A lot had changed. Anad was surprised at how easy it was being accommodating. Coffee was simple, and boiled. The kitchen was almost bare. The stove sufficed for all the cooking. The house was quiet and pleasantly cold. It was entirely him.
Sashi and he were friends closer than ever. They were still glued together, mostly. But she was starting to see more. Her phone demanded more of her attention, evidence of other friends. She tried convincing him to get a phone. Failed. But didn't seem ready to give up. He made her laugh, but so did others.
And then, the biggest and most important change of all. She noticed Raul.
"Stay," she asked Anad after class.
"Okay," he said, patting the hands that were hugging his arm too tight. "I promise I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to hold my arm hostage."
She realised what he meant. Loosened her hands, but didn't let go.
"Sorry," she said, but her tone was well short of apologetic. "Just say something. And drag me out quick. Please."
Even though she said that, she continued talking, and she dragged him out. She didn't give him time to make sense of the situation. She walked until they were in the grounds far from the history department. The university was big enough. When she finally stopped, he leaned his face into hers.
"What's going on?"
She was flushed. He knew without her having to say anything.
"Raul?" He asked.
"You knew?" She asked back.
"You finally realised?"
"Why didn't you tell me or something?"
"Why is it my responsibility? You have eyes. It's up to you to make sure to use them."
"It's not about the eyes," she spat furiously, but without any real fury. "I just. It's just beyond me, I guess."
"That's not difficult to imagine. Not much there is that isn't beyond you."
"Shut up. Help me. Last night, I was out walking. Crossed paths with Raul. He asked me out to dinner."
"You said yes, didn't you?"
"Why do you sound like you want me to say yes?"
"I'm not asking about me now. I'm asking about you. I can see it in your eyes. In the embarrassment on your face. That you said yes."
"Ha. As if."
"Definitely."
"Fine. Yeah. I said yes. And that's the thing. The last few days, something's been brought to my notice. Wait, you already know. Since when?"
"About Raul liking you? I guess from the beginning. I think you're the only one in all of the class who doesn't know. What else did you notice? That everyone in the class wants you with Raul?"
"What? How could you know that?"
"I do."
She said nothing. They had walked enough. She had them sit under a tree. Not far away, boys and girls were playing football. Friends, and couples, were walking together. Enjoying the evening. There were even others sitting under the trees. Some studying. Some on their phones. Some talking. It was a sight she was far more accustomed to than him.
She was ready. She looked at him, and everything else slipped away into the hazy distance.
"About three weeks ago, Ayesha asked me out of the blue how I could be so blind. I had no idea what she was talking about. She explained. Told me Raul was in love with me since the first day. Went on about how great a guy Raul was, which I knew. Don't feel bad. She also stressed about how much better than you he was. You're both rich, but he doesn't make a big deal of it. He's like everyone else. Unlike you, who's the definition of a snob. I agree with the part about you being a snob, but not the rest."
"I make a really good snob," he agreed, sounding pleased. "I don't even have to put in any effort. It's not as easy as it sounds."
She laughed. Leaned into him, and continued.
"So, last night. I knew he was going to ask me out before he did. Ever since Ayesha told me, I was looking at him. Trying to see if I really was blind. Turns out I was. Even I could see the affection in his eyes when I tried. I can't say I wasn't moved. Never really believed in the idea of love at first sight. Always thought it was ridiculous. And yet, I couldn't keep from being affected witnessing it. Especially since it was directed at me. Anyway, tonight's dinner. I'm excited. Looking forward to it. Also worried. And scared. Am I supposed to feel like this? I feel all messed up. I can ask no one else."
"It doesn't matter," he answered readily. "You feel how you feel. It's not that important to feel right. There isn't a right way to feel. The dinner is all that matters. You. Him. What you talk about. What you decide after. That's all that's important. So, you're fine."
"Thank you."
She meant it. She wrapped his hand around her, resting in his embrace. She didn't tell him everything. Every time she thought about dinner, she felt a pang in her chest. A feeling of loss overwhelmed her, before going away the very next second. She couldn't understand it. And what she couldn't understand, how could she express in words?
"And Sashi," he said after a while. "I don't want to know anything about Raul, or anything about what's between the two of you. I know you'll ask why. I'm a snob. He's supposed to be better than me. I hate him. That's all it is. I just don't want to know anything."
She shook as she laughed heartily.
"Okay."
She felt better after a while. Rose to her feet. Helped him up. Had him walk her to the hostel, and sent him off with an exaggerated wave. She went up to her dorm to prepare for dinner.
He went home. He thought he would feel something when she told him about dinner. But he felt nothing. And he was fine with it. It wasn't him being uncaring. He was just cold. He was just himself.
Sashi was true to her word. She didn't tell him anything. She didn't have to. The next morning, he saw her. And he knew. He smiled at her. She returned the smile with a blush. And that was it.
They still sat together. They were still friends. But they weren't the same. Sashi was slowly drifting away, while Anad remained rooted. The happiness wasn't only the couple's. The rest of the class were basking in the joy too. Anad couldn't keep from feeling like all of the class was gloating at him, claiming to have snatched Sashi from him. He laughed at the thought.
It was true, however, that Sashi was spending lesser and lesser time with him with every passing week. It was understandable. Raul and Sashi were a couple. And they were falling in love. Within a year, they were as close as Sashi and Anad had been when in love. Anad could see that clearer than anyone else. He felt happy for Sashi. And he wanted to feel at ease for having achieved what he set out to do. But he couldn't. The restlessness only grew everyday, culminating in the evening which had Sashi knocking at his door.
"What are you doing here? What's wrong?" He asked at the door.
She was miserable. She held in the tears, but the moment she saw him they burst out.
"I need you," she said.
She pushed him aside, waltzed in and sat herself on the sofa in the living room. Waiting. He took a minute, before joining her. And then, she began.