I'm Innocent (On Hold)

13 . Its not okay

"You can type that I'm not good at it" I gave my very innocent smile to Akash to which he just rolled his eyes at me.

"I'm helping with contents and that matters 'a lot' dude" I poke my finger on his arm which was surprisingly muscular.

"Are you seeing me complaining... No not at all" he said as he shook his head slowly while typing as well.

"Yeah but you are giving me that look that....that says..."

"Oh let it be I'm doing it na, that's it" I knew he just thought there's no point in complaining because it's been a week now and everyone in our class was paired up for this project including Shanaya as well surprisingly and now he could not pair up with someone else.

I was surprised by Shanaya's reaction when I told her that I have already paired up with Akash though she complained about my choice of partner but not about me pairing up with someone else and not with her.

I thought she would blame me for being disloyal towards our friendship which I personally didn't believe but I hadn't expected that she will be so calm and.....mature.

I thought that it might be because first, I have already asked her in the first instance to which she didn't give me any sort of reply, second because I actually explained her why I couldn't afford to lose even point five marks which she already knew very well and third, because even after listing down all the cons of being a project partner with Akash she was still on cloud nine about this party.

I didn't know what was so special about this but I guessed it was because her father would be there too and shanaya would meet him after approximately one year. I wished my father and I could have that kind of bond but everybody's life is different.

"Could you pass me those notes" I came out of my reverie and handed over my written notes to him, if I could not type fast that doesn't mean I would be a loafer I have already completed my task and rest was his duty. It was really fun to work with him. He was really funny and his one liner was strong which used to irritate me but it was fun. I don't know why Shanaya believed that he's not a good guy but it's not possible or necessary that our opinions would always be same and don't vary.

"I think It will take at least one week to type and format." Akash informed me as he shut his laptop and stretched.

" Don't worry I will arrange my notes properly if it helps." I started to clean the pile of paper on the table.

" Yeah that will be good."

Akash rested his head on the back of his sofa as I arrange the pile neatly and went to his room to put it on his desk. He has rented a 3BHK apartment and was living with five others among them three were seniors and two were our batch mates.

"Coffee" I asked as I entered in the hall while dusting the non-existent dust particles from my jeans.

"Yeah" he replied with closed eyes.

" I was not asking I was telling you to make one for me" I stood beside the sofa and he glanced towards me with one eye.

I poked my tongue out and moved towards the kitchen.

" Hey! I have a plan" he called out.

" Yeah"

" Let's have lunch together it's my treat, what say?"

I pondered about it but who can say no to free food so I agreed.

We went to the same restaurant which my father and I visited during my admission which said tip-top restaurant in bold pinkish red colour.

" This is much better than a coffee" Akash said as he eyes our order on the table while rubbing his palms gleefully.

" I agree"

I was in the middle of my lunch when shanaya called " where are you?"

" M doing lunch why?"

" With Akash" she said his name as if she can't believe that I could have a lunch with him.

"Yeah" I said tentatively.

" You forgot we have to go for the shopping" she said softly.
I closed my eyes tightly and pressed my lips.

How can I forget? She told me a week ago that's how but I couldn't say it to her she will be furious  I did the only thing which I knew.

"M sorry I totally forgot it must be due to project, m really sorry"

"Tomorrow is the party you know that right?" I knew she said that to make me feel guiltier.

"I know " she had waited whole week so she could shop on weekend with me but now that plan got ruined because of me.

"Sorry but I will be there it's not too late" I said hopefully.

"It's okay I'm going to Tani's boutique she can help me don't worry" I didn't know whether she was serious or just being sarcastic.

"Shanaya just wait seriously I will be there in twenty minutes" I looked towards Akash asking if it's okay to which he nodded. I mouthed a thank you to him.

"Chill babe it's fine don't worry okay I'm leaving right now. It's nothing just relax"

I sighed in relief.

"Thank you Shanaya and sorry " I was feeling like a bad person.

" It's okay b'bye"

"Bye".

I slumped back in my chair and put my phone down.

"So we don't have to rush now?" Akash said to mock me with mouth full of chicken fried rice and Manchurian.

I gave him my best icy glare but that didn't stop him.

"This gave her one more reason to not like me and seriously m not dying to be on her good books"

I took a bite of my lunch instead of commenting anything.

"She always does this thing?"

"Does what?" I frown

" like judge everybody without even knowing them and react upon it?".

I took a deep breath and thought about it.

"I don't know I have never noticed this thing in her until now. I don't know why she doesn't like you at all" he shrugged.

"I don't care anyway".

"I know you don't and it's really good you know, to let somebody think whatever they want " I smiled.

"but it must be bothering you because she is bossy" he said while chewing his bite.

"I don't think so, she has supported me a lot. you know about the scholarship thing?"

"yeah mine got cancelled, poor me" he made a puppy face.

"she supported me during that time".

"how did you become friends with her?" he frowned like its really unbecoming of me to be with her I think for him it was.

I think it was because of her caring nature and the fact that she trusted me a lot in fact almost within 3 months she disclosed her whole life to me. She cried a lot when she told me about her 5 years long relation and how it broke her when Rahul cheated on her and she had to visit a psychologist. Whenever she felt like she is feeling lonely she would come to my room and mostly sleep over there but I couldn't share it with him so I settled for...."I met her outside college area and we started talking...."

"that's it" he asked dumbfounded.

"yeah, lets go I have lots of homework to do".

You know there is a saying that when a girl says it okay that means it's not but sometimes you learn everything the hard way.