Stubborn Love

The showdown

Around 7.30 in the evening, Sia walked into the canteen to pay the bill. She had idled around for a while now. It was already dark. By the time she would walk to the hostel, her friends would have left for the event.

Sia turned back from the billing counter, only to be obstructed by a confident mean-looking senior. It was Nikhil from the Robotics club. One of Raghav's many devoted friends, Sia recognised resentfully.

Stiffening despite rapid heart rate, Sia stepped on the right to move out of his way. The boy followed suit. Riled beyond limit, she stepped on the other side and he blocked her again. She took a few steps back but to her panic; the bully started taking slow steps towards her. Sia contemplated hard for her next course of action.

A strong battle arose between anxiety and defiance.

Then, to her utter disbelief, her sworn enemy caught hold of her present enemy by his collar and dragged him out of her way with a thrust.

Sia scanned the canteen for the first time since she entered a few minutes ago. Akshay, Rahul, Sid, and many other Electronics geeks and the senior members of Robotics club were all present and gawking at the unfolding scene. Why weren't they at the cultural event? And in a flash, she remembered about the Bot competition going on above the canteen floor as part of the day fest. Silvi had mentioned about it. Sia cursed her forgetfulness and the never-ending tortures of this day.

'Are you okay?' her sworn enemy asked politely.

Taking her eyes off the many judgmental and few concerned faces around her, Sia finally looked at the source of concern. Clad in a white shirt and brown trousers, Raghav was waiting patiently for her response. The audacity of this guy! He was the sole reason for all her predicaments. And he still possessed the tenacity to pose as her rescuer. Wasn't Nikhil one of his close friends, anyway?

And suddenly defiance knocked anxiety unconscious.

'It's none of your business,' Sia hissed at Raghav with contempt. And then with rising decibels declared to the crowd around, 'In fact, I am nobody's business!' Looking back at him, she scoffed, 'You dare act as my savior? You are the one responsible for all this! You think you can run all over me and get away with it?'

Raghav's face hardened slightly and his eyes lost all the tenderness.

Unperturbed by the silent warning at the back of her head, Sia challenged her bullies with her raging eyes turning red. Her voice gaining mo mentum every second. 'You are so proud of your big placements, aren't you? One complaint to the authorities from me and you all will be dragged down to your real standards within a day.'

How had she achieved this tremendous confidence to confront the man himself was beyond her. 

To everyone around, her courage looked like a legitimate offspring of her anger. 

A deep consciousness in her, however, quietly admitted that it was her one golden chance to refute all rumours concerning her character. One chance to let the whole freaking world know that she didn't give damn about him.

Sia finished and stood firmly, waiting for a deathly backlash from the deadly looking guy. But defiance stood its ground. In fact, there was no sign of fear on her features.

But Raghav seemed to have no plans to react. Satisfied at the swift triumph, Sia thought to storm out of the canteen with much-deserved dignity before the act of bravery died a natural death.

Then suddenly a familiar heavy guy roared from behind, 'How dare you?'

Sia saw Krishna moving swiftly towards her. And the back-stabber defiance quickly surrendered all its weapons to the floor and raised a white flag in urgency.

Krishna was Raghav's inseparable friend and known for his harsh attitude. Sia gulped. Suddenly feeling attacked, she cursed the damned ghost of heroism that possessed her minutes ago.

But before she could crumble to her own feet and made an acute fool of herself, something white blocked her view.

Raghav took a resigned but rapid step in front of Sia as Krishna came too close.

'Back off, Krishna.' he said idly to his friend.

'Did you hear her? This girl has the spunk to talk back to her senior and with that foul mouth of hers.' Krishna wailed in contempt. The canteen fell drop-dead silent. Sia could sense the compassionate gaze of her batch-mates, but nobody came forward. Well, she did push herself into the hole.

But Raghav stood firm, blocking her from the raging animal in front.

Sia peeked slightly from behind the broad shoulders of her sworn enemy.

'I asked you to back off,' Raghav spoke slowly, but the chilling command in his voice forced Sia to look up at him. He looked so terrifically dangerous in that moment, Sia wondered if he was the same guy she dared to confront moments ago.

Then the ever so volatile Krishna swallowed his anger and to her bewilderment quietly moved aside.

Relief took over her from head to toe. She noticed Akshay and the rest of the group shared her feeling of relaxation. Although Rahul and Sid looked a little too thrilled.

Raghav turned back to face her and said with a restrained voice, 'I know you have been wronged, Sia. And I apologize on behalf of all my friends.'

Sia remained silent.

'But the question is, will you be able to forgive and forget?'

The room had turned mute. Nobody moved. Nobody dared to make a sound. All of them waited for her response without blinking.

Sia stared back at the aristocratic apology. Her antagonist just saved her from a very ugly situation. What was she supposed to feel? The apology looked sincere, but there was no sign of guilt on that impeccable face. Was he really sorry?

His recent actions had nearly wiped off all hostility Sia harbored a few moments ago.

With determination, Sia collected all the hurt she had in store and with forced stubbornness in her eyes replied with a loud and clear 'No!' and stormed out of the canteen with now fogged pride.

The crowd of electronics enthusiasts quickly scanned Raghav's face for signs of annoyance. But to their utmost puzzlement, an amused smile spread across his face as he gazed at the retreating fury.

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