Dehradun- Model College
A group of girls and boys was seated in the central ground area. In the centre half lay Sanjay Lal a.k.a Sanju, boasting of his evening spent with high-profile Devika.
“Sanju – you actually hit the jackpot,” praised one of his friends
Sanju raised his collar with pride.
“Hey guys, let’s attend the lecture. These lectures before the exam will help.”
Sanju settled into an even more relaxed position. “Fine, if anyone is interested in the boring lectures, go ahead. For the rest, those curious about Devika’s world and your friend’s new life can enjoy.”
“But notes?” one friend pointed out with hesitation
“We’ll have it. No worries,” Sanju said with a wink.
At that very moment, he felt a sudden smack on the back of his head. He turned to see Anjali standing with her hands on her hips, giving him an angry glare.
“Exams are approaching, and you are still planning on bunking the class?”
Sanju looked at his best friend from head to toe. She was completely the opposite of his sophisticated, Unreachable. girlfriend. Aside from her pretty face and the cute curls that he found endearing, this girl lacked any other traits typically associated with femininity. Her tomboyish style further highlighted the difference..
Sanju jumped up, grinning, and to win his friend over, he put his hand on her cheek and tucked her curls behind her ears. Anjali shut her eyes. She totally hated it when he pulled that move because it did something weird to her that she just couldn’t get.
Anjali jerked his hands away.
“So, I can’t even count on my bestie for some class notes?” Sanju said, shrugging his shoulders.
“What’s so important going on over here?” she asked, demanding an answer.
Sanju did not answer her but gave a naughty smile with a wink
“Oh, that’s useless, Devika, who has nothing to offer other than showing off her dad’s money.”
“Tomboyish, like you won’t understand what her delicate ways mean. Bas ek notes manga hai yaar”
“Fine,” she said, shaking her head and turning away.
Sanju and Anjali were childhood friends and were unconditionally there for each other., took each other for granted. But who knows, something was building inside.
Recently, Sanju has been acting like a typical lover boy, lost in the superficial, flimsy life of Devika.
His conversations were always focused on how mesmerised he was by the whole new world of Devika—her luxury and class. Anju, who could argue with him on everything, did not say a word in the case of Devika. She was afraid of confronting the hidden feelings.
Devika left no chance for Sanju to dance to her tunes and make him run around like a puppy.
“Sanju, don’t you think you are going beyond your limits and doing things?” Anju, one day, tried to show a mirror to Sanju
“That’s love, meri jaan. You won’t understand,” said Sanju, trying to appear cool. But Anju could see how he struggled to meet Devika’s standards.
Anjali felt a pang at his words. Lately, with Sanju being so involved with Devika, she was beginning to understand her own heart.
“You’re right; I don’t understand love. However, I realise you don’t need to spend all of your pocket money, or Ratan’s, to impress someone you love. And now, you want to borrow my pocket money to spend on her?”
“So, basically, it’s all about money. “
Anjali was so irritated that Sanju could not see the reality.
“Pagal hai tu. Take this. But I want this back next month.”
“You will get it.”
Anjali placed her hands on her hips, her typical style when she was in interrogation mode
“How?”
“I am participating in a bike racing competition, and I have no option other than winning it.”
“Winning it?” asked Anju, with no hesitation in showing her doubt
“Yes, Devika is looking forward to my win. She has taken up a challenge in her friend’s group that I will win this year’s inter-college bike racing competition.”
Anju remained still, her eyes focused on his face. He took the money from her and vanished. Both understood that for Sanju to win, Anjali needed to be heavily involved.
A full month passed, and Anjali had been supporting Sanju by helping him with his practice. While he would spend time on romantic outings with Devika, the majority of his time was dedicated to rigorous training with Anjali. Throughout the practice sessions, she taunted him, and the more she challenged him, the more determined he became to succeed.
Ratan, his elder brother, was feeling proud of his younger brother, who always had hidden potential despite his careless nature. Meanwhile, their father could not believe that his younger son could ever take anything in life seriously.
It was competition day. The bike race was scheduled to take place in several rounds throughout the day, and the prize distribution and award ceremony were planned for the evening. There would also be a night party to celebrate the winning college.
Sanju stood with his bike in position. He turned his face around to see all familiar faces – Devika stood there with pride and a smile, kind of warning him to win. It was a respect thing for her. His brother and other friends were there as well in his support.
But the one whose eyes he was searching for madly was not there. He needed her presence. It was her challenging gaze that he craved. He had to prove to her that he could do it, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Where are you, Anju? I’ll kill you if you are not here on time,” he murmured to himself.
Devika knew exactly who he was searching for, which is why she made sure that Anjali was not on the ground. Devika was Sanju’s girlfriend, and no other girl could attract more attention.
She had played dirty. Went to Anjali and challenged her regarding the purity of her friendship.
After a long argument, “If you are his true friend and helped him selflessly, prove it. You do not need to be physically present. If you are there, I will break up with him, and you will be the reason for his heartbreak”
However, it was all going opposite for Devika. After every round, his eyes were only looking for Anjali.
Today, he could not be the same puppy boyfriend. His worry for Anju overtook.
Sanju won the competition with everyone there cheering for him. Devika proudly did not leave his side. But Anju was nowhere to see him win. He was hurt and worried at the same time.
It was the prize distribution ceremony. The first and second runners-up received their awards, but Sanju could not stay to accept his. He excused himself, surprising Devika and the others, and rushed off to find Anjali. Devika was furious, but at that moment, Sanju couldn’t have cared less.
He took his bike and, in the darkness of Dehradun night, kept cycling as fast as he could. He stood in front of Anju’s door and pushed it open wide. Relief ran through him.
There she was – “You challenged me and didn’t have the guts to see me win”
“You won?” Anju had a big smile on her face. She got up on her feet and ran to hug him. Sanju hugged her even tighter.
“What made you not be there?” “I was not needed. Your girlfriend was there”
Sanju, in all these events, has realised what he was for Anju and what importance she held in his life.
“So, if that’s the condition, then you will have to be my girlfriend. Because I cannot afford your absence.” He cupped her face within his palms and pressed a passionate kiss on her lips. Anju returned with equal passion, pouring her months of piled emotion.
***** The End*****
Anu's 