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Chapter 2 -
"So, Ms. Heer Mann, you are here for an interview huh?" asks Prem, in a cold voice. Really different from his warm voice, 2 years back.
I feel a ting of sadness, as I walk towards the desk, not able to say anything. Not even being able to take my eyes of his angel like face. His perfect face.
"Answer me, Heer Mann. Are you here for an interview?" asks Prem, for the 2nd time, a little louder this time. Annoyed.
I don't say anything, and quietly walk to his desk. Afraid that he might bring the topic of our break-up up again. I didn't want to talk about the break-up. I knew that it would cause me and him more pain. Lost in my thoughts, I keep my eyes down, playing nervously, with the papers in my file. I don't dare look up. Afraid to look into his brown chocolaty eyes. I knew, that if I looked into his eyes for much, I won't be able to control my feelings that I had pressed down for 2 long years, in my heart. And somehow, I knew he will not be able to control his feelings aswell. Prem's expression hardens and he takes his feet of from the table in a jiffy and slams the glass table, hard with his fists. He stands up, angry, and his chair rocking back and forth. Shocked, and not knowing where the loud sound came from, I nervously drop my file and the papers go flying in the air.
"Ms Heer Mann, don't you understand that I am talking to you?" he says, very loudly and harshly that I had to hold the table for support. My ears start to ring.
"S -- sorry sir." I reply back. Stammering.
"Now, are you ready for your interview?" he asks with a, loud, but not harsh voice.
"Y -yes sir. I..I -just need to collect my papers." I reply.
Prem doesn't reply and he just smiles at me. Failing to understand, if he will say anything else or not, I bend down and start to collect my papers. One by one, as I am collecting the papers, Prem comes and steps on my ring finger. I let go of the paper that I was about to pick up with that hand and stop myself from yelling out in pain. I clutch my stomach with my free hand, and then put the same hand on my mouth, tears, not taking the name to stop rolling down my eyes. I look up at him, my eyes, bright red and filled with tears and he just smiles at me. Doing the "Tsk-tsk-tsk" expression.
"Pick your papers up with one hand." he says, still rubbing his shoe on my ring finger, brutely. He keeps stepping on my finger, and this time, not being able to bare the pain, I yell out in pain.
"Aaahhhhhh! Prem...please. Please....please stop stepping on my finger..." I yell out.
"Oooo...poor Heer. Dard ho raha hai? Dekho, I'll do one thing, I will leave your 'precious' little finger, if you pick up all your papers with one hand. Now, before, I break your finger completely, pick up your papers." he says, sarcastically.
"Per..." I try to argue but I am shut off, with Prem, putting his finger on his mouth in a "Sshhh" manner and then pointing at the papers.
As I trying to hold back my pain and tears, start to pick up my papers, I remember the first time I had met him, in collage.
* * *
I was walking down the collage hallway, going through my english essay notes, I don't notice when I suddenly bump into someone and slip. My papers go flying up in the air, and I don't know when, before I slipped and fell, someone, probably the same person that had bumped into me, caught me before I fell to the ground. I close my eyes, scared for the outcome, but when I knew it was safe to open my eyes again, and knew that I was not going to fall, I open my eyes, slowly, and stare at that guy. Prem. It had been Prem. A t-shirt and jeans, his hair messy, but the same charm and cuteness, it was indeed him. We stare into each other's eyes, unknown to the rest of the world. Unknown to the fact that someone was even staring at us, or that my essay notes were falling like flowers on us. The moment was right, the people were right and the feelings were right. I tighten my hands around his shoulder, and he tightens his hands around my waist, his knee supporting my back. It was then, I knew that this guy, who had just saved me would be there with me...forever.
We both snap out of our pose and stand perfectly straight. Staring at each other, when we notice that people had just clicked pictures of us, in the famous 'filmy' pose. As an avid watcher of films, I had always thought that this pose seemed soo fake and unrealistic, but I had never thought that it would ever happen to me and that this would be one of the best moments that I would ever remember.
I quickly straighten my hair and my yellow, cotton, and without any heavy designs, just simple anarkali style dress. He(Prem) straightens his dress, and his air. I bend down immedietly, even before he can look at me again and start to collect my notes. Working as fast as I could, I noticed that I was not getting enough done. My face was red, and my mind kept rotating around what had just happened. With that, I never noticed, when or how Prem started to quietly pick the notes with me. Not knowning what was happening, I look up to see him staring at me, as we both continue to pick up the notes. We both stare at each other, lost in our own thoughts, that we never noticed when our hands started to come close to pick one sheet of paper.
Our hands touch, and it sends electricity to run through my body. I quickly pull my hand away from his and stare at him. He smiles at me, a smile to die for, and he stands up. Prem hands the papers over to me, and I quickly grab them and turn around to leave when he stops me. Even though, I didn't feel like stopping, my feet immedietly stopped, as if I was being pulled towards me. Slowly, and as non-embarrassingly, as I could, I turn around to face him.
"Hi! I am Prem Juneja." He begins, taking his hand out for me to shake.
"Hello, Heer Mann" I take his hand and we shake hands.
"Erm, I just came back from Canada yesterday, and I was wondering, do you have time to show me around the collage? Main yahan per naya aaya hoon na and that is why, even my hindi is not that good." he says, and I stare at him blankly and at his attempts to make friends.
"Er...ya sure. What class are you looking for?" I ask, not trying to sound rude.
"English. Ms. Banerjee" he replies.
Ooops! He shouldn't have said that. I was going to the same english class.
"Er, you know...I am going there aswell. So I guess I can take you there." I reply, nervously.
"Ok, cool"
And with that, we walk off to class.
* * *
As I remembered the time that he had helped me pick up my papers, and today, when he stood there watching as I picked up my papers with one hand, I forget that I had already collected all the papers. The pain of him stepping on my finger, doesn't return to me, but all that returns is the memory of Prem helping me pick up my english notes and me falling into his arms.
I put the file on the table and look up at Prem. "Now, would you please excause me....sir?" I say, emphazing the word sir.
"Good job." he says and he finally lets go of my ring finger and goes and sits back on his desk.
I get up, holding my finger and clutching the table for support. I wipe my tears off my face, and quietly sit on the chair. Prem, who was busy looking through my file, looks up at me.
"Did anyone ask you to sit?" he states, more as a statement then a question.
"N -- no." I say and quietly, get up from the chair and stand behind it.
Prem closes the file with a loud thud and looks directly towards me. "I just want to be clear about one thing. I don't like it when people do things without my permission, or don't tell me things that they are supposed to. I feel very cheated." he says, staring me, directly in the eyes.
~End of Chapter 2~
Anupamaa
