Author's POV
They were mortified was an understatement.
Nope.
They were far more than just mortified.
Because pretending to be in love in front of one person was easy, just a piece of cake.
But fake dating in front of the whole damn college?
They would rather disappear into thin air.
Ruhi and Siddharth stood side by side, hands resting awkwardly on their sides as they looked at everyone but each other.
Yuvraj smirked, "Look at them being all shy!"
The host gave both of them microphones, "What are your names?"
"Ruhi."
"Siddharth."
"So, Ruhi and Siddharth, how did you meet?", Sanya asked.
Ruhi looked at Siddharth.
He looked back at her.
Say something.
After a brief moment of silent panic, Ruhi picked up the microphone, "We met in the college library."
"Oo, you're telling me you guys had a meet cute?", Yuvraj grinned.
Ruhi nearly snorted.
It was anything but a meet cute.
Siddharth cleared his throat, "You can say that."
"Oh?", Sanya leaned forward, eyes sparkling, "Tell us the story. We love a good love story."
Love story?
Ruhi wanted to laugh.
If glaring at each other across classrooms counted as romance, then sure.
She flashed Siddharth a warning look.
Don't mess this up.
He caught it.
You started it. You fix it.
Fantastic.
Ruhi forced a smile, "I... was looking for a book."
Siddharth nodded immediately. "The same book."
Yuvraj gasped dramatically, "Only one copy?"
Siddharth pointed at him, "Exactly."
"There was only one copy left and we both reached for it at the same time.", Ruhi continued.
"A classic!", Yuvraj clutched his chest, "Straight out of a rom-com."
If only you knew.
"So what happened?", Sanya asked eagerly.
Ruhi opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because what actually happened was that Siddharth had snatched the book before she could, she'd called him selfish, and they'd argued loudly enough for the librarian to ban them from the library.
Siddharth noticed her hesitation, "I let her have it."
Ruhi's head whipped towards him.
Excuse me?
"You... did?" she asked through gritted teeth, making it sound like a question only he could understand.
He smiled at her.
A sweet, innocent smile that made her want to smack him with the very book they were talking about.
"Of course. Ladies first.", he shrugged.
The audience collectively let out an exaggerated, "Awwww."
Ruhi stared at him.
This liar.
This absolute menace.
"Oh my God, he's a gentleman!", Yuvraj laughed.
Siddharth placed a hand over his heart, "I try."
Ruhi controlled the urge to push him off the stage.
"And then later," Siddharth continued, "She liked my post on Instagram...my gym post."
Ruhi felt heat creep up her neck.
Why would he bring that up right now?
She glared at him, only for him to give her a sweet smile.
"Online flirting, huh?", Sanya snickered.
The audience broke into whistles.
Ruhi took a slow breath.
Fine. Two can play this game.
She reached over and rested a hand on Siddharth's arm.
"Well..." she said with a dramatic sigh, patting his bicep, "who wouldn't fall for those veiny arms?"
The auditorium exploded with laughter and cheers.
Siddharth blinked.
For the first time since they'd stepped on stage, he seemed genuinely speechless.
Yuvraj raised his hand, "Alright, I feel really single now. Let's change the topic."
"Yes. Let's start the play before they decide to run away.", Sanya agreed.
Yuvraj stepped forward, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "Now that we've established these two are madly in love-"
The audience laughed while Ruhi and Siddharth exchanged identical deadpan looks.
"-it's time for the actual game."
He gestured towards them, "Ruhi and Siddharth are going to perform an improvised scene based on a scenario we'll give them."
Sanya took over. "The catch? At any point during the performance, one of us can interrupt by shouting..."
Both of them grinned.
"CHANGE!"
The audience echoed the word back, already excited.
"The moment you hear 'Change,'" Yuvraj continued, "you have to immediately replace your last line with something completely different."
"You can't repeat the same idea," Sanya added. "You have to come up with a brand-new line on the spot."
"And whatever you say becomes the new reality of the scene," Yuvraj said. "So if you suddenly change 'I'm making tea' to 'I'm hiding a penguin in the kitchen,' congratulations..."
Sanya finished with a laugh, "...there's now a penguin in the kitchen."
The audience burst into laughter.
Yuvraj turned back to the couple, "Got it?"
Ruhi nodded, "I guess."
Siddharth shrugged. "As ready as we'll ever be."
"Perfect. Your scenario is..." Yuvraj rubbed his hands together.
He let the suspense build for a moment, "You two are home alone, trying to plan the perfect date."
The audience cheered.
Sanya smirked. "Remember, no matter how ridiculous things get..."
Yuvraj raised a finger dramatically, "...the moment we say 'Change!'"
Ruhi and Siddharth answered in unison, "We change the dialogue."
"Exactly!" Yuvraj beamed.
"Lights... and... action!", the host announced.
IMPROVISATIONAL PLAY: THE PERFECT DATE
Two chairs were placed on the opposite sides of a circular table on the stage.
Ruhi sat on one of the chairs, getting bored.
Siddharth walked towards her, directly sitting on the chair.
Yuvraj immediately intervened, "Who will ring the doorbell?"
Siddharth stood up, walked a few steps back, and raised his hand in the gesture of ringing the doorbell.
"We didn't hear the bell.", Sanya said.
Siddharth suppressed an urge to roll his eyes before he did the same action again, but this time, he said, "Ding dong!"
Ruhi controlled her laughter and stood up from her chair to open the door.
When he stepped in, she crossed her arms, "You're late."
Siddharth made an excuse, "I was stuck in traffic."
"CHANGE!"
"I couldn't find your home."
"CHANGE!"
"That's because I didn't want to come.", he blurted out.
The audience burst into laughter as Ruhi gasped, "Excuse me?"
"What I meant was-"
"CHANGE!"
"I wanted to make a dramatic entrance."
"CHANGE!"
"I was testing whether you'd miss me."
"Ooooooh!" the audience chorused.
Ruhi folded her arms tighter, "And what if I said I didn't?"
Siddharth smiled, "Then I'd know you were lying."
A chorus of whistles erupted from the crowd.
Siddharth extended his hand, "I brought you flowers."
Ruhi stared at his empty hands before taking the invisible flowers from his hands gracefully, "They smell amazing."
"CHANGE!"
"They smell awful!"
Siddharth let out a nervous laugh.
They walked towards the chairs.
Siddharth pulled out her chair before sitting down himself.
Ruhi raised an eyebrow, "Trying to impress me?"
He shrugged. "Is it working?"
"CHANGE!"
"I'm just being polite."
"CHANGE!"
"My mom said I'd get scolded if I didn't."
The audience laughed.
Ruhi nodded thoughtfully, "Tell your mom she raised you well."
"CHANGE!"
"Tell your mom she has low standards."
A collective "OHHHH!" echoed through the auditorium.
Siddharth clutched his chest dramatically, "That hurt."
Ruhi smiled sweetly, "Good."
Sanya picked up her mic, "Give us some romance, love birds!"
Siddharth reached out to hold Ruhi's hand, "You look beautiful."
Ruhi smiled, "Thank you."
"CHANGE!"
"Don't lie, I haven't showered since two days."
Siddharth controlled his laughter.
He held her hand in between both of his palms, "You're still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."
Ruhi blinked.
For a split second, she forgot they were acting.
The audience collectively let out an exaggerated, "Awww."
Yuvraj pretended to wipe away a tear.
Ruhi tilted her head, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, "Really?"
Siddharth nodded without missing a beat, "Really."
She looked down shyly, "I think you're really nice."
"CHANGE!"
"I think you need glasses."
The auditorium erupted with laughter.
Siddharth looked at the audience before turning back to her, "I have perfect vision."
"CHANGE!"
"I'll book an eye appointment tomorrow."
Even Ruhi couldn't hold back her laugh.
"Let's watch something on the TV.", Ruhi suggested.
"CHANGE!"
"Let's just sit like this."
"CHANGE!"
"Let's dance."
Someone played a soft melody in the background immediately.
Siddharth held out his hand, "May I?"
Ruhi slid her hand in his, standing up to move to the center of the stage.
Siddharth's hand settled on her waist while she kept her hand on his shoulder.
Ruhi looked up, meeting his eyes.
He was already looking at her.
The cheers from the crowd blurred, and they seemed to have forgotten that they were supposed to act.
Ruhi stared into his eyes.
Those hazel brown orbs that always seem to trap her in if she stared a little too long.
She titled her head down, not wanting to keep the eye contact anymore.
The action made a few strands of her hair fall over her face.
Siddharth's hand moved instinctively.
He pushed the strands behind her ear, making her look up again.
She swallowed hard.
Before anything else could happen, Yuvraj stood up, "Alright! Enough romance now. Time for some plot twist!"
They broke their eye contact, but didn't step back as they watched Yuvraj.
Yuvraj walked towards the invisible door, acting as if he was opening it with a key and entered in.
As soon as he saw Siddharth and Ruhi, he gasped, "What is going on here?"
Both of them stepped away immediately, utterly confused as to what Yuvraj was doing.
Yuvraj raised his chin high, "I am Ruhi's father!"
Ruhi gasped dramatically, "Papa! How are you back so early?"
"Is this what you do behind my back?", he pointed at Siddharth.
Siddharth stepped forward, "Sir, this is not what it looks like!"
"CHANGE!"
"This is exactly what it looks like."
"Papa, let me explain-", Ruhi attempted to speak.
Yuvraj held up a hand to stop her, "There's nothing left to explain!"
Suddenly, Sanya stepped in, "What are you doing here, Siddharth?"
Siddharth frowned, "Who are you now?"
Sanya gasped, "You don't recognize your mother?"
Siddharth blinked, "M-mother, I was just..."
Ruhi intervened, "What are you doing at my house, ma'am?"
"I knew I'd find Siddharth here.", she said.
"CHANGE!", the host shouted.
"I came here to meet Yuvraj!", she said, linking her hand around his.
Yuvraj immediately stepped away, "We don't promote all this, Sanya!"
The audience burst into laughter.
Sanya cleared her throat, "Alright, let's not change the topic. What was going on here?"
"We were just-", Ruhi paused as Siddharth wrapped his hand around her.
"We are dating."
Dramatic music played in the background as the audience cheered.
No one said change this time.
Siddharth continued, "I... I want to be with your daughter, sir.", he looked at Sanya, "She is the one for me, mother."
Ruhi just stood there, not expecting the situation to take this turn.
"What do you say, my daughter?", Yuvraj asked.
"Huh?", Ruhi blinked.
"Do you like this young man?", he asked again.
Ruhi looked at Siddharth, "I... I do."
The crowd went wild and everyone started clapping and whistling.
As soon as they got off the stage, their friends crowded them with mischievous eyes and teasing smirks.
Siddharth rolled his eyes, "Don't you dare."
Naman's smirk only widened as he mimicked, "We are dating."
Aditi continued, deepening her voice, "I want to be with your daughter, sir."
Everyone burst into laughter, while Siddharth and Ruhi couldn't wait for this to end.
Radhika grinned, "And Ruhi's 'I... I do'? That came straight from the heart."
Ruhi scoffed, "I was just acting!"
"Honey is right, Ruhi. We could totally see it in your eyes... Right, honey?", Rishi tried to make her talk to him, looking at her with pleading eyes.
Radhika's grin faltered for a second as she saw his hopeful eyes.
The same pair of eyes that always melts her heart.
She looked away.
No.
Not this time.
So, she ignored his words.
Rishi looked down, disappointment clear on his face.
Ruhi clapped her hands, changing the topic, "Let's go to the photo booth!"
Aditi's eyes lit up instantly, "Yes! Let's go!"
As they walked to the photo booth, a few heads turned towards them.
Towards Siddharth and Ruhi to be specific.
"Aren't they the stage couple?", a girl whispered to her friend.
Her friend glanced at Siddharth and Ruhi, "Yes! They look so good together, don't they?"
The first girl nodded, "I know, right? Even their on stage chemistry was awesome."
Unfortunately, the whispers were not exactly whispers, and Siddharth and Ruhi heard everything.
They shared an awkward look.
Ruhi cleared her throat, "Seems like we're really good at acting."
"I guess we are."
Their eye contact lasted a second more than necessary, before both of them snapped their heads to the front at the same time.
Both of them looked in the opposite direction. Ruhi pretended to be brushing her hair while Siddharth smoothened his already smooth suit.
They reached the photo booth and all six of them somehow managed to squeeze in.
Ruhi wore a tiara on her head, Radhika grabbed the infamous Rapunzel's pan and Aditi wore the Minnie Mouse ears matching with Naman's Mickey Mouse ears. Rishi wore Woody's large hat.
Siddharth looked at the only thing left there.
A wand.
Cinderella's Fairy Godmother's wand.
Siddharth blinked, "I don't mind being propless."
Ruhi grinned, "That's not an option. Your only choice is to become the fairy Godmother."
"No way."
"Yes way.", Ruhi said, handing him the wand, "Now say, 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo'."
Siddharth rolled his eyes, "Just get this over with."
"Uh-huh!", Ruhi shook her head, "Not before you say it."
Siddharth sighed in exasperation, knowing there was no way out. He held the wand up in the air and chanted, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, happy now?", he asked with a tight lipped smile.
Ruhi patted his cheek, "Very."
His smile dropped immediately and he swatted her hand away, only to make her grin widely.
They all finally turned to look at the camera, trying to adjust themselves in the frame, but Rishi's hat somehow took all of the frame because of its size.
"Rishi, your hat is blocking all of us!", Aditi complained.
Rishi tried to adjust his hat but it was of no use, "I can't help it. It's the college's mistake! They shouldn't have kept such a huge hat."
Siddharth rolled his eyes, "Just remove the hat, dude!"
Rishi pouted, "But it looks so good on me!"
Radhika, who was standing there with the same pose, felt her patience wearing.
Naman looked at the line outside the photobooth, "Guys, people are waiting for their turn. Let's do this fast."
"But I want to keep this hat on!", Rishi whined.
Radhika finally lost it after hearing his whining. With a twist of her wrist, she tossed the hat of his head using her pan. The hat was gone before Rishi could process what was happening.
She narrowed her eyes at him and held out the pan threateningly close to his neck, "Don't you understand that people are waiting outside? You're not a 5 year old kid to pout and whine like that!"
Rishi looked between the pan and Radhika's annoyed face, before his lips curled up into a sly smile.
Radhika now rested the pan under his chin, "There's nothing going on that should make you smile!"
Rishi tried to control his smile, one hand moving to rub the back of his neck sheepishly.
Radhika scowled, "Rishi!"
Now he had officially stopped trying to suppress his smile. His face was as bright as the sun.
Radhika shook her head in disbelief, "What is wrong with you."
Rishi shrugged, hands in his pocket, "You scolded me."
Radhika blinked, "Yeah, and you shouldn't be happy about it."
His smile only widened as he repeated, "You scolded me."
Radhika finally understood what had made him so happy.
Her expression softened for the briefest second before she caught herself.
She immediately pulled the pan back, looking away with her arms crossed as she huffed in frustration, muttering something under her breath.
Someone shouted from the outside, "Make it quick! Everyone is waiting."
With the hat gone, the six of the finally fit inside the frame.
Ruhi pressed the button and they all posed and hugged as the machine clicked their photos.
When the photos came out, everyone had mixed reactions.
Rishi was the happiest, not because he was looking at Radhika in most of the photos, but because even Radhika had glanced at him in one of them when he was facing the camera.
Radhika couldn't understand Rishi's behavior given the fact that he was supposed to be back with Sakshi.
Aditi and Naman were in their own little world as always. Aditi's head rested on Naman's shoulder in one of the pictures, while in another he was playing with her Minnie mouse ears.
Ruhi was trying to annoy Siddharth by holding the hand which held the wand and resting it on her head as if giving herself blessings, to which Siddharth was rolling his eyes.
Out of the five photos, only two of them were somewhat appropriate, with everyone looking at the camera.
Ruhi was not done though.
She pushed the boys out of the booth and pressed the button again, this time posing with her girls.
Naman looked offended, "That's not fair!"
They were only able to click three photos before the Naman and Rishi photo bombed them, dragging Siddharth when he didn't move.
And along with the photos, memories were also printed.
The six of them spent the rest of the day wandering around the campus, visiting stalls and playing carnival games.
They found themselves sitting by the fountain benches at the end of the day, eating candy floss with tired feet and satisfied smiles.
"This campus is too vast for my feet.", Aditi groaned, stretching her legs.
"It's just the first day and you're already tired?", Ruhi smirked, "What will you do during the physical games tomorrow?"
Aditi scoffed, "Who said I am participating in them?"
"I am not participating either.", Naman added.
Ruhi frowned, "But why? How can you say no to this?"
"I don't have the strength for sports.", Aditi replied.
Ruhi rolled her eyes, "Don't behave like Siddharth!"
Siddharth gave her a deadpan look, "I am standing right here! And for your kind information, I am participating."
Ruhi's eyebrows shot up, "Really? How the sudden interest?"
Siddharth shrugged, "Just."
"Whatever. What about you two?", she glanced between Rishi and Radhika.
"I have guest duty tomorrow.", Radhika replied.
Rishi added, "So do I."
A smirk formed on Ruhi's face, "Together?"
Radhika immediately shook her head, "No. He will assist the male guest and I will assist the female guest."
"Who are tomorrow's guests anyway?", Naman asked.
"I don't know their names. Prakash just gave me the tasks.", Radhika shrugged.
Rishi leaned forward, "Oh, they are such big personalities, I can't tell you! I have heard so much about them."
"Really? Who are they?", Ruhi asked curiously.
Rishi leaned back again, "I am not telling you that."
Ruhi blinked, "Why?"
"I will tell you who the guests are if you make Radhika talk to me."
Radhika scoffed, "Let it be. We will see them tomorrow anyway."
Rishi sulked, "Come on, honey! I am sorry, na!"
She raised an eye brow, "Sorry for what?"
"Whatever I did that hurt you. Please, talk to me.", he pleaded.
She crossed her arms, "No!"
"But, honey-", Rishi paused as his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and immediately hid the phone's screen from others.
He cleared his throat, "I need to take this call.", saying this, he stepped away from the group.
Radhika just stood there, feeling even more hurt. Because she noticed the way he didn't want them to see who was calling.
She became a little more sure about what she heard the day before.
The other four were now getting concerned.
Ruhi stepped forward, "Radhika-"
Radhika looked at them, interrupting her, "Do you know why I am upset?"
Naman hesitated, "We might have an idea."
Siddharth started, "Is it because of yesterday when-"
"Don't tell Rishi about it. Let him figure it out himself. How can he hide something from us like that?", Radhika ordered everyone.
Rishi finally walked back to the group.
He was looking happy.
Which broke Radhika's heart a little more.
The six of them were making their way towards the exit when they noticed a familiar pair walking in the opposite direction.
Sanya and Yuvraj.
The crowd had finally dispersed, allowing the two actors to walk towards their car with only a couple of security guards around them.
Yuvraj noticed the six first.
"Aree! Our stage couple!", he called out, pointing at Ruhi and Siddharth.
Ruhi covered her face, "Sir, not again..."
Yuvraj laughed.
"I told you, didn't I?", He looked at Sanya, "They've got great chemistry."
Sanya smiled. "They did perform well."
Ruhi quickly waved her hands, "It was just acting."
Siddharth nodded immediately, "Exactly."
Yuvraj looked between the two of them before shrugging dramatically, "If you say so."
Sanya elbowed him lightly, "Stop teasing them."
He raised both hands in surrender, "Fine, fine."
Then he smiled at the entire group, "You guys seem like a fun bunch."
Naman grinned, "Most of the time."
"The rest of the time they're annoying", Siddharth deadpanned.
Ruhi gasped, "Excuse me?"
Yuvraj chuckled, "Good."
He looked at the six of them, "College gets over before you know it."
For the first time since they had met him, his tone was surprisingly sincere.
"So make the most of these days."
Sanya nodded in agreement, "And don't forget to watch our movie."
Yuvraj immediately brightened again, "See? That's the promotion I was waiting for!"
Sanya rolled her eyes as they continued walking towards the parking lot.
The six watched them leave before bursting into laughter.
They finally walked out of the college gate.
Ruhi looked back one last time.
The campus that had been buzzing with music all day was finally beginning to quiet down.
Above the entrance, the banner fluttered gently.
DAY 1: ONCE UPON A TIME.
She smiled.
It had been one unforgettable day.
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