Chapter 4

Gautam’s POV

I was going out when I heard my neighbor Maurvi talking to someone on the phone. She is tall, cute, beautiful, witty, smart, innocent like a child kind of girl. She looked very tense. I wanted to know what was bothering her.

“Prachi… please try and understand…he is bad news… he is not good. I can prove it to you. Please just stop right there. He even has a criminal record, however small it may be. Please stay away from him.” She was literally pleading.

She then reminded her friend that he proposed to Maurvi but she was not interested. Her friend said something and Maurvi was shocked to hear that.

“Oh come on Prachi… I used to tell you about each and everything if I ever had a crush on him, I would have told you. You know very well that I have a crush on someone.”

Oh, so she has a crush on someone… Lucky guy…

“Please Prachi trust me yaar… I just want you to be safe and happy. He was just a friendly batchmate to me. Nothing else.” She was trying to make her friend understand. It seemed that she was not listening to Maurvi.

“Prachi, he is not good for you… He is a liar… He has a criminal record. Just stay away from him. What can I do to make you understand that he is a liar?”...” Prachi please...” The girl on the other side must have disconnected the call.

She tried calling again but no response. She looked helpless.

She dialed another number on her phone.

“Just stay away from Prachi.” She said in an irritated voice she must be talking to that guy.

“Are you kidding? Why would I be jealous? Just leave her alone.”

“Why are you telling lies to her? Why did you say that I am interested in you or even worse that I proposed to you? You know very well that is a lie. You proposed to me and I declined it. Why are you poisoning her mind?”

“What? Never. I never had feelings for you and now, you disgust me. I will not let you spoil her life. Just take my suggestion and stay away from her or you will have to face the music.”

“Shut up. I will never let that happen. Just stay away from both of us or I will have to take help from my family against you. Let me tell you that if I use our contacts or if I tell my parents about all this, you will be in hot soup. I hope you still remember that there is a hell lot of difference between your and my family’s social status, as you put it yourself. So beware and stay away.”

She looked very angry just like a little tigress. She turned to go back to her house when she saw me. She looked a bit conscious.

“Is everything alright?” I asked her seriously. She just nodded meekly.

“It doesn’t look like that? You seem to be very upset. What is the matter? And don’t even try to tell a lie as I heard most of what you said. I can easily guess what was said from the other side of the call. Now come out with it.”

“Oh… nothing. Seriously it was nothing...” she tried to avoid the topic, but I stared at her.

“Listen Maurvi, just tell me everything… As it is, I heard most of your conversation. I can help you. See even your family is not here. Your parents have given your responsibility to us while they are not here.”

“But I can handle it myself.”

“Don’t be so stubborn Maurvi… Or I will have to inform your parents or mine.” I said looking at her with concern.

“Ok fine.” She went back into her home and I followed her.

“So just start from the beginning, “I said and she explained everything in detail. I understood her problem.

“Ok, let’s see what can be done. I guess if your friend thinks that you have an affair with someone else, she won’t think that you are interested in that guy. Just make her believe that you are in love with someone.”

“Easier said than done. Where would I get a boyfriend from? No this won’t work. And moreover, I don’t tell lies. She won’t believe it. How can I explain, from where the boyfriend came, all of a sudden.”

“You don’t need to, they didn’t tell you about their affair. It’s the easiest way to prove him wrong. He would not be able to say that you are having a crush on him.”

“Yes, maybe you are right… But...”

“No buts… Do you trust me?”

“Yes, I do. But boyfriend?”

“I will arrange for him. When do you have to go to the computer center now?” I asked her.

“At 5 PM. One hour to go. Why are you asking?”

“I am asking because today you are going with me. I will not let you go alone after you just threatened him.”

“What? No need for you to go with me. I can handle my problems.”

“Yes, I know you can, but still, while your parents are away you are our responsibility. I can’t let you go alone so I am coming with you.” I smiled at her and came out of her house.

We left for her center and I told her to avoid talking to her friend and that guy. She went inside the class but after a few minutes, I saw that she forgot her bag in my car. I took it and went to reception and asked about her class. I knocked at her classroom door. A very good looking teacher opened the door. I told him that Maurvi forgot her bag in my car. He called her. She took it from me. She was blushing a bit.

I have to admit that she was looking very pretty. But why was she blushing? Was it because of that very good looking teacher? Does she have a crush on him?

After one hour, when I came back to pick her up I saw a tall bulky man was holding her hand tightly and she was trying to get her hand out of his grip.

I threatened him to leave her hand or I would break his hand. He asked me, “She is my friend, who are you?”

“Hello, I am not your friend Naman. For your kind information, he is my… friend.” Maurvi was irritated with him.

“Boyfriend! I am her boyfriend.” I said all of a sudden and It looked as if she was going to faint.

“What? No… you didn’t have to. I told you… I don’t want to tel-” She was saying but I interrupted her.

“On come on Maurvi… I know you said that you don’t want to tell them about us, but it is ok, they are your friends. We must not hide it from them. Trust me it is ok.” I smiled at her and placed my arm around her shoulder. Both Prachi and Naman were shocked by what I just said.

“Listen, you, just stay away from her or I will rip your hand off your body. Let me tell you that I have been a boxing champion during my college days. So don’t mess with us.” I threatened Naman and then smiled at Prachi.

“Hi, you must be Prachi, Maurvi’s best friend. I am Gautam, her boyfriend. She talks so much about you. I sometimes get jealous of you. I wish I was as important to her as you are. Bye, it was nice meeting you. Take care.” She just nodded and looked at me with shock.

I turned to her and said, “Let’s go, beautiful, I am really hungry. Where would you like to go? Hey, show me your hand. Oh! it is so red, it is going to bruise. Next time if I see you anywhere near Maurvi, I will kill you. Understood.” I barked at Naman and caught her other hand and walked towards my car.

I took out a pain killer spray and sprayed it on her hand. How can anyone be so brutal? I wanted to beat him.