High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 50 - Officially High School Lovers

No! No, God! No! That is absolutely absurd. Manish? Mahen's brother Manish was behind all this? He was the mastermind?

"You are joking aren't you?" I stared in disbelieve at Manish.

But before he could utter a word Rai slapped him hard throwing away all her suppressed hurt. I expected him to shout and say it was all a silly misunderstanding again. But no. he didn't look up, his head was still lowered.

"I had given you that ring from Garage. You supported Shekhar and Nupur's accusations in front of Vasundhara aunty. You made her believe that Deepa is a golddigger! She was two-timing. It was all, you Manish!" Rai sighed.

I eagerly stared at Manish. A hope still glowing strong inside me that he will deny all the accusations and maybe Rai was wrong. But he didn't say a word.

I slowly walked towards him. Holding his shoulder I jerked him. "I treated you like my brother Manish! Why did you do this? Why?" I screamed as tears rolled down my eyes.

"I never liked you!" he shouted. "I hated you okay! I hated you," he started walking back as he stared at me with a deformed expression, half-crying, half-angry but mostly hurt, "You were nobody! Just a common girl!" 

He pointed at me and then bending down as his hands fell beside him in defeat he said, "I always thought it would be Rai di with my brother and not you. But when I came to know about my brother's feelings for you, I didn't like it and so took Shekhar's help."

He shook in both anger and regret. "I do not feel proud of what I did, but I just couldn't see you both together. But when I saw that how even after my hardest attempts I couldn't break you apart I gave up. I didn't realise Shekhar had his own motives behind this."

Before I could say anything else Mahen punched him. Holding him by his collar he was about to hit him again when Mohona mam interrupted. "You have enough regrets to last for a lifetime," she said putting a hand on his shoulder. It was her way of calming us down whenever we panicked and that hand did work like magic, always, never failed. And it didn't fail this time as well, because I saw Mahen slowly retreating. 

"Manish," she turned towards a disturbed Manish. She smiled and gently patted his back. "Remember one thing, true love surpasses every hurdle and the one who realises it becomes lucky. Your remorse is all that is required. You have wasted their ten years, and now it's your chance to make it up to them."

Manish silently nodded.

"Now, that the drama is over, principal madam has something to say."

I could see Shekhar was taking steps back to flee but Subir and Rohan caught him, "not so fast dear boy!"

"I had announced that there would be certain names scratched out from our notable alumni list forever and now you can guess the ones. And Rachayita you will meet me at my office for turning the reunion into a stage for closure! I would request you all to proceed towards the main hall and join the dinner buffet."

Rai rolled her eyes saying, "It is always me who cleans up!"

"Well, this time it is you who created the mess! Who told you to be extra dramatic by showing that recording here!" Debdyut eyed her.

"After how publicly I insulted Deepa last time here, I am thankful that Rai did it."

"Wow! did you just praise me!" Rai stared in surprise at him.

"Shut up Rai!" the boys shouted and Rai huffed.

While they were busy rewinding after all the chaos, I walked up to Manish and hugged him. "I might not be equal to your family's status Manish but I will always regard you as my younger brother. And my status does not decide the love I have. So please, believe me, your brother is the most special person in my life."