Chapter 4
Shiva was unable to function normally for the next few days. His life had turned upside down in a day. When he said he would help Raavi with the syllabus, he assumed that she would just merely pass, he hadn't expected her to beat him.
“Kya hua Shiva, khaana digest nahi ho raha hai?” Krish asked Shiva mockingly while eating dinner. “Kaise digest hoga, ab toh yeh akela topper nahi hai” Dev said as Raavi, Dhara and Gautam were smirking at each other.
“Rehne de na Krish, Dil mat jaala uska” Raavi said looking at Shiva with a smirk.
Shiva had enough, he walked away with his plate to eat on the terrace.
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Not just at home, things changed drastically at college too. Ajay and Shiva’s crew were constantly buzzing around Raavi- talking to her about notes, exams and question papers.
He was unable to sleep, unable to eat and worst of all unable to focus on studying. He headed to Pandya store and he locked himself in the storeroom near his study area. “KYA KAROON?” he screamed loudly.
He immediately got the answer: Sabotage.
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Shiva was not a cheater when it came to studying, but it seemed like he had no other option but to ruin Raavi’s preparation and distract her from studying to ensure that she doesn't beat him again.
Shiva had a variety of plans which were executed in full swing:
-He pretended to fall asleep much earlier in the night, Raavi saw him sleep and went to bed as well. After she fell asleep, he would wake up head to the kitchen and study for an extra hour or two.
-He would hide Raavi’s notes in his backpack when she was not looking
-He once locked her in the bathroom, when no one was home. He bought himself 30 mins of extra time to study.
-He would sneakily take her phone and shut off the alarms she had set to wake up in the morning to study.
- He would make a plan with Dev, Krish and Raavi to watch a movie. Once the three of them were engrossed in the movie, he walked out from the living area, went to the kitchen and studied for an extra hour.
These plans were working for Shiva as he managed to distract Raavi.
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One night at dinner, Raavi suddenly said “Dhara Di, iss ghar mein na bhooth hai, for sure!”
Shiva began coughing as he choked on his water. “Raavi, kya bol rahi hai, bhooth vooth kuch nahi hota.” Dhara reassured Raavi.
“Arrey nahi Di, aaj kal na mere alarm apne aap bandh ho jaata hai, jab mein bathroom mein hoti hoon bahar se apne aap lock hoja hai, mere notes aur books gayab ho jate hai.” Raavi continued.
“Raavi, aisa kuch nahi hai, tu na tension mat le.” Gautam also convinced her.
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Raavi was unable to fall asleep that night, she did not eat properly because of all the ghost talk. She slowly got up, walked out of her cot and decided to head to the kitchen to eat some leftovers and noticed that Shiva was missing from his bed. “Yeh kahan gaya?” She thought.
As she entered the kitchen, she gasped slowly in shock as she saw Shiva studying in this ungodly hour. “HAW, Shiva hi Bhoothnath hai” She exclaimed in her head. “Isko toh main nahi chodungi” “KYA KAROON?” he thought
She immediately got the answer: Sabotage.
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Raavi decided that if Shiva was playing this game with her, she would too. Thus began their cold and silent war.
The next test was in two days and Raavi began executing her plan as well:
-She would inform at home that she was heading for the annual day dance practice but she would head to the library to study for an hour or two. Shiva would believe she was actually whiling away her time and he took that hour or two to watch cricket.
- She would sit in the living area with a filmfare magazine in her hand but hide a textbook behind it and study secretly. Shiva would look at her and watch some TV assuming she was also taking a break.
-She would also wake up at night after Shiva went to the kitchen, and she would head to the terrace and study there.
Raavi’s plans also seemed to be working as was able to buy herself some extra time to study.
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Shiva and Raavi’s war continued till the day of the test. In the examination hall, Raavi’s and Shiva’s mood was that of revenge. They continuously looked at each other while writing the test and fought for who will take the most number of additional sheets.
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A couple of days later, Shiva and Raavi were hanging out with their classmates and mutual friends in the college cafeteria. Ajay as usual came running toward the group “Doston, iss hafte ka results board pe chap gaya” he said.
“Bol na Gadhede, kya hua?” Shiva inquired.
“Raavi ko na 95 on 100 aaya” Ajay said. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Raavi said in joy.
“Aur mujhe?” Shiva asked. “Tujhe 96 on 100 aaya Shiva.” Ajay said disappointedly.
“Aah! Yes! 96! Matlab first!” He said smirking as he looked at Raavi.
Shiva continued “Aaj na, Rules change! Main first aaya toh main hi party doonga, jisko o chahiye, order karo”
Just then, Shiva and Raavi looked over to see some other students walking over to Rohan and congratulating him.
“Rohan ko na 97 on 100 aaya Shiva, iss baar woh first aaya.” Ajay informed them.
Sudeesh looked at Shiva and said, “Arey, back to back parties Shiva ke taraf se?”
Rohan gave a smug look to Shiva and said, “Shiva, second aane ki aadat daal le na, aur hum tujhse party ki umeed bhi nahi rakhenge, kyunki ab jab har baar tu second aane ki party dega, tere bhaiyya ko Pandya Store bechna padega naa?”
Shiva and Raavi looked at each other and walked away without saying a word.
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Shiva and Raavi reached home and sat in silence on the couch. After twenty minutes or so, Raavi’s phone buzzed, it was a text from Shiva.
It read: “Compromise? First rank ya toh tera hona chahiye, ya mera. Kisi aur ka nahi ho sakta.”
Raavi smiled looking at the text , she responded: “Done, done aur teen baar done.”
Shiva looked at her response and then looked at Raavi. She held her hand out and he smiled at her as they shook hands.
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