Page 193 - The World's Best Boyfriend

‘Excuse me?’ asked Dhruv.
‘I won’t go until you tell me you’re going to get your father to talk to Prof.
Tripathi.’

‘My father?’
‘I talked to Prof. Tripathi after you were barred from the examinations. He
said if your father talks to him, he will let you go. I found your father’s number

from the college database to call him here but seems like he hasn’t paid his
bills.’
‘What? You called him? You’re fucking psychotic, Aranya.’

‘Look who’s talking. You’re not repeating the year because of your kindness
and your sacrifice!’
‘Blah. Blah. Blah,’ grumbled Dhruv, inches away from Aranya’s face.

‘I will cut you a deal. I will come with you but I don’t want to see you in
college for the next three years, looking at every milestone I cross and telling me
that I wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for you sacrificing your first year for me. I

won’t take that. Talk to your father. Ask him to meet the dean, apologize for
what you did that day, and the dean will let you take the exam. I don’t want to
owe anything to anyone. Least of all you!’

‘What would you do if I don’t? I like the idea of torturing you, and not letting
you enjoy any of your spoils.’
‘Don’t kid yourself, Dhruv. You wouldn’t have got me here if you weren’t

sufficiently guilty of what you did. And what you did was shitty.’
‘It’s a deal.’
Dhruv walked to the ledge of the roof and stood there for a brief second,

surveying the perimeter like he was Bruce Wayne.
‘Come,’ he said and gave his hand to her.
Aranya’s heart leaped at the sense of adventure her decision would take her

on. It took them fifteen minutes to jump the parapets and reach the parking lot,
and she felt her heart would give way any time. By the time she felt solid ground
crunch under her feet it felt like she had been through fifteen straight episodes of

Man vs Wild.
‘You look like you died.’
‘I did. Thrice.’

‘Take this,’ said Dhruv and handed the only helmet to her.
‘What about you?’