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With time, people change, habits change, climate change, and the whole demography changes.

But, the devil never changes!

Dev - the one and only person who made sure that humiliation never left Arvika and her life. He was the one because of whom her personal, social, and mental life has always been on the limp crutches of her psyche, giving her wounds deeper than Mariana Trench.

Arvika deduced while exhaling out a large whiff of air with tears streaming down her orbs.

She was in her dorm's washroom, while Kavya was standing near the washroom's door, almost losing her breath as she too had to sprint behind Arvika after the cafeteria's scandal with Risha and her obnoxious behaviour.

"Arvika, you know how Risha is. She wants Bhaiya's attention a lot, that's why she humiliated you, not knowing how much importance you hold in Bhaiya's life. And, please don't blame him, yaar. Because the plan for the trip was not his idea, the whole college had decided for that, we had just asked Dev bhaiya to ask you out too. So, he asked". Kavya tried to persuade Arvika who was busy scrubbing the ink off the President's expensive shirt with a brush and surf excel bar in her hand.

(Bhaiya- Endearment for elder brother, Yaar - Dude)

"Leave this yaar, please." Kavya almost begged and strived to pull Arvika from her sitting position when Arvika threw an exasperated glance at her.

"Kavya, you knew how much I have dreaded a trip. How gruesome of an experience I had on my first and last trip. Still, you were making a plan for a trip? What was going on in your mind? Tell me? Are you even my friend? Or, Rohan means so much to you that you'll side him and his friend now?". Arvika pointed a finger at Kavya with her eyes blazing pure wrath.

It wasn't Kavya's sweet friend anymore but it was the voice of a distressed, orphan girl who, time and again had always got humiliation and deception in her life.

Kavya couldn't believe her best friend was questioning their friendship. Her features marred and she remarked, "Arvika, have you ever heard that story? That was in our English book in the 12th class. The man wanted to learn swimming but he feared water; 'what if he drowns, what if he dies' were always there in his mind yet he learned swimming by doing what? Going into that same water which intimidated him! Going deeper and deeper into it so that he could overcome his fear. There was also a very famous quote that he had said...umm...yes, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

"This is the fu*king reality, Kavya. Not some novel. Some wounds never die, they time and again resurface and are scraped brutally by life to give pain and humiliation. That guy is the reason behind my every affliction. He is the reason because of whom I have to hear insults. I hate him. And you know what? He can never change. He is still the bad boy who just wants to avenge me for god knows what reason". Arvika seethed in anger and started rubbing the shirt with more pressure.

Poor shirt, which was sustaining all the wrath of his master's lady love upon him.

"Arvika. Yaar. Why can't you overcome all your past fears? Tell me? Why do you always have to sulk about the past which is gone and will never return?"

Arvika smiled satirically and said, "Because history repeats itself, Kavya."

Arvika's reply agitated Kavya.

"Let's discuss it now. Because even I am done with your behaviour, yaar. Every now and then I have to bear your weird behaviour and tantrums. Listen Arvika. This Universe is made up of energy, both positive and negative. The more you think about negative things, the more the universe will work to get those negative energies attracted to you. For me, please let go of it. Please forget that something like that ever happened. I know that there must be some valid reason for what happened in the past." Kavya stated in a soft tone and pulled Arvika in a hug, consoling her dear friend with her warm clasp.

"This is not possib..." Kavya stopped her in between.

"You remember you're in debt to me? Once, you gave me a promise that I can ask anything from you? I think it's the right time to ask for it". Kavya solemnly spoke and Arvika stiffened at that.

What could she possibly ask!

"You'll complete your promise, right?" Kavya questioned her in a challenging tone and Arvika knew she couldn't back out now. Once she gave a promise, she'd complete it, anyhow. She nodded her head.

"You'll try to forget your past and start a new journey. You don't remember anything of the past. Dev Bhaiya is our president. And also, he has a crush on you. You only know this much about him, okay? You don't remember any scandals of the past, okay? You will be positive now," Kavya knew she was being extremely stringent but she had to do it. For her friend's sanity, for her happiness; otherwise, the negative feeling of the past would someday kill her best friend, entirely.

No one is perfect but the duty of a good friend is to make sure that her friend is happy, both inside-out and Kavya was just doing that.

"Sulking because of the past would give nothing but pain, Aru. A whole life is ahead to worry about. But your positive attitude can change anything. Seriously". Kavya presumed and pressed Arvika's soapy hands into hers.

Arvika was at a loss for words. Forgetting all these incidents was a big deal for her yet she would complete her promise. For her best friend.

"I don't know what to say. But I will try to be positive, I will forget all these things, Kavya. I will..."

Kavya didn't let her finish and made Arvika face her.

"From tomorrow, you'll start meditation? Ok? I have heard that meditation helps in calming our conscious as well as subconscious minds. With time, you'll forget every affliction that you have to endure. And who knows, you'll yourself bend on your knees and propose to Dev Bhaiya, after all, he is the most charming boy of our college," in the end, Kavya turned her tone a bit teasing earning a slap on her shoulder from Arvika.

"It was not his fault today, I overreacted I guess," Arvika pondered unhappily and then looked at a simpering Kavya. "What?" Arvika asked not to get a clue about Kavya's tantalising smile.

"Umm no. It was just your negative energy. Didn't you watch "Aspirants' '? I think you should take some inspiration from Abhilash. Instead of finding negativity in a thing, try to find the positive points of a thing. That way you'll discover more happiness and tranquillity in your life, Aru. Try it, dear bestie," Kavya suggested and pulled Arvika's chops, earning a light slap from her in return.

(Aspirants - TVF Aspirants is about the past and present of three best friends; Abhilash, Guri, and SK, who are UPSC aspirants. The past explains their UPSC Aspirant life in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, and their struggle to crack the examination, while the present examines their lives outside the Rajinder Nagar as adults. Abhilash was the one who used to be always irked and negative about his surroundings and environment. But life changed for him when he started seeing positive in everything).

Arvika only nodded and twitched her lips into a smile.

"So, you're coming to the trip? Right? The whole college is coming, yaar. Start your positive journey with a 'Yes' already, yaar!".

Arvika eventually agreed and it took no time for Kavya to lift her best friend up and squeal like a madwoman going gaga over some K-Pop star.

Before they could continue more of their banter, Arvika pulled out from the squealing spree and rinsed off the president's shirt. A stain was still there, maybe she would have to give it to the laundry, Arvika puffed out and Kavya assured her with her eyes and said, "Don't worry, we'll take it to the laundry. Now, let's start packing. Interested students of the whole ECE department are coming along with some other departments in different buses. Tomorrow in the early morning, we have to leave for Mussorie, man. I am already so excited about it". Kavya whistled in the end and they both were ready to dig their winter clothes out of their respective cupboards as Mussorie would surely have chilled weather.

"I just wish that there will be only happy memories for this journey, Kavya. No more scandal." Arvika said coming out of the washroom after changing her damped clothes.

"There will be, my lady, I will make sure of that," Kavya reassured in a gentler tone and winked at her beautiful friend.

****

"Risha!"

There, on the other end, Dev was going ballistic over Risha for what stunt she pulled today with Arvika. His complexion has suddenly reddened as if the evening hue tainted him red too.

Students present at the criteria were for the first time witnessing such a side of their president. They could notice how raged he was with green veins popping out his forehead and forearms that were clearly visible at a distance.

"What was the need to insult and humiliate her like this? Hn? Tell me?" thinning his lips, Dev rustled out while pressing his teeth tightly.

Risha couldn't believe her eyes. Dev was insulting her? The Risha Chauhan? The same girl who was his best friend for the last three or so years? And for whom? For that newcomer wallflower? She stamped her foot and darted her eyes towards the people who were witnessing the brand-new scandal. She knew Dev was extremely cool but whenever he was angry it meant disaster.

A catastrophic disaster!

"Dev, I can explain....but please calm down first," Risha susurrated and tried to touch Dev but before her manicured hands could've touched his chest, he pointed a finger at her.

"Don't try to touch me. Explain why you did this!" he snapped in a gruff tone, clenching his jaw.

"I did it for you, Dev. Because I couldn't tolerate that some Behanj..." Risha stopped in between when she saw how Dev's expressions went from irritation to sheer fury on a scale of 5 at the mention of the word 'Behanji'.

"Use your words wisely, Risha," Dev warned her and with one hand movement, he called one of his female friends and whispered something in her ear.

"I mean that girl. She insulted you by throwing ink on your shirt. That thing irked me and that's why I took such actions to give her a lesson on how to behave with a senior and that too the president." Risha explained calmly with no guilt on her face which agitated Dev more.

No one has the right to insult someone like this.

"Insulting a woman in front of the whole college for a thing you haven't even seen is so wrong, Risha. Do you know that you can be suspended for a month for this thing if that girl complains against you? I am warning you for the last time today. Stop ragging juniors, otherwise, I will make sure that you and your girl gang aren't allowed to sit in the final examinations. Mark my words." With decisiveness in his voice, he professed like a true leader and peered at the person whose single glimpse could make his heart pulsating like a galloping horse.

She was finally here!

"She is here. Apologize," Dev commanded and Risha immediately turned to look at the same girl whom she insulated a few moments ago. She looked back at Dev and pronounced sarcastically, "You really think I will ask for an apology from a junior?". Dev could only smile at her absurdity.

"You have to," he accepted her challenging look with a simper playing on his lips. His insides were churning like he was kept on pyre but from outside, he had to maintain his composure. His morals, his personage stopped him. He couldn't hit a woman, otherwise, Risha would've surely turned black and blue if she was a boy.

"What if I don't?" Risha smirked while giving a distasteful look towards Arvika.

Arvika and Kavya were called by one senior whom Dev had sent a while ago. While Arvika was having a neutral expression, Kavya was going gaga over her Dev Bhaiya.

'Wowwww! So much like the dream hero who saves his love from every Chudail (witch) in a love story. Dev Bhaiya, tussi great ho! (Dev brother, You're great), I really wish that my stupid friend falls in love with you.' Kavya deliberated in her mind while watching the scene with a smile dancing on her lips.

"Well, if that's how you want it to be, let's do it your way then," Dev announced and started going towards Arvika, shocking everyone with his firmness along with Risha.

Dev reached near Arvika and stressed the first sentence with seriousness superimposing his speech frequency signal, "On behalf of my classmate, I apologize to you, Arvika for what happened today. No person should be treated like that. You may leave now". Dev concluded and strode towards Risha like a lion towards its prey.

Everyone stood astonished. No one could believe that the president was asking for an apology even without having any fault of his. The respect and love for him grew exponentially among the students and his girls' fan following skyrocketed.

"Next company coming to our campus is Microsoft - your dream company, I really wish you the best, Risha". If Dev looked charming with his smile, he looked the perfect bad boy of some hotshot novel with his smug look.

Risha got the implication behind his well-wishes and all the artificially manoeuvred glow donned on her face fused into a dull, pale, and frightful look.

Before her voice could've stopped him, Dev made his way outside the cafeteria with Risha and her minions running behind him.

"Well, that's the reason he was made the president. A sharp mind, a brilliant intellect, and a golden heart. He's definitely my role model," a guy among the crowd commented and both Arvika and Kavya heard that.

"Soooooo?" Kavya hit Arvika's shoulders in a teasing way earning a scowl from the latter.

"So what?" Arvika asked while retracting her way towards the cafeteria's counter to purchase some Amul cool for cooling down her disturbed mind.

"He loves you so much that's why he apologized in front of all. No one has the guts to ask for an apology and that too in front of all the students. And didn't you hear and see what the other students were saying? He's one of the rarest gems the world has ever produced. Don't lose him," Kavya awed and kept babbling about Dev and his greatness not noticing the cute frown that Arvika had on her face.

Was Dev really the one made for her?

But again their chattering was stopped by a known voice.

"I am sorry, Arvika for what I did today. I shouldn't have done that. I am really sorry. I hope you forgive me," Risha apologized in a low voice, startling everyone to the core.

Sorry from a girl like Risha that too quicker than boiling 2-Min Ramen? It sounded unbelievable.

"It's okay," Arvika managed to say while having her eyes fixed on Dev.

"Dev sir surely has his ways, yaar," someone among the crowd whistled.

Dev left the cafeteria but not before endowing a smile towards Arvika. She too managed to pass him a smile, forgetting everything for a moment.

Everyone was again back to their usual self but no one noticed the vengeance that Risha had in her eyes.

****

The trip to Mussoorie was to began from the very next day with exhilarated teens and subtle seniors. It was an unofficial two-days and two-nights trip organized by the student committee and deliberately was fixed on the weekend so that the students could rejoin their classes from Monday.

Arvika along with Kavya arrived on the spot from where the journey would begin. They still were left to pay the charges for the trip. Very few students were present now as it was still too early in the morning.

"Kavya! You'd wake up every day at 9 am when we have classes, how can you wake up at 4, yaar?" Arvika asked her friend who was super enthusiastic about the upcoming trip.

"It's just the power of love, babe. I love hills, that's why I got up so early. I don't like classes, that's why I wake up late. Simple," Kavya explained, earning a chuckle from Arvika.

"But I still don't want to go, it's very expensive, yaar," Arvika said in a sad tone while noticing the buses which seemed expensive even at a distance.

"Offo! Let's enjoy it, yaar! Let's create the greatest memories!" Kavya answered back to her in a soothing voice.

"Kavya, yaar, don't you think five thousand for a two-day trip is a lot?" Arvika felt uncomfortable while saying this to Kavya but she was not really in the position to give five thousand to some odd trip. She was still thinking of an idea to ditch this trip plan.

She could buy so many books out of these five thousand rupees.

She could do so much more from these five thousand rupees.

"Arvika! I'll pay for your trip, okay? It's not a big problem, yaar. I understand you have got a strict budget this month. I am your best friend, yaar," Kavya whisper-yelled at Arvika while eyeing her surroundings so that no one could hear them regarding their 'Financial talks'.

In a dejected tone, Arvika replied, trying her best to sustain her breaking self-respect, "Kavya, I don't want to take money from anyone, you know that".

"I am anyone for you now? Arey baba! Accha, you can pay me later in instalments, okay now?" Kavya persuaded in her sweet tone and Arvika had to agree to that as this idea sounded perfect to her. They both went towards the senior who was busy handling all the money and passes to be given to the students for the trip.

"Good morning, sir. Sir, we both also want to join for the trip, here's our money...." before Kavya could've completed her sentence, Rohan came from nowhere, surprising them.

"Hi beautiful ladies," he greeted them cordially while giving a toothy smile to Kavya. Kavya blushed and Arvika felt like slapping her friend across her cheeks.

So much like Nibbis! She couldn't afford her friend to be a Nibbi. Not at any cost.

(Nibbi - 14-15-year-old girls who instead of studying are busy in relationships and future-planning of making babies with their Nibbas)

"Why the hell are you blushing now?" Arvika whispered in Kavya's ear while maintaining a smile on her face. "Ssssh, you won't understand it now," Kavya replied while still blushing like a beetroot.

"Kavya, Arvika, what's your full name?" Rohan queried them casually and after getting the answers, he turned towards the boy who was managing the accumulation of money and passes.

"Here, Gaurav. Four passes. Please note down the names. Arvika Arya, Kavya Mishra, Dev Kapoor & Rohan Singh," Rohan pronounced out the names one-by-one while operating his mobile phone for sending the money via UPI transfer.

"Sir, there's no need for you to pay. We're paying for our..." Kavya was stopped by Rohan's single glare.

"Please don't call me sir, Kavya. And secondly, you and Arvika are my friends now, so it's seriously not a big deal, yaar," Rohan dismissed her with a finality in his voice and transferred the money to Gaurav- the accumulator & distributor of money and passes, respectively.

"You know I have a debt of at least 1 lac of my beloved friends. It really doesn't matter, yaar about who pays," Rohan chuckled and started chit-chatting with Kavya.

Arvika made a note to return the money to Rohan the very next Monday. She couldn't afford to take some money from some boy she was just an acquaintance with. Kavya was his good friend and they have a great bonding, but who was she to him? Arvika decided in her conscience and started weighing all the funds she had in her bank account.

On the other hand, Kavya and Rohan were so engrossed in their random talks and blushing that they completely forgot about Arvika's presence near them.

Arvika suspired profoundly and just stood there, noticing how animatedly Rohan & Kavya were interacting with each other.

'Another love story, I guess,' Arvika spoke inwardly while puffing out a whiff of air.

"Ours shall start too," a sudden foreign voice startled her and she came face-to-face with Dev. Her heart started thumping so fast that she fretted it would come out and fly. He scared her.

Dev chortled at her priceless reaction and after greeting the loving couple, he came near Arvika who was already eyeing him suspiciously with her heart creating crusts and troughs like some frequency signal.

"Good morning, Arvika." He greeted her affectionately and she just nodded her head at him, still looking at him quizzically and pacifying her frightened heart. After making sure she could speak normally without stuttering, she asked, "What did you just say?".

"I said 'good morning, Arvika'; didn't you hear me?" hiding his smirk, Dev asked her innocently, vexing her more.

"No, before that," she queried him with scrutinizing eyes, trying to find his latent smile that was very efficiently concealed on his lips.

A fake frown marred his features and he articulated in a solemn tone, "I greeted Rohan and Kavya, didn't you notice that?".

"When you frightened me, what did you say at that time?" Arvika stressed her words and gave a glance towards Rohan and Kavya who were still engaged in god knows what gossip. Maybe Kareena's third baby?

"No, I didn't say anything!"

Arvika couldn't believe that he was not accepting the words he had said that she sharply heard.

"Ours shall start too? You said that right?" she queried him, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips.

"If you know what I said, then why are you asking me?" Dev's remark left her speechless. He looked into her eyes, trying to bring out the words he wanted to hear so badly from her mouth.

What could she possibly reply to that? Why was she even querying him when she knew what he had said!

"What does that mean?" Arvika questioned again and Dev could only smile at her question. His dimples were on full show and she noticed them. Maybe for the first time.

'Why haven't I noticed them before?' she doubted in her mind when she saw how deep and alluring his dimples were.

"You know that too, Arvika," Dev winked at her and moved towards Rohan leaving her with numerous questions spinning inside her mind.

"Arvika.......yaar! Rohan is sooooooo sweet! I mean no guy has ever talked to me so sweetly the way he does. And, you know...Arvika? Are you even listening?" Kavya shook Arvika slightly and then she came out of her trance.

"What? Were you saying something?" Arvika asked her while trying to maintain her sober equanimity. She was completely lost in staring at Dev. Maybe for the first time, again.

"Did you just ogle, baby?" Kavya forgot all about her lovey-dovey moment with Rohan when she realised where her saint-like best friend was looking.

"What? Nooo! I was just...I was..." Arvika stuttered and tried to look anywhere but into Kavya's eyes.

"Ahan. I think you're progressing, Aru. You're learning. Waise, he is all yours, ogle at him, eye-kiss him or any hanky-panky stuff that Barbie does with Ken?" Kavya giggled at her best friend's state who was now hitting her back with Milton's steel bottle. Arvika started running after Kavya with the bottle in her hand as the latter was busy racing for her life.

"Owww! Owww! Don't hit me, you madwoman! You idiot!" Kavya was laughing as well as acting to be in pain while Arvika was continuously hitting her with her bottle and explaining to her, "There's nothing like that, you understand".

Dev chuckled at the funny scene while Rohan was busy capturing the ludicrous scene on his smartphone.

"She is still a child," Dev commented lovingly and noticed the surroundings: not many students were present right now. It was still early in the morning and their journey was still one hour away to commence. Few boys of the Mechanical department were present and few girls.

"Yes, she is. Both of them are." Rohan paused the recording and reverted to Dev.

"I am going. I have to talk to Gaurav regarding the journey, take care of them," Dev said after glimpsing at his lady love affectionately and progressed towards the corner where Gaurav - the accumulator & distributor was sitting at.

"Yes, man. I will take care of them," Rohan replied and went towards the girls.

Kavya immediately maintained her composure when she saw Rohan coming towards them. "Sssshhh, angry lady. He is coming now, please beat me later, yaar!". She signalled Arvika and the latter had to comply as it was a matter of two hearts; she sighed and put her bottle back inside her shoulder bag and stood like an elegant lady.

"Guys, if you're done, can I ask you something?" Rohan chuckled and then asked, all the time having his eyes fixed on Kavya. And unknown to her, Kavya again got a tint of blush on her cheeks. Arvika noticed Kavya's cheeks and for the umpteenth time, she sighed again.

"We are going to have a journey in hilly areas. So, are you guys prone to nausea or something on hilly roads with curvy and round-round ways?" Rohan queried them genuinely and a look of horror suddenly appeared on Kavya's face.

She surely had problems with journeys on hills. The last time she visited a hill station was four months back and the whole way, she was vomiting. Her whole plan was spoiled for an exciting journey to her home.

"I have that problem," dejection hedged her tone remembering the old memories on a hilly road. Arvika too remembered that and could only console the crestfallen Kavya.

Rohan pondered for some moment and said, "Oye, don't be sad. I think our medical room has something for that. Once you take that tablet, you won't vomit. Let me bring that," saying this, he sprinted towards the medical room.

"He surely cares for you," Arvika concluded while inspiriting Kavya who was already hyperventilating, reminiscing how many worst occurrences she had linked with hilly excursions.

"I hope he doesn't hate me when I will be puking my guts out," Kavya rustled melodramatically and hugged Arvika with small drops of tears clouding her eyes.

"Ssssh, this will be a test for him too, woman. That way we'll get to know whether he loves you only in your best state or is capable of handling you in your worst".

For the first time, Arvika's advice on love matters sounded generous, unlike all her absurd ideas and pieces of advice on love.

"Let me plan to puke then," Kavya inferred and started all the planning and plotting to dodge all the ways to have the anti-vomiting pills that Rohan would give to her.

"You're crazy," Arvika groaned and sat at one of the desks that were placed over there.

****

"Kavya, I am not feeling good, I feel nauseated, yaar," Arvika said in a low tone, pressing her stomach and taking deep breaths to dodge the vomit that was trying so hard to come out her mouth.

"Yaar, let me call Rohan, he has those pills." Kavya brought out her smartphone and was going to call Rohan when Arvika almost elbowed her away from her seat and started going towards the built-in bathroom inside the bus when her puke came out and it was none other than Risha who was the possible prey of Arvika's body waste.

Pin-drop silence swiftly enveloped the moving bus, with all the eyes trying to catch the most catastrophic scandal of the century.

"Ab to dangal hoga," a senior deduced who was well aware of Risha and her nature.

(Now, there will be a riot).

Arvika took the help of the bus seat and she was lastly feeling at peace, but she didn't know that it was the silence before the storm.

Her eyes then caught the figure on which she had unintentionally vomited. 

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4850 words!

I am alive! Really!

Sorry for being tooooooooooo late to update but yes, I can only apologize. I am a writer and I should write; but sometimes, things don't turn the way we want. The past months have been really hectic but then I thought if I would not update my story now, when will I do then? After all, writing was my choice, no? And, it's seriously my duty to give you guys the update. 

I am really sorry for keeping you guys waiting for sooooooooooooooo long but, yes, I will try my best to update often.