Cross Roads of Life

The Past

                                                                                                  TUSHAR

"10K from my side" I was shocked seeing guys betting highly on the prospects.

"Yaar Varad, how are they betting soo much? What if we lose?" I asked looking at the racing bikes.

Being new to the college all the bike races and events was quite strange to me.

Varad gave a smirk and asked me to have a blast seeing the race.

A total of four bikes sprang into action, speeding over one another. Ours was the colour green. I was soo engrossed in the betting happening that I didn't even care to see who was the one winning.

"Yaaayyyy we won" hearing the shriek I looked up, and saw a girl throwing away her helmet and screaming in joy.

"Is that a girl, who took the part in the race?" I asked shocked.

"Of course. Ruchika Biswas, the one with fire in her blood. She is a national-level racer," Varad proudly stated.

I looked at her in awe, hailing from a place where girls learning scooty is soo much, she was a complete surprise to me.

I congratulated her like any other, with the passing time I got to observe her closely and her every trait stood out.

She was a rebel in every sort of way. She was the voice of our college, she headed protests against authorities when they posed rules on dressing style.

Everything about her increased my respect for her, what I have not observed is my growing adoration for her.

I started to notice every detail about her, how she talks, how she walks, what she prefers, and every time a guy came up with a proposal, my heartbeat rose fearing she would accept him. All those she rejected made me feel worse thinking that one day I would be on that list.

On our first official college tour, we were kayaking and I moved pawns to get into her boat. Being an adventurous sport she is rafted faster than any other and we ended up on a route where we couldn't even find a trace of our college members.

We tried every possible way until the dawn hit and all of a sudden she grabbed my hand.

Can you people believe it? Ruchika Biswas held my hand.

"I am scared" she looked at me as if she was the kid who gets missed at the fair.

"What? The Ruchika Biswas can feel scared too? Does she even know how this emotion feels?" I asked breaking into laughter.

The next minute she broke down into loud sobs crumbling down onto the floor.

"Ruchika... is everything okay? I am sorry if I hurt you in any way but please don't cry... you are soo brave" I said trying to pacify her.

"Why?? Why shouldn't I cry?? Why am I supposed to be brave in everything? Why am I not allowed to be scared?" she looked up into my eyes with bloodshot eyes.

"Umm... you can be... I don't understand what you are trying to say"

"No one does... because apparently no one ever tries. Ruchika beta, you should be like this... Ruchika beta you should do this.... Ruchika beta you should live like this... but ever they asked, Ruchika Beta, how do you want to live?" her throat goes groggy with all the crying.

Having no idea on what I am supposed to do, I embraced her tightly and kept rubbing her back.

"Why am I not allowed to cry? Am I a robot? Won't I have feelings? Why my fear is mocked? I am scared of being alone in the dark, why do I have to fake being brave?" she cried.