SS(MG): MY SIDE OF STORY epilogue page 70 - Page 6

Part 2 (HIS SIDE OF STORY)

27^th June 2001

Finally 2 yrs a s a guest faculty as I complete my post graduation I have been appointed as Assistant Professor now. I joined NIT-B 2 years back while I were pursuing my M. Tech, just after completing my B. Tech in Chemical Engg from NIT-J. it felt so good I have also enrolled myself for PhD under the guidance of Mrs. Bhaskar. I will be teaching 3^rd Sem, 6^th Sem, and 7^th Sem Chemical engineering and 1^st Sem, 4^th Sem, 5^th Sem food technology.

7^th July 2001

Today 1st yrs were having their 1st class, as ragging has been banned ther was no tension, we only have to keep an eye on the students, I was allotted to watch the students from the first floor corridor, the girls wore a pale blue kurti, navy blue salwar and navy blue duppatta whereas boys wore pale blue shirts with navy blue trousers.

They were escorted by a kind elderly professor Mr. Singh, the Dean Student affairs to their respective classrooms which were on the first floor itself. As I watched them walk in I paid special attention to the Chemical and FT crowd after all they were the students I have to teach, a girl in Chemical branch caught my attention, she was beautiful her almond eyes had a sparkle in them, I was not able to remove my gaze from her face, my eyes followed her until she disappeared.

10^th July 2001

I were to check the data base of the first year students and tally it with the hard copies, each student has submitted number of documents and 3 passport size photos, all I have to do is to check that they were correct and notify in case of discrepancy. As I were going through I saw her photo in one of the files, I took the file and read it, her name was Geet Handa from HSPur, I looked at the photograph she looked cute with two pigtails and a naughty smile, a smile crept on my lips, I looked here and there and took one photo from the set and slipped it in my purse. It felt good.

10^th Aug 2001

Today was the 4^th paper, my duty was in the room opposite to hers, I peeked in her room before entering mine, she was talking to her friend and setting her things on the allotted seat, I silently wished her luck and headed to the allotted class, when 25 mins were left Mr. Singh came in and asked me to exchange his duty with mine, I said ok and he told me the room number, it was her room, I felt good and headed there, when I entered the room she was fidgeting with her pen, maybe she had finished her paper, I checked her and greeted the co faculty and turn to look in her direction, I were shocked, she was openly drooling over me, the way she looked at me I became conscious, I did not look back at her but I could for the whole 20 mins feel her gaze on me, this girl has a nerve I sighed.

Throughout the coming months she followed my routine she use to stalk me as and when possible, and I pretend to hardly paid attention, the good thing was that she never missed her classes, she was an intelligent girl and very balanced also, instead of getting effected by the infatuation in the negative way, she moved in a positive way, she topped both the semesters and I felt proud for her

17^th July 2002

Finally 3^rd SEM, I had continuous three classes on Thursdays in second half combined with a lab I were very happy but did not know what will I do for the admiration I have for her, her overall performance and her composure has made me deeply attached to her, as the classes started she was never able to concentrate and end up making blunders. I felt bad for her, I knew I were the only reason for her failure, I were greatly irritated by myself for becoming the cause of her failure; but sometimes it seemed that she purposely made mistakes to attract my attention, I would shout on her a lot as I did not know what else to do

One day Mrs. Bhaskar our HOD has asked me to find why she were lacking only in my subject, I were ashamed that he had to hear because of me, how can I tell the elderly lady that it was all because of me that she was failing; I called her and she came; she knocked my cabin door, "sir, may I come in" I looked up she looked pretty as usual; I nodded and said, "sit down" she was again openly drooling on me but as I instructed her she looked at me and sat down and said, "thank you sir" my heart was thudding it felt like it would jump out, she had been near me many times but in classroom or lab but this cabin was way too small, I controlled myself and said, "Ms. Handa, I am told that you lag only in my subject" she looked embarrassed and did not utter a single word, I sighed, "are you not able to understand what I teach" she am sure went again to her la la land, I sighed and were irritated by her openness so I called in a loud voice, "Geet, look at me" shit what have I done I never take her first name, it was way too personal, I rubbed my temple and closed my eyes in frustration, "what is your problem, Geet" not again but I continued, "answer me what is your problem" I were annoyed with myself she did not like it and said, "no problem Sir" I shrugged and said, "your result" she interrupted, "sir I promise to get good marks in finals" I looked at her defeated, "ok, you may go" she reluctantly rose from her seat and said, "good day sir" but it seemed as if she were saying I love you sir, will you marry me, I scolded myself and nodded and said " same to you miss" she smiled and left.

And as she promised me she got maximum marks in my subject and in viva too she excelled, when her viva was going I left purposely as I knew my presence made her lose concentration. And as expected she got good marks.

Another year dragged by with me checking her and vice versa, my attraction to her was not obvious but hers was not hidden from me, though she was particular no one knew about it in the college, not because she was a good actress but because most of the girls drooled on me. in fact her friend, Pinky knew everything about her feelings, As Jan 2004 arrived and she entered 6^th Sem, the story of 3^rd Sem was repeated I called her again and as then she promised me, same went with 7^th Sem.

After the 7^th SEM she left for our 3 months training to return for our final exams. The day she left I felt very down, I missed her, though in every vacation she used to go to visit her family but not this long for full 2 months, it was at this weak time that Adi, my best friend discovered my attraction towards her.

It so happened that when a fortnight passed after her going on training I felt very down, I went to his house for the weekend and told him that I have fallen for my student, he teased me, I showed him the photograph I had in my wallet, he was surprised to see it, and said, "Maan don't you think she is too young: I were puzzled then I remembered that this photograph was from her admission form, may be taken when she was in 12^th std or so, and I told him the same, he asked for her latest picture and I told him I will show him once he visits me at my place.

Later in the evening I took him to a jeweler shop, I wanted to purchase a ring for her, Adi teased me that first I should confirm her feelings, but I were very sure and finally brought a golden band with Maaneet inscribed on it, Adi made fun of me, then we went for dinner, I told him that I have submitted my thesis and my Viva went well, I would be awarded PhD any time soon. He was very happy for me, as we were returning from the restaurant we took the escalator down and I don't know how but my lace got stuck in the moving part and I tripped falling down the full flight, I were taken immediately to the hospital.

I ended up having a serious back injury, doctors explained that my the gap between L4 and L5 has been reduced by few micro millimeters, I was put on complete bed rest, with weight tied on both my legs, it was painful, but I recovered in a fortnight, I was able to walk but with a slight limp, which they said will go in few days, but, yes there was a but, no more tai chi sessions for me, I have to restrain myself from exercises, all I were allowed were light exercises to keep myself fit, I have to sleep on hard bed, I would soon recover to normal, no one will be ever able to tell I had any injury, but another but, I have to take precautions throughout my life.

When I were leaving the hospital, with my parents, I realized how bad my condition was, I was almost handicapped, I have to walk leaning on both of my brothers Dev and Vicky, my mother had tears in her eyes seeing her healthy son limping, at KM, Adi gave me the ring I had brought that day and I remembered her sweet innocent face, I punched the wall, I had tears in my eyes, Adi patted my shoulder and rolled my wheel chair and helped me in bed, I knew nothing will be right now.

I tried hard and doctors were surprised they said it was my willpower that helped me recover so fats, I have to be on my feet before April, I did not want anyone to know at the college that I were almost a handicap, because if anyone knows it will mean that she will also know my condition, and then she will have to choose, and whether she chooses me or not I will be hurt, if she rejected me I will be broken and if she accepts me I will never be able to forgive myself, so I have to be there and pretend that I am all right, I forced Adi to print a wedding card, and he did after all I blackmailed him to take my life otherwise.

I came back to college in April, everyone knew here that I was on leave to relax after completing my PhD, no one questioned me, I would observe her from a distance and made it a point to confine myself to my cabin as I knew she will not come there unless asked to.

Finally she had her last paper in May 2005, I knew that she will not leave without trying to meet me, and I also knew that she did not have enough courage to try twice, so she came to meet me but when she reached my cabin, my peon Bachchu Singh told her that I was not available today and for next two days, she sighed and left, as soon as she turned to leave I could not help myself from feeling guilty, the look on her face made my heart cry, as she was crossing the corridor she turned for the last time, I immediately sat down to hide myself but something told me that she had seen me and I smiled that she would have given up thinking it as her imagination.

14^th Nov 2005

She was back at NIT-B to attend the convocation, she won a gold medal in academics for her outstanding results, I could not help myself from watching her take the medal, I took my camera which had her enormous photographs and as the VC gave her the medal she looked at the crowd I knew she was searching for me; she saw me standing near the door a bit relaxed she turned to take the medal; I clicked her photo and left.

I knew she will come to me, so I made myself available in the cabin, I told Bachchu Singh to tell me as soon as she enters the corridor, the old man was by now skeptical, he was the only person who knew my interest in her, he gave me a fuming look and nodded, he after few minutes told me that she was coming I turned my back to the door and pretended to be over busy, she knocked the door, "may I come in sir", my heart skipped several heart beats I was listening to her melodious voice after so long but I did not look back, and said, "yes" she came in and waited for me to turn I so much wanted to congratulate her, but I did not, I kept quite not sure what to say, then I heard her, "Good afternoon sir" I composed myself and turned, "yes, Ms. Handa you need something", I am sure she was taken aback by my rude tone and politely said, "no, sir" , I gave me a stern look and said, "then" she sighed I could see she had tears in her eyes , I cursed myself for hurting her but it was for her good as well as for my good, she finally said, "sorry sir, good day sir", I looked at me and said, "good day" and looked at the door, as if hinting her to leave whereas all I wanted was to pour my heart out to her, she understood the hint and without waiting a second more turned and left, I could see her running out I am sure she would be crying on Pinky's shoulder.

I knew her well so I knew she will come for a last try, and this time I did not trust myself, I knew that if she will come to me again I will not be able to control myself, I still carried that ring in my pocket, so when I saw Pinky in the college I implemented my plan, I took stack of papers and files and kept the maroon card in it then as she was coming to the corridor I came out of my cabin and collided with her making the pile fall, then I collected all the spilled things with her help and hurried out of her eyeshot leaving the card behind, I hid behind the pillar and saw her picking up the card, she first looked in the direction I left then at the card and stopped as she read the words, my work was done , now Geet will not come back.

Dec 2005

I was not able to work more in the college every nook and corner reminded me of her, I gave up and left the job and joined my father's Khurana Chemicals, I also told my parents that if they wanted me to stay at KM they should stop thinking about my marriage

2011

We are now a big Khurana family with both my brothers Dev and Vicky married to NT and Pari respectively, they also have a child each, Devesh and Paineeta.

Adi has also married but I did not attend his marriage and after his marriage I broke all ties with him, why? Just because he was married to Pinky and if she by any chance comes to know what had happened to me she will definitely tell Geet, though I am sure that by now Ms. Geet Handa would be Mrs. Geet someone

hit the like TAB

comment as much as possible

this my first attempt to type so so much

encourage me

love me

support me

help me