FRI-ENDS ?

Chapter 10

Riya was confused and lost in her thoughts when she came across Ashi.

"Are you okay? What happened? Even Yash didn't say anything."

"He told me to choose."

"What?"

"He told me to choose between our friendship and Shubh. I mean, I can't believe he would do that. Shouldn't he be happy for me?"

"He's your best friend; if he said that, there must be some reason for it." Ashi tried to make sense of what was happening: "And speaking of Shubh, how did you guys even get together? Did he ask you out or anything?"

"He didn't ask me out, but you know things happened on the spur of the moment, and we're together."

"Are you sure?"

"What?"

"Are you sure you guys are together? I mean, from what I know of him, he isn't the type to commit so easily."

"But we spent the night of the festival together; that must mean we're together, right?"

Ashi felt bad for Riya, and she couldn't just leave her in this mess, so she decided to get her out of this mud. "Let's go then."

"Where?"

"Let's clear it out right now."

Ashi dragged Riya to the canteen, where Shubh was sitting with a girl.

"Funny thing, Shubh, I heard you were in a relationship." Ashi stood confidently in front of them with her arms crossed.

He didn't even take it seriously and just laughed it off. "Where'd you hear that joke? And with whom?" Riya was shocked beyond her belief; she knew he wasn't a kind type, but she couldn't believe he could be this disgusting. "With me," she said in a hopeful yet depressing tone.

"Why'd you think that?" He said while taking a bite of his sandwich that this wasn't a bit serious to him.

"Don't you remember the night of the fest?"

"Of course I do, and it was great while it lasted, but why would that mean we're together? I mean, I didn't even ask you out."

Riya had enough of this stuff; she was on the verge of tears, but she couldn't leave like this. She had to do something, so she did what any girl would do in that matter: she took the glass of water and splashed it on his face. And before he could say anything, she just ran outside. 

Riya rushed frantically towards Ansh and anxiously asked him, "Where is he??"

"I haven't seen him for a while, but maybe he went to our old place. Wait for me, I'll get my bike, then we'll leave." 

Ashi soon joined them both:"You guys leave together; I'll follow you on my scooter."

They reached that place, and it didn't take them any time to find Yash. He sat in a corner with his shoulders drooping. Riya called for him in an alluring voice, and he turned back, hopefully with a faint smile on his face, when he saw her walking towards him. He stood there, thinking finally some words of his got to her, but contrary to his thinking, Riya slapped him across the face, bringing Yash back to reality from his daydreams. He stood there bewildered, trying to grasp the situation. Even though he was the one who got slapped, Riya broke into tears and sat beside him.