CHAPTER 3
Barely 15 minutes later Yash hurriedly elbowed his way into the house and asked her to shut the door. They made their way into the hall where he sat down and pulled a bunch of papers from his bag.
"My friends handed these to me this morning. I got all the five's handwriting samples. Here have a look." He informed laying out the papers for her to compare. On examining the first two papers her face went white.
"This"this is...this can't be. This looks like Prashanth's handwriting! But it isn't..." She stuttered.
"That is right. I had my doubts when I glanced at the letter and the notebook handwriting. So I consulted a handwriting expert who is my father's friend. He confirmed that this letter is not written by Prashanth. It's evident that it is forged. Have a look at this now." He said quietly as he handed her another photocopy.
"The writing matches!! Although this letter is forged the person did a really poor job of copying the handwriting...but who is this?" Aarti cried excitedly.
"It's Aman." Yash whispered.
"Aman...? But"!" She started, alarmed.
"Didn't I tell you that the center point of our drama is Arpita? I snooped around a bit today during the recess. From what I heard I am pretty sure that Aman is our man. He likes Arpita but as I said she doesn't reciprocate. Aman is probably envious of Prashanth as he is better looking and has more money in his pocket, thus he can support a high maintenance girlfriend like Arpita. He staged this whole game to play both of you down. If Arpita finds out that Prashanth likes' you she will be heartbroken. Obviously she will seek support with Aman. Prashanth will be disgraced forever in Arpita's eyes, while your reputation will be tarnished. The only person to gain from all this is Aman." Yash explained somberly.
"So...Aman wanted to disgrace me in order to get close to Arpita? He wanted to use me as a tool to get rid of Prashanth? That's disgusting! I will never forgive him for this. He thinks Aarti is innocent and stupid. She will never see through it.' Alright, it's time to show him who is the boss, Yash. We will play his game against him. Just give me a little while." Aarti whispered her voice tainted with malice and foreboding
"Aarti, I want you to collect all the assignments of the girls and arrange them roll-number-wise, okay?" The new history teacher Ms. Sonali ordered.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Good. Come to the staff-room later and give it to me" She said with a smile and walked out as the recess bell rang.
Aarti was the favourite of most teachers because she was sincere in her work and attended their lectures regularly. She collected the assignments as directed when she noticed that Arpita's assignment was unfinished.
"Roll No. 261? You haven't completed your assignment." Aarti hollered over the students chatter.
"Hey, Aarti! You have a problem if I haven't completed my assignment?" Arpita asked munching on a piece of bubblegum.
"I don't have a problem with it Arpita, but the teacher will." Aarti answered calmly.
Arpita strode up to the girl, leaned right across her table and yelled, "What did you say? What did you say, you fat goat? Are you seriously threatening me? Me? You do know whom you're talking to, don't you? Listen, you giant tub of lard, you maybe are the teacher's pet because you always have your head buried in a book. You don't dare tell me what to do!!"
"Fine. Your loss." Aarti muttered sorting the assignments on her table. Arpita walked out. As Aarti studied the assignment a cruel smile cut across her face. She quickly texted Yash.
It was a bright and sunny February morning. Arpita walked her way toward the canteen, a letter in her hand. Her stride was confident, her face was heavenly and her clothes perfect. It would turn out well. As she stepped into the place her palpitations increased. Even at 8:00 in the morning it was near to full. She halted in the middle of the lobby and searched for him. As her eyes locked on her paramour a strange queasiness rocked her stomach. He did not come forward to her with a warm smile. Instead he fixed her with a cold, hostile stare. However, the person seated beside him took interest stood up from his seat and came up to her smilingly.
"Hi, Arpita. Happy Rose Day." He beamed, a grin pasted across his face. Many of the patrons turned to look, such was the thunder in his voice. Before she could speak he began, "I am really honoured, Arpita, that you sent me this letter. It's actually a moment of pride for me that you would choose me over so many others. I truly am astonished. Tell me what can I do for you?"
Arpita was shocked. She stared at the guy for a few moments and then sputtered, "What?! What did you say, Aman? What do you mean? I never sent you any letter!!"
Aman who had moments before stood in front of Arpita like a smitten bulldog now looked bewildered.
"You..you're joking right?" He stammered.
"No, Aman. I did not write a letter to you. I came here for Prashanth. He sent me this and called me here!" Arpita replied still a little shocked.
Aman's expression turned angry.
"What do you mean that you did not send me a letter? Look at this! Isn't this your writing?!" He shouted thrusting the paper in her face.
"Ye-yes this is my writing but Aman believe me, I did not send this!" Arpita blabbered in a daze.
"You are lying. You sent me this letter!" Aman yelled.
Prashanth who had instantly recovered from his depression came to Arpita's rescue. "Hey Aman, if Arpita says she did not write it, she did not. Don't accuse her unnecessarily." Prashanth barked shielding her from brawny lad.
"Yeah. As if I would write a letter to someone who looks as horrible as you! I came here for Prashanth, so leave me alone!" Arpita snarled from behind her human shield. Aman lost his temper. He pounced at Prashanth.
"You bi*ch! How dare you insult me! First you write me a sickly sweet letter and now you're playing games with me! Wait till I get my hands on you!" Aman growled grappling with his friend and trying to push him away.
"Don't you dare call Arpita a bi*ch, you Godzilla! Who knows , you could have forged that letter yourself!!" Prashanth spat in as Arpita squealed and backed away from the boys. At that moment two members of the group burst into the melee.
"Aman is right Prashanth! This girl deserves to be called a bi*ch!" Prateekshouted brandishing a letter. For a moment the fight ceased and the two boys looked up at their friends.
"Arpita!! Explain this! How dare you call me a fox!" Yash cried holding up a letter.
Prateekfixed the plastic girl with a fiery gaze. "Arpita...we know that you're beautiful and all but does it really suit you to call me a chimpanzee?! How mean hearted you are!!"
The next moment Aakash rushed in with a furious mob of senior girls in tow. He stopped and pointed at Arpita. "Sister, here is the one who called me a gorilla!!" He cried.
The gang of rowdy girls attacked Arpita pulling her hair and slapping her face. All this while the girl cried and pleaded to be released but the entire crowd of spectators was abuzz with whispers. The two boys resumed their fight. The remaining three boys attacked Prashanth.
"You're the one who started this, bas*ard!" Prashanth snarled punching Aman square in the face.
That moment someone caught Prashanth by the scruff of his neck and dealt a resounding thwack on his cheek. The whole canteen relapsed into silence. When the haze before his eyes cleared he was confronted by menacing glare of Ms.Kurien. "Prashanth! How dare you do this!!" She shrieked slapping a paper in his face. Looking at the contents he gulped to find out that it was a love letter.
"Ma'am I-I as-assure you..." He stuttered.
But the teacher was having none of it. She slapped him once more across the face and screamed, "Shut up! Do you think I don't know your handwriting?! Do you think I am blind?! Do you take me to be some skimpy teenage girl that will fall for your tricks?! Shame on you! Shame on me for teaching students like you! I am going to report you to the principal right away!!" The teacher declared and stomped away in a towering rage.
"Ma'am please wait...ma'am..." Prashanth sobbed pathetically running after his teacher. But the crowd held him back and moved toward him with murder in their eyes. All his friends...the college..was baying for his blood.
The next moment a cry rang out like the call of a saviour, "Stop!! Aman is behind all this!! He's the one who has played the game"
"Catch him! I saw him too! He's the one who sent the letters to everyone, because he wanted to be with Arpita!!"
"Beat him! He's the true mastermind!!" As a volley of voices rang out the focus of the crowd shifted and everyone at once crying foul pounced on the miscreant who was just in the process of getting away.
"I'm innocent...I'm innocent!!" Aman wailed as they belaboured him.
Edited by MaRiYaOsHiNRonY - 12 years ago
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
