Page 185 - The World's Best Boyfriend

acknowledged? So what if for the first time she thought there was someone
encouraging her on in her life? So what if she felt loved? Cared for? Or even
human for that matter? She wasn’t supposed to feel any of these things.

And Raghuvir? Did she really expect him to stand up for her? Why would he
stand up for a girl like her? Why would anyone stand up for her? Didn’t she
learn that from school? Of course he ran away leaving her to rot here. Of course

he didn’t even call to see what became of her. Of course he switched off his
cellphone.
She deserved this. She had had one chance to fix everything. One chance and

she blew it. Her only job in the world was to stay hidden and not embarrass her
family even further. Being born to them was enough.
Dhruv walked in. He looked different in his buttoned-down shirt, a regular fit

pair of jeans and clean sneakers.
‘Hello Uncle, Dhruv,’ he said and shook her father’s hand.
‘Sit,’ her father said, still no recollection of where he had seen the boy before.

But Aranya’s life was one travesty after another and her good fortune didn’t last
beyond the first thirty seconds.
‘You are Dhruv Roy? Janakpuri? Is he the same Dhruv? You’re the same

boy? Bhenchod, tu wahi hai?’ asked her father, startled.
Dhruv nodded. Her father stood up stumbling, still a little stunned.

‘YOU! You stay away from my daughter. Do you hear me? Or I will call your
mother. Give me her number, give me her number right now. Did you not hear
me? Number de unka warna maar doonga.’ Dhruv stood up, too. Her father
continued, ‘GIVE ME THE NUMBER.’

‘My parents are divorced, Sir. I don’t think it will help to call my mother. I
can give you my father’s number,’ Dhruv said giving out the number

Aranya’s father dialled the number and it was unreachable. ‘You stay right
here,’ he said and tried again. It was still unreachable. ‘Saale, dekhta hoon tujhe
abhi! I will call your father and tell him what you’re up to! I WILL TELL HIM
EVERYTHING. You’re behind everything. Ruk bhenchod, tu.’

‘Yes.’
The call didn’t connect. He turned to Dhruv. ‘How would you understand, you

bastard? You’re a divorcee’s son. What would you understand about family?’ He
looked at Aranya instead. ‘Stay away from him.
‘Sir—’ Dhruv interrupted.