You're Mine, Remember?

14.Psst..Shut up

"Are you going to shove me away too?"

She asked her voice unclear. She knew she couldn't expect much, but still somewhere a part of her heart was expecting something else.

Something dirty, provocative..

Shivam had all the intention to but didn't let it reflect on his face. 

And by all means, her question had caught him off guard too. He had witnessed a similar situation some years back and had made a complete of himself by uttering some kind of bullsh*t.

So to avoid any slip of tongue yet again, he smiled instead and shook his head in negation. "Friends are an exception though!" he walked towards her and picked the sip bottle from beside her and took few sips from it, all the while staring at her without blinking.

Nidhi felt shy around him, as the mall incident flashed through her mind. She stared back at him and for a few moments, her eyes moved down, to his lips. It was funny how she could feel her heart skipping a beat, by just looking at his lips. There was nothing fascinating about them, they were thin, but appeared fuller and pinkish too.

And she felt a hunger seep through her. But for what or for whom, she had no idea as she looked back at his eyes, his confused eyes to be specific. And she quickly averted her eyes away from his face and cursed in her mind.

God, what was she thinking? Her cheeks had to turn pinkish. Was she really thinking of kissing this guy, who has recently turned into her friend from a mere bully? God, she was literally going bonkers, blame the guy who had her go out of her mind. She will be so dead once he gets to know what was she thinking about him and will regard her as a hormonal b*tch.

So the only wise thing she should have done, she did that. She snatched the sip bottle out from his hold and turned to the treadmill and swiftly getting on it. The only way to let these feelings go away from her mind was to distract this i***t mind of hers, so she set the speed on the treadmill and started walking, letting her body get ready for the quick running.

But seems like that was a bad idea as she felt Shivam come and stand beside her, observing her every move with calculative eyes.

After the interruption, Shivam didn't feel like going back to his work out. So instead, he decided to ask Nidhi about her personal life, so that he can use the information and formulate the next step for his plan.

He felt confused as he saw her looking at his lips, her eyes distant, almost looked lost. He also felt conscious as he had seen her checking him out. It was pretty normal for him having girls checking him out, but somehow Nidhi's gaze wandering over his chest and abdomen had him gulp down his saliva. Luckily he had tossed away that stupid feeling and thrown over his vest, covering himself from her.

He just hoped she hadn't seen the scar. Shivam felt that his pride would have gotten in danger, had she seen the scar, but from her expressions, he knew that he would have been mistaken.

Maybe, she did see it...

Sh*t, he'll be screwed for life if she tells anyone that he was a...

"Shivam, why don't you tell me about yourself?" Nidhi's voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned towards her with a frown.

What were they? 4 years old to talk about themselves?

"It's okay if you don't want to, but what friends are to supposed to share if not their likes and dislikes?" a thoughtful expression took over features as she kept walking, but her thoughts wandering elsewhere.

It was evident from her face. She was being that transparent!

'Huh good for me you weirdo, it's going to be a catwalk for me in my mission to take revenge from you' thought Shivam as he smirked internally.

"Ahh you are right. Well, I'm not much of an interesting person to be very honest. I like to study about Cars, that's the only passion of mine, and that's why I am here. And I'm an orphan too, so I don't have any family to talk about," he stuttered at the last part, which was a complete lie, but she need not have to know about it.

"That's it?" she knew the last part was a lie by the stuttering. But who was she to question it? She just wanted to know about his plans.

And it was getting difficult for her to fight off the attraction that she was feeling for this bully. She had to resist the temptation to look at his torso which was covered with a thin vest.

Shivam smirked at the effect he had her by the look she was staring at her with. She was openly ogling at him. "Like what you saw back then?"

She looked up, startled that she was caught. She just brushed it off with a wave of her hand. "I've seen better you know!"

Well, that was a lie, she knew. But he doesn't have to know about it.

Perfect. Now just have to play some cheesy lines and some rumors of my not so existing dating life. How will she know as she was not here only?

"Well, you can say that I have had my share of some casual flings. But there was nothing serious. Just passing flings."

She suddenly felt uneasy at the mention of his 'flings'. Here she didn't even talk to any boy except one or two instances. And this guy has had many encounters with girls.

"How many?" she asked, somewhat upset.

"10, probably 15. I don't really keep a count on such petty things. And yeah, that means not from this College. They are from another college or some of the other clubs. You know what I mean, right?"

Unable to answer, she just nodded. She suddenly felt ashamed. People from her age had their life so easily. They lived the 'normal' life which she always thought she will have too. But if only it could happen in reality.

Shivam saw a sudden change in Nidhi's demeanor as she looked down, picking at her nails. He could see that her hands had started to become fidgety.

He felt weird. Rather than laughing at the poor girl who was weird as hell, he was feeling sympathy for her.

This was bad. So bad. I can't feel sympathy for her. Not when it's HER. The Girl I'm going to take my revenge on!

"Ahh, What about You??" he asked, to reduce the awkwardness.

"Well, I've not received the privilege yet you know. In fact, you happen to be my first male friend!!" she exclaimed, with a smile on her face.

But somehow, to Shivam, the smile looked more like a forced one.

At this point, the situation had gotten way more awkward than expected. If only their conversation had taken an abrupt turn like that, he could have extracted more information from her, so he could use it for his revenge.

Nidhi's phone was a lifesaver as it vibrated at the right time. It was a message from her Gummy Uncle, saying that he wanted to meet her.

She sighed and waved a quick goodbye to Shivam, before gathering her belongings and exiting the gym.

And here Shivam cursed his luck yet again. He had such an awesome opportunity to gather information for his revenge plan.

Now enough was enough. He wasn't going to sway from his plan. He was going to put his plan to action, come what may.

-*-

Nidhi reached her room as she dumped her bag on the ground and pushed her tired body on the bed.

Thankfully, her Gummy Uncle sorted out her confusion, explaining that he was just a visiting faculty for 2 weeks and he was going to take some practice sessions for the seniors. 

That also meant that she needs to put her plan on hold.

 As she replayed the conversation in her head, she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

But almost 20 minutes later, she was abruptly disturbed from her beauty sleep as she felt some commotion in the room. As she drowsily rubbed her eyes, the scene in front of her forced her to groan silently.

That was Vivek, Arpita's boyfriend trying to talk to her, but she was not listening to him.

"Baby, How can you believe what others said and not your believe own Boyfriend? Don't you trust me? I swear I'm not cheating on you. I swear on our Love Please, trust me Baby."

"Enough Vivek, I think it's enough nonsense I heard from you. It's over between Us. You get it??"

"It's not over between us until I say so. I won't let it go this easily. And who's that b*tch that provoked you against me? I want to meet her myself and ask. If I find her allegations false, you both are going to regret this."

"Well, that b*tch is right here. So quit threatening your girlfriend you jerk. Or I must say, Ex-Girlfriend." Nidhi got up from her lying position on the bed and came face to face with the jerk. 

Oh boy, this guy seriously thinks he's smart enough to prove her eyes wrong. He's in for something really big. And well, he's asking for it as well.

"Hey, you!! What proof do you have that I cheated on her?? And who gave you the right to come between our relationship??" he roared, his face becoming red.

"I don't think I'm blind when I saw an almost naked but slut looking girl come out from your room, and you're waving her off like some love-sick puppy. The situation in which I saw you clearly explains what you did the night before. So why don't you get your cheating a** out of here?? Because last time I checked, this ain't your property." She taunted, as she calmly stood in front of him.

"You girl, you don't know what you are getting into, My Dad is one of the Trusties of this College. One complaint and you'll be out like the piece of dust you are." He barked, as he narrowed his eyes in disgust at her.

Oh wow, that will make my work a lot easier, I guess I should push more of his buttons so he makes sure he complains about me to his father, which ultimately will lead to me getting out of this hell hole.

"Shut Up Vivek. Don't talk to my best friend like that. Just so you know, if you complain to your father about her, I'll complain to your father about how you did drugs in the college premises just 3 weeks back. So don't even think about it. And as far as our relationship is concerned, there were never 2 people in this relationship. It was you, you, and only YOU in it. There was no me. You used to touch me without my consent, even if I felt uncomfortable. And you almost forced yourself upon me last time we had our movie date. Just because I denied your s****l advances, you turned to some other girl, just so you could satisfy your "needs"? Huh, you need to grow some balls and make sure you are true to your words. Bloody Jerk. Now get out before I call your Dad up. I hope you haven't forgotten that I am on very good terms with your Dad. So you better get out of my life once and for all. Don't worry about your Dad. I'll explain the reason behind the break-up." Arpita exclaimed confidently. There was no hint of fear in her voice as she reflected Nidhi's composure.

With an angry huff, Vivek walked out of the room, not before throwing a 'this is not over yet' look in Nidhi's direction.

Great, there goes my another free attempt in escaping the hell hole, Nidhi thought as her shoulders slumped and sat on her bed yet again.

Kavya, who had been the silent spectator, finally came to her senses as she made Arpita sit on her bed and quickly fetched out a glass of water for her. Arpita took the glass and finished it 3 large gulps.

"Best-Friend Huh?? When did that happen??"

Arpita looked up amused and laughed silently at the amused look on Nidhi's face.

"Well, aren’t we?? Since only close friends or Best-friends protect you from bad and cheating boyfriends, so I thought why not. Right?"

"Psst..Shut up. I don't do Friendships. That was just my curiosity for you that made me help you. Nothing else. Don’t get any wrong ideas."

"Yeah yeah. Whatever. This means I'll have your back the next time I get in trouble right."

Nidhi just shrugged and made her way out, sighing as she heard Arpita chuckle. 

"I'm sure you will"