Page 15 of That Same Old Love

Her parents and brother had left the previous night, and she had to stay back to begin her project work that would be required for her fourth year.

She was about to step out of the house with her umbrella to go to her friend’s house, when she spotted Sidhu sitting outside her gate.

“Sidhu?” she asked in surprise.

Sidhu was squinting at her and didn’t remember who she was.

“It’s me, Ananya.” Sidhu gave her a blank stare. “Samrat’s sister.”

“Oh… I remember you. Samrat’s little sister. Mahi made fun of you in college. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her.”

Ananya didn’t think whatever Mahi did to her could be in anyway called ‘fun’, but Sidhu was too blinded by love to recognize the abusive behavior of his girlfriend.

Somehow, one of Ananya’s classmates found out and informed Samrat, and soon he put an end to it. That had made Mahi even more furious and she ramped up her bullying and called it ‘ragging’ her junior. Her bullying hadn’t stopped after a year like it was supposed to, it continued well after the first year, until as recently as four weeks ago when Mahi did something even worse.

Mahi had somehow managed to slip something into Ananya’s lunch box that made her severely sick. She kept throwing up several times and had to leave the college early. Meantime, Mahi had spread vicious rumors that Ananya was pregnant and that one of their forty year old neighbor was the father of her child. Mahi had even told everyone that she often saw Ananya sneak into his house during the nights.

When the rumor somehow spread to Samrat, he confronted Mahi and was about to drag her to the principal’s office. But Sidhu stopped him, explaining to him that Mahi meant it as a joke and that she never expected people to react or believe her nonsense. Sidhu begged Mahi to apologize, but she refused. And when Sidhu explained to Mahi that their final exams were close and that she could be suspended based on such behavior, she had finally relented. Mahi grudgingly delivered a halfhearted ‘sorry’ in front of everyone and told them that she had spread the false rumors.

Ananya had no idea why Mahi seemed to target both her brother and her when they barely interacted with her.

“Yes. I’m Samrat’s sister. You are completely wet from the rain; would you like to come inside? I can lend you my brother’s clean clothes and a spare umbrella.” And then, Ananya looked at Sidhu’s tired face. “Actually, I insist that you come inside and I won’t move from here until you agree.”

Sidhu smiled. “Okay… then I’ll take up your offer. I’m tired and have been waiting here since this afternoon.” Sidhu was more than just tired. He had confronted Mahi’s parents, but was told she wasn’t at home. So he began to wait outside her house, getting wet in the rain and starving from the past four hours while nursing his heartbreak.

He stood up on his unsteady legs and followed behind her to her house.

Ananya heart was thumping loudly when the object of her affections stood right in her living room. She had a crush on him for a long time, even though she knew nothing could come out of it.

“Would you like some hot chai? I can start making one while I look for my brother’s clothes.”

Sidhu smiled at her, flashing his famous dimples. “Oh definitely.”

Ananya almost melted there on the spot staring at his dimples. He had always been kind and considerate to everyone. Even when he had every right to tease his juniors in their first year, he was well known for rescuing them from the worst of bullying. But only when it came to Mahi, he had a huge blind spot.

What was so great about Mahi? She wasn’t even the best looking girl in the college, Ananya thought resentfully, remembering how she had caught Sidhu and Mahi making out in one of their empty lab rooms last year.

She had forgotten her lab kit that morning and wanted to check if it was still there. She found Mahi sitting on Sidhu’s lap facing him. His shirt was unbuttoned and they were kissing each other.

She stood in shock for several seconds. And after a while, Sidhu opened his eyes and saw her. Mahi was facing away and was busy kissing his neck.

“Mahi, wait. Someone is in the lab and looking right at us.”

Mahi paused and turned back, and when she saw who it was, she gave an evil grin.

“Ehh… it’s only a boring junior. That nerd Samrat’s sister. Let’s give her a show Sidhu, she might learn something interesting.”

Before Sidhu could answer or continue with whatever they were doing, Ananya ran out of there and cried for several nights. She knew Sidhu and Mahi were together as a couple, but to actually see them like that had broken her heart. But somehow she still harbored a strong crush for Sidhu.

Sidhu didn’t have a clue about how she felt about him. But now, she had a chance to let him know.

She put on a tea kettle filled with water for a boil and brought back a towel along with clean dry clothes for Sidhu.

He took the things from her. “Thanks… uh. Thanks for helping me. I’ll be forever indebted to you, I promise.”

“It’s Ananya. And no need to thank me. You are my brother’s classmate and my senior. It’s my duty to help you,” she teased him, even though she was nervous seeing him at close proximity.

He smiled and placed a hand on his heart. “Well Ananya, consider your duty done effectively. For this evening, I’ll be forever indebted to you until the day I die.”

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