Chapter 12 The blooming love Sreedhar was in college. Principal was there in the college. Sreedhar met the Principal showed him the medal he had won in conference as the runner up in the students presentation category. Principal asked him to come when college reopens after summer so that the college can formally congratulate him in front of all students. Sreedhar said he will come. Principal said he is expecting him to top MA Economics in the university. Sreedhar smiled. After having tea with the principal he went to staff room. Met some of his professors, lectures who were quite happy to see him. Then he wandered the grounds, the garden and then the row of pint trees that gave shade to the campus and was formed the cover to the place called lovers corner. He sat under one of the trees and closed his eyes " What you confessed your feelings to her " Gautham's voice was so loud that it bought almost the entire MH to Sreedhar's room. Gautham was in hostel that day. " What did she tell. Haan yaa naa" pipped in the naughty Shekhar
" She ate food "
" Arrey haan yaa naa" Kailash was getting impatient
" She didn't tell anything else "
" You didn't ask idiot " asked an exasperated Gautham
" I said she can take decision" told Sreedhar
" You are impossible. Is this the way to propose a girl. You should have had a rose in your hand, then you should have moved closer to her. The told Suman look into my eyes. Cant you see the love I feel for you. And then when she look into your eyes take her hand hold it, arrey girl would have fallen flat. And what is this idiot has done. Make her eat food. Then decide " an irate Shekhar sat on the bed
" Arrey you are so unromantic. We feel you have lost it " told Kailash.
Sreedhar looked at all of them. He felt all of them were mad. What was he supposed to do. Get on the top of the college building and sing " Maine Pyaar tumi se kiya hai".
As if echoing his thoughts one guy Anand started singing " Tu hi re, Tu hi re, Tere bina main kaise jiyun. Aaja re aaja ree yuhi tadapana tu mujko"
And Kailash completed. No Anand the the most effective lines has to be " Maut ya Zindagi tere haaton mein de diya re " Sreedhar was about to get at Kailash but Gautham stopped him.
Sreedhar opened his eyes. How ironical. Today in fact his life and death depended on her. He can live without her, but life life was not possible without her. He got up and decided to have lunch from college canteen.
The canteen boy came running seeing him. " Sreedhar bhaiyya you came. Happy to see you bhaiyya. You and Suman didi used to come together. Next year Suman didi will come alone naa. Your classes are over . Let me take food for you"
Sreedhar didn't know what to tell him. But once again he was lost in thoughts as he sat in the canteen.
" Sreedhar Bhaiyya a letter for you" told the canteen boy
" Who gave " asked Sreedhar curiously
" That didi" the boy told and Sreedhar saw the passing figure of Suman
Gautham and Kailash were immediately jumping. "Let us see. What is written"
" Letter has come for me. I will read. No need to snoop" told Sreedhar. To the irritation of his friends he kept that in his pocket and till they came to room didn't open it. Once in room, he pushed out his roomies, bolted the door and opened the letter. His heart was racing
" Dear Sreedhar,
I know it has been 2 weeks since you told me you love me and you would be expecting a reply from me. I didn't know what to tell. I have been thinking what I feel about you. The truth appears scary to me, so I thought I will lie to you that I didn't love you. And the matter will end then and there. But even after writing so many letters with that lie, I couldn't bring myself to give it you. You have been truthful to me. You have genuinely helped me to traverse the discomfort I was feeling for the Jodi dance. I don't know where this will take us, or what will happen to me. But I have decided to tell the truth to you completely trusting you. I love you Sreedhar Varma. And please know it is not because you told me, that you love me, but Suman Rajput has fallen for you the day we danced together on the stage. And I guess we both knew it. [Yours only Suman ]
" Bhaiyya lunch. Sreedhar was bought into reality. Tears welled in his eyes and controlling himself he smiled at the canteen boy
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
