Rishi,

I wasn't much into dramatics or theater but good performances could
easily get me hooked. Today, my reason to be here was different. It was Sanjana's first on stage performance, and I wanted to be here for her. Even if her role was miniscule, as a friend I wanted to be there.

''Second row from the front, the 2 corner seats are ours.'' Jay said.

''You're staying?'' That surprised me. He grinned at me, ''I am going to write a book on your story and earn money. I have to be there.''

That was the worst reason he could come with. Jay is pathetic with
words, and to put them on paper is an absolute struggle for him. He always did well in other subjects but language was never his cup of tea.

We took our seats and I anxiously waited for the curtains to go up.
''What role is Sanjana playing.''

''Tree!''

Jay stared at me as if I was going to disappear. He then bobbed his
head like an anime and said, ''Love....!'' I decided to stay quiet. Giving him more was like fueling a fart gun.

The curtains went up and the story started. The play was about a girl
with a pure heart. SHe loved and cared but in the end she was betrayed
by the ones whom she trusted and how it ended for them. The drama was
poietic with minimum words. The scene where the girl gets stabbed and
lays on the earth waiting for death, she pleads mother nature to give her life where she could stay alone forever. A place where emotions do not exist.  A place where there are no bonds.

She cries and narrates how the stab is less painful than the betrayal she got from the hands of the ones she loved and then all turns dark.

In the next scene, the people who betrayed her are shown trying to
find the way out of the woods where they murdered the protagonist but
seem to lose their way every time.  The scene slowly shifts when one of the tired accomplice sits under a tree to rest and sudden strong wind throws him to the ground with a heavy branch falling on him killing him.

Well it looked as if mother nature heard her prayer but the way Sanjana fell dead on the villian made the audience laugh. I am sure she cursed her costume and her role.

The rest of the play was all about how
mother nature  avenged the girl who called for her. Pooja who acted as
the protagonist was just awesome, her tears and prayers just moved all
of us. It was small but a good play. When the curtain went down, the
audience cheered for all and I did for Sanjana.

We waited for our friends and when my eyes met that of Sanjana, I couldn't help but smile. ''I know I was pathetic but it was all Pooja's fault. Man she acted so well that I wished I was casted as a
magical tree which could throttle the villains.'' Pooja gave her friend a bear hug.

''Why did you chose dramatics?'' I asked. She was actually pathetic.

''I hate extra curriculars. Be it anything. Why I chose this, well because Pooja did.''

Jay extended his hand for a handshake, Sanjana gave in after a frown.
''You are like me, anything for a friend.''

Jay and Pooja walked ahead and I walked along Sanjana. ''Was I that bad?''

''You were a tree with Kungfu''

''Why were you here? You knew I was going to be bad.''

''I am your friend, good bad ugly, I will be there. But I praise your effort.'' My words halted her steps. She stood facing me, her eyes locked with mine. Don't know what she searched or what she wanted to say but other than the breeze and silence nothing else could be heard.

She smiled nodding once, we walked them to their block and took leave
once they were in. Sanjana stopped for a moment and looked back. She
smiled, waved and walked away.

''Oye! Finally Simran turned for her Rahul.'' Jay did some maniac dance and all I could do was roll my eyes at stupid references. He laughed at my tortured expressions but that's Jay.

''Nitish wants a favor from you. He wants you to convince all second year students to vote for him for the post of student council.''

''Favour or order.'' I asked and Jay turned quite

''Student Council has one student each from different academic years
that makes 5 seats considering we have 3-5 yrs courses and 5 faculty
members.'' Jay nodded. ''Jay, my dear friend, congrats, you will win
the elections.''

Jay groaned. ''Why do you have to mess with him and why to you have to
mess my life?''

''Because that's what friends do'' I hated the guy because he threw away his contacts and power at all and everyone. Plus, he injured me during a gym session.  If he wishes to show off his power, I will show him who Rishi is.

***
Next morning , as I jogged around the block, I silently wished to have
one look at Sanjana. And My prayers were answered, she stood on the
balcony with her coffee mug. That moment the realisation struck hard,
Sanjana was becoming a habit. I knew everything was very raw , and she
isn't the first girl I am attracted to or want a relationship with but something about her is so attractive. She hates breaking rules and I love to bend them.

She wishes for the good girl tag and I don't care what people think of me. Sometimes I wonder if she gets to see my other side, which is a rebel and rule breaker , will she ever want to do anything with me?

I shook my head to get rid of negative thoughts, giving her one glance I quickly made my way off. Guess, this is why opposites attract.

Sanjana

The university was vibing differently, the student council elections
had taken over all. The council body protected the students rights and
well being.

''Who are you two voting for?'' Kunal asked. Pooja was ready to pounce
on him but I was done wasting my energy on him. ''ever heard of secret
ballot?'' I responded with a mocking smile and he got his answer.

Every student would get 5 ballots , each of which would have different
contenders from that academic year. I wanted to be sure before I vote
as I hardly knew anyone and then Pooja poped the bubble of her gum. ''Jay, is contesting for student council for second year.''

''Who would vote for that nut job?'' I asked. I know he is a friend of
Rishi, but the guy is crazy. His weird gestures make me keep an arm's
distance from him.

''he is not a nut job, he just covers his emotions or just displays them too much.'' Pooja said, her eyes on Jay who stood on a podium dressed like a politician. My eyes froze on Pooja and she quickly covered whatever her face mirrored in that split of a second. I didn't probe, and decided not to for now. But what surprised me was the crowd that stood in favour of him. I am still not sure how did he pulled the
stunt

***
In a month we were done with elections and results were declared, Jay actually won with a big margin against all second year contenders and I'm still wondering how.

Moreover, Rishi seemed to have vanished from the face of earth. I
wondered if he was fine. I decided to check on him and the one who
could give me the answer was Jai. I somehow got his number and he
agreed to meet me.

''We can talk here, I don't want my friend to feel that we betrayed
him.'' Jay said in a serious tone and I wanted to slap him. He chuckled, ''You should learn some madness. ''

''Where is RIshi? I haven't seen him in weeks.''

Jay wrigged his eyebrows which I wanted to pluck off painfully for his
crazy thoughts. ''He is fulfilling the commitment he made in exchange
for votes for me.''

''What does that mean?''

''Dates...more dates and many more dates.''

''You got all female votes in exchange of date with Rishi.''

Jai nodded, ''Not just dates, group dates and some live performances.'' I didn't wait there to hear more. What was I thinking? I was developing a soft corner for a Bad boy. I knew from the beginning who Rishi was?  Everyone knew about him. He was famous,
desired. I have heard plenty of stories about his adventures and dates
with the opposite sex but till now I believed all to be a rumor.

I realized how wrong I had been. At that moment I decided to put some distance between us. Rishi and I cannot be friends

''Sanjana!'' The call Of my name broke my thoughts and there he was, dressed in smart blue jeans with a white buttoned down shirt. He looked awesome, it wasn't about his face or his body it was his aura in a whole which was so damn addicting. I shut my eyes tight to get rid of him and when I opened them he was there looming over me. His eyes bored into mine like spears.

''I am not a dream girl. I wasn't going to vanish with you shutting your eyes.''

''I need to go.'' I quickly made my way and he caught up with me.

''Hey, did someone bother you? All fine? Do you need help?''

''I need help in staying away from you. You are not a nice guy.''

His expressions changed. ''And why is that?''

''I know how you got Jay all the votes.'' Rishi huffed. ''Judge me all you want, I haven't done anything wrong.''

''You are playing with so many hearts and emotions''

''I didn't make the choice for them and I am not responsible for emotions and choices of others.'' He countered

''You gave a temptation in return for a favour. A work of Devil.''

''Did I ever portray myself as an angel? I did what I felt was right, the council needed a good guy and Jay is that.''

''Your way of doing was wrong.'' I don't know why was I so angry

''Sanjana, your right cannot be my right and your wrong can be my right. That goes for all.''

''Do you plan to do something like this with me?''

''Like what?'' He asked a little amused and I cursed myself. We were just friends and my thoughts were wandering everywhere.

''I like you Sanjana, but it will be your choice , not mine. That's a promise'' With that, he made a quick turn walking away. I stood there watching him till he completely disappeared.

Rishi was growing on me.

For the next few weeks I avoided him like a plague and he gave me my
space. But I didn't miss the attention or the adoration he received. There were many more stories about his dates and I hated hearing about
them.

Pooja tried to reason but I was done and I didn't want to do anything with him. He was a bad company , the more I avoided the better for me.

***
''Sorry Sanjana, we just had 5 copies and all have been issued to different students.'' The librarian informed me. I had a deadline for a project and I urgently needed the book. Pooja and I tried requesting the ones who had to lend  it for few hours but they refused. And I learned a lesson that they weren't my friends as they pretend to be.

''There is a book shop in the main city. You might get it there.'' The kind Librarian informed me and I decided to go. I left a message to Pooja, got an out pass approved and took the first available bus to the city. I had to be quick as it was already 5 in the evening and I had to be back by 8 PM or it would invite disciplinary action.

That day, I was in tears, I had never set foot alone out of my house and here I am searching for a book like a maniac.

Pooja reprimanded mefor going alone but there was no time. Finally, when I got the copy I felt Like a winner and now all I had to do was catch a bus back. Only to my bad luck, I missed the last one and the next was expected by
7:45 or 8PM.

My mind panicked , I didn't want the warden not finding me during her daily round and calling my home. Dadu would be so disappointed. My thoughts halted when a bike screeched near me.

''Hop on Sanjana.'' Rishi said his eyes locked with mine through the
visor. I sniffed and did as said. I think I experienced the speed of wind that evening, my arms went around in the middle and my face buried in his back scared of speed.

''We are here, exactly at 7:50 PM'' I swallowed the dryness but he just smiled. ''You my friend, I will look for you even when you don't want me to.''

''Who told you?''

He smiled again. ''Don't worry, I didn't promise anyone any date in exchange of your whereabouts.'' And I blushed. ''Go take the golf cart to your block, you have 5 mins.''

''What about you?''

He smiled again. ''I handle or take my warden on a date. ''  I knew his warden was an old man and he said that to tease me. I wanted to apologise but drove away towards the parking lot. ''Rishi!'' I
whispered as the breeze caressed by heated face

------------------------------------------------------
Wrote this on phone, pls ignore my mistakes