The Rules Of Pursuit

26. Our little Secrets

"I am planning to stay here during Christmas Vacation." Mia announced. Since Fatima was now staying at Dehradun, Mia was eager to spend more time with her girlfriend.

"So am I." I said. The First class coupes were expensive, and I didn't want my parents to shed so much on transport, thrice a year.

It was the last week before Christmas, and we were lounging in the gymnasium. Our M4 had expanded as Natasha, Olivia, Zoravar and Danish hung out with us most of the time.

I felt bad for Avinash, he must be missing his friends. He hardly joined us, since none of his friends liked his girlfriend and Damini rarely left Avi's side. I wondered how I would have felt, if the rest of M4 distanced themselves from me.

Horrible. Plain Horrible!

We were still partners for the trimester and Avinash acted civilly with me during classes. We agreed to continue our joint studies after class, keeping our conversations limited to the syllabus.

I wondered, if I hadn't tried Rule No.7 he may have continued being his friendly self and not this distant Avinash Chauhan.

"I have to go back home." Oly pouted, "my father is too strict. He has already mailed me the flight tickets."

"Same with me." Junaid grimaced.

"Will you be staying back?" Mandy asked Natasha, he was lying on the floor, his head cradled on Natasha's lap.

"Yes I am staying back." She smiled and Mandy's face lit up.

"You Danny?" Mandy asked.

"Well I won't be going to MY home." Danny replied with a mischievous smile.

"He would be roadside-romeoing infront of Olivia's house." Avinash appeared from nowhere, and hooking his arm around Danny's neck pretended to choke him.

"Seriously?" Mia looked astonished.

"Actually I stay in a hotel close to her house." He smiled at Olivia, who was sitting on the floor cross-legged across him.

"He follows me from a distance when I go to the farmer's market or grocery shop." She blushed, "so that my mother, who usually accompanies me, doesn't spot him."

I felt envious of them. Mia and Fatima, Mandy and Natasha, Olivia and Danish, each of them had a unique love story. The bond they shared was so strong that you could feel its glow radiating from far away.

"And on the rare occasions, during which her parents leave her alone in the house, I invite myself to her place." Danish crawled up to his girlfriend and hugged her tightly.

"And then what do you do?" I was curious.

"Exactly the thing, Avi won't do before marriage." Danish said winking at Avinash.

Avinash rolled his eyes, settling on the spot Danish just vacated between Zoravar and Mandy. Even though it was cold, yet the thick carpet of the gymnasium, made sitting on the floor bearable for us.

"So you never go home?" Junaid asked surprised by this information.

"Yes I do go to Bhopal, my home, for Diwali. But the summers and winters I stay at the hotel near," Danny pulled Olivia's cheek to kiss her, "my baby's house."

Avinash's phone started to ring and a hint of worry crept on his face when he checked who it was.

"Excuse me guys." He got up and left before answering the call. I was sure, it was my least favorite person Dumbini on the other side of the line.

"You are coming tomorrow right?" Mia whispered. It was Sunday the next day and I was to meet her and Fatima at Dehradun for lunch.

"Ofcourse I will be going." I reassured her. Mandy and Junaid had bailed out due to soccer practice so it was only me. I was still not sure how I was supposed to go all alone, since Mia would be leaving tonight.