Yukti's Pov
It's almost 7:00pm. This day will end and we're going less a day before the performance. I know the pressure is starting to hit us off, and as we all sit in circle to rest before going home, can feel the uneasy atmosphere.
"Prez, where shall we have the celebration?" Simran asked me. She's sitting next to Anurag who is right beside me.
"I haven't thought of it yet," I answered with honesty.
"Sim's knows a good place," Anurag said, and Simran laughed.
"Really? Can you help me with the arrangements of the celebration?"
"Sure." Simran smiled at me.
The younger members started to ask Simran about the place. I looked down and clutched the bag containing the cookies. Shall I give these to them?
But what if they don't like the taste?
I looked up and caught Gulki's eyes. She is right opposite me, sitting quietly while listening to the conversation of her seatmates. I gave her a small smile, but then before I could look away, she nodded. I frowned. She pointed at the bag I'm holding, then nodded again.
Is she urging me to give these?
"Prez, what's that?" Chavy asked suddenly and all eyes turned to me.
"Uhm, I... I baked these..." hesitantly put the bag in the middle.
"Cookies!"
"Wow, you did these?"
"Great, I'm really hungry!"
"They're not much, and I don't know if they taste---
"Mmm! It's good!" Anurag said, munching the cookies he got.
"I didn't know you can bake," Chavy said.
"Gulki, why aren't you eating?" Simran asked.
"I already had some."
Simran looked at me. But then she just smiled. I felt my cheeks burn.⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ Why did she say that? What if our members asked why she already had eaten her share?
I tried avoiding Gulki's eyes so looked at my seatmate. Anurag is at his second cookie. He gave me a thumbs up. "Nicely done."
"Thank you," I smiled at him. I was about to ask him for his detailed comment on the cookies when the door burst open and Priyanshu and Santosh entered, both looking murderously at each other. Mira squeezed in between them and waved at me.
Ah right! I am going to accompany them in shopping!
"Are those cookies?!" Prid said as he slumped on a chair behind Gulki. "Give me some of yours--"
Gulki tapped his hand and shook her head, "Already ate mine."
Prid pouted then looked at me. "Hi, Yukti !"
Santu bumped onto Prid intentionally as she went to me, then she pulled me by the right arm. "Let's go."
"Where are you going?" Anurag asked.
"Hey, Santosh, you should go with me!" Prid said, standing quickly and pulling Santu's bag. She jerked his hand away. "But we're on the same---"
"Santosh is going with us," Mira told Prid, holding Santu with her left hand and holding mine with her right.
"Let's go--" she pulled me and stood.
"I'm going with you too," Anurag said, standing up at the same time.
Gulki stood. "I'll go with you guys." She looked at me.
I held my breath. Members should not be going with the club presidents! How can we make sure they'll be surprised with what we're going to gift them?
"Really? Great! Let's all go together---" Prid said who is still clueless. I can hear Santu's cursing inside her head.
"No. He is not going"/"No. She isn't going"
Saying this, at the same time, Gulki and Anurag looked at each other. Santosh snorted then pulled her hand away from Mira. "We will not go together. I--" she pointed at herself, "Miss Mira, and Miss Yukti," she pointed at me, "will be going together. You are not allowed to go with us," she told Anurag coldly. "Let's go it's getting late."
"Then she should go home."
All eyes turned to Gulki, "It's late so Kapoor should go home."
I swallowed. People who do not know I live with her are raising their heads while Anurag's frown is getting deeper every second he stares at Gulki. Santosh laughed, and she said something like 'with you' but Mira covered her mouth. I'm totally panicked about what is Gulki going to say.
Prid laughed loudly, "Ho! Gulks, think you should go with me. Besides, So--" then he stopped and whispered something to him.
Mira tugged my hand, "Let's go. We will send you home. Promise!"
"But--" I looked at Gulki but Miru and Santu already pulled me out of the room. I looked back at the music room and saw my members going out. Anurag is looking grumpy as he follows Simran to the opposite direction. Prid and Gulki are walking after us, but they're far.
"Don't look back," Santu said and put her right arm around my shoulders as we walk out and away from the school. "Lata promised me she'd fetch us at 10pm, so don't worry."
Mira and I smiled. Lata is Santu's older sister and she is a police.
"The bus is here!" Mira went inside first and I followed her. Upon sitting by the window, I looked from where we came from. I cannot see Gulki or Prid. Maybe they're using Gulki's car.
I took my phone and composed a short message for Aunt Archana. I hope she won't get the wrong idea that Gulki and I are together.
Prid's pov
I was humming a tune as I watch Gulki drive. She's looking so serious, that I can somewhat get the vibe that she's annoyed.
"Are you annoyed we didn't go with them?" I asked, trying my best not to sound as if I'm teasing her.
"No." She sped up.
"Okay." I tapped the dashboard. "Hey bro, you were 'fishy' back there eh?"
She gave me a glance and a frown, "What?"
"Why did you insist Kapoor should go home?"
"I did not. I simply said--" then she sighed, "why am I even defending myself?"
"Well, it seemed to me you were pissed off that Anurag tried to go with Kapoo---"
"I have already told you, I don't care bout them, so stop imagining things."
I clapped my hands once and made a zipper-my- mouth motion. But then, I recalled something saw in this car just the other day!
"Hey bro," I held my chin, "I remember the pink comb I saw here..."
"What now?"
"I saw Kapoor has the same comb."
She didn't speak. I stared at her and waited, but she just simply frown her head.