His Chaste Bird

10.💛

Next day...

Raghav and Neil entered in auditorium along with a bundle of paper in their hands. They glanced over the seats and searched for Maahira and Armaan. They were sitting on the Bottom row. Both walked towards them and settled beside them. Neil handed the papers to Maahira and she started inspecting it. It was the speech and anchoring lines for Independence day. She was going to host the event with Raghav. While Raghav wanted Maithili to be his co-anchor but don't know why she didn't took part in hosting. He mustered up his courage to ask from Maahira about her , "Maahira...where is Maithili ?" She replied still going through the papers , "Backstage." A frown ceased Armaan , Neil and Raghav's forehead. What she was doing at the backstage ? Before they could ask , they heard Miss Radha's voice and their neck snapped on the stage. There stood Aarohi with a group of dance. She was a part of a Salsa couple dance group.

This was the first time students were going to represent something like this. The background music begin playing and their feets started moving with the beats. While Neil just watched her in jealousy because she was dancing with another guy. He felt an urge to be her partner but he composed himself trying to focus on his work but again and again his gaze went on her only , who was dancing on the center of the stage with her partner. After her performance , Miss Radha called Raghav and Maahira for their rehearsal. During their rehersal , Armaan's heart was also enveloped in jealousy. Both Neil and Armaan were trying their best to shake this jealousy but were unable to. They were unable to understand that why they are jealous ? "Why the hell I am feeling jealous from Raghav ?" Armaan muttered frustratingly in his breath. He was jealous of his own friend and that too for Maahira!! He was not able to digest this fact.

Whole day Raghav kept sulking like a child to meet Maithili but he didn't got a chance while she was busy on backstage with Pratham and Rita inspecting the arrangements. At night , sleep was far away from his eyes. He wanted to have just one glance of Maithili. "Here I am dying to have a glance of her and these three duffers are sleeping peacefully." He shot a irritated glare on the sleeping figures of Neil , Armaan and Rachit who were sleeping soundly on their beds. He got up from the the bed and yelled in a whisper near their ears one by one , "Neil!!!! Armaan!!!! Rachit!!!!" Neil and Armaan woke up with a jerk and looked him with sleepy eyes but Rachit was still sleeping. He took a breath and threw a glass of water on him. "Bachao !! Flood aa gaya !!" He woke shouting but Raghav quickly placed his hand on his mouth resisting him from waking up everyone in hostel. He switched on a side lamp and they all narrowed their eyes on his sudden action.

"Bhai tujhe daura pad raha hai kya ? Itni raat ko kya mujra karwayega humse !!!" Armaan spoke in half sleepy and half irritated voice.

("Have you gone mad ? Will you make us dance at this late night ?")

"Actually I am unable to sleep." He said awkwardly.

"Toh tujhe Lori sunaye ?" Neil asked with satire.

("Want us to sing lullaby ?")

"No..I can't sleep because I haven't got a chance to see Maithili the entire day. I want to see her." He said in disappointment.

They all shared a knowing look and then Rachit gave a idea , "I have an idea. If you want to see her then you should climb the window of the girl's hostel to see her."

"Pagal ho gaya hai kya ? Kisi ne dekh liya toh court martial ho jayega Mera!!" Raghav said with wide eyes.

("Are you mad ? If anyone will see they will perform my court martial!!")

"Bhai jab pyar kiya toh Darna kya ? Hum sab tere sath hain" Armaan supported his idea and Neil nodded in agreement.

("We all are with you. Don't be scared.")