RiKara DRABBLE SERIES - RAABTA - DRABBLE FOUR UPDATED Pg ELEVEN - Page 3

Omkara sat on the bench near the small Nescafe shack of the faculty. One small paper cup of coffee in one hand and a note book in another. Sitting somewhere near the epicenter of the departments and the canteen and the library, he liked to observe people. This was one of the perks of being the professor. He got to learn a lot from high school pass outs and young graduates. He liked to observe the life which he as a kid, as a son, as brother, as a student never had. Its not that he never tried but life kept happening and then happened the artist in him.

He likes looking at the students who are stressed over minor assignments or internals. The brighter ones who always have something materialistic to discuss. The calm ones who have a purpose to fulfill and then some kids who come to college just for the sake of it. He knew all the students, all the kind of students. He remembers his teen days. The heartbroken lost soul, The druggie, The abused and the lonely. For him nothing much has changed. He was a rebel and that ... he still is.

Being a professor is more like hobby for him ... artistry is his profession. He accepted the job of being a teacher because he knew that there is a lot to be learnt out of it and he is also able to meet normal people who treat him like a normal person and not like any money minting machine. Such a job where he is able to guide nave minds, help distracted brains and teach young hearts makes him very happy.

Observing around to see young girls flaunting their dresses and jewelry and some guys concentrating on the music in their headphones Omkara's eyes stilled again on a familiar figure. A similar kind of complexion, the similar kind of expression. Ah. The late student she is. Sitting under the tree trying to collect all the scattered papers in a folder while puppies are trying to play with her. She kept the file in her bag and then caressed the head and ears of the puppies. She was hesitant and a bit scared too but she liked the puppies and the puppies liked her too. Reading her lips, Omkara smiled ... she was actually singing something for the puppies.

Omkara kept looking at her and sketched soft strokes in the last page of his notebook. The long hair carelessly tied in a hairband, the eyes conveying volumes ... the way her lips parted in pronunciation and even her hands had a conversation of their own. Her duppata almost slipping down her shoulder while she giggled with the puppies jumping in front of her. Omkara kept lining the nib of his pencil against the paper as if that was his only need. As if he needs to memorize her or she will fade away.

He did not pay attention but maybe the puppies had run away and now she was trying to read something even write. Another detail to his sketch was how she tucked a tress behind her ear and how beautiful her earring looked. She was concentrating, sitting still and an old woman called her. She saw the old woman and the basket of salted tamarind in her hand. She is the Imli Dadi of the college. She excitedly asked for some and paid the old woman in some coins.

What surprised Omkara was how she started having a conversation with that old woman and then she even made her sit beside her. Talked for some more time and then offered that woman a plate of the Canteen made vada pav. The vada pav which she had got for herself almost fifteen minutes ago. Imli dadi said no but this pretty girl insisted. She made her eat the Vada pav and even gave her water from her bottle. Such act of unconditional and unintentional kindness made Omkara feel overwhelmed. There was a different kind of warmth in the way a stranger treated a stranger. Kindness does exist and even does humanity.

Omkara smiled as he finished making a picture of the angel who was still busy with something. Finally she got up and picked up her things to move away from the place. She is a beautiful girl and more important than that was that she is a pure innocent soul but the most important thing was that right now he had to go and take a class.