And We Met. Finally. - The Sequel

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(Before reading this, because this a sequel to a post earlier, read this chapter : "And We Met. Finally. Part-1)

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(...continued from the last post...)

After texting her that I would be there within 5minutes, I raced back to the orientation room having grabbed an Appy Fizz with me to drink. I had to drink something; my mouth had dried out, out of nervousness. She had asked me to come, meet her; what would you expect my reaction to be!

With each step of getting close to the room where she was waiting, my heart beat was increasing monotonically. I was getting anxious, nervous, happy, excited and what not. While walking the distance between the cafeteria and the orientation hall, I thought of thousands of possible opening lines which I were likely to speak when I would confront her for the first time, to make my impression.

I reached the orientation room and stationed myself just outside the front door. I could see her sitting at exactly at the same place where she was before I left the building. I had seen her countless times on facebook, but this was different. This feeling that had started fomenting inside me was overwhelming. It was such a feeling that I was ready to die for.

I was still outside the room, trying to find my courage to hop inside and stand beneath her. To tell you the truth, I was scared! But it was no time to back down. I checked my configuration; I wanted to look my best.

I was wearing a Killer’s Denim Shirt that was perfectly ironed, a black half jacket to avoid the morning chill and my Integriti Jeans. Perfect!

I went in through the back door.

I was closing in on her and now I could spot her easily, 'There she is!' My heart went on rampage, my brain started bashing inside my head and I was shaking from head to toe. Yes, I was that nervous.

“You came this far, now there is no way you would want to back down. Hold yourselves together, this is gonna be the best day of your life.” I was receiving constant assurance from one end but my body had started giving in.

“Hi!” I was confused whether I should hug her or just shaking hands would do. Some quick calculations said the later was good enough. I didn’t want her to get any sort of wrong ideas, and she mightn’t have liked me being so forward. So, I settled for a handshake. The touch sent chills down my spine.

She was excited and very happy to see me there and that somehow calmed my hysteria.

“Hey, hi! How are you?” she replied.

Like I would have failed to notice! She was wearing a red colored salwar and black Kameez. She wore a black sweater over her kameez. She had clipped her hair, and had formed a pony tail out of it. I loved it! She was looking angelic. With not a hint of make up on her face and a thin lining of massacre on her eyes, she was a killing machine. Her looks gave me mild heart attacks at regular intervals.

 I was wondering continuously, how something can seem so perfect! She was perfect and, hell, out of my league. Debashis could never deserve her, he looks like a dickhead, a moron and he bleeds arrogance & attitude. You would hate him from his looks itself! I wonder what Neha saw in him. And, I never said I deserved her any better, but in no way she would deserve the likes of Debashis; yet, here I’m and there he is.

If I get any chance of bitching about Debashis, I wouldn’t lose it, but let me not waste space here and certainly get back to the topic.

Yes, she looked like a goddess and I felt lucky enough just to know her, and felicitous to be one of a close friend to her.

“I’m great.” I can finally see you! So yeah, I’m great! “How are you?”

“I’m good too.” She said. I couldn’t exactly sit beside her so, I grabbed a chair and sat behind her, diagonally behind (:P).

“So, what’s the topic?”

“Look over there.” She said pointing towards a paper, pasted on the wall, had the topic printed on it. Campaign against illiteracy.

“It is a Group Discussion?” I asked hearing a person, accidentally; speak over the mic on the stage.

“Yeah, it is a group discussion. I didn’t know about, until now. Damn, I hadn’t prepared for the topic in that regard. I had foreseen it to a debate topic and I had prepared basically for a debate, but nevertheless, let’s see how it goes. This will be officially my first group discussion I had participated in. I’m excited as well as nervous.”

“Hmm… Debate and a group discussion are two completely different things. But, rightly said, will have to wait a see.” I was starting to be at ease talking to her now. The nervousness was greatly abated. The awkwardness was gone. I was comfortable with her. Achievement!

“Yep!”

“By the way, show me your notes that you are holding.”

As soon as I asked for it, she kept it at a distance from me.

“No way will I show them to you. It’s so embarrassing.” She said holding the paper away from me as I tried to reach it.

“Why not, what’s there to be embarrassed about? C’mon, show me.” I asked trying to reach for it.

“Nope. My handwriting is so bad and moreover I haven’t prepared them very well enough.”

“Gosh! I can see it from here. Your handwriting is just fine. Now, show that to me will you? Please!”

“Fine.” She said handing the sheet over to me.

As if I was going to read it! All the time, that I had the paper in my hands, I could only read two words – UNESCO, Illiteracy. I was all busy teasing her about the write up that I couldn’t read even more than those two words. 

I gave it back asking her to revise the points once again; her turn was coming soon.

“Group B, in the English category, are requested to go the G.D. room for their group discussion” I could hear the announcement.

“Hey, Best of luck. Give your best and I hope you win.”

“Thank you so much.” She replied with a smile and went for the G.D. room along with 7 other participants.

And she left the orientation room, leaving me behind in a room full of strangers. Boredom! I had nothing to do, no one to talk to, then. I plugged my headphones in my cellphone, hoping listening to music would make time flow fast and she would be with me again.

Music didn’t do much of its envisioned work.  Minutes were passing like hours, but finally it was over. My thirsty eyes could finally quench their thirst for beauty. She was back and as you would expect her first words after the G.D. were, “Don’t ask!”

“Why? What happened? Didn’t it go well?” I asked.

“I did speak well enough in my view inside the room, but the girl from 4^th year, from my college, initiated the inside debate so that might just give her an edge over me. I’m scared!”

“What’s gone is gone, right? Worrying about it won’t make you feel any better. Let’s wait for the results.” I tried to calm her nerves.

“Hmm… fine. And, by the way, why are you sitting over there? Come here.” She said pointing to the chair beside her. Yes!

There wasn’t much to do, except waiting in the room for the results which seemed to come after group discussion of 3 more groups. We talked for quite some time, but sitting there was quite boring in itself. I guess she read my mind there.

“Hey… why don’t we go outside and see my college, you haven’t been here before, right?” she asked with a smile.

A smile on a girl, more effective if she is that ‘one’, can make you do anything against your will, though this wasn’t against it.

“Ya, sure.” I replied.

She stood almost as tall as me. Almost! Basketball sure makes a person grow more!

I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go to have a look around, but to be able to walk with her. While about to leave the orientation room, leaving our seats, I asked her to lead the way; I didn’t want her to see that I was blushing and smiling about it.

“Hey, we can have a look around your college later; why don’t we go to the cafeteria and have something?” I asked her while we were moving downstairs.

“Fine by me.” She replied.

We went to the cafeteria and I asked the shopkeeper for an appy.

“Hey, take this.” I asked her to take one.

“I said na, I don’t need anything to drink. I already told you, I don’t usually have anything to eat before any competition.” She said denying taking it.

“Wasn’t the competition just over and weren’t we just waiting for the results? What you said back then is no longer applicable.” I said smiling at her.

She gave up and took one from me. I paid and we moved back to the orientation room.

“Hey, excuse me. Are the results out yet?” she asked some participant, as we entered the room.

“Nope.” The other participant replied.

We went back and took our seats. The old man, who did the anchoring work, not long ago, came on to the stage.

“I think the results are going to be declared.” I said.

“Me too.” She replied.

“There was quite a bit of competition in the English Group Discussion group. So, we have to do a second round in this group where we are going to select 5 boys and 5 girls. They will be competing in the second round on the same topic that was given earlier. And now before reading out the names, I want to thank each and every participant for taking part in the competition and I would also like to add that – winning or losing doesn’t matter. As the judge said, there was a tough competition and everyone did very well in there. So, I want you to know, everyone’s a winner here. It's just the beginning . If your name isn’t on the list, you know it’s not the end.” The old man started selling crap on the mic.

“They say that to everyone. It’s like, they have mugged out the line.” I whispered to Neha.

“He-he. True.” she chuckled.

“In the girls group of 5 who will be moving to the next round, the names are as – Rituparna, Apeksha, Aarti, Sarita… Any guesses for the last name?” he asked the audience.

“Neha…” I prompted.

“I really want to go to the next round. Aarti mam is my fourth year senior. She got selected, I want to too.” She said.

“It is… Bhavna.” He declared the last name, and hence all the five names among the girls who would be moving on to the second round.

Her name wasn’t there. I could see disappointment in her face. I tried to cheer her up. We waited in the orientation room till the competition got over just to know who the winner was going to be. She was upset.

“Hey, don’t be so upset. What’s gone is gone, why worry about it now! You will make it next year. Moreover, because of the stupid net you couldn’t prepare very well.” I said. She looked at me. I could read what she was feeling through her eyes.

Looking right into her eyes, made me realize how much I loved her. Why can’t be mine? Why does she have to with someone else?

Within half an hour the second round was over and the results soon followed. They selected two girls and two boys as a whole, as winners of the group discussion competition.

“Let’s go now then.” She asked me.

“Ya, its time.”

My watch clocked 2:30PM and it was well past lunch time. I was hungry, dying out of it by now but I pretended not to be. I couldn’t lose this moment, this time, of being with her just because my stomach was so demanding.

“I have my bike parked over in the stands. I guess your hostel is near too. Let me walk you home.” I asked her.

“Hey, that’s totally fine. I can walk alone. It’s no big deal; you go on ahead.” She replied.

“No way. I can go after I leave you at your hostel. Just let me walk you there; it’s not that far. I insist.”

“Ok fine. Let’s go.” She replied with a smile. Ohh! I could give me life just to see her happy and smiling.

We walked along the side of the road. People, looked at us like we were some couple. I wish. We weren’t, but I loved it and I guess she liked it too; me walking her, to her hostel.

We reached her hostel and it was finally the time. I bed her good-bye. I looked at her as she walked away. After she went in, I turned back and started walking back to the stands where I had parked my bike. I could never have been this happy. I jumped in the air and clicked my shoes against each other; well it’s my way of showing excitement.

I reached home. As I served lunch for myself, my phone beeped. It was a text message. I opened it to read.

“Reached home?” It was Neha’s text.

“Yes dear, not more than five minutes ago. Pomfreting my lunch.” Pomfret was her favorite fish and it was my lunch for the day, so I teased her.

“He-he. I envy you ;)” she replied.

“I know ;)
You must be tired with all day work. Get some sleep.”

“Ya, was going to. Take care. Bye.”

I continued having my lunch and in the meantime, I thought – ‘what was that?’

“That was the best day of your life, you moron.” I got an answer.

It was indeed. It was ‘The best day of my life.’

( P.S. Feedbacks, comments are always appreciated :). Please do rate the post out of five. I hope you guys liked it.)

-M@nm@y-

Stay Out of My Way, Bitch!

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“Oye! How much more will you study? You moron!” I yelled at my room-mate as soon I heard my stomach calling for support.

“Why? What happened?” Aman asked.

“Let’s grab some food bro. I’m hungry and I assume you can hear my stomach’s roar for food.”

“Chal, let’s go!” and we hopped out of our room, locked it.

It was freezing outside; enough to make you feel like your piss will turn into some frozen chunk.

I had worn my thickest jacket, and yet I had Goosebumps! Our hostel mess is located in such a place, that reaching there used to be like an adventure; getting used to the same road every time is no adventure anymore. But when, for the first time, we tried to find our way to the mess, we felt like we were finding a way to the other side of the jungle. At times, thinking about it makes me laugh.

Anyway, we finally reached our mess.

“Smells, like, chicken is on the menu tonight.” Aman said.

“Smells like a chicken-polio affected- is on the menu.” And we both laughed.

Hostel food, my God, sucks big deal. God! Help us. I don’t even understand why we even pay them so much for food to get this shit!

As predicted, it was chicken in the non-veg corner. Paneer was in the veg section of the menu tonight. I hate paneer, so chicken had to be my choice. Polio affected, cooked chicken. Yuck! Paneer is no better. Infact, worse! I tried taking paneer countless times and the result was same, puke!

I found my way to a table and grabbed a seat. Aman took a seat, in front of me. Maintaining a frequency, I switched my attention between my food and the songs; those were being screened on the television screen.

Someone unexpected showed up. Not just show up but, took the seat beside me. It was him. It was Debashis. His ears were busy getting fucked by the earphone buds! Ass-hole! I don’t know about him much, yet I hated him so much. But this! Couldn’t he find better a place than sitting beside me, of all the empty seats in the mess? Fuck! That was awkward, weird.

“You know what, I went for the Degree 361 club inductions today.” I addressed the statement to Aman yet my eyes were fixed on Debashis. Did you ass-hole? Good for nothing son of a bitch!

“Really! That’s great. What kinda induction program it was?” Aman asked.

“Well, today was first round of induction and it was a written test; an hour long written test. Was fun J.”

“hey, take a look at that.” Aman diverted my attention to the television screen. It was the Dark knight rising trailer being aired. Hey dickhead! You see that? Wish you were in the field and got sunk into the Earth.

When my eyes were still fixed at him, I saw something flash through his jacket’s pocket. It was his cell phone’s screen. Holy shit! Son of a bitch! Did he just sit here intentionally?

Call it weird, but I could see the wallpaper that was set on his cell phone. It was a picture of his and Neha, smiling together. They seemed happy, although I could make out that Debashis could fake anything, just to be with her. Screw him!

My eyes went watery all of a sudden, but the intensity wasn’t that great that it would make me seem like crying. I couldn’t conceive what I had seen just now. I tried to peep in again and there it was; I saw it again! Furious with anger, hurt I was, but what could I possibly have done? Hit him? I’m not that cheap a person. I lowered my head, concentrated back on my food. Whatever I may bitch about him, it all ends at the same line, “You are a loser after all.”

“Yeah! Ass-hole. You see that? You think you are better. Well, whatever you may achieve, are they of any use? I have her and you don’t! Stay out of my way, bitch!”  What seemed like his message to me. 

(P.S. if  you could take the pain to rate and comment your views on this post, i would be overwhelmed.:))

--M@nm@y--

And We Met. Finally.

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30^th of December; who would have thought that it would a date to conjure up!

My phone beeped. It was a text message from her.
“You know what; tomorrow we have an inter college debate competition at my college premises… I’m the only 1^st year, from my college, to go for it... But I haven’t yet prepared for it… Unable to collect info because of poor net connection… I’m too worried as of now.”

I switched on to consolation modeJ. She used to get nervous before every other competition; who wouldn’t be? Somehow, I calmed her down, eased her nerves. Whenever she looked out for me, I was there.

After delivering a good night message, I asked her to be confident for the competition and wished her a blissful sleep. My bed now called out for me; with two pillows, one beneath for my head to rest on and another for my legs, I jumped in. Hey! Don’t get worked up and try to think all those nasty stuff, if that’s what coming to you guys right now. Ha-Ha!

“Dude, how the fuck can you sleep when she just said she has a debate competition, tomorrow 9A.M. at her college premises itself?” my mind fired me with a question.

“So what if she has a competition tomorrow? Didn’t I just wish her good luck for that already? What more can I possibly do from here?” I replied

“Make plans you Moron! You know the place, the time and for God’s sake, her college is in your city itself. You can make plans to visit her, I mean see her. You always wanted that, didn’t you? You have made plans twice already, right? Try this time again.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You know exactly what happened the last two times when I had planned something like that!”

“I know, but I have a better, full-proof & 100% effective plan this time. Trust meJ.”

“You are me and I’m you. How can I not trust myself? Shoot me the plan.” I was starting to get excited by now, pining to hear out the plan.

The plan:

1. Since I have never been to her college before, so I didn’t know the address. Google Map the address.

     2. Find the place where the competition was going to take place.

             3. Search for her face in the crowd.

     4.Few minutes into it, retreat. Task Accomplished.

“See, as simple as that. You don’t intend to meet her right?” it asked me after narrating me the plan of action.

“Nahhh! I don’t think I’m ready to. It gets me mild heart strokes just to talk over the phone, talking face to face will surely kill me on the spot…” I answered “… but what if she spots me before I spot her? What am I supposed to say if she asks me why I was there? Might raise questions, doubts in her mind, don’t you think? ”

“I have planned that too. PLAN B.”

“And what does it say?”

I finally was done with the planning and yes, it sounded better and full-proof plan this time. Finally, I felt my brain is serving the mere purpose of what it was made for. I was excited & nervous but somehow, I finally went to sleep. BIG DAY tomorrow.

30^th December. Time to execute the plan.

I woke up at around 7:45AM in the morning; my alarm woke me up.

Questions, doubts started clouding my view without losing any time. Will I be able to do it? It is always easier thought than done. Will the plan work out? What if I get busted?

“woo…wooh!! Give me break. I just woke up.” I Said to myself, shutting the questions for a minute or so.

I started feeling like; I was going to rob a bank today and getting busted meant imprisonment!!

Somehow, I held myself together. I grabbed my keys. The clock showed 8:30AM and it was time to head out.

“I’m going to Alok’s house and I might get late, so don’t worry.” I lied to my father. I had to; I couldn’t just say I was going to see my Neha for the first time. Forgive me Dad.

I scanned the map for one final time. Petrol Pump was the landmark I had set after which I would reach a chowk and then I had to take right turn and there you go, destination reached.

Riding on the highway, my eyes yearned for the petrol pump. I had covered a distance of 8kms already and there was no sign of the petrol. Google map had suggested the total distance between my house and her college as 8.4kms. Where the fuck is that petrol pump? Searching for the petrol pump, I had travelled another 10-12kms already. 

“Fuck! Where did the chowk go?” I thought.

I U-turned and started heading back. How can I get lost? Damn!!

“There is that fucking petrol pump and that must be the chowk.” I recognized the chowk and thought, how could I miss this one!
Excitement, Nervousness had blinded me, I guess.

I had travelled an additional distance of 20-24kms and I was late. 9:40AM. Fuck!! Her competition must have started already. I drove as fast as possible.

I reached her college, finally!!

I parked my bike and wondered where should I head to from there? Where was the venue?

Mechanical Department. The building sign board read and I entered inside.

“May be I should ask someone. They will lead me to the place.” I asked myself.

“Ask someone? Are you kidding me!! No way. We will figure it out ourselves.”

“But we are getting late! We should take help.” I pleaded desperately. I was already late.

“No way!!”  Men ego I tell you.

“Let’s just follow that guy. I think he is going to the same place.”

“Fine! Do whatever you want. I planned everything, did so much for you and this is what I getL. ”

“Whatever! Keep your ego aside for a moment, won’t you?”  Ass-hole!

“I heard that.”

“But I didn’t say anything. I just thought something!”

“I’m your thoughts remember? You are such a moron.”

“Enough! I’m following that guy.”

I followed the guy who seemed to me like a participant of the competition. I reached an auditorium like place. It was a small place to be described as an auditorium, but then again, the college was an old one and new structures were still work-in-progress. The competition was yet to start. Seeing the empty chairs in the stage, I could reason out that the judges and chief guest must have been late. Hey, this is India! Not all are punctual, are they? The room had two doors, a front door and a back door. According to the orientation and arrangement of the room, the back door came first and then the front one. Weird!

I popped my head in opening the back door and saw some 50-60 people were inside the room. I couldn’t see her from there.

Now popping my head in through the front might be risky one. If she was inside the room, she would definitely notice me, everyone will. The door was glass framed on the upper half. I started skimming through the glass, my eyes seeking her glance.

I see her! I see her! My excitement knew no bound. Finally I could see her; for the first time. I was there; outside the door, staring at her, continuously. When she would turn her head towards me, I would hide myself in a reflex. Thank you God, I couldn’t ask you for more; I just wanted to see her, I wanted to know if someone like her exists and I finally have.

“Now let’s go, meet up!”

“Shut up yaar. I can’t... I can’t meet her yet… just looking at her is only making my heart beat so fast.” I replied.

“Common! You came this far, you have to meet her.”

That started raising questions in my mind again. Should I? But what will I say I was there for? What if she sees through the lie I was going to say as a part of the plan?

“No, I can’t do it yet!” and I raced outside of the building. I was having difficulty in breathing; my heart was racing so fast being that close to her, seeing her.

Once I was out of the building; I found a place to sit and thought about it, about me going up to her, praying that my heart and lungs wouldn’t give up. I had a point. I had come that far and was so close to her, maybe I won’t ever get such a chance of meeting her, face-to-face.

“You can do it bro. You are an ass-hole, a moron but you are in love with her; I can tell. I don’t think you will ever get such a chance again. You should meet her.” my mind started up with doing what it was best at, confusing me!

“You are making it sound so easy, like it is a piece of cake to do that. I’m too scared to do that and I don’t know if I can hold up to the plan when she would be in front of me. I came here to see her and I have. Task over, right?” I was still confused.

“At least tell her that you are or were here at the college and give her the reason we had planned to say. Text her instead of calling; that won’t back-fire and she mightn’t be able to see through. What do you think?” 

“Hmm… May be you, I mean, me… ah... you know who I mean, are right about it. I think I should let her know I was here.”  I drew my cell phone out and started typing.

“You know what the funny thing is, well funny for me not for him? My friend showed at my door and asked me to go with him to this debate competition being held at your college. Even after saying no to him; I had just woke up then, he asked my mom to tell me to go with him… he said he was participating and that I had to come with him as his moral support. We reached your college and then he went somewhere to enquire about the venue of the event. He came back angry and teary. Apparently, his girlfriend was here and he came to spy on her. Now I know what by moral support he meant :P How funny :P” I clicked on send, and the message was sent. 

Yes, that was the plan or rather the lie that I had planned to say to her in case she spots me. I hated lying to her but I had no other choice.

Few minutes into it and my phone beeped. It was her reply to my text.

“Hey, you came to college? You didn’t tell me about it… my competition is yet to start.” I already know that dear. What did she mean by my competition is yet to start? Did she want me to come and meet her? I was hoping she wanted to. Girls!! They confuse you with their words; it’s so hard to figure out what they want from us actually!

“Is it? It’s already 9:50AM and I thought you said it would start at 9. It’s late.”

“Yeah, I know. The judges and guests are yet to arrive.” I know that too.

“And about that i-came-to-your-college-and-didn’t-tell-u-thing, it wasn’t known to me until now. I told you, my friend just surprised me with it.”

“Hmm… you back home now?”

“Nahh!! I had to come quick, so missed my breakfast this morning and I’m starving… I’m trying to find the cafeteria; will grab and bite and then I will head back, I guess.” I replied

“Ohh… go straight and then to the right… you will find it.”

That’s it? She wanted me to find the cafeteria and then what? Leave?

“Yeah, thanx… Found it.” I was depressed. I thought she would ask me to come meet her; instead she wanted me to find my way to the cafeteria, eat something and leave.

Minutes later, my phone beeped again. What now, a good-bye message?

“Hey, why don’t you come to the program? It is being held in the orientation hall. You can ask anyone where it is and come straight after having something to eat.”

Yeah!! I was glad she asked me to come and meet up, finally. But, how can I go? Just looking at her had raised my heart beat so high, seeing her face-to-face will get me a heart attack for sure.

“But you won’t regret it. The attack will be worth it.” My mind started advising again, but for the first time it seemed right to me. Yes, that would be worth it.

“Ya, sure. I will be there in minutes. Do you want anything from the café to eat?” I replied to her text.

“Ha-ha… thanx for considering, but no. Before any competition, I don’t usually have anything to eat.”

“Not even a drink?”

“Nopes. Thanks for asking though…” She said and added “… hey, they have called up my name for the 2^nd group of the group discussion. I will be leaving in another 15 minutes, so you can come now.”

“I’m coming right away. 5 minutes.”

Excited? Happy? Nervous? I don’t know what my emotion then. I just can’t describe it exactly. Describing it as excited-happy-nervous all the same time would be close enough. Mixed set of emotions. After devastating outcomes to the previous two plans earlier, it was a success. Finally!! Don’t’ worry, I didn’t cry :P

To be Continued…

(Next Chapter : And We Met. Finally. - The Sequel )

 ( P.S. Feedbacks, comments and ratings are always appreciated :)
Plans? what were the previous plans? Know more about them reading these posts : 1) Nature was Against me Part-1

  2) Nature was Against me Part-2 )

 --M@nM@y--