A game proposed by Raghav? What will it do to us?
Raghav: Not like this. First of all, let's have our bets. If I win, I'll take you all on a trip!
Yash: Oh yeah? Then if I win, I'll give you the dealership of my business! Sounds good?
Raghav: It's a bet then! We need 5 people!
Priyanshu: Oh! I'll play! I'll play!
Yash: And Varsha will play with us too!
Varsha: ??? (stares at me)
Yash (softly): Play with us… please. (I sounded like a kid)
She got embarrassed and then agreed.
Varsha (mind): That was… kind of cute.
Raghav: So how about you fill the last spot, Priya?
Priya: Why do I have to play your stupid game?
Raghav (whispers): It's a golden chance to defeat Varsha.
Priya: Well… if you insist and beg me, maybe I'll do it.
Then we started the game.
Raghav: I bought the game, so first turn is mine!!!
He took the dice and shook it like crazy.
Raghav (chanting): "Aand Bhains ka tota, dice agar 6 na aaya to teri maa ka…"
Class: SHUT UP!! THROW IT ALREADY!!!
He threw the dice really hard.
It bounced on the floor, hit the window, bounced back, rolled a few times…
…and stopped at number 1.
Raghav: It's one!!
He puts his figure ball (R) on the first tile. It was written "LLM" on it.
Andrew (looking at list): "Lund lele mera!"
We all started laughing.
Raghav (pissed): What did you say?!
Andrew: It's written in the list, sir. You are on the LLM tile… and you died. You lose.
Raghav: Idiots! Who made this game?!
Andrew: Sir, last night you prepared this game. You planned to play it and give the first turn to Yash so he loses.
Raghav: F*ck?! I completely forgot that.
Then Varsha took the dice. She rolled a 3.
She landed on a "Lucky Day" tile.
Raghav (reading rules): "If you land on 'Lucky Day' tile, you will draw a random card from the Lucky Box."
He gave the box to Varsha. She drew a card.
Raghav (reading): "It says: You got dumped by your boyfriend after he took advantage of you. You filed a case and got ₹1 lakh from him. You also get a tag: 'Can't trust men.'"
Varsha: How exactly is that lucky? 😐
Then Priyanshu rolled a 5 → Landed on a tile saying he found 15 porn DVDs while playing on the ground.
Then Priya rolled a 6 → Landed on a tile saying she got struck with lightning and got a "super brain."
Then I rolled a 4 → Landed on a tile saying: "I'm a nerdy, bookish boy who doesn't care about anything." → My money reduced by ₹5000.
Yash: What the f*ck is wrong with this game?
Priya: I said it was stupid!
Then Varsha rolled the dice and opened a really successful company which earned her heavy profits.
Priyanshu was an average guy in the game, and when he won a lottery, he was going to redeem it but he was killed.
Priyanshu: Wait… how did I die?!
Raghav: When you took the money and were going home, you accidentally fell into an open sewer and died on the spot.
Yash: That's a really pathetic death.
Then Priya entered a high school and, with her level of intelligence, she became a teacher.
I entered the same high school, and then I landed on a tile saying—
Raghav: Hmm… this is an interesting turn of events…
"You fell in love with your teacher, and the two of you got married."
Priyanshu: Then that means… Priya and Yash got married?
Varsha (stunned): M–Married?!
Priya took out a gun from her bag and pointed it at me.
Priya (angry): How dare you marry me, insect! I'll kill you!
Yash (tensed): C-cool down! This is just a game!!
Raghav: Yeah, it's not like you're really married. Chill out!
Also, all the other players have to give ₹5,000 to this happy couple.
Varsha was tearfully looking at us like a puppy.
She took her bag, took out real ₹5,000, and gave it to us.
Priyanshu: Um… you don't have to give real money, Varsha. It's just a game.
And why are you crying?
Class: Maybe she doesn't want to give money to them.
Raghav: Also, the couple must sit together.
Yash: What?!
Then he forced us to sit near each other. Varsha was sitting in front of us, biting her handkerchief with teary eyes.
The game continued with Varsha earning more and more profit, and we too got a normal life… and then—
Raghav: Hmm… it says "baby day." You guys had a baby boy.
All players give ₹2,000 to them.
Varsha (shocked): A… a baby?!
Priya put a gun on my head. It was an AK-47.
Priya (angry): How dare you touch me at those places!!
Yash (scared): This is just a game!! It's fake!!
Varsha (crying): Here… ₹2,000… I'm happy for you.
She again gave real money to us.
Priyanshu: Again, you don't have to give real money, Varsha. What's up with you?
Raghav: I know. She wants to win the game, so she doesn't want to give her money to them. That's why she's sad.
The game went on. As we progressed, Varsha got richer and richer, and we ended up at a stage of—
Priyanshu: Huh? Baby day again? It's the ninth one already!
Raghav (teasing): Slow down, Yash. There's something called condoms!
Yash (scared): This is a damn game! What are you all weirdos?!
Raghav: Oh, there is something written here.
Varsha (crying): No more… my heart can't take anymore!!
Priya: I'll kill you, you middle-class bug!!
Raghav: When a couple gets 9 kids, they get a divorce.
Varsha (suddenly happy): Divorce!!! Yay!!
Priyanshu: Why are you so happy?
Class: Maybe she wants to win the game so she doesn't have to give them money anymore, so she's happy.
Then she landed on an "Old Age Marriage" tile.
Varsha (happily): I get to marry now?
(mind) Finally, I'll marry Yash… I'm so happy I can't contain myself…
Raghav: Hold on a second! The story has a twist here.
Since Varsha has a "Can't trust men" card, she can't marry Yash.
She'll marry Priya instead—and they'll have a child too! Congratulations!
A dead silence filled the room.
Varsha (pissed, slowly): You foul creature.
Priya (pissed): Dirty insect.
Class: You bastard!
All of them started beating him.
Me and Priyanshu were playing cards on our benches.
Yash: Should we help him?
Priyanshu: Nah. I won't go. He is used to this. Haven't you seen his "Book of Kaand"?
Yash: Yeah, I have.
Priyanshu: Then don't worry. This guy deserves a beating all the time.
Then the bell rang and the 2nd period started.
Our class teacher was absent again. The second period was on GST.
It was a theoretical period and was really boring. I laid my head on the table to sleep.
Teacher: Alright, time to write the notes. Open your notebooks.
Everyone took out their pens and notebooks.
I was sleeping with my eyes closed, and my face was towards Varsha.
Varsha (slowly): Psst! Hey!
I opened my eyes and saw Varsha looking at me.
Varsha (softly): Aren't you going to write?
Yash: Nah… I'm tired and sleepy. I couldn't sleep last night. Besides, this period is totally boring… and I hate writing notes.
Varsha: But you'll fall behind at this rate.
Yash (closing eyes): Don't worry.
Varsha (flustered): Umm… if you don't mind… can I borrow your notebook?
Yash: Hmm? Why so?
Varsha (fidgeting): Well… I… I forgot my notebook… so I had nothing to do…
So I was wondering if you'd let me write in your book…
But if you don't want, then it's fine! Really!
I passed my notebook to her.
Yash: Don't overdo it. You can take the notebook. If it's you, I don't mind it. Thanks for writing for me.
She took the notebook while blushing.
Varsha: Th-thank you…
Yash: Never mind. Good night.
Varsha: Oh… good-good night.
I again closed my eyes and slept.
The teacher went on dictating notes as the kids wrote them sincerely, except me.
It went on for two straight periods.
The whole time, Varsha wrote in my notebook, and she kept stealing glances at me.
I was innocently sleeping like a baby.
Varsha (mind): He sounds so deep in sleep… He looks like a baby sleeping after a tiring day of playing… so cute…
The 3rd period bell rang, and it was now 4th period.
Teacher: Alright, I have some forms for you all. The school is taking all Class 12 students for a field trip—a 3 days and 2 nights trip. We'll be going to Pilani and Chirawa. There is a festival going on there, a fair. So all of you who want to go will have to sign and submit this form tomorrow. We will leave the day after tomorrow, so be sure to submit this. And also, today is your half day, so you're free to go home.
She left after passing the forms. Priyanshu's seat was in front of Raghav. They both came to me.
Raghav: Oye, Yash! Wake up, idiot!
I woke up and stretched myself.
Yash: What? Is it morning?
Priyanshu: It has been morning already! Were you even writing?
Yash: Hmm? Nah! It's a pain!
Raghav: Forget that! We are going on the trip, so let's shop for some stuff!
Priyanshu: Nice idea! You should come too!
Varsha: …Why does it excite you all? It's a pain.
Yash: You're not going?
Varsha: I'll pass.
Yash: Oh, come on! It'd be fun with all of us!
Priya: It'll be hell with you boys there!!
Priyanshu: Hehe, not that bad.
Priya: Bad? You're the worst.
Raghav: Shouldn't you say that to me?
Priya: You're an animal. A stinking pig.
These three started arguing.
Yash (to Varsha): You seriously not coming?
Varsha: I've never been to one. What's the point of going to a place with such a big crowd when you can enjoy alone?
Yash: That's kinda lame.
Varsha (mind, crying): He called me lame… I knew this trip is hell…
Yash: You say that you've never been to one. How about you try one this time? (smiling) I bet that you'll enjoy it. And personally, it'd be boring if we leave anyone behind. We all will have fun. So please go with us for the trip.
This is what I said… and what she interpreted this whole dialogue was… 🙂
Varsha (mind): Yash… I bet you'll enjoy it with me. Personally, I will get bored and lonely without you and I'll be worried about you. We both will have too much fun in many ways… so please go with me for the rest of my life…
(When did I say this? She's crazy… I didn't say that!!)
This is what she interpreted. She blushed and her head started spinning. She looked down on the ground.
Varsha (slowly): If… you put it that way… and you'll get… lonely without me… then I guess I'll go with you… for the trip & for the rest of the life… also…
Yash (confused): O…kay? (mind) Alone? Me? Go with me for the rest of the life too? What is she saying? (To her) So that means… you'll go, right? That's good.
Priya: What? Varsha's going on the trip? That's the first time ever that she agreed on something like this!
Priyanshu: Yeah, but that's good. Now we have some more girls who can save Yash from problems.
Yash: Huh? What do you mean?
Raghav: Since you got in the fight with Gaurav and survived, also add the event when you challenged the whole school… and because you are friends with "The Great Raghav", some girls think you are cool and cute too… like a sweet little dog. They will definitely try to hit on you, and this could give other boys the chance to catch you alone. We can't go in and chase girls away, so we need girls.
Priya: Is this seriously true?
Priyanshu: Yes, it's true… except for the "being friends with The Great Raghav" thing. That's a lie.
Varsha (mind): Love rivals!!! (pissed) Let's do our best.
She was giving off an aura of an icy cold witch.
Yash: Achoo! Isn't it getting chilly all of a sudden?
They looked at Varsha and the three of them got scared. She looked like a devil and was angry.
Yash: What happened to you three? Anyway, how about we all go shop for stuff? I need many things. (turns back) Would you join us, Varsha?
Varsha (smiling): Oh, sure.
She was normally sitting on the bench now. Priyanshu and Priya got shocked.
Yash: Hm? How did snow get on my bench? Isn't it summer?
Raghav (nervously): Well, the reason was… different.
Priyanshu: That was scary.
Priya: Who started these ridiculous rumours anyway?
Raghav & Priyanshu: Rumour Guy… maybe…
Then they heard the sound of a gun loading behind them. They both turned around. The Rumour Guy was sitting there, pointing a gun at them.
Rumour Guy (pissed): Not all the rumours are my fault, got it?
Yash: Okay then, it's decided. We'll go shopping tomorrow. We'll meet at the school gate at 10 morning. After we submit our forms, we'll get going!
Priyanshu: Alright, but where will we go?
Raghav: Let's go to WTP (World Trade Park).
Priyanshu: Yeah, that's a nice idea. But wait, that place will be too expensive for Yash.
Raghav: Yeah, you've got a point.
Yash: What's WTP?
Varsha: It's a really big mall.
Yash: How expensive can it be?
Raghav: Well, one full set of dress may cost you between 10 to 15 thousand at least.
Yash (tense): That's f*cking expensive!!!
Priyanshu: Well, we'll have to find another place then.
Raghav: But I've never been to other places to buy my stuff. They are usually imported from other countries.
Varsha: Me too.
Priya: Same here.
They all looked at me. My eyes were filled with tears and my face was gone short. I was pouting.
Priyanshu (nervously): We can find a cheaper store, right?
Raghav: Yeah, right. Don't worry. I'll buy you clothes for 10,000.
I got more depressed and sat in a corner.
Priyanshu: Are you stupid, Raghav?
Raghav: What? Isn't 10,000 cheapest?
Priyanshu: It's still expensive for him.
Priya: Well, it's his problem. Why do I have to change my standards because of him not being able to afford it?
Varsha: Hold on, were you going too? To WTP?
Priya (angrily): Yeah, so what? It's just that I had to go shopping anyway, but since you all begged me to go with you, I am gracing you with my presence.
Raghav: Who begged, huh?
Varsha: I don't know.
Then I stood up confidently.
Yash: Alright then. If you want to go to that mall, we'll go there for sure. I have a part-time job which can earn me enough money for some clothes.
Raghav: You got a job? When? What is it?
Yash: Um… it's a marketing job.
Priyanshu: You sure you want to go to WTP?
Yash: Yeah. You guys just prepare. I'll need to go too. See you all tomorrow at 10 AM.
I picked up my bag and then ran out. They too went home.
Chapter 11 – Life Game RUCKUS
*Ends*
Next Time: Chapter 12 – WTP RUCKUS