Chapter 12: Chapter 12

“Do you guys have something going on?” asked Vaidehi one day, out of the blue.

“What?”

“Do you guys have something going on?” She repeated before adding, “Punit and you?”

“What do you mean?” Ankita was surprised.

“Well, people are talking.” She shrugged.

“About what?”

“About you guys... that you are together most of the time and pretty much have... you know... something going on.” As much as she was open and friendly with Ankita, she was cautious enough to not cross the line. As of now, she wasn’t sure how she’d take being romantically paired up with a guy and stuff.

“In the sense? That we guys are dating and stuff?” Ankita made a sour face.

“Well, yeah, kind of.” Vaidehi shrugged. She was a bit fidgety and hoped that Ankita wouldn’t blow her lid.

Instead, she scoffed, amused at what was floating around.

“What? Why’re you laughing?” asked Vaidehi.

“So, that’s what this was all about,” she chuckled. Ankita was pretty level-headed for a kid. Most of the time, she behaved and sounded like an adult, which was amusing to the real adults, which annoyed her. She settled down on one of the stone benches under the tree. It was lunch hour and they were loitering about on the grounds.

“What?”

“You know, people have been giving me, giving ‘us’... weird looks these days. And even saying weird stuff. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Now I get it. People think that we’re... like you said, having something going on.”

“So, is there?”

“Hell, no! What’s wrong with you? We’re together for a reason, to get stuff done and not to pucker around.”

“It’s all because of that song,” Vaidehi informed.

“What? Why? It was a beautiful song.” Ankita laughed, amused.

“It is, but people believe that you really wanted him to sing it for you.”

“What!!? Bullshit!” Ankita scoffed.

Vaidehi studied her. She did indeed look a bit upset. “Don’t take it to your head,” she consoled, “just be cool. People say anything and everything. You know that.”

Ankita didn’t look at her. She was busy trying to cool down while watching a bunch of kids chasing each other on the grounds.

“I’ll see you around, I’m off to meet Ms. Devika.” Saying this, Vaidehi left Ankita to herself.

Ankita in the meantime was lost in thoughts. Did I really want him to sing that for me? Now that people were talking, she was confused about the way she really felt about him. She did find him cute, adorable, and funny. But was that just it, or did she really feel something more?

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