FF: Bound by the UNKNOWN - I'm BACK :D - Page 16

"Erm excuse me...could you possibly tell me where EB2 is?" Geet asked a passing by middle-aged person who seemed old enough to be a professor.

The person just shrugged and walked off. WALKED OFF??? What.....that was totally uncalled for....how could someone just......just.....walk off on Geet Handa?? Not good! How dare someone do this...... Ruk abhi uski khabar leti hoon....kahan gaye woh.......*as she looks around for that ignorant person.......but she couldn't find him.......she walked round but no luck – she had no better choice than to give up* Geet walked around aimlessly - looking at the huge building trying to figure out which way this EB2 could be. She saw the sign "reception" and instantly thought that someone would be able to help. She walked in and followed the signs leading to the reception - to say that everything seemed like a maze would be underestimating the place. Each wall was covered with paintings of.....what exactly.......there were ...........portraits of people....but no one that Geet could quite recognise as being from history..........but she did admit that whoever did these certainly didn't seem to be a professional of some sort - perhaps it could be a display of the pupil's work.....hmmm possibly.

Geet finally reached the reception desk and looked around to see if anyone could help her. She saw a rather skinny looking girl, who seemed more involved in her nails and hair than her work. Geet looked at her once and instantly knew, she couldn't possibly be working here - perhaps she was one of those summer part time volunteers, otherwise who in their right mind would hire such a full of herself type of girl for such a reputable university's receptionist..........chaddo ji.......main bhi konsi soch main par gayi..........I just need to get the directions to the goddamn lecture....vaise bhi it's probably started by now.........and by the time I make it there....it'll be too late to enter...not to mention rude. Ufff........Main phir shuru hogayi.......oh hooo......

Geet: Excuse me???

No response

Geet: Excuse me....helloo??

The "girl" looked up this time and gave Geet a this-better-be-good-or-else-type-of-look Geet ignored her rather stupid look on her face and went in for the kill (as they would say)

Geet: This is my first day here, and I'm a little lost it seems, Can you tell me how to get to EB2..........please(though not really wanting to add the latter) and plastered a smile which showed something along the lines of: I-know-you-want-this-to-end-as-soon-and-as-much-as-I-do-so-let's-cut-the-crap-and-get-down-to-business type.

The girl looked at Geet once over before letting out a sigh and handing her a piece of paper with the world's smallest map anyone could imagine. It had the floor plan of the campus and had a legend on the side for the key places a student would need to know. Needless to add it did not have EB2 labelled as Geet would have appreciated. Geet went back to the girl and asked her where EB2 was.....AGAIN.....but this time the girl just looked up at her and smiled. Geet could have surely punched her there and then, this girl was really testing her patience and to top it – it wasn't helping that she was running extremely late. Oh......why was she even bothering......she left the reception room in a huff and walked in the hallway with the hope to catch someone and this time get a proper answer for her rather simple sa sawaal. Gosh......

Geet had just been walking whilst looking at the map hoping to miraculously spot EB2, but it wasn't happening. She heard some commotion further down the corridor. It seemed like a group of students were just as lost as her. She decided asking them at this point was pointless as they must be under the same tension as her, and if they were as lost as her, they certainly wouldn't know where this EB2, which was now turning out to be some top secret place, would be. She decided to walk past them, giving the impression that she was busy, in case she was stopped by someone in the crowd asking her for directions.

As she passed them, she couldn't help but eavesdrop.....it was a good thing she did.........because she heard someone mention something about her lecture.......the lecture she was meant to be at some 10 minutes ago. Geet stopped in her tracks, she turned to look around and listen in on what the answer to the question being asked was. She noticed a tall woman point towards a set of doors. That was more than enough...... Geet instantly sprinted towards the doors and noticed it led to a staircase that went down. At once Geet strode down the stairs but soon came to a halt.

What the ........????....Geet thought as she felt the hairs on her back rise.....a chill went through her spine......her hands were turning cold.....she heard the door open and instantly jumped. But she then heard voices of people approaching and breathed a sigh of relief as she realised the group of students she had seen earlier in a group were now making their way down. This meant she was not lost.....she was in the right place but then....this.......noo.....Geet deep breaths deep breaths.....chal........no darr-ing.......so what if it's a bit too quiet here, or too dark......so what if there are boxes all over........haan.....it could be storage.....na......or or maybe some new delivery..haan...chal Geet.......all you have to do....is open the door and....and .....walk...chal Geet...come on....Geet tried to justify her thoughts and stepped up to the doors that seemed like the only exit to this dungeon type place. She opened the doors but her himmat soon died out as she heard the sound of jingles echoing everywhere. Geet immediately began to feel sweat approach her neck. She was soo tempted to turn and run back up those stairs........she was just about to execute her thoughts when she saw the doors open and a mass of students just burst through them. She realised the group that had supposedly started their way down were now just a few centimetres behind, helping her calm down. She saw a few girls pass over a smile and walk past her. She followed suit and began looking around at this place that had seemed like a dungeon less than 10 seconds ago but now seemed to be just another floor - well a basement floor with rooms either side.

Geet slowed down in pace as she tried to look for someone who seemed friendly enough and as nervous as her to ensure she had some person she could rely on to sit next to and possibly be her new "friend".

"Geet" someone whispered

Geet turned around.....but failing to see anyone she possibly knew......turned back disappointed.

"Geet"........Geet turned again......but still seeing no one turned back determined to not turn again.

"Geet.......helloo.......Geet...." Geet was determined this time, she was not going to turn around – someone was obviously playing a stupid prank on her.

"GEET" – whoever it was, was certainly in for it this time as Geet turned with greater determination than ever to sort out whichever ullu da patha...kotha it was.........that dared to pester...no no dared to even THINK to pester Geet Handa!!!!

"GEET – omgggggg soooo long..........how have you been? I haven't seen you in so long....."

Geet was surprised.....her gussa instantly changed into pure khushi.......she was now face to face with her school friend that she hadn't seen since last so many years. Oh wow... babaji tusi great ho.......aapki Geet kahi akeli na feel kare toh aapne Sanju ko bhej diya – wah re wah...I love you babaji.

Geet: SANJANA!!!! OMG...........You don't know how glad I am to see you here! Oh how nice!!!!! *as she proceeded to give Sanju a hug*

Sanjana otherwise known as Sanju – had been good friends with Geet and Jai in school times. She used to live in the same neighbourhood but soon moved home and with that changed school. Initially they had tried to keep in contact, but the distances and busy lives tended to act as a deewar and the two eventually lost contact. Geet was over the moon.......she had missed Sanju greatly when she left, and it took Jai quite some time to get Geet back to her bubbly self....probably why they were now so close as Jai took the place of Sanju in Geet's heart, but nothing could stop Geet's love for Sanju and today of all days, she was sooo happy to finally see her rocking friend after all this while.

"Omg Geet, I've been calling you for so long- and you have just been ignoring me! I was beginning to think you had forgotten me!!"

Geet: What rubbish........how could I forget you – you're my one and only crazy friend! How could I possibly forget you- NEVER!!!! But...how comes you're here.......??

Sanju: Ohh hahaha.......you haven't changed a single bit Geet!!! Oh I'm soo happy today.....hmmmm well I could ask you the same missy.....well I go here - to this uni.....and doing a chem. Degree...but what about you.......I mean I knew you never wanted to enter the architecture business but still......wait wait wait....no way........you too???

Geet: YES my luvly....I'm doing a chem. degree too!!!!! Ohh this is just fab....us two together – again.....the fun, masti – all oh yes yes yes.........Thank you babaji *as Geet took Sanju in another embrace and started going around in circles*

"Geet....geet... calm down.....uffooo....everyone's looking at us...Geet....." *Sanju tried to get Geet to quieten down.*

Geet: Sorry sorry.....par tujhe to pata........I mean....you know na...me and my excitement....hehehe......oh I am soo happy today...acha....tell me... you living on campus or have you got yourself accommodation??

Sanju: Well I was meant to be living on campus but my cousin just moved over and so dad said it was best if I live with her and my uncle. Acha you tell – how's everyone? Uncle, Aunty....and.....J..J...Jai.........

Geet: Everyone is good my dear......and J...J...Jai..*mimicking Sanju and pulling her leg*.........omg he is going to be totally gutted when I tell him about meeting you today.....hahaha he's gonna regret not coming back earlier....hehehe

Sanju: Coming back...regret?? what....*looking confused*

Geet: Ohh sorry sorryyy....yeah erm......he's in India at the moment.....woh it was our cousin's wedding and he got held back...but he'll be back soon.......he's got to start something on his portfolio before he moves off to uni..........trust me when I tell him you're in my uni – he is going to cry his eyes out at rejecting the offer from this uni hahahahaha

Sanju: Rejecting...you mean...he's not....not coming here.........*with a pinch of sadness coming across her face - not evident enough to Geet of course*

Geet: Nooo.....thank god yaar....varna I'll be stuck with him 24/7...and plus this time I get to spend time with you all to myself....no Jai to butt in!!!! Oh woweeeeeee *Geet said with genuine happiness and joy evident on her face* ohh Jai is going to go totally crazy when he finds out you're here......oh this is sooo perfect!!!!!

Sanju: Ohhh........*Sanju seemed distracted all of a sudden*

Geet noticed the change in her mood and asked her, but Sanju just let it go and motioned her to enter the class as the lecturer now opened the door for them to enter.

Geet didn't pay much attention to it as she was so glad to see her friend after so long that she didn't want anything to spoil the moment she had just experienced. She entered the lecture hall and heard the same jingle again........she then realised and had a wide grin on her face – as if laughing at herself within........for being a darpok kahin gi........getting scared with her own jingling payal!! As if anyone could be more than stupid than her! With that thought....she proceeded to sit next to Sanju and met the few girls that Sanju introduced to her as being on the same course as them.