something just like this

10

Vidushi sat on the terrace of her house under a night lit up by the stars. She was already packed for the camping trip they were supposed to take tomorrow.

She stood there searching the sky for constellations. Her thoughts about Amit were just like those scattered stars which she couldn't form into constellations.
Amit. The name which brought a smile on her face Everytime it reached her ears. Over the years , she developed a crush on him. No. It wasn't just a crush. She
liked him. She never said it though. There was too much to risk. What if he didn't feel the same way? It could ruin their friendship. Besides she was never the kind of girl , he would like to date. The girls he dated were pretty and they didn't wear glasses. They weren't nerds.

That day when he had asked her to be his girlfriend. It was beyond her wildest imagination. Isn't that what she had wanted all along, but somehow she wasn't happy. He had asked her just so that Aarya doesn't gets closer to him. He would be his boyfriend, but not truly his. Everytime they would spend time together it would remind her of what could be her's but never will be. Amit will never feel for her that way. It was painful but pleasant as well. Though she won't be his girl forever , at least she got to feel it for some moments.

She continued looking at the bright sky , when she laid her eyes on northern star. It signified hope for many as it was always constant.
Maybe, just maybe he would feel for her too.

+++

Dev was snoring like a hibernating bear when Amit knocked on the door. The sudden loud thud at the door got him by surprise and he tumbled down the sofa in living room. He got up to open the door and found Amit waiting. Damn he had forgotten about their weekend trip . He couldn't remember how Ved and Amit had coaxed him into coming along.

"I see you've packed", Amit said upon seeing him still in his shorts and t-shirt.
"Yeah! Kind of", he replied grinning sheepishly.

"Get your ass ready in ten minutes and meet me up at the front gate. I'll go get your bags", Amit said as if he had prepared himself exactly for this. He always had his back and they never gave up on each other. For someone who was as unorganized as him, he proved to be insanely productive.

While dev got ready Amit packed up his bag and took it to a minivan they had rented. As Amit loaded up his stuff , Aarya asked him for the seventh time who else was coming along.
"Dev is", Ved finally replied after everyone was almost annoyed to death by her constant bickering. Everyone had thought that it would be best if these two needed to come along.

"Mr saddypants is coming with us?", She almost shouted.
Everyone started laughing as they heard Aarya's nickname for dev.
"What are you guys laughing about ",dev shouted as he jogged up to them.
"Nothing, just...",Ved tried replying but he was already focused on Aarya sitting besides vidushi.

"What is she doing here", he asked Amit in an irritated tone. Amit was trying to come up with a good explanation so as to why both of them were on this trip without knowing each other's existence, when vidushi spoke, "can't you two just try getting along. Just this once?".

"He started it.."
"She started it..".
Both of them spoke at the same moment.
"You guys are like a couple", sunaina said ruffling up his hair.
"We are so not", they again replied in perfect synchronization.
Everyone just started laughing after this as they both stared at each other.
"I'm sitting in front ", dev finally said after everyone had stopped laughing.

Soon they were all settled and ready to go on. An awkward silence filled the van as everyone sat silently, concentrating on the songs. As dev turned back , he found both Ved and Amit snuggled up against their girlfriends. It happened all the time but it still made him want to puke. He noticed Aarya busy in her phone. God! She looked so pretty. She wore a top with denim shorts with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She had made no efforts to dress up and she could still set the stage on fire. Aarya suddenly looked up from her phone and found him staring. She shot him back a look as if to say "what?".
He realized he had been staring and abruptly turned his head.
"God! Dev stop checking her out. It's Aarya you can't stand her remember?", He muttered under his breath.

Dev considered reading never gone, but his backpack was in the back. He had almost finished the book, only a few pages were left. He hated to admit it but he actually enjoyed reading it so far. At first books had bored him but then he started reading for Annie. He wanted to know what she thought of him. She was so gentle And fun not like miss-spoiled-brat Aarya. He was thinking all this when he decided to text Annie.

Captnjacksparrow- if you were left alone in a forest, what would you do?
Annie Tomlinson07- I would find a cave, and then sleep at night and navigate through it in day. What would you do?

Captnjacksparrow- way to go bear Grylls... I would stay in forest. I don't want to live the boring city life.
Ok! Who would you want to be left alone with?

Annie Tomlinson07- with you. What about you?
Captnjacksparrow- I prefer being alone but since you are so intent , I will come along with you.;) Why with me by the way?

Annie Tomlinson07- cause you are smart , funny and I trust you.
Captnjacksparrow- don't trust me so much Ann, anything could happen ;)

Captnjacksparrow- what if we confront a tiger and I push you to save myself. ;)

Annie Tomlinson07- yeah you could do that.
Captnjacksparrow- I would definitely do that. ;)

Annie Tomlinson07- when's my birthday?
Captnjacksparrow- I don't remember it.

Annie Tomlinson07- of course you don't.
Captnjacksparrow- so are you the thirteenth flower in seventh garden of heaven?.

Annie Tomlinson07- you remembered.
Captnjacksparrow- of course I remember. You would kill me if I don't.

Annie Tomlinson07- damn right , I would.

An hour later they had reached the camping spot in the lush green forests of ranthambore. As they all got out a smile twitched on all their faces as fresh summery breeze lightened up their mood.