Page 294 - The World's Best Boyfriend

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It was three at night. Aranya was returning home in a company cab after another

nineteen-hour shift. Her body ached at places she didn’t know existed.
Thankfully, Raghuvir had bought her a treadmill desk, one which allowed her to
walk while she tapped furiously on her laptop hence delaying the onslaught of
spondylitis, spine problems and early death.

She was rudely woken up from her slumber when her phone rang. She sat up
straight and wiped the drool off her face. She took the call. ‘Hello?’

‘WHAT’S UP!’ shouted a voice from the other side. ‘It’s me, Sanchit! I’m
shouting because I want to pretend this is a long distance trunk call.’
‘What do you want?’ asked Aranya, still groggy.
‘What do I want? Can’t a friend just call to ask how you are doing?’

‘We are not friends.’
‘That’s not hurtful at all.’

‘What do you want, Sanchit? I don’t have time for this. I have to sleep. I have
had a long day.’
‘So are you going to sleep with Raghuvir or alone? Is he cooking today or are
you going to order in? Is he going to paint your nails or you will massage his

hair? Just asking because you have taken to updating Dhruv about your daily
activities!’

‘You have a problem with that?’
‘Just the one. Why are you doing this? What would you get out of it? You
already know he loves you and what you’re doing is putting him through hell.

Then why are you persisting?’
‘Because I think he deserves it.’
‘I think he has had enough, Aranya. I know you guys have a past and I

wouldn’t even try to imagine what damage he might have caused you then and
now but it’s time to call it quits.’
‘Are you pleading on Dhruv’s behalf?’

‘No. I’m pleading on mine,’ said Sanchit. ‘He’s never going to ask you to
stop. But I can tell that it’s killing him. He’s draining bottles of alcohol like
they’re water. He’s being all filmy and dramatic right now. You know how he is!

So you need to stop before he self-destructs.’