FF|All the Wrong Moves in All the Right Ways I - Page 6

*Just an important note: I don't live in Canada and I've never been there to visit. Though I hope to one day go. So forgive me if I write some things that don't exist there or are not present on campus at the University of Toronto. I try my best to research a bit about things before I write about things I don't know about (I try to keep it as real as I can) but since I've never been on the University of Toronto campus I have no idea what's where and what the names of buildings are, etc.

Chapter 5: First Impressions the Second Time Around

Prem was starting to get dizzy from going around in circles in the parking garage. He gave a little prayer of thanks when he saw a car start to slowly back out in front of him. He quickly parked before anyone else could try to steal the spot away from him. Before getting out he did a quick check in the mirror making sure his bangs were properly spiked. Once out of the garage and on campus he strolled over to nearest vending machine he could find to buy himself a bottle of Coco-Cola. He was slightly aware that there were two girls standing in the corner checking him out. He glanced over and shyly smiled. They giggled amongst themselves and then quickly disappeared. He checked his watch and realize he better hurry otherwise he would be late to his first class. When he entered in the auditorium he immediately recognized his best friend sitting by himself in the middle row. "Yo, Kunal!" he waved as he came closer.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Juneja!" Kunal said greeting him with their special handshake.

"You're here early," Prem said as he sat down.

"I know. I'm usually late to everything," Kunal said. "But I promise the old man that I would be on time from now on."

"What did you do this time?" Prem snickered.

"Ah, nothing...I only showed up 10 minutes late to his boss's funeral," Kunal replied. "He's not even my boss...I don't see why it was such a big deal. Anyways, the old man's been under a lot of stress lately at work because of this boss. But since the guy's no longer...old man will probably ease up." Kunal inched closer and eagerly asked, "So, enough about me...how was India?"

"Why are you so interested?" Prem replied suspiciously.

"Just wanted to know how it was...you're not engaged or anything?" Kunal grinned.

"What? Engaged! What the heck, man...no way," Prem shouted.

"Hey, just needed to check. You can never to be sure nowadays. There are always these stories about so-and-so going back to visit the motherland and then BOOM...next thing they know their engaged'and one month later they are walking around that fire." Kunal explained. "You know we are 23 now...that's marriageable age to all the Indian Aunties. We are fresh meat to them...they've got their eyes on us...we have to be careful. I swear my Mom has a profile of me somewhere on Shaadi .com. Lately, whenever I'm in the room and she answers the telephone she talks really softly and then leaves the room...she's plotting something...I can just feel it."

Prem looked at his friend with one eyebrow raised, "Dude, you are paranoid."

Kunal shook his head, "Mark my words, somebody is going to get engaged in the next six months."

Prem laughed, "Well, it is not going to be me. And You Can Quote Me On That."

The boys continued to talk as they waited for their class to start. The auditorium was slowly filling up as the master students trickled in one by one. Prem glanced around him and then narrowed his eyes as he saw the back of a slender figure taking a seat in the second to front row. For some odd reason he felt like he recognized the person. He watched as the girl dropped something and turned to pick it up. He smiled realizing who it was and started waving his hands madly motioning for her to come and join them. Kunal noticed what his friend was doing and was perplexed that he did not know who the girl was. Prem was pretty selective when it came to friends and Kunal knew everyone his best buddy hung out with.

Tucking a loose string of hair behind her ear she smiled, "You?!'

Prem chuckled, "Let's not start that again." Kunal just looked on in wonderment and suspense. Prem sensing this quickly introduced them to each other.

"Oh so, you're from India'Heer," Kunal said. "You're not engaged are you?"

"Excuse me?" Heer replied.

"Have a profile on Shaadi.com?" he continued.

Prem elbowed his friend, "Don't pay any attention to him, Heer. He's just paranoid."

"I'm not paranoid," Kunal huffed. "You have to watch out for those Indian Aunties...they are on the marriage hunt."

"Marriage?" Heer repeated. "Why? You afraid of getting married?"

Kunal waved his hand, "I have nothing against marriage. ..but when I'm older."

Prem laughed, "Older? What 50?"

Nodding vigorously, "That's sounds about right."

"Kunal, dude, you are going to be an old man...how are going to have kids?" Prem asked.

"Oh..." Kunal gasped "So, you Do want to get married now. Never mind the engagement...you just want to skip right to the marriage, don't you?"

"What, you crazy? I'd rather go join the polar bear club and go ice swimming with them in the winter," Prem shot back, "You will probably be the first one to get engaged and have a kid by the time we graduate."

"Duude, that's not nice..." Kunal said shaking his head, "not nice at all."

Prem smirked and returned his attention to Heer. "So, what's your schedule like?" He inched closer to her as she retrieved a piece of paper from one of her folders. "Hey, I have three classes with you," he announced happily. "Awesome, got a new study buddy."

Kunal glanced over at the schedule and frowned, "I've only got this class with you guys." He then pretended to wiped away a fake tear, "I don't know what I'm going to do...sniff...I'm going to be so lonely...no one will take me as group partner...sniff...I-I-feel like crying...boo-hoo..."

Prem patted his head, "There, there...just let it all out...it's okay. Better luck next time, buddy," he continued to comfort. Heer giggled at the sight of two grown men playing around like little children.

Kunal pushed Prem's hand away after a few minutes, "Okay now, you can stop." He turned his head and saw someone he knew and grinned. She was wearing a black tank top underneath a short crop jean jacket, distressed jeans, and black leather boots. She had silky long hair and a fair complexion. She noticed Kunal at once and began walking over. When she saw that Prem was there as well her grin grew even wider, however it quickly vanished as she realized the seat next to him was occupied by an attractive female whom he was paying his upmost attention towards. "Hey Sanjana!" Kunal greeted, "How was summer vacation?"

Sanjana managed a weak smile as she sat down next to Kunal, "It was pretty good. You?"

"Uneventful, unlike Prem here," Kunal replied.

Prem turned his head when he heard his name and noticed Sanjana. He gave a cheerful greeting and then introduced her to Heer. They didn't get to talk too much as the professor soon showed up and began his lecture. An hour later they were standing outside the auditorium chatting. Sanjana kept glancing up at Prem and Heer trying to decipher the type of relationship they had. She kept careful track of their body language and decide much to her relief that they were just friends. Sanjana checked her watch and frowned, "Sorry, guys I have go to work."

"Yea, I have another class to get to," Kunal said. Then addressing Sanjana, "Where did you park?"

"Parking garage C," she replied.

Kunal smiled, "I'm heading that way. I'll walk you over." She nodded in agreement and they both bid farewell to Prem and Heer.

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Prem looked at Heer, "So how come you didn't tell me you were coming to the University of Toronto to study?"

"It never really came up in conversation," she replied shrugging her shoulders. She giggled, "I can't believe that we would meet again like this...and you and Preet at the airport and everything."

Prem grinned, "Yeah, life...is funny sometimes...just goes to show you how small this world is...you are bound to meet again."

"So we have like two hours before our next class..." she said checking her cell phone. "What do you want to do?"

"Well, there is usually something going on at the Square. Let's go hang out over there...and it's near the food court area so we can grab some lunch there too." Prem suggested. As they began walking he sneaked little glances over at Heer and silently chuckle to himself. They hadn't walked very far when Heer suddenly stopped. He looked back concern at her reaction.

She had noticed his frequent chuckling and glances toward her direction. She debated with herself if she was the possible cause of it or something else. Curiosity had finally gotten the better of her and so she decided to confront him, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Prem looked at her innocently, "It's not what you think," he started, "...it's your clothes..."

"Why is something wrong with them?" she asked as she looked down checking herself. She was wearing a simple white t-shirt and flare cut jeans with sneakers.

"No, no," he said shaking his head, "I mean'you're wearing normal clothes."

"Normal clothes?" she repeated, "So we don't wear normal clothes in India?"

"Ah, you know what I mean'jeans, t-shirts...that kind of stuff," he finished.

She smirked, "You thought I'd wear a salwar kameez? I might come from a small town but that doesn't mean I can't dress western. And for your information Mr. Juneja I've done an exchange program before and spent a year in London...I've seen little bit of the outside world."

Prem bit his lower lip and thought oh shoot, she's pissed at me now. "I'm really sorry, Heer...I didn't mean anything by it..." he said as he followed behind her. "There nothing wrong with a salwar kameez...nothing wrong with wearing Indian clothes...sometimes I sleep in a kurta." Heer continued walking without saying a word. "Heer?" he said really worriedly. "Will you please say something? I'm really sorry, Heer. I'll buy you lunch. Please forgive me. I won't say anything stupid like that again."

She turned around and sighed at his begging. "Prem, relax."

His eyes sparkled, "So you forgive me?"

"Yes, Prem," she replied giving him a slight grin, "I forgive you." He smiled confidently pleased with himself. "You know..." she said as he looked him over, "I don't know if wearing shorts is such a good thing for you..."

Prem examined himself. He was wearing a red polo shirt, khaki shorts, and white sneakers. "Why?" he hesitantly asked.

"Because of your chicken legs," she stated laughing.

"I don't have chicken legs," he pouted. "My legs are fine...they aren't that skinny."

"Sure, you keep telling yourself that," she giggled.

"Oh, I see how it is. So you lied. You're still mad and now you're making fun of me," he said.

Heer's eyes widen, "Prem..." she said as he started to move uncomfortably close to her. She could see the spark of mischief dancing in his eyes. He grinned and tried to grab her causing her to run.

He chased after her, "You can't get away. I jog every morning!"

"Sorry, to tell you but I use to run track in high school," she yelled back.

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