Two days after the deep one on one conversation with Dhruv, Divya was finally set to go back to college. It was later on in the night when she had laid back in her bed did she realize that the confessions that she made in front of her brother were the ones that were eating her up more than the grief of losing her grandfather and somehow that had made her feel a bit guilty as well.

But that morning of 25th December when she walked out of her house with a bright smile on her face, it seemed destiny had something else in her mind, as she came face to face with Parth sharma.

As much as Divya hated him, she had to agree that Parth did have quite a charm as well as looked good when he was dressed well just the way he was dressed right now, in khaki shorts and a v neck t-shirt that surprisingly showed his collar bones and the perfect jawline that many of the girls including her distant cousins had many times drooled on. Even though he looked so good, perfect, there was just one problem.

"Ohh, Ms.SVM is ready for her duty? So what is it now? A social event or a ball... Hey does your college even have an auditorium to organize all those events that you guys brag about? " Parth taunted. And seemingly that was the worst part of him. His mouth that foul thing which Divya so wished she could have sealed back in 7th grade when she used to practice stitching and all the while he used to make fun of her.

"I don't want to fight with you Parth...I am in a really good mood today so please." Divya warned and went up to the lift and pressed the call button.

She heard the shuffling of feet as Parth came and stood beside her, he didn't speak anything for a while but kept on moving from one feet to another.

"Okay, out with it." Divya breathed.

"You did a great job at the students week, you don't have to beat yourself for what happened at the open mic, rather focus on the student of the year I am sure you can make it. "

"Parth did bhai... "

"Ohh no, I got to know from a few of my friends that are in your college, they told me. Divya many adore you for what you have been doing all this while, and this was just a small incident, people won't even remember in a few days, in fact I promise you today when you would go back to college they all will be already fussing over the student of the year and mélange... focus on that Divya, this year I am sure you will get the event admin and surely bag that award. "

Divya kept on staring at Parth who smiled at her and opened the gates for the lift. She wondered what was wrong with him, he was all of a sudden acting sweet, caring and most of all motivating her. He surely did this many times but sweet words weren't his thing he was more of a taunting and challenging person... something surely didn't feel right.

Walking into the lift she kept on staring at him as he smiled at her and then extended his hand and said, "Don't be so shocked, I was being nice because Nanu died just 3 days ago even I miss him, now take out that 10 rupees I will drop you. "

Divya gaped at him as she handed him the 10 rupee note. She could have surely gone in an auto but walking up to the corner and then getting cramped up in the sharing auto was the last thing she wished to do.

-----

Surprisingly when Divya walked into the college the scene was completely different. Not many were there in the college in the first place as it was already 25 December and from tomorrow the college was going to go on winter break, Divya skimmed the stairs, taking two at a time, it was already 10 and she was a bit late for the meeting for Milange. On reaching the first floor she saw Fatema, the student head of the Milange committee standing there talking with Mrs. Maheshwari. As the lady saw her, she gave her a small smile and then left for the staffroom. As Fatema turned around she smiled brightly at Divya and said,

"Dude, I am so tired, let's go, Ms. Jain is already there in the room and we are late."

"How did you get late?"

"My alarm never woke me up." Divya let out a chuckle as the two reached the class where the meeting was conducted. Dressed in Kurti and Jeans her waist length hair that was kept open, Divya smiled at Ms. Jain who looked at the two with her narrowed eyes.

"I was expecting this meeting to start exactly at 10."

"Sorry Ma'am the Trains were late."

"Isn't that quite a convenient excuse? Now come in, Divya you sit with the events team and Fatema you come and sit here." She pointed towards the seat beside her, as Divya raked her eyes around the class in search of Aman and Rishi and just as she had expected, she couldn't find them. She was all alone in this. Stepping ahead her eyes went off to the hospitality team from last year and then to Madhav who smiled at her and leaned back by the wall, his eyes indicating towards the empty place right in front of her. Divya contemplated for a while, and then walked towards Madhav and sat down. Fetching her bottle she gulped in a few sips and was about to keep the bottle back in her bag when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Pass me the bottle." Divya looked at Madhav, then at her bottle and then back at Madhav who nodded his head as if to tell her that yes he was asking for it. Handing him the bottle she let a huge sigh.

"How are you doing?" Madhav asked. With a small nod Divya conveyed that she was doing well, soon the discussion on different things and plans for various events were discussed. She couldn't believe Mélange was finally here. It gave her a weird surge and excitement.

Mélange was the yearly international event where in they organized international level conferences, many people with different ideas or ideas that contradict the existing ones would be found by the team and provide them this platform to express their idea. But even this as well had a twist. It was divided into various sections, the adventure, the pre event and the social event. S.V.M had been getting the license for the event for the last three years now from the Head office of Mélange which was in the US.

Divya looked around as Fatema kept on explaining them this year's theme, how and what all things they were going to do, once she was done each of the team were to give an action plan, Divya explained her in the shortest way possible and was then interrupted by the Ms. Jain, "Can't we have a series of Social events this year...marketing, event what do you guys think?"

Divya looked back at Madhav who looked back at her expecting her to speak something, when none spoke Divya saw the way Madhav breath in the air slowly inhaling and then Exhaling through his nose as he said, "Ma'am we do have certain ideas, I will be discussing them with the events soon, right now it's just Divya, so once the whole team is here we will frame a proper plan and get back to you."

The discussion then continued over getting suggestions as Divya and Madhav kept a note of them, many Divya wasn't sure with as they were quite outdated, there were some to which Madhav said right in her face "Isn't this an international level event how can they get such stupid ideas from?"

Divya tried her best to control her smile, as she nodded her head and said, "Chill, they all are new here, with time they will get used to it." As the rest continued to discuss Divya found herself and Madhav falling into a discussion of their own, the list of things that they had planned out was surprisingly worth giving a shot. Madhav was lightly commenting on conducting their spotlight event which was specially designed for the students of S.V.M and not for any external delegates to be conducted at the tea villa café that was down the lane from their college, when the convener had an idea and called out to the class, "Why don't we celebrate secret santa today, let's set a budget and make lots and get gifts for each other."

Quite confused, and taken off guard Divya looked at Madhav who was rolling his eyes. It wasn't a shock that many times the professor would come up with things all of a sudden but.... Coming up with a secret santa event during an official meeting was not something they had expected. While Many refused but soon agreed, the amount decided was 30rs, Divya found it to be quite less whereas Madhav had a completely different perspective for it.

"I guess 10 rs would suffice, Divya what do you think chana or maybe peanut of 10rs would be best...ohh no Sandwich from Raju sandwich."

Divya looked at him as if he had grown two horns and said, "Madhav don't act so cheap...show me whose name have you got?'

"It's some girl, do you know her." Divya checked the name, she knew many people around there, but she was still confused, yet betting against all the odds she looked around and made a wild guess.

"I think it's her in that purple dress, I know many out here, but I am not sure about her name. It has to be her."

When everyone began dispersing, a huge crowd was assembled near their desk as people collected the remaining chits, Madhav and Divya were still discussing on what to get when Madhav all of a sudden started asking people their names.

He started off with a few boys, then went to the girls, he even pretended to ask Divya her name and then finally asked the purple colored top girl her name.

"Saloni." She replied.

It took Divya all of her energy to act normal, and not burst out laughing. At that moment she felt so proud of herself and so sorry for Madhav who was already making weird faces. Once the whole class was empty and it was just her Fatema and Madhav, did she laugh aloud.

"Dude what's wrong with her?' Fatema asked Madhav , who had this weird face.

"He is gone, I was so right Madhav ...he has got saloni, the girl who was dressed in purple,I was telling him it has to be her, but he wouldn't agree." And with that Fatem and Divya went into a fit of laughter.

"I swear I am going to get her a bottle of sprite from jhoomka bhakar." With that said Madhav took hold of his bag and sped off downstairs with Fatema and Divya making faces at him and calling him names.

About an hour later, the three of them were settled back in a different classroom, with Fatema ahead on the teachers desk, while Divya and Madhav kept on making comments and singing songs like chikni chameli, or at times when Fatema would ask someone to sing carol Madhav would scream on top of his voice,

"Bhai, zor se bolo..."

And with that the whole would scream after Divya, "Jai mata di" the series kept on going, while Divya bonded off with Madhav. She was enjoying her day very well. It had been months that she wasn't really in charge of things, she liked to sit there at the back for once, enjoy the moment and make fun of everyone.

It made her realize that though she once wanted to stand there at the desk taking the lead, she did take one, but that position was very much difficult filled with so many things, but then so was sitting here and making friends and just chill around.

She liked the limelight, but as well preferred to just be a normal person once in a while.

Madhav , Fatima And Divya soon made their way out of the room as the meeting finally got adjourned, with Fatima Being the new target to get a customized pen. There was a valid question raised by Madhav .

"How did the guy manage to get a customized pen in just half an hour and that too in their college premises?" this was really fishy.

And while they all stood there outside the college solving the mystery, Divya couldn't imagine what all was yet to come in their way. She knew she was yet again on the way of making great friends here in Milange, a new set of memories awaited them, but then there was as well a realization that with the end of this year, they had just 3 months in their hand. And she surely had to make them worth the wait.

**********

Two hours later Divya had contacted Nandini and Simran and had decided to meet at Nandini's place. As she got out of the college she collided with an irritated Madhav and a laughing fatema .

"What's wrong with your face?" She asked.

"Dude I got a freaking Telephone diary, you got a pop socket that good for nothing Saloni as well got a pop socket and this..this stupid Fatema got a customized pen with a secret admirer for free." Madhav vented out in frustration as he sat down in the BTM Garden while Divya decided to wait for Nandini there.

"Aww, it's okay Madhav, you can write down phone numbers in it...you know for marketing." The look that he gave to both the girls was their last straw as Fatema and Divya Kept on making fun of it, while Madhav complained how he wasted 50rs. because of the two girls on that pop socket that he gifted to saloni whom he hardly knew, he wondered what was he going to do with his telephone diary.

Who the hell gives a telephone diary at this time...he exclaimed once again, and he fiddled with it, he said "Oh this is nice, I can now make a list of people whom I am yet to judge, I will have to tell Shaina about this...she is going to have fun."

And with that he was off to meet Shaina, his best friend, sister and the partner for crimes, as well as the founder of the judging committee who would sit at the entrance of the college in the waiting area judging people who would come in and go just for the sake of it. Bitching about everything and anything.

It was that one committee that Divya wanted to stay away from most, but never had she ever thought that the upcoming months would make her one of the prime members of that committee.

---------------------------------------------------------------

As Divya took off her shoes and stepped into Nandini's house she noticed her grandmother and grandfather seated in their usual place on the couch that was kept in the living room. She stood there for a while, joined her hands together and did a Namaste as the old couple smiled at her. She remembered how once Nandini had mentioned to her that her mom was quite impressed with her the first time she was here, just like today even that day she had greeted her grandparents with the same respect, and valour.

With a small smile and a nod, Divya walked in towards the bedroom, she had loved the way this room was decorated, though there wasn't a window to this room, this had been the perfect room for them to gossip about things. As she took a seat on the chair, and kept her bag aside, Divya reminisced the days of first year when they would come here so often. At times just because they weren't in any mood to go for lectures or the times when they wanted to take pictures, or the other times when they would have their presentations. Many times Nandini's mom wouldn't be at home, but all the while that she had been there,she had made sure that the girls were well entertained. And somehow now Divya and she had become close, close enough to gang up on Nandini together, close enough for Nandini's mom to tease her with the questions of Crushes and boyfriends and what not.

"Divya, Hi dear, it's been quite some time you had been here, why so?" Divya looked up as Nandini's mom smiled at her, and then looked out to see the rest of the gang coming in.

"Ohh so even Simran and Natasha are here....Natasha you are still alive? I thought since there wasn't any news about you maybe something happened." Nandini's Mom commented, although her hands were gesturing them to come and sit inside as she herself made her way back into the kitchen to get some water.

"Ohh no aunty, I was always alive it's just that college is hectic and boring at the same time." Natasha replied while the rest of the girls began hooting.

"You are such a liar Natasha, how much more are you going to lie in this one life?" Nandini exclaimed in her dramatic pose. She then went ahead and pushed Natasha on the bed and said, "Maa, this girl hasn't been there in college since August, even today that she is here is all because she wanted to ask for some leave, thank god we got hold of her and brought her here."

"I was not running off, and I am yet to pack for my get away."

"You are not leaving until I am. Now sit there, there are even pillows if you want to sleep around." Divya said as she pulled up her legs and rested them on the bed, her eyes then moving out towards Simran who was fiddling with the phone, she observed the way she slid her phone's screen, a smile crept on her face which soon vanished as her phone began ringing. Her eyes then went off to Nandini who nodded her head and when she found Divya looking at her with her eyes narrowed, she smiled at her and walked off the room.

Before Divya could voice out her concerns Nandini's mom walked into the room, handed them the glasses of water and asked them if they wanted to have sev puri or bhel. That was the best treat that had been getting everytime that they came here during the late afternoon. Nandini's mom had a contact with this best sev puri vendor who delivered them customized sev puri, bhel etc, and they were just to die for. As the girls gave in to their requirements, Divya fetched out her phone and dropped a quick message to her mom explaining that she would be coming in late.

Once the girls were finally settled in, Divya took hold of the pillow and said, "So Simran how are things going on?"

All of them knew that at some point of time this topic was going to come, though Divya asked in the most neutral matter, none of them could stop the waves of shock that they received on the direct hit towards Simran. For a while there was a deafening silence as Simran looked around here and there and then finally said,

"Things are getting very complicated, do you know Rohan?"

"Not really well"

"Arey he was the guy who had come with me when we all Kabeer, Edwin and all had gone for break, the other guy who was there with me... I began talking with him last year during vacations, we met and things were going great, we had started off as friends, but now..." the way Simran said now and her eyes went off to everyone seated in the room made Divya anxious she hoped things were not really bad, Simran had already had her share of heart break and she didn't really wanted to see her in any more pain.

"What about now?'

"Now Mustafa is back, he wants to talk to her." Nandini interrupted.

"What? Are you serious, after all that drama that he had done?' Divya couldn't forget the days when Simran was so disturbed because of this childhood friend/ long term boyfriend of Simran. In the beginning she had liked him, than he began acting the weird self that he was, and no matter what Divya couldn't support him any more, for sure there were many guys out there who could have been suitable for Simran, but at that moment Divya couldn't agree with anyone...not even Mustafa who had been there with simran for such a long time.

"And what did you say to him?" Divya asked. Her eyes were strained on Simran.

"I tried to avoid him at first, but you know with our families involved it's not easy... he says he has changed, and like you had suggested last time I made sure this time it's me whom I would give the first preference, these boys they have been disturbing me since a while now...and I am just irritated with this whole thing."

"What is it that you have decided to do now?"

"I am not sure, I cant choose one, I know Mustafa well, I know how he is and I even know that he needs me, but at the same time there is Rohan, he is nice, he is warm... but at the same time he has given me so many reasons to doubt his actions. You know what's more frustrating, the fact that these two are equally important for me and to have feelings for two people at the same time. How is that even possible Divya? I feel as if I am cheating someone, it's as if karma is getting back at me for what I did with my ex boyfriends...for saying no to them. But I am not bad, I am good. I know that and I want for once ...for once I want them to let me decide what I want." Simran pulled back her tears and sat properly. Divya could see the way she was on the verge of tears...but she as well knew that Simran wouldn't crumble so easily...she was strong.

"Last time Mustafa had been the controlling jerk that he was, he decided for both of us, and I was glad that we separated, but now since a few days I am seeing the way he is...we have started out as friends and I am liking it that way. But that as well means I am hurting Rohan, he doesn't like it that I hang out with him...I just don't understand why they don't come into terms that both of them are so important for me!"

Natasha sat beside her and wrapped Simran in a tight hug, the girls fell into a deep silence as they all let the words soak in. None could understand what was it that was to be said. However there was one thing that Simran had to know.

"Simran, listen to me, no matter what those boys have to say, I don't know either one of them, I don't know how well Mustafa has changed or what kind of a person Rohan is, but I know who and what you are...and you must know that you are a darling, there is no karma playing games with you, whatever you did with those guys was your choice, you didn't had feelings for them and you had let them know well about it...had you lead them into something and then backed out, things would have been different, but you were clear and had as well made things clear for them, so you don't have to fret about the past."

"As well, with the current scenario, talk to both of them, let them know what you are going through..tell them that for once you expect them to respect your feelings, be it Mustafa or Rohan...they have to understand that when it's a no it's a no...and if you don't want to go ahead with anyone of them even that is okay...Simran it's not necessary to go after and be with someone whom you like...its okay if you want to be away from them for a while, this helps you to understand what is it that you really want. But at the same time may be understanding and sorting your feelings is what you need to do."

Simran nodded her head as Nandini's mom brought in their snacks, the old lady quite sharp with her instincts didn't question much and let the girls be on their own. She somehow had an idea about the things, about Mustafa and Simran's breakup about her and Rohan now being close friends, and somewhere she batted more towards Rohan than Mustafa she would always say that Simran deserved way better than Mustafa. And Divya had to agree that no matter what somewhere aunty was right...and that as well doesn't mean she favoured Rohan, she just didn't approve of Mustafa much.

But then she herself wasn't really in for this theory of love and relationships, she had kept herself at a par from these things for a while now, not that she ever had been in any relation, but she surely had a bad...very bad experience to decide it wasn't really her thing. All Divya wanted for Simran was that, at the end of the day she would be happy... she wouldn't have regrets in her life, and she would be yet another confident person after all this.

"You know what I think?" Nandini asked, bringing their attention to her.

"What?"

"I think we all should go together for the IV, I heard Aman and Rishi talking the other day they were saying once the college reopens they are going to be after ma'am for IV, let us all go there together get a change into our life and then Simran, maybe you could decide what you really want to do with this.?" Nandini explained.

"Umm that's actually a nice idea, even I was thinking about IV, this is the last year I don't know when we would get any other chance." Divya said, as she then bit into her sev puri.

"I am not sure about it, recently I had gone to Singapore, and then tomorrow we are going out again, I don't know if my parents would allow me or not." Natasha said.

"Why, areee, talk to them not now may be in a few days, we still have lots of time, places are yet to be decided and with the speed at which Miss Jain works I am sure we will be going to IV in march that's quite known." Divya explained as she then looked upto Simran who was quite unsure but nodded her head and soon the topic then went off to Natasha telling about her some crush from some other college and from whom she was supposedly moving on.

Divya didn't know what would really happen with Simran's situation if it would really get sorted as easily as they were thinking it to be, but she really hoped whatever happens none of the three should be badly hurt, at least not this time. 

A/N

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The Student of the year. 

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Yadni Bagwe