Part 27

The next morning we find Pooja worshiping in the small Vinayaka Temple that was established in the Friend's Park. The next day were their results and Pooja always had the habit of going to the temple to pray and wish for a better rank. Then while she was leaving the temple she was called by Ravi who had "accidentally" bumped into her at the park.The truth was he was observing her every move since the time she woke up. The first emotion Pooja felt on seeing Ravi was disgust because he had hurt her best friend on the previous day which was also her birthday. So in Pooja's eyes Ravi had committed a big crime. Then even though she was least interested in talking to him she continued to do so because of only one reason-"The Lonely Orphan" their talk slowly diverted to Shreya and her proposal.

Ravi says seriously that he had no interest in her whatsoever.

Then he asked her,"Pooja what do you think about me?"

The first words that entered Pooja's mind,"Cheat,Rogue etc.etc." but the words that exited her mouth were,"Hmm Ravi your a good boy."

Ravi wanted to hear something more and continued,"Pooja anyone can say that I want to hear something you personally feel about me."

Pooja still wanted to use those words but concealing her true emotions she continued,"Ravi you study well, are rich, I think you are someone whom lucky girls get as their boyfriends."

Pooja for a moment couldn't control what she was saying and Ravi was a little surprised by the words he was hearing from her mouth and then he responded,"Pooja why don't you be that lucky girl?"

Pooja stopped walking suddenly and said,"What did you just say?"

Ravi looked back and continued,"I know it might sound cheap and all that but I always had feelings for you since the first time I saw you in that dimly lit stairway; So Pooja will you be my Girl Friend?"

Now Ravi's head was filled with images from romantic movies where "the Hero tries lots of things and makes the place and time in which he proposes to his Lady Love very special" but he was doing it some small park in broad day light . Then he made all those thoughts vanish by thinking that they were only movies and this was real life.

Then Pooja came upto Ravi and said,"Ravi do you understand what are you saying we are only 16. All this you talk is not love it's only attraction."

Agent Scar felt that he was failing in his mission and that was something which never happened till now so he suddenly screamed,"Love,Attraction,Infatuation call it whatever you want I wanna be with you and I don't care a damn about anything else." That sudden burst of Ravi and choice of words made Pooja smile a little as she found it funny but then she realized what she was getting into and said,"Ravi I.. I never thought about you in that way."

Then he said the same thing that Shreya said to him the previous night,"It's O.K. start thinking now." after hearing those words Pooja's mind was exactly divided into two parts The good side telling her,"Pooja, go ahead with him, he is perfect for you and he has no one; if you also reject him he will become lonely again."

The evil part was telling her,"Who cares about his emotions, what is he to you. Remember how he hurt your best friend, take revenge by rejecting him. Remember Pooja Revenge is sweet."

Then the good part and evil part of her started fighting each other and all this sudden turn of events caused a little confusion and she only managed to say,"I don't know Ravi I need some time to think."


"Pooja just remember I will never let anything harm you ever again.",said Ravi and

Pooja said,"It's O.K Ravi leave that lets talk about something else."

Then Ravi said he would go and get her something to eat and she said yes but for Pooja being in the company of Ravi suddenly seemed a little strange.

Then she started thinking about him in an analytical manner looking at all the possibilities. After some thinking she felt he might not be bad for her. Then another major question was in her mind,"Should she say yes or no."

She thought about the various possibilities that would occur and why should she say yes -"She could also become one of those girls in school who flaunted their Boy Friends and went with them to parties and dates. Get or demand gifts.

Then she went into the emotional aspect of their relationship and thought would it continue throughout the year and why was he doing this. She hadn't been proposed by anyone before, everyone always saw her as A Boy's Girlfriend's Best friend thats all."

Then she thought why should she say no-" It was their final year at school and was an important one as the result would be crucial in determining their future. Being the final year at school they would have to break up after one year because continuing a long distance relationship would be very difficult for them."

Then she decided it would be better if she politely rejected his proposal as that would be good for both of them. As she was lost in all these thoughts. A group of ruffians surrounded her bench and started talking cheaply about her. Ignoring them she got ready to leave but one of them pushed her and she almost fell down. Then the leader of the gang who was known as "Acid Chandu" infamously because of his habit of pouring acid over girl's faces entered the scene. She got really scared on seeing him because he was a merciless gangster and he came close to her and said,"This lot was our hideout and now you took it away from us and I will take away your beauty from you."

"No please no don't do this to me I only did what was right; please don't hurt me.",pleaded Pooja.

Ravi came towards the group and asked Pooja ignoring them completely,"Umm Pooja do you like the cheese or the tomato flavor of the 'Corn in Cup'."

Pooja had too many things on her mind and her favorite flavor of 'Corn in Cup' was not one among them and then she thought "Is Ravi Blind, can't he see whats happening."

Ravi knew exactly what was happening but didn't care a bit of them he just didn't need to think about those life lows as he considered them as.

Then he asked Pooja in a very casual tone,"Shall we leave, it's getting a late."

All this discussion didn't go down well with Acid Chandu who always wanted to be the center of attention of everything.

Then one of the gang members came and told in Chandu's ears that this was the boy who did not let them hit the other boy who broke a Car's windshield in School. Then Chandu ordered his men to hold Ravi while he poured acid on Pooja's face.

Then gangsters who were near Ravi grabbed hold of his arms and he offered no resistance at all. There were some 10 people and Agent Scar could finish all of them within a minute but didn't want Pooja to see that side of him.

Then he continued to talk casually,"Look Mister what you are doing is really wrong and if you hurt her even one bit you are going to regret it.... a lot."

Chandu spoke,"First I will make you watch her being disfigured then we will kill you... painfully."

"I tell you one more time and this is going to be the last time, stop it now or you won't be there to stop it later."

"Ha Ha Ha this little punk talks big, bring in the acid bottle",ordered Acid Chandu to one of his men. Then one of the men brought a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid. Then he opened the bottle and allowed a little to fall on the ground and the ground dissolved away. Pooja's fear made her freeze on the spot unable to move and from a little distance Acid Chandu hurled acid at her.