ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

• Part 36 •

Nikita POV:

When I say my fate is bad, I mean it.
The one person I tried to avoid now stood in behind me, his palm wrapped on top of my chair.

"So, where we going?" His voice echoed in my ears.
"And you are?" Raunak asked.
I didn't dare to look back, even though I felt his presence.
Has he even seen me?
He wasn't looking at me when I turned.
"Mayukh Roy." He said calmly.
I was half expecting him to be upset Raunak doesn't know him. I know Riya would be.
"Oh you're the Roy's!" Raunak said, "My bad, I don't stay here I'm not that familiar with you."
"Oh no worries bro!" He said, shaking hands with Raunak, "I'm not that type don't worry."
"Oh please sit." He said and Mayukh's hands left my chair.

He came to Raunak and... his eyes met mine.

I gulped and looked down.

"Oh bro! This is Nikita, my childhood friend. She is in your university." Raunak said. I looked up and saw Mayukh's eyes gazing into mine.
"I know her." He said, his eyes not leaving mine.
"Yes, Krutika and Aisha mentioned."
Mayukh tore his eyes away and looked at Aisha and Krutika and gave them a small smile. Kru smiled back, Aisha didn't. She just nodded.

"So, we were planning to roam around Udaipur tommorow before the wedding."
"The wedding is on Tuesday right?
"Yes."
"Sure, we're in! If you guys don't mind."
I mind.
"Of course not."
"Great. We'll see you all tomorrow at 7, outside the hotel reception!"
"Done!"
"Alright, we'll leave now!" Mayukh said and my breath got better. Thank God.
"Bye bro!" He shook Raunak's hand.
He came towards us, "Bye guys."
I didn't answer. Krutika understood and waved him a small bye. He left.

He just left.
He didn't look, acknowledge or even... nice.
I can't go sit him tomorrow, but I can't cancel. What will I tell Raunak?

~•~•~•~

I stood in my army green cargo pants and white full sleeve U neck top, with my hair braided, ready. It was 6:45am. We were leaving soon and no one was here yet.

"Good morning niks!" Raunak said hugging me.
"Raunak! Hi!" I hugged him back, "About time!"
"Perfection takes time!" He teased.
"Shut up!" I slapped his arm.
"Ouch!!" He said, holding his arm, "you still hit so hard?!"
"Why yes I do!" I smiled. 
"Where are your friends?" He asked.
"They've gone to get some snacks. We actually got ready on time, unlike you."
"I'm ready! I was with Mayukh and his brothers, we were sorting out a car for the road."
"Oh."
"You okay?"
"Yes yes! I'm fine." I said, "where is the car?"
"Right outside ma'am!" He said, leading the way.
We stepped out to seeing Aisha and Krutika talking to Kashik, Arnab and Arup Roy.
Mayukh was there too.
Where was his girlfriend?
"All set?" Mayukh asked Raunak.
"Yep!" He said, then addressed all of us, "Okay, so, we have two jeeps. Open roof, thank God! We are 9 people, so we can just go 4/5ish!"
"Great!"
"Would you guys like to sit with us?" Arup asked Kru.
I saw Krutika want to say yes, but she said no for me. I went to her and spoke, "don't spoil your fun for me Kru. Come on! I know you want to say yes.... Go for it!"
She smiled at me, "Are you sure?"
"Of course Kru. My issue is with his brother, not him. You're most welcome to go sit with him!"
"Love you!" She hugged me and I smiled.
Aisha and Kru sat with Arup, Kashik and Arnab.

Shit. That means....
"Guess we're here." His deep voice said as he came closer to us.
I gulped.
I should have gone with them.
"Niki, come sit." Raunak said, "Shotgun?"
"Who's driving?"
"Mayukh is. He knows the way better than me."
I saw him looking at me, Ved behind him.
"I...I'll sit with you Raunak." I said.
"Cool. Come." Raunak said, opening the back door for me.

We settled down behind. It was an open roof car, with the back seats positioned parallel to each other rather than a normal car, and the two front seats as per normal. Mayukh settled onto the driving seat, with Ved as shotgun. I sat behind Mayukh, hoping to keep myself away from his eyeline entirely.

He started driving and I started taking pictures of the view and the city. Udaipur is beautiful!
"So! Where's the first stop?" Ved asked.
"City Palace." Mayukh said. 
"Done!" Raunak said, giving him the GPS.
The three of them stayed in conversation while I stayed quiet. I didn't want to talk.

I recalled Mayukh and my last conversation. He had let go off my arm harshly and refused to speak to me after I told him about Riya. Why?
Don't think about this Nikita.
It's over.

I brushed my thought and focused my attention on the car, and everyone in it. I slowly looked ahead and suddenly made eye contact with him through the rear view mirror. His eyes...
"I have to say, this is beautiful." He said.
I moved my eyes away in fear. What?
"It really is." Raunak said, "You know it's a very magical city. It's filled with beauty and culture."

"It's a rare gem indeed." Mayukh said.
I looked up, his eyes were piercing into mine.

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