Love Culture

4 | jealousy culture

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Vinaya's eyebrows scrunched as she spotted her two best friends crouched against the garden wall and spying on someone. The trio was always up to something weird, but their odd activities would usually be postponed during exam weeks. 

Yet here they were spying on someone very seriously. 

"What is going on?" Vinaya asked, before an arm wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her down. 

"Don't you see we're doing secretive stuff here? Do you want a microphone?" Zara hissed, casting a glare in Vinaya's direction. It was then that Vinaya glanced at the people they were spying on - it was their own boyfriends.

"Why are you spying on your own boyfriends, now?" Vinaya was too tired for any nonsense and wanted to eat at the cafeteria as soon as possible. Exams had that effect on her. 

"They know something..." Zara whispered, as the boys giggled amongst each other and gave each other hi-fis for some absurd reason. 

"And what is that?"

"That is what we're trying to find out." Ada said, moving her head from side to side to get a better view. At that particular moment, unfortunately for the girls, the boys turned around and caught them crouching down and staring at them. 

For a moment, surprise flashed in their faces. After that, confusion emerged. 

"What are you guys doing there?" Sahil asked, narrowing his eyes on them. Zara let out an awkward laugh as they stood up, dusting off their skirts and pants. 

"We were thinking of surprising you but you caught us."

A suspicious Karan glanced at Ada's earnest face that nodded along with Zara. Both of the idiots seem to buy the hasty excuse before rushing to their girlfriends and engaging in horrific acts of PDA. It had Vinaya running to the cafeteria, to their usual spot. 

Aryan was there, like he always was, seated on a chair and typing away on his laptop. 

"Hey, tech guy. Did you already order?"

He lifted his eyes to hers and Vinaya was reminded of why she had a crush on this guy. He really was pretty darn handsome. If only he'd undo a few buttons...

"Yeah," He replied, "I've ordered fried rice for you."

And that was the second reason she had a crush on him. He always knew what to do and when to do it. 

"Thanks, buddy. How did you know I was craving it?"

"You're always craving fried rice after your design exam."

"You know me too well."

Vinaya watched as Aryan got back to typing away on his laptop. Something in her hoped that he was the one behind the account posting those little letters for her. She was going to thoroughly disappointed if turned out to be someone else. No matter how good looking. 

That thought made blink twice. Was she down bad for the guy before her? Was her crush that serious? 

Those questions frightened her. 

"Look who's here!" Zara said, a little too enthusiastically when she caught Dhruv passing by the cafeteria. Her loud announcement had everyone glancing at the socially shy boy. His back became rod straight as he attempted to run away. 

"Dhruv? Where are you running away?" Zara exclaimed, before signaling for Sahil to catch the guy and being him to their table. Sahil did her bidding. Dhruv was brought to their table like a prisoner, with Karan and Sahil flanking his sides. 

"So, you see, for the past few days, Vinaya has been getting these love letters-"

Vinaya noticed Aryan's hand temporarily pausing before the typing resumed. 

"Guys, I'm gay, okay?" Dhruv whisper yelled. He let his eyes glance at everyone before adding, "This is all lovely for Vinaya and I'm happy her single ass will finally have a boyfriend but leave me out of this."

"Damn," Karan sighed, 'You should've told me beforehand. I would've tried not to set up all those girls with you."

"I did try hinting it. I kept telling you certain guys looked handsome and attractive."

"Karan can be dense like that, sometimes." Ada chimed, earning a look of betrayal from her boyfriend. 

"Okay, okay. You can go now. We won't hold you back any further." Zara patted his shoulder. Dhruv hurried away like his pants were on fire. "Man, we've really traumatized the guy." 

"I kept telling you it was not him." Vinaya rolled her eyes, glancing for the gazillionth time at Aryan. "It's definitely not Gautam, either. Okay? Get the idea out of your-"

"Speak of the devil-Gautam! Come here!"

Gautam started at the sudden shout, before spotting them. Cheerfully, he headed their way, unaware of the interrogation that would soon follow. 

"What's up, cool gang?"

Zara tried the same tactic with Gautam as well - direct attack. 

"So, you see, Vinaya has been getting these anonymous online love letters-"

"Yeah, yeah. She told me."

Zara glared at Vinaya momentarily before returning her attention to the boy. "So...did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"The online love letters-"

"Hell no," Gautam looked visibly disgusted. "Why on earth would I do that?"

"Because" Zara sang in her whiny voice, "maybe, you like Vinaya?"

"No." He refuted firmly. "She's pretty and all that-"

Aryan's hands paused once again.

"But she ain't my type. In fact, I have a specific type." Gautam paused, while fixing his glasses. "It's Yuri, from Spy x Family. I have a couple other crushes but right now, I can't get my mind off-"

"Okay, buddy. We got it. You can go now." Zara pushed him away, visibly disappointed. Karan and Sahil shared a knowing smile and looked away. Ada watched them, suspiciously.

"You two know something, don't you?"

Karan appeared innocent, "Hm? Know what?"

"You know who is behind that account?"

Aryan's hands paused for the third time. Sahil shook his head with a serious, solemn expression, "No, I don't."

Zara's eyes narrowed, "You're lying."

Sahil ushered her away, trying to distract her with the promise of soft drinks, her favorite pasta and the new pink plushie he had bought for her. Karan tried the same tactic with Ada and succeeded, as they chattered away about the new Anime she was obsessed with. 

Vinaya's eyes narrowed as she watched a quiet Aryan type away, like he always did. All the signs pointed to him...

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a/n : no excerpt for this chapter but it will come back soon!