Maddy and Sanjana stood there silently for a while, just staring at each other with too many thoughts going on in their heads, no one ready to say a word. Sanjana knew she couldn't stay quiet and longer and finally decided to break the ice.
Sanjana: I know Maine jo bhi kiya hai uske baad you don't even want to look at my face but listen to me just once...please
Though Maddy didn't say anything, Sanjana knew it was her cue to continue.
Sanjana: Maddy uss din Maine jo bhi kiya..it wasn't because I wanted to, I-I was forced
Maddy's head snapped in her direction as soon as the words left her mouth and now a different set of thoughts begin to ponder in his mind.
Was his hate for her unnecessary all this while?
Did he make a mistake in understanding her?
Shaking away his thoughts, he looked at her as if asking her to continue which she did.
Sanjana: You remember the day you asked me about me and Siddharth?
Maddy nodded.
Sanjana: That day I lied to you because I was ac-actually attracted to Siddharth but trust me I still wanted to be with you. I was just...confused and I needed time to figure it out isliye I lied to you that day and I eventually did realise that whatever I felt for Siddharth was just infatuation...but with you I felt different, I felt special and I realised that it's you who I want to stay with. Isliye uss music event ke ek week pehle I wanted to talk to you and make our relationship public par tab mujhe Siddharth mila and...
Sanjana: kya hua Sid? Kuch kaam tha?
Sanjana asked entering the empty classroom after receiving Siddharth's message to meet her there.
Siddharth: Ha voh actually I wanted to tell you something
Sanjana: tell me
Siddharth: Sanjana I know you might have not expected this too early but I love you. I really love you, will you be my girlfriend?
Sanjana was shocked for a moment but recovered soon.
Sanjana: Look Siddharth I respect your feelings but I can't be your girlfriend, I love Maddy and we have been in a relationship for quite some time. Infact, we were just about to make it public so I am sorry
She explained as softly and politely she could but her rejection hurt his male ego and he turned furious.
Siddharth: You are rejecting me for that Maddy? Usme aisa kya special hai that you chose him ha? He is a good for nothing nerd who can't go against his grandfather while I am the guy everyone wants to be with. You should feel lucky that I love you but you are choosing Maddy over me
Sanjana: I am not choosing Maddy over you Siddharth. It's just I love him and I can't be with you
Siddharth: You can't be with me ha? I think ab tumhe tumhara surprise gift dena hi padega. I thought ki I will not have to do this but you left me with no option
He smirked while Sanjana frowned.
Sanjana: What gift are you talking about?
Siddharth: Here you go
Saying so he passed his phone to her and what Sanjana saw in it made her numb.
Maddy: Aisa kya tha uss phone me?
Sanjana: Mera MMS while I was changing in the college changing room
She replied slowly, her voice breaking as she remembered that day. Maddy who wasn't really expecting this, immediately turned towards her, almost having a whiplash.
Maddy: How could he be so cheap when he claimed to love you?
He questioned, more to himself.
Sanjana: He didn't love me, he just wanted to have me because I rejected him and that kinda hurt his ego. He had always been the rich spoilt brat who got everything he laid his eyes upon and I was no exception. He thought like all the other things, he'll have me easily too but that didn't happen. He was probably aware that I might say no so he already had a backup ready...that MMS and it worked too. Main dar gayi thi kyuki agar voh viral ho jaata toh my life would have ruined...sabkuch kharaab ho jaata which I couldn't afford so even if I didn't want to, I said yes and in turn of not making my video viral he ordered me to follow everything he says without any arguments
Maddy: You could have told me this before then why didn't you?
Sanjana: Because he always used to keep an eye on me. Maine uske phone se video delete karne ki koshish bhi ki but I couldn't
She sighed helplessly.
Sanjana: Ab event ke liye sirf ek din bacha tha and you remember we were practising till late night in college that day?
Maddy nodded again, curious to know what more was he unaware of.
Sanjana: Uss din you left first kyuki tumhe dida ko kahi se pick karna tha and I was supposed to leave with Aarohi par last moment Aarohi Yash ke saath date par chali gayi and I was left alone. Main apni cheeze pack karke nikal hi rahi thi jab mujhe tumhare GD mile
Maddy*surprised*: GD? Voh college me kya kar rahe the? And that too so late?
Sanjana: Voh mujhse milne aaye the?
Maddy: Tumse?
Sanjana nodded and continued to recite what happened that day.
Sanjana: aap Maddy ke GD hai na? Aap yaha? Maddy toh nikal chuka hai
GD: Mujhe pata hai ki voh ja chuka hai. Main yaha tumse milne aaya hu
Sanjana *confused*: Mujhse? Ji kahiye
GD: Main janta hu ki Madhyam tumse pyaar karta hai aur shayad tum bhi usse pyaar karti ho
He started while Sanjana grew a little awkward.
GD: Isliye main chahta hu ki kal competition me kuch bhi karke tum Madhyam ko stage par perform na karne do
Sanjana: Par kyu? Agar Maine aise kiya toh voh mujhse nafrat karega
GD: Toh voh toh achi baat hai na. Main vaise bhi chahta hu ki voh prem shabd se nafrat kare aur humesha akela hi rahe kyuki voh pyaar ke layak hi nahi hai aur agar voh tumse nafrat karega toh zahir si baat hai ki uska pyaar par se vishwaas uth jaega aur main yahi chahta hu
Sanjana *anxious*: Par kyu?
GD: Kyuki mujhe uska rock music perform karna na-pasand hai aur tum dono ka rishta bhi mujhe pasand nahi hai
Sanjana: Lekin main Maddy ke saath aisa nahi karungi
She declared in a determined tone which didn't last long when Siddharth entered.
Siddharth: Voh aisa kyu karegi? Uske aisa karne me uska kya faida hai?
Sanjana: Sid just stay out of it
Siddharth: Tell me...kya faida hai uska?
Siddharth continued looking at GD, ignoring Sanjana completely.
GD: Agar voh mera kehna maanti hai toh main tumhare pure band ko India ke best music label ka album dilaunga
The offer was mouth watering but Siddharth still needed some kind of assurity.
Siddharth: Lekin competition ke baad agar aap apni baat se mukar gaye toh?
GD: Main kabhi apni baat se nahi mukarta. Agar Maine koi vaada kiya hai toh main use nibhata bhi hu
Siddharth: Ok Sanjana vohi karegi jo apne use kaha hai lekin agar competition ke baad apne apna vaada pura nahi kiya toh Maine apki saari baate mere phone par record ki hai jise main viral bhi kar sakta hu
He smirked.
GD: Uski zaroorat nahi padegi
He said and left from there leaving Sanjana alone with Siddharth.
Sanjana: Why did you do this?
She asked furiously once GD left and Siddharth smirked.
Siddharth: I am not dumb like you to let go of such a golden opportunity and also this is the best time to make our relationship public, isn't it?
He smirk kept growing and so did Sanjana's anxiousness.
Sanjana: I can't hurt Maddy
Siddharth: Aww poor baby...you have to varna tumhara voh MMS puri duniya dekh legi and then tum toh kya, tumhare parents bhi kahi muh dikhane layak nahi bachenge
Sanjana was helpless and thus she agreed and what followed next was a nightmare for both Maddy and Sanjana.
Sanjana: That is why I did what I did that day. I know I was being selfish but I had no option Maddy
She cried helplessly while Maddy stood numb at his place.
Maddy: Why did GD do this?
He asked blankly making Sanjana look at him. She could somehow understand what he might be feeling at the moment.
Sanjana: Because he thinks his wife and your grandmother died because of you. She donated her heart to you out of love but he didn't want her to do that because he believed that she still had hope to live when the medical reports had made it clear that she had very little time to live and since then he has been holding a grudge against you. He thinks you were the reason she died early when she could have lived a little more
She completed, dreading Maddy's reaction. Maddy had turned completely numb listening to her. His grandfather had claimed him as a murderer since the time he didn't even understand what was happening around him. He was hardly an year old for crying out loud. He knew that he wasn't at fault for his mother had explained him how much his grandmother loved him and she did this out of her love for him and if he would feel guilty about it then his grandmother might not like it and he wasn't guilty even, rather he admired his grandmother.
Taking a deep breath, Maddy composed himself and walked towards Sanjana who stood at a distance, looking down with tears flowing out of her eyes. He held her hand gently making her look up at him.
Maddy: Will you answer some of my questions?
He asked and Sanjana frowned. She sure wasn't expecting this kind of reaction from him but nevertheless she nodded her head in affirmation.
Maddy: Agar uss waqt koi aur ladki hoti jiska MMS banaya gaya hota toh kya voh bhi vohi karti jo tumne kiya?
Sanjana: Maybe...I mean ek ladki ke liye uski self respect is her top most priority
Maddy: Right. So today if I ask you, Sanjana will you be my girlfriend for forever toh tum kya bologi?
Sanjana's head snapped at his direction, her eyes wide.
Was he proposing her?
Sanjana: Are you proposing me?
Maddy: Well, maybe
He shrugged with a small smile and Sanjana just couldn't believe it was happening.
Sanjana: But I...I mean-
She sounded confused making Maddy chuckle.
Maddy: I know you didn't expect me to react this way but Sanjana I understand what you went through and I get it that you were forced to betray me so I hold nothing against you. Itne saalo me I tried very hard to hate you but I couldn't and today after getting a closure I just want to be with you because I realised this was what I always wanted and about GD then he is a very thick headed person and he won't change his opinion for anyone so let him think whatever he wants to
He completed and Sanjana looked at him in awe.
Sanjana: You have a very big heart
She smiled to which he reciprocated.
Maddy: I know. Anyways, what about your MMS? Does Siddharth still have it?
Sanjana: No I managed to delete it and get him arrested
Maddy: So all good now?
Sanjana: All good
They smiled at each other longingly and soon enough embraced each other in a much needed hug when the gang walked in. They were happy seeing them together but still had a lot of questions in mind which were answered by Maddy and Sanjana as they explained everything to them.
Aditi: Guys I think its time to celebrate then?
Cabir: Aditi tumne toh meri muh ki baat chinli. Maddy your treat and let me warn you main bohot zyaada khaane wala hu so carry enough cash
Aryaman: Same here bro
Cabir and Aryaman declared making the others laugh at their craziness as they walked out to celebrate, this time with a smiling Maddy with Sanjana in his arms and them in love.
Happy reading.
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