The Partham Chronicles

Part 18 - Understanding Differences

Aaden and Ishil were waiting outside the college gate for Nidhi.

" Why don't you go with her? I will be like a third wheel between you two. It's awkward." Ishil said.

" No, you will not, I asked you first, didn't I?" Aaden replied.

" The least you could have done is tell me beforehand, I would have asked any of the girls at college to come with me...What about Vy? Is she free?" He asked.

" I don't know." Aaden looked at his watch." She should be home by now," he said.

" Why did she suddenly change college? I mean, what's wrong with continuing here?" He said.

Aaden got a lump in his throat. " The swimmer's programme in the other college was better. She thought that she would get a better opportunity. And she got a full scholarship there so, why not? Vy is planning to join VNS University which is known for its anthropology department. VNS junior college makes sense." This was a string of lies that he had conjured up to tell everyone at school.

" I am sure she must have thought about it thoroughly but it's the transfer she took suddenly that shocked me. Anyway, should I call her, at least I won't feel stuck between the two of you if she is there," he said.

" Yeah okay, the more the merrier. I guess," he said.

Aaden had casually asked Ishil if he wanted to go watch a movie after class but Nidhi had overheard them and self-invited herself. She had done this before, many times, whenever they had planned anything she was always a tag along. It was not that he didn't like her company but sometimes she got on his nerves. He had figured out that they had nothing in common. Most of their time together was her talking and him listening. So many times his mind wandered off or zoned out of the conversations.

After the meeting with the Seconds club, Aaden wondered whether his life would get any more meshed up. He had to handle many secrets, a secret of him being a genetic human-alien combination from his friends, hiding the truth of the Seconds club from his family, liking Neela but dating Nidhi. The herculean task of lying had weighed him down. Juggling everything will someday turn me into a clown he thought.

Ishil called and Vysna agreed to come. " Come directly to the theatre. We will meet you there." Ishil said and cut the call.

"Why is she taking so long?" Ishil was getting annoyed." Does it take this long to say goodbyes to her shimmy-girl gang?"

" Ishil..." Aaden was lost in his thoughts.

" Yeah." Ishil was now engrossed in his phone.

" I am thinking of breaking up with her," Aaden said.

" What... There is no need to break up over such a small issue," he said,
" if you tell her she will come on time."

" It's not just this, we have nothing in common. She's all perky and enthusiastic but most of the time when I am with her I am bored. I feel like I am wasting both of our time," he said, glumly.

" That's kind of true. The two of you look great together but are not great together. You understand what I am saying?" he said nodding his head.

" Do you even understand what you are saying?" Aaden raised an eyebrow at him.

" You can break up with her after the movie. Let us enjoy the movie first, okay."

Aaden shook his head and rolled his eyes.

" Hey so sorry, Kritika just invited me to her birthday party tomorrow. Her parties are legendary. I got both of us invited." Nidhi was prancing towards them with joy.