The Bet

A Short Story By G.S.Vasukumar


Raj was seated along with his friends Lakshman and Pradeep in the coffee day, sipping his favourite cold coffee, and chatting with them. They were meeting after quite some time. His eyes drifted and finally settled upon a beautiful, young woman seated across the hall with her two friends. She was happily chatting and giggling with her two friends, unaware of the attention she was getting from him.


“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” Pradeep asked.


“Yes.” Raj said “What did you say?”


“We know that you are staring at her!” Lakshman said.


“Well, here is the bet! You make her to fall in love with you within two weeks time.” Pradeep said.


“Two weeks time… How is it possible?” Raj asked.


“Brother, if you make up your mind then anything is possible!” Lakshman said.


“All right. What do I get if I win?”


“How about three days stay in Goa with her?” Pradeep suggested.


“It sounds interesting. I’m in!”


She noticed that he was staring at her and informed her friends about it. They looked at him and his friends; she turned back and started giggling. They started discussing something, and then she stood up, tossed her bike keys in the air and caught it when it came down. She gave a smile in his direction before walking out of the coffee day, towards her pink Scooty pep bike.


“There she goes!” Raj said, tossing his bike keys up, but it landed in a cup of coffee, which was before an old man.


“Idiot!” The old man cried annoyed.


Her friends broke into peals of laughter.


“Sorry, sir,” Raj said, “Can I have my keys back?”


“You want me to burn my fingers, is it?” He cried, “Let me finish my hot cup of coffee first”


Meantime, he saw her starting her bike and rushing away.


“Uncle, we don’t have time…please!” Lakshman said, keeping an empty cup of the table. The old man poured the hot coffee into the empty cup and gave the keys to Raj.


“All the best!” Lakshman and Pradeep said.


Raj walked out, started his Bajaj Platina Bike, and then raced ahead. He saw her bike at the end of the road, where she took the left turn. One of the girls spoke to her and updated about what had happened.


“Idiot!” Priya cried, “But I don’t see him!” She said, speaking through her ear phone, which was attached to her mobile. She had a glance at the left side mirror of her bike, and she could only see a black Scorpio behind her.
Just then, a black Platina raced ahead of the Scorpio, and was on her back.


“Yeah, now, I see him!” Priya cried. She had a smile on her face, which he couldn’t see as her face was covered by the helmet.
The Scooty screeched to a halt at the signal. So did his bike beside her. They both exchanged glances at each other. She accelerated as soon as the signal turned green from red.
Raj chased after her, searching for the gaps between the vehicles in front of him. He came to a reluctant halt at the next traffic signal. He was looking for her, and found her waiting for him after the signal.


He had a smile on his face.


She raced ahead as soon as the signal turned green. She reached the parking lot of an apartment. He followed her until he was stopped by the security guard of that apartment. Meantime, she entered the lift.


“Who is she?” Raj asked him, removing his helmet and parking his bike. 


“Miss Priya, Sahib,” The guard replied, “You need to enter your details in the register, if you want to go inside.”


“All right,” Raj said, writing the details in the register and keeping a currency note in the security guard’s pocket.


“Flat No.212, Seventh Floor, Sahib,” He said smiling.


“Thanks!” Raj said, rushing towards the lift. He reached the flat no.212 in the seventh floor and pressed the door bell.


“Yes, why did you follow me here?” Priya asked opening the door.


“Should I tell the truth?” He asked


“Go ahead” She said


“My friends Pradeep and Lakshman had a bet with me that I should make you to fall in love with me in just two weeks time.” Raj told her.


“What do you get if you win?”


“Three days stay in Goa.”


“So?”


“I think I’m all ready in love with you!”


“Well, I’m not interested and I see you losing the bet!” She said, with a smile.


“This is what I get for being honest! Anyways, it was nice talking to you” He said, extending his hand towards her.


“I don’t shake hands with strangers!” She said


“Bye, then” He said, walking dejected towards the lift.


“Wait!” She cried, running after him and holding his hand.


“I had a similar bet with my girl friends.” She added


“And what do you get if you win?” He asked her.


“A nice dress with matching shoes, bag and make up kit!”


“I would like you to win!” He said smiling at her.


“Thanks, Raj” She said smiling back.


“Do you know me?” He asked surprised.


“Don’t you remember me? I’m Priya Gill. We were neighbors when you were ten and myself eight years old.”


“Priya, OMG! You have grown so….”


“Beautiful! Yes, come with me!” She said holding his hand and walking back towards her flat.


“Since, we have won our bets, should we tell them the truth?” He asked her.


“I don’t think so,” She said, “How about playing for two weeks and giving them the feeling that they are all most winning this bet. Then on the last day we can win!” She said


“It sounds interesting! I’m in!” He said, smiling at her.


The End