Stolen Love

It is the farewell party of VNIT and students are excited for the day. The hall is decorated with balloons and lights and loud music could be heard everywhere. In big words it was written ‘Farewell Party’. This time management committee of VNIT changed the rule of college, by inviting first and second year students to the farewell party. First year is excited and happy for the event and second year is busy arranging food and event because management committee has divided the work between each year. First year will send handmade invitation cards to fourth-year students as well as gifts. The group of Anya is chatting and waiting near the entrance to welcome seniors. All of a sudden, they begin shouting as someone told them that fourth year is coming. But they became quiet as the third year arrives before them, Rahul and group enters and see around the hall and Rahul smiles and even his group also laughs and all the other students take a deep breath and feel relaxed and again loud music begins. Anya, why everyone is terrified from Rahul and group? Meghna stares at them and says, ‘I am not afraid of anyone, I know he won the elections by using inappropriate means but anyways he did well and became student committee head. He is smart, intelligent, rich and not that bad, Anya says and cautiously stares Rahul. Oh my God! I think you have fallen in love with him, Meghna teases her. Oh! Please, ‘I am just saying he is not bad and it is true that I have crush on him and appreciates his guts and power it’s not love.’ Anya laughs. Just then fourth year arrives and second year accompanies them. First year gave them cards and gifts. Party is on the row, everyone enjoying, Machhar party holding the glass of soft drink and talking to their juniors.

Rahul walks and stand in front of them and says, ‘hey guys today is your farewell and hope you are having fun’. Srini smiles at him and says yes, we are enjoying! Hope a bright future waits for you, best of luck and forget whatever happened in the past, it was momentary. Lambu swallows his drink and sees Machhar and Srini and they look at each other and smile and Rahul hugs each of them. See, I told you that Rahul is not a bad guy. Anya says eating pastry with Meghna and Somya. Rahul turns around and notices that Anya was constantly looking at him, deep inside he knew that she likes him. He stops for a moment and looks at her face which shines and Meghna and Somya giggles. He comes back to his group and Tiwari asked, “what was it”? Let it go as you know that asshole Srini took good revenge in cultural fest. Rahul just shrugs his shoulder and narrowed his eyes and says in low tone, ‘No matter what! I won the election and I am the general secretary and head of student committee, and that’s important, I want to prove all the students that I am a good choice for them because it is important to win the trust of juniors.’ So, you are the same fucking asshole. Tiwari laughs.

Friends, I think this time it is not going to end in tears, Machhar said to Lambu and Srini and they smile. Dance floor rocks, seniors were enjoying dancing with juniors and suddenly, Aditya comes to them and hug them from behind. I miss you! they turn around and hug him tightly, so Natunki where were you? Machhar asks with a big smile. Yesterday, was my parents’ anniversary and my sister planned an amazing party, as when the party got over, I came here to say you goodbye. It’s never goodbye for friends. Yes! we agree. We know that you have always been best buddy of second year and helped us a lot during elections, even you convinced your friends to vote for us. We will never forget you, Srini shows gratitude towards him. I like you guys the way you are says Aditya. So, no need to say thank you. Aditya hugs Srini and sees Anya on the dance floor with her group. His eyes shine to see her and they all three notices his reaction. Oh! Romeo, when will you tell the first year Juliet about your feelings? Machhar pinches him on back and Aditya shies and says that I even don’t have any connection with her and she seems to be introvert or maybe she doesn’t feel the same way. Look Aditya Mathur, you need to be brave otherwise you will lose and we won’t be there to help you. Lambu gets serious and tell him that she likes Rahul. What! dude that’s not true, I can’t believe. Her friend told me when we were preparing for elections. Aditya face drops down. Three of them holds him tightly. Say to her before it’s too late and if we can be of any help, we are in this world remember nautanki! Aditya smiles and music turns out too fast.

After a couple of months, Anya was reading a book in the library when Aditya arrived to return some books. He notices her and goes close to her. She looks upon him. Oh! Aditya, how are you? It’s long time that we haven’t talked? Actually, I need some notes. Her eyes blink. Yaa sure! I will give you outside hostel. You want that complimentary Math notes, right? he says. Yes, this subject really pisses me off. Anyway, Somya is waiting for me, see you in the evening, bye! Aditya looks at her until she left the library! Aditya, six feet, handsome, wears glasses that suits him. He loves Anya since the day he saw her in fresher’s party. She was wearing white skirt with blue top and her long hair with dazzling smile gave him a heartache, and today he is ready to cure his wounded heart because in two months she will be in second year and he will be in third year and these two years of courtship with her in college matters him the most.

In the evening, he waits for Anya to come and feels little hesitant but confident. He remembers Lambu’s words “say before it’s too late.” His breath turns fast and just then he sees Rahul with his friends. He was talking to the hostel guard and it seems as if he was giving him some kind of instruction to him. He points towards barren land outside the hostel. Maybe he is asking him to plant some more tress there, Aditya guesses. Oh! this new secretary doing his duty wisely, good for him. He shrugs and again looks towards the doorway, where he sees Anya coming to him. Hi Aditya, she says and he handover his notes to her and she smiles and shows gratitude. Anya, I want to confess something, what? She gets curious. I like you; he hesitates and then firmly says in fact more than that, I mean, I love you. Anya surprised and hears another voice saying, I like you, would you be my sweetheart? Anya gets shocked to hear Rahul saying. Her mouth drops down. Even Aditya is shocked. Anya remains quiet for some time and looks at Aditya again. Oh my gosh! Aditya is nice, cute and humble guy, he always helps him a lot. And many girls in her batch likes Aditya Mathur but he proposed her, she never expected that, after college he will earn in crores, he will be the best engineer in the country. No girl can say no to him. On the other hand, Rahul is her crush, famous, rich and he too will make good money. Oh, fuck man! why am I so confused? So, what I need to do to make you say yes, Rahul says. You need to win, Anya swallows her words and said that there will be a sports championship next month. The final game is motorbike race, whosoever wins the first trophy is going to win me. Anya my love I don’t need games to win you Aditya sounds depressed. Done! I am ready Rahul says proudly. If Mr. Mathur is afraid don’t force him. I can understand. Rahul taunts him. Aditya blood boils and says if you want this then go ahead. She laughs and comes back to her room.

Girl! What did you do? Are you some Rajkumari who wants to have swayambar for herself? Somya and Meghna still in shock. It may be, fun for you but this is not the way to show that they are loser and deserve none, her friends remark sarcastically. You have a crush on Rahul so why don’t you say yes to him, they added. ‘No, I won’t’, says Anya because that’s from my side but I want to see something from his side. But what happens if he loses as Aditya is good in sports especially in riding bikes. If Aditya wins, I will hang out with him for some months and then will breakup from him because deep inside I want Rahul to win. I want to see his efforts for me. He never did anything for any girl and I will be the first one. Anya smiles and jump over the bed and hugs the pillow.

The day comes when the VNIT campus is packed with multitude. Large number of students were participating in sports activities. Rahul won basketball match with his team and lawn tennis by defeating Arya of second year. On the other hand, Aditya performs well in relay race, table tennis and badminton. At last, the announcement is made for which everyone was waiting. Anya stands excited and nervous. Rahul looks cool as he already feels that he has won. Aditya looks at audience and sees Machhar, Srini and Lambu praising him. He smiles and race begins, Aditya starts well and Rahul also drives firmly. They both were in first row and other five bikers behind and suddenly Aditya increases his speed and Rahul looks behind and Anya heart’s sinks, she looks little tense. But all of a sudden Rahul increases his speed and beats Aditya and he lost the race. He looks at Rahul and smiles, Machhar asks Romeo, what happened? You were driving well. I don’t know while driving some sort of blurriness came in front of my eyes and I lost the speed. Are you unwell? Lambu asks in caring tone. I was fit and fine till yesterday. Just then Srini runs towards them. Guys! I have something to show see how these three have done wrong with Aditya. Tiwari mixed something in Aditya’s juice which he drank before the race. Bastard! I know Rahul can never change. Srini shouts in anger, common let’s go and show this video to your girl and stop her from taking the wrong decision. Srini pulls Aditya’s hand. No guys, see Anya looks more than happy. Aditya voice sinks. because she doesn’t know the truth, just go and show her Lambu insists. No, I think you guys were right that she likes Rahul, anyways thanks for coming. Bastard! Again, he has stolen but love this time. Srini gritted his teeth.

 As the day passed, Anya and Rahul spend more time together. Anya sees how Rahul is protective about her. He helps her in studies and they go for movie together hand in hand. Anya, knew that she likes Rahul but now she accepts that she is love with him. Rahul also likes her caring attitude, the way she talks to him and how she helps him in his general secretary work, whole college declares them as best couple and it looks like as if they are meant for each other. One day, when Rahul left his wallet with her, she turns to boys’ hostel to return him back. Rahul was eating from roadside stand with his group. Anya reaches and stands behind him and hears Tiwari laughing and saying, bhai! ‘You played well! and showed Aditya his place as that hero actively helped Machhar party and he must have realized how bad it could be to mess with Rahul’. I just wanted to be popular and prove nice to juniors and Anya is an easy catch. Rahul says. And you also did good job Tiwari by adding something in Aditya’s drink that day. After you started dating her, we have noticed that how juniors have stared admiring you, they call you love birds another friend of Rahul says. To hell with love, after few days she will realize that I am not interested in her and then she will break up with me. I pretend to be innocent. Anya drops his wallet and Rahul turns back and stood still to see Anya standing behind.

Anya, you! You forgot your wallet Mr. Rahul Mathur and you know that from the beginning I knew that your asshole friend mixed something in Aditya’s drink. But I did not say anything because I want you to be with me but I think you don’t want me that’s why you went to such an extent. You know something, I saw something good in you but I was very wrong. Celebrate your victory and plan revenge and I break up with you and don’t worry you won’t lose the sympathy of juniors. Goodbye! Tears roll down her cheeks and Rahul face becomes pale while seeing Anya going. Aditya was seeing Anya from distance and understands that finally Rahul’s fake love has ended and Anya’s is heartbroken.

Time for the examination has come, Anya is preparing hard so that she can forget what Rahul did to her. Actually, she feels stupid because she trusted him blindly. Aditya being a friend again helps her a lot in her studies, they spend lot of time in the library. Rahul also gets busy with books because he knows that Anya’s chapter is over and it doesn’t matter to him. After the last paper after leaving examination hall, she heads towards her hostel. Aditya invites her to his birthday party at ‘Junkyard Cafe’. In the evening she plans to go out with her friends Somya and Meghna. She wears black dress and ties her hair with some fancy clip. She comes out of the hostel and sees Tiwari and Rahul talking to guard. Rahul looks at her and Tiwari mutters bhai! Your ex looks stunning. Rahul says nothing. She takes an auto and Rahul couldn’t resist himself and starts following her. They reach café and he parks his bike and goes inside. He sees Aditya celebrating his birthday, cuts the cake and everyone wishes him. Anya fills his mouth with cake and smiles and laughs. She looks beautiful when she smiles, while seeing her smiling Rahul heart melts he sees Aditya putting cake in her mouth too and kisses her hand. She smiles back and water comes in Rahul’s eyes and he realizes that he lost Anya today and he feels this time that his love is being stolen forever.