"How about kicking him in the face? Acting all over-enthusiastic just when I was about to ask something about submitting our final-year thesis!" said Sanjay to Veer, speaking about Amir, as both were working on the same project for their year-end semester.
"He's a nice guy, though sometimes irritating," Veer replied with a laugh, looking at Sanjay beside him.
Amir had been a bit distracted lately, worried about his girlfriend who had just arrived to teach a few projects focused on the Middle East.
Apparently, they were looking for students with relevant knowledge, which is way she came here. But she wasn't listening to him anymore - she seemed to find his behavior funny, as if she sensed he had something more on his mind about her, Veer continued.
"How do you even know all this?" Sanjay asked, surprised.
"I was observing him closely ever since we started working on the project. And Miss Naila - though technically a senior - is about the same age as us," Sanjay continued.
"That's what heroes do," Veer added sarcastically.
"Come on, let's go to Evening Cafe for some snacks," said Veer, and they both headed out.
Later that day, in the library hall...
There they were - Veer, Sanjay, and Amir.
"Is it true what I heard from Veer this afternoon about you and Naila?" Sanjay asked Amir.
"Yes, it is," Amir replied with a Casual look.
"I think she's about to leave and head back to her place. How will you manage that? Veer asked, concerned.
"So does he to where she goes," added Sanjay in disbelief, looking at Amir with doubt.
"Wish you the best of luck, my dear friend," said Veer to Amir.
And, he added with a laugh, "We're going to miss the most irritating guy we've ever met!"
They all chuckled and continued their conversation.
While all three were in the car, Amir opened up about his future plans - to settle in the Middle East. He told his close friends that he saw Naila as a possible connection or opportunity that could help him get there.
But it seemed she had been avoiding him ever since she sensed his true intentions, and now he didn't know how to act.
Listening to him, Veer felt a bit of a connection to his situation and advised, "Let's go to Naila's residence."
"It's okay, where is it?" Sanjay asked.
"Oh no, why now? Oh god, please drop me nearby, I"ll go home on my own," said Amir in a minor panic, but ended up revealing where she stayed - almost unintentionally.
Near her residence, Veer asked Amir to call her and ask her to come down.
Amir, nervous but cooperative, made a quick call and explained the situation.
After a short conversation, she agreed to come down.
When she arrived, she greeted them all with a smile and shook hands with each of them. Amir stood in shock, unsure of what had just happened, and blurted out, "where's your hijab?"
She smiled playfully and replied in a flirty tone, "Huh... go get it from my room."
From the back, Veer rubbed his right hand across the amulet on his wrist and said with a grin, "Boom!!!".