“Hey, Kavya, Madhuri, these are my friends, Kiran and Sachin,” I introduce them to Kavya and Madhuri at the so-called lecture some HR consultant had been asked to conduct.
Both
of the groups greet each other. While Madhuri flashes a smile at me, Kavya simply
acknowledges me with a brief nod before taking her place.
“See?”
I whisper to my friends. “She’s been like this for a while.”
“What
did you do, Nish?” Kiran asks.
I
shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know, bro… I just don’t.”
The
lecture goes on for what seems like hours. Finally, the time comes for a break.
Kavya excuses herself to go to the washroom while Madhuri sprints a few steps
away to talk with her workplace friends, Reshmi, Tasneem, and Noela. As luck
would have it, I notice Madhuri's notebook abandoned on a chair, seemingly
forgotten. The thought flickers in my mind like a fleeting ghostly apparition.
It is a perfect opportunity to acquire Kavya’s number.
I
covertly snatch Madhuri’s book.
With
the stolen book in hand, I seek refuge in Sachin’s presence.
His
voice quivers as he cautions, "Hey, what are you doing, bastard? You will
put us in big trouble."
‘This
man will die celibate.’
“This
was the plan?” I mention to Sachin, keeping my tone to a whisper. I make my
eyes flicker, issuing a silent threat to keep quiet.
“Kiran,
read her details,” I command.
Sachin
cries out desperately. “Listen to me, stop this nonsense.” He turns his back to
us, clutching Kiran's hand tightly. Acting swiftly, I jerk Kiran's hand away
from Sachin's grasp and sternly warn him to stand still.
On
the other hand, Kiran shows no emotion and does as I have told him.
“Madhuri
will kill us. It is, after all, a girl’s book, which is too risky to even
touch, and you have taken it without her knowing,” Sachin, despite my madness,
continues his protest.
"She
won't know if you keep quiet,” I whisper, leaning closer.
Kiran
turns around and shifts his weight to his left side. With a slightly dissonant
voice, he proceeds to read out Kavya’s details.
“What?”
I exclaim and smack Kiran’s head. “Just say it in a normal voice."
Sachin's
patience begins to wane. "Just do it, just do it, bastards," he
mutters.
"But
he is not reading out appropriately," I point, directing my words towards
Kiran.
"Hey,
what are you guys doing there? And where is my book?" Madhuri asks,
suddenly, jolting us all.
Sachin
hurriedly seeks refuge behind me.
"Kiran,
why do you have my book?"
I
swiftly discard the paper, concealing it discreetly beneath my shoes. Kiran,
mimicking my actions, recklessly tosses the book, trailing behind me.
"You
fool, why did you throw the book?" Sachin grumbles, clearly irritated by
Kiran's hasty decision.
"Shout
it out loud. And make her aware." Kiran smirks in response.
The
other girls in the room stand bewildered, struggling to comprehend the
unfolding scene before them.
Confusion
paints Reshmi's face as she approaches the commotion. "What is going on?
And what is there in that paper that you’re hiding?"
“Nothing,
there is nothing.” Beads of sweat appear on my temple.
"Then
why are you hiding it?” Noela challenges.
Unwilling
to accept my silence, Madhuri stubbornly steps forward. Folding her arms across
her chest, she stands, facing me. “We want to know what’s going on here, Nish.”
Sachin
runs outside at that moment, leaving me and Kiran standing there, sharing a
moment of connection.
"Why
do you want to see? There is nothing to see. Shouldn't this be a matter that
concerns only girls?"
“Oh,
is it? Then what on earth are you doing with Madhuri’s book?”
“Girls,
hold Nishant. I want to see that paper right now.”
"Believe
us," Kiran says in disgust.
The
situation is unnerving as Noela unexpectedly kicks me in the belly. Stunned and
in pain, I instinctively bend down, only to be restrained from behind by Reshmi
and someone named Sonali. Kiran, standing nearby, seems utterly clueless,
unsure of how to react or intervene. However, amidst the chaos, Tasneem swiftly
takes charge. She grabs the soiled piece of paper that is lying on the ground
and hands it over to Madhuri.
Madhuri's
eyes sparkle with excitement as she exclaims, "OMG!" Her laughter
fills the air as she blushes, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. She can hardly
contain her excitement as she mentions Kavyanjali's name, elongating it like a
stretched rubber band. Her posture changes, reflecting her enthusiasm.
Without
wasting a moment, Reshmi snatches the paper from Madhuri's hand and glances at
it. Her eyes look as though they have popped out of their sockets.
I
tremble with fear. Hoping for some words of comfort, I implore, "See,
don't misunderstand us. There is nothing like that. Kiran, you say
something."
Whispering
in a barely audible voice, Kiran responds with utter nonsense. As if the
situation isn't already overwhelming, Madhuri decides to add to my distress.
She teasingly pinches my cheeks and exclaims, "Mr. Nishant Dixit, the
Internet Admin of 'Revenge,' loves Kavyanjali... hehe."
Sonali
playfully hits my forehead. "See,
how he is shying."
I
quickly turn to Madhuri. With a firm grip on her hand, I implore,
"Madhuri, please don't tell Kavya."
Madhuri
seems unfazed by my plea. She nonchalantly shrugs off my grip and responds,
"Sachin baby, it's okay now. You can come inside."
"Hey,
what is going on?" Kavya's voice echoes through the air, catching us off
guard. I so want to leave right now.
Kavya stares at me and gathers that I want to escape. She looks
surprised and shocked at the same time.
She
paces cautiously towards our gathering, her hands folded across her chest, and
her spectacles perched firmly on her nose. Her inquisitive eyes study us
intently, as if attempting to unravel the mystery that keeps unfolding before
her.
“Where
do you think you are running to?” she asks.
Her gaze then shifts to Kiran and Sachin. “And you two, why are you
tensed?” The questions pile up in Kavya's mind, causing her forehead to furrow.
‘I
think I’m going to lose my job.’
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