Chapter 6 (Part A): What's the Ranker's Story?

Anjali's struggle to reconcile with Suman 

Anjali had tried many times to convince Suman to talk to her, but it was no use. She was just a child then, lacking the maturity to truly understand the depth of his hurt. She wouldn't grasp his pain until she experienced something similar herself. So, they joined intermediate college when they were older. Driven by her enduring affection for Suman, Anjali waited to see which college he would attend. When she later saw Suman in Rocky's college, she decided to enroll there too. After joining Rocky's class, she initially wanted to stay with him, but she realized she would have a better chance of getting close to Suman if she joined his class. So, she studied hard and successfully transferred to Suman's class. Even after joining, Suman remained distant, paying her little attention. No matter how much she tried, he ignored her. Eventually, she decided to talk to him directly.

(Return to the present day, to the moment Anjali confronted Suman.)

After she made up her mind to talk, Suman had publicly insulted Anjali.

Suman: "Why should I talk to you? I don't want to hear anything. Go. Go away!" he had shouted. Everyone nearby heard and began whispering. She left, feeling utterly ashamed.

Later, alone with a friend, she poured out her feelings.

Anjali: "I don't understand why he's so angry. He doesn't even talk properly. And it's wrong to scold me in front of everyone. I didn't say anything, so why did he scold me? He did this even as a child, leaving without explaining anything. And when Rocky insulted him, I didn't say anything."

It was then, as she spoke, that a sudden, painful realization struck her. Rocky had insulted Suman in front of everyone, even as a child. And Anjali, instead of defending Suman, hadn't said anything—she had laughed, standing supportively with Rocky. Because she knew Rocky often made jokes, she had simply thought it was a joke. But now, after experiencing the same public humiliation, she finally understood how Suman had felt, and how deeply she had wronged him.

That's why, after this overwhelming realization, when she saw Rocky arguing with Suman earlier, she had instinctively slapped Rocky. She had wanted to tell him that what he did was wrong, but instead, her anger had spilled out in a torrent of harsh, random words. She thought she had caused enough pain to Suman, and now, after understanding the truth, she felt an unbearable weight of guilt. That's why she had stopped coming to college.

Rocky's Revelation

After hearing all this from Vicky, Rocky understood his immature mistake from childhood. The gravity of his actions, previously unseen, now crushed him. But he didn't know how to make Anjali return to normal. He still lacked maturity. His emotions had always been dependent on others, and he had never truly handled difficult situations on his own. But now, he needed to express his feelings and apologize to Anjali. To do that, he first needed to understand.

After hearing the full story, Rocky fell into deep thought. He didn't know what was right or wrong anymore, so he retreated into himself, staying alone most of the time. He couldn't concentrate in class.

The three girls—Ramya, Sara, and Jully—watched all this unfold. They put their heads together, brainstorming how to make Rocky understand. Eventually, they formulated a plan: each of them would talk to one specific person. Jully would talk to Rocky, Sara to Suman, and Ramya to Anjali.

Jully's Truth

First, it was Rocky and Jully. Rocky was sitting alone on the beach, staring at the waves, when Jully quietly approached him. Jully didn't know how to explain her feelings, how to make Rocky truly understand.

Jully: "Hey, darling. What you did was wrong. What you did as a child was wrong, and what you're doing now is also wrong."

Rocky: "So, you're saying I'm wrong?" he asked, a defensive edge to his voice.

Jully: "That's not it. What you said might be right to you, but what you did now is wrong."

Rocky: "What are you trying to say?"

Jully: "Insulting them was wrong. Anjali and Suman were very hurt."

Rocky: "I understand that, but did you come to scold me? I thought you came to support me. You wouldn't understand. She left me for Suman. She didn't even understand how lonely I was. She thought my seriousness was a joke. By doing that, I hurt her more."

Jully: "Who said I don't know about loneliness? Because I'm black, everyone insulted, teased, and ragged me. They always insulted me for my color." Her voice trembled slightly. "Only my parents didn't judge me. Even though I was insulted at school, I felt myself only at home. But at school and college, I was always alone. I didn't talk much. The same thing is happening in college, but even more. You don't know anything. You never asked. But Ramya understood. I don't know how she knew, but she supported me a lot. You don't know anything. You're always in your own space. You don't care what happens to others." Her voice grew stronger. "I always had to follow you and express my love. Do you even know why I love you? Have you ever asked?"

She paused, looking directly into his eyes. "Even when everyone insulted me, you called me beautiful. You never judged me. You never pointed out my color, and you saw me as a beautiful girl. The fun and happiness I had with you and your friends, I found only after my parents. Even though I still get insulted, I'm happy because of you. If you understand, fine; if not, leave it."

Jully got up and left, leaving Rocky stunned. THUD! He wondered, Did I truly not understand my friends? He began to think, really think, for the first time. Rocky began to change, slowly, and made a firm decision.

Sara's Wisdom

Second, it was Sara and Suman. Sara was incredibly shy, so she initially hid, calling out, "Excuse me!" Every time Suman turned around, she instinctively ducked out of sight. Eventually, she steeled herself and decided to speak up properly.

Sara: "Excuse me... I'm Anjali's friend. I need to talk to you. What Rocky did was wrong, and Anjali not understanding you was also wrong. So, please be understanding."

Suman: "Okay, but you could have said this closer, right? Why are you hiding?"

Sara stood far from Suman, clutching her bag nervously. After this, Suman took a few steps closer to her.

Suman: "I was also wrong to keep her away for so many days. I was immature, trying to prove my point. She's not wrong. Rocky is always like that. I was hurt more. I wanted to talk to her again, but every time I saw her face, there was a strange awkwardness. That awkwardness grew, and I kept her away. It was my mistake."

Sara: "Thanks for understanding. And one more thing. Your father wasn't wrong either. He might have hit you, but have you ever apologized for your mistakes? You must have made some mistakes too." She hesitated, then continued, "I'm saying this because when I played with my cat, I played too much and hurt it. It got angry and bit me. I stopped playing with it. When it came near me, I ignored it. After a few days, its health became very bad. At the hospital, they said it had an internal injury. It couldn't live long. I tried to play with it then, but it was too weak. It tried, though. In its last moments, it held my hand tightly with its claws. That was the last time."

Sara's voice was soft, but her words were profound. "That's why I'm saying it's not always their mistakes; sometimes, we make mistakes too."

Suddenly, Sara felt awkward, her shyness returning. She turned and ran away, flushed. Suman thought about Sara's words for a long time before heading home.

To be continue in Chapter 6 - Part B