Clean Bowled

Chapter 26

*Aslesha*

The most dreadful day is here. Monday.

Just last week I was thinking about how the Mondays have become better because of my friends and now I feel like not leaving home, staying locked up here. That'll be better than facing that.. that liar!

The way he used me, I feel like applauding him. Itni achhi acting koi kaise kar sakta hai? Actor bann jaana chahiye usse.

Usme aur Trisha me toh koi fark hi nahi hai. Made for each other they are. Kya pata break up kyu kiye? Ya shayad vo bhi fake tha.

My stage fear got vanished, thanks to him, but so did my belief in people. Aaj kal kisi pe bharosa nahi karna chahiye. Sab apne matlab ke liye jee rahe hai bass. Dusro ki feelings ki koi kadar nahi.

The worst part was that I fell into his trap so easily. His deed was good but the intentions behind it were so bad. But ek baat toh hai, I remained strong throughout these 2 days. I didn't cry at all. Why should I? He doesn't deserve it.

I look at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a baggy yellow t-shirt above torn jeans. Hair tied up in a messy bun. Pari hates it when I show up like that. She calls it my 'homeless drug addict' look. Because that's how I'm looking right now. Who cares. I feel comfortable. Mai thodi kisi ko impress karne ja rahi hu.

I take my bag and leave for college, picking Pari in the way. She is excited about the trip to Neel's farmhouse for Rudra's birthday. The whole time she is talking about it.

I didn't tell her about my encounter with Viraj. I don't want her to worry about me. She looks so excited and happy with all the planning she is doing. If I tell her, she'll talk to Rudra about it, which will lead them to a fight. I don't want that.

I get to class where everyone is present, even him. I go and sit on my place quickly putting my earphones on so that nobody talks to me. I don't wanna talk to anyone.

I've not uttered a single word till lunch break, didn't even spare him a glance. I don't feel like looking at his face at all, side me baitha hai vohi jhela nahi ja raha.

During lunch break, everyone starts noticing the change in our behaviour. I can see them eyeing us curiously.

"Tum dono ka wapas jhagda hua kya?" Sid asks as I eat my sandwich which is completely tasteless.

I finally look at Viraj but just for a second as he does the same and we both look away. "Sab thik hai yaar. Hai na Aslesha?" he says with a fake smile.

"Of course. It's never been better" I say returning the smile. Everyone just awkwardly nods and get on with their conversation.

This is just like the first week of college. Even worse.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

This was the shittiest week of my life. It even crossed the level of first week of college in shittiness. I and Viraj didn't even utter a single word to each other. Nothing. Nada.

Just like when he first joined college. Everyone is irritated by our behaviour. But I have not bothered to tell anyone or explain to anyone what went wrong between us.

Kuch tha hi nahi actually galat hone ko. Sab toh natak tha. We act like strangers who just sit beside each other for 6 hours a day.

It's been a really long week. Har roz I just counted the minutes ke kab 5 bajenge aur kab mai uske side se uthungi. Aur har raat I prayed ke subah jaldi na ho.

Pari kept on asking me but I just shrugged the topic off always telling her that it's nothing.

Aur Pari ki baat kare toh now I'm sitting with her in the ground. Everyone is present except Majnu. We have decided to meet before college hours for this secret meeting.