A few creative liberties I have taken in this chapter. Apologies in advance for that!
P.S: Writing romantic scenes is sooo not my thing!
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next morning brings nervous jitters to my stomach. I get up earlier than usual and dress up for graduation hours before the ceremony. I sit and wait, pacing the room occasionally and tapping my feet impatiently, wondering what the result will be. As soon as the clock strikes nine, my phone rings and I check to see Anaya calling. Talking with her doesn't calm me down either because all she talks about is the ceremony and the results. Just before I leave for college, I receive a call from Mamma. I talk to her, Baba and Raya for a while, listening to all of them regretting not being able to make it for my big day. I try to reassure them that it's fine but since I don't feel very uplifted with their absence myself, my words fall on deaf ears.
------------------------------------------I kiss Mom on the cheek and remind her to be at the college on time before I leave. As I step out of the door, Zara calls out, wishing me luck. I smile at her and tell her she has to come herself as well as make sure Ranbir makes it on time too. Before igniting the engine, I send a text to Ayush, Anaya and Geet, telling them I'm on my way to college and that I will see them soon. Stepping into the auditorium where the ceremony is to be held, I realise I am the first among my friends to be here so I step back out and take the opportunity to make a call and settle a few things.
------------------------------------------As I enter the huge hall, my eyes look around for a familiar face when I notice Ayush slapping the back of a person who I believe is Maan. I walk towards them as Maan turns around and hugs his friend before noticing me. We talk about going over to get the gowns and caps when Anaya joins us. Not five minutes later, the administrator and the professors who are buzzing around the hall, passing instructions to students, telling them where to sit and how to go about the ceremony, announce that the students need to collect their gowns and caps and then get seated in the designated places. We walk over to the office, listen to the hurried instructions of the in-charge to return the gown and cap after the ceremony ends, and then go back to the auditorium. Anaya insists we take some photographs so we spend a little time just outside the door of the hall when the guests start arriving. I meet Maan's mother, who wishes all of us luck, her eyes shining with the pride of a mother at seeing her children cross a milestone of their lives. Ranbir and Zara, Maan's mother tells, will come in a while. Anaya and Ayush's parents come too and G is the last one to enter the hall, by the time of which, we are summoned to go inside and take our places. As we move inside, I notice Maan walking along with G and talking something which makes me curious but I can't hear what he is saying so I give up trying to find out and take my seat.
------------------------------------------I hand my phone to G, explaining her how to go about what I have planned and then make sure she sits in a place which gives a clear view of the stage. Walking to my seat, I look around and locate Ayush first, give him a thumbs up, then I catch Geet's eye, smiling at her and then wave at Anaya when she looks my way. The students have to be seated in alphabetical order of their surnames and so all four of us are spread across the area. The ceremony begins with a valediction from the most intelligent student among the seniors, who we all usually refer to as the most nerdy. Even though I try to listen to every word he says, I get bored and distracted. Looking around myself, it amuses me to see how bored everyone seems to be, maybe wishing for the speech to end, which it does - in three long minutes. After the valedictorian steps off the podium, the dean steps up and gives a congratulatory speech which ends quickly before he announces the beginning of the ceremony. At first, the high achievers are called on the stage and awarded with medals or certificates. To my surprise, my name is announced as the best player of the in-house basketball team and I walk up to the stage to receive the medal. As I accept the medal amidst applause and cheers, I look at the audience and smile when I see my big brother standing in his place and hooting for me, his face etched in pride.
------------------------------------------After the achievers' awards, students are called in to stand in a queue at a side and the vice chancellor begins calling the names of the students, who in turn, step up the stage and proudly walk over to be rewarded with the degree which they have spent four years for. As my name is called, I walk to the dean who shakes my hand with a smile, congratulates me, hands me the rolled up degree and an envelope which has my transcript in it. He then signals me to smile for the camera as the picture is clicked and then I am instructed to step off the stage from the other side. I can feel my heart beating fast, my hands shivering and my feet cold even as I step down from the stage and realise that I'm through. I can't bring myself to open the envelope and check the results of the exams on the transcript so I just gaze at the stage where one after another, the students are awarded with their degrees. When all the students are armed with their degrees, they are summoned to the stage for a group photograph with the dean. I stand in the front row and look at the audience, hoping that my family could be there. I smile faintly at G who is standing very close to the stage with a phone. My smile turns to an incredulous expression when I notice that the phone has been turned such that the large screen is facing the stage. I focus at what the screen is showing and gasp when I realise what it is. There, right in front of my eyes, I see my parents and my sister huddled together and watching my ceremony live through the video call. Technology, they say, eliminates distances, and I can't agree more to it at the moment as I swallow the lump in my throat and smile for the photographer.
Pictures are clicked, students cheer and throw their caps up in the air in glee. Friends hug each other as the end of the ceremony is announced and Anaya is the first to reach me, pulling me in for a tight hug, screaming that we've done it. When she breaks apart, I'm enveloped into a hug from Ayush and then a hostel-mate who has been my classmate as well. I see Maan coming to me and grin at him before reflexively reaching out to hug him as well. It is only when he has his arms around me and mine are around his neck, I realise who I am hugging. Maan.
Maan!! I become aware of my body touching his and want to part from him but it feels awkward to pull away abruptly so I slowly pull back and look at him from under my lashes as a pink hue rises up my cheeks. Saving my grace, our families surround us as his mother hugs him and G pulls me towards herself. After she congratulates me, she pushes the wide-screened phone in my hand where I see my proud parents and a beaming sister. Mamma wipes a tear away as she tells me how proud she is of me. A tear manages to slip out of my eye and drop down my cheek as I listen to them bless me with their love before the video call needs to be ended.
I sniff to hold my tears back, which are probably the result of the nervousness since the morning and missing my family, and now knowing that they have been a part of the most important day of my life. I turn around to thank G for letting me have my family here with me but she refuses to accept the credit.
'Not me, Geet. Thank Maan. It was his plan and he was the one who called me this morning to put this plan into action.' Hearing who actually is the mastermind behind it, I can't help but be even more amazed by him. My eyes move back to see him being kissed on his forehead by his mother and my heart swells with reverence for the guy.
How can anyone be so caring, so thoughtful? I gaze at him with all the respect I have until he looks my way and smiles. I mouth a
'thank you' to him and he blinks in response before his attention is called for by his brother and his mother comes to congratulate me, kissing my forehead just the way she did with her son.
------------------------------------------After the ceremony is done, it is almost lunch time. Since the farewell party is in the early evening, there is a mutual agreement amongst the women folk to head to their homes to start preparing for the party. The men breed doesn't understand their need to get ready for the party when it is still about three hours away so there ensues a little argument which settles only when a quick lunch is agreed on before the females will be allowed to head home and the men will do whatever they wish. The lunch is a rushed affair where our group has multiple conversations, talking to each other across the table and speaking loudly to be heard over the rest. I try to stay as close to Geet as I can to be able to steal the first opportunity to sweep her away from here to be alone for a while but throughout the meal, Anaya and G stick to her like glue, making me frustrated and even slightly cranky. On top of it, I notice Geet not meeting my eyes. Twice during the time, our eyes meet and I try to smile but she quickly averts her gaze, acting as if our eyes don't meet. Of course, the instant colour rising up on her cheeks gives her away both the times and I can't help but smirk at the thought of her being shy about the hug earlier.
------------------------------------------Bidding Anaya a goodbye and assuring her that I am going to get ready for the evening myself, I walk into my hostel. The warden stops me and hands me over a package which she says has come for me. I curiously check the sender's name and to no surprise, it is from Raya. I smile and thank the warden before heading to my room. Once inside, I shut the door and open the package to find a piece of paper folded on top of a silky material. Picking the paper and placing the box on the bed, I unfold it to see my sister's scrawl across the page.
"Surprise! Didn't expect it, did you? Well, I wanted to give your graduation gift right on the day and here it is! Actually, there is another reason for this package reaching you now instead of you getting it when you come back. It is your farewell party in the evening, right? I want my Di to look her best tonight and get some hearts thumping fast! Joking! I just want you to get one heart racing for you. No, don't scowl now! I'm just teasing! Wear this for the evening, Di. You'll love it!
Love forever,
Your darling Chhoti!"I smile at her note and look at the box again, pulling out the dress to get a better look. It is a simple magenta tube top gown with a flowing skirt and an accompanying full-sleeved bolero of the same colour to cover the bare back and arms. It isn't anything fancy and just like Raya had predicted, I love the dress at first sight, for its simplicity. Quickly calling her up, I thank her profusely, telling her how much I love the dress. She excitedly blabbers how relieved she is that I love the dress since she wasn't sure if I would like the tube top. We spend some time talking as she suggests which shoes and what kind of accessories I must wear to compliment the dress. After I hang up, I hurriedly shower and set about getting ready for the evening.
------------------------------------------Giving myself a once over, I head to the stairs and meet Mom before leaving for the party. She blesses me, telling me not to stay too late. She asks if I'm going alone.
'Of course! Who will I go with?' I answer her nonchalantly only to see a naughty gleam in her eyes.
'I thought you were going with your date.
' I whine, not wanting to be teased yet so she relents laughingly, letting me leave for the party. I drive to the college in thoughts. I had thought I will take Geet with me to the party but I never reached the point of asking her out. From the morning through to the time that we separated after lunch, everything has been in such a rush that I haven't gotten a moment alone with her. After the girls went their way, the guys partied right until it was absolutely necessary for us to leave. I did try to call her once I got home but the first time her number was busy and the second time she didn't answer it. I received her text after a few minutes, stating that she is busy and she will meet me at the college, and so here I am, driving alone to the college.
But I will make sure she stays with me through the night! Smiling in satisfaction, I park the car outside the college and walk to the entrance, looking for Ayush's car. Not finding any signs of his car, I stop before entering the gates and call him. He tells me he and Anaya have just picked up Geet and they will be here in a few minutes.
------------------------------------------The first sight my eyes take in when I get down from the car in front of the entrance is a vision of grey and white. I run a surreptitious glance over the well-fitted metallic grey waistcoat with a black lining running on the seams, which clings to his lean torso; the matching pants which fit just right and the sleeves of his pristine white shirt, which feels like it is glowing. The debonair look is completed with a metallic grey tie and neatly gelled back hair. As I look into the dark eyes, I notice his stare and smile slightly at him, taking slow steps towards where he is standing. Ayush and Anaya join us just then. The very excited person that she is, Anaya comes to me and takes a good look at my dress, something she has been itching to do all the way here from the hostel. She shows me her dress too, twirling a little. The red one-shoulder dress is calf-length with an asymmetrical hemline. Its form-fitting stitching makes Anaya's tall and slim form look attractive. As we admire each other, Ayush sighs heavily.
'Girls! If you're done scrutinising each and every detail of your dresses
, can we go inside already? I'm famished!' Anaya slaps his arm in her typical style.
'Shut up! You eat like a buffalo, do you know that? Ever-so-hungry!' Maan and I chuckle as Ayush rubs the place he has been slapped on, but the next moment, he juts his elbow out, offering Anaya to link hers through it, making her smile. The two begin to walk inside, stopping and posing for the photographer standing at the entrance to click pictures. I turn to look at Maan who already has his eyes on me.
'Shall we?' He holds his arm to me with a smile. I shyly put my hand over his elbow and we head inside, posing for the photographer on our way.
------------------------------------------We meet our classmates who chat genially for a while, then we find ourselves a table to sit. Geet remains with me. Although she doesn't speak much, I'm happy that she is by my side, with her hand through my elbow. We don't sit for more than a few minutes when the music changes and most of the couples head to the dance floor. I invite Geet to a dance and to my delight, she accepts it, tagging along with me to the floor. We take a few minutes to match each other's steps but then get into the rhythm and waltz around the floor almost effortlessly, my right hand on her waist, her right hand in my left. She keeps looking around, her eyes coming back to me every now and then and when our eyes meet, she smiles. I just look at her, observing and admiring her. She realises it, I suppose, but she doesn't make it very obvious though I can see it. Since she doesn't look at me, I shamelessly stare at her without any constraint. I admire at how confident she seems while dancing with me, her back straight, her shoulders relaxed and her posture graceful.
'Nice dress.' I speak to make her look at me. It works. She looks into my eyes and smiles an easy smile.
'Raya's choice.' I nod appreciatively.
'Nice choice.' She can probably see the question on my face which she answers without me asking.
'She sent it to me as a graduation gift.'I smile and steer the conversation back to Geet.
'But to wear and to carry off such a dress isn't a piece of cake for everyone. One needs some grace, some sophistication, you know. Not everybody has it.' She raises an eyebrow.
'I don't think so.' I knew she would disagree.
'Like Anaya.' I point with my eyes to where Anaya and Ayush are standing in front of a table and eating something. Geet turns to look their way.
'She won't be able to pull it off with poise...' Geet looks at me, opening her mouth and I guess she is going to disagree again but I don't let her speak.
'...like you, Geet.' Her mouth closes. I step a little closer to her, looking into her wide hazels, our movements slowing a bit.
'You are the one who is making this dress look lovely, not the other way around.' Colour rises up her cheeks and I can't stop myself from letting go of her waist to bring my hand to her face, lightly running my fingers down her inflamed cheeks. A tap on my shoulder makes me snap out of the trance and turn my head to see Ayush. He cockily asks to cut in and dance with Geet since the song has ended. I have no choice but to let go of her for the moment and walk away where Anaya pulls me back to the floor with her. As we dance, she cracks jokes and we laugh, she compliments on how I look like a gentleman in my suit.
------------------------------------------As our dance ends and we walk off the floor, Ayush tells me he will get something to drink and walks away. I look at Maan and Anaya still dancing and talking. I smile and look away when a guy from our class comes to offer me to dance. I refuse very politely, but as soon as he walks away, another guy comes and asks me to dance. I refuse again, feeling uncomfortable and try to move from there to sit at a table but the guy follows me, insisting to dance. I rack my brain on how to get rid of him when out of nowhere, Maan is beside me. He puts his arm around my waist and looks at the guy squarely in his eye.
'Excuse us, please.' Without waiting for his response, Maan pulls me along with him to the buffet table. He hands me a plate and suggests that we eat something.
Relieved for his interference at the right time, I thank Maan as we both fill our plates.
'Thank God you came at the right time, Maan! Otherwise I don't know how I would have gotten rid of him.' He smiles.
'This is the reason I don't like to go to parties; to avoid unwanted attention!' He smiles at me again.
'Don't bother about the guy, Geet. I'm sure he won't pursue you anymore.' He looks around.
'Let's go sit there.' He points to a table where his group of friends is sitting and then leads me there, making sure I get the seat beside him. His bunch of friends are all crazy, fun-loving people so I'm entertained with all the laughter surrounding various things which goes around as I eat. One of the guys announces their plan of going to the nearest beach tomorrow to celebrate. The rest of the group readily agrees and I find myself being pulled into their plan. Maan and Anaya won't let me step out so it is decided that I will be going to the beach with all of them tomorrow afternoon.
------------------------------------------Soon after the meal, the party is dispersed as most of the students leave. As we walk back to our cars, I insist on dropping Geet to her hostel and Anaya and Ayush are only too eager to let me. The drive to the hostel is mostly silent as my mind is elsewhere, working itself up on how to talk to her. A small part of my brain mocks me on how many times I have tried confessing to her yet I need to think again on
how I should do it. I ignore it and make small talk with Geet on how the party went well. I tell her I will pick her up tomorrow for the beach just as I park outside the hostel. She gets down the car and I follow suit, moving around the car and slowly walking beside her to the door. She stops a few feet short of the door and turns to me.
'You are looking very hands-...uhh... I mean, very nice.' She smiles a little and my heart jumps at the compliment as I stare into her eyes, holding her gaze as her honey-brown eyes hold me captive. She looks down before speaking in a low voice.
'It was very thoughtful of you to find a way to make my family be here for the ceremony.' She looks up with respect in her eyes.
'Thank you, Maan!' Slowly, I lean towards her, bringing my face closer to hers, putting my hand lightly on her cheek. Just as I decide to kiss her lips, I look into her wide eyes and change my track, placing my lips against her soft cheek. With her skin against my lips, I feel a current run through me but I take my own time to pull back, deeply inhaling her fragrance.
'Anything for you, Geet!' I whisper against her cheek before pulling back. As I pull back to look into her face, I smile at her dazed state. She doesn't react immediately as I stare at her. Only after a few moments, she blushes a bright red and whispers me a good night before hurriedly turning around and walking inside. I keep looking after her, partly smiling and partly worried, wondering if she didn't like me kissing her like that.
------------------------------------------I force my eyes shut and will my brain to blank out and let me sleep. Going for the age-old trick of counting the sheep in the head, I begin to feel drowsy but as soon as the sheep disappear, the feel of warm lips on my cheek make me gasp and snap my eyes open at the tingling sensation. I rub my cheek the nth time since coming back to my room, unable to keep the heat from rising to my face.
He was going to kiss me, I am sure of that. I remember him leaning towards me but then suddenly reaching for my cheek.
Did he change his mind because of me? Did I look freaked out when he was going to kiss me? The thoughts swirl around in my head even as I try to think of something else, making it impossible for me to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning, and even then, my dreams are filled with images of what happened and what could have happened.
------------------------------------------The incessant ringing of my phone wakes me up and I groggily listen to Anaya instruct me on being ready by noon so we can go. She tells me to be ready in casuals and that Maan will be driving the four of us. I answer her in monosyllables, much because of my groggy mind but she doesn't notice and keeps on talking until I tell her I need to get up and shower so I can be ready. When the line disconnects, I realise I still have some time so I thump back to my bed, staring at the ceiling, the sleep haze eroding as I recall the previous evening. Shaking myself out of the musings, I decide to get up and bathe. I have a late breakfast and then call up Chhoti to keep myself off the thoughts, filling her up with the details of how the party went.
------------------------------------------As decided, I pick Ayush, Anaya and then Geet before we join the rest of the group where they are waiting. Geet sits in the seat behind me, coming directly in my view from the rear view mirror. I keep looking at her every few moments, hoping she looks at me too but she doesn't. Anaya and Ayush keep up the chatter throughout the way to the beach and she only smiles at them, occasionally speaking up. I don't know what to make of it but if she is upset because of the kiss, I am going to make it normal. I am not going to let her drift away from me like this. As we reach the beach and see the others getting off from their cars, we get off too. Anaya trots off excitedly with Ayush skipping behind her. Locking the car, I turn to follow the group when I notice Geet lagging behind the rest, her steps hesitant. Quickly striding up to her, I grab her by her wrist and make her stop. She looks startled so I smile reassuringly before turning serious.
'I'm sorry.' She brushes it off with a slight smile and I realise she has probably taken my apology for startling her, so I clarify it.
'No, Geet. I'm sorry for kis-...uhh... I mean, I'm sorry for last night. I didn't mean to upset you.'------------------------------------------I look at his earnest eyes as he apologises for something he hasn't done. His kiss hasn't upset me. I look down as I realise that somewhere deep down, I even liked it. He lightly tips my chin up with his finger to look at him.
'Don't, just don't drift away from me... I don't like it...' His honest words rob me of my speech and after a few moments of staring into his chocolate brown eyes, I smile comfortingly, determined to be normal and not let my internal conflicts affect him.
'Let's go.' His eyes shine as he smiles and we both head down the path hand-in-hand to join the rest.
------------------------------------------I feel lighter once I see her smile at me. As we join the group, we are offered a bag of chips and an array of drinks to choose from, which somebody thought of bringing here. Geet doesn't take the chips so I offer her to eat from my bag, secretly loving the fact that she doesn't resist as we both pop our hands in the bag in turns, eating without a care. The group makes a circle without any fire and begins to sing random songs, having a gala time. I sit beside Geet on the sand and as the wind blows, her half-tied hair tickles my face, making her constantly try to straighten them before finally pulling them into a bun. Before she can pin the bun, I pull the clip away. She looks at me questioningly as her hair falls loose around her face, flowing freely in the wind and caressing my face. I grin.
'It's beautiful this way.' She turns a shade of pink and smiles before turning away without protesting, letting her hair loose. I stealthily put the clip in my pocket and smile to myself before turning back to the fun going around the group.
Some time later, most of the group decides to go to the waters and play a little. I get up and offer a hand to Geet. She refuses but I insist and pull her up, taking her with me. She stops me and takes her shoes off, folding her jeans almost till her knees to reveal her fair and well-shaped calves. I shake my head and take my shoes off too, leaving them beside her before I grab her hand and run for the water. She laughs as I run, warning me she won't go deeper into the water because she doesn't want to get wet. We reach knee-deep into the water when she pulls me to a stop. A splash of water hits me on my back and I turn to see Anaya laughing. I bend down to splash water back on her, laughing as the water-fight ensues with everyone throwing water at each other. Almost completely wet myself, I turn to find Geet a little behind me, laughing at the scene but not drenched herself. I smile naughtily at her and she guesses what I am up to so she raises a warning finger, slowly backing away.
'Oh no, Maan. You're not doing it!' I don't stop as I splash water over her and she screams laughingly before running backwards, still warning me. I laugh as I keep splashing water at her, running after her as she tries to escape by running along the shore.
As we run, she somehow ends up splashing water back at me, not that I'm complaining. We run quite far from the group until she is as drenched as I am when she pauses and doubles over, breathing heavily as I stop by her side in a similar fashion. We both sink on the ground, laughing away happily at the game we have just played.
'That was fun!' She nods in agreement as she runs a hand through her now-tangled hair to get them straight. I vigorously rub my hair, sprinkling some water on her in the process and she giggles, making me smile. Sighing contentedly, I stretch my legs in front of me and lean on my elbows, watching her as she takes a comfortable position herself. In silence, we stare at the expanse of the water spread out in front of us, slight smiles adorning both our faces, happy to be here at this moment. The wind picks up speed, drying us in the process, and the clouds turn darker.
'Maan! Geet!' We both turn to Anaya's voice as she makes her way to us.
'Come on! We need to leave. It's going to rain and we need to get back before that.' As a reflex, Geet and I look up at the sky and agree with Anaya. I quickly get up, dust my jeans off and hold a hand out for Geet, pulling her up. I studiously ignore the smirk on Anaya's face as she witnesses this and all three of us walk back to the rest where they're already wearing their shoes and gathering the litter to throw in the bins in the parking lot. On our way back, since it is darker outside due to the clouds, I concentrate on the driving as the rest talk.
'So what time is your flight tomorrow?' My heart leaps to my throat at Anaya's question as I realise I have lost the last opportunity of alone time with Geet.
'At 10 in the morning. I have to be at the airport by 8.' I grip the steering wheel tighter, suddenly incoherent about what I should do while Anaya continues to speak in a normal voice.
'Okay. I am going to be there to see you off.' My throat goes dry.
'And me too!' Ayush turns in his seat to smile at Geet. She tries to protest, telling them G has already planned to come to the airport and that they need not come so early but the two resist and don't listen to her. I silently hear them going to and fro about it throughout the way before Geet gives in when we stop in front of the hostel. Before she gets off, Anaya hugs her.
'We both will meet you at the airport.' She nods and I see her glance at me through the mirror for a fleeting second.
'Maan will come too, right Maan?' Ayush states and I nod. After murmuring a goodbye, Geet steps out into the light drizzle and I watch her quickly walk into the building, my stomach a tight knot of anxiousness.
------------------------------------------'Yes, Mamma, I'm all packed and ready. I'll call you in the morning. Good night!' I cut the call and my phone rings again in a few minutes. It's Maan's mother. She talks with me for a while, regretful for not being able to come drop me to the airport. She blesses me and wishes me luck, handing the phone over to Zara who also wishes me luck. I smile as the call ends, wondering how these people have always treated me like their own family despite being an outsider.
------------------------------------------Dinner is a quiet affair with Mom and Zara since Ranbir isn't home yet. The two converse a little but I stay in my own thoughts. I don't realise if they notice my preoccupation or not but they don't try to involve me in whatever they talk about. Soon after dinner, Mom declares she is a little tired so she goes to sleep. Zara, too, retires to her room, making me retreat to my own room. Staying in my room for quite a lot of time, my anxious heart doesn't get some peace, making me pace the room. When the room feels too small for me, I find myself pacing back and fro in the corridor.
I pace up and down the dimly lit corridor, trying not to make any sounds but at the same time, unable to keep the anxiousness away, cursing myself with every step for not confessing when I had the chance. Now the only time I am going to meet her is tomorrow morning when she will be boarding her plane. And that is not the easiest time to open my heart to her when she will be surrounded by friends and family who have insisted to see her off.
What do I do? What do I do?! Think Maan! Call her? I raise the phone in my hand indecisively.
Should I say it on the phone? Maybe that is the option I am left with... As I mull over it, mindlessly turning the phone in my hand over and over, the lights turn brighter and I snap my eyes around to see Zara standing there. I straighten my burdened shoulders and smile weakly at her.
'You didn't sleep yet?' She shakes her head.
'I wasn't feeling sleepy. What about you? Is something troubling you?' I have probably given away a little bit already but I still try to reassure her that everything is fine.
She looks in my eyes with a sternness on her face which makes me feel like a small child waiting for a scolding from an elder. So far, I haven't seen the authoritative side in her which I have heard Ranbir talk about once but with her standing there, arms crossed over her chest, it seems like Ranbir is right. I look around nervously when I hear her sigh and speak in a soft voice.
'Mind if we talk for a while?' I look at her to see the familiar friendliness back in her posture so I nod and she walks over to the kitchen telling me to sit in the living room. As she comes back with two mugs in her hand, she passes one to me and sits comfortably on the sofa opposite to me. I inhale the aroma of coffee and thank her.
I am aware of her keen eyes studying my face as I sip the coffee.
'Do you know how Ranbir and I came together?' She asks all of a sudden and I look at her in perplexity. At my expression, she explains what she is asking and I tell her I do know a little bit about them meeting through work and then running into each other more frequently because of their common friends. She nods.
'Yes. And did he tell you how exactly we became a couple?' I shrug wordlessly and she begins speaking.
'Your brother may show himself to the world as a carefree and reckless man but I know it as well as you do that he is a very possessive man... fiercely protective of what - or who - he considers his own.' I look at the softness on her face as she talks about the one man we both love to no end.
'That is what brought us both together. Once, in a party of a mutual friend, a man tried to misbehave with me and I slapped him for that. But that apparently wasn't enough for Ranbir who happened to witness the scene and came right at the man's face, punching him hard on his jaw. He would have continued to beat the man but I dragged him out of the party.' I raise my eyebrows in surprise, exclaiming that I never thought Ranbir could actually lose his temper like that. Zara smiles and continues.
'He did lose it that day and I lost mine at him for not thinking about being at someone's party and beating someone like that. We had a big argument which ended with him angrily telling me he loves me.' She chuckles at the memory and looks at me.
'You are like him when it comes to protecting your family. I know about what happened back at my house between you and Neil over Raya.' I stiffen at the reminder but don't say anything.
'Zynah told me about it.' I take another sip of my coffee as silence ensues for a while.
'But that isn't relevant here.' I look at her, asking what she means by that. She hesitates for a moment before speaking.
'Tell her, Maan. Tell her before she leaves.' I just stare at her.
'Would you let someone you've been so possessive of, someone you have protected so much so that you even stood up for her sister like that, slip away in oblivion? Just like that?' I put the mug aside, determination crossing my face.
'No. I am not going to let that happen.' Her face turns expectant, her voice eager.
'Then go! Go tell her right now! Go to her hostel and tell her!' I look at my watch and indecision creeps back in me as I whisper.
'It's late...' Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I look up to see Zara standing beside me with her face set strong. I stand up without conscious effort.
'It is never late, Maan. Go!' She pushes me slightly towards the door and I smile widely at her. Her words have filled me with a new ardor, an eagerness to go through with it. I quickly give her a small hug and thank her before running out of the house into the dark, wet night.
------------------------------------------The sounds of the splashing rain don't let me fall asleep. Or maybe it is the restlessness of knowing this is the last night here. I toss and turn in my bed, willing myself to catch a few hours of sleep so I will be able to get up early in the morning. As I lay in bed, my mind wanders over the last six months of my life here, replaying various memories and making me smile fondly. I sigh as I look out the window at the rain which somehow appears offensive since this is the reason that an enjoyable evening ended rather abruptly. Another turn in my bed makes me notice my phone's screen alive and I frown, wondering what it is. Pulling it to myself, I notice two missed calls which confuse me about why it didn't ring. That is when I realise my phone was on silent mode. I must have done it accidentally. I quickly check who has been calling me when the phone indicates another incoming call, making me sit up in the bed.
------------------------------------------After two failed attempts of calling her on her phone, standing under the darkness of a tree, I try for a third time, desperately hoping she answers it now.
'Hello?' Her voice sounds in my ear, bringing relief with it. I give myself a moment to smile before speaking.
'Come out, Geet.' I know my voice sounds commanding but I don't want to take any chance now.
'What?' She sounds puzzled.
'I'm standing in front of your hostel. Come out.' A second after I say this, a light switching on in the front room of the first floor catches my eyes. As I look up at the window, Geet's form appears there, phone held up to her ear and eyes searching for me. I didn't know Geet's room is right in front of the building.
'Where?' I hear her whisper amidst her continuously skittering gaze. I look at her for a moment before taking a step forward to come into her view, away from the shelter of the tree and into the rain.
------------------------------------------My eyes immediately lock with his, staring into the dark orbs which look up at me, his form drenching in the rain which seems to have picked up pace. My heartbeats rise as I cut his call, throw my phone on the bed and make a dash out of the room, down the stairs and out of the building. The fact that the college is over helps me in easily going out, without the warden questioning me, since the rules have slackened. I stop a few steps away from where Maan is standing as my lips stretch into a slow and delighted smile. Uncaring of the rain soaking me through just like him, I slowly cover the distance between us to see his face light up with a beatific smile. Neither of us say anything as we hear a song playing in the background in one of the shops nearby. He holds his hand out for me.
'May I have this dance?' I look at his earnest eyes and without a second thought, put my hand in his, welcoming the soft but firm hand he places on my waist to pull me closer.
------------------------------------------I pull her closer and begin to sway to the music, all the while gazing into her eyes which look right back into mine. She follows my lead, engrossed in the way we move together. Her eyes shine as she looks at me. I twirl her around, her wet hair splaying across my face, before bringing her back into my arms, closer than before. She tenderly removes the strands of her hair from my face, her lips curved into a beautiful, dimpled smile. The melody of the song drowns in the splashes of the rain but we don't stop swaying. I twirl her to bring her back closer to me, wrapping my arms around her waist and slowing our movements. Her back sags against my chest and she relaxes herself as I see her eyes close, lost in the moment. My eyes close too as I lightly graze her cheek with my nose, bringing my lips closer to her ear and finally letting my feelings find words.
'I love you, Geet. I love you!'
Edited by mayyo - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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