When the air of Teacher's Day finally settled, it was time to see our baby project. This time, it wasn't just me and Akaay, but Shubh too.
Does Sir think we both can't do this?
Wait—does he think I can't do this?
Why did he call Shubh as well?
A flood of questions tore through my head, my world tilting as though one decision had shattered it.
So me and Shubh started working on the other side of the project while Akaay handled the main coding part. His fingers flew, tapping with the self-importance of someone who thought he owned the lab.
And then suddenly—Kavya and her friends strolled in, claiming with smug little smiles that they were "here for bunk."
Kavya drifted straight to Akaay, like a magnet. Their conversation pricked my ears even when I didn't want it to.
"But she is so good."
"I don't like her, I like someone else. I told you before."
"Why don't you give her a chance?"
"I don't want to. I am devoted to the one I love."
"Okay then, tell me the name of the girl."
"I won't. It's for her safety."
The calm in his voice startled me—the calmest I had ever seen him. Why doesn't he stay like this with me? Why only nonsense when he talks to me? My eyes stuck to them, a slow burn of jealousy crawling under my skin. Girl, maintain some distance, please.
Meanwhile, my hands betrayed me. I gripped the items in front of me so hard that they broke. Thankfully, nobody saw—pewwww, close save.
When Kavya and her friends left, silence fell heavily. And then, this guy—this guy—stopped working.
Anger surged in me, shivering through every nerve. AHHHHHHHH. Why is he so hard to deal with?
Shubh finally asked, patient but firm, "Bro, can't you complete this asap?"
"Huh? If you're in such a hurry, then why don't you do it yourself? You're not worthy of anything. Just a person who studies. And what did you even get by topping exams? You're still asking me to do the work." His tone was thick with ego, every word sharp as glass.
Shubh just listened. Silent. Absorbing the blow like it was nothing.
But I couldn't. I went near him and hissed, "Why are you putting yourself down for this guy? I don't like when someone talks to you like this—and especially him."
I don't know why I said it, but maybe my words worked, because Shubh's eyes hardened. He went straight to Akaay and pushed back, and soon enough, it turned into a fight, ending with Akaay back at the computer, working.
There's a saying in Hindi: "Laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahin mante." Rude people don't respond to soft words. And today I saw it come alive.
Because this guy—he is rude, self-obsessed, egoistic. He doesn't even listen to teachers. He doesn't respect anybody.
Then why? Why, despite all that, do I still have a soft side for him?
Why is it still him?