Desire In The Heart

After few days in the college :

Dev, in company, with his

squad, was training under the guidance of their drill instructor, Mr. Daksh.

"Work on, Chappies, perform more push ups. We have to be more hale and hearty for upcoming Spring Festival. We need to train both our mind and body harder," Mr Daksh was roaring like a lion,"Only then,we can win."

After confirming that each player had performed minimum 200-300 pushups, he announced,

"OK, now stand up and start doing lunges."

"But, Sir we are tired. At least, give us a short break." Krish propped on his knees and was gasping.

"You want a break? Why don't you go and play with girls. This place is for men."

"Then shouldn't Daisy be here too?" Krish whispered to himself.

Dev, who was standing close enough to Krish and taking a sip of water from his bottle at the particular moment, couldn't resist his amusement and spilled some water from his mouth and started choking up.

"Dev, are you alright?" Krish held him with left hand and patted on his back with right hand.

Mr. Daksh rushed towards Dev and made him seated on a chair.

"Yeah I am fine now, guys." Dev said while panting.

"Dev, do you need any medical help?" Mr. Daksh asked.

"No.... No.... I am really good."

"Let's take a break of 20 minutes." He announced.

"Krish, you were desiring a break from the bottom of your heart, even God had to fulfil your wish." Another boy, Vinay from their group, who was a good friend of Dev and Krish cackled.

"Huh! That iceberg was comparing me with fragile girls."

"I think, girls are stronger than you, Krish. See, even Daisy can beat you in minutes, no... no.... You can't even stand that long against her, I mean seconds." Dev was mocking him.

Krish was standing while crossing his legs.

"Oh come on, you know she is not some ordinary girl. She is a lad disguised in a lady's body. Behind her feminine face, there is a barbaric and reckless man."

"You are making fun of our sincere friend. In my opinion, she is a very pretty Girl." Dev made a super cute face.

Krish was clueless as to why Dev had suddenly changed his attitude. He scratched his head and he was just transferring his goggles from the rabbit face of David to the face of other boys. But he couldn't comprehend the situation.

"Krishhhhh, so you think I am a man?" Daisy was standing right behind him.

Terror struck in Krish's heart and his body became stiff.

Daisy walked in front of Krish and was gazing at him like an investigator. She moved his head to look at Dev's clean-shaven face and gave a horse laughter.

"Hahahaha, Look at your 12'o clocked faces." She was smirking. "You guys think I don't know you. No one is so innocent here. "

Dev and Krish also tried to give fake laugh. They were both speechless.

"Stop acting now." She slapped on both their shoulders. "It's your break so let's go to the cafeteria."

"Ahhhh, your hammer hand." Dev complained rubbing his shoulder.

"But Daisy what are you doing here? Don't you know this is the period of Mr. Iceberg." Krish asked.

"I was coming out of my dance class. Mr. Daksh was outside the arts department. He told me about Dev's condition so I came here to check." Daisy said in soft and concerned voice, "Are you alright, Dev?"

"I am fine, Daz. Don't worry. Let's go. Krish and I are starving."

At the cafeteria, Krish, Dev and Daisy were chatting on a table  near a glass window through which one could easily see outside.

"Dev, are you excited about the anniversary of our college." Krish asked. "You and Nina are getting awards this year too."

"Not that much. It is not my first time to receive this Mount Prestige Award. I  attained that last year too, glorifying me for winning the title of Charm King."

He took a bite of chocolate pudding.

"It would be sensational for those students who are getting this honour for the first time."

...............

Miss Spacie was lecturing about search engines in the classroom in which Aster and Roshni were studying.

"I hope you all got what I fleshed out today."

"Ohh! I have some information for you." she  announced, "Roshni please come and inform everyone."

Roshni straightened up from her seat and stepped towards the stage over which Miss Spacie was standing.

She whirled towards her classmates and said,

"We all are aware that every year, on 17th August, our college celebrate its anniversary and on that occasion, they glorify some students who have contributed in maintaining the prestige of our college."

Her voice was energetic and confident.

Seeing her self-esteem Aster thought, "I wish my face was clear so I could also get the chance to be on the stage." Her eyes started to become numb.

"And In our computer department, there is a total of 20  sections but We are so fortunate that one of our classmate got the chance to win the Mount Prestige Award." Roshni added.

She raised her eyebrows and asked," And does anyone have any idea who got that chance."

"I think, it's me. I had helped Miss Rosy in gardening. "

"No.... It should be me. "

"How can it be you? It's me. I have clearly done so much for the college... "

Many students boasted.

Aster was also thinking, Who can that lucky person be?

"All my classmates are precious gems but until now, only one has been identified and that person issssss." she maintained the suspense, "That person issssss."

"Aster" she shouted making some students shocked and some students grieved.

A sudden dread hits Aster's heart and reached to her feet in the form of frigidity. But in spite of sudden shock, a beautiful grin expressed on her lips.

"OMG! I am getting an award. All my hard work will get recognition now ."

"This ugly won the lottery" a girl sitting ahead Aster murmured, "I heard Dev Raichand will also be present on the stage. He is getting an award too."

"Yep this hateful creature is so blessed. She will be standing next to Dev." Another girl replied.

Many other students were also gossiping about Aster.

"Hush! Keep quiet." Miss Spacie smacked on the table.

"Let Roshni finish her oration."

"Roshni." Miss Spacie gestured  her to continue speech.

"At the beginning of this semester, we were instructed to create a software, website on any project, but out of all of them, only the best, could have been selected to get presented in front of Cherry Blossom."  

Roshni took a sigh and continued,

"All projects were very impressive but Aster's project was excellent so it has been selected by computer staff and Mr Kiyaan."

She twinkled to show her happiness,

"So Aster will also be honoured by Mr Kiyaan and Miss Samantha on the celebration Day. Thank you for listening to me carefully."

"Aster, be ready for the  celebration day." Miss Spacie ordered her.

She took up her articles from the table.

"Don't forget to revise what I taught you today. I am leaving now. Meet you tomorrow."

Miss Spacie departed from classroom.

Roshni walked towards Aster and stood beside her.

Aster swirled her head to look at her.

"Aster, Can I have a minute." Roshni pleaded.

"yaa, sure."

"Not here. Let's talk in the garden."

Aster couldn't deny her request.

"A-OK"

In the garden, there was a strange silence as Roshni invited Aster to talk but she herself was not uttering a single word.

"Flamboyant Garden." Aster broke the quietude.

"Huh?"

Aster rolled her eyeballs and muttered,

"You summoned me to get a glimpse of these radiant flowers. Didn't you?"

Roshni  pressed her lips against each other.

"Are you eager for the award ceremony."

Aster narrowed her eyebrows, resulting in wrinkling glabella. "Shouldn't I? "

"That's not what I mean. Well, you are getting award for your work. You should be well prepared for that day."

"But I am in a blue funk. You know, this is my first time in this institution to get an honour for my work but..... "

She fled her vision from Roshni to eye-catching vibrant roses that were swinging in the motion of the Dawdling wind.

Roshni grinned and propped her right arm on the top rail of the  white-marbled lawnseat and twisted her head facing Aster whose eyes were glimpsing beautiful shrubs.

"Don't you always wished to present your project on the grandstand in front of  CB? Huhhhh" 

Roshni heaved a sigh and continued,

" You confessed yourself that this is your first chance, to be up there, on the stage.  So, You need to be more positive than this. You must have worked so hard for that project. This is your chance. Take it as a practical test for presenting yourself. So that next time, you will be more confident."

Roshni's words were illuminating Aster's soul like the light at the end of the tunnel but why was she encouraging her.

"You approached me to enlighten me. You are not that kind." Aster met her eyes with Roshni's.

Roshni took her vision from Aster's face to the blooming chinar tree.

"Actually, I want an apology for that day.  My words were harsh but believe me, I don't have any personal grudge with you. I was just doing the task assigned to me."

What task is She talking about?

Roshni noticed the confused glare of Aster.

Oh! I spill the beans.

"I mean task of managing the prestige of our section." Words of defence snapped from  her mouth.

"I understand you are a capable  and responsible CR and you didn't said anything wrong. Our eyes only love to watch beauty. I can have anything but not beauty."

Roshni's heart melted by hearing Aster's utterance. She clenched her fists. In this moment, she just wanted to kill that phonecall person.

Aster waved her hand near Roshni's eyes in order to get her attention.

"You were lost in some pondering."

Roshni jerked out of her thoughts.

"Oh! My sincere apologies. So all the best for the ceremony and be confident and bold on the stage."

"Thank you for boasting my confidence. You are not kind but you are not that evil." A pleasant smile appeared on her lips and her starry-eyes were glittering with certitude.

"I need to go."

Aster walked away with a new hope and refreshment.

"Huh! Kind! I am so brutel." Roshni looked into the white-shawled sky and panted her frustration.

She couldn't compress the mountain-pain in her heart and shed some drops of throbbing sensation.

The memories of last night flashed through her mind.

She had been leaning on a sofa in her home and talking with someone on the phone.

"What are you upto? She had been enquiring from the person on the phone.

"Aster has also been selected for the award of Mount Prestige Award. In order to receive that award, she will have to be on the grandstand with Nina, Dev, Mr Kiyaan, Miss Samantha and many other important people."

"So?" Roshni asked.

"She will get embarrassed in front of the whole college." The other person on the phone was smirking.

"What do you mean by that? Why would she get embarrassed?"

"You would understand it on the celebration day. But if she try to slip away, make sure to convince her."

"Roshni, Don't you want to go home today? Miss Spacie who was stalking and talking with Mr. Daksh, noticed and asked Roshni.

"Huhhhh, what? " She was now out of her pondering.

"Roshni, Are you well?"

"Ummmm, yes."

She gripped the clasp of her plaid designed bag. "So.... I am leaving now. " This time her voice was not bold instead it was timid.

Aster entered into her home with optimism and expectations.

"Richiiiiieeeeee, my babbbbbbyyyyy."

She held him lovingly and kissed him.

"I am so delighted. You know I am getting a chance to be on the grand stage with Dev Raichand. Nina will be there too. But it's okay. I will ignore her."

She jumped and slumped on a sofa and Richie was playing around her.

"What should I wear for the celebration?" 

She thought for a minute, "O yaa, I will ask mom, dad and Arnit."

A cuboid-shaped Clock with peacock as a pendulum was hanging on the wall forefront the bed on which Aster was resting and was showing 9:00 p.m. Aster was video chatting with her family.

"My baby daughter is blooming like a flower. What is the reason of this sudden spring?" The man with a dense beard and mustache asked her in a sweet voice on the video call.

"Dad, I am getting an award on the College's anniversary and I am excited but I don't know what to wear."

"Why don't you wear that pink dress which you brother selected for you as a gift on your previous birthday."  Her mom advised.

"Yes, sister, you should wear that dress with the pair of brown heels you wore on my birthday. It will look good  on you. " Her cute younger brother suggested.

"Green light.... Green light."  Aster's eyes were glittering like beads, "I will wear that  dress and brown heels."

"Aster, now its late. You should go to sleep." Her father insisted.

"Good night, Aster. " Her beloved family wished her together.

"Good night." she replied and turned off the laptop.

"The dress will look good but not my face."

She leaned on the pillow propping the wall.

Questions for readers:

Is Roshni good or evil?

What is the plan of that evil person?

What will happen when Dev and Aster cross their path?

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