SUDDEN TWIST

by Flame Dragon

“Its custom made,” he informed her.

  “Oh! Thanks it beautiful,” she said.

  “And this is from me,” Sakshi said giving her another smaller box.

  Inside it was a wrist watch and on the back of the watch were the words “Friends forever!” embossed on it.

  “Mathew?” Natasha asked him smiling who was standing nearby.

  “Ah damn couldn’t you wait?” Mathew thought he felt uncomfortable showing his gift in front of everyone.

  “Don’t you have something for me?” Natasha asked him eagerly.

  “Ah…..ya I do but its big so I kept it over there,” he said pointing to the corner of his left were a huge frame was kept covered in white cloth.

  “I thought I would make something on my own,” he said.

  “Natasha don’t ever marry a guy like him he is a miser,” Sakshi said.

  “I am not a miser okay?” Mathew said irritated.

  They went to the frame and Mathew removed the cover and there it was a beautiful painting of Natasha. In the painting Natasha was looking outside a window thinking.

  “Wow!” Natasha said astonished.

  “Oh my god! How many more talents do you have?” Sakshi asked him surprised.

  “Did you do this on your own?” Natasha asked him touching the frame and taking a closer look.

  “I don’t think so probably got it done by someone right?” Sachin asked jealousy.

  “Na I did it myself, I don’t have that kind of money, besides I can even make a sketch of you right now Natasha,” he said looking at her.

  “Really make one right now, Sakshi come here, Sachin you too,” she said Dragging them closer together by the shoulders.

  Mathew took out a paper and a pencil and in less than 20 minutes he made a sketch of the three of them.

  “Wow that’s awesome Mathew!” Natasha said looking at the sketch and giving him a thumps up, she then took the paper saying “I will keep this”.

  “Mathew can you draw for us too?” some of the girls asked him and he took out a pencil and started to draw.

  Natasha didn’t like it though “Mathew you should enjoy the party,” she said.

  “Na I am okay,” he insisted continuing drawing.

  “C’mon dance with me,” she said finally when he didn’t listen.

  He starred at her for a while “Ask Sachin,” he said finally.

  “No I want you,” and she dragged him before he could finish the sketch.

  “What? Are you feeling jealous now, that I am drawing someone else?” he teased her.

  “Ow shut up,” she said.

  “Sakshi said this was her final goodbye,” Mathew informed her.

  “I am going abroad for my post graduation, Sakshi will start working in the meantime so ya you could say it may be our last year together,” she informed him.

  “You two must have been through a lot together,” Mathew told her.

  “Yep! More than you think, she is like my sister,” she said.

  “Can I have my girl back now!” Sachin came out of nowhere suddenly and began glaring at him.

  “Sachin where were you?” Natasha asked her.

  “Went to get a drink,” he looked at Mathew again he shrugged and left.

  Mathew came out to get some some fresh air and saw Sakshi sitting at the steps with a bottle of beer.

  “Didn’t the professor’s say no boozing?” he asked her.

  “Well the professor’s are not here besides its just one bottle anyway,” she told him.

  “Just one bottle? So you are a hard drinker hmm?” he asked her and Sakshi nodded.

  “So you pulled it off after all not bad,” he said commending her efforts.

  “You wanted to know why Natasha’s parents never celebrate her birthday?” she asked him.

  “Tell me,” he said.

  “I heard it from my dad,” Sakshi began “she had a twin sister Latasha actually, it happened when her parents where celebrating their daughter’s fifth birthday,” she took a gulp from the bottle.

  “What happened?” he asked her curious.

  “Well as you know her dad had just began his business back then and wanted to show off his wealth so he organized a grand party for his twin daughters and invited almost the entire neighbourhood,” Mathew nodded.

  “Apparently Latasha disappeared on that day without a trace the police said it was a kidnapping and that the captors would demand a ransom soon but there was no call demanding any ransom at all they never found the body either it was like a mystery.…no one had a clue what happened,” Mathew was silent. “her dad blamed himself for showing off his wealth and some people even said it was divine punishment for his way of life after that he changed a lot,” she finished the bottle and gave a long sigh “So that’s the story as I heard it,” she told him.

  “Doesn’t she know?” Mathew asked her.

  “Her dad didn’t tell her, thought it was best for her not knowing,” she informed him.

  “Hey! what are you guys doing here? Your not flirting behind my back are you?” it was Natasha and Sachin.

  “Let them be,” Sachin said, he would be much more relieved if Mathew had a girl.

  “Flir….what? No way not with him!” she said “I mean look at him he doesn’t even shave!” she added.

  “Its a fashion statement,” he said proudly.

  “Fashion statement my ass! You look like my uncle!” she replied.

  “Well then you look like my aunt!” he said angrily.

  “Enough both of you, so annoying bickering like little kids,” Natasha said intervening.

  Its getting late we better disperse Mathew reminded Sakshi.

  “Ya right lets go inside,” and they all went in.

  A True Genius

  The exams were approaching and as usual everyone was tense Mathew was spending unusual amount of time with Natasha.

  “How long are you gonna tutor him like this?” Sakshi asked Natasha one day.

  “Why are you even bothered? Just go and munch off some pages you worm! Maybe that way you will learn faster,” Mathew said carelessly.

  “I wasn’t talking to you big ape,” she retorted.

  “Concentrate!” and Natasha smacked him with a book.

  “Ow that hurt!” Mathew yelled.

  “Hey I am gonna go out get us something to eat,” Sakshi said.

  “Don’t you cook here?” Mathew asked them.

  The two girls looked at each other and shrugged.

  “Seriously! Oh brother,” Mathew said shaking his head in disbelief.

  “Two girls in a room and neither knows how to cook what a shame,” he continued.

  “Well we stayed in hostels during our our pre university days so we didn’t have to cook back then,” Natasha said.

  “You know what? Why not you two come to my room and I will cook you something,” Mathew said.

  “Really? You know to cook wow!” Natasha said excitedly.

  “Don’t bother, probably he will just make us a sandwich that’s all,” Sakshi said.

  “Ha! You wanna bet again order me anything and I will have it done,” he said challenging her.

  “Never mind I believe you,” Sakshi said she had a bad experience the last time she lost.

  “Follow me,” he said and the three of them went to his room not far off.

  Mathew’s room was pretty small not even half the size of Natasha’s room with just a desk and chair as furniture and a cushion spread on the floor served as his bed one table fan and a few utensils.

  “Wow you actually live here?!” Natasha asked surprised.

  “Well ya! What did you expect a big palace?” Mathew said as he removed his shirt.

  “Wait what are you doing!” Sakshi shouted.

  “Changing my shirt of course,” he said.

  “Hello! Two girls here where are your manners go somewhere else,” she said outraged.

  “Excuse me this is my room and there is no ‘somewhere else’ here in case yo
u haven’t noticed,” he said removing his shirt.

  “Wow! He is sooo ripped,” Sakshi thought as both she and Natasha starred at him in silence.

  “What now?” Mathew asked annoyed. “Heelllloooo! Are you even looking at my face?” he said waving at them when they didn’t respond.

  “Wha? Oh hmm what was I saying?” Sakshi asked still looking at his body.

  “What wrong?” Mathew asked looking at himself.

  “Nice abs,” Natasha complimented him.

  “What she meant is you look very fit ….. do you like work out or something?” Sakshi said nudging her by the elbow and intervening.

  “Oh no not really,” he said wearing another shirt.

  “You know we are totally cool with you being shirtless I mean its pretty hot isn’t it?” Sakshi said hoping he would listen.

  “Didn’t you just scold me 5 minutes ago for being manner-less?” he asked her.

  “Oh that….well its your room you can do anything you want,” Sakshi said smiling.

  “How about you sit there for once while I cook,” and the two girls nodded.

  He prepared some fried rice and a dry chicken dish.

  “Wow this is good,” Natasha praised him as she ate it.

  “Natasha lets kidnap him and take him to our room so that he can cook us delicious meals everyday,” and they both laughed.

  “Very funny! Anyway do you think I can do well in my exams?” Mathew asked them.

  “Yep definitely you will do fine you have me to coach you after all I am a rank holder myself,” Natasha told him proudly.

  “What do you think Sakshi?” Mathew asked her.

  “I would be most happy if you fail but, I don’t think that’s possible,” Sakshi told him as she ate.

  “Hey don’t say that!” Natasha rebuked her.

  “By the way I found a problem in our project,” Mathew said opening his laptop on the desk “its not working as I we thought,” he continued as he sat on the chair.

  “Let me see,” Natasha said she came and sat on his lap.

  Sakshi almost swallowed a chicken bone when she saw that.

  “Natasha what are you doing?!” she asked startled.

  “Hmm? What?” Natasha asked clueless.

  “Get up now!” she commanded her.

  “Why?” Natasha asked.

  “Just do it don’t ask,” she told her sternly and she got up.

  “You don’t sit on guys laps like that,” she explained to her.

  “Why not? I sit on your lap all the time,” Natasha said.

  “Well we are both girls he is not, okay? So just don’t just sit on anyone like that,” Mathew chuckled on hearing that.

  “What’s so funny you perv?!” Sakshi said angrily “and why did you let her sit on you like that?” she asked him.

  “I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say,” Mathew said scratching his head.

  “Common big deal! Aren’t we all friends?” Natasha asked Sakshi.

  “Ah! Whatever just take a look at that,” Mathew intervened and Natasha got busy again.

  Sakshi kept staring at him.

  “What?!” he asked.

  “Why are all good looking guys pervs? What a waste!” she said.

  The exam had started Sakshi and Natasha were having a last look at all the formulas, while Mathew was busy relaxing casually.

  “He is not even serious!” Sakshi told Natasha.

  “We have our own problems here,” Natasha reminded her and Sakshi went back to her formulas.

  As the exams were done all the students were busy discussing how difficult the papers were.

  “Damn! This sucks I hope I didn’t screw up,” Sakshi told herself irritated.

  “You’ll do fine,” Natasha assured her.

  “Hey Mathew how’s were papers?” Natasha asked him as he came out.

  “I don’t know,” he told her.

  “You don’t know? Are you bloody serious?!!” Sakshi bellowed both surprised and shocked.

  Turning to Natasha she asked “Why do you even bother with this guy?! I mean he is not even serious!”

  “Well he is my friend that’s what’s friends are for to help each other he may not be serious but at least he wants to clear his course that’s enough for me,” Natasha told her.

  “Don’t push yourself, too hard just chill! Its not like you are gonna die or anything if you missed a few marks,” Mathew advised her.

  “When the results come out you better pass!” Sakshi roared.

  “What’s her problem?” Mathew asked Natasha.

  “Maybe she is jealous that I am spending more time with you then her,” she told him guessing.

  “Hmm makes sense,” Mathew thought. “But anyway I will go enjoy myself now that the exams are done,” Mathew added as he left.

  As the days passed the papers were evaluated and results placed on the notice board.

  “Well?” Sakshi asked Natasha as she looked at the notice board for their results.

  “Well congrats your at 10 th place!” Natasha told her.

  “What about you?” Sakshi asked curiously.

  “Well not so well I spent too much time tutoring Mathew I guess,” she said disappointed.

  “Yo what’s up” Mathew came along.

  “Natasha check Mathews results ….” she ordered “I hope you faired well in your exams because Natasha sacrificed her marks so you could get some decent marks,” she continued looking at Mathew.

  “He’s.…. he came first!” Natasha said in shock.

  “What?!” Sakshi asked in disbelief.

  “He’s the highest scorer!” Natasha repeated.

  “Wow! I didn’t know I was that good you know—” but before he could complete he got a punch on the face by Sakshi and fell to the ground.

  “You lair!” Sakshi screamed.

  “Wait you don’t understand—” he said trying to get up but got smacked on the head by Natasha this time.

  “Do you have any idea how my dad will react after seeing my marks? I did it because I thought you needed my help,” Natasha said as she kept punching his shoulder.

  “Wait maybe its a correction mistake or… or wait I copied too,” Mathew said desperately.

  “That’s wont explain how you got first rank, that’s flawless you moron!” Sakshi roared.

  “What do I tell my dad now that I scored low because I was helping you score first rank?” and she stormed off.

  “Look I am sorry I really did need your help,” he yelled as she went.

  “No you didn’t, you just wanted to be with her I think..…well it was a bad call,” Sakshi said standing next to him.

  Bad Feelings

  “Are you still mad at me?” Mathew asked from behind as Sakshi and Natasha were sitting in front.

  She didn’t answer though and pretended to ignore him.

  “Look I just learn fast that’s all I didn’t know anything but after you taught me I could do those sums pretty easy……I mean you are such a great teacher you know,” he said trying to complement her.

  “That was the last time I am tutoring you….…so stop sleeping in classes and get your act together,” Natasha said after a long silence.

  “Ya I will,” he said.

  “Don’t bother he will never change,” Sakshi said.

  “Anyway we will be going on an educational trip to Noida,” the professor continued.

  “Hmm sounds interesting,” Natasha murmured.

  “Hey so are you coming for the trip?” Sachin asked Natasha on the way out and she nodded.

  “Excellent the trip would be boring without you sugar,” he said winking.

  “Please don’t call me that,” she said blushing.

  “Why not? You are so sweet after all,” Sachin said chuckling.

  She just smiled and avoided his eyes.

  “By the way how was your exams?” Sachin asked her.

  “Great! How about you?” she asked.

  “It was awesome
, but of course I didn’t try hard enough,” Sachin replied condescendingly.

  “Why not?” Natasha asked.

  “Didn’t want to stand out I like to mingle with people,” he replied.

  “Mingle what he is blabbering about?” Natasha thought.

  “So why did a big shot like you come to this college anyway? I mean you could have gone abroad to study right?” she inquired.

  “Well I do plan to for my MBA, but right now I would rather stick around here besides this is a perfect place to fall in love with a simple girl don’t you think?” he asked her smiling.

  “Oh! Now I see you little snob! So that’s what its all about wanna stand out among common folk by acting rich rather than being lost in a high class society,” Natasha thought smirking.

  “Anyway how about bringing our own transport the tour bus can be quite congested and hot,” Sachin continued.

  “I knew something wasn’t right took you long enough to show your true colours,” Natasha thought to herself.

  “What do you think?” Sachin asked her.

  “What? Ah no thanks I am good,” she said not knowing what he was asking.

  “Anyway I’ll catch up later,” he told her and left blowing her a kiss as he left.

  “If only he was not so charming,” she thought disappointed.

  As she went to the canteen she found Mathew waiting by the door.

  “Hi!” he said waving.

  “What now?” Natasha asked annoyed.

  “Can I buy you lunch its on me!” Mathew asked her.

  “Look I forgive you okay?” Natasha said as she walked past him.

  “Wait! C’mon then why are you still cold to me,” he asked her.

  “Look, I just had a bad day okay? I need some space,” she told him as she went to get her meals.

  “Can I join you?” he asked her.

  “Help yourself,” she said dismissively.

  And so he joined the two girls, it was not easy though sitting next to two angry girls. Natasha didn’t speak a word with him and acted as if he didn’t exist, while Sakshi glared at him the whole time holding a fork in her hand as if ready to stab him with it.

  “Ouch!” Mathew howled in pain.

  “Opps sorry was that your foot?” Sakshi asked him smirking as she stamped on his foot with her sharp heels.