She came out of the classroom, fumbling with her bag, and started walking with the other girls to the building complex, which housed the general stores.
“
I need to buy a hair oil," said Nishi. “
I hope I get Keo-Karpin here.”
“
I think they have, I got one last week,” assured Swati.
She was half listening to them, and was hoping she met him. Or, his friends...
She hurried to keep pace with the others and merely glanced at the canteen as they walked past…she thought she could make out some familiar faces, but it was all a blur. If only…
His familiar voice stopped her in her tracks and she almost turned back, stopping herself just in time. Damn, he was talking to someone else. Why doesn’t he call her?
The next thing she did was straight out of a movie. She dropped her umbrella (the essential commodity that all girls carried to college and was almost considered a part of their clothing) and almost tripped over it, and asked her classmates to go on, as she must have dropped her pen too. It took her three times the usual time required to pick up her umbrella, look for some imaginary stuff inside her bag and slowly turn to face him.
He smiled, she gulped. Did he understand what she was feeling suddenly…that the day was suddenly more interesting, more hyper, more …stop it, she told herself, and say something.
“
Hi!” Was that all you could manage, you great orator?
“
Hello.” Was he passing by already? Sheesh!
“
Did you see Rajesh?” Very convenient, but…
“
No, any work with him?” Now you are caught buddy.
“
No, was just wondering where he is…”
“
Anything special?” He had that smirk on his face. Dumbo, you are special!
“
Nothing. All set for the exams?”
“
Kahan yaar. Let it start, then we attack it…nothing like you girls do.”
She smiled. "
As if…"
"
As if what?""
As if we girls are always studying."
"
Ok, if you are not, how about joining us for a movie?" Now was that a challenge or an invitation?
“
You guys going for a movie today?"
“
Yeah, we will leave by 1…show is at 2…what say?”
This thing was getting interesting...if only the others could just disappear at the movie hall...and she could be just with him. "
But then...no, forget it...we got to take Jini for her check up to the doctor this evening...so..."
"
Oh no..."
"
Enjoy yourself." Now turn away before he gets restless...idiot. "
Bye then!"
"
Not fair, I was hoping you would join me."
She almost turned back and said, "
Me too," then stopped herself, just smiled back, and walked away.
She never knew that she was smiling and blushing to herself, all the way back to the hostel...she never knew that the wind was sweeping the yellow leaves and spreading them all around, some on her hair, some on her dupatta....she never even noticed the couples sitting around the lake behind the dispensary...she knew that she would remember the day...all because he said,
'I was hoping you would join me'.
---
She removed her seat belt as the car stopped in front of her office, and took out her identity card. Time over for togetherness, time starts for serious work....
"
Can I kidnap you?"
She had almost opened the door by then, but stopped herself. "
What?""
Can I kidnap you and go somewhere else today?" he smiled at her confusion.
"
But where?""
Kahin bhi...what about a movie?""
And what about my deadline?" She knew she sounded weak...as it is the overcast sky and the wet breeze were already against her decision to go to office.
"
How about coming in early tomorrow or even logging in from home tonight?""
As if..." she bit her lips.
"
As if what?"She flashed a big smile. "
As if, nothing!" She re-fastened her seat belts. "
Can we go?"
Seven years back someone else had hoped she would go for a movie, though she was not sure whether he was telling the truth then....she had hoped too, and she knew she was telling herself the truth....both hoped for the same thing, but it could not be fulfilled....
Today, he wants to take her to a movie, and she wants to go....when both want the same thing, the moment should be seized - what say?
--
P.S.: For those who came in from
Megha's post, this might seem similar...so I can say i might have been meme'd ...I admit...
