7.3 The Quiz

With a single blink, the vicious look in her eyes was gone. Her expression turned back to the shy and fragile-looking girl within a fraction of a second. How can someone alter their expression and the aura around them with such ease and speed? Abed and Rahul didn't seem to have noticed it.

"W… what do you think Abed? Won't it be fun?" She asked bashfully. Even her voice and tone had turned back to the previously timid one. Are humans capable of such deeds? She avoided eye contact with anyone as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. Maybe it was just my imagination, maybe she is really just a shy girl.

"What!?" Rahul exclaimed. It took him some time to comprehend the brazen gamble the sheepish looking girl had put forth.

Her gamble wasn't something that you would come across in a game between students. Knowing Abed he won't even care about the bets. All he wants is to solve some questions.

"Sure! It'll be fun." agreed Abed once again without a shadow of thought.

"Woah Woah Woah. Wait a minute! What are you doing? Didn't you hear her ridiculous gamble?" shouted Rahul.

"Abed. What do you want as your side of the deal?" she asked, cutting in between with her soft voice.

"Hey don't interrupt me!" yelled Rahul.

"You are worrying too much. It's just a quiz," said Abed.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Rahul murmured.

"What should I gamble?" Abed put a finger on his chin and tilted his head to the side, "Umm… I don't have anything particular in mind. I am happy enough to play the quiz and solve questions. But if I have to think of something then…" His face turned red as he took a pause, "...If I win, I want you to go on a date with me."

Reyana jumped up in surprise on hearing Abed's side of the deal. Her cheeks blushed as her pupils flickered to and fro, "If… If it's you, then I am ok with going on a d… date." Her ears and nose had turned pink-red. It seemed like she would burst open like a red tomato if she was shot with one more embarrassing question.

"Huuuuuhhh? Date? I don't know what's going on anymore? " Rahul cried out.

After taking a few deep breaths Rahul spoke, "Abed are you sure about this? It's not that I am doubting your ability but what will you do if you lose?" Rahul asked.

"Don't worry. I won't lose, and most important of all, it will be fun." Abed replied with a smile on his face.

"Don't come to me if you lose. I warned you." Rahul said annoyingly.

"I don't think they are gonna listen to me. Asura do something!" Rahul turned to me for help. He couldn't help but worry, it was in his blood to worry for others. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I wondered.

Both of the wagers weren't ordinary and neither were the gamblers. Comparing the stakes wasn't pragmatic. When facing an enemy, one must know their strengths and weaknesses. Without the knowledge of it, it is wiser to step down. But it didn't look like Abed would refuse a chance to participate in a quiz.

"Abed don't let your guard down and go easy on her." Telling him to be careful was all I could do to help him.

"I will give my best," Abed answered confidently. If Abed took things seriously then the chances of him losing will be less.

"I guess there's no stopping him. Why is he such a weirdo?" Rahul let out a wearied sigh.

Abed and Reyana headed towards the quizmaster. We couldn't listen to their conversation due to the commotion in the canteen. But judging by his surprised expression, they must have probably told him about the bets for the quiz.

"Attention Everyone! The next quiz is gonna be a legendary one. Ooohh… I am so excited for this one, and you will be too once you know the name of the participants. On one side we have Reyana Varghese the brave challenger from MR04 and on the other side, we have the physics prodigy Abed Saiyed! " The students burst into an uproar at the mention of Abed. He had a great reputation even among the other batches. The quizmaster also did a good job of hyping up the audience.

One could hear a few gossips passing among the students-

"Isn't she the loner who studies by herself in the class?"

"What is she thinking? There's no way she can defeat Abed."

"The bets at stake in this quiz will bewilder you for sure. These are the weirdest, most exhilarating and completely contrasting bets in the history of the quiz at MMAC." said the Quizmaster. "If Abed loses the quiz he has to kneel in front of Reyana and admit that she is better than him in front of everyone. And if Reyana loses she has to go out on a date with him!"

The audience was thrown into chaos. The students started chattering about the stakes. A few gossips could be overheard among the students-

'Does Abed like Reyana?'

'Reyana's gamble doesn't make any sense.'

'I don't care about the stakes. All I want to see is Abed play in this quiz.'

Reyana and Abed sat down on chairs on the opposite sides of the table with her on the right and Abed towards the left.

Reyana sat on her chair with both her hands gripping her skirt. She still had her head down facing the floor but her eyes were looking up, concentrated on Abed. I didn't know what she had on Abed and why she wanted to prove that she is better than Abed. All I could tell was that this wasn't going to be just a normal quiz.