Arjun's POV :

The next morning I walked into the girl's suite to find Rubina but instead found only Ananya and Pooja getting ready. Ananya was helping Pooja with her jeans.

"My jeans have become tight", Pooja complained "I need to go one diet from now".

"Ananya! Can't Pooja wear her own clothes?", I berated my sister "This is so inappropriate. Do you girls realise that?"

"Yeah, and you standing here and watching this is very appropriate", Ananya said.

"Why are you here anyway?", Pooja asked.

"He came here to see Rubina. When has he come up here for us?", Ananya said sourly.

"In that case, Rubina left for the restaurant, long back."

"Alright then, I'll go", I said and turned to leave when Ananya stopped me.

"We have to tell you something", she said.

"Yes?"

And then they launched into this story of some mysterious guy they had seen last night, going up to the terrace. This was totally unexpected and I didn't know whether to be confused or wary.

"What do you think?", Ananya asked me anxiously.

"For now, nothing other than, telling you two to leave this alone. This could be absolutely nothing or a very big thing. Either way, the best thing to do would be to stay out of it", I said much more determinedly than I was feeling. Both the girls looked at me doubtfully.

"Trust me. Drop it", I reiterated before walking out.

When I reached the restaurant Rubina was already outside watching Dulquer and Raghav engaged in an argument.

"Don't talk to me in that tone", Raghav was snapping at Dulquer "I don't take shit from a guy who does nothing except hang out with dogs all the time".

"Dogs are loyal. Way better than human beings", Dulquer said stiffly "As for you, what did you say were you going to study, again?"

"Criminal psychology" replied Raghav superiorly as if it he was saying that he was running for Prime Minister.

"Of course, it's natural for people to want to study about themselves", came Dulquer's comment.

Now was my chance to score!

"Guys, now come on", I said "Both of you calm down, fights are no good".

"Oh hero!", Raghav said sarcastically "Trying to score big infront of your girlfriend?"

"No", I said determinedly, "I'm just genuinely concerned bro. Let's go in".

"What's going on here?" came a voice from behind.

Oh no!

Ananya and Pooja walked up to us with Oviya behind them consciously keeping a distance.

"Nothing. Your brother was trying to be a hero infront of Rubina. That's it", said Raghav "He's a bit of a ladies man, I guess?"

Of course, I knew Ananya would make good use of this golden opportunity and sure enough...

"Oh yeah, that's my brother for you", said Ananya "In the last two years he's pulled out restaurant chairs and ola cab doors for half a dozen girls. You see, music is not his only passion", she taunted mercilessly.

"At least I'm better than my sister", I retorted turning to the others "The only thing Ananya is passionate about is eavsdropping and stalking others. All you girls be careful. My sister is always putting other people's social lives in trouble".

When I sat down for breakfast with Rubina, I overheard Pooja and Ananya at the next table still talking about the supposed mysterious guy. But I couldn't say anything infront of Rubina.

Why the fuck were those two girls so hopelessly inquisitive? I had come here to change my life. If they got involved in something and messed up, my plans would totally be spoilt. I was half wondering  whether I should  do something so that both of them would pack up and leave the competition. But then decided that I didn't have the heart.

But I wasn't going to leave them so easily. When they left the breakfast table, I pulled Rubina with me and ran after them.

Ananya turned around and saw me, "Don't be a baby Arjun. I know what you're doing. Just leave us alone".

"Yes we can go by ourselves", Pooja said.

"Okay just tell me, where are you both going?" I asked.

"To the third floor", Ananya said.

"Right", I said and turned to walk away with my hand around Rubina's shoulders. She was obliviously chatting about something inconsequential that I wasn't even paying attention to.

Beneath all the chaos in my mind over my present situation, all of a sudden I wondered mildly as to why I felt no spark or gushing feeling when I was with my girlfriend. Our relationship seemed so mechanical at times. Wait, what am I thinking? Come on..I really liked Rubina. We had hung out together, made out several times and had lasted for quite a while. How could this mechanical? I pushed the thought away from my head.

"You look sick Arjun", Rubina rubbed my chin "Are you okay?". We were now out of the restaurant and walking upstairs. For some weird reason, Rubina always wanted to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

"What? I look sick?" I asked absent mindedly.

"You actually look like you badly want to use the toilet", she grinned.

"Oh actually yeah", I said as we climbed the second floor stairs, "But there's no bathroom nearby".

"There's one in the third floor", said Rubina.

Wait. Where did Ananya and Pooja say they were going? Oh God!

I could totally picture my dumb sister and my even dumber friend huddled up in the bathroom trying to establish righteousness.

I turned to Rubina, "Babe just wait here no? I'll be back now".

"Umm. Okay", Rubina said.

Sure enough, when I ran upto the men's bathroom I saw them coming out looking very happy and shaking hands, possibly, congratulating each other on some brilliant scheme of theirs (note my sarcasm).

And then they looked up and saw me.

"Ananya! Pooja! What were you two doing in there?" I asked dangerously.

"Umm..looking for clues you know", Ananya said.

"What nonsense!" I said incredulously, "I told you not twenty minutes ago to stay away from this. And Pooja, I can't believe you're encouraging this shit. By the way who do you think you both are? Female versions of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson?"

"Nope. We're just two normal girls with concern for the well being of all the people in this hotel right now".

"Oh enough with your moral science", I snapped "I'm so done with it. And listen, no more detective work or I'll tell mom and dad", I made it clear.

"If you do that then I'll also tell them, what you came here for", she made it even clearer.

God! It was at moments like this that I realised, that even though we were two completely different personalities, we still shared some DNA.

"Why do you want to do all this huh? Can't you just mind your own business?"

"Well, I'm not asking you to help. Why are you bothered?"

"Because if you do something messy, it will botch up my plans forever! Don't you understand?", I yelled "I've come here for a competition Ananya. I can't spend all my time babysitting you. For heaven's sake, show some behaviour!"

Ananya looked slightly shaken at my sudden outburst and didn't say anything.

"Come on now", I said pulling Ananya's hand and dragging her to the stairs "I'll see that you both go back to your room and not anywhere else".

Ananya tried to wrest her hand free from my grip as we went down the stairs, but I wasn't going to give in this time. I dragged her again and somehow I dragged a little too roughly, she lost balance and before I could grab her she toppled down the stairs and fell at the foot of it.

I and Pooja dashed down to her.

"Ananya are you okay?" Pooja wailed.

                                      ~~~~~

"Fortunately, it's nothing", said the medic giving Ananya's foot a final pat, "No injuries. Her leg will hurt a bit for a few days though".

All of the contestants were crowded in Ananya's room. She smiled in relief when she heard it was nothing. I didn't smile but I was more relieved than ever. I mean thank goodness! It really was so lucky, that Ananya had gotten away with it.

After the medic left, Dulquer, Raghav, Kishan, Shilpa and Oviya huddled around Ananya asking questions. I couldn't help noticing that Kishan was more concerned than the others.

Ananya took the opportunity to bitch about me again. I didn't care. I was just relieved and happy that nothing outrageous had happened. At least I didn't care until Ananya pointed a finger at me and said, "He dragged me into this freak show!"

That's when I totally lost it. So abruptly.

"What? So this is my fault now? Are you serious?", I exploded for the second time that day "Who is always poking her nose in other people's business? You! Who has always been jealous of her siblings because she is nothing more than a sticky nerd? You! Who came here all the way to take part in a show she wasn't even interested in just to cause trouble for her brother? You!"

"Your sister almost broke her leg", said Pooja, told me "Show some compassion!"

"Don't you dare blame me for any of this", I shot back at Pooja, "Who asked you both to come here? I can't put up with your crap anymore. I would appreciate it if you just quit the place and go back home. You don't even want the prize. So what's the point of hanging around here?"

"That's not true", said Pooja."I entered the competition before Ananya. So don't drag me into your family drama".

"Wait wait wait", said Raghav entering the fray and turning to me "Bro, what do you mean Ananya doesn't want the prize?"

I looked up and sighed. Pooja and Ananya looked at each other. There was no point trying to dodge the question. It was time for the reveal.

I threw my hands up in the air and said, "What I mean is Raghav, that Ananya has entered this show, just to botch up my chances of winning. She doesn't want me to win the money. Because if I do, I'll cut ties with my family. And my darling sister is trying to stop the tragedy".

Everybody looked really taken aback at this. They all looked at each other.

"Good. So that's one person we don't have to worry about beating", said Dulquer triumphantly, recovering first.

"But it's not fair", said Oviya in her usual bitter way and turned to Ananya, "You've have brought your family problem all the way to this  competition. And you don't even want to win. Winning this competition could change the life of people like me. And you guys are playing here! Is this a joke to you?"

"This is ridiculous Ananya!" said Raghav, "You seemed so sensible compared to your duffer brother".

I ignored the insult.

Ananya looked ready to cry. Kishan came forward and put his hand on her shoulder, "Give her a break guys. Come Ananya. Let's go out for a bit", Ananya looked up at him gratefully.

"Oh so sweet!", cooed Dulquer.

Ananya ignored him as she got up with a difficulty and walked out of the room with Kishan. Pooja shot me a glare and her middle finger before marching out.