Page 271 - The World's Best Boyfriend

call.
‘Hello? Aranya? How did the interview go?’ asked the father, without any
pleasantries.

‘I . . . I . . .’
‘THINK BEFORE LYING TO ME, ARANYA. I’m warning you,’ shouted
the father, his deafening voice audible to Raghuvir.

‘There’s . . . another . . . round left,’ stammered Aranya.
‘Huh? Even after warning you, you’re still lying to me. I talked to the dean.
He told me you said nothing in the interview. NOTHING! Why? I want an

answer, Aranya, or I will drag you home and never let you leave the house. I had
warned you. No more chances.’
Raghuvir snatched the phone from Aranya. ‘Hello, Sir. This is Prof.

Raghuvir.’
‘What do you want?’
‘I’m the one interviewing your daughter. I also happen to be the professor

with whom Aranya was caught on tape. I am talking to you to assure you that
she did nothing wrong that day or even today,’ said Raghuvir authoritatively.
‘But—’

‘I assure you that she will get the internship today. I will personally make sure
she gets through the interview. We hit a snag during the interview process. We

thought of her as a fourth-year student as opposed to a first-year student. Your
daughter is very talented and will be an asset to the company. Aranya has never
intentionally broken a rule or done anything in the college that would disgrace
you or your family and would never do so in the future. She was a victim of

circumstances and of college politics. If you ever have any doubts about her
activities, you can call me. If you have any doubts about my credibility, I will

have someone send over my qualifications and my body of work. If you still
doubt my character or my intentions towards your daughter, I can share with you
the contact numbers of my parents and you can have a word with them. They
know about my friendship with your daughter. I bear no ill intention towards

her. She’s safe with me. And she would do nothing without your permission.’
There was no answer from the other side. Aranya, gobsmacked, thought the

line was cut. But then her father spoke in a tone which wasn’t angry or furious,
just functional, ‘Text me the number of your parents. And pass the phone to
Aranya.’