December 2005

December seemed to be passing faster than Vikram liked. It seemed like it was only yesterday that Aditya had been discharged from the hospital and now they were already halfway through December. It made Vikram wonder if time was actually a master at manipulation when it came to happy times because he was sure it seemed to drag in the months he and Aditya were not talking to each other.

Vikram was in the library with Shruti who had asked to borrow his notes for the exams. She was copying his notes from physics when Ruvee walked in on them.

"I have something important to tell you." she said, leaning close to Vikram so her voice wasn't loud.

Vikram turned and nodded. Ruvee asked to meet him outside the library and Vikram followed.

"What is it?" he asked once they were at a distance where they would not be heard.

Ruvee was trying very hard to bite back a smile but she couldn't anymore. "So you know how you said you wanted to study photography in your undergrad but wasn't sure where you could go?"

Vikram nodded. It had become pretty clear to him that he wanted a career in photojournalism, just like Kartik but he had no idea about the courses and universities.

Ruvee revealed a stack of envelopes which Vikram had somehow failed to notice. "So I searched on the internet and also talked to some people and I found some of the best places where you could study."

Vikram looked at the stack and he was sure there were at least five of them. With her own studies, applications and acceptance essays, Ruvee had taken time out from her busy schedule to do this for Vikram. He couldn't believe this girl was real.

"Thank you." was all Vikram could say because nothing else seemed to suffice.

"There are four universities abroad and one institute in India that's fairly new but I've heard great things about it so far. So go through these brochures and take a pick."

"I... I don't know what to say."

"Just say congratulation."

Vikram looked at her and blinked. "Congratulations?"

Ruvee beamed and nodded. "I got into a writing course in Ireland."

"Oh my god Ruvee!" Vikram exclaim so loud that it would seem it was his acceptance that had come through. "Congratulations!!!"

He leaned, hugging Ruvee. "I am so happy for you. Was it the essay you were hounding me for that got you in?"

"Huh?"

"You know, when you forced me to watch the match because you needed the photo for the article, the last game of the season?"

"Oh..." Ruvee said, recalling it. "No I was bullshitting. I just wanted you to watch the match with me."

Vikram stared at her in disbelief. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Ruvee shrugged. "Look at the bright side, if you weren't there, you and Aditya wouldn't be dating at all."

Vikram suddenly looked around to check if anyone was listening but there was no one else there, so he relaxed. Ruvee was right, if it wasn't for it all, he would have never told Aditya that he liked him.

"What about Aditya's scholarship?" Ruvee asked then. "Anything yet?"

Vikram shook his head. He had briefed Ruvee about the conversation he had with his mom and now, all they could do was wait.

"I am sure it will come through." Ruvee said. "They can't reject him on his academics."

"I hope so too, but it's not that simple."

Ruvee was about to say something when suddenly they were interrupted by Shruti.

"You done?" she asked, her voice a little bitter all of a sudden. Did she still not like Ruvee?

"Yeah." Vikram said and turned to Ruvee. "Congratulation once again." he said, dropping down to leave a peck on her cheeks. "And thanks for these."

Ruvee nodded at him with a smile and left.

Vikram turned to Shruti and found her still boring her eyes on Ruvee as she walked away.

"What's up?" Vikram asked.

"I am done with physics." Shruti said.

"Okay, cool. You can leave my books there. I'll collect them later."

"What are those?" she asked, pointing to the envelopes in Vikram's hands.

"Oh." Vikram held the stack of brochures up. "These are for my university admission for my course in photography."

Shruti's eyes flew open, "Your what?"

"My admission."

Shruti scoffed. "Are you kidding me?" she asked. "I thought we had a plan of going to whichever university I was going to get into."

Vikram felt a little apologetic. "I know." he said, "But that was when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in my future."

Shruti couldn't believe it. "So now that you have new friends, you suddenly know what you want to do?"

Vikram shook his head. "It's not like that. Ruvee was just helping me figuring out which university I want to get into."

Shruti crossed her arms. "Is it true that you two were dating?"

Vikram had no idea where that question came from, but there was no point in denying it. "Yes, for a while."

"Why?" Shruti asked. "I thought you liked me."

Vikram's jaw flung open. "Wait..." he asked, "You knew?"

Shruti shrugged and suddenly walked a step closer. "Of course I knew." She said and took another step towards Vikram. "I always knew."

Vikram froze. What was happening?

Shruti took another small step closer and was barely inches away from Vikram. "I have been looking forward to us going to university together for so long." she said. "I always thought you'd follow me anywhere."

Vikram shook his head lightly and suddenly, held Shruti's arm. The very next moment, he pushed her away. "Are you saying you knew I liked you and yet you chose to date guys right in front of me?" he asked. "Why? Just to make me suffer?"

Shruti cocked her head to her left. "Did you suffer?"

Vikram couldn't believe she was enjoying this. He couldn't believe he was falling into the same cycle all over again. "You know what?" he asked. "I am done with you. I am done with your games and you manipulation. I am done with being your friend."

"And what about our plan of going to the university together?"

"What plan?" Vikram asked, finally fathering courage to say what should have been said long ago. "You were never serious about anything when it came to me. I was only your friend when you didn't have a boyfriend to toy with and the moment you got one, you'd throw me away. So no, Shruti, there is no plan because I am not going anywhere with you."

Shruti laughed scornfully. "You can deny all you want, Vikram, but I know you'll come back because you love me."

Hearing this, Vikram took a huge step back. He looked at Shruti and for the first time in his life, he saw her for what she actually was- anything but his friend. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Shruti, but I do not love you."

Shruti blinked. "That... that's a lie." she said, "You've been in love with me since forever."

"Maybe I was in the past. Or maybe I just thought I was," Vikram said in a low, gentle tone with no hint of anger or contempt. "but I am not anymore" he said. "Because I love someone else."

"Is it Ruvee?"

Vikram laughed. Like he would tell that to Shruti of all people. "It's none of your business."

Saying this, Vikram walked away, his steps lighter than they had been previously.

Only a week was left for the school to actually close down for the study break to start and it was making Vikram restless. The previous day Vikram had told Aditya how he wished they had more time to spend together instead of sitting in class for no reason when both of them were already done with their basic preparations for the exams. Sitting in class and wait for one period to end after the other really seemed like an absolute waste.

It was just as lunch was about to begin when Aditya leaned in closer to Vikram's ears. The butterflies in his stomach somersaulted at the sudden contact, like they did every time.

"Let's go to the lake." Aditya said.

Vikram looked at him in confusion. "It's the middle of the winter. I don't want to swim."

"We'll just sit and do nothing." Aditya said, "I don't want to waste another second in class. Everything they say, I already know."

"Wiseass." Vikram comments and Aditya rested his head on the desk and looked at Vikram pleadingly.

"Please." Aditya said, "It's just a week left and then we won't be able to see each other so regularly."

"But why the lake?"

"It's nice and quiet and no one will find us there."

"Fine!" Vikram said giving up, "But what will we do there?"

"I could read a book and you could watch me."

Vikram laughed. "Is that my only purpose? To watch you?"

"You have no idea how adorable you look when you're watching me."

"Sorry..." Vikram said, "But I need something to do as well. You face isn't even that that appealing for me to ogle all day."

Aditya sat up straight. "Fine!" he said. "Then you read and I will watch you. I could watch those freckles forever."

"Ugh!" a sudden voice reached them and they looked ahead to find Ruvee imitating a gag reflex. "You guys are so disgusting."

"Are you bitter that you're single and we are not?" Aditya asked.

Ruvee threw an eraser over her head that hit Aditya on the face.

"I swear I will kill her one day." Aditya said turning to Vikram.

"Stop fighting." Vikram said, although he enjoyed it more than he'd like to admit.

"Fine." Aditya said and turned to Ruvee. "You can come with us too."

Vikram was surprised that Aditya had invited her, but it was one of the things he absolutely loved about him. Aditya knew Ruvee was very important to Vikram and whenever he made plans when she was around, he would always ask her to come along so that she wouldn't feel left out.

It was true that they fought like siblings but Vikram knew Aditya loved Ruvee as much as Vikram did and that was something Vikram was very grateful for.

"Where to?" Ruvee asked.

"You'll see." was all Aditya said.

Ruvee's first reaction when she saw the lake was disbelief. "How the fuck did I not know this place existed?"

Aditya laughed as he and Vikram followed Ruvee to the clearing. "Isn't it amazing?" Aditya asked.

"It's incredible." Ruvee said and then turned to Aditya in anger. "How long have you known about this place?"

"About a year."

Ruvee took a step towards Aditya and he took a step away from her, fairly sure she was ready to launch into combat mode.

"Are you telling me that the entire summer when I was literally dying of the torturous heat, I could have been here all along, swimming instead?"

Aditya looked at the loss of words all of a sudden. "She needs to be put in a cage." Aditya said looking at Vikram who just put his hand up in surrender. It was between him and Ruvee and Vikram did not want to be dragged into the drama.

The argument between them went back and forth for a while and Vikram just shook his head and took a seat in the clearing, staring out at the calm waters. The sun was hung high in the sky and it was nice, being perched out in the open air under the blue sky. How Vikram wished for the day to never end, minus the bickering going on, that was.

That was the thing about the equation of Ruvee and Aditya, the seemed like they were always at war, but were also thick as thieves. And it was proved the moment they stopped fighting. Aditya walked over and sat next to Vikram and Ruvee immediately sat next to him.

Aditya leaned back a little, with his hands behind his back and Vikram moved closer to him to lean on Aditya. And Ruvee did the same. The moment she sat down, she found a cozy resting place on Aditya's right shoulder.

They sat in silence for a while, just basking under the winter sun and the tranquility of the universe and everything beautiful that it was made up of.

"I will miss you guys." Ruvee said after some time. "When I started my 12th, I thought it would be the same, me being on my own, working late hours in the editorial because I didn't really have anything else to do. Never would have I imagined that I'd have two losers as friends, which somehow sounds worse than having no friends."

Aditya and Vikram laughed.

Aditya then placed a light kiss on the top of Ruvee's head. "Don't worry, we are not going anywhere."

"Please let Vikram say these things." Ruvee said, "It sounds like a threat coming from you."

In response, Aditya put his hand on Ruvee's head and pushed her suddenly as he fell to her side. She immediately turned around and kicked Aditya on the shin.

"Who's going to marry you with that foul temper of yours, Ruvee?" Aditya asked, rubbing his leg where Ruvee had hit him.

"Don't listen to him," Vikram interjected. "Anyone will be lucky to have you."

Ruvee made a fake puppy dog face and held her hand out for Vikram to take. "Sometimes I think I should have never let you go."

Vikram raised his head from Aditya shoulders and took Ruvee's hand. "Sometimes I think the same."

"You what?" Aditya asked and just like he hadpushed Ruvee, he pushed Vikram away from him till he rolled to his side. "Youtwo can go to hell." he said and Ruvee and Vikram broke into uncontrollable laughter.