Broken Without You

10. The Competition (Flashback Chapter)

10. The Competition
(Flashback Chapter)

Author's POV
Five Years ago...

"I am going to fail this semester," Ahaana declared as she stared at her mid semester marks on the screen.

"It's just college buddy," Meher said.

"Yeah...and you are for sure not failing this sem. You may not be the topper right now but not failing either so stop exaggerating," Pawan said as he opened the fridge and pulled out two chilled beer cans.

He tossed one at Ahaana and she somehow managed to catch it before it hit her head.

"Are you crazy?" She said as she gave him a death glare.

"Nope. Just requesting you to chill a bit," he casually replied as he settled his ass on the bean bag.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay fine Ahaana. Leave these sem marks aside. What happened to that competition you participated in?" Meher enquired as she snatched Pawan's beer can from his hand and took a sip.

"Ehh...that's mine," Pawan groaned.

"Shut up asshole," Meher said and focused her attention back to Ahaana.

"That international design thingy?" She asked.

"Yup,"

"Nah...nothing. Didn't hear from the organizers about it," Ahaana replied as she opened her can and took a sip.

"But-"

"Fuck that. Do you think I can compete with the world's best design students just like this?" Ahaana enquired.

"Ofcourse! You have got something in you girl," Pawan said as a matter of fact.

Ahaana sighed as she stared back at the screen and made a crying face.

"Guys my father is working his ass off to fund my design education and see what I'm doing here. The least I can do is study well," Ahaana said as she opened her gmail tab.

She kept staring at her screen for about five minutes.

"Holy shit," she mumbled.

"What happened?" Pawan asked.

"Fuck," she mumbled again as she started doing something on the keypad.

"Bro you okay?" Meher asked as both Meher and Pawan exchanged looks.

Ahaana kept the laptop aside and looked at them with a shocked look plastered on her face.

"What?" Meher asked.

"Dude I think I should freak out right now," Ahaana declared.

"Cut the suspense yaar," Pawan said as he kept his beer can aside.

"I qualified the first round of the design competition. The jury is in May. I have to construct the final garments and submit it to the organization by April 20th. I don't know what to say or do," Ahaana blurted in a go.

Pawan and Meher were in by a surprise.

"We knew it," Pawan announced and stood up to hug Ahaana.

"If I would say I'm happy for you, that would be an understatement. Like literally," Meher stated as she pushed Pawan aside and ran to hug Ahaana.

"You are a real bitch Meher," Pawan said as he joined the two girls in a group hug.

"I don't think this would settle well with my father though. The garment construction and all would cost a shit load of money. Also I would have to travel to New York for this competition. Like the living cost would be theirs but the traveling cost will be mine. How will I manage?" Ahaana stated as the sudden wave of worries hit her ocean of happiness.