The Boxes We Are Put In

Chapter 17

"This is an indisputable and classic case of using and dumping," Sharan concluded. "Or else why would she be doing this?"

"I told you so before." Asif was having the time of his life. "I told you she is playing with you. I told you so that she will use you and dump you"

It was the last class officially. We still had a few extra classes left. Today we had our project submission. I did not even want to come for that. But Amma came to the room when I was not getting up from the bed. I tried faking fever, but then Asif and Sharan called me from college when I was getting late. They were my project teammates. "How are we supposed to present without you, da?" Sharan asked, troubled. And I had to go.

But I did not tell the guys about Arya's marriage proposal. It was Soumya.

"She wanted to tell you," Soumya was telling me. She was sitting with us. "She said she is handling the situation."

It did not change anything for me. I still felt hurt and betrayed. I did not want to deal with this and face this. Trusting in Arya, being with her again required a big heart and a lot of bravery - to face whatever that follows. I wanted to run away. I did not want to sit and talk to her and accept this situation. Running away was easier. Postponing to address it was easier.

"That is not important. Why is she doing this in the first place?" Sharan replied to Soumya.

"Or else, what else can she do? She did not decide this. Her parents did."

"But she can tell her parents she does not want to."

"Do you think she may not have?"

"Still she can do something...."

"Yeah, all girls are 'cheaters'"

"Ugh... I can't believe you two."

"Can you guys shut up?" I snapped. I had it. My head was aching. I felt like I will explode.

"Yeah, stop it guys," Adi said, and he put his hand on my shoulder. "Nik, whatever it is, you need to talk to Arya about this. Hear her out."

"I don't want to."

"I told you she said she doesn't want to get married to those guys." Soumya turned to me, "She is going to reject them."

"I don't care, okay..." I snapped at her. I have never talked in a non-polite way to Soumya before. "It's not even about the marriage thing. Why did she not tell me about her brother?"

Everybody got confused. "What brother?"

Ugh.... My head ached so much; I scratched my brow, "She had a twin brother. He died four years back. She never told me about that. Never even mentioned him."

"Craaazzzyyy......" Sharan's response was almost comical.

"I already told you this girl is too weird and unusual. Now it is confirmed that she is totally mental."

"Oh my god, no wonder she was always so depressed." Soumya.

"Still, you need to talk to her."

"I told you I don't want to." I snapped at Adi. "You know what? Asif was right all along. She played with me. She wanted someone so gullible to have some fun with and then move on with her life. I was such a perfect candidate. I was like so foolishly in love with her..." That you did not care to find out why she wanted to be with you...