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 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.

"Hey, look at that girl," Nishant's friend, Vikram, nudged him. "She's so pretty, isn't she?"

"Yeah, but she doesn't even look at me," Nishant replied, a hint of irritation in his voice. He wasn't used to being ignored.

"Come on, man, are you just going to sit here? Go talk to her," Vikram encouraged.

Nishant shrugged. "She just walks away whenever she sees me."

Days turned into weeks, and Rani continued to ignore Nishant despite his best efforts. She was always polite but distant, and this only intrigued him 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, Ravi, a college boy who was always envious of Nishant's popularity, decided to stir things up.

"Nishant, you can do anything, right?" Ravi sneered, holding a drink. "Then why don't you impress Rani?"

Nishant, his vision blurred and his judgment impaired by alcohol, laughed. "Rani? She doesn't even talk to me."

Ravi smirked, sensing an opportunity. "Dare? I dare you to make her fall in love with you."

The crowd around them cheered, egging Nishant on. "Do it! Let's see!"

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.

"Rani is a simple girl. It won't be hard to impress her," Vikram said as they lounged in Nishant's lavish apartment.

"But Nishant, be careful. She's different. Playing with her emotions wouldn't be right," Anjali warned, sensing that Rani was not like the other girls Nishant had dated.

Nishant waved off her concerns. "Relax, Anjali. It's just a little fun."

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.