Siddharth's POV

I try ignoring them but their obvious teasing smiles were irritating me.

"Bol do jo bolna hai. Don't give me these looks."

(Say what you want to.)

My best friend came forward and teased me.

"You like her."

"What the fuck! No!"

"Yes you do. Ye pehli baar nhi hai jo tu usse aise dekh rha tha. You do it daily. Aur uske aane ke baad nhi usse pehle bhi you wait for her."

(This is not the first time that you are looking at her. You wait for her even before she comes.)

I look away mumbling.

"Aisa nhi hai."

(Its not like that.)

"The Siddharth Gupta kisi ladki ko dekh kar flat ho gaya. This should be breaking news. What happened to 'yaha aisa koi nhi hai jo meri attention grab kr ske'?"

(The Siddharth Gupta is in love with someone.)

"How many times do I tell you guys aisa kuch nhi hai."

They all nod mockingly and then one of them come forward.

"Chal hum maan lenge if you accept my challenge."

"Kaisa challenge?"

(What challenge?)

"This is our final year aur first year se lekar ab tak usne kisi ko bhaav nhi dia. You have this semester. Pata ke dikha usse."

(She never gave attention to anyone. Woo her.)

"What nonsense! I don't do such stuff."

He smirks and says.

"Tu challenge deny kr rha hai?"

(You are denying this challenge?)

I look at him straight into his eyes and say seriously.

"Siddarth Gupta kabhi koi challenge mana nhi karta. Lekin kisi ladki ki feelings ke saath nhi khelunga mai."

(Siddharth Gupta never denies any challenge. But I won't play with any girl's feelings.)

I get up and start to go from there.

"Accept your defeat Sid."

He shouts from behind. I turn and look at him.

"Ya toh challenge accept kr ya defeat accept kr. Say it. Say that you lose to me."

(Either accept the challenge or your defeat.)

We share an intense eyelock. And then I do the worst mistake of my life.

"Challenge accepted."

The next day I reach college and he reminds of the stupid challenge.

I ignore him and go to her corridor.

Her class has just got over and she comes out with her best friend.

"Hey! Sanjana!"

I call out and she turns to look at me.

I go near them and she looks at me asking what I need.

"Hi. Siddharth. Mai Eco Hons department se hu. Kavita mam told me to contact you regarding the recent debate competition."

"Ohh! Mujhe toh kuch nhi bataya unhone."

(She didn't tell me anything about it.)

"Must have forgotten. So? When are you free? So that we can discuss."

She looked at her friend and said.

"Iske baad I have one more class. Uske baad discuss krte hai."

(Then we can discuss.)

"Sure."

I smile and she smiles back. She then goes with her friend and I smirk at Ayush. He had a scowl on his face.

Take that you fucker!

Like that she started talking. We used to meet in the library after classes and sit there till the college was over.

Even after the debate was over we used to meet after classes. Go out and visit cafes and restaurants.

She loved to explore new things and I started loving her.

The challenge was long forgotten. Truth be told I had only remembered the challenge for the first few hours.

After that it was only pure and true feelings.

About a month after our meetings, I finally gained courage and proposed her.

"Siddharth?"

She looked at me wide eyed as I held that ring out to her.

She didn't even look at the ring and continued to look into my eyes.

Her eyes teared up and she launched into my arms.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The next day she got me a ring saying that everyone should know I was taken. And that's how we started dating.

Everything was going smooth. I introduced her to my friends and they received her happily. Only if I knew that they thought I was acting upon the challenge.

Our final year exams were approaching. Sanjana had always been very serious about her studies so she used to spend some time library after classes.

"Mai library se book lekar aati hu."

(I will get the book from library.)

She said and rushed to the library.

I went to our usual spot where my friends were sitting.

"Aaj akele. Teri so called girlfriend nhi hai aaj saath mai."

(Alone today. Where is your so called girlfriend.)

Ayush smirked and I glared at him.

"Shut up!"

"You really are a winner man. Tune challenge pura kar hi dia aakhir. She is so in love with you man. Kab tak aur khelne ka iraada hai."

(You fulfilled the challenge. How long are you going to play her.)

I held his collar and looked into his eyes dangerously.

"Shut up Ayush!"

"Kyu bhai? Challenge toh maine sirf patane ka dia tha. Tu toh shayad bhut kuch plan krke baitha hai. Want to take her to bed. Do you?"

(Why? Challenge was to only woo her. Maybe you planned something more.)

I punched him and he fell. I was about to hit him again when I heard.

"Siddharth?"

I turned around. She was looking at me with tears.

Fuck! Did she hear it?

I went to her and was about to cup her face when she held out her hand.

"Don't! Just tell me the truth. Kya ye ek challenge tha?"

(Was this a challenge?)

"Sanjana listen to me-"

"Yes or no Siddharth."

"Haan initially but then-"

"It was a challenge!"

She whispered brokenly. The look in her eyes killed me. And I wanted to kill myself.

A few tears fell her eyes which she wiped harshly and looked at me.

"Congratulations Siddharth Gupta! Jeet gye aap. You made me fall in love with you. Jeet mubarak. Lekin dobara kabhi mujhe apni shakal mat dikhana."

(You won. Congratulations on your win. But never show me your face ever again.)

She took her Id which was hanging in my bag and marched off. I looked on unable to do anything.

I hurt her. So much. But I love her. So much.

Bas ek mauka de do Bhagwaan. Bas ek. I will tell her everything. Ye jo misunderstanding hamare beech hai I will clear it.

But she doesn't want to talk to me.

Sanjana's POV

I close my eyes trying to control the tears. I loved him so much and he betrayed me.

I was a challenge to him all along. 

But then why is he still wearing that ring? 

'If you were actually just a challenge to him would he still be wearing that ring? He won that challenge he should have thrown that away after that right?'

I don't know and I don't want to know.

I look beside me. Sanya has her back to me. Her posture clearly indicates that she isn't asleep. She can never sleep straight.

I close my eyes and try to sleep and that night again I dreamt of him and our memories together.

The next day I drop Sanya to college. She is still very serious and in deep thoughts.

She was about to move out of the car when she turned and looked at me.

"Di. Aaj aap aa jaana mujhe lene."

(You come to take me.)

"Kyu?"

(Why?)

"Hum kahi bahar chalenge. Aapka mood bhi refresh ho jaayega."

(We will go out somewhere. Your mood will also be fine.)

My cute sister. I nod and smile and she goes in the college smiling.
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