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f o r t y t h r e e. back to the past (1)

f o r t y  t h r e e. back to the past (1)

"Don't you worry, Archie, St. Stephen's is going to be thankful that we Archie's Band joined them. Soon they are going to recognize our potential and give us a platform we deserve."

Archit smiled cheekily at Pranati, "of course, Pree. As long as you are our lead singer, this band is going places."

The rest of the band members were equally thrilled to enter a new world. College life was going to be different than their school, but even then, they knew they had each other. It was just a matter of time until they'll be the center of attention, again.

The Band passed through the auditorium hall after giving their auditions for the inter-collegiate competition and winning the rounds, however when they halted near the storeroom Pranati heard soft noises.

"What is it?" Archit asked the girl who peeped through the tiny glass frame over the door, "Pree, please. We cannot afford to lose you to more suspensions. This is not school anymore."

Pranati scoffed. "I am not going to do anything stupid this year."

"Then what are you looking at?"

"The love of my life is inside, so I am waiting for him to step out." She sarcastically remarked, ignoring Archit's offended expressions, "It's just I can hear something."

Akash their drummer shook his head, "I heard that his place is where boys and girls 'do the deed'" He used air quotes for exaggeration. "Some girl might be moaning, let me have a look."

The rest of the members shoved him away and Archit took hold of Pranati who was still prying over the glass window.

"Ew." Shreya made a disgusted face, "this reminds me of the playboy in our batch, he dropped a grade because rumors have it – he impregnated a girl."

Pranati could never with the gossip mill that ran in their college. She hated it when people misspoke or spread false information about people they did not know.

"Oh yeah, the extremely handsome and brooding bad boy in our class." Naman, the pianist added,  "what's his name? RK?"

"Extremely handsome?" Archit rolled his eyes, "he is just average."

He is extremely handsome, Pranati wanted to correct Archit but then, she did not care for looks anyways. Although she had an interaction with the brooding bad boy where she had accidentally spilled coffee over his date, he had hardly reacted to it. She wondered how devoid he was of emotions to never react to anything.

She had never seen him smile either, not even when he scores the basket in his game.

Weird guy.

"Pree let's go, there is no one here. And if they are really doing it, I don't wanna see that."

Pranati could hear someone – not moaning, rather crying. The soft, muffled crying which you'd do to make sure no one hears you. She tip toed and checked the store room one last time before retreating to her friends who had walked past the hallway.

"So, did you see anyone?"

"No one."

She lied.

Pranati continued to walk with her friends without telling them that she saw the brooding bad boy secluded in the corner with his head in his hands. He was panting and sweating and seemed too miserable to say the least. She watched him from the corner, without making any noise and retreated to her gang.