Page 223 - The World's Best Boyfriend

‘The pretentious, intelligent ones? The ones who think everyone around them
is a goddamn fool. You think I slept my way into college? I scored 43 marks less
than you in the entrance examination. And that’s after I did everything fun and

crazy one could do in twelfth grade.’
Aranya’s chest heaved in anger but her debating instincts kicked in and she
kept Ritika from digressing. ‘It’s not about you and me, Ritika. It’s about you

and him, isn’t it? Do you want to talk about that?’
She felt important, suddenly, like a psychiatrist; she crossed her legs and
rested her chin on her knuckles waiting for Ritika to pour her heart out.

Ritika chuckled and shook her head. ‘I knew this was going to happen. He
was always going to ruin me.’
Ritika started to talk endlessly about Dhruv’s capability to make you feel

immensely loved, even if it was for a fleeting moment. Ritika told her that no
matter how hard she tried to hate him she couldn’t. ‘Because deep inside, he’s a
child, a boy, a rebel you want to protect and save but don’t know how. Like all

the other women in his life, I tried to change him. It was a selfish pursuit, I know
that.’ Ritika looked Aranya’s way. ‘I thought to myself, what if I can exaggerate
how he loves me, and tone down how much he protects me and our relationship,

I will have a perfect guy. I was so close, so close.’
‘No offence, but aren’t you too young for, like, a perfect guy?’ asked Aranya.

‘So my love doesn’t count because I’m young?’ Ritika stared at Aranya as if
she was a repulsive, pea-brained lizard.
What Aranya really wanted to tell her was to stay the hell away from Dhruv!
Why? She wasn’t totally sure about the reason. Was she in love again? No! Was

it pity for Dhruv? No, who would pity him? Then what was it? Aranya decided it
wasn’t the perfect time for monologues.

‘I didn’t say that.’
‘Yes, you did, Aranya. You’re one of those, aren’t you? Love’s for later?
When your heart breaks, it feels just the same. It hurts more when you’re young
and you don’t know the in and out of love, when you think it’s ideal and

incorruptible. For grown-ups, what’s love if not a transaction? ’
‘I’m not one of those,’ protested Aranya, suddenly feeling a thousand years

old. She added after a pause, something she had heard in every break-up ever
filmed, ‘You deserve better.’
Ritika laughed and laughed and cried and laughed. ‘Do you even know what