*Priya Pov*
“All the best for tomorrow’s exam Ritika.” I said getting ready properly for my surprise.
“Why is Bharghav sir so busy these days? I enjoyed talking to him about English and the different books he read. But these days he is not lifting his phone.” She said.
“He is busy with handling as an invigilator like me Ritika. Tomorrow onwards you can call him and he will lift your phone.” I said smiling.
“Your students are lucky that their exams have finished the before day.” She said whining.
“Even your exams will finish tomorrow. Now go and study well. If you don’t write the last exam well then you will think only about it throughout the holidays.” I said in serious tone.
“Yes Madam!” She said hanging up and I laughed looking at my mobile.
“You are going to die seeing me Mr.Bharghav.” I thought grinning looking at myself in the mirror.
I took a taxi and reached his house. I slowly walked towards the door and knocked on it.
He opened the door and looked at me shocked. I grinned twirling around showing him the Saree which he thought would look good on me but it was completely thin one and I always felt discomfort in such type.
“Are you not going to ask me to come in?” I asked him while he still looked at me with mouth open.
“I am busy! I will come to your house.” He replied and I looked at him in shock.
“You are joking!” I said shaking my head.
“I am really busy.” He stressed.
“Ok! I will wait here and you finish your work. I can wait for you.” I said caressing his cheek and walked inside towards the living room with him calling me from behind.
Then I saw an elder women and a lady who is Bharghav’s age who are looking at me in confusion.
I turned towards Bharghav and asked “Your Mom?”
I walked towards her and touched her feet when he nodded and walked back to him smiling at him.
“Who is she Bharghav?” When she asked I looked at him in shock.
He said he will tell us about me when he went near her for Christmas. I face palmed myself because she didn’t see me right.
“Must be his new venture.” The other lady said rolling her eyes.
“Excuse me?” I said looking at her.
“Raji!” Bharghav said warningly.
“You are Raji?” I asked her shocked.
“So you know about me then. Anyway can you leave we are having family discussion.” She replied rolling her eyes.
“What is happening Bharghav?” I asked looking at him.
“Women like you don’t have the right to question.” Raji said.
“Women like me? Do you even know what you are saying?” I asked her raising my voice a little.
“Oh please! Don’t act so innocent. Getting ready like this and coming to another man’s house. We all know what you are.” She said shaking her head.
“Just shut up!” I said glaring at her.
“Priya! Don’t raise your voice on her.” Bharghav said and I looked at him in shock.
“Did you even hear what she is saying?” I asked him fisting my hands.
“Look we are discussing about how to get back together. So if you leave it would be good for us.” Raji said.
“Is it true?” I asked him.
“Ofcourse it is! From the Christmas time we are doing the same and that is what even his Mom wants.” Raji replied instead of Bharghav again.
“Is it true?” I asked him again.
“Yes! But..” he started to say and I shook my head.
“You both are perfect for each other.” I mumbled and started walking away.
“What that’s it? I thought there will be some cat fight?” Raji asked shocked.
“There would have been one with the love I had for him but now he is not worth it.” I replied and walked outside his house.
Taking a taxi I rushed to my house and broke down. He is definitely not worth it then I shouldn’t cry right? Then why am I crying.
I just stayed like that until next day evening and then just packed my bag with everything I can. I took a train for Delhi thinking I can’t stay alone and reached there at night.
I rang the bell and Akhila opened it. I didn’t glance at her fully knowing she will find everything and walked inside the room where I stayed last time. Surprisingly she too didn’t say even a single word like me.
*Kritika Pov*
“Finally these exams are over.” Ria said and I nodded at her smiling.
“Are you going home today?” I asked Latika when we met her.
“Yeah! So we will meet as soon as our college starts?” Latika asked both of us.
“Definitely! Safe journey to both of you.” I said hugging them.
“Are you not going to Mumbai?” Ria asked.
“I don’t know! But not today for sure.” I replied shrugging.
“Oh! If you go then I don’t know how you will cope up without Sanjay.” Ria said teasingly.
“Even better thought! How Sanjay will cope up without her?” Latika said bumping my shoulder with her.
“Guys! Atleast stop teasing me when leaving.” I said closing my eyes.
“Nah..” They both said and we three laughed.
After they left I started searching for Sanjay and met his friends Swathi and Teja. I smiled at them greeting.
“Kritika! Is anything wrong between you both?” Teja asked suddenly.
“No! Why?” I asked her confused.
“Nothing! He is just acting weird but he did the same with us before we broke up with him.” She replied.
“But only ten percent of the present behavior.” Swathi said.
“No guys! He was just tensed for exams until now.” I said shaking my head.
“Tensed? And that too for exams?” Teja said and they both laughed.
“Kritika! There will be cyclone before he will feel tension for any exam. He is the coolest guy regarding the exams.” Swathi said surprised by my words.
“What?” I asked them in whisper.
“Where is he?” I asked looking around.
“Near the parking lot.” Swathi replied.
“Thanks!” I said and started walking towards the parking lot.
If he never felt tensed then why was he acting like this for the past few weeks? Is Swathi and Teja are telling the truth?
Does he want to break up with me? Suddenly that thought entered when I stood infront of him.
Even after seeing me he continued to talk with his friends. I took a deep breath and said “Hey!”
He nodded and again continued to talk. I closed my eyes and asked “So now you are not feeling tensed right? As our exams are over.”
“Yes!” he whispered.
“Why are you behaving like this Sanjay?” I asked him not able to ignore it anymore.
“What do you mean?” he asked rather harshly.
“Look I don’t know what happened but you are behaving really weirdly. I just got to know that you never felt tense regarding the exams then why were you giving the same excuse everyday?” I asked him.
“To make it easy for you.” He replied after few minutes.
“Easy for me?” I asked him completely confused.
“Anyway advance congratulations for both Kiran and you. Both of you really make a good pair.” He replied making me stun.
“Are you mad? Do you even hear what are you saying to me?” I asked him trying to pinch myself that this is all just a dream.
“Ofcourse I can. Harsha heard that Kiran proposing to you so don’t act like innocent.” He said glaring at me.
“Shut up! If he heard what Kiran said then he should have also heard what my reply was.” I shouted back.
“Don’t you dare shout at me even after you know you are wrong! Anyway lets be little different this time. I am bored of getting dumped so this time I will dump you.” He said smirking.
I stepped back because this is not the person I have liked all this time. I just shook my head holding it.
“It felt really good dumping someone.” He said taking a deep breath.
“Tell Kiran that I gave you to him with no hard feelings happily and also my greetings.” He added.
Hearing that I slapped him right and there and said “I was never yours in the first place to give me away.”
Looking at him with all the disgust I am feeling, I walked away and ran leaving the college until I reach my house. Going inside I just locked myself in my room and let the tears fall which I couldn’t hold within anymore.
*Ritika Pov*
“So you are going to go and meet her now?” I asked Kalyan when we both are waiting for his friends.
“Yeah! I will call you and tell you along with others what happened.” He replied but I can see he is stiff in his position.
When all his friends walked towards us, he asked us to leave as he is meeting her in the college itself.
I got on Sid’s bike and we all came outside the campus but suddenly Sid stopped his bike.
“What happened?” I asked him frowning.
“Let’s go and listen what they are talking about. I can’t wait anymore.” He replied and we all got inside the college.
“Where are they going to meet?” I asked them.
“Maybe in any one of their classrooms.” Ram replied.
First we walked towards my classroom which is Kalyan’s too tip toeing but sighed because no one is there inside. Then we went to Shilpa’s classroom too.
We started searching everywhere hiding ourselves when we saw Shilpa walking towards a way which is the same was Kalyan and I go to meet secretly.
I showed Sid the way and he hid ourselves behind the wall. I slowly leaned to see Kalyan and Shilpa greeting each other.
“Thank you so much for coming here Kalyan.” Shilpa said smiling.
“So tell me.” Kalyan said.
“This place is really a secret place. Maybe both Sid and I should meet here everyday after we get together.” Shilpa said and I suddenly felt jealous for the place.
How dare he to show her our place which I have found in the first place?
“So that means you are going to tell Sid you like him right?” Kalyan asked.
Sid was about to shout a joy cry but I placed my hand stopping him and glared at him to which he smiled sheepishly.
“Yeah! But the only problem is that Ritika.” When Shilpa said that we can clearly hear the venom.
“What’s with her? I already told you before exams right that Sid and Ritika are just faking so that you will get jealous and tell Sid you like him.” Kalyan said frowning.
What? He already told her about this? I am shocked to hear this but it’s not a big deal as now finally Shilpa will get Sid and we both can tell our relation to his friends.
“Come on Kalyan. We all know the cliché thing. Two people faking in a relation eventually fall for each other.” Shilpa said making me want to hit her head.
“I assure you that it is not true in their case. I can even assure you that she will not even be in our group after Sid and you get together.” When I heard those words his three friends whispered ‘What?’ from behind me.
Even I am shocked but he must be saying that to make Shilpa convince. Yeah that must be it. I thought and shared it with his friends and they nodded.
“But still what if he feels that he likes her after we both get together. She is in the same college right.” Shilpa said shaking her head.
“You should trust me. He can never like her.” Kalyan said looking serious.
“Why? I saw all of you so close to her and even you.” Shilpa said frowning.
“What? That is all just some acting.” He said and again I chanted to myself that he is just trying to get Shilpa understand.
“I don’t believe you. He must already like her.” Shilpa said shaking her head.
“Are you crazy? Who likes her in the first place?” Kalyan suddenly said laughing and I held onto the wall tightly.
“I mean did you even see her. She is like one of us like a boy to us.” He added.
“That’s true! She is not at all beautiful.” Shilpa said laughing with him.
“She doesn’t have even one girly nature in her and you think he likes her? Leave him even I can never like a girl who thinks herself as top of all the boys.” With each word it pierced so much and I just tightened my grip on Sid who held my hand trying to pull me away from her.
“Are you sure?” Shilpa asked.
“Ofcourse! Sid is lucky that he is getting you and he will never lose you just for someone like Ritika.” Kalyan replied with so much confidence that I stumbled back.
When Ram and Rahim started going near them I stopped them glaring. I took a deep breath and heard his final word saying “She will not be in our group for even a second when you confess that you like Sid.”
“Congrats Sid! And if you all didn’t act with me like he is saying then promise me that he should never know that I heard him.” I slowly whispered.
“Ritika!” Sid said and I shook my head.
“Promise me!” I pleaded them and when they did we all walked out.
Sid dropped me at my house and said “Maybe he said all those to make her not fear about you.”
“Maybe! But he should have respected me even just as a friend. When he already decided that I will not be in your group, I will definitely not be. Enjoy your holidays.” Saying that I walked inside my house.
I went inside my room and looked at myself in the mirror. If someone has said even one line he said today I would have punched him but why didn’t I hurt him or even said anything to him even after hearing all this?
Now I hate myself that I didn’t punch him. I thought slowly letting the tears fall.
*Akhila Pov*
I again tried his number but he is not lifting it. I am holding his gift in my hands and continued to try his number and finally he lifted.
“Hello!” I frowned because this is not his voice.
“Who is this?” I asked him.
“It is Akhila right? Well I am his friend Anil.” He replied.
“Oh! Is he with you?” I asked him frowning.
“Yes! He have a big fight today.” He replied making me frown more.
“Ok!” I mumbled.
“Do you want to come and cheer for him?” he suddenly asked.
“I don’t know! I can come there?” I asked him shocked.
“Ofcourse! Tell me where you are. I will pick you and bring here.” He said.
“I am still at college.” I said and he hanged up saying he will be here.
After some time he reached and took me to some dungeon type place. I am completely terrified but I held the phone with me ready to press a call for Ri.
We walked inside and at the same time I saw Khushal walking inside the ring and some other guy who looks so big.
Then they suddenly started fighting and Anil stood beside me so that no one will come near me.
Khushal fought equally to that guy but I just couldn’t able to see him getting too hurt. So many punches are so illegal from the real life boxing.
With each punch he is getting I gasped. This is what he likes? I always saw few wounds on his face but now I understand there must be many all over his body seeing the way they are punching each other only on the body.
When it was half break they both are looking worse and Khushal walked somewhere. Anil took me with him and sent me to a room inside with Khushal walked.
“You talk to him. I will go and see something regarding the prize.” Anil said walking away.
“Khushal!” I mumbled walking inside and he looked at me in shock.
“What are you doing here?” he asked shocked.
“What are you doing Khushal? This is death trap.” I replied placing my hand on his cheek where already a bruise appeared.
He stiffened and said “I already told you that I will not leave this.”
“I thought it was ok but seeing the way it is going here I can’t see you getting hurt Khushal. Please stop this.” I pleaded him.
“He is so right then.” He mumbled to himself and then asked “What are you actually doing here?”
“I thought of giving you the gift which I said I will and called you so many times. Anil lifted the call and brought me here saying I need to cheer you.” I replied still looking at his bruises on the chest and stomach.
“What gift?” he asked frowning.
“The paintings I did of your mother and you. I have so many as I got the other photos of hers.” I replied rambling.
“Where did you get them from?” He suddenly asked.
“I.. I took it from Princi.” I replied closing my eyes.
“How dare you to meet him and take her photos from him?” he shouted.
“I know I should have already told you and that is my mistake but we will discuss it later but for now please don’t go and fight.” I pleaded him.
“You don’t have a right to stop me.” He said covering his hands with cloth.
“I have every right because I love you.” I said shouting.
“What?” He asked stiffening.
“I love you Khushal! And I can’t see you getting hurt like this.” I replied.
“Then you shouldn’t love me.” He said after few minutes.
“Khushal!” I whispered shocked.
“I will not leave this not for you and not for anyone.” Saying that he walked outside the room.
“I told you she will not accept.” I heard Anil telling him.
I just sat there in the audience looking at the remaining fight. I gripped my hands on the sheet container whenever he get hurt in this.
After the fight is over and Khushal won with which I never had a doubt everyone rushed towards him. I slowly started walking and stopped in my tracks when I saw a girl pressing her lips to his.
I thought he will push her away but he just kissed her. After releasing her he looked at me with no emotion and that girl is jumping with excitement and walked towards some group of people.
I again walked towards him and gave the container to him saying “Congrats! And you are right I shouldn’t. Have a nice life.”
I turned away from him and walked outside the dungeon still holding my phone. When I know that I am completely outside I took a taxi and got to my house.
Walking inside I started cooking dinner for all of us and called Ri and Kritika. When I saw that they are sleeping, I put everything inside the refrigerator and started walking inside but then heard the bell ringing.
I opened the door to see Priya Di standing there with a bag. I didn’t ask her anything and she didn’t say anything.
She walked inside the room in which she stayed last time and I walked inside my room after locking the door.
To my surprise after seeing him kissing some other girl no tear fell from my eyes...