Chapter 5: The Price of Pride

6

Kunal is the captain of the college basketball team.

Last semester, I helped my roommate deliver water to him twice.

Because I’m known as the campus ice queen, and it was the first time I’d ever given a boy water, rumours started that I liked Kunal.

But when he heard, he just frowned and said:

'Yashu? Don’t really remember her. Not interested.'

After that, I never delivered water for my roommate again.

But the rumour that I pined for him and became a lovesick fool spread everywhere.

I endured the pain in my hand and coldly asked: 'What the hell is wrong with you?'

Kunal sneered, looking at me with utter disgust:

'Tu jealous hai na, ki main Priya ko follow karta hoon? Tabhi toh usko gaali de di.'

I was floored by his logic.

'Kunal, are you mad or what? I was pissed to match with her twice—why would I camp her? Besides, I don’t even have your WhatsApp. How would I know which celebrity you like? Who you like has nothing to do with me.'

Kunal acted like I was making excuses, curling his lip impatiently:

'You said you matched her twice. If you weren’t camping, how could it be such a coincidence? And you don’t have my WhatsApp because I don’t want to add you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stalk me some other way.'

He stepped closer, getting aggressive:

'If Priya hadn’t been wronged, you’d never have a shot at talking to me. I don’t want to waste words. Apologise to her now!'

I snorted: 'Since you’re so clear about grudges, how about you pay for breaking my cup and scalding my hand?'

Kunal frowned, full of disdain:

'I can pay for your cup and your medical bills too. As long as you apologise, anything’s fine.'

'Really? Then pay for my cup first. Forty-five hundred.'

Kunal glanced at the broken glass and sneered:

'You? That busted cup isn’t worth forty-five hundred. Even if it is, could you afford it? You’re just trying to scam me.'

I could feel the class’s eyes boring into my back, some stifling giggles behind their hands, others whispering, 'Forty-five hundred? For a cup? Madam ka taste hai.' My cheeks flushed, but I didn’t look away.

7

I rolled my eyes, picked up a shard, and showed him the cup’s logo and QR code.

'Genuine or not, scan it and see. After you scan, buy me a new one from the official distributor. If you don’t know where to buy, I can recommend a store.'

Seeing how confident I was, Kunal’s cocky look froze for a second.

After a moment, he changed the subject:

'Yashu, you just want my attention, right? This trick is way too obvious. If you keep refusing to apologise to Priya, don’t blame me for exposing you on the forum.'

I said flatly: 'Go ahead. I didn’t do anything wrong. If your goddess ever clarifies the truth, I’ll make you pay for this.'

Kunal glared at me, furious, and was about to leave.

'Wait.'

'What?'

He thought I was backing down, looking at me with contempt.

I stuffed the shard with the QR code into his jacket pocket:

'Trying to act tough and leave? Not so fast. Don’t forget to pay for my cup. I’ll get my hand bandaged at the infirmary, and I’ll give you the bill tomorrow.'

Kunal looked at me like I was crazy, not believing I’d really make him pay.

But I didn’t expect Kunal to be so brainless.

He actually posted on the forum, exposing me as the one who cursed Priya in-game.

In an instant, Priya’s fans flooded the forum.

They dug up my college photos, photoshopped them to look hideous or like condolence posters, and plastered them everywhere. The whole forum was covered with posts demanding 'Yashu apologise to Priya.'

The rumours got so bad, the college told me to handle it immediately.

By the next day, even the peon outside the admin office stared at me with a mixture of curiosity and pity. My phone battery barely lasted an hour under the barrage of notifications. I couldn't even step into the mess for a plate of poha without someone whispering, 'That’s her, the Priya di wala case.'