Chapter 26
Rano is having an argument with Bani and Pia as she wants to join the college in Delhi. Bani is two months pregnant. Jai Pushkar and Nachiketh had been witnessing this for the past half and hour
Jai: just tell us why you are so keen to move away from the family to another state and live in a hostel.
Rano: Because I find it comfortable.
Jai: If it's about privacy you can use the e guest house
Rano: That's it I just don't know all this while we have been staying in hostels and there was no problem why now all of a sudden.
Bani: Before it was a necessity but now we have a home.
Pia. More over this kind of stress is not good for Di to sit and worry about you.
Rano: Oh come on now Pia I am not a kid.
Bani: Who said you were kid now.
Nachiketh: Rano why don't you just tell them the truth.
Pia: Is there something more
Rano: O.k. it's just that I love everyone and this family thing and all the attention but I can't take it any more.
Bani: What do you mean by you can't take it any more.
Rano: Di have you noticed how our life has changed in this past one year.
Bani: Of course I got married; I came to know about my true identity and all the other drama that got unfolded because of that. I had to put up with the major show here.
Rano: So now I am doing that part and its driving me crazy.
Pia: Just what are you not comfortable with?
Rano: With everything. The designer clothes, the cars, the hi life the business dinners, the shows the gala events you all take me to the shopping spree for all this it drives me nuts.
When she saw that everyone was staring a t her
Rano: I don't want to sound ungrateful but it's just not me please di understand.
Bani: I thought you were happy that now we could get you all the comforts.
Rano: I am not against the comforts what life has given us now it's just that I want to find my way through life just like you all.
Pia: I don't believe this you want to go back to the way we used to be.
Rano: Well not exactly and what was so wrong about the way we lived. The three of us were always together now a days in spite of living in the same house we hardly see each other because of the busy schedules.
Di: I'm so sorry I get so busy with things but Rano you always will have a special place in our hearts and life.
Rano: I know that but I just want to be Rano the girl who always topped the class. She was recognized for her merits and not for being the rich socialite. It's just not me di.
Pia: Just because our status has changed that doesn't make you dump for god sake.
Rano: That is not what I am saying Pia. You any way never understood anything.
Pia: Oh so now I am the dumb wit here.
Rano: Why is it so difficult Pia for you to understand you will be busy with your shooting assignments, Di with the Baby and business so don't you think I to need to have a life.
Pia: So why go to Delhi for that.
Rano: there use to be so much of happiness in the little achivements we shared when we lived in the hostel.
Pia: Don't remind me of how we saved each and every penny to make things work out for one another and you were always immersed in that book of yours.
Rano: Now Rano really was at her height of madness. Well those books did help you to get your first portfolio done.
Pia: Fine I admit it was with the quiz prize money and Di' banner paintings that got me the first break for a photo shoot.
Rano: Good then you should also be remembering how you waited tables just to send me for the summer camp. Well how come now with all the money in the world I don't see that kind of excitement when you got to be the model for the international brand.
Now hearing Pia and Rano talk Jai, Pushkar and Nachiketh were shocked to realize the way they struggled to support one another in spite of the trust allowance which only covered their educational and basic needs. Bani realized that Rano and Pia had spoken a little too much so she tried to deviate the conversation.
Bani: Fine Rano we don't want to look back so may be Jai and I will go with you to Delhi and see about the college and if it's fine with both of us then we will think of admitting you there but I don't promise you anything now.
Rano: At least you are willing to give it a go.
Pia: Di you always give in to her and walks off taking Pushkar along.
Rano leaves with Nachiketh.
Jai and Bani are alone now.
Jai: How come Bani it was never mentioned that you had financial problems.
Bani: Jai that was in the past and its over now so why worry.
Jai: God do you know how it feels to know that you had to scrape your way through life just to enjoy simple things in life.
Bani: Just let go I am happy now that we have the present.
Jai: Bani if my father knew about this God I just don't know what to say.
Bani: Well you can stop worrying about the past and think about the future especially Rano's since I don't think she will give up her Delhi plans she had that dream since a kid.
Pushkar and Pia
Pushkar: How come you never mentioned that you used to wait tables?
Pia: Rano and her big mouth. Ya so what you have a problem to be associated with me you can go and take a hike.
Pushkar: That is not what I meant. Why do you always fight with me?
Pia: Pushkar please those are the days I want to forget not because I am ashamed of what I did but it was a struggle for us but finally we diode find a place for ourselves that is what is important.
Finally Rano joins the college in Delhi on the condition that every month she would come and see them. She was happy to be the old Rano with Just jeans and Tee shirt. Everyone recognized her for being the topper in the class. Her best friend was Gayathri a scholarship student. Her brother Atul also was studying in the same college but senior year. Gayathri was from Delhi itself but commuting was a problem for her as she was handicapped she had to use crutches to walk. Some of the classmates used to make fun of them. But Rano used to give them good back answers. Among them was a prominent one Shekar. Shekar's brother Vicky also was in the same college classmates with
Atul. They never got along so they never wasted an opportunity to fight. Vicky and Shekar were not aware that Rano came from a very rich back ground as she always wore simple dress and scorned at the rich kids in college. Though Gayathri and Atul were aware she came from quite a rich background but they didn't know the extent of it.
When Atul wanted a summer job Rano arranged for it in the club owned by Walia group. Atul was very thankful for using her influence to get the job for him. But Rano also didn't bother to correct him that to get a job for him all she had to do was ask the manager to appoint him as she had shares in the club.
One evening Rano and Gaythri had gone to see Atul in the club, Shekar, Vicky and his friends were there. They decided to play a trick on Rano and Gayathri. It was an on going battle between them all through the first semester even as the batch progressed to the second semester things had not improved rather it became worse.
Shekar just moved a tile form the step which made Gayathri tumble and fall into the pool. Rano had seen everything and was so annoyed with this gang that she went and slapped Shekar. Now the fight had got out of hand finally the club membership of the boys were banned for while and Rano got good firing from Bani for creating problems in the club. So this weekend she was dreading to go home. But she couldn't miss Nachiketh's car rally race. He always said that she was her good luck charm.
The car rally show
Nachiketh: Rano did you really beat up that boy like Bani said.
Rano: don't remind me of that God I just don't know what got into at that moment and Gayathri and Atul were so worried for me. It was a night mare. I was worried that Di would not allow me to study in Delhi any more.
Nachiketh; Serves you right for beating up the boys.
Rano: Please not that again.
Nachiketh: so you are going to wait here or in the stand.
Rano: In the stand I want to see you perform why you think I came al the way from Delhi.
Nachiketh wins the race. Now Shekar, Vicky and his friends have come to watch the race also their friend is participating in this car rally and he is very friendly with Nachiketh.
During the prize ceremony when questioned to Nachiketh whom would he like to present this trophy to?
Nachiketh: Of course to my darling Rano. She is my good luck charm.
Rano was like this Nachiketh also knows how to bring her in the spot light infact he enjoyed it. She goes to the stand and Nachiketh hugs her and gives a kiss on the cheeks.
Shekar, Vicky and his friends were zapped to see the new version of Rano here. She was in a designer short sleeveless dress with high heeled sandal her hair styled to curls and minus the glasses she looked like some model.
Shekar: What is she doing here?
Vicky: Don't tell me she has us followed till here. Just then their friend from the car rally joins them
Friend: Hey guys which girl you are all talking about.
Vicky: the one with the winner of this race.
Friend: Oh her, the darling socialite of the Walia house hold.
Everyone what
Friend: Ya hey she is studying in Delhi by the way.
Vicky: Is this the Walia group run by Jai walia.
Friend: Then which other one. In fact she is the sister of Bani his wife. Now all of them were so dumb stuck that they didn't know what to say.