Chapter 15
Damn, I’m Not Giving Main Character After All—Priti Is
Pune, Saturday
For a minute or so after, I just sit still, phone clutched in hand, staring at Soumyaroop’s profile, a million thoughts flooding
my mind at once.
Here I was, thinking I was the one on the whirlwind road trip of a lifetime to kiss my summer crush, but Priti has absolutely outdone me. She isn’t
just headed to Goa to infiltrate a wedding. She’s there to end it. A Bollywood-level grand romantic gesture to get her ex-boyfriend back.
I let that thought sink in slowly before finally looking up from my phone. I’m reeling from the revelation as I look over
at Priti, who has her head down and resting on the backpack in her lap. Her arms are crossed and concealing her face, so all
I can see is a messy nest of a head. Rudra sits next to her, gazing out the window.
I reach for him behind Charu, trying to be as sneaky as possible. The tips of my fingers brush his shoulder. He looks over
at me, brows knitting.
Look at your phone, I mouth while motioning at my own phone with my hands. My pitiful attempt at Dumb Charades is successful, because Rudra
unlocks his phone. I head over to his profile and click on the message button.
A brand-new chat with him opens. It feels weird, chatting with him when he’s right there, one seat away from me (never mind
the fact that it’s Rudra).
@notkrishnakumar
So I think I know who Priti’s ex is
The seen text appears below my message, and I glance at Rudra, who starts typing. His expression is neutral, revealing nothing.
@rudradesaimusic
who is it?
@notkrishnakumar
You’re not gonna ask me how I found out?
@rudradesaimusic
well, how did you find out?
@notkrishnakumar
I followed a hunch. You know how Priti’s been desperate to get to the shaadi on time? And how you mentioned her ex lives in
Powai?
@rudradesaimusic
yeah?
@notkrishnakumar
I figured chances are the ex is one of Amrit’s relatives, but I found out from Amrit that only the groom lives in Powai.
Her ex is Soumyaroop Maheshwari!
@rudradesaimusic
i doubt this is about him
@notkrishnakumar
Digha said smth about Priti’s ex refollowing her.
AND SOUMYAROOP IS FOLLOWING PRITI
SO IS HIS FIANCéE MANSI
IT HAS TO BE HIM
@rudradesaimusic
hmm
I stare at the three-lettered reply for a second before scoffing out loud.
@notkrishnakumar
Hmm?!
I give you all this info and all I get in return is a hmm?
@rudradesaimusic
what do you expect me to say?
@notkrishnakumar
Whatever.
I’m not surprised.
@rudradesaimusic
not surprised by what?
@notkrishnakumar
By the fact that you’re such a dry texter
@rudradesaimusic
not everyone is as upbeat as you, sunflower
I peek at Rudra and find him smiling. My stomach literally swoops at the nickname, but now is not the time!
@notkrishnakumar
What do we do about it? Priti is going there to stop this wedding!
@rudradesaimusic
nothing, if you’re right it’s priti’s call
we can’t do anything to stop her
@notkrishnakumar
So we do nothing? And let Priti get away with attempting something so reckless? How is this not bothering you more?
@rudradesaimusic
how is this bothering you so much?
what priti does doesn’t really affect your plans
I pause for a moment, recalling suddenly that Rudra would, in fact, not be keen on Priti getting back together with Soumyaroop. I think back to our conversation in the Sinhas’ bedroom.
He doesn’t strike me as the sort of person who would sabotage Priti’s chance at love because he has feelings for her. Then
again, how well do I really know him? I can’t be sure he isn’t secretly vindictive like that.
@notkrishnakumar
It doesn’t, I know, but can you blame me if I want to see Priti happy again? Her smiles barely reach her eyes anymore. Soumyaroop
looks like he might have feelings for Priti too. If getting them back together makes her happy, isn’t that the right thing
to do? For not just Priti and him, but also Mansi, who might be getting into a marriage with someone hung up over their ex?
I almost wince when I read back through my messages because oh god, why do I sound so corny?
@rudradesaimusic
i didn’t think you cared about her that much
@notkrishnakumar
I didn’t think I did either but Priti has always meant something to me.
I’m not sure I can forgive her after everything but I understand her, I guess.
@rudradesaimusic
you don’t owe anyone forgiveness, but I do think you would both be happier if you were able to give that to each other
@notkrishnakumar
Maybe, but thanks for seeing my side of things too.
With Priti, I mean. You barely know me. At least you barely knew me up until yesterday.
Rudra doesn’t type anything for a long minute after that, so I assume he’s done with our conversation. I move my index finger
to the lock button to click my phone closed, but then the three dots appear below my message, and I hold my breath as his
text comes through.
@rudradesaimusic
maybe we never really spoke to each other until yesterday
but i’ve known you since we were kids
I stare down at the message for a long while after that, even when Rudra shuts his phone and rests his head back, not looking
at me. Something warm cradles my heart, making me all fuzzy from within.
I inhale deeply, glancing out the window as I finally set my phone down, watching the remaining trekkers approach the bus.
They get in, chatting among themselves, and their laughter fills the silence of the space.
Right now, I wish I could reverse time, back to when I was an eleven-year-old, when I met Rudra Desai for the very first time.
Only this time, instead of letting him stay a still figure in the background of the memories I have from my childhood, where
I’m dancing at the very front with all my cousins while he remains quietly seated on the chairs by the wall, I would walk
up to him . . .
And I would befriend him.