𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙧 : 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨

2| Surprise Plan

"Ab aage se hatne ka kya logi?" Rudraksh asked, raising his eyebrows.
("What will it take for you to move aside?")

Archana remained rooted in place.

"Tum yahan statue banke khadi raho, main hi hatt jata hu," Rudraksh said, and walked past her, taking a seat beside Karan and Vaani.
("You stay here like a statue, I'll move instead.")

Archana also sat down, no longer in the mood for her burger with chilli sauce.

"I'm sorry, vo main galti se...." Archana began.
("I'm sorry, it was my mistake...")

Rudraksh cut her off with a simple, "Hmm."

"Ye Archana hai, meri school-time best friend. Hum ek hi school se padhe hain, lekin papa ke transfer ke baad main yahan Delhi aa gayi. Iska yahin admission hua hai, ab humare saath hi rahegi," Vaani said, introducing Archana to Karan and Rudraksh.
("This is Archana, my school-time best friend. We studied in the same school, but after my father's transfer, I moved to Delhi. She's been admitted here now, so she'll stay with us.")

"Karan se toh mil hi chuki ho. Ye hai Rudraksh, humara best friend," Vaani added, pointing to Rudraksh.
("You've already met Karan. This is Rudraksh, our best friend.")

Rudraksh looked at Archana, and their eyes met. She quickly averted her gaze and focused on her fingers as if seeing them for the first time.

Rudraksh extended his hand for a handshake. "Hi."

Archana reached out to shake hands, but before she could, water splashed on her from behind. In the rush of the canteen, someone had been pushed, and the water in their hands had spilled on Archana.

Water trickled from her hair down her face, soaking her clothes. "Aur bhi kuch hona bach gaya hai kya Ram ji?" Archana muttered in frustration, looking at herself.
("Is there anything else left to go wrong, oh God?")

Rudraksh, speechless, watched her drenched form in silence. He didn't say anything while she consoled the person who had accidentally splashed water on her, explaining that such things happen.

Karan, meanwhile, couldn't take his eyes off Archana.

"Tere kapde toh puri tarah kharab ho gaye," Vaani noted.
("Your clothes are completely ruined.")

"Pata nahi subah subah kiska chehra dekha tha," Archana said in frustration.
("I don't know whose face I saw this morning.")

"Chal, apni halat theek kar," Vaani said, and the two headed towards the washroom.
("Come on, fix yourself up.")

"Kitni pyari hai na. Aur beautiful bhi," Karan remarked, watching her retreating figure.
("She's so lovely. And beautiful too.")

Rudraksh didn't respond, remaining quiet.