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Congratulations in advance, Avi! 😃
The mock exams are done and we get a week long break in the name of spring holidays. I don't like many days off from college since I'm almost alone in the city. The most I do of my free time is visit him. I welcome the holidays I get this time so I can spend more time with him before I have to return to my family after college ends later this year.
I get home to inform Mom that I'll be gone with friends for a while when she stops me. It's the fourth day of our spring break and we have plans to go to the theme park since the weather is great. I see Mom all ready to go somewhere in a semi-formal dress and I ask her what she is up to. 'Geeta invited us to her son's birthday party today. She said we all have to come but since Ranbir is out of town, you will have to come with me.' The irritation at Geeta's mention is replaced by surprise when Mom talks about her son's birthday. 'She has a son?' Mom laughs slightly. 'Yes. I didn't know about it too and I reacted the same way when she told me. She looks quite young to be a mother of a five year old boy.' I'm least interested to know of what that girl looks like or who she has in her family so I refuse Mom to go to the party telling her to drive herself.
What follows is an amazing array of ways that my mother uses to get me to agree. She tries reasoning with me and I don't listen. She tries to paint an attractive picture for the kiddie party and I scoff at it. She tries to blackmail me emotionally but since I know she's just acting, it doesn't change my decision. After trying a lot of coaxing and cajoling, she takes on the one tone of voice which she knows I'll never be able to say no to. 'Enough Maan! I'm going to go to the party and you are going with me. No more arguments.' The firm strictness in her voice isn't something I ever disobey so I concede.
Driving her to the venue, which is Geeta's house, I'm in a sour mood, grumbling to myself. Mom reverts back to her jovial self right after she pulls the yes out of me and she talks non-stop about Geeta and her son. I don't respond very nicely, or rather I don't respond at all. My mind kept on hurling not-so-good adjectives at my luck as I think about the ruined theme park plan. Of course my friends say they'll wait till I can come which means it's been postponed till tomorrow but I still feel bad about being the reason for their day being spoiled because of a kiddie party I need to attend. What am I supposed to do there? Wear a birthday cap and play ring-a-roses with a five year old and his friends? I mutter to myself, careful not to let it reach Mom's ears or else.
I park the car on the curb of a moderately sized townhouse. 'Now smile and no more grumbling!' Mom chides me before she rings the doorbell and the door opens revealing the proud mother of the birthday boy. Looking at her, I agree with my mother's opinion. Geeta's appearance makes her seem quite young. She hugs Mom and shakes a hand with me before leading us in. Mom asks for the birthday boy and G tells her he's been waiting impatiently for the last of our guests to arrive so he can cut the cake. She points to a group of children huddled together near a table looking at something we can't see. All I can figure out are the tiny kids wearing colourful birthday caps. Are they going to give me one too? I hope not.
G excuses herself and enter a room. Mom only glares at me for making her late, courtesy our arguments and me not agreeing to coming here. Within five minutes, I see Geeta coming out of the room, which I suppose is the kitchen, with a large chocolate cake in her hands and announcing that it's going to be cut. The kids follow her excitedly to the table where she puts the cake. I look around the room in boredom and Mom nudges me to move closer to the table after Geeta calls.
The small boy standing in the middle of the group wearing a special cap with 'birthday boy' written on it blows the candles and the crowd claps. I clap too but I don't sing the birthday song. He cuts the cake and takes the first piece which I assume he'll feed his mother but he turns to feed another girl standing by his other side. I raise an eyebrow at this wondering who this girl is who's even precious for the boy than his mother. I can't see the girl's face until she turns and takes a piece from the cake. I straighten my hunched posture immediately. Am I hallucinating? How can Geet be here? The pinch I reward my forearm with hurts and I realise with a shock that she indeed is present here.
I just look at her while she hugs the birthday boy with a big smile on her pretty face. Kismet, I believe, has brought me here though I admit I was hell-bent on being a fool and refusing my mother for coming here.
Geeta drags me to meet her friend, the one she's been talking about lately. I pay attention to my little champ's plans of opening his presents this way and that while looking at him as I follow Geeta. Once Geeta stops, I look up and smile at the woman in front of me before my eyes take in a guy's presence beside her and my smile freezes in place for a moment. The lady introduces herself warmly and when she introduces the guy standing beside her as her son, I tell her I know him. By the expression on her face, I know she's surprised. She looks at Maan and then back at me. 'We're classmates, Mrs. Khurana.' A knowing smile spreads on her face and she looks at Maan before turning to me and saying, 'So you're the Geet my son told me about.' Her statement shocks me a bit and I look at Maan for a moment who seems shocked too. He turns a bit to his mother and she speaks up, 'You organised the party with Maan, didn't you?' 'Oh, yes.' I smile at her and internally scold myself. What were you thinking Geet? You're not a very interesting topic to be discussed between them!
Geeta goes to attend a few other guests leaving me to make small talks with these two. 'So how come you're here at the party, sweetheart?' Mrs. Khurana asks me. 'G is my cousin and this little one here is my very special friend. I had to be here on his birthday or he would've thrown a fit.' I pat Ryan's cheek and Maan's mother laughs. 'I must say that your names are so similar that I actually thought G to be Geet.' She chuckles in embarrassment and I smile. 'Our names have often been mixed since childhood. That's why she prefers being called G.' Maan stands there silent all this while. I smile at him when our eyes meet and ask him how Anaya and Ayush are. 'They're good. Enjoying the holidays and all,' he says with a smile and I just nod.
His mother takes over from there and talks about random things, asking me about my family, telling me about hers, discussing things like clothes and fashion and food. I feel at ease with her, almost like I'm talking to my own mother, chatting about anything and everything. When G joins us back and Mrs. Khurana - or auntie, as she wants me to call her - insists her on bringing me to Maan's place on her next visit, I'm unable to find a good enough way to refuse. I don't feel like saying no to this motherly figure and so I promise to visit her. G announces the beginning of the planned games and little Ryan takes me away. Maan who has been listening to all the conversations between me and his mother silently, also follows me to the seats aligned for musical chair on G's request.
The whole time that Mom chats with Geet, I hold my breath hoping she won't jump the gun and blurt out something that can let Geet know how infatuated I'm with her. Her first words to Geet have already scared me and I think of ways to cover up if she does say something dangerous. Thankfully, she doesn't. She leads a casual conversation with Geet and I notice Geet becoming comfortable with Mom too. After some time, I find myself smiling at all the new knowledge I've gotten about Geet because of Mom. She makes Geet and her cousin promise on coming to our place and I really wish I can grin right at the moment, but I settle on smiling again. G wants me to play the games they've planned and I don't refuse, now that my mood has improved exceptionally.
The first game is musical chairs and everything has been set. The adults are going to take the first turn followed by the kids. All the players which include Geet, me, G, her husband and a few other friends form a loose line and the music starts. I start to enjoy myself gradually and within a few minutes three people are eliminated. The music starts again, I'm now following Geet. A few things happen simultaneously then. The music stops, I move forward to sit in the chair between me and Geet, someone calls Geet and she turns to look at them. I manage to sit in the chair but my foot collides with Geet's and she loses her balance, landing in my lap. To stop her from slipping, I hold her around her waist, she looks in my eyes and then both of us freeze. She gets up at once and I notice her cheeks pink. 'Sorry.' We both say it at the same time. Mom comes behind Geet and asks her if she is alright. She nods and quickly composes herself before announcing that she's out and walking to stand beside Ryan, not looking back even once.
The game goes good until Ryan calls me and I look at him. The music stops at the same time and Maan, who is behind me, sits on the chair. I lose my balance from something colliding with my foot and fall on Maan. He holds me around my waist, no doubt to stop me from rolling on the floor. I look into his eyes and realise the position I've landed in. I get up immediately, embarrassed and reassuring her mother, walk over to Ryan, pretending to be unaffected by the little incident but not having the courage to look back at Maan.
Nothing unusual happens after that. Ryan enjoys playing musical chairs after the adults' game ends with G as the winner. The kids play two more games: balloon pop, where they jump on balloons to pop them and get lollies hidden in them, and the other game is dance freeze. The kids dance randomly until the music plays and freeze when it's stopped. The last one to freeze is out and the game continues until one of them wins. Through all this fun and excitement of the kids, I stand at the other corner of the room from Maan and his mother because I'm still not over my embarrassment from earlier.
The next game in line requires a grown-up to pair up with a child. G has arranged for huge jigsaw puzzles which will be spread out on the floor and we have to solve them. Ryan's father volunteers to play with him but the boy refuses and comes running to me, demanding that I be his partner. I try to refuse but he doesn't give up so his father tells me to bow down to the little devil's wish for his birthday. Five minutes into the game, I'm engrossed in figuring out the puzzle when Ryan says he's bored. He gets up telling me to play the confusing game while he goes to eat some cake. 'But Ryan, I need a partner. I can't play this alone. We'll finish it soon and then you can have some cake. Okay?' The boy is adamant on not continuing and tells me he'll get me a partner. Before I can stop him, he grabs the first guy's hand and brings him over. Fortunately or unfortunately, the guy is Maan.
Despite my protests to Ryan, he doesn't listen and forces Maan to sit and commands in his cutely authoritative voice, to be my partner. Maan looks at me with a small smile as Ryan runs off to have some precious cake. 'Cute, that little one.' I can't agree more with Maan. 'Absolutely. He's the cutest child I've ever seen.' Looking at the puzzle, I continue, 'Let's just get this over with. Or that little master is going to come and inspect and whine.' Maan chuckles lightly. 'But I'm no child as per the rules of the game.' I look at him with an amused expression. 'It's just a game Maan. And since it's the birthday boy's order that we solve his share of the puzzle, can we do anything now?' Maan shakes his head smilingly and looks at the puzzle.
We start up trying to put the pieces in the right places. Trying one way and another, exchanging pieces, looking at them carefully with our heads pressed close. Passing one piece to put in the right place, Maan looks around for the next piece. I place that piece in its place but it doesn't fit. Maan notices it at the same time that I do and we both reach for the piece together. His hand accidentally catches mine and we look at each other startled. He leaves my hand abruptly and I withdraw too. He murmurs an apology and we continue with the puzzle, this time being careful not to touch accidentally. The moment we finish putting all the pieces back together, Ryan comes running into my arms and the distraction is welcome. He talks about some random things and Maan excuses himself to go to his mother's side. I peek at him to see him saying something to her and she gets up from her seat. Maybe they're leaving.
I tell Mom that we should go home now and she agrees, getting up from her seat and walking to Geeta. I trail behind her with my eyes glancing at the girl still sitting on the floor with the blabbering boy. Mom tells Geeta that we must leave. She wants us to stay some more time but Mom politely refuses her, telling her that Ranbir will be home soon. Mom asks for Geet and G calls her over. She hugs my mother goodbye and smiles politely at me too. Mom makes her promise to come over to our place at the earliest.
As I drive back home, silently pondering over the two brief contacts I've had with Geet, Mom clears her throat. 'So...' I look at her in askance. 'So what Mom?' She smiles widely and I know I'm in for being my mother's entertainment for a while. 'I see you enjoyed yourself a lot.' She's hinting at Geet falling on my lap and then the accidental hand-holding incident - I know she saw that. I still try to do some damage control. 'It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be...' I trail off, realising that my attempt at it isn't strong enough. 'Of course it wasn't. Why would a party be boring if there's someone special in it.' Gearing up for the upcoming teasing from my Mom, I focus on the road and try not to let my cheeks colour. She doesn't disappoint me, pulling my leg all the way till home. Just before I park the car, her words surprise me. 'Honestly Maan. Geet is really beautiful. And not to forget, sweet too!' I look at her with a wide grin before we reach home and head inside.
Our day at the theme park goes great with lots of fun. When we return, Anaya takes me and Ayush to her place. Sitting in her living room, I receive a call and excuse myself leaving them both alone. After I finish my call, I go inside only to stop at the door with Ayush's words. It's one of the rare times that Ayush talks about his heart and his feelings towards a girl. I don't make my presence known because I know if I intrude, once distracted, Ayush won't talk about his feelings and I'll never get to know about it, or at least never hear him say it out loud.
Since both of them have their backs to me, they don't realise I'm standing there. 'I know Anaya that it's not possible for me to be with the girl I like. She probably likes someone else.' He sighs, his voice so low that I can't help but think about it. 'I know Ayush. I know what it feels like.' Anaya pats his shoulder to sooth him and I'm reminded of the time that I argued with Ayush once. He is - like Mom and Ranbir - under the impression that Anaya feels something for me beyond the bond of friendship we share. I had argued a lot with him on this issue, trying to make him understand. But seeing my friends hurting like this, I wonder if I've been wrong all along.
I soundlessly slip out of the house in the cool Spring breeze to walk back to mine, which is a few blocks away. Shoving my hands inside my jeans' pockets, I mull over everything; Ayush's seriousness towards the girl he likes, who is Geet, I have no doubt about it, Anaya's dull voice when she said she knows what it feels like to be unable to be with the one you like and my own feelings towards Geet. Agreed that I've liked Geet for three years now but it isn't more than infatuation, is it? If I was serious, I would've cooked up the courage to talk to her by now. But I couldn't. Ayush did. He can so easily talk to her. What is the right thing for me to do? I can't hurt my friends. Perhaps Geet and I were never meant to be more than formal friends. Maybe if I accept this fact, I'll be able to help Ayush in getting what he wants. Maybe I'll be able to make life a little less complicated for my friends... The shrill ringing of my phone jolts me back to the moment. It's Anaya, asking where I disappeared. I tell her I had to leave and I'm going home, promising to meet them later.
The spring break ends and it's the first day of college. I reach my class and sit down, noticing Maan and Ayush in the row behind mine. Maan smiles at me faintly before averting his eyes to Ayush and resuming whatever he was saying while his friend gives a big smile to me. I just sit quietly waiting for the lecture to begin when I see Anaya hurrying into the room and heading straight for where Maan and Ayush are sitting. A moment later, I hear Ayush being stubborn and not letting her sit with them as she whines. 'Ayush stop this, will you!' Ayush laughs. 'No baby. This seat is reserved for the day. Go sit somewhere else. What say Maan?' The only response I hear from Maan to this playfulness is a chuckle. I don't turn around to see what actually is going on. Seconds later, Anaya stomps her foot loudly and I hear a smack which is followed by an 'Ouch' from Ayush. 'Fine. I'll sit somewhere else. You stay here with your precious seat.' I hide my amused smile wondering if she hit Ayush on his head, it sure sounded like books banging on the head.
She slumps down on the seat next to me which is empty as Belle is absent today. Ayush's voice cuts in a moment later. 'Hey Anaya. Wanna exchange seats?' Anaya ignores him and turns to me. 'Hey Geet! How are you? How did your holidays go?' I face her with a smile on my face. 'I'm good Anaya. How are you? My break went well.' 'Wow! That's great. You know, I had the two jerks spoiling my spring break.' She grimaces and I chuckle, my eyes drifting to the two referred guys who are looking our way listening to everything. 'We spoiled your break? You-' Ayush's angry voice is interrupted as Anaya continues talking to me. 'So how did you spend your days?' I'm surprised and I look at the boys. Ayush's eyes are boring into Anaya's back with his lips pressed in a thin line while Maan is looking nonchalantly around the room, not paying any heed to his friends' little tiff. Anaya calls for my attention and I answer her telling my activities over the past week.
From there on, we fall into a casual conversation. The professor doesn't make an appearance in the class and so Anaya talks with me for the whole hour. I find out that she is a very sweet girl. Caring for her friends at the same time being playful. Her continuous chatter and her attempts to get me talking remind me of Chhoti. Up until now, it was only Chhoti that I could talk to for more than my usual time but now Anaya too brings out the side of me which is visible only to the people I'm very close with. After the hour of chatting, she extends her hand out to me and I look at her confused. 'Friends?' I laugh at her question and put my hand in hers. 'I'd really be a fool to not accept this invitation after an hour of talking.' She laughs too. I leave the class with a content smile on my face. How ironic it is to have found a wonderful friend in the last year of our college, so close to the time that we have to part our ways.
Ishaani
