Page 259 - The World's Best Boyfriend

replacements for Smriti, and you stopped texting me. Not one text!’
‘A new leaf? I thought you had moved on! That you had found somone!’
‘Ha! No, I hadn’t. And that’s when I thought we might be meant to be

together. We are both strong-willed, ambitious people, Aranya. And I have seen
how difficult it is to find someone who gets you. So that’s why I’m here. To turn
over a new leaf and give it a shot.’ Raghuvir took her sweaty hand into his. ‘You

and me, in a different city than this, away from the prying eyes of your parents.
Who knows? Maybe you will find love?’
Words eluded Aranya. The last time she had strayed from her path hadn’t

ended well. What were the ramifications of this daring proposal? What would
she tell her parents? Would she hide it? If not, what would they say? Would they
burn her? Mutilate her? Or should she not tell them? Ever?

‘I don’t know what to say to this, Sir. You’re asking me to lie to my parents
again. I’m not sure I can do that.’
‘I’m asking you no such thing. I am asking you to tell them everything.’

‘You’re joking, Sir. You don’t—’
Aranya felt sick in the stomach just imagining the scenario. But then again,
would it be so bad? Wouldn’t her father be happy to offload his burden on

someone else who was willing to carry the responsibility?
‘I can’t promise you much, Aranya, but I do promise that I will put all the

work that’s required to make this work. Persistence is one thing I have learnt
from having spent years staring at unsolvable equations.’
‘I’m not an equation, Sir.’
‘You’re not, but love’s an equation. You put in the right variables and you

win. Finally, your parents and you can breathe easy, mend your bridges; you can
probably even show me off to your friends and cousins, that is if I’m not too old

or nerdy,’ Raghuvir chuckled. ‘And we can work together on whichever project I
work on. We will be a power couple in our field,’ said Raghuvir, his eyes
lighting up.
‘I don’t know what to say about it, Sir. I’m overwhelmed.’

‘Did I say too much?’
‘No—’

‘I just thought you would be happy hearing this. Because that day . . .’ His
voice trailed off and his shoulders drooped. This was the sweetest thing anyone
had ever done for her. Why was she being difficult?