Chapter 8:
Nupur groaned as the guy in front of her attempted to make a dialogue delivery, failing entirely in even framing the sentences properly. She glared at him and he seemed to even forget what he was just about to say. She had an urge to bang her head against the wall, but why hurt herself?
"What-were-you-thinking-when-you-applied-for-this-role??" She gritted her teeth and lashed out at him rudely.
"N-N-No-Not..."
"By God!! Just shut up and LEAVE!!" She pointed towards the door irritably.
"Nupur?? Any problems??" An energetic female voice spoke up from behind her.
Nupur sighed as she turned around. "No mam... Not really..." On seeing Tamanna mam's sceptical look, she looked down.
"Nupur, I know you for a long time now... I thought drama was your sole release; where you can unwind... What's the problem?" Tam mam crossed her arms across her chest and waited for an answer.
"Umm...Mam...Actually, I got my NSD acceptance letter..."
"Wow!! That's amazing Nupur... Isn't that what you had been wanting?" She looked confused at Nupur's words.
"Yes mam, it is... But my partner, Purab, he's down with jaundice... And this yr's annual play forms a major part of the credits that was responsible for my acceptance... And I can't audition and participate without a partner!!" Nupur vented out her frustration to her fave teacher-cum-friend. "Now my admission is getting jeopardised!!"
"Hmmm... Don't worry, there's still atleast 1 week for the auditions to end... Till then, keep searching for a partner... Who knows, he might just be round the corner and you are yet to spot him??" She winked at her.
Nupur smiled widely in response. Tam mam was one fine person, who knew exactly what to say to lift someone's spirits. She patted her shoulder reassuringly and left Nupur with her thoughts.
She was toying with the script in her hand absently, when a husky voice broke into her thoughts.
"Hi..."
Forcing her gaze towards the person, her eyes widened for a few seconds when she saw who it was, before recovering her indifferent demeanour.
"Sorry?? Do I know you??" She spoke in a non-chalant tone, as if speaking to a total stranger.
"Yeah, well, I am Mayank Sharma...We have been together in this college, in the same class, for the past 2 yrs and this yr too... Now do you know me?" He explained smoothly, without a hint of irritation or annoyance.
She narrowed her eyes at this. She was feeling immensely surprised at his sudden courteousness... It was odd and seemed Out-of-Character for Mayank Sharma to do something like this. She started gathering her stuff as the bell rang in the background.
"Hey Nupur, about the other day at the library..."
She threw him a cold look. "I don't think I can recall what you are referring to..." She cut him off icily as she started moving towards the exit.
"Listen, please, I'm really sorry... I shouldn't have read something that wasn't mine..." He paced alongside her to keep up with her hurried steps as he kept trying to attract her attention "Let me make it up to you...How about Dinner with me, tomorrow night??"
This brought a halt to her furious gait. She turned to LOOK look at him. He took this as a sign of acceptance and carried on "I'll take you to places you've never been!"
Nupur had a strong urge to laugh out loud at that old, outdated, cheesy line. Gosh! Whatever happened to originality? She wondered but then realised that expecting original 'pick-up' lines from Mayank Sharma was like imagining DDLJ without SRK. She shuddered mentally at the thought and realised that Mayank was still talking.
"So, you'll come?"
She gave him a long look "Do you even know me, Mr.Smarty Pants??"
"I know a lot more than you think..."
"Oh please, gimme a break... I have better things to do in life than to go out with a Nosy Know-it-all!!" That should shut him up, for sometime atleast. Satisfied with the shocked look on his face, she turned around and left.
Strangely, this time, the satisfaction seemed only superficial. It didn't come from within. Sheesh! Am I actually feeling bad for being rude to some random guy? She gave herself a mental shake and walked on, holding her head high.
"Dude, our plan is screwed... This girl is impossible!!" Benji spoke sadly as he and Samrat came out from their hiding place behind the nearest pillar.
"Dude, we need to pick up the reins now... When the going gets tough, the tough get going!!" Samrat quipped optimistically to a doubtful Benji. Just then he spotted someone in the opposite corridor. "One sec, Benji... I'll be right back..." With that he rushed off, leaving Benji even more confused.
"Hey Gunjan, how are you?" Samrat startled her as he suddenly spoke up from behind her.
She put a hand on her chest to steady herself. "Samraat!!?? You scared me!!" She rolled her eyes and then resumed walking.
He chuckled at her expressions. "So, what did u decide about Benji's housewarming party?"
"You asked me the same question in today's morning session as well, Samrat!! And my answer is still the same ' 'I can't come unless my sister does!'" She smiled at his eager face. He really is one sweet guy!
"Yes, I did, but let's just say that I'm taking care of it... What's your answer now?" He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Shall we keep that on hold, till you have taken care of it?" Gunjan replied tactly. Uh-oh! Am I flirting with him?? Oh lord, I should get out of here.
Is she flirting with me?? Samrat's heart soared at this new knowledge.
"Umm...I need to go now...Bye! See you!" Gunjan left hurriedly from there, unsure of what she might end up saying next.
The moment she turned round the corner, she bumped into a solid figure. She was about to start lashing out at the person, when she saw who it was.
"Hey gorgeous... Going somewhere in a hurry?" RV spoke charmingly.
She felt herself blushing at his compliment. He leaned in closer. "I was just wondering, have you heard about Benji's party this weekend?"
She nodded affirmatively, unable to trust her voice as yet.
"So, are you going to be there? Coz u know, Im not gonna bother if u're not there..." He smiled at her.
"Umm...Actually my sister...she has to..."
"Oh, Who Nupur? Don't worry about her. Let's just say that I'm taking care of it."
Gunjan felt confused at the last sentence. She felt a sense of dejavu; like she had heard it before. What was going on?
She smiled at him nervously. "Ok..."
"See you then..." He winked at her and left.
She was left with mixed emotions. Was she glad that RV wanted her to come or scared? Just then Nupur's disapproving look crossed her mind. She shoved it aside. This was her life, and she was free to do what she wanted!! No more being bossed around.
With this thought, she left for her class.
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Mayank was waiting in the parking lot, when he saw Nupur coming towards her car. He was still a little pissed at her behaviour in the morning, but well, that was kinda expected; specially from a girl like Nupur Bhushan!! Well, now that he had taken up the task, he might as well put in all his strength!
He disappeared towards the other side of cars and waited for Nupur to come closer to hers before sneaking up behind her.
"Hey..."
"By God!!!!" She dropped her car keys in shock. He was amused at that phrase. 'By God'!!?? Who used such language?
"What are you smirking at?? You scared the crap out of me!!" She hmphed as she bent down to pick up her keys.
"I was just passing through, I saw you here, thought of saying 'Hey'" He finished with a smile.
"Hey!! Now do you mind?" She gestured towards the driver's door that he was leaning against.
"Will you go out with me?" He asked her, out of the blue.
"You don't give up, do you?" She crossed her arms against her chest.
"Not really!!" He smiled at her. She noticed his dimples for the first time. His smile was infectious as she felt her lips curving involuntarily into a smile.
"What's with this sudden interest?" She raised her eyebrows "Earlier, you never even bothered a 'hey' n now this? I don't get it!" She waited for his explanation.
"Oh, that's, ermm, just like that... I feel guilty about what I did, so ermm..." He fumbled at the unexpected and unprepared-for question.
"Save your breath! I forgive you. Now, May I?" She pointed to the door.
He moved away from her car, not knowing what to say next. He had never been good at lying, so why try now?
Nupur got into the car and just as she was about to back her car out into the drive-way, RV blocked her way, butting his Convertible right behind her car. Smirking cheekily, he got out of the car and started walking away.
"Heyy!!! What the hell!! Im trying to back my car and your stupid car's in my way...Do you mind??" Nupur screeched at him.
He shrugged and said "Not at all!" and threw his car keys in her direction, as if suggesting that she can move it herself.
Nupur gasped and then narrowed her eyes at him. "You're going to pay, Mr.Ranvijay..." She muttered under her breath and pressing hard on the accelerator, she backed her car, jamming right into his car.
RV turned around at the loud noise. "What have you done!!!??? You bitch!!!" He ran back to his car and saw the long dent on his precious baby.
Nupur made a sorry-looking, innocent face. "Whoops!! Didn't see it..."
And she turned her car around, making her way out of the lot. In the rear-view mirror, she could see Mayank laughing hard at what she had just done and she too giggled.
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Well, u all can see, how clueless Mr.Sharma is, when it comes to girls!!😆Waiting for ur comments!!😊
Edited by aparajita.s - 15 years ago