His Chaste Bird

5.💛

On the other side of the Library...

Neil and Armaan sat on the chairs holding their books. While Aarohi helped Maahira to sit on the chair right in front of Armaan. He looked her and thought to ask about her health but then he shrugged off the thought.

"Hii Armaan." Aarohi's voice brought him back to the world. He replied , "Hii Aarohi. You both have chosen the same topic as ours , right ?"

"Yes..but Maithili chose another topic. Bechari akeli pad gayi." Aarohi said thinking about Maithili.

("She is left alone.")

"Akeli kaha Raghav ne bhi wahi topics choose kiye hain. They both can study together." Neil informed her and again looked down in his book.

("She is not alone , Raghav had chosen the same topics as her.")

"You know what Maahira , I am damn sure that Maithili will be Head Girl." Aarohi said confidently and Maahira gave her a questioning look to which she replied slowly , "Except for her two girls are in the competition , Raisha Mukherjee , Palak Sawant and both girls are so arrogant and stupid. They only have bookish knowledge nothing else."

Armaan was noticing Maahira and atlast he chose to spoke , "Waise Aarohi tumhari ye friend bolti nahi hai kya ? I mean she barely speaks two three sentences."

("By the Aarohi , your friend doesn't speaks much.")

Maahira snapped her head in his direction and stared him with unreadable expression and then said , "I didn't know that you notice me this much."

Both Neil and Aarohi chuckled together seeing his blank face.

"I speak only when someone is interested in listening." She said with a tight lipped smile and engaged herself in her book. But her words had a deep impact on him. Her words kept ringing in his mind. Knowingly he was able to connect and relate with her words. He felt something flipping in his stomach. He looked her face calmly there was a peace on her face. Her chubby cheeks , lightly pink and her button nose , she looked like a rabbit to him. His lips curled into a smile but he quickly hid it. He shake his head and his eyes fell on Aarohi who was looking Neil between her books. While he was busy in reading his books. He also engaged himself in the book.

These preparations days went like this only. Everyday they all gathered in the library sitting together and studying together. Till now Maahira's foot was also fine and she was able to walk properly. Slowly , they were becoming friends. Maahira and Aarohi being the chatterbox got friendly with Raghav , Neil and Armaan but Maithili was still bit awkward being an introvert. Raghav tried his best to become a friend of her. Although whenever he talks with her , he becomes nervous and ended up speaking something nonsense but realising it he quickly covers his blunder. While she replies in barely 2 or 3 sentences , which sometimes disappoints him but he kept trying. Meanwhile Armaan's attention was always wandering towards Maahira. He was not feeling much for her but he wanted to be her good friend. Why ? Don't know. Maahira was quite comfortable with all of them. But whenever she seems help from Neil , it bothers Armaan. He was dying for her maximum attention. He was totally confused about his heart and feelings. He was thinking it as an attraction. But Neil and Armaan both were happy seeing the growing friendship of Raghav and Maithili. They both wanted good for their friend.

It was Sunday and after tomorrow was their tests. So everyone were busy in preparation but Aarohi wanted to go out on Sunday. She tried to convince them but none of them agreed. Neil saw her upset face and felt something wrong. She was a girl who never wanted to go out on sundays. She only wanted to sleep the whole day or to watch movies in Hostel's TV but today she wanted to go so there must be a reason. His heart was saying to ask but his brain was refusing. He has became a sandwich between his heart and brain. Armaan noticed his unusual expression and tapped on his shoulder. He came out the trance and looked him questioning gaze. Armaan leaned close to his ear and whispered , "Kya hua Bhai ?"