"Hey, where are you going?" Rohit asked me just as I was about to leave the house. He was sprawled across our couch, watching television and he has been watching it from eleven in the morning (that's when he woke up) till now, that is, six in the evening. Our parents had gone out as it was a public holiday.

"Just meeting my friends," I answered, turning to him.

"Isn't your school starting tomorrow?"

"By 'school', if you mean college, then yes, it is starting tomorrow."

"Won't you meet them tomorrow then?"

"Yes...but we are having a get-together before college starts...but, wait! Why am I even explaining this to you?" I said, turning back to the door and opening its latch.

"I am your elder brother."

"You have never acted like one before."

"You should be taking your words back if you want me to drop you off to your 'school' tomorrow."

"Wait...what do you mean?" I asked, curiosity etched on my face.

He held up his hand and there, clutched in his hand, was a white card.

"Is that your-"I began to say, leaping forward but he interrupted me and said, "Driver's license."

"When did you get it?"

"Today morning."

I tried to snatch it away, but he kept it secured in his hand.

"You can't see it!" he shouted.

"Why?" I asked, pouting.

He blushed pink and I immediately, knew the reason.

He was my brother, after all. Sixteen years I have lived with him.

"Show me your sexy photograph," I said, grinning.

"It’s not because of that-" he began to say and his grip on the card loosened.

Noticing that, I snatched it away and before he could leap at me, I looked at his photo and started laughing.

Like hell.

You know that laughter, where you are bent over and you can't breath and you are holding your stomach with one hand and with the other, you are just hitting your thigh and no sound is coming from your mouth. Well, I was having one of those laughs.

Rohit snatched the card away and scowled at me.

"Hahaha! Very funny!" he said.

But again, I was laughing so much that I had turned deaf, literally.

"You...you...look like a... frog... pressing his face... against a window...with his nose turned up!" I said through deep breaths and giggles.

"Don't you have to go?" he asked me, scowling.

"You stopped me!" I retorted, wiping tears from my eyes.

"Get out!" he ordered.

I sighed and breathed another laugh before heading to the door.

"Good thing is that your license will never be cancelled, nor will you be fined for rash-driving or anything like that," I said, grinning widely.

"Why?!"

"The police will be laughing so hard when they see your license that they will just forget to fine you," I replied, through another round of laughter, walking out through the door.

I shut the door quickly when I saw a pillow charging towards me.

***

"Kohli took the game completely this afternoon," Soham commented.

Soham has been my best friend since I started learning alphabets. We have gone to the same playschool, the same high school and now, the same college. I know him like the back of my thumb, and he knows my every secret and every deep fear, and he regards them like it was his own. He is like the brother I never had.

Oh, wait! I do have one.

But Soham has always been different. He knows me so well that he can read my mind like I can read his. Yes, we are pretty close.

"Told you so!" I jeered at him

"Life is not the same after Sachin retired," Jeremy mumbled.

Jeremy was the giant of our group, like literally. He was six feet or something because I look like a Lilliputian in front of him. He was the 'glass-is-always-half-full' kind of person. By that I mean, he is always optimist, no matter what!

For example, even if a tsunami with heavy rain and strong winds breaks in, I am sure he will say, "Hey guys! Don't you, worry! Just hold your umbrella really tight and we will go out and enjoy the rain. Or, wait, maybe better, what about fishing?"

He loves to bake a lot, more than what an ordinary girl bakes and his cupcakes and cookies are really amazing! Though he has a brain of a goldfish, he has a heart of a giant! We first talked in fifth standard but grew close pretty soon.

"You mean cricket," Shreya corrected.

Shreya was the calm and composed one of us lot. She was really pretty too. She has a lot of patience (unlike me), is the soft-spoken one (unlike me), is so non-clumsy (unlike me) and loves her life (again, unlike me!). So, overall, she was really, really unlike me, but she was one of my best friends too since a long time.

"Well, we do love it more than girls," Siddhant jeered while Soham and Jeremy high-fived him.

Siddhant was the 'Mr. Typical Guy' of our group. He was lazy, arrogant, careless, impatient and loved cricket like crazy. He was really honest and spoke his mind. I loved that trait of his.

For example, if you wear your birthday dress and ask him how you look in it, don't expect him to praise you, he will just say something like, "You look like a frog!"

Hello, speaking with experience, here.

But he was really sweet, trustworthy and cared a lot about his friends. Soham and he are neighbours and partners in crime ever since he shifted from Bangalore to Mumbai when we were in second grade or something. He has been my friend since then, too.

Oh, by the way, Shreya and Siddhant have been dating for the past one year and ten months.

So, when they say, 'opposites attract', it actually applies to some cases.

Shreya glared at him and he looked down.

"Indian boys and cricket," Tanya mumbled, rolling her eyes.

Tanya has been my chuddie-buddy since we were toddlers!

Okay, I promise never to use that term, 'chuddie-buddy', ever again!

She has been my partner in crime for everything. Basically, she was the female version of Soham but just closer to me than him. We have known each other since we were three that makes our bond even more special. She loves painting and is interested in everything related to art.

"Where's Nimmy?" I asked looking around in my little pack of friends.

Nimisha, also known as Nimmy, was the 'tom-boy' of our group. We both fight, a lot. Mostly because our opinions on almost everything was always completely different. But we are still great friends. Her favourite hobby was to flirt with boys, and they find her to be fun and attractive.

"She said she would be here in five minutes," Soham replied.

"Oh! There she comes," Tanya said.

We all turned towards where Tanya was pointing.

"Who is that with her?" Shreya asked.

Nimmy waved at us and we all waved back. I couldn't see her, nor could I see her friend. All thanks to the mighty Jeremy standing in front of me.

Within seconds, Nimmy was standing in front of us. She gave us all a huge grin and stepped aside. There standing behind her was a messy-haired guy, with chocolate brown eyes, who looked really familiar.

My jaw practically hit the floor when I recognized him.

"Hey, guys! This is Arnav Malhotra. I met him in the tennis court, this morning. He is new to the city. Thought I might introduce him to you people, at the least," Nimmy said, glancing at Arnav. Arnav waved at all of us. I tried my best to hide behind Jeremy.

My entire group responded by saying a 'hi' or a 'hello' back except me. It was all said so randomly that it sounded more like noise than actually greeting someone.

"Okay, let me give you a quick introduction of everybody, Arnav. This is Tanya. She is amazing in art," said Nimisha pointing to Tanya and they both exchanged a 'hi' with a smile. What was really interesting that Arnav didn't look at Tanya again. I mean, every normal testosterone-charged boy, looks at her and gives her a once-over and goes 'whoa!' But he looked interested at something else or somewhere else or somebody else. He was interested in who was standing behind Jeremy.

Wait, that was me!

Remember when I said that I was terrible at finding hiding places? Well, here you see another proof!

"That's Shreya and Siddhant," Nimmy said pointing to the duo. Shreya waved back at Arnav while Siddhant went forward to exchange a brisk handshake with that eye-contact in which boys greet each other for the first time. It was almost like they were summing each other up. I think Siddhant really liked Arnav because he actually smiled at him after the handshake and said, "Welcome to our group!" which was not what we saw every day. He was really possessive of our group and found anyone as a 'trespasser' worthy of 'prosecution' if they tried butting in our conversation.

"And they both are dating," Nimmy continued, grinning. Arnav grinned, too.

"Gee, thanks," Siddhant murmured, rolling his eyes. "What is with you and announcing our relationship status every time you introduce us to someone new?" he asked Nimmy.

Nimmy grinned wider while Shreya blushed, looking down.

See, in India, we don't really go around telling who we are dating and all unless we want real attention towards us or something and Shreya and Siddhant were that kind of people, who really didn't want that many people to know about their relationship. Everyone in school suspected it but no one knew the details like the six of us knew it.

"Siddhant, Nimmy is right in doing so. It's almost like, "Hey! I am Soham and I am sixteen," for me and for you it is, "Hey! I am Siddhant and I am Shreya's boyfriend!" Soham joked and everyone laughed except me because I was too caught up in looking at Arnav, secretly. He looked amazing in his faded blue jeans and a simple grey T-shirt.

Wait! Did I just check out Arnav Malhotra and liked what I saw?

No freaking way!

I mentally slapped myself and thought about my new converses for something better to think about and to distract myself from Arnav.

Mental note: the more you try not to think about something, the more your brain is like, 'think about it! Just think about it! Just keep thinking about it!' and you are just like 'no! no! no! I don't want to think about it' but obviously your brain loves to put you into that situation! It's like revenge for all that math problems you made it solve and then later, blame it for doing it wrong.

"That's Soham. And, uhm., he is good for nothing," Nimmy continued and my heart throbbed harder. I would be next.

Soham gave him a friendly salute and Nimmy a not-so-friendly glare and everyone laughed except me (hey, déjà vu) because I was still trying hard to hide behind Jeremy and still trying to stare at Arnav secretly (okay, brain, I am sorry for every torture I put you through! Could you please stop doing that?).

If Siddhant had accepted Arnav, then Soham really had no problem with him, either.

I would be next, I thought, and I was not very excited about me being introduced to him.

"And that's...Jeremy move!" Nimmy shouted.

Jeremy growled before moving himself away and there I stood with no armour in front of the devil.

"That's Trisha-" Nimmy said but before she finished her sentence, he came forward and said, "Trisha! Hi! Told you we will meet again."

"Wow, someone's popular here!" Soham mumbled in a dull sarcastic tone, eyeing Arnav up and down. Obviously, he didn't enjoy the very enthusiastic 'hello', Arnav gave me. He got very possessive about me and I would happily blame him for the reason I've been single ever since I was born. It's like his official duty to repel every guy away who would take an interest in me more than as a friend.

He was about to hug me, but I backed off, immediately, while the entire group went 'Oh!'

Arnav looked confused.

"Arnav, Trisha doesn't like to hug boys." Nimmy said, helping me out there and knowing my infamous 'hugging policy' very well.

"What do you mean?!" Arnav asked.

"Well, she is the 'virgin Mary' of our group!" Jeremy joked.

"I would like to put that in a better way. I am just loyal to my future husband," I said, defending myself.

"Oh, please!" the entire group groaned in unison.

"But she hugs me!" Soham said, coming forward.

I lifted up my knee and kicked him between his legs and he groaned in pain, clutching it as the girls laughed and the boys made ugly faces as they too felt that pain.

"That was an example proving that Trisha Shetty will always remain a virgin," he groaned clutching his centre.

"No that was an example of how you are never going to have any 'Soham juniors' in the future," I replied, grinning at him and crossing my arms.

Everyone cooed and clapped, and I relaxed, glad to find that the topic of discussion had diverted from my 'hugging policy'.

"Well, with that stunt of yours, you will have company in 'virgin forever club', Trisha!" Siddhant said, grinning.

But, obviously, they wouldn't let me off the hook, so fast.

"Wait! Arnav, have you met Trisha before?!" Shreya asked him.

Thank you, Shreya!

At least someone truly loves me in this group and cares about the fact that I find my 'hugging policy' a really difficult and uncomfortable topic of discussion.

But, wait!

Oh, my fudge cakes!

She didn't save me!

She just tossed me from the frying pan into the fire!

Wow, great, she hates me more than anyone else in this group!

Mental note number two: find better friends!

Everyone nodded their heads, curiosity etched on their faces and looked at both of us. I really didn't want to tell my friends that I have met Arnav before, and I didn't know why. Maybe I feared that he would tell them about the makeup woman and cameraman incident (honestly, it still haunts me at night) or about that little incident behind the bush or about that incident under the table. They were my friends, alright, but they would tease me till death, even when I would be lying on my death bed. Funny that Arnav and I met just two days ago, and I had so many stories to tell my future grand kids.

Wait, I meant my grandkids and not Arnav and mine, if you know what I mean.

Wait, did I just say that?!

God, what's happening to me?!

"We met in a wedding, day before yesterday," Arnav said, bringing me back to reality from all that 'mental battles' I've been having recently.

"So, are you both cousins or something?!" Nimmy asked.

"No!" Arnav and I both screamed at the same time. My friends responded to that outburst by raising their eyebrows and smirking in their own way, looking back and forth between us and grinning at each other.

Mental note number three: scratch out mental note number two and replace it with, 'find better friends as soon as possible!'

"I was Sanju, 'the groom's' neighbour and Trisha was the bride's 'third cousin or something'," Arnav said. Obviously, he hadn't forgotten the conversation we had that evening and obviously, he would keep teasing me for the rest of my life that I did not remember the groom's name nor the relation I shared with the bride.

Okay, when I put it like that, I sound like I have the brain of an ostrich.

The entire group went 'oh!' and I just looked down at my sneakers. Tanya nudged me on my side and when I looked up; she was wiggling her eyebrows and pointing towards Arnav with her eyes. I glared at her.

"So, you guys hit it off immediately?" Siddhant asked, smirking.

I glared at him and everyone except Arnav and me, were trying to hide their laughter (at least now I had company in 'I-didn't-find-that-funny' group).

"So where are you from, Arnav?" Shreya asked.

"Delhi."

"Isn't that the capital of India?" Jeremy asked, scratching his head.

"No! It's the capital of Afghanistan!" Arnav said, feigning shock.

"Oh! You poor kid! It must have been hell out there," Jeremy said, pulling Arnav into his famous bear-hug.

We gave Jeremy funny looks when he retreated from Arnav. We could only hope that he was not serious.

We always worry about this guy.

"It's India, you idiot!" Soham said, smacking Jeremy on his head.

"Ouch!" Jeremy screamed like a girl, before rubbing his head. "Whatever, you little nerd!"

"Yeah! I am freaking Einstein to know that Delhi is the capital of India!" Soham said.

"Is it?!" Jeremy asked Arnav, making an innocent face as if he expected Arnav to tell the truth.

Arnav grinned sheepishly and Jeremy, still looked confused.

"So, tell me more about you, Arnav?" Soham asked, crossing his arms.

"Well I am the only child. My parents are business partners, so most of the time they are not at home and I live in 'Villa Residency'," Arnav said.

"Isn't that the richest complex here?" Shreya asked.

"Yeah!" Jeremy said, fist-pumping the air. "The next party is at Arnav's house."

We all laughed.

"Don't mind him. He just escaped from the 'Agra mental asylum'. Arnav, the next time you go to Delhi, please drop him off there," Soham said matter-of-factly and we all grinned once again while Jeremy scowled at Soham.

"Okay, I am hungry! I am going to Shiv vada pav Wala. Anyone coming?" Nimmy asked.

"Who is he?" Arnav asked confused as hell.

"It’s not a person. It's a shop where they sell vada pavs and lot more of Mumbai street food," Nimmy said matter-of-factly.

Arnav nodded his head in understanding while we all shook our heads making some or the other excuse for not wanting to go across the street to that shop.

"Well whatever...you guys want anything?" Nimmy asked.

We all nodded our heads to that, and everyone just stated out their favourites of the street food. Nimmy glared at all of us.

"Oh! I'll come! I want to see more of this 'Shiv vada pav wala'" Arnav said.

"Thank you, Arnav! You are so sweet unlike many others!" she said.

And before I could stop myself, I exclaimed, "I will come too!" and immediately bit my tongue when all of the others game me funny looks as if I had just grown three heads.

I have never, ever stepped up to go to that shop even when I would be so hungry that I could eat my own arm and there would be no one to do that favour for me. I'd rather die of hunger than meet that scrawny rude old guy who ran the store.

And here I was, offering to walk down that street to that crowded store with all that noise which makes my headache.

I stared at Arnav Malhotra who was giving me his trademark smirk, his hands casually buried in pockets as he leaned on a bike.

Oh god, what was this guy doing to me?

"Which college, by the way?" Shreya asked Arnav as the others continued to look funnily at me.

"Oh! He is in S.A.P too!" Nimmy squealed and everyone, finally turned away from me to high-five him while my jaw practically hit the floor again.

If anyone saw me at that moment, they would see a girl gaping like a helpless idiot with eyes as wide as huge saucers staring at a guy like he had just landed from Mars and asked her the address to her house!

This can’t be happening!

This so can't be happening!

Oh god, why are you doing this to me?

And yet my heart was beating wildly when I looked at him and he winked in return.