UNIVERSITY ARC
Keshava and Keerthi finally revealed why they had brought me into this mess. The plan was simple but bold. There's an event tonight at a nearby restaurant—a couple's event. The key was getting Kusuma there. Once she was in the open, it would be easier to handle the rest. But I knew one thing for sure: if I directly invited her, it would look too suspicious. She'd know I was singling her out, and she'd likely refuse. But a group event? That was a different story. If I made it seem casual, something everyone was attending, especially with me showing off, she might come at least to take advantage of the situation.
I needed a way to send out a group invite without making it obvious. After thinking for a while, one name popped into my head out of nowhere—Geetha. She could only help.
Without wasting time, I decided to meet her personally. I called her and asked if we could meet at the park near our university. She agreed without hesitation. Before heading out, I quickly checked in on Divya. She was resting, and I had no intention of disturbing her. So, I left quietly and made my way straight to the park.
– – –
When I got there, Geetha was already waiting for me. As I walked toward her, she looked up, her eyes scanning the approaching figure until she recognized me. A small smile broke out across her face.
|"Manoj! Hi, what happened? I've been worried sick."|
She asked, skipping any small talk and getting straight to the point.
For a second, I hesitated, unsure of how to even begin. Then, I dove right in. I told her everything. I told her about Aadish, the Wild Shadows, and how everything was tangled up with me. I even opened up about that day with Neha—the slap. It was a lot to unload, but I didn't have a choice. I needed her help, and I didn't have time for secrets. Besides, she'd managed to keep my true identity hidden for this long. I trusted her, and this wasn't any more difficult than the secrets she'd already kept.
As expected, her reaction was immediate. She shouted, her voice full of fear and tension.
|"What? Are you serious? This is dangerous, Manoj! If anyone from that club finds out about this plan, they wouldn't think twice before killing us to protect their operation."|
I closed my eyes for a moment, crossing my arms as I processed her reaction. It was understandable. I nodded, acknowledging her fear, but my voice, when I spoke, was laced with a sense of anger and determination.
|"Yeah, I know. But I'm not doing this for revenge. This isn't about me. This is about punishing someone who deserves it."|
Geetha looked at me, confusion in her eyes. She was trying to figure out who I meant. The conversation was starting to move somewhere, and I couldn't let it spiral, so I cut in, trying to keep us on track.
|"Don't worry, Geetha. You're forgetting who you're talking to. It's me, Manoj Vardhan. If things get out of control, I'll handle it. Trust me."|
She blinked, clearly remembering the kind of person I was. A soft smile crept back onto her face, though I could tell she was still uneasy.
|"Oh yeah, I almost forgot who I was dealing with. If you say you'll handle it, I'll trust you. But, Manoj, please be careful. This is serious."|
At that moment, something crossed my mind.
|"By the way, Geetha, I need you to send this invitation to the group chat."|
I forwarded the invite to her. Without hesitation, she opened it and posted it in the group chat, her fingers moving quickly over her phone screen. But just as swiftly as her smile had appeared, it faded, replaced by a look of doubt.
|"Manoj, you said this event is for couples, right?"|
She asked, her voice hesitant. I replied so casually.
|"Yeah, so? What's the issue?"|
She stared at me intently, like she was searching for something. I was confused. Why was she looking at me like that?
|"Is something wrong? Just tell me, Geetha."|
She sighed, still gazing at me carefully.
|"Manoj… you do realize, don't you? Where's your partner?"|
For a second, I just stared at her, and then I couldn't help but chuckle. Of course, she'd think that. But I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I looked at her, my eyes giving away the answer before my mouth did. She was still confused, and I wasn't about to drag this out any longer. I asked, leaning in just a little.
|"Geetha, what do you think? Why do you think I called you here today?"|
She was confused, trying to make sense of what I was saying. Seeing her confusion, I decided to spell it out.
|"You're coming with me."|
Her eyes went wide in surprise.
|"Wait, me?"|
she shouted, as if the idea was completely out of her thoughts.
|"Yes, you. Look, it's better if I have someone I can rely on as a backup. You're coming with me, and that's final."|
She looked at me for a long moment, realizing she didn't really have a choice in the matter. Finally, she sighed and nodded.
|"Alright, fine. I'll go with you. But just promise me one thing—be careful."|
I smiled, a mixture of relief and appreciation washing over me. With Geetha by my side, this plan had a real chance of working.
Once we wrapped up our conversation after discussing a few minutes, I headed back to my room. As usual, my friends were there, completely absorbed in their phones, chatting or scrolling through social media. I sat down on my bed, my mind already spinning with thoughts about the event tonight.
Keerthi might've planned it as if it was just another day for her, but I knew better. Nothing about this plan was as simple as it seemed. Her words made it sound like a breeze, but executing it? That was a whole different story. I still had lingering doubts.
Would Kusuma even show up? And even if she did, would we really be able to pull this off like we'd planned? The stakes were high, and there was no room for mistakes. Enough! I tried to fill my mind with positive energy. Yeh, my plan is definitely going to work.
While I was lost in thought, Ramu came over, waving his phone at me.
|"Manoj, did you see the group chat? Geetha invited everyone to some event tonight."|
I pretended to be hearing it for the first time. I tried to sound casual.
|"Oh? Really? Is it free, or do we have to pay for it?".|
Ramu raised an eyebrow, giving me a once-over as if he couldn't believe I was asking such a thing.
|"Come on, Manoj! It's Geetha. Do you think she'd offer something for free? The tickets are crazy expensive, man!"|
I forced a smile, keeping my cool. Everything was going according to plan. I acted as if I was still playing dumb.
|"You thinking of going, then?"|
Ramu let out a laugh.
|"Dude, it's a couples' event. Not exactly our scene."|
That was the reaction I was expecting. Meanwhile, Keshava and Suresh had been listening in on our conversation from the sidelines, quietly observing. Then Keshava suddenly jumped in with a grin, stepping right into the middle of things.
|"Yes, it's a couples' event, but Ramu… it's for you only."|
What the hell was he doing? Was he out of his mind? Why was he giving Ramu a hint? I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my heart was racing. Don't tell him, Keshava. Don't spoil everything.
Ramu, still confused, looked between us.
|"What are you talking about, Keshava? I don't understand."|
Keshava kept that knowing smile on his face, like he was enjoying this far too much. After a moment, it finally dawned on Ramu what Keshava was hinting at.
|"Keshava… you're going? Oh right, I totally forgot. You've got a girlfriend. But what about Manoj…?"|
He glanced back and forth between me and Keshava, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Keshava laughed, and then, in the most casual tone possible, he dropped the bomb.
|"Yeah, you're right. And guess what? Manoj is coming with me too."|
Ramu's eyes went wide, his voice rising as he practically shouted.
|"What?! Manoj? With who?"|
Damn it, Keshava! This was getting out of control. What was he thinking? Was he trying to ruin the entire plan? I needed to fix this before Ramu's mind went into overdrive with the wrong ideas.
Keshava leaned in close to Ramu, whispering something in his ear like he was sharing a top-secret piece of information. Whatever he said made Ramu's jaw drop, and he immediately turned to me, eyes wide with shock.
|"What? With Geetha? No way! That's cheating, man. You didn't tell me anything about this!"|
Oh, God. How was I going to explain this now? We weren't going to the event for fun—it was all part of the plan to catch Aadish. But Ramu didn't need to know that. He'd just complicate things. I needed to steer this conversation back on track.
|"She invited me."|
I said, keeping my tone calm and casual.
|"She needed a partner, Ramu. So I agreed. It's no big deal."|
Ramu wasn't buying it. He leaned in, shaking his head with a laugh.
|"Really, dude? Finally showing some respect to your friends, huh?"|
I sighed internally. This was spiraling fast, and I couldn't afford for Ramu to get the wrong idea. I glanced at Keshava, silently begging for backup, but he just looked away, leaving me alone to deal with the mess he'd made.
|"Ramu, it's not like I wanted to go with her. She asked me, and I couldn't just say no to turn her down. That's all."|
But Ramu was having none of it. He cut me off, smirking.
|"Stop lying, Manoj! If you didn't want to go, you could've just told me. You know, Geetha's been looking amazing these days. If I went with her, we'd be the centre of attention for sure. And don't forget, she's our class leader. I could do anything with her help. But **you**? You've ruined my chance, man."|
He sighed dramatically, casting a forlorn look at the ceiling as he continued.
|"Oh, God… will I live my whole life single? Will I die alone? Please, show me some mercy!"|
I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. Why do you always think like this, Ramu?
Meanwhile, Suresh finally chimed in, strolling over with his usual laid-back attitude.
|"Keshava, you can do whatever you want, I don't care. But don't forget to bring something for me to eat from the event, okay? Remember that."|
I couldn't help but smile. Suresh… the man's entire world revolves around food. Even if the sky was falling, his only concern would be what's for dinner.
Not wanting to drag this out any longer, I pulled Keshava aside and shot him a serious look.
|"Are you out of your mind? Why'd you tell him about Geetha? If he misunderstands everything, we're going to have even more problems."|
Keshava just laughed like it was no big deal.
|"Relax, Manoj. I've known you long enough to see how much you've changed since the breakup. But don't worry—we've got your back, no matter what."|
He was trying to shift the conversation, but my expression didn't budge. Keshava finally told me, observing the reaction in my face.
|"Look, we needed to tell them something. If we didn't, we might run into issues later. Now that they know, we can go about our plan without any awkward surprises."|
I knew he'd done it on purpose. He was just covering his tracks. Still, his face suddenly turned serious, his voice lowering with a hint of doubt.
|"Manoj, why'd you choose Geetha? I know she's been different ever since the whole Rahul incident, but are you sure she's someone we can trust? Do you really think she'll help us?"|
I met his gaze with a confident smile.
|"Yes, Keshava. I'm sure. You can trust her as much as you trust me. I promise."|
Keshava seemed to relax, nodding.
|"Alright, if you're sure, I'll go with it. But I've gotta admit, with how calm you're acting, I'm starting to think you've already got a plan to handle her, don't you?"|
I just smiled, letting him know I was in control.
|"Don't worry. I've already told Geetha everything she needs to know. She'll handle the rest. Kusuma will come tonight, and she'll bring Aadish with her. That's for sure."|
Keshava raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
|"Really? How? I'm curious."|
I leaned back, a smirk playing on my lips.
|"Watching it happen will be a lot more fun than just hearing about it, Keshava. You'll see for yourself soon."|
After our conversation ended, I headed back to my bed, feeling a strange sense of calm. I opened the group chat to check the responses.
Geetha had posted, "Guys, who's coming to the special couples' event tonight?"
I scrolled through the replies. Almost everyone had said no. Including Kusuma. She was on that list too.
– – – –
Geetha sat on her bed, scrolling through the list of names on her phone. Only a handful of people had agreed to come. She sighed as her eyes caught Kusuma's name, seeing that she, too, had declined.
"Of course," Geetha thought to herself before typing out a message to those who had confirmed.
|"Very good! Send me the money, so I can finish up the remaining arrangements."|
Once she collected all the payments, she closed her phone and leaned back on the bed, feeling the weight of the situation. A sly smile crept across her face. Checking the time, she reached for her phone again and dialled Kusuma's number. After a few rings, Kusuma answered.
|"Hey, Kusuma. So, you're not coming to the event tonight, huh?"|
Geetha asked, her voice laced with a playful tone.
From the other side, Kusuma's response was sharp.
|"Yeah, Geetha. Aadish is busy today, so I'm not going."|
Geetha couldn't help but laugh, a loud, teasing sound.
|"Busy? Really? I thought maybe the ticket price scared him off. What's the deal, Kusuma? He can't handle something as small as this for you?"|
Kusuma's voice rose with frustration.
|"Don't you dare talk about Aadish like that! He can do anything for me, Geetha. He's just busy today, that's all. Don't make assumptions and say whatever you want."|
Geetha's smile widened, but her tone softened.
|"Oh, calm down, Kusuma. I was just kidding. Don't take it so seriously. I'm just confirming who's coming, that's all. Anyway, see you around."|
Before Kusuma could say more, Geetha ended the call, chuckling to herself.
– – – –
I got a message from Geetha. I opened it, and after reading it, a sharp smile spread across my face. She had handled it perfectly.
I typed back the message: "Ok, it's fine. Follow our plan B."
My fingers moving quickly as I prepared for the next steps.
– – – –
Kusuma was walking down the hallway toward her room, her mind still racing after the call with Geetha. The irritation from that conversation hadn't left her, and it showed in the way she threw her bag onto her bed. Her roommates, noticing her mood, decided to prod a little.
|"Hey, Kusuma. Are you going to the event tonight?"|
One of them asked, lounging casually on the opposite bed. Kusuma sighed, sitting down and crossing her arms.
|"No. Aadish is busy today, so I'm not going."|
Her roommates exchanged glances and started laughing.
|"Wow, really? You always brag about how Aadish will do anything for you. What happened now?"|
Another one teased, grinning as she threw the words back at her.
Already irritated by her earlier conversation, Kusuma snapped.
|"Didn't you hear me the first time? He's busy. And the event is for couples. How can I go alone? Stop talking like idiots."|
The room fell into an awkward silence. Her roommates, sensing her anger, quickly shut their mouths and turned back to their phones. A few minutes later, a flow of messages popped up in the girls' group chat. Kusuma, still annoyed, opened the chat to see what was being discussed.
|"Hey, is nobody going to this event?"|
One message read.
Someone else replied: "Yeah, it seems like only a few of the boys from our class are going. Geetha is the only girl who's attending."
Another added: "Of course Geetha's going. She's the one who organized it! Why wouldn't she go?"
One of the girls asked: "I haven't heard anything from Kusuma. Is she going?"
Kusuma quickly typed her response: "No, I can't go either. My boyfriend is busy tonight, so I'm not attending."
Just as she hit send, she noticed Geetha typing in the chat. She paused, curious about what Geetha had to say.
Geetha's message popped up: "Hey, Kusuma isn't coming either. Honestly, what's going on? Are these even my classmates? I thought at least a few girls would join me. I even managed to get a few more tickets, but it's all a waste of time. I guess everyone's too scared of the expenses."
The conversation shifted as one of the girls messaged Geetha with a different question:
"Hey, Geetha, never mind the expenses. Who's your partner for the event? I'm curious!"
Geetha didn't hesitate to respond: "Actually, I'm going with Manoj."
The chat immediately exploded with surprise.
one of the girls asked, half-joking but clearly surprised: "What? Manoj? Geetha, how can you agree to that? Isn't he, like, below your status?"
Geetha fired back, her tone playful but with a hint of warning: "What was that? Do you want to fail the upcoming exam?"
The girl quickly backtracked: "Ah, just kidding, Geetha! Don't take it seriously!"
– – – –
The time had passed so soon. It was evening—around 6 o'clock. I was pacing around when my phone rang. Geetha was calling. We discussed the final details of the plan, and once everything was clear, I ended the call. The time we'd been waiting for since morning had finally arrived. This was it—the moment everything had been leading up to.
As I sat down, a flood of emotions rushed through me. I thought to myself.
**Who are you? Why are you standing in my way? Cross me again, and I swear, you'll see my true side. No matter where you hide in this world, I'll find you and end it. I swear on my name.**
Suddenly, a hand rested on my shoulder, snapping me out of my dark thoughts. It was Keshava.
|"Manoj, what's going on with you? It's time for the event. Let's go."|
He gave me a reassuring smile. I will see this later. But I have to be careful. I feel something so strange, like someone was watching me for so long. Yes, they can't fool me around.
I took a deep breath, grounding myself back in the present. Everything was about to unfold, and there was no turning back now. I grabbed my jacket and started toward the door with Keshava and his girlfriend, Keerthi, walking beside me.
Tonight was going to change everything.