"You all could have shown little generosity towards him," I grumbled as we took our respective seats. The others had left us, maybe even though Ehaan and the rest had made friends. Some things were just meant for family but I was glad that they included me in their family.

"You're forgetting that generosity doesn't exist in our dictionary," Aarav remarked, making the rest chuckle while Zara nudged him on his shoulder. She was the one sitting beside me.

"Girl, he seems not someone you should be friends with," Zara attempted to convince me, yet I lowered my gaze in failure. Though I didn't trust him, and neither was I planning to trust him anytime soon, he was the closest thing to friendship that I needed to survive my lectures.

"He had approached me for friendship," I groaned attempting to make them understand my devasted state.

"When he got aware that he could reach Anuj by you," Varun pointed out. I grumbled as I took a sip from the coffee. I was done with their rivalry. Why I had to always be so caution? I no longer felt I was a student but a member of some illegal gang. I groaned at the thought.

"Never mind!" Anuj asked them to stop, another person who had mastered the skill of reading me. "Tell us more about your first day?" He sounded excited, wanting to cheer me up, but my mood swing was high today. I wasn't even feeling to attend the first day as I was an emotional mess at the moment.

"There is nothing special about the day," I muttered rooting my eyes on the table before me. I had waited for this day for the past two years. From the moment they passed from Heaven's High. I missed them! I kept mentioning that I wanted to be with them in their college. Whenever they talked about the moments spent in college, and the people they knew there, I always felt left out. I was more excited about attending this college rather than passing my 12th. But when the day was before me, when I was living the day, I wanted to run away. I wanted to hide somewhere and never be visible again.

This day was nothing like I had imagined it for years. I thought this would be the day when everything would be back in its place. We would be back together. Samaira will accompany me through these walls, and we will have the same unbreakable friendship but I was wrong. I knew I was going to lose her, her moving to the other city was the first step on the journey.

That pain had multiplied after the argument with Ehaan, he couldn't keep his ego aside to make my day special. A drop of tear descended my cheek. "I miss you..." I muttered to myself.

A chair was pulled beside me, and the commotion happening on the table stopped for a mini-second before they carried on their conversation. I heard more chairs pulled around us as I forced my head to glance at the people joining us.

"That guy was correct. Ehaan was in GYM," Tarun mentioned, indicating they had walked away to find him.

I could feel his presence, his intimidating, warm presence next to me yet I forced my orbs not to glance at him.

"Oh! You never introduce us," the girl waved her hands as she stared into my eyes straight. "Myself, Pia Gupta. And she is Niti Irani." She pointed at the girl sitting next to her.

"Ruhi Raichand," I pressed a smile.

"We had heard a lot about you," Niti muttered sharing a look with Anuj.

"Wait! When did that happen?" Tarun sounded offended as he was kept hidden from important information. He gave me more like Anuj vibes. A person whose dressing style radiated colors, the only guy around the table who had more colors on his clothes.

"When you were busy flirting with every random girl that your eyes could discover," commented Zara, making me giggle. Maybe he had a glimpse of Aarav as well in him.

"Oh, please I have standard." He raised his hand in justification as if defending himself. "Not like your boyfriend," I almost choked on my coffee. My orbs found their way to Aarav who was glaring at Tarun but wasn't planning to show him his place by knocking some senses into him with his punches.

A glass of water was pushed towards me as I started coughing. "Fuck!" He muttered as his hand soon found its way toward my back and my orbs finally got locked with him.

I missed him! I sighed as those orbs were staring at me with concern, those mesmerizing dark-brown orbs sighing in relief.

"Are you fine?" Pia's voice broke the eye-lock between us. I gave a slight nod and soon his hands moved away from me. I felt my heart ache at his move.

"So, what do I don't know?" Tarun inquired, passing me his gorgeous smile. I couldn't help myself from smiling back at him. He had that charm around him. He was handsome, his black orbs shone in delight as he offered that heart-warming smile. Maybe his smile was enough to charm a girl, and the way he rolled words out, he was in no need of flirting.

I shrugged my shoulder, "I am not aware what..." I glanced around me. "They told you about me."

"It doesn't matter; I would love to know all about it from you." He winked at me making me giggle.

I heard a groan making me aware that a person beside me wasn't appreciating our interaction.

"I had said it before," Ehaan hissed as if calming his anger. "She is off-limit." I couldn't help the smile planting on my face as those words rolled down so possessively from his tongue.

"What do you mean by she's off-limit?" Tarun frowned. "I understand you all treat her like a small kid, like a sister but that doesn't mean you come between her dating life. She needs to enjoy her age as much as any of us."

"She isn't getting indulged in any of those activities." His voice was firm as if it wouldn't budge even if he had to argue about it.

"Oh, come on!" Niti jumped in between, "You are not deciding for her." Her orbs averted from Ehaan to me. "So, Ruhi..." she paused for a second as if creating the suspense needed. "Would you like to attend the party happening this Friday? Your first-ever party in JJD?" She was filled with so much energy and was staring at me with so much anticipation that I couldn't deny her.

I gave a slight nod, and the table was filled with cheers; they were happy with my decision, but I heard a fist collide with the glass table, but luckily, it wasn't broken. I heard a series of gasps and silence before Ehaan stood from the chair making it collide with the hard flooring. The entire cafeteria went silent and for the first time, I realized that Ehaan grabbed their attention in the same manner he grabbed it in Heaven's High.

"What's wrong with him?" Questioned confused Pia as Ehaan was no longer in our view.

No one responded to it even after knowing the answer, it was me. I was the reason behind his messy self.

I walked into the room; my second class was Psychology, but I didn't find any sign of Aditya. I sighed in relief; it would be embarrassing to face him after my friend's hostile attitude. I wasn't planning on introducing myself in front of two hundred students. That was the plus point of getting enrolled in a popular institute. You could easily hide among the crowd.

I sat in the middle vacant seats, to come into less notice than possible. I felt a curious orb planted on me; his lip raised in a smirk. I opted to ignore the individual. In the crowd, I found many familiar faces, but I couldn't put a name on those faces. They were strangers, though familiar strangers.

Within a minute, the lecturer entered, making me less conscious of myself. I loved the way she explained concepts and as Psychology is one of my favorites, I really enjoyed my time in the class. The first day wasn't that bad, I declared as the bell rang and she walked out of the class with a smile on her face.

She seemed older in age; her hairs were grey and she wore a thick spectacle. Her beautiful smile was the most attractive feature of her. I forgot her name but I was looking forward to her next class. Then a fake cough grabbed my attention. The same smirking figure had stood in front of me, his orbs staring at me with curiousness.

"Ruhi Raichand?" He inquired staring at me with amusement. I gave a slight-hesitating nod.

"Friend of the devil gang?" His orbs glittering with mischief, I could smell danger.

"Yes..." I whispered softly, staring at him with nervousness.

He was taller and even muscular. His mischievous orbs were intimidating me. "Someone was curious about meeting you," he pointed out. That annoying-scaring smirk not moving from his face. Who on earth was he and about whom was he speaking?

"Don't scare the little angel, Ved." My eyes budged out of my socket for a second. I had forgotten about him. "I hope you remember me," he winked at me while a smirk was playing on his lips. "Ruhi..." The way he called me up, flashed those memories back. His sweet smile was making me fume in anger.

"I missed you a lot," he was staring at me with a certain curiosity.

I faked a smile at Rudr. It wasn't that we hadn't crossed paths during the past two years. As I attended some events at the college, I often got a glimpse of him. I was hidden from college politics. I wasn't aware if Ehaan and Rudr still were rivals as they hardly mentioned his name around me.

"Meet my friend, Ved." Rudr pointed at the guy beside him. "And you might already know her. She is Ruhi... Ruhi Raichand. Most innocent and beautiful girl I ever came across." He smirked as he took another step toward me. I was plastered on the chair. I wasn't sure how to react. I wasn't liking his presence but at the same time, I wasn't planning to act rude.

"I hope we are going to have a new beginning. As you have started a new chapter of your life." He stared at me with hopeful eyes as he extended his hands for a handshake.

I provided him a smile as I shook my hand with his. "I hope the same."

•••

"You met whom?" Zara stopped; her orbs filled with curiosity as well as annoyance.

"Don't react as if it was impossible." I narrowed my eyes at her loud reaction.

"It wasn't but him especially visiting you is suspicious."

I sighed, "I don't want to get involved in another suspense novel. So, I will consider it was his way of coming on the same ground."

"You are aware of what Rudr is like and yet if you want to fool yourself then do it with all pleasure." She shook her head as she got on the scooter.

"You're not going to mention it to anyone," I sounded doubtful as I sat behind her.

"I can't promise you that," she started the engine.

"But you're aware Ehaan is already mad at me and upon knowing about Rudr." I sighed keeping it incomplete. "I hadn't planned my college year will start with so much stress."

"It isn't stressful." She attempted to assure me but I kept quiet. "You're going to enjoy the party. We even did shopping for it."

"Which was a foolish step. My parents are never going to allow a party." I groaned, I wanted to enjoy my college life. I wasn't a fan of parties, I avoided them as much as I could. But partying with friends was different. I wanted to be part of their life.

"What are friends for?" Zara attempted to cheer me up. "If you want to attend the party, I will make it possible." I smiled listening to her promise due to her I was missing Samaria less yet I missed her. I wish if she was beside me, we would be enjoying our first college party together.

"So, these entire dishes were prepared to get permission from us?" Mom narrowed her eyes at me while I lowered my head in embarrassment.

"No, she just wanted to celebrate a new beginning of her life. What's wrong with starting it with a party?" Zara inquired staring between my parents. Mom was busy glaring in my direction while I peeped at Dad who was concentrating on the food before him.

"It isn't a normal party," Dad muttered. "She might be an adult yet she isn't allowed to attend such a party."

"No, uncle!" Zara attempted to defend but Mom interrupted her.

"Will the party have alcohol?"

My orbs widen in shock. Alcohol? Zara avoided my stare, "Yes, Aunty." She sounded embarrassed.

"So, how can we send our daughter to such a location? How can it be safe for her?" Mom sounded concerned while Dad sounded furious.

"And we don't want our daughter involved in such stuff. I would advise, it is not safe for you as well."

Zara smiled at my father's concern. "I am so glad that Ruhi has a parent like you both," she passed me a smile. "Your parents really care about you. My parents never asked me where I was going and with whom I was," she shook her head pressing a fake smile.

Silence prevailed around the table as Zara was never a sentimental girl. She rarely displayed her emotions. "And don't worry about me, uncle. I got used to that surroundings. Those environments no longer bother me or make me feel dangerous at times I feel I am a part of it." She smiled, "But you're correct. Ruhi is different. She isn't meant for it."

"Raunak didn't mean to..." Mom sounded concerned. "It's just that even Ehaan called and informed me that it wasn't safe for Ruhi."

"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback by her information. "He called you?" Mom nodded getting confused by my loud reaction.

"If it isn't safe for me then why is it safe for him? Because he is a guy? I just don't understand this concept." I pulled the chair and took my empty plate to the kitchen.

I was infuriated. When would he stop being bossy about my life? How could he call my parents and make it certain that I won't come to the party? How could he?

"What was that loud reaction for?" Mom inquired as she brought the rest of the empty plates.

"Nothing," I muttered. "I hate the injustice happening among genders. Girls are unsafe due to boys yet girls' freedom is taken away but boys can have all the fun."

"Going to a party isn't only freedom."

"No! Absolutely not! But the reason given to me for not attending it clearly indicates due to some human mentality, females are deprived of their freedom. Females are taught to stay within their limits why boys aren't?"

"If I had a boy, I would have not allowed him as well." She grabbed my elbow and forced me to stare at her. "I don't know about other parents but for us, it's not about gender. It's not about you're a girl and we don't want to allow you to party. It's more about the company, people present at the party. Do you want to go to a party where people of your age and maybe a few years bigger than who would have got drunk? Do you really want to get involved in that world?"

"No! You're aware how much I hate the smell of alcohol." I muttered lowering my head.

"Then why you wanted to go? And what this frustration is for?" She pressed a kiss and I raised my head to find her smiling at me with pride.

"I feel left out among them, Mom." I held my tears back. "Just two days had passed by. Just two days of me entering the college and I feel so out of place among them." I wiped off the emerging tears. "This wasn't how I had planned my college life. I had thought that everything would go back to normal. I would enjoy my time with them. I had missed them so much yet sitting with them in the cafeteria. I feel like I am the odd one out. I have nothing to add to their conversation. I don't relate to much of their stuff. For the past two days, I am constantly reminded that I am different. I don't even have Samaria with me. She will soon make new friends and forget me."

Mom wiped my tears. "Why would anyone forget you?"

"They will! Life forces us to move on and in our journey, we have to leave some amazing people behind. I don't want to lose them. They are my friends more like my family. Why can't I have them for life?"

"Who said you can't?" She paused for a moment. "I agree, people fade away from life. Some people get busy in their chosen path and they might find new companions for their destination. That doesn't mean the memory you made with each other is lost. No matter if you lose contact, the memories will be always there. No one can take those beautiful memories from you." She pressed a kiss on my forehead.

"So, stop troubling your mind with the thought that you might lose them. At this moment make more memories with them. Even if you lose them, you will have those memories to cherish. As you're aware nothing is permanent. Forever doesn't exist in real life, isn't it?" I nodded. "Enjoy your college days without troubling your mind."