Our final exams were around the corner, I had to prepare hard for them. I was an intelligent girl but still, I had to stay up late studying.
I was studying one day on campus when a ball was thrown at me. Sidd came to pick up the ball from where it was.“Why did you throw the ball at me? Can’t you see that I’m studying?” I asked as calmly as I could pretend.“Did you see me throw the ball?” He questioned.“I knew it was you, who else in this whole campus does silly things?”“Seriously? And who in this whole campus is as bad looking as you?”“If my look was that irritating, why then do you always disturb me? You can’t live without my beauty,” I commented boldly as I was packing my books to go home.“You are so delusional, you know that?”“Just admit it,” I stated as I was about to go. He threw the ball at me once again but I couldn’t do anything about that. I knew that praising myself hurts him and that was satisfactory for me.I studied late on campus one day, I didn’t come with my scooter ‘cause I couldn’t find the key as early as possible. I abandoned the search for the scooter key and took a cab to campus. After studying for some hours, I decided to go home. It was a little bit dark by then. I went to the road to look for a cab. After minutes of hailing unstoppable cabs, a car that looks like a cab stopped in front of me. I entered and told the cabby my address.After some minutes, I noticed the cabby was taking the wrong direction.“Where are you going, Mister? This is not the right way,” I stated.“I know, ma’am, I’m looking for a short way to your address,” the cabby said in a calm tone.I didn’t say anything further. Some minutes later, we were still on the short way ride. Even with my scooter, the ride wasn’t as long as these.“Where are you taking me?” I questioned angrily but with fear, who knows what his plans are?“Calm down, ma’am, we will be at your destination soon,” he said calmly.“When will that be?” I queried. “You have been driving for almost two hours already,” I stated pissed off.“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he apologized.“You don’t have to apologize, just take me to my destination, or else I will alert people,” I warned.Later on, the car stopped.“Here we are, ma’am,” he announced.“What?” I exclaimed. “You mean we have been going around all this while?” I questioned angrily as I discovered we were back on the campus road.“This is a fun ride, right?”The cabby commented as he took off his cap.“You?” I uttered as I discovered Sidd has been the cabby all along.“Yes, it’s me, how was the ride?” He asked smiling.I looked at him misty and alighted from the car. He came out with me too.“Where are you going?” He asked.“What have you done, Sidd? It is late already,” I stated as calmly as I could.“It was a fun ride, come on, let’s do it again.”“You are so annoying, how do I get home now?” I asked almost crying.“What are you saying? We have a car here and you are complaining about how to go home. Why is that?”“How can the car help when the driver is a silly person?”“Really? Okay then, find yourself a cab and go home, or better still, sleep here,” he stated and turned to enter the car before I grabbed him by the wrist.“You can’t leave me here,” I declared. “There are no cabs around to take me home,” I said pathetically.“Oh! What do you want me to do now?” He asked.“Take me home, of course.”“Seriously? But I am silly, how then can I take you home?”“… I’m…sorry!” I apologized reluctantly.“I didn’t hear that,” he stated annoyingly.“I said I’m sorry.”“Good! Hop in, let’s go,” he said and I entered the car.Some minutes later, we were at my home. I came out of the car.“Aren’t you going to thank me at least?” He asked.“Why should I? You made me come home late, my mom is certainly going to scold me because of you,” I stated sadly.“That is your problem, appreciate me before I leave.”“You can sleep here if you wish, I’m leaving,” I stated and went inside.“She is so stubborn,” Sidd remarked and moved off.I rode to the park the following day. I decided to get myself an ice cream from an ice cream shop. When I came out of the show to where my scooter was, I found out I had a punctured tire.“Oh, no! What could have happened to it,” I murmured to myself.“Ride home safely, okay?” I heard a voice from behind. When I turned to look at the person, I saw Sidd in a power bike smiling wickedly at me. He punctured my tire, I had to take my scooter to a technician for repair. Because of that, I had to go home late. My phone was down, so I couldn’t tell Mom what had happened. She was looking anxious when I got home. I explained to her what had happened to my tire and my mobile but I didn’t say someone caused it. I bet she understood. I went to my room and changed my dress.I studied super hard for my exams. I studied mostly with Manu and some other coursemates.After the exams, I decided to get back to Sidd for puncturing my tire the other time. Sidd was to deliver a speech on our graduation day but I can’t let that happen. I knew he had been practicing for a while now and it will hurt him to the core not to deliver what he had been practicing. He was allergic to cats and I always got my way. On the day of our graduation, he was called forward to deliver a speech to the audience. Let’s see if he will succeed.I found my way behind the stage curtain with a cat. Poor Sidd began to sneeze non-stop. Oh God! What could be wrong? I bet that was his thoughts then. I guess the audience where waiting for the sneeze to stop but that never happened. I couldn’t help but snicker. He had to leave the stage for another graduate to take over.After the speech, we all went out to celebrate and take pictures with friends and families. My mom and Kiara were both present at the graduation party.“Why was I sneezing so heavily, someone must have brought in a cat,” Sidd soliloquized.“Ride home safely, okay?” I reminded him and he turned abruptly to look at me with a wave of obvious anger.“How was the speech delivery?” I mocked.What happened next was what I never expected. Sidd grabbed my hand and pulled me along to a room and pushed me to the wall. My bangles got cut and my wrist was injured but he still held me tight. I was in pain but he wouldn’t just let me go. I found myself crying in pain and I had to plead for him to let me go.“How dare you, Rani?” He thundered. I could see the sign of anger and bitterness on his face.“Let me go, please, I’m sorry!” I apologized amid tears.He didn’t give a damn if I was in pain or not. What a monster I have created of Sidd today.“This is the worst you have ever done to me and I will never forgive you,” Those were his last words before finally letting go of my hand and he dashed out.My wrist hurt. What have I done?I have never seen Sidd in such a mood before. My tactic has ended up in such a big mess. I wiped away my tears with my palm and left the room. I left the occasion without notifying my mom and Kiara. I had to text them to come home. When they reached home, they scolded me for leaving the way I did. I had to lie to them about what happened. I told Manu what transpired between me and Sidd. She knew I was the one that brought in the cat. She was disappointed in me for what I did but she had no choice but to accept it. She was my friend, I love her so much. She has always been there for me. She took me like a sister she never had.Two months later, I got employed in a large business company as an assistant manager. My first day in the office was hectic. Now I know what Kiara had been going through. Come on, it’s not easy.My CEO was a nice man. Though he was kind and generous, he despises lazy workers. I love my new job and I wish to stay longer in the firm.I came to work the following day and I bumped into Sidd. That was the first time I was seeing him after our graduation.“Oh, my God! This is not happening!” I muttered to myself. “What are you doing here?” I queried boldly.“I should be the one asking you that,” he said. “I am the manager of this company, so what are you doing here?”At the mention of him being the manager, my jaw dropped. Evil is certainly coming after me.“What does it look like I’m doing here?” I retorted.“Don’t tell me you are the assistant manager my uncle was talking about,” he chuckled.“Your uncle?” I uttered surprised. “Who is your uncle?”“You want to know? Well, he is t
I stood beside the car waiting for Sidd. He had driven me to this place. I patted my feet on the ground, checked my wristwatch countless times, and looked at the hotel’s entrance, he wasn’t forthcoming. Should I cry? I was already feeling bad. This wasn’t a great day for me. Stuck in a tight dress, had to dance with my enemy, almost falling in front of everyone, and still being saved by my enemy doesn’t sound pleasing at all. Finally, he was coming. I sighed in relief. He opened the car and entered. Do I honestly have to go with him? I entered the car too, fastened my seat belt and he drove off.On our way, we got stuck in a long traffic jam. How did we get here? I was dying. My breathing was on the edge, my belly was tight with an unremovable belt. I was sweating even when the car had an air conditioner. I glanced at Sidd, he seems fine. I unfastened the seat belt. My home is many miles away from where we were. If I wanted to walk in this dress, I will sleep on the street. I didn’t w
I reached the office all rushed up, sorry and confused. I hurried into my office, fumbling with my files and computer. I got a telephone call. Not now. I answered the call. The CEO wants me in his office. Reaching work by 9:30 am wasn’t a joke. Who knows what Sidd had told his uncle? I learned he resumed before everyone else. As I tried to rush to the CEO’s office, my foot entangled with my computer’s cable pulling it along and hearing the system land on the floor. I turned to it, it was damaged. The screen was broken. What am I supposed to do? Another bad startup? This shouldn’t be happening, not today. Late coming, damaging company’s property, why? How do I explain myself? I rushed down to the system, gathering the pieces together, the telephone was ringing again. Gosh! I jerked up and scuttled to the CEO’s office.I was permitted to come inside after knocking. Sidd was there. He will be present in anything bad happening around me. I scowled at him while moving closer to them. “Good
What would my life have been like if I hadn’t met Sidd? Wouldn’t I have been happy? I always thought to myself. Hateful days in college, bizarre days in the office. All because I happened to know Sidd.“You look pale, what happened to you?” my mom asked me in the morning as I prepared to go to work. “Nothing, Mother, I’m fine,” I replied. “I will see you when I get back.” I left.The truth was that I cried last night. I imagined my life without Sidd and it was awesome. I got no other problem but Sidd. How can he be so cruel? He behaves crazy around only me. I have never seen him hurt the emotions of any other girl, but me. I tried recalling how it all started.I was a month old in college, and Sidd was the highly praised folk. His status matters less to me. I never cared about how girls swooned at the sight of him. I was rushing to class and got piles of books in my hand. I bumped into Sidd. I apologized, being too full of himself, he ordered me to tie his shoelaces as a sign of genu
He lifted my chin. My heart pounded even more. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I tried to push him, he pinned my arms to the wall. I was crying. He was going to kiss me. His lips were an inch from mine. I struggled with him. He wouldn’t let my arms go. I tapped my feet on the floor in frustration. His gaze was on me. I felt self-pity. How can I live with the trauma of being defiled by my enemy? Why did I agree to stay with him in the first place? It would be better to lose my job than my integrity. Sidd was a psychopath. He wouldn’t let me go. What came over him? He had said he doesn’t desire his enemies especially not the ugly ones. If he deemed me as ugly, why then does he want to take advantage of me? Who will I report to that I was raped by Sidd? They will say I’m making up an accusation because we hate each other. His family will defend him to the last point and I will be left to feel abashed.“Close your eyes,” he ordered.“Sidd, I’m begging you, don’t touch me. I will do any o
I looked through the window, it was late, yet some people were still walking down the street. I saw an old man pulling a truck. He looked tired and frail. They were light traffic ahead of us. I glanced at Sidd, he seem focused. We haven’t spoken since he decided to give me a ride. Yes, he didn’t let me stand there, he only wanted me to regret my words of not wanting to go with him, but would he blame me? He never left room for me to feel secure with him. I opened the car door as the old man found it difficult to pull up the truck to a certain height. Sidd looked at me. He didn’t utter a word. I walked down to the old man and helped him pull up the truck. He honestly appreciated me. I looked behind me, the traffic had lifted, and Sidd’s car was nowhere around. I hurried down to the road, he was gone. He left me. What was I supposed to do now? My bag is in the car. I got no money on me. How do I even get a cab that seems not to exist at this time of the night? My home is many miles away
As promised, Kiara got me a new job as a managing director in a large corporate company. I was well paid. I knew no one there before and that made me comfortable. I came back home from work one day and I met Sidd looking around. I was flabbergasted to see him in my home. I alighted from my car and moved close to him.“What are you doing here?” I questioned already getting pissed.“Relax, Rani, I’m not here for you, okay?” he responded.“Who are you here for then?” I asked. “I shouldn’t even be asking you questions, get the hell out of this house before I call the cops,” I added.“OMG! I’m so scared!” he acted up. “Anyways, like I said before, I’m not here for you, just go inside and see things for yourself,” he said.“I just hope you haven’t brought bad guys to rob my home,” I stated and he laughed.I headed inside. I entered the house only to see a guy chatting with Kiara. I moved closer and Kiara introduced me to him.“She’s my sister, Rani,” she introduced.He stood up and
Kiara has engaged three weeks after. She was now preparing for her wedding. Our house was filled with families and friends all in their best dresses to witness Kiara’s wedding. All the rituals were performed. The ritual of applying turmeric mixture on the body of the bride and groom and the faces of others. The ritual of mehndi writing on the hands and feet of the bride and other rituals were performed successfully. On the day of the wedding, Kiara was dressed up so beautifully, she looked gorgeous in her bridal saree. Ranveer was brought to the event on a horse as a ritual. I and Manu went upstairs to bring Kiara. Ranveer was already seated with the priest under the mandap. Kiara went on to sit with them. The priest began the wedding chants. Later on, the couple exchanged the garland as a sign of acceptance. Kiara and Ranveer walked around a sacred fire seven times for the saptapadi while making vows and throwing puffed rice into the fire to symbolize prosperity in their new life tog