JaGan OS: The Timid Rose

"Oy Jagdish, over here!"

Jagya turned and grinned at his best friend Lal. Pushing his way through the milling crowd he finally made his way over to the crumbling stone wall on top of which Lal was perched, his short legs dangling down. Hoisting himself beside him Jagya let out a sigh of relief.

"Yeahhh" Lal agreed "Its hell navigating through that lot"

Jagya grinned again and flopped back enjoying the way the sunlight felt on his face. It had been a stormy couple of days and it was amazing to feel the sun again and smell the crisp air instead of getting slapped in the face with water every time he so much as kept a toe out of the front door. Though there were compensations. The college always seemed so much more beautiful after it had got a really good wash by Mother Nature

Jagya loved his college. Both friends and family had been stunned five years ago when the wildly popular bad boy of the school had decided to choose medicine as a career. Even his own parents had been doubtful of his ability to remain dedicated to such a serious profession. Thankfully one loyal friend's faith and his own natural intelligence had helped him clear the entrance with flying colours and secured him a seat in a prestigious medical school in India. Next year he would be leaving with nothing but his own faith in his abilities and a reputation as one of the most brilliant students to pass out. He hoped he could live up to that

Which was not to say that he had changed. Jagya had remained Jagya and had thoroughly enjoyed himself through college as well as taking part in Lal's many stupid projects, most notable one of which was the current one.

"Hey Guys" Anandi's clear voice sounded behind them as she too hoisted herself on to the wall, knocking Jagya's legs down.

"What's up? Oooh let me guess- Monday morning bird, I mean girl-watching?" she asked sarcastically

Lal's cheeks reddened but he resolutely kept his binoculars trained on the crowd of girls pushing their way in through the huge iron gates

"Hey those of us nerds who can't get girls the normal route like Mr. Dashing here have to resort to this" he said defiantly

Anandi snorted while Jagya ignored them. Lal, a computer science geek was constantly bemoaning his single status while Anandi who was doing her degree in social work did her best to take the mickey out of him for that. The fact that all 3 studied in the same university was one of the reasons Jagya had opted for this school. He couldn't imagine a world without them, especially Anandi who had been the only one to stand by him and urge him to go for the medical entrance 5 yrs ago

Anandi's and Lal's bickering had reached epic proportions when Jagya thought it prudent to intervene. Opening one eye lazily he said

"Anandi, don't you have to meet your boring fianc? And Lal, trust me having a girlfriend is not all that is cracked up to be"

Anandi huffed at this slur on her Shiv. Lal turned even more red and said sulkily "That's easy for you to say. You dated Gauri Seeth, the Gauri Seeth!"

Jagya's face darkened. His relationship with Gauri was something he did not like to think of even now, 6 months after it was over. He had been dazzled by her, her beauty and wit and brilliance and had fallen head over heels for her. 3 months later he had figured out that the beautiful face and dazzling brilliance had hid a coldly calculating, manipulative mind and the wit he had admired was too often cutting and cruel. Their ugly public breakup was still campus gossip

Anandi must have noticed his sudden change of mood because she quickly turned and said"Hey, the freshies are here!"

Jagya was pulled up from his reclining position by his two excited friends to watch the show. It was an annual tradition. Every year the freshers of all the colleges of the university had to parade in to college for the first 1 month of the year. Today was the last day and everyone was making the most of it. Jagya choked back a laugh as a poor guy who had the audacity to gawk at a senior girl suddenly stumbled as he received a scorching glare from her

"Which college is it now?" Anandi asked excitedly. Jagya grinned. If only Shivraj Shekhar, IAS could hear his fianc get so excited about an initiation (ragging) ritual. Though truth to be told, Jagya rather thought he would enjoy it. Beneath all that strait-lacedness there was a strong current of humor which had caused the normally sensible Anandi to fall head over heels for him. In fact Jagya liked the guy. A lot. He couldn't approve more of his Anandi's choice.

"I think its medicine, no nursing!" Lal shouted, nearly tumbling off the wall in his excitement

Jagya's head snapped back as he tried to find that one face in the parade which had grabbed his attention the moment it had entered the campus a month ago

Ah. There she was. Right at the front of the line, shoulders hunched, an expression of abject misery on her face .Her blue kurta dangled shapelessly about her and her long black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail shaping that rounded heart shaped face. Any more of this display and those large eyes would brim over with tears. A small smile curved on Jagya's face

The parade was nearly over. Murmuring a hasty goodbye to a distracted Lal and a suspicious Anandi he grabbed his bag and vaulted off

***********************************************************

Ganga forced herself to take deep breaths. Sshh..Sshh...she tried to calm down. Horribly shy, she had never been good at public displays. Though she was just one among 100 in this parade, the sensation of over 600 eyes focused on them terrified her. She grimaced at the memory. Thank God it was over

"You know, a little longer and I had a feeling that you might sit down and bawl then and there" a voice said behind her conversationally

Ganga shrieked and jumped around to be confronted by a tall laughing man who held up his hands in mock fear. She sighed. Of course it would be him. Soon-to- be Dr. Jagdish Singh. The guy who had been tormenting her for the past month of her existence

She had met him the first day when she had been hopelessly lost. She had gathered up her courage, approached a complete stranger and stuttered a greeting

"Hi..I..I" she mumbled

He turned. She suddenly found herself looking into the most glorious eyes ever which suddenly sharpened as they took her in.

"Yes" he asked his voice arrogant, but gentle

"I ..am new and well..I...lost...admissions?" she trailed away in desperation, cringing at how she sounded. To her surprise he merely grinned and said" You are a fresher and you need to get to admissions. Did I get it right?"

She blushed and nodded. He smiled again and said "Let's go then" before waving a bye to his group of friends and walking off. She ran after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides

" Oh..I just needed directions" she gasped, out of breath. She could feel a tiny girl from his group staring at her intently.

He slowed down. Giving her a mischievous grin he said

"Ah...but when you have a ready-made guide and one so handsome as myself moreover, why settle for directions?"

She blushed so hard, a couple of people turned to stare

He laughed and came up to a stop outside a dingy white building. "Here it is" he said, indicating the building with an expansive gesture "Pride of the University"

She gurgled at that. He stared at her, his eyes twinkling.

"What's your name" he asked softly

"Ganga" she replied shyly

"Ganga" he repeated. He nodded decisively "It suits you"

She stuttered her thanks. He merely winked at her and walked off

"What's yours?" she called from behind.

"I think you will find it out on your own" He tossed back

She had nearly fainted the next day when a fellow student had pointed him out to her as Jagdish Singh, a senior, star medical student and member of the Campus Who's Who

"What do you want?" she asked wearily

He clicked his tongue in mock annoyance, his eyes dancing.

"Now, Now, is that any way to talk to a senior?" he asked before advancing on her. She suddenly found herself stuck between the wall and him. Uh-Oh

"Sir" she hissed, praying that nobody would use this corridor for the time being.

He didn't pay any heed but stared down at her upturned face, his eyes glowing in the semi darkness. She couldn't help it, she blushed again

"What's my name, Ganga?' he asked softly, his hands placed on either side of her but not touching her in any way

"Jagdish sir" she tried again. He huffed and leaned closer" FYI how would you feel if I called you Ganga mam?" he demanded

She closed her eyes desperately. There was no way out of this"Jagya" she whispered

He let out a small secret smile before releasing her suddenly. She blinked and looked up to find him leaning against the wall opposite to her, giving her the once over

Gathering up the shreds of her dignity, she said with as much hauteur as she could muster, praying that her voice wouldn't tremble "Now if you will excuse me, I have class"

"But I don't excuse you" came back the casual reply. She suppressed the impulse to stamp her foot. There was something about this stubborn, insane man that stripped away her shyness and made her want to fly at him. That he was the only person she was comfortable enough to do that to apart from her brother and father, she chose to ignore.

He looked at her and said seriously, no trace of mockery in his face or voice

"Listen to me Ganga, let's get this straight. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you that day in that soggy black kurta asking me for directions. Don't ask me how, I know it's stupid. I am going to marry you. But since the first question my parents are going to ask is - how long have you known this girl- I need to spend some time with you. I already know everything I need to know but this is unfortunately required before I tell them to approach your dad with my rishtha.

I have been asking you out every day for the past month and each time you manage to escape .Well not today, I need an answer"

She stared at him, mouth agape "Oh" she said, feebly

His lips twitched

She shook herself. This wouldn't do "I might not even like you!" she squeaked out. So much for a strong, resonant declaration. Grrr, damn her squeaky voice

His smirk grew "Trust me Ganga, if I had thought that you disliked or were indifferent to me, I wouldn't be saying all this" he said dryly

She blushed harder. Was she that transparent? Ugh!

"I might not want to get married now" she tried again

He didn't flinch. "Naturally I will wait for you to complete your course and make a career before we take any step forwards. But I will end up marrying you darling, there is no escape from that" he said, his voice husky

This was impossible. He was the only son of a rich, respected business family and she was the daughter of an electrician whose hopes and dreams were centered on her and her younger brother. She couldn't afford to let her beloved father down

Some of this must have shown on her face because Jagya's face softened. "I want you Ganga and nothing else is important. And my parents know that too. Trust me they will welcome you with open arms once they see that you mean the world to me" he said gently. Her eyes prickled at the sincerity in her voice

"You know nothing about me" she countered weakly, hastily brushing away one traitorous tear. He was by her side in an instant, drawing her into his arms. She was too tired to stop him

"I know that you are incredibly tiny, a first year nursing student on scholarship. I know that you are smart, sweet and sensitive. I know that you are incredibly shy and terrified to talk to people. However you are good with patients because they tend to depend on you and you have a huge maternal streak in you. I know that you are very serious about your studies because you want to make your father proud. I know that you come from a middle-class family in 11^th Nagar, your father is an electrician who adores you ( quite correctly) and that you have a younger brother in 5th standard called Mannu whom you worship and have taken care of ever since your mother died when he was born. I know you are adorable, tend to worry too much, hate laddoos and have a tendency to cry when scared which I absolutely hate" he chided her

She stared at him "Wow"

He flashed another dimpled smile and said simply" I observe and have connections"

She blinked.

"Sooo?" he looked at her comically, his expression reminding her of a hopeful puppy

"We..ll, maybe..."

"Excellent I will meet you at your house at 5!"

"What?!" Ganga shrieked. The thought of what her father would say if he found an unknown boy at their house was more than she could handle. He could have a heart attack. She was nearly having one just by thinking about it

"No worries, I'll bring my Dadisa" before loping off

"What!" she shrieked again. Now on top of all this, she was going to meet his Dadi? She sank onto the grass, exhausted. Nobody had told her college was this hard