"I know you all will hate me for this, but I'm sorry to say that it is a part of this competition. You have to answer this questionnaire in the absence of your partners... all alone... So here we go."
He settled behind the desk and fiddled with a few keys of the laptop. Immediately, a question appeared on the display screen behind him.
"It is quite a simple round. A right answer will fetch you 10 marks and a wrong answer will deduct 5 marks. Shall we start?" He looked around him. His juniors looked quite forlorn without their partners, as if they had lost their anchors. He smiled at them to boost their confidence. It was quite natural to feel scared, he knew it very well. As his eyes scanned the 6 teams one by one, he saw varied reactions. Some were plain scared, while others were trying to control their emotions.
Just when he glanced at the last team, he was surprised to see the look of utter calmness on the face of the girl. Even though her partner was not there, she was quite cool and appeared unconcerned about it. A small knowing smile was playing on her lips, as if she knew that this was coming. He felt disoriented...how can a junior see through their plans and be relaxed about it. He remembered how shocked he had been during his time when his seniors had grilled him during the quiz sessions....and that too when he had such a long experience of quizzing to his credit. And this girl was totally unperturbed, controlled and at ease with this stress that he was trying to put on them.
Suddenly, he found his curiosity rising. He was quite intrigued with this girl. He also felt it to be challenging. He hadn't realized when he had stopped paying attention to the quiz. It was only when Hinna poked him that he came back to reality. "What happened Raj? Are you all right? You don't seem to be in your senses."
'Uh...oh no...m all right Hinna..."
"Are you sure?" she was not convinced about it.
"Perfectly...Don't you worry."
"But..."
"Oh shut up Hinna...Let me start this round.." He snapped making her go quiet. He knew it was not her fault. He was just taking out his irritation on her, because he did feel irritated. How can a junior put up with the stress he was putting and still be unruffled?
"Ok guys...so here we go...1st question for team 1 - the Champs... "Sense and simplicity is the tag line of which company?"
"Philips."
"Right answer. Plus 10. Next question for team 2..."The End of Economic Man" is the famous book written by whom?"
After a few minutes of silence..."Pass."
"Team 3???"
"Pass"
"Team 4???"
"Pass"
"Team 5???" His gaze rested on the girl who appeared quite unconcerned of all the previous rounds and the stress he had been putting on them since morning. It was late in the evening and the hectic schedule had taken a toll on her, but she was alert as ever. He was curious to see her performance.
"Peter F drucker." She replied.
"Good. Plus 10." He tore his eyes away from her with the greatest difficulty. "Next question for team 3..."India's Family Store" is the punch line of which brand?"
This time also, it was she who answered... "Pantaloon"
He was happy with her performance. She was proving to a good quizzer. "Next question for Team 4..."Net Safe Credit card" is introduced by which bank?"
Needless to say, it was she who had answered. "HDFC bank."
He was impressed. This girl was sure made of some stuff. "Team 5...Question for you..."Born in Japan, Entertaining the world" is the punch line of which company?"
Pat came the answer..."Sansui..."
He went on firing the questions one by one. Out of 20 questions, she had answered 10 questions and that too correctly. Her team had soared ahead with 100 points and was leading the first round of semi finals. He gave them a break for the remaining half an hour, till the time their team mates completed their task and came back. She got up from her seat after sometime and walked towards him.
"Can I have the water bottle please?"
"Oh yeah...sure. Can you get some water for us as well?" Hinna requested her.
"Sure di... I was going to fill it anyways." With a smile, she took the bottle from Hinna and walked out.
"Raj, are you okay?" Hinna turned her attention on him. "You haven't taken your medicines yet."
"My dear, I haven't had my lunch yet and it is almost 7 p.m. now. You don't expect me to have my medicines on an empty stomach, do you?"
"Of course not Raj, I shall get something for you from the canteen."
"Nopes...let it be...M going there myself. As it is I need a break too. I can't sit here anymore." He got up and walked away, leaving Hinna behind.
He drained the last cup of coffee down his throat. It was becoming difficult to keep his eyes open with every passing minute. But he had to do it...or else the rounds won't be completed on time. There were many more verticals who needed the participants.
"Bhaiya, ek coffee...aur wo bhi strong...jaldi..." A sweet voice hit his eardrums making him look up from his table and at the source of the voice. She was standing at the counter with her back towards him. As he watched her, she picked up the coffee cup from the counter and asking the man to write down the amount for later payment, she left the canteen, quite oblivious to his admiring gazes.
His eyes followed her trail. She was dressed in the college uniform like others...dark black trousers with white shirt and dark black coat. Yet she looked so different from others...as if some angel had descended on Earth.
"Oh shut up Raj." He chided himself. He shook his head to clear the muddled thoughts. He was quite surprised as well as confused with the direction his mind was taking. Something like this had never happened with him... what was wrong with him???
Naveen had come back with the participants. He had the list of questions prepared by the participants. Now it was his turn. "Ohhkkk...now since your partners are back...it is your turn now. You all are coming to the computer lab with me. Leave your mobile with your partners"
He watched her progress. She kept the cell phone on the table and whispered some instructions to her partner. Once he nodded in assertion, she flashed him an encouraging smile and followed the rest out of the room and to the computer lab.
The competitors were given one hour to find out and write down 15 questions and the answers. He moved around them for some time, checking their progress, clarifying some silly doubts, sometimes looking at their terminals... he couldn't move any more after some time. He sat down in between her and another participant for some time, intending to rest his tired legs for a short while before resuming his pacing. He never realized when he bent down on the table and dozed off.
'Done???" she asked her friend.
"Yup... now what do I do. 10 minutes are still left for this task to be over. Shall I wake him up?" she pointed towards Willy as she asked her friend.
He had dozed off next to her. She looked at him once... his head was resting on his left arm, and he was facing her. Half of his face was hidden on his arms, and whatever was visible plainly showed the exertion. She felt pity for him. "Kya haal ho gaya hai Sir ka...!!!" she thought to herself.
Turning towards her friend, she said. "Rehne de tu abhi... so rahen hain, sone de...waise bhi bhul gayi Hinna di ne kaha tha na ki kal raat ko sirf 1 ghante soye the...Abhi sone do unhe...waise bhi 10 minute me inhe jagna to hai...mai tab jaga dungi...tu abhi baith ja na 10 minute."
"Haan mai bhi yehi soch rahi thi... chal koi baat nahi...mai 10 minute wait kar hi leti hun."
By mutual consent, all the friends decided not to disturb him for the next 10 minutes.
A soft touch on his forehead woke him up. He couldn't open his eyes at first. It seemed as if some unseen weight was forcing his eyelids shut...he didn't want to get up. But somehow, he realized that he was not in the sanctuary of his bedroom. It took him all his will power to force open his eye lid and open his eyes. He couldn't believe his luck at first.... she was standing there in front of him with a glass in her hand. When she saw her looking at him, she offered the glass of water to him.
"Have some water." It was not a question, it was a statement. He couldn't find any way of denying her. With a grateful smile, he took the glass and drained it down his throat. "How are you feeling now?" she again asked him.
"Better...!" he smiled at her. Concern was evident in her eyes. "We are done with the questions. If you want, you can collect them so that we can go back to the room. Are you fit enough for that?" she asked.
He smiled in affirmative and stood up. She handed him her list of questions and answers and moved back. He suddenly felt as if some warmth had moved away from him. He felt very alone, forlorn... without any support. He looked at her. She was looking at him unblinkingly. When she saw him looking at her, she flashed him an encouraging smile, passing the warmth and support through them towards him. He smiled in return and started collecting the rest of the papers.
The semifinal round had four winners who were going to compete in the finals. As he bade them good luck, his eyes lingered on her for a while. When she smiled at him warmly, he felt on the top of the world. He smiled in turn and wished her through his eyes. She reciprocated and thanked him in the same fashion. This mute conversation however didn't go unnoticed; Naveen had his eyes on him to check in case he faltered and fell down. Looking at his friend he was amazed to find him so happy and cheerful. He looked at the girl who had smiled at his friend a few moments back. She was busy packing her belongings. Her partner had left the room long back. Naveen looked back at his friend to see him intently sorting out the papers and arranging them according to the teams. Even Hinna was busy checking the various questions on the laptop. So had he imagined it or his friend was passing through a hitherto unexplored route of his life. He decided to wait and watch.
The finals were scheduled for the next day at 8:00 a.m. in the morning. But as luck would have been, they couldn't begin on time.
"yaar, ye kya...hum ko 8 baje bola tha aur khud hi quiz masters nahi aaye..." A guy commented with some asperity.
"Seniors jo hain yaar, jo chahe kar sakte hain." Another girl said with a long drawl.
She simply looked at them in annoyance. Somehow she couldn't digest the fact that those two were putting on airs. They were not of that type. Something had gone wrong somewhere. She had seen him in a very bad condition yesterday. She could just hope that his health hadn't received a jolt because of the stress he was putting on himself.
"Thodi nahi, kuch jyada hi akad dikha rahen hain." Avinash put in.
"Aur nahi to kya? Hadh ho gayi yaar...adha ghanta hua wait kar rahen hain." Aruuna said with some asperity in her voice.
Naina could take it no longer. "Mujhe nahi lagta." She said.
"Kya nahi lagta?"
"Yahi ki humare seniors attitude dikha rahen hain. Baat to kuch aur hi hai."
"Kya baat ho sakti hai Naina? Attitude nahi dikha rahe hote to ab tak to aa chuke hote. Waise bhi ye to sort of official ragging hi to hai."
"Yaar tum logon jo cheez pata nahi hai...uss bare me comment kyun karte ho?" she asked with some anger in her voice.
"Kya matlab?"
"Baaki seniors ka to pata nahi, par Raj sir, Naveen Sir aur Shekhar Sir kabhi bhi attitude nahi dikhaenge. Wo log waise bande nahi hai... aur fir Raj sir sirf Quizzing vertical hi to nahi sambhal rah na... wo to iss fest ke overall co-ordinator bhi hain. Unka kaam obviously jyada hai. Aur tum logon ko pata bhi hai ki humare liye iss fest ko enjoyable aur interesting banana ke liye khud unko kitni mehnat karni padti hai... unke upar kitna stress ja raha hai...stress round ka samna hum log karte hain, par usse banana me humare seniors ki jaan nikal jaati hai. And for your kind information, Raj sir ki tabiyat thik nahi hai."
"kya hua hai unhe?" Rohan asked.
"kal jab tum log lab me the to hum log Hinna di se baaten kar rahen the... wo humari super senior hain... unhone bataya ki Raj sir teen raaton se soye nahi hai...just for preparing these quiz rounds. Ye sab taiyyar karna itna aasan nahi hai...aur nahi bina soye kaam karna. On top of that, he is an asthma patient. Unko kal asthma ka attack bhi aaya tha. Hinna di yahan par unki dawaiyan lekar aayi thi. Aur agar aaj wo log late ho rahen hain, to iski koi na koi wajah to hogi. Isliye thoda dhiraj rakho aur wait karo." She finished with a huff.
"Aur iske baad bhi Raj smoke karte hain?" Sharad was surprised.
"Smoke?"
"Haan Naina...smoke...jabki ye unki sehat ke liye bilkul bhi sahi nahi hai."
Just then Naveen came there putting a stop to further discussions.
"Good Morning friends. And I'm really very sorry for being late... but it was unavoidable."
"It's okay...but is everything all right?" Naina asked.
"No..it's not. Actually Raj had to be hospitalized in the early hours of the morning because of an asthma attack which he had at that time. And..."
"Gosh...!!!" A collective gasp went around the group. "Is he all right now?"
"Will he be joining us?"
Naveen smiled at the anxious faces of his juniors. "Yes, he will be joining us in about 10 to 15 minutes. Till then you are free to roam around a bit. I'll give you a call once he joins us."
Everyone went out except Naina who quietly sat down in her seat with a blank, expressionless face. Naveen very much wanted to know what was going on in her mind. He had seen Raj fighting his attraction towards Naina the previous night, with the result that he had ended up setting quite difficult questions in the first round of the quiz. In fact, Naveen had to fight to get some questions removed and altered.
Naina was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't realize when Naveen set the laptops and the buzzers and went out. She sat there like a stone statue while her mind wandered back to the events of the previous night. She had to stay back after the quiz to take part in a business plan presentation scheduled to be held at 3:30 in the night. She had been in the canteen, drinking a cup of coffee when she saw Raj march in with Hinna by his side. For some unknown reason, she didn't want to encounter him with Hinna being present, so she avoided noticing him. From the corner of his eyes, she had seen him order a cup of coffee and then he went towards the auditorium laughing and joking with Hinna.
He looked terribly tired. While crossing her table he had turned back and looked at her once. She had chosen precisely that moment to look up. Their eyes met and she had been jolted by the fire raging in his eyes. His look pierced her to the core and there was a burning challenge in them. She had known immediately that the questions in the finals won't be easy. His determination to make it difficult for her was evident in his eyes. She immediately knew that he resented her winning so many rounds. But how was this her fault? She felt as if she was seeing an alien now. What happened to the guy she had encountered in the computer lab? Though his met his fiery eyes with a cool and confident look, yet she was shaking from within. She felt as if the fire in his his eyes was burning her whole being.
She finished her coffee and bent her head on the table in exhaustion. Her team members were caught up in various tasks. She didn't even know how their manager had performed. Sleep had eluded her for the last two days. Continuous pressure had kept her going, but know when she sat there, she felt like dropping every task and get some sleep. She badly wanted to stretch her aching back and close her tired eyes, but knew that it won't be possible for the next 24 hours. Besides she was determined to win the quiz come what may.
************
He entered the room at that moment and saw her lost in her thoughts. He was very curious to know what she was thinking...about him...certainly not? He was a nobody in her life. He felt as if this thought pained him very much. "Control yourself Raj...she doesn't even know you." He thought.
He looked around the room, there was no one. Naveen had set the appliances and had gone out of the room. She was the only one physically present in that room. He turned to leave in search of Naveen, but then settled for ringing him up.
But come what may, he was not able to tolerate the lost look on her face. She was in some other world. Her face was blank and she was staring at the wall in front of her seeing nothing and thinking of heavens knew what. He struggled to stop himself from questioning her but couldn't. Against his own will...his feet moved in her direction.
A touch on her shoulders startled her. "Arey aap...maine dekha nahi...aap kab aaye?"
"Bas 5 min pehle... maine tumhe kitni baar bulaya par tum to jaise sunn hi nahi paa rahi thi."
"M really sorry par maine sach me nahi suna."
"Kya soch rahi hti itna?"
"Kuch khaas nahi..bas aise hi. But first tell me how are you know."
"I am perfectly fine...don't worry."
"You know, you should really give up smoking. It is not safe for you... in fact it will simply deteriorate your condition."
He was startled. She had said it with such honesty that he couldn't help feeling guilty about it. "I will try to give it up from today itself." He promised to her...but more than that it was a promise he made to himself. They stared at each other for a few minutes, each trying to weigh the other and with each passing minute Raj felt his antagonism being washed away. He surely had misjudged the girl. Naina could feel the change in his eyes for she could see his eyes softening.
*******************
True to the promise she had made to herself...she did win the quiz. The way she had played the game almost single handedly in the last couple of rounds in the semi finals and the finals won the admiration of the seniors. But most of all she was too glad to see raj smiling at her. When he came to congratulate her she couldn't stop noticing how happy he looked.
"Congrats Naina. Extremely well played." And with that he gave her a light side hug surprising her in the process.
As the rest of her team mates and friends surrounded her he unobtrusively moved away.
Finally in the evening during the prize distribution ceremony she was surprised when along with the group prize, she won an individual award for being the best quizzer. On the stage she just thanked her seniors, but while walking down the aisle, she felt his eyes on her. She looked up and smiled at him and he winked at her in return smiling all the while.
***********
Neither Naina nor Raj realized when they grew close to each other. It all started with their neing friends. Naina had become immensely popular among the seniors for her cool attitude and beautiful looks. But it was in the company of Raj and Shekhar that she enjoyed the most.
After a few weeks there was the announcement of an inter - collegiate fest. As because she was the winner of the college fest, she had to accompany them for fests. She was paired with Raj in the quiz vertical.
"Gosh Raj...mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki itne colleges ke bich hum apne college ko kaise dubne se bacha payenge."
"Kamal hai Naina...tum ghabra rahi ho."
"Ghabra nahi rahi hun...par mujhe jitna hai... mai haarna nahi chahti."
"Hum nahi harenge...rest assured."
She smiled at him. "Mai jaanti hun, aap bahut ache ho quiz ke maamle me. Aapke rehte hume koi nahi hara sakta."
"You know what...tum khud bhi bahut strong ho..ye akele mere bas ki baat nahi hai."
Just then, Naveen and Shekhar joined them. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Kuch khaas nahi Naveen sir. Bas quiz shuru hone wala hai...isliye..."
"Getting jittery...and you... THE BEST QUIZZER of our college... Come on Naina...you are the best quizzer of your batch." Naveen smiled at her.
"And remember...in the end he wins who thinks he can. Right?" Shekhar asked her with a smile.
She smiled gratefully at her seniors. She really had the best batch of seniors with her.
"Chal raha hai Raj?" Naveen asked him.
"Kahan?" he asked.
"Aur kahan... suttebaji karni hai." Shekhar made a face.
Raj smiled at Shekhar's reaction. Naveen looked at Shekhar in disdain, for Shekhar didn't like their habit of smoking.
"Chalen Raj." Naveen again said almost ready to move.
"Nopes." Everyone almost stopped in their tracks. Naveen looked as if he had heard something very wrong. Shekhar and Naina stared at him in frank amazement. Raj was a chain smoker. How come he was saying no to cigarettes?
"Kya kaha? Fir se bol?" Naveen wanted to be sure.
"Maine kaha nahi." Raj smiled at the surprised faces of his friends.
"Kyun nahi?" Naveen wanted to know.
"Chod diya...isliye nahi."
Hearing this Shekhar almost jumped up from his seat and loomed over raj. "Tu sach keh raha hai.?"
"Haan baba...chod diya... sach me."
At this Shekhar hugged his friend in happiness. "Thank God...finallyt tune hum logon ki baat to maani."
Turning towards Naveen, Shekhar smiled in triumph. "Maine kaha than a ki ye ek na din smoke karna chod dega. Dekha... sach ho gayi na meri baat. Ab tub hi nahi smoke karega."
"Mai to karunga." Naveen walked off and Shekhar followed him after winking at Raj.
"Ab Shekhar kahan chale."
"Naveen ki tang khinchne." Raj replied with a drawl.
She kept silent for a few minutes, then asked the question which she had been wanting to ask all this time. "Aap ko smoke karni thi to kar lete. Meri wajah se nahi gaye na aap."
"Naina, maine sach me smoke karna chod diya hai."
She quickly glanced up at him. The happiness shining in her eyes were the reward which Raj was actually looking for.
"Kyun chod diya...matlab achanak se kaise chod diya?" She looked down at her fingers as she asked this question.
"Tumne hi to mana kiya tha." He replied softly after a few minutes pause.
She again looked up at him. "Mere kehne par aapne smoke karna chod diya. Kyun bhala?"
"Kyunki jo cheez tumhe nahi pasand wo mai nahi kar sakta. Tumhari aankhon me napasand ke bhaav mai nahi dekh sakta."
"Kyun?" It was a simple question but so much profound in its meaning.
Raj looked at her unblinkingly. Perhaps this was the moment to say out the feelings which he had been harbouring for the last few months. Perhaps he should say it now. But was it the right time. Was their relationship ready for a next turn.
"Aapne jawab nahi diya?" she prodded him gently.
"Kyunki mujhe tumhari pasand napasnd se bahut fark padta hai." He replied.
"Aur wo kyun?" she wanted to know.
"kyunki mai tumse pyaar karta hun." He blurted it out.
She looked up at him quickly. The question in her eyes was evident; he had to clear many things. This was not the way of a decent proposal. Just then there was the announcement for the commencement of the quiz contest.
Needless to say they won it. But the win did not register in his mind. He was searching for a way to clear his meaning but he didn't get any time. They were surrounded by congratulating friends and other participants and even the organizers. The whole day passed in a flurry of activities. It was only when they finally sat in the bus next to each other that Raj got a chance to speak his heart out.
"Naina, dekho mujhe galat mat samjho."
"Kisliye?" she wanted to know.
"Jo kuch bhi maine subah kaha tha.... " he trailed off not knowing what to say.
"You didn't mean it." She completed without looking at him. She was looking outside the window into the dark night.
"I did mean it." He said with a stress in his words. "I meant every single word of what I said. I do feel for you... but you are not under any pressure of reciprocating my feelings. Just because I love you doesn't mean you have to love me back. I love to see a smile on your face. Your single smile makes my day. One look at you gives me a pleasure which I cannot describe. Tumhari har pasand aur napasnd ki mujhe fikr rehti hai...par mai humari iss dosti ki bahut izzat karta hun aur ye dosti mujhe bahut aziz hai. Mai kisi bhi keemat par isse khona nahi chahta. Maine tumhe apne dil ki baten batai...iss wajah se humare frank aur carefree rishte me koi badlav nahi aana chahiye Naina...bas yahi ek request hai tumse." He completed in the same low tone.
She hadn't said a single word all throughout his monologue. He waited for her answer, but she kept looking outside without saying anything. When after a long time, he got no response he sighed sadly. "I didn't want this to happen Naina." He made a move to get up, but was held back by her. Her hand shot forward to arrest his movement.
Surprised he looked at her and sat down. Slowly her hands dropped from his wrist and rested on his palm lightly. Very softly her head drooped and rested on his shoulder. She was still looking outside but the signs were clear, unmistakable. He was shocked to the core. He had never expected this reaction from her.
"Naina..." he muttered softly.
She didn't reply, simply adjusted her head on his shoulders and nestled more closely.
"Tum..." he didn't know what to say but he didn't expect her to say something as well. He understood her silence better than anything else in the world.
After a long time, she said something which he could not hear. So he had to ask her again.
"Maine kaha aap bahut ache ho...par saath me na bahut bhole ho. Mai to kab se aapke bolne ka intezaar kar rahi thi...par ye nahi socha tha ki aap aise bolenge."
"M sorry, mujhe pata hai it is not a proper way of saying...but..."
"It was the most natural proposal I have ever seen or heard of. And that's what I love about you...you are very natural. And I love you that way." With that she hid her face in his chest as his fingers entwined with hers tightening the grip promising lifelong support and togetherness.
Pushpa Impossible
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