Chapter 17

Part 18: Date?
     Manthan looked at his watch. Nisha's class had to be finishing off around now, he thought to himself. He wanted to take her out for Valentine's Day. He'd been thinking about it for a few days and he had to tell her how he felt. He saw Nisha out of the crowd of kids that came out of the Tech. lab, she was the only girl there wearing a pale blue salwar kameez.

M: How was the presentation?
N: It was great! The slide show was really good and the Sir said that my graphs were very detailed and attractive.
M: That's great! Um…listen tum – mere saath – you know?-

     Nisha gave him an eye-brow lifting look, clearing saying "no actually I don't." Manthan had never had any trouble asking a girl out before. So why was it any different now? Usually girls begged him to get dates: mostly because he was rich, cool, and good looking. Manthan, who had never had any problems landing dates, was apparently facing a challenge of getting Nisha to come with him for a date. A thought suddenly struck him; What if she said no? Manthan had never been rejected in his life. But with Nisha, everything wasn't the same. First, she became his tutor and ACTUALLY helped him on his math, without getting any paycheck from his rich parents. Next, she hadn't laughed at him when he had chalk all over him and looked like a cheaply dressed ghost. After that, she had scolded him like she was his wife when he went to grab broken glass and got a deep cut. Now, who knows what she was going to say? She was the most unpredictable thing in his life!

N: Um, Manthan? Are you ok?
M: Oh-ya…ummm, you know what, it's ok, never mind
N: Oh, ok, see you after school, yaad hai na? Tuitions?
M: Oh ya…see ya

     Nisha turned to walk away. She had been so sure he was going to ask her on a date or something. But of course, being the girl she was, no boy would ever ask her on a date. Ever since they were in high school, Isha was the one who'd get all the boys. She had everything – talent in dance, excellent communication skills, great outfits and a great makeup kit. Nisha didn't hate her sister or anything but just felt that sometimes it would be nice if somebody actually noticed her. But Manthan was too far-fetched to think about. The guy had every girl in the college weak in her knees with his looks. And a guy that good looking and popular would never even bother to talk to Nisha. So asking a girl like Nisha out on a date, would be the impossible. But at least he talks to me, she thought, he is friendly and he does care about me. Why else would he have caught her from falling off a stool, or saved her from those pathetic guys?

M: Nisha!
     
     Nisha stopped in her tracks. Manthan? She turned to face a panting Manthan. He had obviously been running.

N: Are you ok? Why were you running?
M: I had to ask you something…
N: You could have asked me in math class today, Manthan, assi kya baath hai ki aap daud ke aye?

     Manthan stopped and caught his breath. He had walked the opposite way from Nisha when she had turned to walk away from him. But later, he had realized that this was a risk that he had to take. So, he had turned back and ran towards Nisha. From the look of Nisha's face, the only concern she was facing was the fact that Manthan looked as if he was having some serious panting problem. Suddenly, Manthan grabbed Nisha's hand. At first she thought he grabbed her hand for support so he wouldn't fall. She offered her shoulder but he didn't put his hand on it.

M: Nisha…
N: Are you ok? You want me to call a teacher or something?-
M: Will you go on a date with me?
N: I can call your mom or something if you – wait what did you just say?!
M: Will you go on a date with me?

     Nisha froze; in the 21 years of her life, no boy had ever taken any interest in her, much less ask her on a date.

                      Pooja