UNIVERSITY ARC
Geetha was glowing with happiness, and for a moment, I thought everything was finally falling into place. But life has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs when you least expect them. Just as I was beginning to feel at ease, I noticed Kusuma entering the room. Seeing her there caught me off guard. For a brief second, I thought she might greet me warmly, but what happened next left me utterly shaken.
|"Manoj! You're already here to see Geetha?" |
Kusuma's voice was sharp, laced with an unexpected bitterness. The smile that had just formed on my face vanished—not because of her words, but because of the boy standing next to her. He was close to her, almost intimately so, like a boyfriend. Confusion paralyzed me, and I stood frozen in place, trying to comprehend the situation. Geetha, sensing the tension, quickly intervened.
|"Kusuma, please don't misunderstand him. He came here to help me."|
But Kusuma merely laughed, her words with a cold, dismissive sound.
|"Help you? This poor guy? Come on, Geetha, don't make me laugh."|
|"Kusuma, even though he doesn't have much, he still wanted to help. That's more than enough for me. So, please stop blaming him."|
Kusuma raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.
|"Is this really you, Geetha? The Geetha I know wouldn't talk to Manoj like this. You were always the first to mock him, to push him down. I don't understand what's changed."|
Geetha turned to me, her eyes filled with remorse.
|"Manoj, I'm sorry for how I treated you in the past. Despite everything, you came all this way to support me. You didn't hold a grudge, and that means more than you know. Thank you."|
Her words caught me off guard, and I could see tears welling up in her eyes. The sincerity in her voice melted my heart. I never imagined she could change this much.
|"Please, Geetha, let's just leave the past behind. I've already forgotten everything,"|
Kusuma, however, wasn't moved.
|"I never thought I'd hear such words from you, Geetha. Anyway, congratulations on your newfound safety."|
After that, another girl from our class, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke up, her curiosity getting the better of her.
|"Hey, Kusuma, who's that guy with you? You two seem really close."|
Kusuma's expression softened as she replied with a hint of pride.
| "Oh, him? He's my new boyfriend, Aadish. Unlike Manoj, he's rich and can give me anything I want."|
Hearing her words, all my friends looked at me with shock. I felt a surge of emotions that I could no longer suppress. If I didn't speak now, I'd never know the truth.
|"Kusuma, why did you break up with me? Was it really just about the money I didn't have?"|
The question had haunted me for so long, and now it was finally out in the open. She looked at me with a cold disdain that chilled me to the bone.
|"Don't kid yourself, Manoj. You're nothing but a low-class fool. Did you honestly think someone like me could ever love someone like you?"|
It hit me like a ton of bricks. I had always suspected, deep down, but hearing it from her own lips tore away the last shred of denial I had been clinging to. My friends had warned me, but I was too blinded by what I thought was love to listen.
**Flashback**
Three months ago, on a clear evening, I was rushing to finish some errands when my phone buzzed. The voice on the other end was unfamiliar.
|"Hello, sir. Is this Manoj speaking?"|
|"Yes, this is Manoj."|
|"Sir, I'm the delivery man. Your package has arrived."|
|"Oh, great! Where are you?"|
|"I'm waiting outside the college gate, sir. Please come and collect it."|
|"Sure, I'll be there in a moment."|
I ended the call and hurried out to collect the parcel. Afterward, I went back to my room to freshen up. The time had come for something important—today was Geetha's birthday. I had spent my entire month's salary to buy her a beautiful dress as a gift.
Just as I was about to leave, I received a call from my senior. There was an urgent delivery, and no one else was available to take it. I didn't have a choice—I had to accept the job. The rain was my other task. I grabbed my raincoat and headed out into the downpour. The destination wasn't far, but the relentless rain made the ride more challenging than usual.
After delivering the package, I was relieved to finally be free. As I started my bike, I thought to myself, "Now I can surprise Kusuma."
But as I prepared to leave, I noticed a woman emerge from a house across the street. The rain was so heavy that her face was obscured, but she moved with familiarity, hugging and kissing the man beside her. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene, and in that brief moment, I recognized her face. It was Kusuma.
I was stunned. She kissed him, then got into a taxi and drove away, leaving me standing there, soaked and shattered. I returned to my room that night without delivering the gift I had bought for her. I didn't speak to anyone, not even my friends. I tried convincing myself that I had made a mistake, that maybe it was just someone who looked like her. After all, it was dark, and the rain was heavy.
**End of Flashback**
But now, seeing Aadish standing here with Kusuma, I knew there was no mistake. He was the same man I had seen that night. The truth was staring me in the face, and it broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Kusuma was no different from anyone else—no! She was even worse than them. I couldn't bear to be here any longer. The pain was too much, and my friends, who had been watching in silence, couldn't help me now.
I needed to leave. I had already prepared myself for this moment when I first saw her with him, but the reality was still unbearable. Holding back tears, I forced myself out of Geetha's house. As soon as I was outside, the emotions I had been suppressing came flooding out. Memories of Kusuma and the time we spent together played like a cruel movie in my mind.
How much more could I cry? Nothing could change what had happened. With that realization, I started walking aimlessly, trying to clear my head. Kusuma was a liar, a deceiver, and I needed to purge her from my thoughts completely.
That day, I didn't return to my hostel or my villa. My friends kept calling, but I ignored them. I sat alone in a park, watching the trees sway in the wind until evening came. Eventually, my phone buzzed with a call from someone unexpected—Ravi uncle. For a moment, I felt a glimmer of happiness, but the weight of my current situation quickly tempered it. I answered with a subdued voice.
|"Hello, Ravi uncle. What's the matter? I'm surprised you called."|
Ravi uncle must have sensed something in my tone because his voice changed, becoming softer with concern.
|"Manoj, are you alright? Is something wrong?"|
I tried to mask my feelings.
|"Yes, uncle, I'm fine. But you didn't tell me why you called."|
He seemed reassured and returned to his usual tone.
|"Oh, yes! I almost forgot. I've had solved that issue you asked about."|
|"Thank you so much, uncle. I really should thank you for it."|
|"Hold on, don't thank me just yet. The person I sent to handle the matter wants to meet you."|
I was taken aback.
|"What? Uncle, you know I'm not ready to get involved in any family business right now. I have my reasons, please understand."|
|"Manoj, it's just a small meeting. If you don't like it, you can leave afterward. He just wants to meet you, that's all."|
I sighed deeply, trying to shake off the unease.
|"Uncle, please, I'm not ready to face anyone right now. I want to focus on my studies and nothing else."|
|"Manoj, listen. This man has been a loyal servant to our family for many years. Even your grandfather held him in high regard. Please, at least respect his request."|
I took a deep breath and forced a smile, even though I knew he couldn't see it.
|"Alright, uncle. I'm doing this only because you're asking. I'll meet him."|
Ravi uncle's voice lit up with joy.
|"That's my boy! I knew you wouldn't let me down. I'll send you the details—the meeting is tomorrow."|
As I ended the call, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. Tomorrow? What should I do? But with my uncle's direct request, I had no choice. I had to go.
When I returned to the hostel, my friends were sprawled on their beds, exhausted from the day. They all looked up as I entered.
Their concern was evident, but I laughed it off.
|"Guys, it's fine. I've already moved on. Someone managed to cheer me up, so don't worry."|
They exchanged puzzled looks, and Ramu, always the curious one, couldn't resist asking.
|"Manoj, are you hiding something from us? Please don't say anything like there is another girl who changed your mood."|
All my friends knocked on Ramu's head. We all looked at each other and laughed. But, it's not bothering me now, only tomorrow's meeting will make me a little bit nervous.