A secret.

Priya and Raj at their regular spot after college.

Priya: This Rahul Sir is such a pain in my ass.

Raj: What else do you expect if you will come to college once a week!!!

(Both share a Small laugh)

Raj: Double mint or advance?

Priya: You tell me, after all, you know me better!

(Raj goes and buys 2 Malbaro Double mints)

Priya: See!! you knew I was in a mood for double mint

Raj: Chal chal... Fetch me your lighter now!

(Priya removes her lighter and lights both cigarettes together, its kind of her thing)

Raj: That's my girl!

(High Five's to Priya)

(Both take a long drag and enjoy the first kick in the short silence)

Priya: That's the shit!

Raj: Now tell me what's wrong! I've been noticing you since morning, you seem off.

Priya: Are its nothing, just tired of this back to back dance session I take every day.

Raj: Oh please, don't you even try getting away with that, I know somethings wrong, tell me. Is it about Varun? Did you guys had a fight?

Priya: No yaar, Varun is a darling! He is too good, nothing wrong with us.

Raj: Then?

Priya: Its actually Jeet

Raj: Jeet? What the fuck does he wants now?! Isn't it been 4 years to your break up?! He knows you are with Varun right?!

Priya: Yeah, that son of a bitch hasn't moved on yet! He still messages and irritates me almost every day! I've tried blocking him, explaining him, ignoring him, Yet nothing works! It was all manageable until yesterday.

Raj: Yesterday? What happened yesterday?!

Priya: You know what leave, fuck it.

Raj: I think he needs to learn the hard way! Don't worry, I will screw him up! I will beat the fuck out of him! He will never try to contact you then.

Priya: We've talked about this Raj, you know why I can't take any harsh actions! You heating him will only make things worse!

Raj: See him having no father does not give him liberty to harass you! His house condition might be bad, but that doesn't mean he will do whatever he wants and expect nothing will happen! And what happened yesterday? Please tell me!

Priya: It's not even that re, leave!

Raj: Priya, speak now! I can't see you like this! Please tell me!

Priya: Aree, He is blackmailing me

Raj: Blackmailing you?!

Priya: Yes, he is saying he will leak all the personal photos he had of mine!

Raj: What the fuck?! What kind of man is he?! Does he have no dignity?!!! I am gonna fuck him over now!!

Priya: Please don't! The threat is real! He does have my photos and if leaked, I am doomed!

Raj: Is it really that bad?!!!

Priya: Yes

(A tear rolls down Priya's cheek)

(Raj holds her hand and wipes her tear)

Raj: See Priya, be strong! May what happens, you know you have me, Varun, and all friends standing right behind you! And what the heck! He does not have any fucking courage to do any such thing!! If he had he would've done ages ago..! Don't worry everything's gonna be fine!

Priya: yeah probably!

Raj: Does Varun know about this?

Priya: Yes he knows

Raj: Why doesn't he do anything then?!

Priya: He said that Jeet is a psychopath, reacting to this violently will only make things worse, you should ignore him.

Raj: He has a point though, don't worry!

(After smoking and consoling Priya for a good amount of time, Raj drops her to dancing class and then heads home)

Then Priya founds out that Jeet had spread the pictures of her. Priya then gets dumped by Varun, as Varun cannot accept her as she is defamed. In all this Priya is only supported by Raj. He helps her get through this all, they then with the help of cybercrime successfully takes down all the pictures. But the scar in Priya's mind is permanent. Slowly and steadily with parents and Raj's constant love and care, she heals through this all. She then becomes a Performing Sensation. And in this journey Priya and Raj fall in love. They both then get married and they also bear a child. Everything was going perfectly until one day.... 

One fine day Priya crosses path with Jeet, she ignores and walks away, but Jeet follows her and starts begging and apologizing. Priya ignoring him just walks fast until he is not following her anymore.

But she thinks about what she heard while walking away.

The truth she found out was devastating.

She gets to know that it was Raj, knowing the short-tempered nature of Jeet purposely argued and fought with Jeet so that he gets angry and leaks those photos.

Because it was the only way to end Priya and Varun's perfect relationship as Varun was huge image-conscious.

Though Raj did all this out of true love and the relationship between Raj and Priya can't be more perfect! 

But is it fair how he manipulated everyone for his selfish interest?

What should Priya do now?

Should Priya end this perfect relationship because of what he did long ago?

Or should Priya forget and move on, keeping this secret to her grave?

Written by,

Rtr. Siddharth Dhanawde,

Rotaract Club of Thane East.