The Zeroth Law

CHAPTER 8: THE FOLLY

"You are an hour late", Rudraansh rained on me the moment I walked in Toons, Karan's favourite rendezvous spot.

It was a sports centre cum bar owned by Rudraansh's filthy rich sworn Uncle, not blood-related, please take a note of it. So despite us being under-age, we are allowed inside, not that bars these days check ID proofs, and can play any game we want to our heart's content free of cost because Rudraansh owns platinum membership card.

"Not ten minutes or twenty but an hour late", he continued the downpour of his wrath on me, completely unaware of the hot girl standing by my side. I wasn't surprised because the only thing Rudraansh takes more seriously than a hot girl is G.I.Joe action figure. "We either have pool or baseball now", he fumed and put his hands in his pockets.

I cringed at that in spite of myself because all three of us suck at pool and baseball is walk in the park for Karan. "I brought the twelve inch master piece edition", I said simply and Rudraansh gulped down rest of his banter, "Where's Karan?" I asked next.

"Inside the baseball facility", he answered and turned his back on me to walk away.

I gave Aisha an apologetic glance and dragged her with me to follow him. When we reached there we saw Karan hitting balls coming at him from the pitching machine. I grabbed onto the net that was separating him from me to watch him without blinking like I watch him every Saturday morning. As if he could smell me, Karan took a step back and looked around, his eyes finally resting on me.

"You could stop showing off and wear a helmet at least", I said to him and he smiled. "Cannot we get the air-hockey table?" I looked at Rudraansh as Karan walked out of the baseball cage towards us.

"All boarded up", he replied with his patented grunt.

"Cannot we use some of your privileged relationship with the owner?" I asked next and had to entertain a flaring scowl in return. I know Rudraansh doesn't like to take any favours from this said millionaire Uncle of his and that the only reason he uses his Toons membership card is Karan, but what harm would be done if he uses it once? "Fine, have a straight spine instead of Matt Trakker", I returned his scowl to end the fight as Karan reached us.

"You are exceptionally late", Karan said smiling at me and then his eyes travelled beyond me, "and it looks like we have a guest."

I had completely forgotten about Aisha after seeing Karan and now I looked around at her regretfully. She must be cursing me for bringing her, I thought, but she was still smiling brightly. I wondered for an umpteenth time as to what grudge Shayoni must have against such an innocent girl.

"I am such a doofus", I said to her with a cowering face and turned around to introduce her but Rudraansh went ahead and spoiled that for me.

"Finally we both agree upon something", he said gravely, "you really are a doofus."

It took me all my restrain to not say anything rude in return because I didn't want to spoil his first impression on Aisha. "Yeah", I nodded and saw Karan raise his eye brows, "I brought along a person and then totally forgot about it. I am a doofus", I glared at Rudraansh stealthily and pointed at Aisha, "this is my new room mate I talked to you guys about - Aisha. This is Karan and this is Rudraansh." I pointed out the guys for her benefit as she smiled and bowed her head lightly at both of them.

"I know you", she said looking at Karan, "you play for the cricket team, right?" I wasn't surprised if she knew Karan, he was indeed the college heartthrob.

"And you work with the Extravaganza. Didn't you perform last year?" as Karan said that I jogged my memory to recall if I had seen Aisha on any of the stage performances in last year's annual gathering function.