Hues Of Dusk

Chapter 23. The worst singer

"Shree could you pass me the test tube please?"

"Hm."

"Shree, the test tube."

"What?"

"Test tube."

"Can you repeat again?"

This was it. I smacked the notebook on his head and he yelped. He was busy texting his girlfriend in the middle of the class. I was doing all the work by myself. I narrowed my eyes at him and snatched the phone away from him.

"Give it back!" Shree shouted.

"No way. You are my lab partner. We are supposed to complete this experiment together. Look, the others are already over with it. We are the only ones lagging behind. So you better help me or I am going to tell Mrs. Nair."

"You can't threaten me like that."

"Watch me." I started moving and he grabbed my arm. He nodded his head and started helping me. He kept stealing glances at his phone but I was serious about it. I knew he was head over heels for Mahek but if he didn't pay attention in class, he would affect both of our grades.

We completed just before the bell rang and I sighed in relief. I handed him his phone and he started checking it impatiently. I rolled my eyes. I always took him for a player. Flirting with girls and all. I was surprised to see him acting like a love-stricken puppy.

"Why did you cut your hair?" I asked.

"Just trying a new look."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

I wasn't convinced. He loved his hair more than anything and he cut it just for a new look? One time Shreyas told me how he accidentally got gum in Shree's hair and he went all hulk mode on him. Was it because of Mahek?

"Shree!" Mahek called him and he turned towards her. She jumped right into his arms and he hugged her tightly. They were like this everytime. They went to the same college and acted like they hadn't seen each other for years.

"Let's go baby. I am hungry," Mahek said in a baby voice and I cringed.

"Sure. What do you want to eat? I will buy you anything," Shree said and ran a hand through her hair. She blushed and I couldn't bear to torture my eyes any longer.

"Bye Shree," I said and he didn't reply. Of course he wouldn't. He was lost in Mahek's fake green eye lenses. I wondered if he knew that or not. I made my way towards the next lecture and left the lovebirds alone.

In the hallway, I sensed a shadow lurking with a sad aura around it. Shreyas. He was wearing a black hoodie and had covered his head with its cap. His eyes looked bloodshot like he cried all night.

"Shreyas, what happened to you?" I asked him and he shook his head. He ignored me and continued on his way. Something bad must have happened for him to act like that. I was getting late so I decided to talk to him later when I got time.

"Parth, that's my seat," I said and he ignored me. I told him to get up but he didn't move an inch. He was busy chatting with Surbhi and they were discussing about long distance relationship.

Parth had a girlfriend who lived overseas and I think he was consulting with Surbhi. Aryan also lived abroad and I tell you, it's not easy to maintain that type of relationship if you ain't got trust and understanding.

I sighed and took a seat behind them. They kept talking non-stop and I felt out of the group. Only if I had a boyfriend outside the country, I could have given some useful input. I took out my books and began reading.