TERI MERI YAARI

~29~ the partner switch

HII PEOPLE!!

HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL!!

WELL- I AM TRYING TO DO AND BE WELL ATLEAST LOL (LONG STORY LMFAO)

ANYWAYS, SNEAKED IN SOME TIME FROM MY MURDEROUS SCHEDULE TO DELIVER THIS CHAPTER!

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HAPPIE READING!!
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NANDINI'S POV:

2 months. 2 freaking months since that absolute non-sense he'd pulled at my place that night when Sid was over for the project work. 2 months of me being worried as I noticed that the letter had vanished from my drawer. 2 freaking months of complete stress as we had our board exams coming up. 

The last 2 months were completely filled with me being annoyed at Kabir, Kabir having his own set of mood swings where he got extremely clingy for a few days and suddenly he might as well have vanished towards the poles of the globe, Sid being by my side, trying to calm my temper down yet being the reason behind me getting angry a few times as well. 

They were also filled with immense study schedules, revision sessions, self study, question paper solving, pre boards, practice tests, me freaking out, dad being at home to calm me down, and again, mom freaking out because dad left her at the firm all alone. 

And the dearest grandparents of mine? They did what they could. Provided me with all the love they had within them and all the good food they were capable of making for me. 

Coming to my girl best friend, Shanvi the dearest, well, she went completely unreachable for 2 months, leaving behind a not-so-sweet note, which said as follows:

"My dear best friend Nandu, you know how much I love you. But you also know how much I want to go to college and complete my badass bucket list. And for me to go to college? I'll have to pass the boards. And to pass the boards? I'll have to study (*sigh* I know I wasn't born to do this but I have to. The cruel world left me no choice.) therefore, I'll be able to study only if I put this pawn of satan (my lovely mobile phone, I mean) out of my reach. Therefore, this is officially my last message from whatsapp, from my phone to your phone, for the next two months atleast. If anything important, you have the number to the landline in my room! Hit me up when you need me (Though I know it'll be me hitting you up, asking you to solve my doubts). 

best regards,
your lovingly.
the cute Shanvi."

Bittersweet right? Yeah, felt the same. 

well, besides that, there were only two things that I found completely strange during this period. first, Gaurav going nuts on whatsapp with his doubts, his pleads for notes, and end-moment concept explanation. I have never seen this guy go nuts over exam to this extent. 

and the second one?? well as usual, that one person who's decided he would not let me live with peace. Kabir. Not once, I stress, not once had the human texted me to ask a doubt or even to rant about how exams would suck the left life within him. Which was unusual. Because there hasn't been one single test for which we hadn't prepared together. Well more like, me explaining to him and him absorbing everything at the very last moment. Well, atleast trying to absorb. 

But unusually, our chats were clear. No texts at all. Not a single best of luck before exam. And the once I sent went with out a response as well. 

Well, it was pretty disheartening but who was I lying to. He pretty much had other people with him to clear all his doubts, to listen to his rants, and maybe even calm him down. 

He didn't need me anymore. As much as that thought hurt, it looked like he truly didn't need me anymore. 

I thought it wasn't for us when people said that the friendship weakens when one of the friends get into a relationship. But I guess we were no different. 

Best part tho? I had learnt to move on as well. 

And as I come out of the exam hall, after giving my last exam for the boards, all I could feel was freedom. Yeah yeah, I know. Missing the friends I made here, the memories I made here and all of that. 

Well, I would miss those but its not like I am not taking my friends with me. If not all, atleast most of them would be by my side. And I would give everything in return to get rid of exams. 

And no matter how sad it was that I won't get these years of school back, I wouldn't waste these moments of happiness when I just came out of the exam hall, with no more stress of studying for the next one. 

And the cherry on the top? I absolutely nailed all of them!

I had a constant smile on my face as I made my way towards the front gate when someone hit the back of my head. 

I knew who it was. 

the so called satan wrapped in the cover of an angel.

Bastard. 

Sid: you know, you don't really have to display all those 32 teeth of yours to show that you did well in your exam. It looks like you're parading while being a live advertisement for colgate. 

Nandini: well, screw you. I don't use colgate. And its not 32 teeth, genius. I haven't got my wisdom teeth yet. 

His lips twitched a little, as if to stop from smiling wide. 

Sid: Understandable I guess.

Nandini: what?

Sid: You lacking the wisdom teeth. 

His non-brainy comment was followed by a hilarious laughter which also belonged to the angel dearest beside me. 

Nandini: you for a grown up man, you still have humor of a kid. 

Sid: you wish! I just display my humor selectively. Based on who can take how much. And this is all you can take. 

Nandini: Haha. Funny scholar. 

He chuckled before placing his arm on my shoulder. 

Sid: so, what plans? now that you've been freed from the curse that had been haunting you from past 2 years?

Nandini: well, 1 week straight, all I am going to do is lie down on my bed, surrounded by romance novels and all those snacks which are definately not good for my heart in the healthy way but are extremely perfect in an emotional aspect. 

Sid: mhmm. And after that?

Nandini: The dance competition. You remember?

Sid: Of course I do. the one which you're participating in with your so called best friend. 

I hit him in the belly with the back of my hand to which he reacted by giggling. 

Nandini: don't be sarcastic. 

Sid: You're still protective of him.

Nandini: old habits die hard. 

Sid: yeah whatever. So you gonna practice for that?

Nandini: I mean, I have to. Do I get a choice?

Sid: true. But things will be fine. Maybe.

Nandini: yeah that 'maybe' is what is driving me nuts. 

Sid: chill out. The world isn't ending. 

Nandini: It would be much better if it ended.

Sid: you were literally smiling like 5 mins ago and you're already wishing for the world to end? woman what is wrong with you?

Nandini: ughhhhh I don't know. All I know is I want to go home, lie down in my bed, and never wake up.

Sid: yeah that is clearly visible on your face. 

I just chuckled at his comment because yeah, my craving for home these days had increased exponentially and any person around me could tell just by looking at me that all I wanna do is stay at home. Away from people, from problems, from stray thoughts occupying my mind, from expectations, from disappointments, all in all, from life. But could you blame me? my life these months, in a way has been very uhh.. Interesting? if we put it in a polite manner. 

And in the middle of all these unfamiliar and unexpected events, all I crave is the familiarity of home. 

I was lost in my own thoughts, my feet with their muscle memory, moving towards the gate to walk towards home. Siddharth was beside me, walking silently as well. Sometimes this is all a person needs. People who understand that silence is all that is required. It speaks way more louder than words. 

We were about to get out of the gate when one of the students approached me to inform me that I was needed in the staff room. Our homeroom teacher had something to talk to me about the dance competition. 

A loud sigh escapes my lips as I assure the student that I'll be there. One day of peace is all I asked for. Did it sound too precious? 

My feet take me towards the staff room, Siddharth following me as we both dread going back into the campus. It took us total of 5 mins to reach the staff room. Whatever it was, I wanted to get it done with and then just go home. I came in front of our teacher's table and found Kabir and Mihika already standing there. Shocked or not? I am not sure. Kabir being here is highly understandable but Mihika? what work does she have here? Then I looked at my side and found Siddharth playing with a pen that was kept on the teacher's desk and the teacher giving him an annoyed look. Well, justified I guess. 

I lifted my head to look at Mihika, who had a million dollar FAKE smile planted on her lips and when my eyes travelled to Kabir, I caught him alternating his gaze between me and Siddharth and suddenly his face became hard and his eyes were cold like the ice when he looked at me and granted me with just a curt nod. I returned one of my own and then, all of us turned to face the teacher, who now looked exhausted. 

Teacher: okay kids, you've been called here for a purpose. So as you know, we have the dance competition in a month right?

I nodded at her, but what made me feel strange was that knowing look on both Kabir's and Mihika's faces. Mihika looked utterly pleased and Kabir, well Kabir was still blank. 

I turned to look at the teacher again and something akin to a mixture pity, sympathy and if I haven't misread it, plea emanated from her expression. 

Teacher: Nandu.. ms. Mihika here, wants to take your spot as Kabir's partner for the dance competition. 

Something bitter spread throughout my body and I could feel hot, white rage enveloping the entirety of my brain. 

Teacher: But if you don't agree with this new arrangement, nothing will be changed. Since both of you were involved in forming this pair, its only fair if both of you are allowed to make a choice. 

Something that resembled hope spread all over the face of the teacher. She was hoping for me to refuse to the new arrangement so that the team could remain the same. We were the best pair when it came to dance after all. If only she knew that I was done fighting. both mentally and now, professionally as well. 

But still, a stupid tiny little part of me hoped that Kabir wouldn't have known about this request. That now that he's come to know if it, he'll refuse to change his partner. But his face still remained the same. Completely blank. But still, my stupid heart just won't listen. Therefore, I decided to be verbal this time. 

Nandini: Did you know about this Kabir? and if you did, have you agreed to this arrangement?

He just shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal. 

Wow. Just wow. I never knew things would get this extreme. Mihika had an expression of victory painted all over her face but that was least of my concerns at this point. 

All I could focus on was my so called best friend. For whom, I had learnt to dance. The same person is now replacing me with some other girl. 

Well, I guess no matter how much I lower my expectations, it'll still remain high. 

I had a smile which displayed true disbelief on my face as I turned towards the teacher. 

Nandini: I guess I am fine with the new arrangement. 

Now the teacher was the one who had disbelief all over her face. 

Teacher: But Nandini-

Sid: Can I fill in as her partner?

All of us turned our faces towards him. Everyone shocked. four extremely surprised faces staring at him. 

Teacher: You know what we are talking about right? this competition is really very important. 

Sid: *chuckle* I know, teacher. Trust me, I can dance just fine. And two teams from our school just doubles the chance of us winning. 

The teacher looked pleased at this thought and a small smile covered her face. But I was still skeptical. With everything going on around me, I don't think I can handle any of this. Maybe all of this was for the good? Maybe I am not mentally stable at this point to participate in a competition. Maybe this is the break I deserve. 

Nandini: Sid, I don't think-

A loud agitated voice interrupts me. To be more specific, Kabir's voice.

Kabir: Well, new guy, I don't think they are ready to take any new entries or an extra team. Its better for you to just back off. 

The freaking audacity?! How dare he?! He's the one who ruined everything! How dare he try to prevent me and Sid from participating when he had his so called rich girlfriend, who was also a new entry, as a partner to participate?!

 did I say I was skeptical before? well then, scratch it. I am hella participating now. 

Nandini: Teacher, if there's any way, then I would love to participate with SIddharth as my partner. 

The teacher looked pleased as she proceeded to reply. 

Teacher: Yes dear, there absolutely is a possible way. Since you've already registered, all you have to do is change your partner's name in the form and re-submit the edited version. The deadline is tomorrow but don't you worry, I fill in the form for you and submit it by evening today.

A smile of victory spread over my face as I proceeded to thank the teacher. But someone else in the room didn't look pleased at all. 

Kabir: But teacher! this is so unfair. Another team-

Teacher: Oh please Kabir! Stop it! You know what's unfair? You changing your partner at the end moment and ruining the flow of everything. The entire school knows that you and Nandini make the best pair. I don't know what inspired you to bring in the sudden changes. If anything, then I should thank this gentleman here for stepping up and handling things for Nandu. If you have anymore problems, then as happy as I am to re-submit Nandu's form, I would be equally happy to withdraw yours. 

Disbelief spread all over his face and he looked at me as if I am the one who betrayed him. 

You've gotta be kidding me. 

I bid my farewell to the teacher and left the room, not before giving a death stare to that traitor. Siddharth by my side, which is usual these days. 

I was filled with rage as I made my way out of the campus with fast and heavy steps. 

You want war, Kabir Sharma?

Bring it on!
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END OF THE CHAPTER!!

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