Page 344 - The World's Best Boyfriend

presence? It didn’t feel like it would. The car stopped at a red light and suddenly
she felt trapped. She wanted to run back to the hostel and hug him, handcuff
herself to him and never leave. She found herself crying. Raghuvir put a loving

hand around her.
About half an hour later, the cab reached the airport. Her luggage was loaded
into a trolley and Raghuvir pushed it towards the gate. He bought visitor’s

tickets for all four of them. Aranya had never seen her mother cry before. Or her
father not use his Aranya-specific tone at her. What was what? Was that a sense
of sadness she saw on their faces? Aranya didn’t feel it though. One moment of

kindness can’t erase the years of harshness she had been subjected to by her
family. She maintained a stoic face as she played with her tickets, the forms, and
rechecked her visa.

Her parents, her brother and Raghuvir waited in the lounge while Aranya
stepped into the check-in line. Far in the distance she could see Raghuvir
chatting up her family effortlessly. Now she felt like she could cry. Like always,

she would be alone and lonely at a place far from here.
She took out her alternate phone and texted Raghuvir.
FARAH IQBAL

What’s up?
She saw Raghuvir feign busyness while her parents talked amongst

themselves.
RAGHUVIR
Dropping my girlfriend off. She’s leaving today.
FARAH IQBAL

Oh! Party then! You must be happy. At least she would be! Into the land of
handsome hunks.

RAGHUVIR
Umm . . .
FARAH IQBAL
By the way, I’m coming to Bangalore next week.

RAGHUVIR
That’s awesome!

FARAH IQBAL
That’s only if my friend doesn’t ditch me. Then I won’t have a place to stay.
RAGHUVIR