Her Bet

chapter 27

Danton

The bell rings and immediately people start laughing and shouting.

"Did you like today's lesson.?"

I turn to find Rakash who's already finished packing his books .

"Yeah. Did you?"

"Yeah. I always love every lesson of math."

I look at him and nod .

"Oh , we're meeting at the library  . You wanna join .?"

"Sure."

.....

"I like being here . It's nice ."

He says taking a book from the shelf and coming to sit down.

"Hey ,I want to ask you something."

"Sure."

"How much do you love Meera?"

"You're her boyfriend, why are you asking such a question."

"Just answer me."

"Well, I love her a lot . I've always imagined being with her ever since I  planned on coming to America . I admit that I didn't like you at first when I learnt about you two but I've gotten to know you and I know you're a good person. "

"If I tell you something about her , will you tell her .?"

"Is it something she's not supposed to know.?"

"No , she's supposed to know but she can't find out . It's more of a boy thing ."

"A boy thing?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Sounds scary but I think I can try ."

"No man , I don't need you to try I need you to promise me. We're boys right?"

"Ok."

"Meera likes people who have never....done the deed."

"We all know that , yeah."

"Have you ever done it?"

"I thought we were talking about you here ?"

"I just want us  to get to know each other ."

"Without your best friend.?"

"He's on his way ."

"Of course he is."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing just...I feel like you share everything with him."

"Of course , he's my best friend."

"Hello , hello . Sorry I'm late I got caught up a little."

I turn around and I see Barry . I smile as we do our handshake before he sits down.

"So , are you guys already far.?"

"No , I was just asking him if we can trust him."

"Can we?"

Barry asks looking at Rakash who looks scared.

"Don't mind him . "

"Are you guys negotiating with me to betray Meera or something.?"

"No no , of course not . You told us you wanted to be our closest friend but I just have to tell you it comes with a price ."

"Have you guys lied to Meera before."

"Dude. You know what they say ....bros before hoes. Not that Meera is one ...i-its just a phrase tha-"

"Ok , we heard you Barry."

I say and he keeps quite.

"But what does me having done the...deed have to do with all this?"

"I just wanted to know you , ."

"Ok. But I've never lied to Meera before."

"Look, we're four here. Me , Danton, Meera and you. And Meera is our best friend, but she's a girl . And not just any kind of girl. Meera is someone we respect, someone kind but she can be quite different from us   . That's why there are things that we only discuss when we're alone . Things that involve life and ourselves. Not school , marriage or studying. "

"Are you saying Meera bores you two."

"No , I'm saying that if you want to be-"

" No , I don't care . And you Danton, does Meera know about this ? I expected it from him but you?"

"Excuse me what the fuck you mean you expect it from me .?"

Rakash rolls his eyes at Barry before looking at me with an angry look.

"I will never choose anyone over Meera and I'm not a fool Danton I know the reason you asked about my sexual status is because you're trying to make yourself feel better . Meera doesn't deserve such friends."

Rakash grabs his stuff and leaves.

"I told you to not give him a chance ."

"Are seriously blaming me , Barry?"

"No Danton I'm not. But sometimes you're just too nice . So what if he feels left out when we talk in secret not infront of him ? No one cares . I told he's not here for us to talk to him , he's here for Meera."

"I just thought that we treated him like an outsider , that's why I wanted this whole meetup ."

"Yeah well , good job . And  I told you he doesn't like me."

"Yeah now I know . I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I don't get why he hates you though."

"Maybe I'm just someone who has traits that he doesn't like in a person."

We keep quite and after a while we leave the library.

......

I sit down with my food tray and look at Barry who's already halfway done.

"You still haven't talked to Meera since yesterday."

"No , not even Rakash."

"Pft, who cares about him.? I only care about Meera ,and Rakash didn't even understand the situation.. who knows what he even told her . "

"Look behind you."

I say and Barry turns around. We look at Meera who's heading towards us with Rakash. She looks angry .

"Hi."

"Hi Meera ."

"Hi , are you ok?"

"Yeah , I want to talk after school . At yours , is that ok with you.?"

"Yeah , Is there any-"

"That'll be all."

They leave before I can say anything.

"I hope she's going to break up with you."

"Are you crazy? How can you say that .?"

"Because that'll be the most perfect thing to ever happen to both of you . I miss my friends. "