LEECH

CHAPTER EIGHT - AISHA (THEN)

FLASHBACK BEGINS

Saurav told me he likes me today.

I don't know why he would like me, though. There are so many fish in the sea. I don't know why I stuck out to him.

I haven't given him a reply. He's a friend. Just a friend. But he'd be upset if I just said no and I don't want to appear rude and conceited. Plus, he's a good guy and I don't want to ruin our friendship.

Srishti feels differently, though. She says I should just reject him if I don't like him and that he's no one to bother or pressurise me. She makes sense, yet I can't bring myself to be so harsh to someone who's a friend.

Additionally, if mom finds out about any of this, she's going to be so angry and disappointed with me. Saurav is a teacher's son. Srishti and Bhavna are convinced that I'm just driving myself crazy with all these speculations, but I can't help it.

The morning breeze rushes in through the open windows as I plop down on my seat, leaning back. Srishti and Bhavna aren't here yet. Other classmates greet me with a few hellos and good mornings.

"Did you complete the science homework, Aisha?" One says, staring at me with a sickly sweet puppy look in her eyes. I sigh inwardly, fetching my notebook wordlessly and handing it to her. She smiles and mumbles a thank you.

Disha asks if I prepared for the mathematics class test today, and if I could 'help' her. I shrug. Not like I could deny her. She's Srishti's friend, and even though I don't like her, I don't want to cause a rift between them. I just don't get the point of cheating on a class test, but nonetheless, I agree.

Mom says letting someone cheat is just as bad as cheating. I agree with her, but I'm stuck both ways.

I'm sifting through my backpack searching for my maths book when someone clears their throat beside me.

It's Saurav.

"Hi." He says.

I try, and fail, in not being awkward. I wave. Why the heck did I wave? Do people even wave these days? This is infuriating. I am infuriating.

"Did you have anything to say to me?" I say, hoping that my voice doesn't tremble.

He scratches his head. The tense energy is so palpable I think it could be cut with a knife. "I...about yesterday..."

Oh god, it is happening. I don't know what to tell him. I wish Srishti were here so that she could answer him and Bhavna could drag him away if needed, but they aren't and all I want is the ground to open up and swallow me, but I'm not Sita Ma, so either I answer him, or make a spectacle out of myself.

Is stuff like this difficult for everyone else as well, or is it just me?

"Look, Saurav, if it is about what you said, then unfortunately I don't have any —" I start, but he cuts me off.

"Aisha, hear me out. I...okay, you're going to think I'm so weird for this but...I didn't mean any of it." He says in a single rush of breath.

What. The. Heck.

Is the universe seriously messing with me right now?

"Um..."

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I behaved like that yesterday, or why I said what I said. Gods, I'm such a moron." He runs a hand through his already mussed up hair, and he looks more dishevelled than ever.

I nod.

But he's still looking at me with those eyes. And if I stare long enough into them, I think I'll be able to decipher something which is off about this situation.