Page 95 - The World's Best Boyfriend

this conversation was heading.
‘Tell us!’ prodded another girl.
‘No!’

Aranya sighed and stared at Ritika with puppy eyes. ‘We really want to know.
I will not be able to concentrate on my assignment unless you tell me. Please, I
beg of you. You will really make my day.’

‘Okay, fine, though I did catch the sarcasm there,’ said Ritika. She continued
as if she was doing a favour, ‘Dhruv is a little old school. He wants to take it
slow.’

The girls were disappointed and impressed at the same time.
‘You mean NOTHING happened?’ asked a girl.
‘Nothing. He held my hand though. He has strong arms,’ remarked Ritika, a

little lost. ‘And he kept holding my hand all through after the little incident. He
kept me from looking anywhere. He told me “You’re too pretty not to attract
attention. So don’t look anywhere or it will get bloody again.” I’m here, look at

me.’
‘Did you check for a beard, a turban and a suicide belt? Sounds an awful lot
like Taliban.’ said Aranya.

The girls groaned.
Aranya gathered her books, not wanting to get into a conversation about not

letting a guy walk all over you but she had to complete the assignment. It’s was
Prof. Raghuvir’s pre-class assignment and the assignment was her one-way
ticket into his good books, his research team, and probably even his heart and
pants. Who knows?

‘It’s good to be loved,’ said Ritika.
Aranya pretended she didn’t hear that. ‘Hey, I need all of you to submit Prof.

Raghuvir’s assignment by tomorrow morning.’
‘Have you completed yours?’ asked Ritika’s friend.
‘I’m going to the library. Will Dhruv allow you that in a few days? Or is it too
radical?’ asked Aranya and winked at Ritika.

‘I like how he is,’ Ritika argued.
As she walked away cradling her books, the girls shouted, ‘WE WILL COPY

YOURS.’
‘Of course you will,’ muttered Aranya.