesterday," he said, brushing off my arm with a slight smirk.

Okay, so maybe my sense of time was a bit off. I was too busy plotting my grand plan to win over Divya to keep track of mundane things like 'yesterday.' Speaking of Divya, I saw her in her minimalist blue dress, looking like she walked straight out of a fashion magazine. Next to her was Maya, who looked like she had picked her outfit with her eyes closed. A grey shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes—what kind of fashion statement was that? Was she trying to say she was allergic to color coordination?

Divya's laughter rang out across the room, light and melodious. It was the kind of laugh that could turn a funeral into a dance party. People were naturally drawn to her—she had this infectious charisma, like a human magnet that pulled everyone into her orbit.

Maya, however, was her complete opposite. She sat quietly, her expression calm and contemplative, like she was constantly debating the meaning of life or wondering why they put pineapple on pizza. It was fascinating how these two managed to be friends, like day and night coexisting in some weird, cosmic balance.

The student council announced the project rules, and teams started to form. My heart raced. This was it. My moment. I nudged Shrey. "Go ask Divya to join our group."

He gave me a look that could curdle milk. "Yeah, and what's next? Name our child after you?"

My face fell, but I quickly regained my composure. "Work for your love," he added with a smug grin.

Right. I needed to make my move. I took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves—because nothing says 'I'm serious about asking you to join my group' like rolled-up sleeves—and marched over to Divya.

Shrey nearly choked on his water. "Are you planning to fight someone? Be more casual," he hissed, but I ignored him.

I approached Divya, trying to exude confidence. "Um, hi... could you—"

Before I could finish, Maya, who had somehow materialized beside me like a silent ninja, interjected, "This is my friend Dhruv. He wants you to join his group," she said, casually sipping her coffee.

Divya smiled warmly at me, and my heart did that stupid fluttery thing that made me feel like a teenage girl in a rom-com. "Sure, but can my friend also join our group?" she asked, gesturing to the space behind her.

I squinted, confused, thinking Maya was still beside me, but it turned out to be some other girl. I glanced back at Maya, who was now studying her coffee cup like it held the secrets of the universe. "Okay, Sure!!," I added awkwardly, trying to salvage the situation.

Divya nodded and excused herself to speak with someone else, leaving me standing there like a deer caught in headlights. Once everyone had dispersed, I turned to Maya with a grin. "So, that went well, right, bestie?"

Maya's expression was a mix of exasperation and mild amusement. "Oh, sorry. I forgot, I only exist when you need something," she shot back, handing me her empty coffee cup before turning to leave.

I watched her walk away, feeling a strange mix of guilt and confusion. What was her deal? It wasn't like I was some jerk who ignored her on purpose. But every time I tried to be friendly, she put up a wall taller than the Great Wall of China.

I thought back to the rare moments when we'd actually connected—those brief, flickering moments where her eyes lit up with something more than her usual indifference. There was more to her than just being Divya's quieter, less fashionable friend. She had depth, and maybe... just maybe, I needed to dig a little deeper if I wanted to understand her.

Lost in thought, I wondered if there was any way to bridge the gap between us. If I wanted a real chance at a connection with Divya, I needed to understand the people closest to her—especially Maya. But the real question was, did I want to know Maya for Divya's sake, or was there something more?

With a sigh, I decided that maybe, just maybe, understanding Maya could be my 'thing'. And who knew? It might even turn out to be more interesting than a project with Divya.

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Hey Guys,

I hope the chapter was a fun read!!

Have a great day!!

~Don't look at this, look at the new chapter~

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Thank You,

Your loving author

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