TERI MERI YAARI

~25~ back to the pavilion

HEYYYYYAAAAAA PEOPLEEE!!

MISSED MEE??????

GAWDDDDDD ITS BEEN SOO LONGG!

HEHE I FINISHED MY EXAMS YA'LL!! HOGAYE BAS YEH JAANLO- BAAKI JO HOGA RESULT KE BAAD DEKHA JAAYEGA!

ANYWAYSS!! LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE JOURNEY ONCE AGAIN! 

HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU ALL REGULAR UPDATES FROM NOW ON!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE COMMENT AND FOLLOW!!

LOVE YA'LL!

HAPPIEE READING!!
________________________________________________________________________________

NANDINI'S POV:

We were all having a good time at our regular lunch table like always. All of us missed Kabir but nothing can be done in a situation like this. Just because he won't sit with us during lunch break, doesn't mean none of us would enjoy the lunch break. 

Though I kept telling myself that I wouldn't care about him from now on, there a tiny part within me that still cared for him and longed for his embrace. But I had moved on for a larger part, I was now capable of laughing at other jokes who were no longer made by Kabir, and I didn't have to fake my laughter this time. I could rely on all my friends now. I realized that all of them cared about me the same way. 

I kept glancing at his table every now and then just to see if he was alright. If I am moving on, doesn't mean that I am starting to hate him. He'll still remain my friend and it isn't bad to check up on friends, even if it is from a distance. Things looked a bit heated on their table and I contemplated to just get up and go check there, but that lasted only for a moment. It was his matter with his new friends and it wasn't my place to go and sort their issue out. It would look totally weird. 

New friends. 

this term tasted so bitter on my tongue. People say that,  making new friends doesn't mean the old ones will be gone, but oh how wrong they were. The old friendship does feel threatened if the people in involved in that aren't thoughtful or understanding. Atleast in our case, I can feel that the fortress of our friendship is having cracks on its surface. 

I decided not to think about all of this anymore and continued to enjoy my lunch with my newly found comfort in all my other friends. It was fun like always, Shanvi telling me gossips about the entire school, Gaurav trying to gain our attention with his messed up humor, and Karthik and Mahi, both being themselves. by which I mean, being silent and drowned in their own world. And this very new friend of my mine who's now become very important to me, keeps cracking jokes which actually make me laugh. He's the only one after Kabir who's been able to bring that kind of a laugh out of me. 

You know there's the normal way you laugh when you're around others. And then there's THAT laugh. One which comes out unfiltered because something made you so happy that you just couldn't find to mask up your reaction. 

It's been long since I've been able to laugh like this, but now that I am able to, It feels great. I feel utterly empowered. 

We were all busy with our regular non sense when Gaurav's posture slightly stiffened and his eyes widened. 

SHANVI: Why do you have your eyes popped out like that? you look like a damn goldfish. 

GAURAV: Well then let us find an aquarium. 

SHANVI: What do you mean idiot? 

By this time, both Karthik and Mahi had their eyes away from the tools of their interest as well. 

GAURAV: Because you guys are going to look like gold fishes in some time as well. 

KARTHIK: *sigh* be more specific brother.

Gaurav gave us an uncomfortable smile and gestured behind me to which we all reacted my turning our heads back to see what got him uncomfortable. 

And he was right, we all definately had our eyes popped out as well. 

Kabir was heading our way, with his lunch held in his hands. His tried his best to smile but his eyes held desperations. He looks like he's been longing for something as well. He doesn't look the same now a days. The radiant energy he had radiating from him is now lost. It feels like he has no soul left in him anymore. He looks empty. 

And it breaks my heart apart. 

It feels like my soul has been ripped away from me. 

No matter what, he doesn't deserve to be this empty. 

The most lively person I've ever met looks like he's struggling to be alive. 

And it hurts like a b!tch to witness this. 

We all were looking at him with mixed emotions and he himself looked like his emotions were riding a peak at this point. And yet he approached us and stood in front of us. 

KABIR: hi guys.......

All of us exchanged a few looks among ourselves before turning around to face him again. I know it might've looked rude but we were shocked af. We needed our own time to digest this. 

Is this the point where he realizes that he isn't meant to be somewhere else? Is this the point where he gets back to us and stays with us forever? 

Is this the point where everything falls back in place. 

Karthik was the first one to recover from the shock. His face held a small but genuine smile and he looked as composed as ever. 

KARTHIK: Hi, Kabir. 

everyone recovered eventually, but I was still seated and it looked like I was frozen. Before, I used to be the first one to reach to him, just like it was muscle memory. But now, I do not know what to do. So, I sit there seated. And he surely did notice my lack of response which made his shoulders droop due to sadness. 

KABIR: Umm.. h-how are you guys doing? everything good?

GAURAV: Never thought we would see such a day.

He frowned as he replied. 

KABIR: You mean? 

GAURAV: You know, that we would be so oblivious of each other's life that we would need these pleasantries to know about what's going on in our lives. 

Guilt covered his expression and he winced with internal pain. 

As on cue, Karthik nudged Gaurav to shut his mouth. 

SHANVI: Oh ignore him Kabir. We're all doing great. How about you? any matter you need to discuss? 

Discomfort could be seen in this posture. 

KABIR: No.. I uh- I j-just wanted t-to stop by and h-have a chat. 

We all smiled at him and his looks definately said that he was here for more than just a chat. 
He was shifting his weight on both his feet alternatively, a sign that he is nervous. He kept glancing at me continuously as if he needed support. And my heart ached for him. Its been too long since he's needed me for something. 

NANDINI: What is it Kabir? 

As if my voice had lifted some weight off his shoulders, he looked like he had relaxed a bit. 

KABIR: I- I- want to be b-back at the t-table. C-Can I? 

All of us stiffened. Out of 101 things I had in my mind for "reasons Kabir would approach the table", it wasn't even on the list. 

SHANVI: Why so suddenly? 

KABIR: huh? 

SHANVI: Why do you want to be back so suddenly? and more importantly, would your girlfriend approve of that? 

His face hardened. As if emotions had escaped his body. 

KABIR: It doesn't matter if-

MIHIKA: Hii guys! 

Mihika sprinted towards us as if our table was the most interesting place than any other in this world. She was panting and by the looks of it, she looked like she ran towards here. 

And the reason could be only one. 

No one needs to be intelligent to figure it out. 

SHANVI: Speak of the devil. 

Shanvi slowly whispered in my ear as I gently swat her hand, gesturing her to shut up. 

MIHIKA: I see, Kabir has said hello to all of you. He was missing all of you so he just wanted to hi. We won't disturb you guys anymore. You can continue with your lunch while we continue with ours.. On our table.. 

She turned and looked at Kabir while she uttered the last three words and his face looked red and filled with fury. 

KABIR: No. A mere hello is not the reason why I am here, Mihika. 

She gritted her teeth before she completely faced him. 

MIHIKA: Then why are you here, Kabir? 

KABIR: I am here because this is where I belong. 

She couldn't stop herself from snapping. 

MIHIKA: Where you belong? Ohh please you're my boyfriend now Kabir. And now you belong with me. 

She slightly turned to look at me. 

MIHIKA: And when I say me, I mean only me. No one else. 

KABIR: That's where you're wrong. If I am your boyfriend, you're my girlfriend as well, If I belong to where you are, then you belong to where I am as well. If this isn't two way then it means nothing. 

Silence. 

Silence was all that was heard in the near surroundings. 

She was the girl whom Kabir liked the most. Hell he was crazy about her. But his actions at this point confused me. 

Today is full of unexpected things. 

MIHIKA: T-Then w-what do you w-want from me? 

He let out a tired sigh as he covered his face for a few seconds before he faced her again. 

KABIR: I want you to give me nothing. Just let me be with my friends. As important as your friends are for you, my friends are equally important to me if not more. And I've been such an a$$ to them. But Not now. Not anymore. I am not giving up on them. 

Electricity bolted through me as a sliver of hope began to shine as I heard Kabir uttering those words. Maybe this really was the point where things were going to fall back in place. 

MIHIKA: T-Then do you want t-to give up o-on me? 

We heard her voice cracking towards the end. As if she was about to cry. And last thing I wanted was for attention of the entire cafeteria on our table, just because the most beautiful girl has started to cry. 

Kabir's eyes softened immediately and that sent somewhat a pang towards my heart. 

KABIR: Of course not! I wouldn't give up on you. I would never do that. But you need to understand as well. I miss being around my friends. I miss joking around with them. Don't get me wrong mihika, your friends might be great. But no one can get me like these people do. 

He said while gesturing towards us.

She slightly nodded but her chin wobbled, showing that she wasn't fully convinced. 

KABIR: *sigh* Okay, how about this? we can do this on alternate days. We can sit with your friends on even days of the week and we'll sit with mine on odd days of the week. You won't be separated from me this way. 

Me and Shanvi looked at each other and cringed internally. But what could we say about couples. We had never been in a relationship. 

She nodded halfheartedly while Kabir turned towards us with a grin covering his face but his posture did portray some of his nervousness from earlier. 

KABIR: So? Can we sit here? 

GAURAV: *sigh* How can we ever deny you Kabir? Of course you can sit with us. And your g-girlfriend can join us t-too. 

Mihika gave him a small smile and Kabir pulled her hand excitedly while she made his way towards the empty seats. 

Mihika grabbed an empty seat beside Shanvi and looked at Kabir, expecting him to sit beside her as there was another empty chair placed there. 

But looks like he has other plans.  He stood beside me, glaring at Siddharth as if he had stolen something from him. 

KABIR: I believe that the seat you are occupying right now is mine. 

SIDDHARTH: Well, hello to you too. 

KABIR: Move. 

SIDDHARTH: What if I don't? 

I looked at Siddharth and signalled him to grab some other seat. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to take sides here. I know Kabir's anger, and this guy won't think twice before getting physical. 

Siddharth took the hint and got up before things could get dirty in this already not so peaceful environment and took the empty seat beside Mihika. 

Kabir sat down beside me and made himself comfortable and gave me a huge smile. His happiness showed as if he had won some war. 

He then turned to look at Siddharth with and gave him what someone would call 'fakest smile of the century' 

KABIR: Yeah, you can say hello now. I've never really gotten a chance to welcome you properly. 

His looks were anything but welcoming. 

Nevertheless, he forwarded his hand towards Sid for a handshake which he accepted, even though he was very skeptical. 

KABIR: *gritting teeth* Welcome to OUR gang brother. 

His grip looked very tight for a normal person's lacking but that didn't affect Sid at all. 

SIDDHARTH: Thank you, BROTHER. 

It felt as if a cold war had started. 

Soon, the mood lightened and people started cracking jokes. Everything was going smooth until Siddharth called for me. 

SIDDHARTH: Nandini, we'll have to go now. 

I looked at him in understanding and started to pack my stuff when I felt someone's grip on my wrist. 

KABIR: Where are you going? 

NANDINI: T-The science teacher had called us for some work. Have to be there. 

He stood up with a jerk, his grip on my wrist tightening. 

KABIR: I'll go with you guys too. 

SIDDHARTH: No, you can't go with us. 

Kabir looked at him with red eyes that spoke anger. 

FVCK! THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BAD!
________________________________________________________________________________
END OF THE CHAPTER!!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED READING!!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT AND FOLLOW!

LOVE YA'LL! 

BBYEE!