Waiting for you!
College bole toh..
Masti …laughed Dia. I looked at Dia confused, did Dia Bhushan think college was masti? Really? That's a shocker! I would've expected Dia to say party or something. Then again, not so much of a shock considering Dia married Benji. Who would've thought the diva of the college Dia would marry the number one trouble maker of the college Benji ?
We were all meeting up after 10 years of college, in a reunion party organized by my friend Samrat, which was the only reason I was here. I still hated parties, get-togethers and socializing. I was still the same Mayank Sharma, except that now I was the Vice President of the firm I worked for. Fast track growth, that's what people said I had, but honestly, there was nothing fast about my growth in my company, I had worked hard, very hard, spending many hours at work unlike everyone who wanted to be with their families.
I had no family, except for my mother, she was the reason I still went home, however late in the night. I loved her very much and wanted her to have the very best in the world. Though she often complained about me not spending enough time with her, I know she understands. She was another reason I was here, she said I needed to relax once in a while. Relax here? She is funny, my mother!
It was a game they were all playing, college bole toh and you had to say the word that describes college for you. I wonder how it never occurred to any of them to say "studies" after all college was where you go to study, the base for your future. Apparently I'm the only one who believes that!
Uday had predictably said, "Canteen" to peals of laughter. Even I couldn't help breaking into a small smile, yes that was the Uday I remember from college. There were very few people actually, Uday, Dia, Benji, Annie, Chacko, Gunjan & Samrat, besides me.
The party was at Samrat and Gunjan's place, their 2 kids were running around creating havoc , clearly the kids had taken after their dad. I doubt Gunjan was ever a riot as a kid, that was more of her sister's department. I smiled in spite of myself. Wonder where shewas? She was not the one to miss get-togethers. She was the one who had pulled me along to many a get-together, back in college.
We were friends, she and I, though we started out hating each other, we did find a comfortable space together. She was the first friend I made in college, I don't take credit for it though, she was the reason we became friends. Otherwise my sarcasm would suffice to keep friendship seekers at bay. She always found the way, first I thought she dint get the sarcasm, later I realized, she really cared. My wall crumbled around her lively ways.
We sort of drifted apart after college. I went abroad to do my masters and she moved to Morena? I'm not sure! I dint value our friendship enough then. I do now. So that brings us to the real reason I'm here. Nupur. Nupur Bhushan.
I had hoped Nupur would be there, being Gunjan's sister, it was not unlikely that she come. I was wrong, she hadn't come. Maybe she was busy with her life and various commitments. Maybe she was married, had kids? Of course, we were touching 30, why wouldn't she be?
I suddenly regretting coming, I could've finished some important work if I had stayed back in the office.
I looked at Samrat flirting with Gunjan, as she grinned and served cool drinks. He had not changed much, she had changed though, she seemed more confident and way happier than I had ever seen her. I was glad at least they had a perfect life. Nupur was always worried about Gunjan and by default, about Samrat. She always worried that Samrat would never realize his love for Gunjan. I knew all about their story as I was the only one Nupur truly confided in.
The college bole toh question was put to Gunjan, who blushed crimson and said Love. Samrat side- hugged her while everybody else cheered.
Wonder what Nupur would've said, I thought idly looking at the various pictures around the house. There were many pictures of Nupur with Gunjan, Samrat or the kids. There were none of her own family though, wonder why?
Nupur looked radiant as ever in those pictures, I kept looking at them, why did I keep looking at them? I don't know. Maybe I was missing my friend today. Maybe it was something else. No, it was nothing else, I was just missing my friend today.
Gunjan offered me the tray, with a smile, I took a glass and smiled in return. I wanted to ask her about her sister, but refrained. I heard a loud crash, and with a jerk a part of the content of the glass in my hand was on my shirt. I Sighed. The kids were up and running like nothing had happened, like my white shirt had not just turned partially orange.
Gunjan looked horrified and came forward to help, she pointed the way to the washroom. I motioned to her to continue and told her that I would find my way on my own. Nobody else would notice that I was gone, I'll just wash my shirt, dry it and leave for the day.,
I took off my shirt, as I washed the shirt in the washbasin. The only thing I could think of was the way Nupur would pull my leg and say I looked hot in a vest. Only she could say such things and get away with it! I shook my head, coming here had been a mistake; it had unleashed a monster I had kept well hidden inside my heart. Every movement here had reminded me of Nupur. I used the hair dryer on the damp portion and left it to dry on the towel hanger and stepped out briefly.
And it happened. I collided into someone, the person was about to fall and I had her in my arms. I blinked in disbelief, like it had happened a hundred times before Nupur had fallen into my arms, eyes closed. Maybe I was imagining things? She wasn't here really, was she? She slowly opened her eyes, looked deeply into mine and her lips curved into a smile.
That was the first time I have fallen in the past ten years! She said as we straightened ourselves. I was a little embarrassed; I rushed in to find my shirt. She kept passing comments about standing in a vest to impress her just because she liked it and about how I had purposely tripped her to hold her like I always did. She was going on and on like the 10 years never happened.
If she was flustered on meeting me, she dint show it. She was her confident self. She looked very beautiful, her dressing was chic and hair open (just the way I loved it). I couldn't help staring at her as she spoke. It had indeed been a long time.
Suddenly, I regretted not asking Samrat more about Nupur . I dint know anything about her while from her conversation, it was obvious she knew everything about me! I felt like an unprepared presenter at a Business conference.
Besides, seeing Nupur after all those years had numbed all my senses, I was lost in the true sense of the word. No word seemed right to use, no gesture seemed right. I opened my mouth a few times to ask about her family but couldn't bring myself to do so. I seemed to have gotten into a bit of a mess.
It was later in the night and Nupur was still talking to me. I gathered that she had become a fashion designer, a real good one at that. She had in fact opened her 10th boutique only the day before which is why she was late for the party.
I was not much of a talker, but with Nupur around, it felt like my tongue had disappeared completely. Usually I shut her up with my sarcastic remarks, but today I just wanted to hear every word she said. It had been so long. I realized how much I had missed her.
College bole toh the question had finally come to me, Nupur, I said absent mindedly.
Nupur turned around and looked at me, the others looked at each other gleefully like they had caught us kissing or something! What? Did I just hear that? Dia wanted to know.
I looked up shocked, yes I did mean that, that is what college had really meant. Truly. However there was this small issue of Nupur's reaction.
She walked out of the room, I looked on helplessly, should I give her space or go behind her? Samrat gestured to me to follow her. For once I took his advice. I rushed out of the room, looked around for her frantically. She was standing in the balcony, her hair flying in the breeze. I felt an overwhelming desire to tuck a fringe behind her ears. I resisted and waited for her to speak.
Nupur, I called out softly. She dint look at me. I heard a faint hmmm, I was encouraged to speak further. My entire college life was about you Nupur, there was nothing wrong in what I said, you were my closest friend remember. She turned her eyes boring into mine.
Is that the only reason Mayank? I was a little taken aback at the question. I dint answer. Be true to yourself Mayank, I want an honest answer to my question.
Memories came swirling to me, the first time I had met her, fought with her, all the fun times I had spent with her. Life seemed to be perfect when she was around. For a long time I assumed, that was how college life was, real life was nothing like that. Then I imagined Nupur in my life, it seemed perfect yet again. I saw myself coming home early just to see her smile, I saw my mom truly happy in the company of the one person who she loved as much as me.
I was too overcome by emotions to speak. I had realized, after all these years that my happiness was with the girl in front of me.
I love you Nupur.
There was only so much I could say then, I wanted to apologize for not realizing earlier, for giving her so much pain, but just then I just looked at her hoping she would read the emotions in my eyes.
She hugged me, tears streaming down her eyes. 10 years Mayank, I have waited for 10 years to hear this from you. I love you too. I always have.
We stood like that savouring the sweetness of the unexpected moment that life had thrown at us.
After a while, we went back and joined the party, though there were many questions, we chose to ignore them and pretended like nothing out of the way had happened.
Finally the question was for Nupur! So Nupur, College bole toh?
Mayank , she said, blushed profusely and hid herself on my chest.
Everybody cheered loudly as I slowly put my arm around her and grinned happily.
Life had just become perfect. Not the Mayank Sharma perfect, the- Nupur Bhushan & Mayank Sharma -perfect!
Anupamaa
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