Chapter 8 (Part A): Final Conclusion

The music pulsed around them, the farewell party in full swing. Laughter and conversation filled the air, but for Rocky, time had frozen. Jully, Sara, and Ramya stood before him, their eyes fixed on his, their question hanging heavy in the air.

Jully, Sara, and Ramya: "Who did you decide on among the three of us?"

Rocky's face was a mask of utter shock. GASP! Who could he possibly choose? Everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves, oblivious to his predicament. Vicky was laughing with Merry, their heads close together. Anjali was dancing gracefully with Suman, a serene smile on her face. The three girls, having dropped their bombshell, had gracefully retreated to the dance floor, leaving Rocky adrift in his confusion.

A Trio of Affection

While Rocky stood paralyzed by indecision, Ramya suddenly appeared beside him, taking his hand, her touch soft and familiar, just as it had been in the first episode.

Ramya: "You won't leave my hand again, right?" she whispered, her voice a gentle plea.

Then, Sara came, holding his other hand. Her touch was shy, almost tentative.

Sara: "I don't want to leave you either," she murmured, blushing.

Jully, who had been dancing, kept glancing over at Rocky. Seeing Ramya and Sara holding his hands, a playful glint in her eye, she suddenly sprinted towards him. With a joyful shout, she launched herself into a hug. WHOOSH! HUG!

Jully: "What? You guys are getting together without me?" she exclaimed, clinging to him.

Rocky, Sara, and Ramya were all equally shocked by Jully's bold move, especially in front of everyone.

Jully: "I'm your girlfriend too! I won't miss out on you at all. Okay?"

Ramya, unable to bear Jully's forwardness, reacted instantly. She pulled Rocky away from Jully with a determined tug and hugged him tightly, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

Ramya: "I haven't hugged you like this before, right?" she challenged softly, her breath warm against his skin. SQUEEZE!

Rocky went into an even deeper state of shock. He was enjoying it, a strange thrill running through him, but he was also reeling from how quickly everything was happening. THUMP-THUMP!

Seeing this escalating display, Sara couldn't hold back either. She gently pulled Rocky towards her and, leaning in, kissed him softly on the cheek. MWAH!

Everyone—Rocky included—was shocked all over again.

Now, the three girls began to argue, their playful jealousy taking over. Jully and Ramya rounded on Sara, their voices rising.

Jully: "We only hugged him! How dare you kiss him?"

Ramya: "Yeah! What was that for?!"

Sara, surprisingly, stood her ground, her voice quiet but firm. "This isn't my first kiss," she stated calmly. "I've kissed him before. I was also the first one to hug him."

Rocky's mind was spinning. WOAH! He was utterly confused, unsure whether to simply enjoy the moment or try to make sense of it all. The sudden rush of emotion, the unexpected intimacy, it was all too much. He felt dizzy, the room started to spin, and then everything went black. THUD! He crumpled to the floor.

A Space to Think

A while later, Rocky slowly opened his eyes. GROAN. When his vision cleared, he saw the three girls leaning over him, their faces incredibly close, their eyes wide with concern. "What happened?" they asked in unison.

Rocky, seeing their faces so close again, instantly fainted once more. THUD!

This time, Vicky understood immediately what was happening. "Everyone, go outside!" he ordered, his voice sharp. "Rocky can't breathe!" He signaled to Anjali to stay. Before the others left, he turned to Suman and Merry. "Don't let anyone in. No matter what happens. You got it?"

Suman, usually quiet but now focused, nodded firmly. Merry, ever extroverted, grinned and gave a thumbs-up. Together, they formed a united front at the door.

Vicky and Anjali carefully moved Rocky, laying him down on a bench in the empty classroom. There were no doctors at the college, so they had to handle it themselves. Now, after Rocky had fainted for the second time, Vicky understood the real issue. Rocky was under immense pressure from the three girls. He desperately needed time to think.

After ensuring everyone else was gone, Vicky gently nudged Rocky. "Everyone's gone. You can get up now." Rocky slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his head.

Anjali: "What exactly happened?"

Rocky: "All three of them came to me and asked who I liked. And then they just… hugged and kissed me. They're fighting over me, saying 'He's mine, he's mine,' even though I haven't decided yet! What should I do?" He looked utterly helpless.

Vicky: "I understand your situation. Do you have any clarity? Who do you truly like?"

Rocky: "It's very difficult to decide. It feels like I'm managing all three of them."

Anjali: "With what courage did you like all three? You made up a whole mess!."

Vicky: "You also liked two people at first, right?" he reminded Rocky. "What happened then?"

Rocky: "But I wanted to settle with one person. I thought I'd see who worked out. But when all three worked out at once, I didn't know what to do!"

Anjali: "What do you plan to do now?"

Rocky: "I don't know, but someone has to make a decision."

The Unconventional Decision

The next day, Rocky and the three girls met at the beach. The salty air and distant roar of the waves provided a stark contrast to the tension that hung between them. It was decision time.

Rocky: "I've thought about it carefully and made a decision," he announced, his voice steady.

Hearing this, the three girls tensed, their faces showing a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, each wondering who he would choose.

Rocky: "My decision might be a bit weird, but... I like all three of you."

He took a deep breath. "I like Sara's innocence. I like Ramya's caring nature, and I like Jully's boldness. So, it's very difficult for me to decide on one person. Therefore, I want to spend time with all three of you. Let's do this: we'll spend 45 days together. If any of you don't like me or my actions during this time, you can leave me. I won't leave anyone."

After he said this, the three girls exchanged glances, a mixture of surprise and contemplation on their faces. They had to decide.

By now, the holidays and exams were over, and everyone was eagerly awaiting their results. There was EAMCET (Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test) preparation and exams ongoing, and those who were interested were diligently studying for it.

(Note: The EAMCET exams are conducted after the 12th Exams are over. It is like an entrance test for higher studies.) 

Life Beyond College

In the beginning, all three girls genuinely competed for Rocky's attention. They raced to spend time with him, each playfully claiming, "I'm the one!" Rocky felt incredibly happy, albeit overwhelmed. Sometimes, Jully would call, demanding his time. Sometimes, Ramya would call, her voice sweet and persistent. And sometimes, even the quiet Sara would call, her soft voice a pleasant surprise. He tried to give time to everyone, balancing his studies and his burgeoning relationships, suffering a lot in the process. But he had to bear it; this was the life he had chosen.

Gradually, as the days turned into weeks, the three girls also became busy with their own lives. Jully was preoccupied with a big family wedding, immersing herself in the festivities. Sara had relatives visiting from out of town, filling her days with family obligations. Ramya said she was going to her village, her voice a little vague about the duration.

Suddenly, Rocky found himself very lonely. His life, once overflowing with laughter and chaos, became very silent without anyone around.

Anjali had also gone out of station for further studies with her dad, pursuing her academic goals. Suman and his father, having reconciled, became very close. Suman went to his dad's house to discuss his future, building a stronger bond. Vicky, not wanting to be idle, was already working a part-time job to support his family and saving some money for his future studies. Merry, meanwhile, was helping with her family business and saving money, having decided to quietly support Vicky's dreams a bit. So, everyone was busy with their own work, their own futures.

Inter-college life was officially over. Everyone was rushing, contemplating their next steps. Rocky, however, hadn't decided much. He had no clarity on what he wanted to do next and hadn't truly thought about it. Even if he tried to make a sudden decision, he couldn't understand anything. This confusion, this uncertainty about the future, was a common dilemma for many fresh graduates.

But now, Rocky was bored. It was time for him to think about the present, about what truly mattered to him.

To be continued Part B - Chapter 8