Page 204 - The World's Best Boyfriend

cards on the table. ‘That night when you were drunk, you talked about Dhruv.’
‘I hate him,’ said Aranya, almost as a reflex.

‘Isn’t he outside? Leaning against his motorcycle? Not wanting to let you out
of his sight? Hatred is a strong emotion, Aranya, and you don’t feel it for
someone worthless. And if he’s worth something, he might be worth loving at

some point. I don’t want to risk anything. If you get into a relationship with me,
it will end whatever chance you have with Dhruv once and for all. I’m not
saying you should be with him—because quite frankly, the guy is a prick—but

the question is, would you be able to live with that choice? There are way too
many questions for you to answer, Aranya. I don’t think you’re ready. Neither
am I. I’m just starting to get my bearings back.’

‘So you gave up on me?’ asked Aranya, wanting to fall in love with Raghuvir,
however make-believe it might be, making all the compromises he was talking
about, aching to hold his hand again.

‘I didn’t give up on you, Aranya.’ He sat next to her and put his arm around
her. She, despite her size, fit perfectly in his embrace. He sighed and said,
‘Dhruv doesn’t scare me. It’s not the person I’m afraid of; it’s the idea of perfect

love that I’m scared of. I’m just afraid it doesn’t exist and I don’t want to give
you an illusion that it does. I don’t want your world to revolve around me or

mine around you. We will both end up dissatisfied with it.’
‘What if I told you that love is a concept alien to me as well and I’m ready to
make every compromise to just stick with you?’ Aranya spit out her words, still
wary that he would laugh out and say ‘gotcha’!

‘It doesn’t work that way, Aranya.’
And then they didn’t talk.

Aranya sat there reflecting on what she had just said. She saw Raghuvir get
back to his work, scribbling equations.
What had happened right now? Would she snap her fingers and find herself in
her hostel bed? Snap. No. Why would he say all these things?

He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a flask of coffee for the
journey. Of course, she could love him. She was halfway there already. And they

would make a ridiculously talented team. That’s all that mattered.
‘So you will not come back?’ asked Aranya.
‘No.’

‘Just so you know, if you come back, I will be there for you. I haven’t