Diwali, the festival of lights and sweets and crackers and food and more sweets was a couple of weeks away and so were my exams. But nothing could ruin my pre Diwali month not even my semesters. Thus I had begun my preparations and tutoring. I'd taken three weeks off from work to study and retain my grades.

Wouldn't the world stand still if a nerd stopped being a nerd?

Wearing contacts did give me this clearer vision but glasses are and would always be a part of me. Exam prep had a pattern in my class, I would work my ass off to study and collect all the notes and then being the person I am I would impart my knowledge amongst the others. So it happened this year and they all gathered at Gams for tutoring and group studies. We group studied, more like I tutored them.

Diwali holidays were the most awaited holidays of the year especially for me, and Dad was coming which was always a bonus. We would decorate the house, light Diyas (lamps), and even prepare sweets and Diwali snacks at times; he would talk a little more than usual and of course, have Pujas of all kinds.

While my head was filled with pre-Diwali jitters, life had other plans.

Josh and Saloni were getting insufferable, I mean I would see them all the time, my house wasn't mine anymore, even the place where I worked they would somehow land there. In short insufferable.

*******

Exams began and the week was hectic, with notes and books flying everywhere. I felt and lived like a zombie literally, I wouldn't sleep, wouldn't eat properly and my body was sore from sitting on the once very cozy couch all the time. Exams also meant less of Saloni sightings. Josh and I would study together. We took turns in making chai (tea); thank god he was a chai person and not a coffee person.

Once it so happened during our economics paper that I slept on the couch and he was dead asleep on the dining table and my emergency alarm was set off, the alarm you keep for being on the extra safer side yes that one. We both jumped in our respective places and looked at each other and yelled, "We are fucking late!"

And that followed the chores of freshening up in flash like speed. We got dressed and hired an auto still revising. We got off and were sprinting towards our classes, 5 minutes to the bell. I was busy revising when he snatched my notes and tucked them inside his bag.

"Relax you are more than prepared; Here" and he tossed an apple at me.

At the same time my tummy growled and I smiled, "thank you."

He winked and munched on his own apple when Saloni came and started her yack yack. Lekha was as usual chilled throughout her paper and Zar was hyperactive. We somehow sailed through.

And these small moments were omnipresent, Josh, gam and I were indeed a family and we cared even if we disliked or just tolerated one another's presence.

Last exam the excitement was crackling in the air, as our mundane exam routine, we hired a rickshaw and were on our way to school.

"So this party is like a tradition as well?"Josh asked

"Pretty much, our class thinks it's fun to celebrate the last day together, bonding and stuff..."I said

"And what do you not like bonding?" He inquired

"Of course I like it, it was my idea in the first place but m just dead beat right now and I see nothing but my bed and lots of food and TV..."I said dreamily.

He chuckled and soon we were in our class.

"So is it like a ritual now?" Lekha asked

"What ritual?" I asked with a confused face

"Josh and you doing things together?"

She simply stated.

"What, no!" I yelled.

Zarine laughed and I gave her my dirty face.

"Am I missing out on something?"Lekha asked

"Shut up, No!" and the bell rang saving me from the interrogation.

I was busy writing my paper, one hour had gone by and I still had a lot to complete, I was so engrossed that I didn't see Josh get up and go out of the class.

I was called out after some time by the Principal.

I was dumbstruck, but from the look on Mr. Sharma's face I knew something was wrong.