Orientation
Aradhna flicked away a stray strand of hair from her face, tucking it in to her long braid. She was irritated enough without having to deal with annoyances like hair. Why the university couldn't have put Bhavna and her in the same faculty, she couldn't understand. On top of that, the maps they provided freshmen with were no help whatsoever. It was like navigating through a maze of nothing but buildings, confused students and more buildings.
She sighed in relief as she saw a cafe up ahead. She sped up her pace, already dreaming of the multiple items she could buy to make today all that much better. It had been like this for the past two days. Sleeping over at the campus for a week was not Aradhna's idea of fun.
Stepping through the door, she welcomed the cool breeze from the air conditioner that immediately started cooling both her body heat and her temper. But her temper flared back up again when she noticed the long line to the cashier. Tired, she slumped at the end of the line, annoyed at the world all over again.
Reaching the front of the line, Aradhna opened her purse, whipped out a couple of bills and without looking at the cashier's face ordered what she wanted, her eyes down, her fingers fumbling with her purse.
"Double latte."
"Aren't you going to say please?"
Aradhna eyes whipped to his, her hair falling, as in in slow motion from one side to another. He stood behind the counter, smirking at the enthusiastic response he was getting from her end. Her anger rose.
"Excuse me? I am up to here with everything the faculty is throwing at us, have been walking around all day, am sharing a room with a girl who seems to think painting her nails at 4am is a perfectly fine and I can not find my way around! If you expect me to say please, you have another thing coming!"
She ended with her finger at his nose, red in the face from the yelling. He smiled and reached for a cup.
"Double latte you said?"
She fumed, as he smiled and taking his sweet time prepared her order. Handing over her a straw along with her latte, he smiled at her once more. She narrowed her eyes.
"Thank you."
"Oh it was my pleasure."
Steaming. she turned and stalked back out of the cafe much to the amusement of everyone around her.
~~~
A couple of hours later, Aradhna sat on a park bench, not really watching what was happening around her, lost deep in thought. Another day gone, two more to go. It seemed like the closer she got to the end of the week, the farther it ran from her. Someone snapped in front of her face.
"Thinking about me?"
Shocked, she looked up and with a burst of annoyance she noticed the guy from the cafe standing. He smiled down at her and sat down. She asked him;
"Who asked you to sit down?"
He grinned at her. "Your eyes."
Aradhna felt a blush creep up her cheeks but she refused to let him see. She turned her face at and awkward angle much the the amusement to the guy sitting next to her. He cleared his throat.
"I just wanted to say sorry for being annoying earlier. I know what it's like, just a year ago that was me. But trust me, it gets better. Soon, you'll be wondering what you were fretting about in the first place."
Against her will, Aradhna felt a smile work her stiff muscles. "It's ok, I shouldn't have snapped."
He stood up, the the disappointment of Aradhna.
"So.."
"Yea..."
He shuffled his feet. "I should get going."
She smiled up at him, "Thanks for the latte."
He grinned at her and started to walk away. A second later, he back tracked much to the surprise but instant pleasure of Aradhna.
"Hey...do you want me to help you around tomorrow? I'm not working so..."
For the first time in days, she felt a genuine smile work its way on to her lips. "I'd like that."
He held out a hand. "Mayank."
"Aradhna."
He grinned, unable to hide his excitement. Waving at her he left, leaving her to come to the conclusion, that orientation is not as bad as it sounds.
***
A little something for Radzie di, who has orientation next week! :) Good luck! 🤗
--shabz
EDIT!
One more shot I wrote today!
Link: http://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1207028#22733277
Edited by shabo24 - 16 years ago
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