Falling Into Oblivion

Chapter 11: The Dare

Nishant sat on the edge of his bed, trying to stay strong, but the memories overwhelmed him. He buried his face in his hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. The house was quiet, the only sound being his soft sobs. He knew he had to pull himself together for Banhi and Dhriti, but right now, he couldn't help but succumb to the emotions crashing over him.

Twenty years ago, Nishant was a very different man. Carefree and reckless, he never thought twice about his actions. His father, a powerful man with deep connections to the mafia, had ensured that Nishant never lacked for anything. Money, power, and privilege were all at his fingertips. He was the quintessential rich, spoiled kid who believed he could do anything and get away with it.

Nishant strutted around campus like he owned the place. Every girl wanted to be with him, every guy wanted to be him. His life was a series of parties, hookups, and mindless indulgence.

One sunny afternoon, while lounging on the college lawn with his friends, Nishant noticed a girl who seemed completely out of place in his world. She was sitting under a tree, engrossed in a book, oblivious to the chaos around her. Her name was Rani, and she was breathtakingly beautiful, with an innocence that made her stand out.

"Yaar, dekho us ladki ko," Nishant's friend, Vikram, nudged him. "Kitni sundar hai na?"

"Haan, par woh mujhe dekh bhi nahi rahi," Nishant replied, a hint of irritation in his voice. He wasn't used to being ignored.

"Arre yaar, tu kya aise hi baithega? Jaake baat kar na," Vikram encouraged.

Nishant shrugged. "Woh toh mujhe dekh ke chale jaati hai."

Days turned into weeks, and Rani continued to ignore Nishant, despite his best efforts. She was always polite but distant, and this intrigued him even more.

One night, at a friend's party, Nishant was incredibly drunk. The music was loud, the room filled with laughter and chatter. He was the life of the party, surrounded by admirers. Suddenly, a boy from college, Ravi, who was always envious of Nishant's popularity, decided to stir things up.

"Arre Nishant, tu toh sab kuch kar sakta hai na?" Ravi sneered, holding a drink. "Toh kyun na Rani ko impress karke dikha?"

Nishant, his vision blurred and his judgment impaired by alcohol, laughed. "Rani? Woh toh mujhse baat bhi nahi karti."

Ravi smirked, sensing an opportunity. "Dare? Main tujhe dare deta hoon, Rani ko pyaar mein gira ke dikha."

The crowd around them cheered, egging Nishant on. "Kar ke dikha!" they shouted.

Nishant, always one to rise to a challenge, nodded. "Challenge accepted," he slurred, staggering slightly.

Over the next few days, Nishant began to devise a plan to win Rani over. His friends, particularly Vikram and Anjali, were eager to help.

"Yaar, Rani simple si ladki hai. Usko impress karna mushkil nahi hoga," Vikram said as they lounged in Nishant's lavish apartment.

"Par Nishant, tu dhyaan rakhna. Woh ladki alag hai, use emotions se khelna sahi nahi hai," Anjali warned, sensing that Rani was not like the other girls Nishant had dated.

Nishant waved off her concerns. "Relax, Anjali. Main bas thoda mazaak kar raha hoon."

Nishant's first attempt to approach Rani was in the college library. He walked in confidently, spotting her at a table near the back.

"Hi Rani," he greeted her, flashing his most charming smile.

Rani looked up from her book, her expression neutral. "Hi," she replied softly.