The Rules Of Pursuit

30. Forbidden Road

After lunch Avinash and I decided to leave for college so that we could reach before dusk. We discussed about the plights and pains homosexual people had to endure due to the society's prejudice, throughout our journey.

"Damini knows you were out with me?" I asked, as he parked his bike and we walked towards the hostel.

"Nope." He replied.

I decided not to ask him why.

"So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" I asked him.

"I have to join the dance rehearsals," he grimaced "it's couple theme this year so Govind wants us to be in total sync."

Brute was not pleased when he was made to part with his friends, nonetheless accompanied me to my room.

Mia returned around seven in the evening.

"So, what is the scene with Avinash?" She enquired changing into her dancing clothes.

"Nothing. I had gone for paragliding, bumped into him there." I lied comfortably.

"He was behaving differently today." Mia said thoughtfully "I have never seen him this friendly before, that to with someone he just met."

"I don't know. Maybe he is choosy about the people he interacts with." I shrugged.

"Fatima felt there was something going on between the two of you. I told her Avinash has a girlfriend, and you and him are just friends." Mia said looking at me through the mirror.

"You are right." I said nonchalantly "there is nothing between Avinash and me ."

Brute and I accompanied Mia to her dance rehearsal. Her partner was a guy from third year. I sat down with Brute in one of the plastic chairs. Avinash entered after a while, Damini clinging to his arm.

"Okay we dont have much time," Govind's partner Jahnvi shouted. "Gather up."

She played their routine song on a portable speaker and the couples started to perform the choreography.

To my utter disappointment, Avinash and Damini performed in absolute sync. Avinash never took his eyes off her, while her body moved fluidly with his.

The dance routine seemed a little intimate. I felt repulsed watching Avinash spin on a spot, Damini perched on his hips, her legs straddling him. I hated witnessing how she slithered her body against his torso.

"She is his girlfriend," My mind scolded my heart.

Once the dance practice wrapped up, I left for the cafeteria with Mia, Olivia and Brute. The rest of M4, Natasha, Zoravar and Danish were already waiting for us there.

"I am going to faint anyday." Mandy complained savoring the sauted rice and fish curry. "Akshay needs to relax man." He grimaced.

"The soccer face off is only three months away." Danish warned him "We have to train harder."

"I wonder how Avinash manages both soccer and dance." Mandy said incredulously.

Avinash was sitting with Damini two tables away from us. He looked at our table longingly. I felt bad for him, he was in need of a friend, but because of that skunk of a girlfriend, all of his friends had been avoiding him.

I lied on my bed that night, thinking about Avinash more than ever. Mia was fast asleep, while I tossed and turned unable to sleep. My mind screamed me not to, but my heart egged me to go ahead. Giving in to my heart's demand, I pulled out my phone and opened his whatsapp chat.

Me: Busy?

He came online

Avi: Nah. Just trying to get some sleep.

Me: Shouldn't that be easy, given the amount of exercise you had?

Avi: I know, but still, can't sleep.

Me: Is Danish there?

Avi: Nope. Probably making out with Oly. What about you? Are you alone?

Don't you fucking write that, my mind screamed, but eventually the bloody heart won.

Me: What would you prefer?

He seemed to be typing for a long time, intensifying my nervousness.

Avi: Alone.

I felt like someone had hit me with 500 volts, making me sit up immediately.

Me: I hate being alone. Would you come over then?

I decided to push my luck a little further

Avi: Yes.

Me: Then what?

He was again typing longer than usual.

Avi: You tell me.

Smart-ass! He was putting the ball in my court. I grinned while my fingers typed furiously.

Me: I would call Damini and tell her that her boyfriend just came to my room in the middle of the night.

Avi: She wouldn't believe you.

Me: Why?

Avi: Because her boyfriend has never gone to her own room ever, the chances of him going to someone else's room are slim.

Me: Yet, there stands her boyfriend, in my room.

Avi: So after Damini curses you and disconnects the phone, what are you going to do about her boyfriend?

Me: I will push him out of the room.

Avi: He is a tough guy, he doesn't budge.

Me: I will ask him what he wants.

Avi: He wants you to finish what you started, when you called him to your room.

Me: He is too virtuous. He won't be able to handle it.

Avi: Try him.

Me: I don't want him so far away.

Avi: Then pull him closer.

Me: He is resisting me.

Avi: No he isn't.

Was this happening for real?

Me: What happened to his vow of not loosing it before marriage?

Avi: He doesn't care. He wants you to pull him closer Damini.

I knew this was too good to be true. I could feel tears of humiliation rolling down the corners of my eyes. He was thinking about Damini all this time. My Whatsapp beeped again.

Avi: He knows who is, he never slips.

Avi: Go to sleep Naxi.

I locked the phone and pressed my face into the pillow, muffling my sobs.

AVINASH P.O.V.

What the fuck was I doing? I knew what she was upto, yet I couldn't control myself!

What was wrong with me?

I hoped she took the bait.

I wanted her to think I had Damini in my mind when I was texting her. She can never know the truth. She must never know that all I wanted to do was go to her room, throw her on the bed and break my fucking vow.

I must never lose control like this. That was a forbidden road I must never tread on. I am a loyal boyfriend. I won't ever cheat on Damini.

I have to be careful around this girl, she knows how to make me loose the reins. I cannot afford to slip again.

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