The westering sun on that spring evening had disappeared casting a golden halo on the tops of the taller trees. Heavy blanket of dusk was about to descend shortly. Om's chai was half way down but mostly abandoned. Annika's chai too was inadvertently abandoned. Rudy was still kneeling in front of them and Sumo sat frozen on the stone bench in front of them. It was quiet except for the lonely cricket's stridulation from the pile of dried vegetation under the stone bench.
"Sumo.. please say something" Rudy beseeched breaking the painful silence.
"I never expected you to ruin our friendship like this Rudy." Sumo thundered and stormed out.
Rudy remained unfazed, having factored in such a set back. He followed her till the hostel gate and returned back to Annika and Om when Sumo did not stop for him.
"This did not go well" Rudy ruminated .
"You should not have done it here, with us" Om pointed to himself and Annika, trying to reason with Rudy.
"Oh yes I agree O. Shivaay bhaiyya too should have been here with you and Annika didi. " Rudy sounded lost.
"Of course not! " Om rolled his eyes. "I meant this should have been a personal business with just you and Sumo, not a public spectacle in front for 50 people at a Dhaba."
"Uh? Oh? But Shivaay Bhaiyya proposed to Annika didi in our presence.. We were all there remember?" Rudy naively tried to justify.
"Well, that was a different situation. Annika was hospitalized. Grow up Rudy" Om was vexed at this point.
"I agree with Om, Rudy you need to grow up and get original...This is not the end of the semester exam that you get away by copying.." Annika got up from the stone bench and started to walk back to the hostel door. "I better go and check on Sumo."
"Annika didi.. Please try to convince her na?" Rudy ran behind Annika.
"Rudy she is as much a sister as you are a brother. I promise, I am not going to take sides. I do want both of you to be happy though." Annika sighed.
"Now you know how I felt when I saw you and Shivaay together initially." Om commented laconically.
Annika nodded. "It is not a good place to be in."
************************************************************
Sumo was fuming and pacing up and down the small hostel room, that she could cover in eleven steps. Annika silently slipped through the door and softly settled in her seat pretending to pull her book open.
"How dare he Akka. How dare he say such things to me." Sumo sounded furious. "What is he thinking? That I am some bimbo who would fall for his dumbbells.? Now that he is done with all the available girls on campus, he is bored and wants to toy with me." Sumo finally plopped herself on the bed.
"But..." Annika tried to say something but was cut off by Sumo.
"No ifs and buts Akka. You are my Akka first, not yet Rudy's bhabhi. So you should support me." Sumo sulked.
"You are my little Sumo..I respect your decision. I am not taking sides here." Annika looked at her little puppy warmly. Her little puppy was cute when it sulked. Sumo huffed and puffed for some time.
"That idiot does not deserve my friendship. I have been so patient with him, I help him with his assignments, help him prepare for exams and what not and he did this to me.." Sumo burst into tears.
Annika was slightly taken aback and rushed to console her. The ever pragmatic, strong as a pillar Sumo had broken down.
"Do I come across as one of those needy girls that idiot likes to date?" Sumo choked.
YOU ARE READING
Once Upon a University Campus
FanfictionA Shivika story that started on a University campus. They thought they were as different as chalk and cheese, but were they? Read along to find out. Cover credit @tashu_123
