SWETA
"Hey, Anjali," I leaned over my desk and asked, "How's your teaching classes with that boy going?
"Still going," she said. "Sometimes it feels like he spaces out, but when I ask if he understands he explains that part like it's the easiest thing in the world. Other times… he doesn't get a single thing."
"So it's annoying?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No, not really. It's just… I don't know if he's stupid or making me stupid."
I grinned. "So, you're getting played, huh?
"No!" she protested. "He does everything I give him as daily tasks. Most of the time he just makes a mess of it."
"Soon his class test is coming, so we'll see what happens," I said.
A few weeks later
"So, you met him yesterday?" I asked.
"Yes, he showed me his marksheet."
"And?" I leaned forward.
"Forty-two out of eighty in maths."
I laughed. "Man, he really is stupid."
"Don't say that!" she quickly said. "It is just maths. He got 90 plus in every other subject."
"What, so he only sucks in math?
Smiling softly, she said, "He's trying his best. And he's good at everything else."
"So what now? Still teaching him?"
"Yes," she said. "He told me he'll repay me by teaching me science."
I raised an eyebrow. Wow. So now the teacher becomes the student?
"Don't tease me," she said, blushing.
"I'm just saying, don't get too close; you never know what kind of guy he is."
"I don't think he is a bad person," she said firmly. "He knows his limits."
"Oh-ho… someone sounds unsure who's setting those limits." I grinned. "Still, be careful."
In a few days
"Hey, Sweta," Anjali said in a worried tone.
"He's acting strange lately."
"Who?" I asked, though I already knew. "Krishanu?"
She nodded, "Yes. He has been different, ignoring me, almost. Earlier we used to talk on calls for hours. Now it is just short replies, only related to studies. Sometimes he reads my texts and replies hours later."
"Anjali," I said, "what's gotten into you? You sound strange."
"What? How?" she asked.
"Why do you talk to him for hours?" I asked rather bluntly.
She faltered then said softly, "I like talking to him."
"But now," she continued, "it feels like he's drawn a line between us… one I can't cross."
I groaned. "Hey hey hey-did you lose your mind? He's manipulating you."
"Don't talk nonsense, Sweta."
"Fine, fine," I sighed. "But be honest now—do you like him?"
"I guess…" she murmured.
"Seriously?" I said, wide-eyed. "Let me meet him."
"No, not now. Please," she said hurriedly. "I'll manage it."
She smiled faintly. "Anyway, we have a bet for the midterms—the one who scores less will owe the other a favor."
"A favor, huh? You're confident.
She laughed. "Just wait and see."
A few days later — Evening of the result day
"So, this is where you're meeting him," I whispered, concealing myself behind a parked scooter. "There he is."
He did look good, I knew that. But Anjali never fell for mere looks.
Yet, at the moment her face crumbled and her eyes welled, my fists clenched.
How dare he make her cry.
I wanted to storm in, but I knew Anjali, and she would only get upset.
A few minutes later, outside the café, I saw them again. She wasn't crying anymore. He was speaking; she was smiling faintly.
Looks like she handled it.
I exhaled loudly, tired. Maybe I was wrong.
Present Time
"And you know the rest of the story," Sweta finished.
"Seriouslyyyyy?" exclaimed Krishanu and Anjali in unison.
Anjali frowned. "So you were tailing us that day and ended up caught up with those guys?
"I'm sorry," Sweta quickly said. "Please forgive me. I caused so much trouble.
"It's okay," Krishanu said. "You were worried about her. She's your best friend — I get it.
Sweta looked embarrassed. "Anjali told me about you, Krishanu. Sorry for doubting you. If you were really that kind of guy, you'd have run instead of fighting."
"Hey, don't say that," Krishanu said, shaking his head. "Even if I had the wrong intentions, how could I leave when some guys were harassing girls? That goes against all that my mother taught me—a man should never raise his hands on a woman."
"You talk like someone old," Sweta teased.
He smiled wryly, "It's my mother's teaching."
"Then listen to me too, don't meet those guys again," she said.
"Let's change the subject," Krishanu said, clearing his throat. "I have one serious question, though. You said your fathers are business partners, right? Then why is the company called Malhotra Collections?"
Sweta laughed. "Because they were having a random conversation once and bet on a silly game - whoever won would name the business. Anjali's dad won." "Seriously?" Krishanu said, amused. "Yep. Silly, but true." He chuckled. "Man… they must've been really good friends then." "Yeah," Sweta said quietly. "They are."
Sweta said, so Krishanu what's your plan now as you are in a relationship with Anjali.
"What do you mean by plan?" I asked.
Common, don't act innocent now; it was your plan to make her confess on her own, she said.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Hey cut it out, she replied. You know when Anjali said about how's you were acting weird something about drawing line between you guys.
Say it was all along in your plans to make her confess her own, you can't fool me.
What, you saw through my plan, I said.
I knew it, I knew it. She said, You see Anjali, you fell right into his trap.
Krishanu, you— Anjali said. How could you do it to me.
Wait, wait, I'm sorry, sorry for all of the things to make you cry, I said.
I didn't expect you to cry like that yesterday.
From when did you planned this?? Anjali asked.
Should I tell you? I replied.
Yes, they both shout.
Ok, ok, take it easy! I said.
Let me tell you right from the start.
Anjali, you remember how we met?
Yeah, she spoke. You fell from the stairs because of me. Sweta laughed, lol that's how you guys met. It's hilarious.
Actually, that wasn't an accident, I said. I planned that, too.
Whatttttttt, they both shocked. Why did you fall on your own?
Actually, I liked you when I saw you first time. So, you on the spot came up with that plan, Anjali asked. No, I said, listen to me first. I saw you a month before we met. I wanted to speak with you, but I didn't have any topic. I mean, why did anyone talk to a stranger? So, I followed you around for 10-15 days and came up with that idea.
What the heck, so you planned this form that far. Sweta said. Anjali's yes were getting wet.
After that, I said, I hadn't planned on anything at that time when I asked her to be my teacher, even though I didn't need any. What so you were playing around with her, Sweta replied. Saying you lower your intentionally. I nodded.
After that, you guys know what happened. I know I planned all these, but it was because I liked her. I wasn't playing with her; sometimes at night, I felt guilty about it. But I'm really sorry, I like you Anjali.
Anjali, don't cry, I said, please, if you want to hit me, you could. Dummy, Anjali replied. So why did you drew that line. Because I wanted you to cross that line; if I couldn't make you do that, I would have left, cause I didn't want to hurt you anymore.
You idiot, stupid, dummy, making me confess first. Anjali said. Hey sweta said, your love story is so dramatic. It seems only my boyfriend is lazy.
I said you have a bf sweta I didn't knew. She said, how would you only; Anjali knows about this, and she wouldn't tell you because she is my best friend.
I smiled. Soon after lunch, we left, but Anjali and Sweta were nervous, saying you go directly home and don't meet with those guys. I said yeah it's getting late, I have to meet Mayank too. (I lied) They said Ok, text us after reaching home, I nodded.
Soon, it was 4 PM.