Tara's POV  

Amma neatly made plates of Saree for me. I was silently listening to her. She has happily given me a good quality chiffon Saree to wear today, telling me that Akash's parents are going to visit today. I sealed my mouth until she was fully done helping me wear the Saree. If I tell her that I'm going to college today she won't be helping me to wear Saree. I had to trick her. 

Once she went out of the room, I grabbed my bag to put my books in it and carefully stepped out of my room. I also took out my sandals and held them in my hands. Tiptoeing without making any noise, I stepped down. The door looked at the front, clear to go. I sneakily walked towards it. 

"Where do you think you are going?" Amma came from behind.

I stopped in my place and sighed quickly. "College Amma" I casually replied to her and started walking. 

"Wait," Amma said. When I looked at her she was standing there, glaring at me, her hands on her waist and eyebrows scrunched up. 

"You are not going to college today"

"But why Amma?" I whined. 

"Forget college now, you will be a daughter-in-law of someone in few days," she said. 

Never in my life, I have felt so much furious. 

I took a deep breath and let it out.

"I can't miss college Amma, it's very important to attend today"

"Akash's parents are visiting today for fixing the ritual date. You have to be at home"

"I said I can not" I tried to be firm but one can't show off in front of mothers.

"They are your in-laws" Her eyes widened while talking to me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Your husband's parents Tara," She claimed.

My irritation went into my nerves. "Stop calling him my husband Amma. He isn't my husband"

"TARA! Even you deny it, the truth isn't going to change. He is your husband and always will be." Her words felt like an unchangeable statement.

"Whatever, I don't have time for this. I need to go to college." I said picking up my clothing bag.

Amma started her nonstop bickering on me. 

"Tara, when will you start listening to me? Your in-laws will not tolerate this.." She bragged about them.

"And I will not tolerate anyone controlling my life," I don't know how many times I will have to tell her this.

"Tara! You will have to behave as per the way they want" She yelled.

"Then they will have to find someone else," I said and stepped out of the house. Leaving Amma's blabber behind me. 

I wore my sandals and started walking ahead ignoring all the woman's stares, whispering about my marriage, my life, my walk, my attitude. Why they can't mind their own business? I ignored them all as I felt at the peak of my anger. The moment I came to the lane, I heard someone calling me out. 

"Your majesty!" 

No! Not today! 

I heard his constant ringing cycle bell sound from behind me. I kept walking ahead, trying to pace up but can't because of Saree.

In a swift motion, Akash stopped his cycle in front of me, making me flinch back. 

"I have been calling you for so long, why aren't you talking to me?"

"Because I don't want to," I asserted.

"Hear me out once Tara," He said.

"Why are you following me now? Don't you have any other work to do?" I walked ahead shouting at him.

He peddled matching my not so fast pace. 

"Naah yes I mean I have. But I want to tell you something important"

I took a deep breath.

"Quick. I don't have time" I said.

"Let's accept this marriage," He said.

That made me halt on my step. I felt shocked. 

"What the hell did you just say?" I almost yelled at him.

He looked calm."The same thing you heard it." 

"Pardon me?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"I said. Let's accept this..." He looked all around but did not look in my eyes. "Marriage" 

My hand moved up and hit across his left cheek. 

"How dare you to say that?" I yelled.

"Slap me thousand times but before that listen to me first why I'm saying this," He added.

"Shut up just shut up. Don't you dare to utter any disgust from your betraying mouth" I warned him but if he listens then he isn't Akash.

I started walking ahead.

"Tara, listen to me" He yelled from behind.

"I so knew it. You also changed like our parents." I blamed.

"It's not like that Tara"

He said. I halted on my steps, he stopped his cycle with a quick break. 

"Remember what you said to me yesterday night. Have you forgotten it, that Don't worry Tara, I will handle everything. Now, what happened?" I shouted at him, in the middle of the road.

"Tara, people are looking at us" He looked around cautiously.

"I don't care. You betrayed me, you broke my trust. I don't want to talk to you neither see your face." I snapped at him.

"But Tara"

"Get out of my way"

I shouted, walking past him. Julia waved at me. I walked towards her. 

"Hey what happened? All okay?" She asked perhaps noticing my angry face. 

"Nothing just keep walking," I mumbled.

"Something has happened. Is that Akash again?" She asked. And I heard the bell ringing again. 

"Don't take his name," I shouted to her too.

"Okay, something has happened between you two!" She controlled her smile.

"No, nothing has happened"

"Tara, you walk so fast" Akash peddled near to me, sarcastically taunting me. 

I ignored him. 

"Hi, Julia," He went to her side.

"Akash! How are you today?" Julia said. 

Why is she even talking to him? This will only encourage him to trouble me more. 

"I'm good Julia." He said.

"So you going to give me a ride to college?" She asked.

"I would love to but not today, I have another important work to do," He told her.

I walked faster leaving them behind.

"Tara. Listen to me once"

I looked straight ignoring him, giving him my silence. 

He peddled to my side, deliberately putting the cycle tire in between my way. 

I had to stop so many times while walking. I saw Julia suppressing her laughter. The irritation went to my nerves so quickly. I stopped carrying the wholesome lava ready to burst out of the volcano. 

"Tara"

"What is it Akash? Hun? I said I don't want to talk to you, still following me? Your ways and my ways are different don't you understand that! Still, why you always trouble me, irritate me, make fun of me every time! I am not interested to invest my time in you, you got that?" I shouted at him. 

"Done?" he looked at me.

He is unbelievable! I gave him a look of disbelief.

"Oh there is more, no problem, let it out I'm listening" He infuriated me more.

"Stop it Akash. Just move out of my way, I don't want to talk to you" I warned him.

"Okay!" He said twitching his lips at me, showing off his dimples. His eyes big, glinting with ideas. 

"Julia, tell your friend Tara that to hear once what her best friend wants to talk about," He told her.

"Julia tells him to get lost," I told her.

"Julia, tell her to stop with her stubbornness it's not working with me," He said again.

"Julia, tell him to go somewhere and never return" I was pissed off.

"Julia, tell her I'm not going anywhere else," He said in between.

"Julia, tell him I don't want to listen to his so-called truthful talk," I told her.

"Julia, tell her she will have to listen, as she doesn't have any other option," He said.

"Julia".         "Julia"

"STOPPPP." 

Julia squealed. She has her hand on her face, looking at us shocked. 

"You both just stop fighting and talk with each other like mature people to solve whatever your issue is"

"Tell her to be mature first" Akash pointed at me.

"Oh really, says the one who can't stay firm on his words" I mocked at him.

"Tara for that you have to listen to me first" He affirmed.

"No way, I am not going to get myself fooled again"

I said and started walking ahead.

"Julia, are you coming with me or not?" I snapped at her. She came running behind me.

Unfortunately, I saw Akash also started riding his cycle closely behind me. I took deep breaths to calm myself down. 

"Tara why don't you just listen to me for once, what I am trying to say is..." I cut him.

"You are an idiot Akash. I am not going to waste my time in you"

"Ahan! there there...I will also see how you will not talk to me" 

He peddled his cycle with a force. 

I and Julia boarded on bus, Akash followed me there. We got down from the bus, boarded the tram. Akash followed me there too. For once, I felt he was better at following other girls, his chasing me up is giving me so much anxiety and irritation. 

When I finally reached college, I and Julia quickly entered through the gate. Thank God, the watchman of the college stopped him at the gate. When I looked back, I saw Akash is turning his cycle back. I let out a sigh. Finally, he has gone now. 

__

After reaching the classroom, I sat on the usual bench. Julia took a seat beside me. I looked around and a thought came to my mind., why so fewer students are here?

I have also heard very few people were able to crack the entrance exam along with me and Julia. Girls were few, countable on one hand and boys were exactly opposite of it.

"You should have listened to him Tara," Julia said. 

"Please don't start his topic now, I am finally feeling relieved, that he could not come here," I said opening my books. 

"Hello Tara"

Said Binoy. I knew him because of Akash. Both are best friends since school. We had played together in childhood a lot. 

"Hi Binoy"

I wonder how he secured his place in this course. That too without giving any entrance exam. 

"How are you and Akash?"

Binoy has been exactly the opposite of Akash yet few qualities match with each other. 

"Isn't he a friend of yours? Go ask him", I snapped. He looked baffled. 

If only Binoy would be a girl, then he would have been in my place for Akash and I would have been free!

What on the earth I'm thinking!

"Nothing. I saw Akash outside the college gate" he said. I noticed him stealing glances at Julia in between. 

"So? Doesn't he follows us every time till college?" I said looking down in my book. 

"Quite right. But not 'us'. It's 'You' " 

Binoy said. I ignored him this time and he looked taken aback. He sly smiled at me. 

"Hello Julia" He greeted her. 

"Hi" She waved her fingers at him. 

"I can't believe"

"What?" She asked.

"A beautiful girl like you in my class" He flirted with her.

Julia laughed. 

Seriously? 

For a few minutes she continued laughing at his stupid jokes and I sat there quietly.

How I always become a third wheel with her? 

Professor entered the classroom. Everybody stood up in respect and sat when he gestured his hand down. 

He started teaching and I became engrossed in studying. 

After a few minutes, a little flower hit on my face. It was pinkish but interrupted me in my studies. Must have fallen off and come at me with the wind. I thought and ignored it. But in seconds another flower hit on my face. Without giving me much time, a few more flowers hit on my face. I looked around, and my eyes fell on idiot Akash at the window. He waved at me holding the bars of the window with his one hand. How does he even reach here?