It was night time and there were a lot of men and boys around. They met Priyansh and Muskan and greeted the two.

"Saath rehna teeno!"

Raghav said, looking at the three girls. They nodded and all of them made entry at the registration desk.

They took their slot and the game started. Priyansh won the game and everyone sat down to just have some drinks.

"Tu toh nhi peeyegi? Bacho ko allowed nhi hai."

Priyansh teased Nitara. She scowled and hit his arm.

"Bachi nhi hu mai. I'm an adult. 21 saal ki hu."

She boasted making everyone laugh. Yuvan too smiled seeing her smiling after so long.

"Ignore these guys! They are assholes."

Muskan said and Aashvi nodded.

"Haan! Hum hai na. Have whatever you want."

"Aap dono best ho. Pagal hai ye sab."

Nitara said hugging Muskan and Aashvi. Aashvi handed her a beer. Nitin looked worried but calmed a little when Aashvi assured him.

Aashvi wanted to use the washroom and Nitin escorted her since they didn't want the girls to go alone anywhere.

"Saala! Chance nhi chhodega ye."

Raghav commented and then realised that Nitara was sitting there. She looked at him with a frown and asked.

"Kaisa chance?"

"Nothing. Pagal hai ye. Kuch bhi bakta hai."

Priyansh covered with a chuckle but Nitara narrowed her eyes at them.

"Muskan di? Aapko pata hai na. Kya baat hai?"

Muskan looked conflicted. How could she lie to this sweet soul?

"Thik hai. Ab aap log aise kroge na. Koi saga nhi hai mera."

She said dramatically and Raghav sat beside her.

"Aisa nhi hai. Pr Nitin ne abhi kisi ko bhi batane se mana kia hai-"

"Ab mai kisi (anyone) ho gyi na. Thik hai thik hai."

He draped his arm around her shoulder and said.

"Arre tu toh sabse pyaari hai. Lekin promise kr Nitin ko nhi batayegi ki maine bataya."

Nitara nodded and Raghav spoke very slowly.

"Nitin Aashvi ko date kr rha hai kuch mahino se."

Nitara gasped so loud that they were sure even their neighboring seat heard it clearly.

"Mujhe school time se lagta tha ki kuch doubt hai. Lekin bhut time lagaya bhaiya ne. But I'm so happy! I love Aashvi di!"

"Haww Niti! Merko nhi?"

Muskan asked and Nitara hugged her immediately.

"Aapko bhi."

Everyone laughed and Raghav sighed in relief. Nitin and Aashvi came back after a good 20 minutes with Aashvi blushing.

They took their seats and Nitara observed them all evening.

"Kya hua? Aise billi ki tarah kyu ghoor rhi hai?"

Nitin finally asked when they were sitting for dinner.

"Kitne kharab ho aap. Aur aap bhi."

She said pointing towards both Aashvi and Nitin.

"Aap dono mai se kisi ne mujhe bataya nhi ki aap dono date kr rhe ho."

Aashvi choked on her own spit and Nitin glared at Raghav.

"Kya! Maine kya kia?"

He asked and Nitin.

"Saale! Achhe se jaanta hu mai tujhe. Teri hi chonch (beak) kaabu (control) mai nhi rehti."

"Par thik hai. Maine maaf kia. Lekin only because I love Aashvi di. I approve bhaiya."

She said dramatically making Aashvi laugh and Nitin bow his head in mock gratitude.

"Thank you devi. Aapke approval ke bina kya krta mai."

She raised her hand blessing him and everyone chuckled again.

The day was spent well, and thankfully for Nitara she didn't have many encounters with Yuvan again. He, on the other hand, was even more restless than before.

Why was he so desperate to clear the misunderstanding when she seemed to be doing just fine. Maybe she was even moving on. But why did the thought bother him?

He was on a round in the hospital when he saw her laughing with a boy who seemed like he was a student himself. He saw how the boy looked at her and knew that he was interested in Nitara. But the way she was laughing openly with him didn't settle well with him.

"Nitara! Come with me. I need to discuss your assignment."

He said the first excuse that came to his mind and started walking to his cabin. Nitara knew he had no assignment to discuss because there wasn't any she submitted but she still followed him.

He shut the door of the cabin behind her and turned to her seriously.

She too looked him dead in the eye.

"Who was that boy?"

She raised her eyebrow at his question and asked sarcastically.

"I thought we were discussing my assignment sir. I didn't know he was the assignment."

Yuvan pinched the bridge of his nose and took a step closer to her.

"Nitara! I'm serious. Kaun tha wo?"

"Senior tha."

"And? What did he want from you?"

"Nothing. I asked for his help."

He looked at her with a serious look and said.

"And why were you laughing with him?"

"I don't know how that concerns you sir but he cracked a joke and I laughed. That's the normal procedure when someone cracks a good joke."

She didn't want to take the wrong impression by assuming that he was jealous. But why was he inquiring so much?

"Listen! You don't know boys. I do. That guy! He's interested in you. Stay away from him Nitara-"

"Kyu sir? Even if he is interested in me, I don't mind. And before you say that all this is a distraction, let me clear sir. Love and feelings could be distractions for you, not for me sir. Unlike some people mujhe apne personal aur professional lives alag rakhni aati hai. Aaj tak bhi apni feelings ke saath grades aur career handle krti aayi hu. Aaj ke baad bhi kr skti hu. Me loving someone, having feelings for someone or getting into a relationship will not affect my career sir. Thank you for your concern though."

She said and moved out of his cabin leaving him speechless. What was this feeling? Why did he feel like he lost something he didn't even have? He missed how open and chirpy she used to be with him. He missed her when she was enjoying with everyone else on the bowling night but didn't even glance at his side.

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