Page 250 - The World's Best Boyfriend

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Sanchit didn’t know whether to be impressed or terrified at Dhruv’s ambition to

crack the AMTECH interviews. Sanchit hadn’t seen him sleep a wink in that
month, and every time Dhruv tried to sleep, Sanchit feared he would pass away;
cause of death—exhaustion and with traces of depression in the bones.
‘Am I ready?’ asked Dhruv the day before the interview.

‘I taught you but today even I wouldn’t go against you.’
‘Do you think I can beat Aranya?’ asked Dhruv.

‘You can beat anyone,’ said Sanchit. ‘You should sleep now. Tomorrow is
your big day, dude.’
Dhruv nodded and went to bed to spend a night of tossing and turning,
sweating, the bed sheet sticking to his back, tears flowing freely. He told himself

he didn’t miss a mother who would calm him down before a big exam the
following day; he didn’t need the encouraging words of his father. Sleep evaded

him.
Sanchit found himself on the roof that night drinking alone when he spotted
Dhruv’s arch nemesis, his eternal love, Aranya ambling below with a book in
hand. Sanchit followed her.

‘Hey?’ said Sanchit.
‘What are you doing here?’ asked Aranya.

‘Checking out competition, what else? Dhruv is going against you tomorrow
and you should be wary of him.’
‘How’s he doing now? Haven’t seen much of him in college, is he alright?’

‘Shouldn’t you be more concerned about me threatening you?’
‘I don’t get threatened, Sanchit.’
‘You turn me on,’ said Sanchit.

‘You’re gross.’
‘Keep saying that and I will cut out my heart for you.’
‘What do you want from me?’ asked Aranya.

‘I love you, Aranya. The only problem is you’re out of my league, and I’m a
good friend to Dhruv. So it’s my great sacrifice. Forgoing my love so that a great
love story can take root.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’