“Shreya likes you. Too much. Even though she doesn't know I was messaging her, she imagined you behind those messages. Wo shayad unn texts se affect bhi na hui ho Rohit. She's into you! Not the person who texted her. So there's no point in being stuck at her right.”

“Doesn't mean you go and propose her best friend!”

Kartik now looked at Rohit.

“What are you pissed at? Me giving up on Shreya or me dating Mansi?”

Rohit got quiet not having an answer. For the first time, he felt like he made a mistake by hiding his feelings for Mansi from Kartik.

“You know what! Mansi is a nice girl. And I think it's time for me to move on from Shreya now. She's never going to like me and I have to suck it up now. And now that I am dating Mansi, I might as well enjoy myself with my girlfriend now.”

That pissed Rohit off to no extent. He gritted his teeth and yelled before marching off.

“Do whatever the fuck you want!”

Kartik was surprised at Rohit's outburst. Could it be that he felt something for Mansi? No! He would have told Kartik if he did. Then why was he so mad?

Just as Rohit left Kartik alone, his phone rang. It was Mansi.

“Hey! I told Shreya! And I think she's not very happy with the news. Chance hai Kartik.”

That made him happy.

“Maybe the idea isn't too bad afterall. But Rohit behaved weird. He got too mad to know about it.”

“He did?”

Kartik frowned. Why did she sound happy to listen to that?

“Umm..yeah! He just stormed off to God knows where. Usse kabhi itne gusse mai nhi dekha maine. He had always the been the calm and composed one.”

Mansi was daydreaming. Maybe he too had feelings for her. Why else would he get angry knowing about their dating scenario.

Rohit on the other hand, had done a blunder in his anger. He had messaged Shreya agreeing to her proposal.

Only he realised it too late and when he opened her chat to delete the message, he saw that the message was already read and she had also replied to him.

He groaned and held his head. What was happening with his life?

Mansi was too happy to know about Rohit's reaction. She reached college with a big smile on her face.

Shreya was already present and she sat beside him. 

“Mansi?’

“Hmm.”

She said with that stupid grin still on her face.

“I asked Rohit if he'll be my boyfriend yesterday. He said yes.”

And that wiped her grin off. Boyfriend? Rohit? Shreya's? 

“You proposed Rohit and he said yes?”

“Ummhmm! So we're dating now right?”

The girl asked innocently. Mansi nodded absentmindedly. Her thoughts running wild. Rohit was dating Shreya. Her best friend. How would she ever live with them being all cutesy in front of her?

“Mansi? You're not happy?”

Shreya asked with a frown. Oh how could she ever be mad at this innocent girl!

“No! I'm very happy! I just-it’s so unexpected. But I'm so happy for you. Girl! You have a boyfriend now!”

She hugged Shreya who giggled. Mansi smiled and just then she saw the man in question enter in with his best friend.

Kartik waved towards them and she glared at him. It was him who said that Rohit had reacted weirdly right? It was him who gave her that hope.

They got closer to Mansi and Shreya's seat to make space for themselves since they were dating now.

Mansi got up and held Kartik's arm.

“Tum mere saath chalo. Kuch baat krni hai.”

She gritted out with a faux sweet smile. Rohit clenched his fists as Mansi dragged Kartik out. Shreya, on the other hand, sat blushing waiting for Rohit to acknowledge her. 

When he didn't and sat without uttering a word, she herself greeted him.

“Hi!”

She whispered with a shy smile and Rohit looked at her before realising how he'd accepted her proposal in a fit of anger. He cursed himself in mind again before smiling at her and returning her greeting awkwardly.

Mansi, on the other hand, was still dragging Kartik to the other end of the corridor.

“Kya baat hai? Aise kheench kyu rhi hai? Bolegi ab?”

“You said Rohit behaved weirdly on knowing about us dating! Phir usne Shreya ka proposal kaise accept kr lia?”

Kartik was surprised. What proposal?

“Kaisa proposal?”

“Uska boyfriend banne ka!”

“What?”

“Yes! They're dating now!”

Kartik got quiet. He looked down before looking at her.

“But you said that she was not happy knowing about us dating. Then how did she propose?”

“I don't know!”

Mansi cried.

“Why are you upset? You like him or something?”

He asked and she looked away.

“Nhi! But tera chance kam ho gaya na idiot. I don't want to date you forever.”

She made an eww face and he nodded in understanding.

“Fair point. But wo idiot Shreya ko kyu date kr rha hai?”

Rohit knew about Kartik's feelings. Then why? 

Oh well, you were the one who said you're moving on.

His conscience mocked and he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Let's see! Abhi class mai chalo.”

He said and moved ahead and Mansi moved behind grumbling in annoyance.

Kartik took a seat beside Shreya who had Rohit on her other side and Mansi sat beside Kartik. Kartik felt giddy sitting beside Shreya. 

Her fragrance invaded his senses and he could see and focus on nothing else. 

Rohit, on the other hand, wanted to bang his head somewhere. The girl sitting beside him was giving him shy glances every 5 minutes. And the girl he wanted, didn't even spare a glance at him. 

And why would she, thanks to his idiot best friend, she was dating him. He so wanted to kill Kartik.

A few days passed by. The four of them were always together. Kartik was subtly trying to get closer to Shreya while Mansi created opportunities for him. Because the sooner Shreya realised she might feel something for Kartik, the sooner she'll get Rohit.