1 Chapter 1

As usual, she took the abandoned path where no one could see her. She felt guilty after failing to get a new friend in the high school she had just transferred to. Some girls talked to her in the class but all of them just felt pity for her. There was no friendship in it at all.

As she walked, she kept kicking on a stone which was a tiny football in her imagination. She was plain, with an average physical appearance. She was 171cm, neither stout nor skinny, she had acne all over her face and was 16 years old but she never gave importance to herself. Since her childhood, she was a good kid following her parent's and teachers' advice. Though she was above average in academic terms, she was not excellent.

When she walked past the abandoned street, there came her school. She had been suffering from being bullied by some of the students from her neighbour class. It's not that she was afraid of those people, but she didn't want to get involved with people because she had always been into shallow relationships.

Like when she was a 5 grader, her best friend with whom she spent the time since kindergarten broke up her friendship with her, then she got to be friends with another two of her classmates but it too didn't work out. Three of them got scattered. So she decided not to get involved with people very much.

She checked if those students were there and stepped ahead towards the school. She walked quite casually while staring at the sky which was covered by clouds. She was trying to get different shapes out of it. She had her own kind of fun, it was a game she often played by herself.

"Heya Veena! Have you already decided to do what I said? " Maya smirked.

" I think it's not up to our cute Ms Acne." Vinod joined her.

Veena stepped back when she noticed the bully gang(Maya, Vinod, Hriday, Akira, Nitin) in front. They were a group of five and they were legendary friends since kindergarten. They all shared each and everything and also fought with each other like siblings but never got apart.

"Bu... But... I think... I don't wanna do it... " Veena stammered.

"We're not requesting you the daydreamer, we're ordering you." Akira pointed out Veena cunningly.

"I'm not used to it, you know! " Veena stated.

"Huh! What? Are you saying that we're used to bullying people around?" Nitin glared.

"Go to the staff room and submit our notes that we were supposed to submit yesterday. Got it? " ordered Akira.

"Why should I do it when I am not even in your class? What will I do if I get caught?"

"Like we care for you! Hey, Miss get it done by today's lunch." Maya dumped the notes into Veena's hands and waved goodbye.

"I think you got what they said." Hriday smiled and followed his friends.

"Oh, God! What's wrong with these people? Isn't it something that they should be worrying about?"

"If I don't do it, they'll probably announce... Me... As... As... Hriday's girlfriend... Uh!!!!

It's just depressing."

Veena talked to her childhood imaginary friend Freddy. Freddy was imagined like a kid when she was a kid and as she grew up, he also grew up as a teenage boy. She never felt alone because she always had Freddy with her to cheer her up.

"He is also popular with girls and if such thing happens, then no girl will talk to me."

She then imagined Freddy giving her a pat on her back. "You'll be in a problem if you don't return to the class now. The break is over." Hriday told.

"Speaking of the devil!" Veena spurted out of shock.

"Devil?"

Veena didn't answer.

"Have you been thinking about me?" he asked.

"Why would I be thinking about you?"

"Don't even fail to submit the notes for the sake of becoming my girlfriend." Hriday looked scary as he said it.

Despite being a cold guy he was popular. Maybe he was popular for this coldness, she thought and nodded.

When she ran to her class, it was already late. The class had already started then. As a punishment for being late to the class, the Economics teacher sent her out. Veena thought, "It is bad. I have to do whatever I missed in this class as homework too."

"Anyways I'm going to get bored at home, better I'll finish it off at home." Freddy gave a cheering smile.

"Veena! Write this question during the lunch break as a test." the Economics teacher handed her a question. But she didn't study Cost curves.

"Freddy, I'm in a problem now. I've to study for this before I write it. I think I have to sacrifice today's lunch even though I skipped my breakfast too." Freddy resembled her worry.

Veena started studying as soon as the next class started without getting the attention of the Commerce teacher. She wished that the lunch break wouldn't come soon. But it was too late, she kept studying until she could confidently write the test.

"Veena! Aren't you going to eat now?" one of her classmates asked.

"Later!" she said and rushed to take out a paper and started writing. Veena sucked in the diagram parts though her theories were good. So it took a long time. There were only five minutes more, she was writing the last question, "Ah! The notes!" she remembered but she had to finish the test. As soon as she finished it, she stood up and the bell rang at the same time. The class representative collected her test paper and her deadline was over.

Veena sat down dejected and the next class started. She couldn't concentrate on the classes and wished a lot that it would be just a dream. Unfortunately, Time had passed on quickly that day. When she stepped out of the classroom, the legendary five was already waiting for her there. The cold guy among them was freaking scary.

She handed over those notes to Akira with a sullen face. "It's time for punishment, what do you think guys?" Nitin said.

Veena stood spellbound. She wanted to say that it was unintentional and she didn't like that punishment. But her voice wouldn't rise at such times. She wanted to run away from there but her legs were trembling and couldn't move. She was really scared of people.

Then, the five of them took her with them out of the campus. There was a huge rush in front of the school. "Freddy, help me!" she murmured. Hriday held her hand and walked swiftly. Veena was in too much shock then. He stopped by the abandoned street and released her hand.

"What are you planning uh? Are you really a cheap girl who wants to go out with a guy that badly? It wasn't a tough task to submit the notes, right?" Hriday sounded irritated.

Veena was troubled but as usual, she remained silent while preparing herself to answer him but it was late.

"Why won't you open your mouth? Answer me!"

"Test..." she paused, Hriday frowned as he had to observe her low voice keenly. "Economics test, I had to write it during lunch."

"Then it can't be helped." he wiped out the sweat on his forehead.

"I don't want to be your girlfriend, it was just my situation that I couldn't finish the task. I'm sorry but why can't you deny it?"

He pondered for a minute and started, "It is actually not your fault. It is my fault and I can't back off now. Let us do what my friends wanted us to do."

Veena blushed, "Do what?" she was surprised.

"Idiot! Pretend to go out. Already we've been seen together by the students from our school. Tomorrow, it will be different for you. Be ready for it."

Veena just nodded but she had so many things to ask.

"What does he mean by saying that it was his mistake? Why is he seriously taking this weird punishment? Who in the world agrees to become a boyfriend of a girl who has no friends, with acne and totally uncool? Freddy, What do you think?" she talked out Freddy to get her head cool and decided not to act weird due to the situation she had got into. She decided to act as usual the next day. But the Devil was standing just at the door of her house.

"Good Morning!" Hriday waved.

"Good Morning." he smiled and accompanied Veena to school. But there was only silence between them. Veena was uncomfortable being with Hriday. Once she headed over the abandoned street, Hriday asked, "Why are you taking this way? Isn't it unsafe for a girl to take this way?"

For some reason, Freddy always looked happy whenever he saw Hriday, so she thought it should be okay to talk with him. "I hate the crowd. It is suffocating. The people, their gaze and their attitude kinda turn me off."

"That's why you are speaking now and you never talk when you're surrounded by people, right?"

Veena didn't answer but stood still. "Why are you always cold?"

"A question for a question?

I look cold."

Veena thought, "Yeah! He is always cool when he talks that's why he is popular. But why would he even pretend to be my boyfriend?"

When they reached the school, it was the hot news of the day and they were being stared at by almost every student. Hriday's attitude didn't change. But Veena was bothered as she hate being the centre of attraction the most, especially this pissed off her the most that everyone was staring at her as Hriday's first girlfriend. "Yes! I'm his first girlfriend, even if it is just an act, it freaks me out the most, Freddy."

Veena always used to sit on the playground's stone bench during intervals. Because she can stare at the sky to her heart's content. She always liked the sky but no reason behind it. When she was heading to her usual place during the interval, she walked with her head down to avoid people around.

She took her seat and started to look into the sky. "Such a weird girl she is. I wonder what Hriday sees in this girl?" a girl passed by talked.

"No wonder, they are true. I don't know what to do now." Veena thought.

"Freddy!" She sighed.

"Who is Freddy?" Legendary five approached her. Veena turned towards them but kept silent. "Well, we don't care. Since you're acting as Hriday's girlfriend, we should act as we are your friends too. So act accordingly." Akira handed over the chocolate that she bought for all of them to Veena.

She couldn't believe that those people acted friendly towards her. She unwrapped the chocolate as she walked back home. Hriday was beside her so she offered a piece of chocolate to him. "No Thanks! I already had one."

"I will feel awkward if I'm the only one who eats." Veena offered.

Veena started having the chocolate. She was actually enjoying the chocolate wholeheartedly. "Freddy, it's delicious." she thought.

"Do you like chocolates so much?"

Veena turned and said, "Of course, a lot." her eyes were sparkling when she said so. Hriday was carried away for a second, then he blushed.

"Can I ask you something?" Hriday was curious to know who Freddy was. Then he noticed that her bag was not closed after taking the chocolate out of it. Her test paper was visible, she had scored ninety-six percentage.

"Are you a topper?"

"No, I'm just good at studies."

"Well, would you mind teaching us during this weekend?"

"Us? Do you mean the legendary five?"

"Not the legendary five but I mean my friends."

"They bully me," she complained. "Wait, since when I started complaining to him?" she thought.

"Ain't I one of them?"

"But you're not..." she stopped.

"I'm not, then what?"

"Your friends are scary."

"And what about me? Ain't I scary?"

She didn't answer. "Why would I say that? It is awkward to admit it. Just get it. I mean you're really not scary." she thought but couldn't bring it out.

Then he grabbed her hands and pulled her towards him. "Say now, do I not look scary?"

"Fine, I'll come over to weekend study." she shook of him and ran.

"What have I done? Why did I grab her at first?" Hriday regretted. "I'm sorry, Veena!" he shouted. Veena stopped running and turned back. She looked scared and tiny drops of tears peeped out of her eyes.

As the sunset into the mountain, Veena disappeared into the streets. Hriday stood there baffled by his own act. "I made her cry." he wiped his face in tension.

Veena took her laptop and climbed onto the bed, put on the headphones and listened to music while trying to distract herself from thinking about Hriday. But she couldn't stop herself. "Am I an idiot? Why did I even accept to go to the weekend study? I should have just said that he is scary too."

"But Freddy, you know, he seems to be completely a different person after I started talking with him. Sometimes I too think that he is the coolest."

"What is this Freddy? Today, when he grabbed my hands, my heart became restless. I felt like my heart has worn out. I never noticed him before but he is taller than me, he is strong and his eyes looked kind. He didn't hurt me intentionally."

That weekend arrived, though Hriday and Veena continued walking school and home together, they didn't speak a word. Maya invited Veena to the study, something changed after that incident. The legendary five was acting kind towards Veena and Hriday, he never talked to Veena.

Hriday was already waiting outside when Veena opened the door, Hriday and his friends entered the house. They asked Veena's parent's permission but they were happy that their daughter had got friends. Maya fetched everyone to her house in her Dad's car.

It took about fifteen minutes to go to Maya's house from where Veena and Hriday lived. Hriday and Veena lived in neighbourhood streets but never knew before.

"Welcome home Veena. It's your first time to be in my house. Feel free to ask if you need anything." Maya invited.

"Sure. She will ask. Or otherwise, I'll ask on her behalf." Akira chuckled.

"Cut it out, idiot. Start studying." Nitin said.

"Yes, exams are nearing I can't let my score drop." Vinod worried.

"Let me tell you guys, Hriday told that Veena is good at studies and we can clarify our doubts with her," Maya announced.

"Is that so, Miss. Acne?" Vinod asked.

"Stop teasing her stupid. She has even accepted to study with us after suffering because of us." Akira defended.

"Veena, come with me. we shall take some snacks before starting." Maya led her to the kitchen. Veena started unpacking the snacks. "I'm sorry." Maya continued. "We don't actually hate you Veena. It was just your expressions that were interesting at first. That's why we bullied you. But Hriday became weird, he started defending for you. So we bet on you that you would submit our notes or else Hriday should go out with you. We had no idea that you would get scared of us." Then Veena remembered Hriday saying that it was his mistake.

"Did Hriday defend for me?"

"Yes, he does."

"But why?"

"That guy, though has a cold look, really is a child at heart. He doesn't know how to behave when he meets new people. He felt sorry for you when we bullied you but to protect you, he himself became an object of the bet unknowingly."

Veena nodded. "He told us that he has hurt you. Please, don't be mad at him. He will feel guilty and he won't forgive himself."

"I'm not mad at him!" Veena told and left the kitchen.

"Freddy, I feel good after talking with Maya. Can I become closer to them? Is it okay being friends with them?" Veena thought.

"Okay, let us start studying. Veena, you're officially promoted as our tutor now. Come on teaching us." Akira said.

Veena was surprised to know their funny face. She realised that they weren't scary but actually kind. It was fun to be with them. After having lunch, they felt tired. So they decided to have a nap. But Veena couldn't sleep. She went to the living room and was watching TV as Maya instructed. After a few minutes, she got bored and started talking with Freddy.

"Freddy, I'm bored." she sighed.

"Who is Freddy?" Hriday took a seat on the sofa.

"Um... He is my imaginary childhood friend."

"Oh! Only imaginary?" he questioned.

"Yeah! He is an imaginary boy who is my friend since my childhood. He is my ideal guy." Veena covered her mouth and thought, "Ideal guy? Shit, why did I say that?"

"Ha ha ha ha!" Hriday laughed.

"What is there to laugh about?"

"Actually, you don't look childish but you are. So whenever you talk alone, you talk with that guy Freddy. You always stare at the sky, you act weird while eating chocolate and your expressions are totally..." he paused "cute" he whispered.

"What did you say after totally? I couldn't get it."

"Stupid!" he left the living room and entered the restroom. He washed his face and said looking at the mirror, "I like you, Veena! I wish you had heard that I said you were cute, you might have gotten a clue that I may like you and I wish I could say this loud."

Veena after getting home noticed that her imaginary look for Freddy had changed. Freddy started to look like Hriday. "Piles of thought rising in my mind. But everything is related to Hriday. His eyes, his hands that held mine for the first time, his kindness, his tone and everything. Even Freddy became Hriday. Maybe I'm in love with Hriday. Is it true, Freddy? Only if he can read my mind and only if I can say out loud so that he can hear."