You Are Mine: When I Have To Fight For You

005

The next day on campus, I was seated in the courtyard reading. The day was beautiful, with no disturbances. I hadn’t seen Sidd today, so I was assured of a peaceful day. As I continued reading, I heard my name.

“Rani!” someone called angrily. Sidd? I thought he wasn’t on campus today. Oh, God! He came and stood right in front of me. “Where is my jacket?” he demanded.

“Sidd, let me ask you a question. Why are you so obsessed with a common jacket? I told you I burnt it,” I said nonchalantly.

“Do you know the worth of that jacket?” he asked.

“Does it cost millions?” I retorted.

“I want my jacket back, Rani. You’ve got to give it to me.”

“Then beg for it. Let’s see if it resurrects for your sake,” I said. “Besides, I begged you to give it to me. Now it’s your turn to beg me to give it back.”

“Do you know the consequences of what you’re doing? Next time, I won’t give you anything, no matter what you say. Hope you know that.”

“And I hope next time you won’t ruin my shirt because I’ll retaliate. Hope you know that,” I shot back.

“Rani, please, the jacket isn’t just a plain one. It’s a gift, and I can’t lose it,” he said calmly.

“Honestly? Tell me about it. Who gave it to you? Your girlfriend? Your wife? Your mother?”

“Stop joking!” he groaned. I only stared stubbornly at him. “Fine, it’s a gift from my grandpa on my 20th birthday before he passed on. You see why I can’t lose it?”

“Aww! What’s going to happen now? I already burnt it.”

“I know you didn’t, so give it back already.”

“I didn’t? How do you know I didn’t? Are you seeing the jacket on me?”

“I know you’re not heartless enough to burn an innocent jacket. What did the jacket do to you?” he asked.

Sidd read my mind this time. I had planned to burn the jacket. I brought it out with matches and fuel but stopped to think. Had the jacket wronged me? The jacket wasn’t Sidd. I stood at the burning point for over five minutes before deciding not to burn it.

“Fine, you’ll have to beg me before you get it. Make it as sincere as I did that day.”

He sighed, closing his eyes. “Fine,” he agreed. “Rani, I need my jacket back. In all sincerity, I’m pleading with you. It’s a gift from my grandpa, who’s no longer alive. If not for my sake, then for the sake of the deceased, I want it back, please. I know you’ll give it back because you respect elders a lot. You’re a well-mannered girl. You’re beautiful, intelligent, pure-hearted, and caring. I love the simple girl in you. Give it back now, please,” Sidd pleaded.

I laughed. I had never seen Sidd speak like that before. “You look so different when you apologize."

I knew it wasn’t sincere, but I had to return his jacket. I couldn’t keep a deceased man’s gift from his grandson. What if his ghost started haunting me in my dreams? I opened my bag, took out the jacket, and handed it to him.

“I washed it,” I said.

He put on the jacket. “How do I look?” he asked.

“You look like someone I’ve never seen,” I said.

We locked eyes. Our enemy spirits were slowly bonding. Sidd, I wouldn’t want to admit it, but he was breathtakingly handsome. He was a fine body with a crazy soul. At first, you’d think he was an angel, but when you got on his hate list like me, you’d wish you had never met him.

“You know what I think?” he asked. “You’re the opposite of everything I just said. Those words are for angels, not enemies,” he declared. I scowled at him. “Start watching out for me,” he said, walking away.

“You’re insane!” I yelled.

I loved indulging in artistic painting. Not that I was good at it, but just to mix colors. I was feeling bored today. Manu wasn’t on campus. I had one more lecture at 3:30 pm. I wandered around the courtyard, trying to focus on a book, but I still felt bored. My daily college activities were becoming monotonous.

I decided to try something new and went to the campus art studio. I got my materials ready and sat down with a paint palette. I thought about what to paint—maybe a sun or a rainbow. I decided on a rainbow.

I started by giving the background a dark color. Rainbows are curved, so I used my imagination of a rainbow in the sky to begin painting. After a few minutes, my painting was coming out okay—not as good as art students’ work, but I still loved the result.

“This is beautiful!” I exclaimed, chuckling to myself. It wasn’t a complete rainbow yet; I still had more colors to add. Cheerfully engrossed in my painting, Sidd came along. I glanced at him and focused back on my work. He moved closer and intentionally knocked over my paint palette, ruining my artwork.

I wanted to cry. I turned an angry look at him.

“Oh, God! Looks like you’ll have to start over, Rani,” he chuckled.

I hit the desk angrily and stood up to confront him. “What is wrong with you?” I groaned. “Look at what you’ve done. You ruined my artwork!” I said, frustrated. I had spent many minutes trying to create something, and he just ruined it.

“It’s not a big deal. Just start over,” he said nonchalantly.

“You’re unbelievable, Sidd! Don’t you know it hurts when someone’s effort is wasted?”

“Does that mean you’re hurt?”

“Get out of my way, scumbag,” I snapped and rushed out of the art studio.

I wasn’t even allowed to have a moment of cheerfulness on campus because of Sidd. Not that it was crucial, but I really wanted to finish my painting, and Sidd ruined it. It honestly pained me to the core as tears filled my eyes, trickling down my cheeks as I ran down the hallway, not minding the students staring at me.