Feeling The Greys (revised version)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟎𝟕. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 & 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓

𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢

The morning rush surrounded us as I walked to the class with Alya by my side.

Students walked past us, their loud cheery voices should be ringing in my ears, should be distracting my mind from remembering the encounter I had with a certain someone a week ago.

But even these loud voices, bell noises and morning rush in the halls of the campus couldn’t stop the only voice flooding in my mind.

Shivi.

That’s what he called me a week ago in the library. I’ve been given nicknames before but surprisingly, this feels different. Not a bad kind of different but different. It’s not that I hate it or it disgusts me. I just…don’t mind it.

“Are you even listening to me?” Alya pinched my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Ow, yes. Yes, I’m listening.” I rubbed the spot on my arm when she pinched. “You thought Vridhi would date Vedant because same initials and—”

“No no no. Nope. You zoned out. Where are you lost?” She gripped my arm and stopped us in the middle.

“I’m not lost. I’m thinking about today’s test.” Lie.

“Oh. I thought you were thinking about him.” She shrugged and continued walking to the class.

My eyes widened. I jogged behind her and said, “I wasn’t thinking about Shrey!”

Alya pulled up a mischievous smile and I immediately shut my mouth.

“Didn’t even utter his name.” She shook her head in mock disbelief.

I gasped in shock. “How did you do that!?”

“Skills babe.” She winked. “By the way, what’s going on between you and Shrey?”

“Uh, nothing.” When she gave me a look, I realized there’s no point in hiding or lying. “Okay, fine.” I sighed. “There’s something okay. I don’t know what it is and I’m not sure what exactly it is but I want… this. I want this with him.”

“What’s stopping you then?” Her brows furrowed in confusion. “I think Shrey feels for you too.”

“I’m not worried about him. I just—I’m scared, Alya. I’ve watched people’s relationship break. Relationships that were meant to last forever.” I close my eyes for a brief second, trying to stabilize my emotions.

“Are you okay?” Concern laced her voice as she grabbed my arm. “You can tell me.”

“Later, some other day.”

“Whenever you’re conformable.”

We kept the topic at rest once we reached our class. My eyes immediately scanned the last row benches, searching for those hazel eyes.

My shoulders slumped down when I didn’t find him and walked to our seats. We had twenty minutes before the test would begin and we silently revised the formulas.

I found myself looking at the door, expecting him to stroll inside any minute. But instead of him, the professor walked in, closing the door behind her.

“Okay, everyone ready for the tests?”  She turned her back to us and started writing the questions on the white board.

There was a knock on the door, interrupting her. The professor looked at Rohan from the little glass on the door and signaled him to come inside. Rohan quietly opened the door and came inside with Vicky, Danish and Nakul on his tail. I paused writing, waiting for Shrey to show up but he didn’t.