Being an Interim professor,Alina has her weekends off. She was walking towards her Driveway where some of her family cars were parked. Rest of them were neatly stationed in their Garage. The cars which were used frequently were positioned one after another in their Driveway including her Father's Bentley Mulsanne and Mum's Audi A8. Her sister used to study in Dubai,she recently came back to India..not sure of her future,probabaly settling here only. Aliya preffered driving her Mini cooper and behind all of them..was standing tall,her recently purchased Fortuner. Alina was going to meet her friends for a brunch to catch up on all the lost days when she didn't realised how unconciously she grabbed the keys of Fortuner.
Well she bought this Black Car only cause.....
Anyways,she was already running late and going back to grab keys for another car was too much off a hassle. She ignited the engine and started moving towards the exit door when she saw Aliya playing with ROCKY,their golden retriver in the Garden. Aliya waved at her to stop for a minute and Alina did.
"Hey di.." Aliya spoke as soon as Alina rolled her windows
"Aloo..I'm already running late,if it's not someth—"
"Di,just a minute please..I wanted to talk to you about something" Aliya said,not meeting her sister's eyes
"Is everything okay?" Alina asked with concern in her voice
"Yeah,everything's fine..it's just..." Aliya continued hesitantly
"You can talk to me about anything..just go for it" Alina rested her palm on Aliya's cheek
"I invited Ruhani to my Birthday party..Is that okay with you?"
Alina was taken a back with that question. Aliya's 20th birthday was getting grandly celebrated at their home,coming Tuesday. She remembered how Ruhani mentioned 'I'll see you at Aaliya's birthday' , the last time they met. At first she was surprised at the mention by Ruhani,at the fact that Aliya invited her but she also recalled the moment when Aliya met Ruhani and how she instantly took a liking to her,so she didn't pressed much on it.
"Yeah,I'm absolutely fine with it. Why did you ask?"
"You know,you have this secret and she is your student.This party is going to be huge,everyone big or small is going to be there so–"
"It's fine Aloo..I don't think she's going to tell anyone anyways"
Without waiting for Aliya to answer,she pulled her cheeks and rolled down on Driveway towards the road through the exit gate. Alina was on her way when she realised how she almost forgot that Ruhani knew her secret. She remembered how someone other than Aliya and her friends,who were more like a family,knew about her secret. She almost forgot all of it untill Aliya mentioned it again. Ruhani never refered towards it or commented on it unless she offered to help her with her stupid plan or to let her know about some creeps who followed her after college. She never blackmailed her or made her insecure even though she had Alina's biggest insecurity right in palm of her hands. Yet she never mentioned any of it. Why was Ruhani doing all of it? How was she getting benefitted from anything? Maybe not everyone did everything for benefit. And Ruhani out of all,doesn't seem like a person to take advantage of other's helplessness. That's what Alina has realised,after knowing Ruhani whatever and however much she did.
Alina was parking her car in the basement of Ambience Mall when someone tapped on her window.
The Thin Brunette was already arching an eyebrow when Alina rolled her windows.
"Since when did you drove a Fortuner?" The Brunette asked
"I didn't know that young girl impacted you to this extent?" A chubby tall woman followed the brunette right behind.
"Shanaya,Kashvi..Will you two shut the fuck up for a moment?" Alina opened the car's gate and stepped on the footress.
"So tell us,What's the reason for your new wheels?" Another woman with a starbucks latte in her hand makes her appearance.
Well Alina changed the car cause...you know..someone adviced her to lay low so she wouldn't catch people's eye with her extravagant choice of wheels. But here's the thing,Alina Oberoi never took anyone's advice. Not even once since her friends know her. But they didn't know her for that long. Few years ONLY. Few years as in past 22 years of her life.......ONLY. She was 24. Too bad,they missed on rest of the two years.
"For the change of scenery..I guess" Alina responded not meeting anyone's gaze
"For the Change of scenery or the change of heart,MISS OBEROI?" Shanaya teased her and Alina closed her eyes,rubbing her temples.
She was already regretting letting them all on the minor details of her life. But Alina knew,she won't be even smiling now,if it wasn't for them.
They all moved towards the third floor and settled in Pirates of Grill. Alina ordered a Fratelli and others ordered their usual Beers and Wine.
"So,What's new?" Shanaya stated as soon as she sipped her Beer
Everyone directed their gaze at Alina
"What? Ragini,you too?" Alina frowned
"Well,you are the most spicy gossip of the town yourself..so.."
"What do you guys wanna know?" Alina sighed,accepting her defeat
"How's the uni going?" Shanaya asked,all of their expressions softening at it
"All good" Alina replied with a blank face
"Alina,you are alright na?we are sorry..we couldn't do–"
"It's fine..I'm telling you guys" Alina replied plastering a smile on her face.
Her friends knew her for too long,Too long to immediatly know when she was lying and when she wasn't. But they knew,all of them could do nothing for her and everyone sitting there nodded in silence.
Kashvi read the room and changed the subject. "So,what about the girl..who caught your eye?"
"What are you–" Alina couldn't complete when Shanaya interrupted
"GIRLSSS AND ALINA.....AM I HEARING IT RIGHT??" Shanaya's eyes were widened and her jaw was nearly touching the table below her
"WAIT..So,you have finally agreed on dating women rather than just having Flings with them..???OH MY GODDD..I'M SO HAPPY..I CAN'T..OH MYYY" Ragini started bawling her eyes on Shanaya's collar. Shanaya held her tighter and sniffled on Ragini's head. Both the women were crying stupidly in middle of a Restaurant.
"Will you two stop being dramatic for God's sake???" Alina screamed
"But you finally–" Ragini managed between her sobs
"NO...There's no girl or woman..I don't know what Kashvi is talking about..So will you two please calm down??" Alina cupped her face with her palms.
Ragini and Shanaya glared at Kashvi.
"You know I'm talking about the girl..whose advice you are taking quite seriously nowadays" Ragini said moving her head towards Alina meeting her eyes
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Shanaya and Ragini both said unanimously.
"What are you guys talking about?" Alina asked absolutely knowing what and who they were implying to
"The one who stays on your mind for not so normal amount of time" Kashvi continued
Shanaya broke into a laughter at Alina's fake cluelessness. "Alina,you know we are teasing you about your favourite student"
"Yeah the one who took half of our groupchat on storm with Alina's voicenotes of how she invaded in her cabin,how she followed her,how the girl waited for one hour when she could have gone home,how she gave her choclates,how she's helping her without even asking,how she–" Ragini couldn't complete
"ENOUGH guys" Alina sighed while rubbing her temple again
Kashvi chuckled "Alina you do realize,you never even blabbered about any of your exe's as much as you do about this young girl"
"You guys know why I do it" Alina closed and opened her eyes
"Yeah cause apparently,father of this girl ended up in business ties with Mr Oberoi and she was invited to a family party" Ragini continued
"Not only that,Aliya invited her for her birthday and I saw Ruhani's Father into Dad's cabin as well. The only reason I share about her is to be aware,so she doesn't become a future problem triggering the situation I am in,That's it" Alina replied
"THAT'S IT?" Shanaya asked in a whisper
"What do you-" Alina couldn't complete
"Anyways,how does she look?" Kashvi asked
"You guys have seen her,The girl in that viral video..The skit.."
"Oh yeah,I have seen that video" Kashvi answered
Ragini's jaw dropped open for some reason. She looked at Alina who wasn't matching her gaze. "You mean it's that girl??"
"You know her?" Shanaya asked in curosity. Kashvi's expression asked the same
"Guys you know-" Alina tried to divert the question
Ragini was drunk at this point. "OH SHUT UP ALINA" she didn't let Alina speak and then continued.
"You guys didn't attended the night at Oberoi's remeber cause....you were in Malaysia fucking your small dick boyfriend Shanzy" Ragini pointed at Shanaya. No one stopped her cause that's who she was when she was drunk and honestly no one had the energy too. "And you kash,uhm..maybe you were dead that day"
"So,what I was saying ki there was this young girl crying and bawling her eyes in Hotel's washroom at 3am that night. Alina and I were passing through it. I didn't noticed but Alina stopped. Few minutes later she called me and asked me to wipe a random girl's teary ass. When I asked Alina,who she was and if she wants to why isn't she doing it herself..she walked away and passed a tissue box to me"
"When I went to that girl,I remembered that I saw her on the internet. I passed her some tissues but she smiled respectfuly and walked away. I was probably drunk and sleepy so it didn't crossed my mind to ask her again up untill now when you guys talked about it"
Alina wasn't meeting anyone's gaze and everyone's jaw were dead open. All three of them looked at each other and smiles tucked at their lips,making all of them chuckle at exact same time.
"What?" Alina asked
"Is she ugly?" Shanaya asked
"Wha–" Alina couldn't complete
"Is she ugly?" Shanaya asked again
"NOOO..I mean no,she isn't. Honestly,she isn't Hot or sexy as such but.."
"BUT?" Kashvi asked
"She definetely is pretty.That lazy ass doesn't carry herself well..but on the rare occasions when she do,she looks amazingly..beautiful. She never puts much of a makeup,one of the reasons being..she doesn't know how to..still the natural glow suits her well. Most of the time she is in a bun which compliments her face and glasses. Her back curves are mostly shaped even though I believe she hasn't been to gym since she was born. I have always seen her in ethnic or hoodies.Even though she dresses Boyish sometimes,she has got femininity to herself. One adjective that will describe her is 'cute'. The best flattery to her face is her smil...."
Alina stopped midway when she saw those three women staring at her with expressions which looked like surprise and confusion at the same time. She felt her face burning with embarassment.
"Alina you–" Ragini tried to speak
"I'm going to the restroom" Alina stood up not waiting for a reply.
She went to the washroom and checked her Watch. It was 3.30 pm. At 4pm was Talent hunt in the university today. Ruhani was going to be there. But why was Alina thinking about it? Why was Alina thinking about her? Ruhani was her student. Why did it mattered if Ruhani was winning or losing or..
Her phone beeped. It was AVIRAJ
Alina sighed and closed her eyes. She didn't picked up her phone at the first few rings. The phone got cut. It rang again. Alina picked on the second ring
"WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK THE PHONE EARLIER?" Aviraj spoke as soon as Alina picked up the phone
"I was with my friends"
"SO?"
"I was talking to them and-"
"YOU DARE PICK MY PHONE LATE NEXT TIME"
"I'm sorry"
"COME MEET ME"
"I can't,I'm with my friends–"
"I SAID COME MEET ME"
"I'm meeting them after days and–"
"BOLA NA,AAKE MIL ..CHUTIYA AURAT..FAALTU BAATEIN NAHI"
"I'm sorry..I'm..I'm coming"
"BUY A CONDOM ON THE WAY"
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