TERI MERI YAARI

~24~ efforts

HEYYA PEOPLE!

SO YEAH, AS I HAD TOLD, I AM HERE WITH AN UPDATE TODAY...!
IF YOU GUYS WOULD'VE READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT I POSTED, THEN YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT I HAVE MY FINAL EXAMS GOING ON. I FOUND SOME FREE TIME IN MIDDLE OF ALL THIS CHAOS, THEREFORE, I TRIED MY BEST AND CAME UP WITH AN UPDATE. SO AFTER THIS CHAPTER, I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW LONG WILL I TAKE TO POST THE NEXT ONE CZ I'LL HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS AND YEAH, I WANNA DO WELL THIS TIME.

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO STAY ALWAYS, I LOVE YOU ALL BEYOND MEASURES..
AND TO THE ONES WHO THINK THAT YOU MUST DROP THE BOOK, I RESPECT YOUR DECISION AS WELL! HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED WHATEVER I HAVE GIVEN TILL NOW!

SO YEAH, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, FOLLOW AND COMMENT!

LOVE YA'LL!!

HAPPIEE READING!
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KABIR'S POV:

That conversation I had with her through texts that night must've been the shortest and driest of all times. And I am so sure of it because I remember every single fight of ours and she'd never been cold towards me without any reason. She never gave me on point or short replies. Okay, even if the replies would be short, I could feel the warmth radiating through them. But today I felt off. As if there's a huge gap between is. Much larger than I thought it was. Because during 17 years of our friendship, Nandu had never asked me if I had texted her for some work. Because work has never been the primary reason behind our talks. We used to be as random as any person could imagine. from sending useless reels to each other to indulging in a deep conversation while judging someone else's newly built relationship. Well, few of you might think its not good to pass views on someone's life, but it doesn't matter as long as we don't hurt that person. But that's not the point. The point is, when did we go from "let's fool around" to "did you want any help from me" kind of friends? help was necessary between friends. But not only help. We were on the verge of losing our friendship and it was held with a very thin thread. I could feel it. 

Which means, I would have to put much more efforts than what I had calculated. 

Doesn't matter, I would put a thousand times more effort if that means I could bring my friends back to me. Or more like, for my friends to take me back. 

Because, I am sure as hell, looking at my behaviour from past few weeks, no one would entertain an arseh*le like me. 

The next day, I was dull the entire time in school. Anyone could tell from my behaviour. My usually energetic self was sitting quite while my girlfriend and her friends laughed out loud while they made jokes about a random reel they had sent in the group last night. They tried to include me in the beginning but judging by clearly fake interest, they didn't bother much. 

That is why, I wanted to get my friends back. Because they know, when I am sad or quite, I don't need space. I need them. I need chaos. I need people who can bring back my energy. I need people who care about me. I need people who need to see me smile. I need people who wouldn't mind my rude arse but still wouldn't give up until they made me smile with their silliness. 

I needed Gaurav who would show he was immensely irritated by my existence but still wouldn't leave my side when I felt low. 

I needed Shanvi, who was more of Nandu's friend but still wouldn't mind sharing her precious candy with me just to make me smile again. 

I needed Karthik who would tell me I f*cked up with a calm face but still wouldn't make me feel bad about it. 

I needed Mahi who would simply nod her head and agree when I let my shit out but eventually would tell me where I went wrong after I had calmed down. 

Above all, I needed my solace. I needed Nandu. I needed her because she would all the above and so much more. Her embrace was my escape. It still is and will always be. 

Fool of me to think I would be able to pay a bit less attention to this fact. 

But now that I've realized, I know what I should do. And that's what I'll do exactly. 

GET THEM ALL BACK. 

No matter how hard I will have to try. I had realized this a few days back itself but the realization hit harder just now.

I turned my face towards where all my friends were seated. They were around Nandu's bench, as usual. We still had some time left before the class to start and its their usual habit to go around the first bench and fool around together. 

There's only one difference tho. 

I used to be there before, but now, that seat is taken by someone else. 

My blood boiled as I glared at the new boy who acquired my seat as well as my place within the group. He was there, laughing and enjoying with all of them as if he's known them forever meanwhile here I was, seated in the last bench among this posh kids and all they speak about is the scandals of the industry and car models. 

BORING!

I was lost in my own world when I felt someone tugging at my sleeve. 

MIHIKA: What's wrong Kabir? You look down. And you've been staring towards your friends since too long. Don't you think its disrespectful to ignore all of us here and keep staring at them while they just laugh out loud without caring about you?

It wasn't them, Mihika. It was me who had stopped caring.

KABIR: *sigh* N-No, i-its nothing. Just studies and all that. 

MIHIKA: aww, don't worry baby. You'll do well. 

I never felt anything whenever she called me baby.

I just gave her a weak smile and tried to pretend to have fun with them while the hole inside my heart just started growing bigger and hollower. 

TIME SKIP

DURING LUNCH BREAK

I was sitting in the canteen with Mihika and her friends on their usual table. Well, it had become my usual table as well since a past few weeks. Yet all of this felt strange. It felt as if I never belonged here. In the beginning, the excitement of being Mihika had dulled all of this and nothing else mattered at that point, but now that I sit here and try to mix in, I realize that I never will be able to do so. 

No matter how much I try, I couldn't help but divert my gaze towards where my true friends were sitting. The usual table in the corner where they wouldn't gain much attention but also had fun in their own screwed up ways. Few of which were contributed by me. Agreed that I was rich, but I never behaved like I was. I didn't like the way in which rich kids used to have fun. 

A small smile appeared on my lips when I saw Nandu cracking up with laughter. I am sure as hell Gaurav would've cracked a joke that made no sense and she would've laughed just because she didn't want him to feel bad. That is how she was. Always making sure that people around her are happy. My eyes then roamed to other people on the table. Gaurav was sitting on his usual seat and banging the table to create his own messed up tunes. Why am I not surprised? Shanvi was sitting beside Nandu and narrating her own stories which made Nandu smile and which in turn made me smile as well. Karthik was very much focused on his phone like everyday. So damn sure he must be checking updates on astrophysics. That guy and his obsession with stars. And Mahi was drowned in her novel. This was girl was mystery but the most tolerable as well. 

My eyes roamed further and found a person who was now a disturbance to my sight. 

Siddharth Gupta. 

He was sitting on my seat. 

And he was saying something that made Nandu laugh. 

The laugh which came out of her pretty mouth when she was with me only. 

Such a fucking disaster. 

I curled my fingers around the spoon which I had in my hand and formed a fist. 

??: Hey man, what's up? You look a bit uneasy. 

Hardik. One of Mihika's rich friends. This guy was tolerable but boring af. 

KABIR: Nothing, just feeling a bit sick. 

MIHIKA: Hey, you fine? 

I just gave her a tight lipped smile and nodded while she curled her arm around my bicep, grasping it in a tight hold. As if to show her claim on me. 

I didn't like it one bit. 

But I did what I always do. Gave her a smile. 

KABIR: Yeah. More than fine. 

??: I don't think so, brother. 

I lifted my now rage filled eyes to find out who the new intruder was. 

Pratik. This guy considers me to be his rival for god knows what reason. People say that he has had a crush on Mihika for a while now but Mihika never accepted him to be more than a friend. Now he has this thing going on where he hates me because I, out of no where, came in between him and Mihika. And the fact that he's been in Mihika's friend circle for a long time now and I was the guy whom she chose irks him up even more. 

KABIR: No one cares about what you think, Pratik. 

PRATIK: Well, if they don't, I really think they should. 

MIHIKA: And why do you think we should? 

PRATIK: Because, his eyes keep wandering over that table. Where his old friends are seated. 

KABIR: Mind your words bro. They aren't my old friends. They're still my friends. 

PRATIK: Well maybe. But don't you think your eyes stay a bit longer when you look at Nandini? 

Fury filled my body when he took Nandu's name from his filthy mouth. All I could see was red. 

KABIR: That has nothing to do with you, prick. She's my best friend and I can look at her, talk to her and do whatever the hell we do as best friends. 

MIHIKA: But you shouldn't forget the fact that you're now my boyfriend Kabir. 

I felt speechless. When had this turned into a competition for her? doesn't she understand that Nandu is my best friend and equally important as she is. 

KABIR: I know, I never said otherwise. But she is my best friend and you are my girlfriend. I don't understand where this is going. 

MIHIKA: I-

HARDIK: But still, bro. Now that you're with us, don't you think we are much more cool than those people there? I mean, just look at them, they look so chaotic. 

KABIR: They're not chaotic. They're free. They're funny. They're energetic. Moreover, they feel like a family to me. And you are no one to judge them.

HARDIK: Woah cool down man. I had no intention of pissing you off. 

I just gave him an understanding nod before releasing a deep breath. 

PRATIK: But don't you think your so called family has found a new member?

I scrunched my brows due to the annoyance that filled up within me. I knew what he was telling. But I was no where ready to accept it. 

KABIR: What do you mean?

PRATIK: Well, isn't it obvious? the new boy? He's very well mingling with all your friends and your friends are enjoying his company a little too much as well. Take a look, he's taken your seat as well. And you know what's more obvious? 

I let out a frustrated groan while my body heated up with anger. 

KABIR: What?

PRATIK: Your so called best friend, what was her name again? ahh Nandini, right. She seems to enjoy his company the most. And by the looks of it, she doesn't miss you much maybe. And if this goes on, *smirk* you'll be very well replaced and be a friend who only says a 'hi' or a 'bye'. 

That's it, I lost it. The thread which was holding me back was now broken. I got up while the chair behind me fell with a shriek and I reached across the table to pull Pratik by his collar. I jerked him by holding his collar and pulled him closer to my face. 

KABIR: I will never be replaced, you understand?? I will always be her best friend and that's least of your concern. Your arse is just insecure because you couldn't get the girl you had a crush on. Stop acting like a whining kid and be a man. And, I am warning you. 
NEVER TAKE NANDINI'S NAME FROM YOUR FREAKING FILTHY MOUTH ONCE AGAIN!

There was silence across the entire table, and thankfully, our canteen was big enough, therefore it prevented attention from being drawn towards our table. And thankfully, Nandu's table was farther from ours.

MIHIKA: Kabir! what the hell are you doing! let go of him! you cannot throw your hands on people as you please. 

KABIR: Didn't you listen to what he has been saying? if anyone should back off, it must be him. 

MIHIKA: *sarcastic chuckle* well, isn't it the truth? don't your friends enjoy the company of the new guy? its a known fact Kabir, just agree and move on. 

I looked at all their faces and realized that all of them are cocky bastards. I was never meant to be in this circle. How foolish of me. 

KABIR: They still are my friends! they still have place for me. And they will still accept me. I'll show it to all of you. 

With the anger filling me, I held my lunch in my hands and started making my way towards the table where I really belonged. I could hear Mihika calling me from behind but that did nothing to slow me down. I had my priorities clear in front of me. I had to go there and make my place like before. They are my friends. They will accept me with open hands. And I know it. 

They will, right? 

No matter how confident I was, there was still a part of me that feared rejection. 

I shrugged away all the negative thoughts away from my mind while I neared their table. Soon, all their eyes caught my face as they stilled and now, focused on me completely. 

I gave them awkward smiles as I opened my mouth to utter whatever came out of it. 

KABIR: hii guys.......

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END OF THE CHAPTER!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN??!!

WILL KABIR GET HIS PLACE BACK AT THE TABLE???

OR WILL THE DISTANCE IN BETWEEN THEM INCREASE??

KEEP READING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT AND FOLLOW!

LOVE YA'LL!!

BBYEE!!