Chapter 7:
They found him in the canteen, surrounded with his usual bunch of ferocious-looking, muscled morons. This time round, it was Samrat who pushed Benji towards their table, while himself settling down at an empty table nearby. Benji gave him a look before taking a deep breath and moving towards the table. Pulling a chair from the next table, he settled down next to him. The conversation on the table stilled as everyone turned to stare at the newest addition on the table. Benji, acting totally nonchalant, made a move towards the chips packet that was lying in the middle of the table, when a brick-strong hand caught his forearm."Are you lost?" RV asked, glaring at him.Benji smiled nervously as he pulled his hand out of his firm grip. "No, I just thought we'll chat for sometime.""Excuse me? RV kisi se aise hi chat nahi karta... Get lost!" He shoved his arm."Ek minute, meri puri baat to suniye, your highness..." he stressed on the word 'highness' and saw RV's look faltering. He gave a small,satisfied smile. "Actually, I had an idea and thought of running it through to you.""Huh? Regarding?"Benji leaned in closer and whispered "Gunjan Bhushan..."RV narrowed his eyes "What about her?""Their Dad has changed their rule... Now she can date only if her sister, Nupur, also dates.""So?" RV asked, now clearly interested."Well, can you see that guy over there?" He pointed towards Mayank, who was walking past the canteen in the adjoining corridor."Who, Mayank Sharma?"He nodded. "If you can get him to date Nupur, your field will be cleared.""I've heard that he once ate a WHOLE LIVE DUCK!!" RV muttered, clearly scandalised."Everything, except the beak and the feet!!" Benji confirmed in an equally scandalised whisper... "Clearly, he's the man for you!"RV seemed thoughtful for a second before turning back towards Benji, this time suspiciously. "Aur humari help karke tumhe kya milega?" He asked, his hand clutching his collar. His eyes had an evil glint in them."Your highness, aapki help karna to iss college ke saare students ka farz hai...Ab aapki help nahi karenge toh kiski karenge?" He put on his flattery voice in its full throttle and smiled cheesily at RV, while at the same time glancing nervously at the hand on his neck.RV seemed to consider his explanation for a full minute, and after feeling satisfied, left his collar. "Hmmm... Theek hai...hum iss bare mein kuch sochenge." He turned back to his buddies and was about to start talking when he looked back at Benji still sitting there."Get lost now...Our chat is over."Benji couldn't have been more grateful for his dismissal. He scurried from there and rushed towards Sam, who was now standing at the canteen's entrance."Ho gaya!!" Benji breathed out, as he bent down to catch his breath.Samrat smirked at him as he slapped his back and led him out of the canteen. Now, they could only wait and watch. **********
Mayank lounged at the last row of the auditorium, lazily browsing through the book that he had recently issued from the library. CJ sat next to him with her face covered with her bandana, her feet resting on the chair in front of her, as she napped away to glory. It was their drama class, and Ms.Tamanna was holding auditions for this yr's Annual Play, in which both of them were completely uninterested, but had to stay back for attendance's sake.
Now bored to death, Mayank finally decided to leave when he heard someone behind him.
"Ahem..."
He ignored the sound and made a movement to pick up his bag when he heard it again, louder this time.
"Ahem!!!" Rolling his eyes, he turned around.
"If you have a sore throat, go to the dispensary." It was that scumbag RV from his English class. He simply raised his eyebrows at his sight.
RV smirked at him. "Well, sore throat ka toh hum dekh lenge, but if you are so willing, you can help me out with something else."
"Oh yeah? And that would be?" Mayank replied disinterestedly as he turned around to shove his book in his bag, when RV's next words caught all his attention.
"You see that girl? I want you to go out with her."
Mayank left his bag immediately and glanced back at him incredulously, now certain of RV's insanity and pigheadedness. Following his finger's direction, he saw 'that girl' to be Nupur Bhushan. Tracing a look back and forth from RV to Nupur twice, and after making sure that what he had heard was right, he burst out laughing, waking CJ up with the commotion.
"What the - ?" CJ sweared loudly, removing the bandana from her face and glaring at the laughing Mayank.
Mayank spoke brokenly in between spasms of laughter "Yeah - Sure Sparky!!" He wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes. "What else may I do for you, Mee lord??" He ended mockingly.
"I'm serious, Sharma. Actually their father has this rule where the younger sister cannot date unless – " RV started in an authoritative tone but was cut off shortly.
"Touching story – Not my problem!!" Mayank looked pointedly into his eyes as he whispered the last words ominously.
"Well, would you be willing to make it your problem if I provide generous compensation? Soch lo, Mayank!" RV remained undeterred. This part was crucial for his plan to be a success.
CJ was wide awake now, glancing at the two of them periodically, as if watching a table-tennis match. Mayank Sharma, being offered money to take out a chick? This guy definitely had some guts!! Stupid guts, alright, but still!!
Mayank raised his brow at the offer. "You're going to pay me to take out a girl?" He asked mechanically, as if trying to fathom what he had heard was right.
"Ahaan..." RV nodded affirmatively.
Mayank glanced back at Nupur. The memory of that moment in the library flashed in his mind. He still owed her an apology. But more than that, he was intrigued by the pain that was there in her eyes when she had snatched the diary from him. What could the reason behind that be?
As if being ruled by an external force, he heard himself asking "How much?"
There was a loud gasp beside him. He chose to ignore it, for his own good.
"1000 bucks." RV smiled triumphantly.
Mayank cleared his throat as he glanced sideways at CJ, gawking at his words. He wanted it to look realistic and not make his personal motive obvious. Standing up and arranging his bag's strap across his chest, he began indifferently.
"Well, let's see..." He walked in a small circle around RV "We go for a movie – that's about 500 bucks. There, of course, she'll want popcorn; another 150. Top it up with some soft drinks, say 100 bucks. Then I'll also have to take her out for dinner later – That makes it - ?" He directed the question innocently at RV. CJ was still staring at him unwaveringly.
"What are you implying?" RV asked, confused. Had to be confused, being the dim-witted moron that he is. Sometimes I feel that even CJ's Uday aka Dodo is smarter than him!! Mayank thought, amused.
"1500, and you have a deal!!" He finished, slickly. CJ was now shaking her head in disbelief.
RV considered it for a moment before complying. "Fine, Sharma..." He dug into his pocket and thrust the money into Mayank's hand. "But it has to happen...When I shell out 1500, I expect results."
Mayank clasped RV's outstretched hand into a firm grip, making him yelp. "Sorry! You were saying - ?" He smiled serenely as RV pulled his hand away and inspected his fingers for any broken bones. He shook his head and backed away from Mayank and simply left, folding and unfolding his knuckles as he walked.
Time to face the music, Mayank Sharma! He turned back to CJ unwillingly.
"So, would you care to explain what that was all about?"
"What? This?" Mayank pointed towards the money in his hand as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
CJ narrowed her eyes at him. He chuckled in response.
"What? Now a man can't even earn some good ol' money with his hard work?" He rolled his eyes, trying to maintain a nonchalant tone.
"Hard work??" she didn't look convinced, but atleast she was diverted now. He smiled.
"Well, taming the shrew" he gestured towards Nupur's direction, "will be hard work, won't it?" He joked as CJ got up and both started walking towards the exit.
"Pray tell me what made you agree to that?!" CJ asked again. She was greeted with silence and as she turned to him, she saw a look of deep and intense concentration on his face.
"Hellooo!!??" She snapped her fingers in front of his eyes.
"Umm... You carry on...I'll see you in class!" Saying this, he hurried off in the opposite direction.
"Ajeeb hai!!!" She looked at his retreating figure. Maybe I should be readying myself for the boxing matches that I'm going to witness in the near future!! She chuckled and left.
**********
A/N 1: 'Whole duck alive' is from the movie...not my imagination!
A/N 2: The characs r very much different from the show, and so is Mayank...I hope u will understand him better keeping this in mind.. But plz feel free to express ur opinion on him and his act as well!!
Looking forward to ur comments on this part...😃
Love Appu :)
Book Talk
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
