IF YOU HATE SOMEONE

Chapter 9

Dhwani

Happiness.Its the word I could describe my mind now.Finally I'm home from all those suffocation.I never knew I could come back to celebrate onam with my family.Thanks to God we got sem break at the exact time of festive season.Neha came home two days prior and seeing her made me so happy.And I'm excited this year because Aayush also joined me.Everybody liked him as they should.Deepthi even asked me in secret that he's my boyfriend.

The one who got really surprised after his visit was only Neha.I laughed so hard seeing her jaw dropped.I know there's some sparks between these two.. Let's see.

I love the fact how Aayush adores our culture and I never knew his mom was from South.My father helped him to wear the traditional mundu (dhoti) and he looks so good.We were busy picking flowers for preparations and I let Neha and Aayush talk themselves,I'm a genius haha.As I was plucking by myself,I heard a gasp.

"WHO?" Neha's voice echoed

I dragged my legs towards them and I can only stare what I saw,who I saw.
But before I could even react Neha punched him on his jaw.

Neha punching Dev Malhotra wasn't on my bingo card.

I need to move before a scene

"Neha,stop"

I ran towards them as Aayush pulled Neha from there.I stared at his face and it looks so different now.I never knew Dev was this handsome.His dark eyebrows and pool of a brown eyes stared at mine.His chisteld jaw is something else but one is sore red now.
I can't help but touch his jaw.

"I'm sorry for that"

"It's okay I expected it... and I deserve it too" He smiles

Dev can smile?Am I dreaming or something

"Umm what brings you here?" I asked nervously

But I mentally slapped myself after seeing his face kind of hurt.He wasn't expecting that question.

"Don't you heard her asshole?" Neha spats

"Neha stop" My anger surprised everyone including myself

"This is the only punch I have never given back" Dev chuckled

"Oh you want to fight me huh?you wont punch back because I'm a woman? tsk tsk tsk"

"Now I know how Dhwani got smart mouth sometimes" He chuckled making me smile

"You're a raccoon" Neha said making us laugh

"And you're a smartass"

"Okay enough,Neha you should show the backyard to Aayush na"

Without saying anything they gone leaving us alone

"She clearly hates me"

"She knows how's things were between us"
I don't know why I'm suddenly nervous with him.

"Were?"

Is he flirting or am I slow.Gosh this is so embarrassing.I didn't answer and he put his hand in his pocket for something.He pulled out a hairclip and placed it on my palm.

Wait that's my hairclip!

"I thought I lost this at train.where did you get this?" I asked him

"Found this on hostel step after you gone so I thought I should give it back to you"

"WHAT? You came all this long just to give my hairclip back?"

What is this actually? I can't process anything now.

"Hmm no no I misses Aayush so I came here and I took your hairclip too that's all" He winks

Is he lying.I wish

"Okay.. Come inside I'll show you so many things"

"Yepppp" He said with a pop and walked with me

Wtf is happening?Is he mad? Or am I mad?
He was clearly hating on me at college and now he travelled forty eight something hours just to give a hairclip.

I don't know why my mother haven't ripped my head off because friends visiting is new to us,especially male friends.Maybe she likes Aayush.I couldn't concentrate on things but Dev.When I saw Aayush in our traditional he looks really good but after Dev appeared it's a complete different story.He looks like someone you wants to cook and clean.This is all wrong but I can't help admiring his sculpted body that is now tightened in a golden color shirt.I almost asked him out for a temple date.

Jokes apart,Neha was actually stunned as me.But we sorted everything out but she didn't stopped calling him raccoon.

"Dhwani" He snapped me out of my thoughts

"Yes"

"How should I eat this?"

I want to laugh because he's clearly stunned by the whole meal in a banana leaf in front of him.

"I eat this much a week"

"It's called sadhya,onam special,you should try it"

"It's a lot"

"I know,but its celebrated once in a year.. and try it you will love it"

"Are you sure?" His voice changed

Shit

"Umm yes.."

His eyes never left mine as he ate a mouthful of rice and chewed ever so slowly.

"Oi raccoon which book did you read?"
Neha interrupted us from across the table

"Why smartass?"

"You clearly read some romance book or watched a movie or else you're on drugs" She said making all of us laugh

I'm glad my mom and dad haven't arrived at the table or else it would have been a very different story with plot twists.
I know they aren't much pleased of the duo's visiting but they're convinced since they will be staying at Neha's mom's homestay.
Alice aunty will kill us if she knows but as cruel as it is I'm happy she wont be home this onam.

We finished our meal and was sitting on Neha's houseboat.

Her and Aayush were enjoying the sunset while Deepti and Dev talking and laughing about something.An instant smile crept up on my face watching that.

He's not that bad

But my smile fades as soon as Neha came towards me.

"You're crushing on him" She says on my face

"I'm not"

"You're and don't lie to me"

"And you're crushing on Aayush right" I got this sudden urge to defend him.

"They're like day and night"

"Neha he's not that bad I think"
She sighed and gone leaving me there.

I know she's protective about me but something inside me urged to ignore her.