Centerfold

2. Splendid Fest

Amara's POV

Have you ever seen a strawberry in a bikini? Well, guess what? I'm looking at one right now. The way those tiny seeds on her body just enhances her beauty. The way her green bush of a head sways with the breeze. I was tempted to befriend the beauty, I found myself walking upto the fruit and just when the fruit was about to turn-

?'There lived a certain man in Russia long ago

He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow

Most people looked at him with terror and with fear

But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear'?

WHAT THE ACTUAL BEAR!? A BIKINI-CLAD STRAWBERRY, WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG WITH ME, I JUST THIRSTED OVER A FRUIT. EYE-

You know what? I need some more sleep

I groaned and turned on my back to turn off my alarm clock which was still blasting with Rasputin and then relaxed when the music stopped and just like that, I went back to sleep again.

15 MINUTES LATER

I jumped out of my bed and rushed to the bathroom to freshen up and selected a simple but cute outfit for the day. A cute pink blouse paired with jeans.

I'm not a fan of makeup and stuff, I like to keep it simple with a kajal/eyeliner or maybe a lip balm, that's it.

My hair is short but I managed to get a ponytail done and grabbed Lolo's key and my bag and hurried downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning, oldie" I kissed my dad good morning who was sitting on the breakfast table reading the newspaper.

"Good morning, sweetie and don't you think I look way too young to be called an oldie?" I just shook my head in amusement.

"Oldie? You're calling him an oldie? Didi please, he's trendy atleast, you're not, your taste is like a grandmother, you are the oldie here." said my little devil of a brother, Ayaan.

I'm sure my dad's ego inflated like a balloon, it's evident from his proud and subtle smile.

"Dad!!!" I whined, "You're on his side?? I'm your eldest daughter." I preached with a hand on my hip and he raised his hands in surender.

I turned back and discreetly showed the finger to my brother and then made my way to my mom in the kitchen to greet her.

After helping my mom with a few things in the kitchen, I went back to the dining room to see my sister dearest, Ahaana, walking down the stairs.

"Good morning didi...Wait, are you gonna go to college like that?"

Dad and Ayaan snickered and I stomped my foot glaring at them and they sobered up. I just shot another glare to Ahaana and sat down for breakfast, my mother came in, cupped my cheeks and then chastened them,

"Don't tease my child like that, okay?" I smiled enthusiastically but that smile soon dropped hearing her next sentence,

"I admit my baby has got grandma taste but hey, I don't see anything wrong with it" I just pouted and started digging into my breakfast.

"Oh diii, I wonder...who will fall in love with you" and I, being the mature woman that I am, showed her my tongue and continued eating.

"Shhh, I will allow her to date only when she attains the age of 40 and that applies to you too, Miss." All of us chuckled at his overprotective nature.

Love. Something I'm not familiar with. I mean, the romantic type of love, the one that is shared between two partners who are romantically involved. I say I'm not looking for a man or a relationship but that doesn't mean I'm not a hopeless romantic. It's not that I get jealous when I see couples in real life or on tv or like, I'm not yearning for it but a girl can imagine, right?

I read a lot of romantic books and each time I read one, I'm like 'hmm a boyfriend isn't a bad idea I guess' but then I snap back to reality and realise that such things exist only in books and I'm getting my hopes up for heartbreak and nothing, I'm doing perfectly well without any man.

I left for my college after bidding goodbye and stopped when I reached Tara's house, she was late today, when I asked her about the reason, she said, I quote,

'I want to impress Mr. Abhimanyu duh, who knows, maybe he'll bat his gorgeous eyelashes at me'.

I just stood there gobsmacked reconsidering my decision to ever befriend her but I guess it's too late and then I teasingly asked her-

"What about Aydin?"

Aydin is her neighbour with whom she is hopelessly and irrevocably in love with ever since he moved into this neighborhood, 3 years back.

She never mustered the courage to confess it to him, she doesn't want to disappoint her parents because her parents are very strict and orthodox, they are not in favour of love marriages and definitely not supportive of inter-caste marriages.

She tried to move on and let it go thinking she'd soon forget him, referring to him as a silly crush and stuff but then she realised she's so deep into it now that nothing can be done.

She just shrugged her shoulders and told me,

"I don't know what to do, Amara. Amma was telling me that they were looking for a groom for me, I tried convincing them but they paid no heed and told me that I am not getting any younger, Rishabh tried convincing them too because I'm too young for marriage but all they said is that I can get engaged and then carry on with my studies till I attain the perfect age for marriage."

Rishabh is Amara's elder brother and he loves his baby sister very much. He always supports her in everything and helps her with anything, she just gotta flash her puppy eyes at him and he gives in to her every demand, I love the bond they share, but it doesn't mean she told him about Aydin, she's too scared to do that.

"Don't worry, Tara, everything will get sorted, for now, focus on your studies. Everything will fall into place at the right time, okay? Cheer up."

Soon, we reached our college and started organising everything.

Finally, it was time for Mr. Abhimanyu's arrival. A black Mercedes rolled in in front of our college and a man with a powerful aura surrounding him stepped outside.

He removed his shades and I , for the first time in my life, was mesmerized by someone's eyes, his eyes were a shade of hazelnut brown but it was somehow captivating and I had no words to describe how sinfully gorgeous he looked dressed in a black Armani suit, he looked elegant.

Before I could drool over him some more, A bouquet was shoved into my hands and I snapped out of my reverie but I was pushed forward by someone and me, being the clumsy brat I am, somehow managed to get my right leg tangled with my left leg and fell face first into the ground with the bouquet.

I groaned and realised-

I embarrassed myself in front of the college again. I've had many embarassing moments recorded in this college, in fact, I hold the highest record for a person with the most number of embarassing moments, but this time, a bonus, in front of a sinfully handsome CEO of a firm, I just love my life sometimes.

The students who were assembled there to greet the guest ended up laughing at me and why would they not laugh? I had put up a pretty great show with my clumsy ass.

I was picked up by two strong arms and I screamed loudly because I didn't expect anyone to pick me up...only to realise I shrieked like a banshee right into the ears of Mr. Abhimanyu Arora, who now had a scowl on his face because of my melodious shriek, I sobered up and whispered a sorry while he just stared at me with that scowl still present on his face.

I bent down to pick up the bouquet only for my head to hit a rock, I winced and saw that my head bumped with Mr. Abhimanyu's head who also had his head bent down to pick up the bouquet which was not a bouquet anymore and now both of us were rubbing our head due to the pain.

Mr. Abhimanyu just closed his eyes and took a deep breath while I, stood there with bated breath, watching his reaction and my class teacher's reaction who had her palms joined together and eyes closed whispering prayers and from my peripheral version, I saw my dean, who was sweating profusely.

I could hear some laughter and gasps. Where are those sick idiots of mine when I need them? I bet, even they would be laughing at my expense. Bloody hell.

I tried to telepathically communicate Tara and- guess what? No, she didn't show up.

Telepathy, my arse.

I closed my eyes in embarassment hoping that the earth would swallow me. At this point, I don't even care if I miss Bridgerton's second part, I just want to disappear from the face of this misery named Earth and college. Goodbye Harry Styles. Goodbye Michele Morrone. Goodbye Chris Hems-

I heard my Dean clear his throat. I snapped out of my 'not gonna happen' thoughts and handed over the bouquet that doesn't look like a bouquet anymore to him, Mr. Abhimanyu just smirked in amusement and I just wanted to go back inside my invisible shell because of my stupidity, I scolded myself and then meekly welcomed Mr. Abhimanyu,

"Umm I'm sorry, our warmest welcome, Sir, ple-"

Mr. Abhimanyu cut me off and said, "A very warm welcome indeed".

I cursed my fate again before moving out of the way so that the staff could escort him to the auditorium upstairs.

I had to then ignore all the stares and rush towards the auditorium for the welcome speech and I had to reach there before them.

Thankfully, I reached the auditorium in one piece. Everyone soon assembled in the hall and there Mr. Abhimanyu was greeted with a bouquet that looked like a bouquet this time and while doing so, he looked at me and smirked, I just flushed and looked away.

So damn embarassing.

It was time for the welcome speech. Heaving a deep breath, I stepped into the dias.

I ended my speech by inviting Mr. Abhimanyu to take over the microphone and my arm slightly brushed his. I don't know why I took notice of that but I was thankful, for I didn't stumble back, that would've been a hatrick.