Chapter 4
When sanjay left tamabaram he had no idea that the woman he traveled with that evening would impact his life for ever. After that day whenever he met sandhya she smiled at him and tried to be friendly, but sanjay never gave in. He found it hard to believe girls , few of his friends had had love affairs and all he saw in his friends was despair. According to sanjay girls were dangerous if you moved closely with them. None of the girls whom he or his friends had ragged had tried to be friendly with them, but sandhya was exceptional. He was plain shocked when she asked him to escort her to tambaram, he could see the innocence and sweetness in the girls eyes. But sanjay decided be cautious he didn't want to give into any emotional thoughts about any girl.
Another month passed by in the lives of the carefree youth, the ragging rituals and periods of concentrated studies all continued as the freshers were becoming bolder and seniors were becoming friendlier with their juniors. Sandhya was one of the smart and witty girl in her class, she was talkative and made friends very easily. By now many boys had tried to propose her or ask her for a date , but her answer was always no. She did not want to be trapped into the net of love, she wanted to enjoy her college life without any restrictions. Falling in love means she had to conform to many standards and rules formulated by her and her lover, she didn't want that to happen. She made friends just not in first year but seniors as well and it was both girls and boys. A talented and sweet girl she was, it was not a tough thing for her. But she had a tough nut to crack and that was sanjay, her equations about men were obviously wrong. If it was somebody else she had asked to help her out on that dreadful day he would be asking her out on a date by now..but sanjay was different. Rather he was totally indifferent and that irked her, she tried to talk to him but he never responded. She gave up thinking that some day he might open up and they could be good friends until that disgusting day came along.
It was valentines day, there was half hour for the first hour to start. An angry sanjay was running up the steps of the freshers building that was separate from the main building. He ran into one of the classes and called out for sandhya. Sandhya was hurriedly finishing up her Engineering drawing assignment. Hey sandhya, come outside…she quickly stopped her work and stood up, the whole class was looking at her and sanjay standing at the doorstep…He took her hand and dragged her out to a circular area where students usually stood and talked. Several pairs of eyes were watching them now.
Sanjay: Nee un manasula enna nenachittu irukka, hostel pasanga kitta naan un pinnala vanthatha sonniyame….Why are being so cheap, did I ever tell you that I like or did I come behind you. It seems you told them that you were not able to sleep because of me! Everyone in the hostel is talking about this, I cant face anyone now. If you wanted to tell something to me….yoo should have told me straight on my face. For once I believed a girl can be nice and sweet like you, but your actions have proved that my perception is obviously wrong.
Sandhya: What are you talking about? I haven't spoken to anyone about you and I am not the type of girl who would go behind someones back to tell my feelings, I will tell straight on your face. Just because you are senior you cant talk all that you want, and how dare you call me cheap. You needn't have defamed me in front of all these people, you could have asked me in private. What you heard in the hostel didn't come from me…ok, someone is obviously trying to defame you and they are using me here….i am as shocked as you are…And mind you sanjay…..think before you act or talk. First go and find out who actually told thse trashy things about u and me…..sandhya's face was red with anger, she was furious and she felt insulted in front of her counterparts.
Romba sirichu sirichu pesara ponnungala nambave koodathu, eppo kazhutha aruppanganne solla mudiyathu….she heard someone telling it loud.
Sanjay was still furious,,,,and staring at Sandhya, he still couldn't believe her words. He had always had a clean image at college at least where girls were concerned, he couldn't digest the fact that he was being hooked up with someone and talked about by everyone. He stormed out of the building disgusted with himself. The way sandhya yelled at him annoyed him , a girl that too a junior humiliating him boldly triggered his manly ego. He started his bike and drove towards the hostel to find out the truth behind the episode. Sandhya was still angry, she couldn't control herself…..she had to prove herself. She picked up her mobile and called Hari who was a hosteler. She explained everything and requested him to find out what had happened. She looked around at the people looking around him and gave a disgusted look at the guy who made the nasty comment about girls.
Two days later, truth was already out as to who spread the wrong message. It was John and his friends who floated the false information to seek vengeance on Sanjay who had antagonized him in the bustand to support sandhya. Madan and his friends had found this information and given it to sanjay. Dei, unna yaaruda avasara avasarama antha ponna poi satham poda sonnathu, paavam ava. Sanjay's heart sank, sandhya's innocent face crossed his mind and his guilt weighed him down. He had never shouted at a girl this way, usually he avoided them but now…his transgression had caused not only him but also another girl disgrace. He just wanted to let the whole episode die down, but Madan a nice gentleman he was compelled him to apologize. With much resistance Sanjay agreed. He and his friends were waiting under the tree outside the freshers building.
Sandhya and her friends emerged from the building, she stopped as she spotted sanjay under the tree. Hari had briefed her about John's actions and she had expected sanjay to come and apologize to her. But it has been two days and the fact that he did not apologize irritated her. She was waiting to ambush him but his inconspicuous absence only added to her irritation increasing the animosity she had developed for sanjay. But now he was here, she walked but with a slow pace , she saw sanjay rising and walking up towards her. She had had the determination to yell at sanjay but as she saw him walking towards her with a bent head , she felt her heart racing. The guy was afterall smart, some one as fierce and scary as he having a mellowed look really moved her. By now sanjay was in close proximity with sandhya…sandhya and her friends stopped. "I am sorry sandhya, I should have acted with more patience and should have been more discreet, I am really sorry". Sandhya's heart was really melting, she was afterall a 18 year old teenager to whom a smart guy was apologizing, why wouldn't she melt. She swallowed all the words she had prepared….to pounce on him. Its ok sanjay…she could say only that, nothing else came out of her mouth. Sanjay looked at her strangely, after all I did she forgave me so easily….he had expected she would loathe him some more. There was an awkward silence between them, when Madan coughed up from behind. We are very sorry sandhya, madan too apologized. Sandhya barely nooded her head and started walking towards the canteen. Sanjay walked in the opposite direction towards the main building. Both felt the need to turn back and look at each other, but controlled themselves and moved towards their destination.
That was the day, when sanjay had realized he was indeed developing a liking for Sandhya. He could not put a definite word for that feeling but atleast he felt relieved. Sanjay looked up to see the remaining travel time on the monitor. In 30 minutes he would land at Frankfurt. It seemed like the longest journey of his life, he desperately wanted to meet sandhya and explain his feelings, he wanted to fall in love with her all over again.
The plane landed at Frankfurt, he had 3 hours to catch his connecting flight to Chennai. He freshened up himself and moved into the waiting area, there was a crowd of people in the adjacent waiting area who were waiting to board the plane to Washington. A familiar face caught Sanjay's attention, he quickly rose and almost ran towards the adjacent waiting area. Prakash….neenga eppadi inga? A dashingly well built smart and tall man in his mid thirties turned back.."Hi sanjay, what a surprise. The two men shook hands and greeted each other. Oru long term assignment Virginiala thaan…..unnoda phone number kooda vaanginen…..nee India poratha uncle sonnanga. Ok Ok parkash, naan vacation mudichu vandhiduven, we should meet. Meanwhile ungalukku help ethavathu venumna ennod frienda contact pannunga, this is his card. As sanjay handed the card out to Prakash, "Excuse me", a lady dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt interrupted them. Prakash and Sanjay realized that they were standing right in the middle of the entrance to the waiting area, Prakash moved and gave way for the lady to pass through….sorry Mam!
Its ok…nandini flashed a smile and moved forward into the waiting area, she couldn't wait to get back to Virginia, she was really tired. Sanjay and Prakash finished their conversation and moved to their respective waiting areas, eager to board their flights to their destinations!
Shiv Shakti
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
