"Books?"

"Done!"

"Pens?"

"Done!"

"Mobile?"

"Wait a second," I stood from the bed trying to search it among my pillows. "Got it!" I sighed, staring at Samaria, who was offering me a judging gaze.

"How can someone forget mobile when one is in a relationship?" She rolled her eyes at me.

"Expect the unexpected when it comes to my baby sister." I heard a familiar cheerful voice making me jump in excitement as I found him at the entrance of my room.

"Anuj!" And without wasting a single minute I rushed towards him. My arms wrapped around his muscular figure, he was getting muscular with each passing second. I frowned, withdrawing from him; he was reminding me of someone. "I had mentioned to him that I didn't require babysitting," I whined stamping my feet in annoyance. A chuckle escaped from Anuj as he pinched my cheek.

"I am not on babysitting duty," he defended himself. "I am here because I want to be part of your new beginning. Others are waiting for you in the college," he muttered eyeing the watch on his wrist. "And I hope you're not planning to end up late on your first day."

I stared at him in nervousness as I allowed the truth to sink in. I was going to attend college. I was finally free from those torturous uniforms, I glanced at the pair of jeans and a cute flower pattern top. I looked cute much different from the girls roaming around Ehaan.

"You're looking beautiful, Miss Innocent," Anuj assured a smile spreading on his lip.

I gave a half-hearted nod as I reached Samaira to hand me my backpack. "You're going to make new friends over there." She was staring at me with concern. I made a crying face. I hated this part of the college, Samaira wasn't going to accompany me in it. Her plans were different! She was going to study Science and I had opted for Arts. On the first route to adulthood, our paths were different and I was scared of losing our friendship on the way.

"I won't be able to," I confessed the truth. It was never easy to make friends and people over there would have their bunch of friends, "I am going to be alone in that strange new world."

"We have your back, Ruhi," Anuj assured, and I passed them a smile, gesturing that I was ready to face the world.

"You're going to rock it," Samaria assured hugging me. "All the best to your new beginning." I wiped off my tears as I pulled away from her.

"You take care of yourself and I need daily phone calls from you updating me about your life."

"I will," she giggled at my demand.

She was going to stay out of the city on her campus, and maybe I wouldn't be able to see her for months to come. Zara was correct when she feared losing friends as eventually we were choosing our path and, in that journey, leaving behind our friendship.

With a heavy heart, I departed from her as I carried myself out of the house. My parents had left for work, and I locked the door as all of us made our way to Anuj's bike.

"Take care, Ru..." Samaria yelled before Anuj started the engine, and my hair started flying due to the air.

"You could have asked her to stay..." I sighed at Anuj's statement.

"I couldn't come between her and her dreams..."

"Everyone is aware her decision to leave the city has nothing to do with her dream."

I kept my mouth shut. It was Samaria's decision if she wanted to leave us behind. She was trying to escape from the pain of heartbreak. She wanted to avoid Varun at every cost.

"Does every relationship end in that manner," that constant doubt would keep troubling me. I had seen them falling for each other and I was also an audience when Samaria started hating the mention of his name, she started avoiding every hangout session and slowly withdrew from rest of them.

"You need to stop your overthinker mind. Just concentrate on enjoying first day of your college."

"What's there in enjoying it?" I groaned as my hair had turned into a mess due to his high speed. It was becoming so difficult to keep it on place. "Can you slow down?"

"Only if you want to end up late."

The minute we turned left the college campus came into view. I stared at the huge building in horror, I had to visit this enormous building on regular basis for years to come. Not a very good idea!

As we entered the campus, noises surrounded us. There was excitement, joy surrounding the environment. Anuj parked at the corner and I stood from the bike, staring around us in admiration. The institute was one of the famous in our city, most reputed one. Mostly high-profiled people took admission in the institute. One of the reason Ehaan's mother wanted him to choose this institute if he wasn't planning to go abroad for higher studies.

There was glamorous car parked around us so were bikes, I could feel from there exterior that everything screamed money. Standing over there with that cute outfit I felt so out of place in front of people roaming around with their model like figure and branded clothes. That was another reason I needed Samaria beside me to ensure me that my dressing style wasn't that out of place.

"Hey, Anuj!" We heard a voice and I turned in anticipation to find someone familiar but an unknown figure greeted us.

"Hey, Tarun!" Anuj greeted him with same excitement as they hugged each other.

"So, you have finally given a thought on dating?" He teased him making a giggle to pop out of my throat. It used to happen on constant basis whenever we encountered any of his friend, they used to often mistake me for his girlfriend.

Anuj laughed in response making Tarun to stare at us with confusion. "She is a sister that I never had." He explained, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. His orbs staring at me with admiration. "Meet her, she is Ruhi Raichand.."

"Oh!" Tarun passed me a wink. "Welcome to our world, Miss Raichand." He said extending his hand for handshake. "I am Tarun always at your service." I shook hand with him passing a shy smile.

"You have a beautiful smile, Miss Raichand."

"She is off limit, Tarun." That voice! That deep, hoarse voice! I raised my head to find him standing few distances away from us. As anticipated in his grey jersey, those messy chestnut hair falling on his forehead. His brown-mesmerizing orbs staring at Tarun with sternness. I felt as if I was revisiting the past. The first time our eyes met, the first time I had glanced at him on the school ground while I was busy glaring Varun.

He seemed much grown-up in those grey jersey compared to those blue ones but he looked adorable in those blue ones though he won't agree with my thoughts. He was a foot taller and maybe more muscular, I had hate-and-love relationship with his growing attractive personality. The sweat dipping from his forehead indicated the hours he had spent on the ground.

"Why so?" Tarun inquired getting curious.

Ehaan groaned at him in response, his eyes meeting with mine for a second before turning to Anuj. "Look after her," he muttered before quickly disappearing in the crowd. I stared at his retreating figure in disappointment. Wasn't he going to wish me luck? Tarun shared a look with Anuj before he walked away as well.

"What had you both argued about this time?" Anuj muttered shaking his head in disbelief. "Till how many years will I have

to be your babysitter?"

"Haww..." I groaned. "Don't sound like you're bored of me!"