CHAPTER: 12

Wonder.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I never change,
Except for my affections

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• S A N S K A R •

"Sid, get ready. We are going to meet the press." I heard grandpa's voice as I got up in the morning. God! The press conference will be held today. I hope everything goes well.

"Shall I accompany you guys?" I heard Akash's sound. He is awake?

"No, Akash. Not yet! We don't want youngsters to get affected by all of the mess. If you and Sanskar accompany us, the press will be firing questions at you guys too." Rajesh uncle reasoned. I started to walk downstairs.

"Good morning, Sanskar." Mom smiled at me. I reciprocated the smile.

"Yes, Akash. We can watch the live press conference from here." Shalu aunty said.

"All the best. Hope the matter will get solved by today. I don't want our shareholders to bark again." Mom stated. Everyone else nodded. Soon, every man in our and Singhania family exited.

"Mom, I'm hungry," Yesterday night because of Mehta I didn't eat anything. I was thinking about her only. God knows how did she manage to occupy my damn mind.

Both, me and Akash sat at the dining table for having breakfast. Akash was having a teasing smile on his face. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Sanskar, why can't you date her?" The glass in my hand fell as a reflex. I looked at him with terror. My eyes were literally out of the socket.

"Date who?" I asked.

"Of course, you know whom I'm pointed at. Your actions say it all." He smiled wickedly. My foot!

"You fucking-" I closed my mouth as Mom entered the dining hall.

"What happened, Sanskar. How did the glass fell from your hand? Are you hurt?" Mom fired questions.

"Nothing, Aunty. He slipped the glass out of nowhere. Such an absent-minded guy." Akash chuckled. Mom shook her head sighing.

"Wait, don't get up from the chair. I will call the maid." Mom said. I nodded.

"I'm full. Let me watch the news." Akash got up from the chair moving towards the living area. He was having a teasing smile. I swear, I'm going to break his teeth.

"Are you here for giving an official statement about Rahul Singhania's arrest?" Akash switched on the television. I clenched both fists hearing that.

"Good morning, everyone. Today we are going to announce something very important. Vaghela industries along with the Singhania group is going to launch a project cooperating with ISRO. We have an outer sketch of the project now. Soon, we will be mailing it to the press. It is for the very first ISRO is cooperating with a private company in Indian history. So let's celebrate the special occasion." Grandpa declared to ignore the reporter's question.

"When will be the project get launched? What are the strategies of the project? When will the ISRO make an official statement regarding it? It will be a space project, right?" The media was firing questions.

"No more questions. We are leaving now." Papa said in a formal tone. Media's were continuously clicking their pictures.

"See, that's it! No one asked about Rahul after Papa's statement. This is how we control the media." Mom smirked. Akash gave a nod.

Yes, she was right. With money and power, we can achieve everything.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"It's okay. You don't have to return me this money. I have no other issues with it." I was on my way to the ground. I stood as I heard Mehta's gentle voice. It was for the first time I'm hearing her soft voice.

"No, SM. I can't take this money from you. Please, don't force me." I glimpsed at them. They were having a conversation behind the stairs.

"Fine. You dont have to take this money for free. You can return it when you have a stable job and income." Mehta said. Who is the girl? Why Mehta is forcing her to take the money. My mind was filled with questions.

"Okay, I will take. But, how did you understand that I don't have money to pay the fees?" The girl asked.

"I heard your conversation with your friend, Reema," Mehta answered.

"But still, how can you help someone like me?" The girl asked with astonishment. Even I was confused.

"I just felt. And that's why I'm here. Also, don't tell anyone about it. It should be a secret between us." Mehta smiled. Oh my god! Does she know to smile?

Suddenly Akash's question came into my mind. Why can't you date her? God!

I swear Akash had taken away my mental peace with her name.

"Sanskar, come. The practice has started." I started to walk away as I got the call from the coach.

Soon all of us started to practice. I saw an intense pair of eyes staring at me. To my surprise, it was Mehta's. I didn't expect her to come for cheering me up. We won the first two practice matches. I was glad.

Then, all of us were ready to do the dance practice.

The song played and we started to dance together. I must say, she was a good dancer. Her body language and dancing wave were excellent. But she behaved unusually.

"Leave me!!" All of the sudden, she pushed me.

"What's wrong with you, Mehta." I growled as I fell.

"Sanskar..." But to my surprise, she held my hands preventing me from falling. She called my name. I was totally stunned.

Before I could ask her anything further, the faculty in charge threw as out of the classroom. Soon, we reached another classroom continuing our session.

After finishing a round, Mehta was lost. But why? What was her problem? It was her who initiated the deal. She seemed to be like in so much uneasy with me. Her facial expression said all of that.

Suddenly, my attention went to her birthmark. It was a tangled triangle. I have seen it somewhere...but where?

My thoughts got broke as I saw Mehta correcting her dress as she noticed my stare. She was uncomfortable. I sighed.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Just think about it, Sanskar. You have dated almost every girl in our campus. Then what's the problem?" I grinned my teeth as Akash said it for the nth time.

"Do you have any idea about what you are talking about?" I glared at him. He was asking me to date her...

"Common Sanskar, dating doesn't need love." He claimed. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Yes, but at least an attraction," I stated. "Also, don't forget that she is Swara Mehta, our rival's daughter." I continued.

"Don't say that to me. I know your life history better than anyone. You have dated many girls who were our rival's daughters." He reasoned.

"Also, it is just for two weeks." He added.

"No, I can't!" I yelled.

"Then, accept it. You are afraid that she will not fall for your charms." Akash!! He was really triggering the shit out of me.

"Shut up!" I yelled again.

"Or you are afraid that you will fall for her." He said and I lost my cool.

"Stop it, Akash. This isn't funny. I'm not going to fall for her ever. I'm not even attracted to her. He is completely out of my league." I shoot daggers at him.

"Then what? It's just like a deal. You can stay together in front of the public. It will benefit you both." Akash smiled patting my shoulder.

He was right. But still...

"Do you really think that she will agree?" I asked being confused.

"You should make her agree to it. It's not like both of you are gonna fuck tomorrow. Take a chill pill bro." Akash said. I stood silent.

"Okay, I will talk to her," After a minute, I replied.

But she was so comfortable with me. No girl has rejected my charms till now. But Mehta was different, and it was making it beautiful.

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