Read Online Anyone Else But You... by Ananya Ritwik; Verma Mallik - Free Book Online

intrigued.
    “Yes, as of now the list just has the names of two people , you know. And I doubt it whether they’ll be further additions.”
    “And the two people being?”
    “Rishav Sen and Sahana Vajpai, ” he stopped to notice her reaction to this carefully. She had a straight face initially, as though she hadn’t got what he had said completely. And then the expression changed to that of amusement. “Aren’t the two enough?” Rishav added,
    “Of course they are ,” Sahana concurred.
    “So would you be there with me tomorrow, after school?” he was persistent.
    “Why do we ask when we already know what the answer is?” said Sahana.
    “Why do we not tell when we know how much our answer means to the person?” Rishav replied.
    “Because my friend, some things in life are better left to be understood,” a smile lit up Sahana’s face.
    Rishav reciprocated. “I will see you in school tomorrow and then after school too,” he said.
    “You know my decision?”
    Rishav nodded.
    “ Then y ou know right,” she looked at him for a second or so and then started walking again.
     
    While Sahana headed back home , she briefly went through the first few texts she had exchanged with Rishav. One of them read:
    ‘I am allergic to animals. Dogs in specific. Can’t stand one. Never ever had a pet and neither will have one. – sent by Rishav.’
     
    There was a certain experience of buoyancy at that point of time for Sahana. He tries too hard …she thought .
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    TEN
     
    “We call him Aam-chutiya !” Hardik whispered into Jai’s ear, who started chuckling the moment he heard the name. “He likes nibbling on Mangoes and chut and he is ordinary, hence, aam-chutiya! ” Hardik explained on a louder note, much to the annoyance of the Accountancy teacher.
     
    A better part of Siddhant ’s school days were spent having people poke fun at him. Be it his shabby Hindi pronunciation or his diet or his diction – the ‘popular’ ones would ensure that Siddhant was at the receiving end of all their taunts. And his fault?
    He just didn’t cede to their superficiality. He didn’t lick their asses like other wannabes did.
     
    “He knows you guys call him this?” Jai asked.
    “Yeah man, he does,” Hardik replied. “Despite that, he’s such a loser man, he doesn’t protest!”
    “Ha ha ha..!” Jai laughed. He looked at Siddhant who was taking down notes with a lot of intent. It was as though his whole life depended on those twenty minutes spent inside class , taking notes. Jai felt a tad sad for him. Two years and no recognition would have been terrible, he thought. Personally, Jai had started mixing with the right kinds and laying the right foundation for becoming the Head Boy, ever since he was in Class IX. Networking and diplomacy was something Jai’s dad had taught him ever since birth.
    “Sleep with the maid if needed, but ensure that at the end of it you have gained something considerable!” Jai’s dad had told him this when Jai had gone to find out whether being manipulative was un ethical.
    “Ethics, young man…” Jai’s dad had broken into a burst of laughter when he heard Jai’s question. “…ethics and success don’t walk on the same road Son, you will realize that. You are meant for big things, so don’t let tiny people come your way.” Jai had taken these words with considerable amounts of seriousness and it was visible in the way he dealt with people in school. He wasn’t the types to go out of the way to help someone in need, he would just appear to be helping that person or maybe he would first try to find out how his act would benefit his reputation and after all these considerations would he extend his helping hand. Jai’s principles seldom worked beyond the definitions of a ledger, trial balance and a balance sheet…everything had a direct bearing on his goodwill. And his job was to keep it enhanced as much as he could.
    “Let’s go and