“Are you mad?”, I shouted at Neha “Come na Janu, please!!!”, Neha was still insisting “NO, I’m not coming, stop calling me Janu, it sounds very filmy”. Although I liked Neha calling me Janu, I always pretended to dislike it, so that she will continue to call me by that. “Ok baba, I won’t, but please, come with me. I already have committed my teachers that you will be there.”, Neha said “But, why me yaar? Can’t you get somebody else for your stupid thesis?” I was still not able to digest the thought of being in a girl’s ...Read More

Now three middle aged woman, or might be Ma’ms with a group of 8-10 girls were staring at me. were trying to hide behind them, yet were curious to look at me. I was wondering if any of these girls tipped the Ma’m about me. “Yes?”, I tried smiling. “This is a girls‘ college and you are not supposed to be standing here. Who are you?”, one of the Ma’m enquired. I was scared to death. I could see couple of girls trying to hide their smile with their hands. “Ma’m, my name is Tarun and I’m with Neha ...Read More

I had eye contact with my cuty girl-friend. She held her thumb for a second to show me I well. Soon, the second session began. Questions were pretty simple one than I thought. Most of them were related to politics, science, and technology. Some were related to human behavior, some to animals. I was more relaxed now as the session was about to finish in next 10 mins, I had my guts in line by now and I was able to communicate easily with almost all of the girls. I thought Neha will ask me some question, but she ...Read More

Neha quickly went through the time-table and said, “Not really, there is one after one and half hrs gap. think anybody will wait for that class and apparently it will be cancelled only. What about you?” “Well, I am planning to go for a romantic and erotic movie with my girlfriend followed by lunch, provided my girlfriend is okay with it.” Neha hit me with a thick-book that she was holding. 4 My sleep was disturbed by a crazy beeping sound of washing machine. With trouble, I opened eyes and looked at the watch. It showed 9.30 am. “Why ...Read More

5 I was back to work. Mondays are the biggest enemies, especially of the software professionals. For me, it hell being at desk after 7 days leave. My mailbox was flooded with mails. I was not so sure from where to begin. People who have spent a good weekend, enjoying with their family and friends, their boyfriends and girlfriends, should rather look happy after a break. But it was not the case. They all were back to reality after the dreamy weekend. I was amongst them. What a week I had!! The encounter with Preeti was enough for me ...Read More

There is no explanation why those gazing were for. Because we never smiled, we never exchanged any emotions across we had eye-contacts. We just kept looking at each other for a second and then look elsewhere. Whatever it was, it was enough for me to be happy. This kept going for almost a month. There were two Tarun’s personalities that existed. One for Neha and one for the secret eye contacts in city library with Preeti. Meanwhile, I checked their observations about the psychology test that was conducted on me. Neha’s report was all positive (and I guess biased) ...Read More

7 ‘23rd June’, that’s what the invitation card had said. THE day when Neha will be married. Obviously I in no mood of attending her wedding. I was scared that I would do something foolish or at worst will break off in tears. So I told Neha that I was going out of town for some conferences and that I would see the newly married couple only after I am back. I could read her mind. She wanted me to be there to see her getting married. She wanted to be happy for the last time, seeing me there. ...Read More

My life was miserable. I was all alone, no girl-friend, lot of work to be taken care of within short deadline, thoughts of Preeti constantly hitting my mind and no clue as to what to do about her. Meanwhile, Preeti got her first cell phone. Surprisingly she sms’ed me her number with a warning note of not to call her, unless it is very much important. The reason being, in those days, incoming calls were also heavily charged, almost 6-7 rs/min. I asked, what if I wanted to talk to her about something which is not so important?, and ...Read More

I was stumped, and instantly thought what Preeti said moments before is the truth. I tried to put Preeti the place of Neha and imagined what if my parents opposed the marriage. Definitely I could have done something than just seat back with a pint of beer watching her getting married. “You are right Preeti, and thanks for pointing that out.” I thought to myself. “You don’t mean anything to Tarun now and I guess it should be the same for you, am I right Tarun?”, Preeti finished with a deep breathe. I was actually enjoying this scene. Two ...Read More

Sometime, early morning around 3.30 or so, we sent out our release mail. All the efforts that we had on in last one month or so, have finally paid off. It was a big relief for all of us. One and half hour later, I was back home, lying in the bed in trance. Not sure if I was awake, not sure if I was asleep. I woke up startled by around 10.45. Preeti will be starting with her last paper in 15 minutes and should be over by 1pm. This was not the first time that I had ...Read More

Aunty was in no mood of stopping with her serving of nicely cooked parathas. “What is this, you just 3, have some more!”, she said without giving me a chance to speak. There you go, one more paratha with a pond of butter on it. “How much am I supposed to eat, when your mom will stop?”, I asked Preeti softly “Umm.. atleast 6.. more!!”, Preeti said smiling “How do you manage to stay slim after eating so much butter daily?”, I asked her, but she just shrugged her shoulders. I ate quietly, while Aakash’s plane was going through ...Read More

11 The moment, I was out of Bangalore airport, I rushed into a STD booth and dialed Preeti’s cell I could only hear some crazy sounds than the default ringtone. I tried back with no luck. I thought for a moment, and called her residence number, but to my disbelief, nobody picked it up. It went ringing and ringing. Frustrated, finally I gave up and called my parents to inform that I reached Bangalore safely. I wished I had enabled roaming on my cell. Roaming was a luxury in those days. I had thought and rethought on it again ...Read More

12 I was thinking of my last conversation with Preeti. “So? Finally you are coming tomorrow”, Preeti couldn’t hide joy in her voice “Yes, finally. I have a flight at 10.30am, I will reach somewhere between 12.45-1”, I said “So how are you coming from Airport?” She asked me “My company already have booked a cab for me from airport to home”, I informed “Then cancel it”, she said “Cancel what?”, confused I said “The Cab stupid”, She said “Why? And how will I come home then?. Airport is at-least 30kms away from the city. Auto-rikshaws are not affordable”, ...Read More

13 Number thirteen, supposed to be an unlucky number, isn’t it? Preeti called me in the afternoon and asked to come home, she had a planned a surprise for me. I agreed only on one condition, that there should not be butter coated parathas. When I reached home, Princess Preeti opened the door. She looked funny though. Floor mill was all over her face. “What are you up to?” I asked “Surprise!!!”, she said and went into kitchen “That’s true, but what is it?” “I am preparing a cake”, and looking around she said “just for you” Preetu pushed ...Read More

14 Next day morning, I decided to call Neha. It was the time to pay back for what she to MY girlfriend. "Hey Tarun",Neha picked up the phone in just two rings "Hi Neha", slowly i said "What happen Tarun? Why are you sounding so low?" "Nothing", I said "NO, tell me what happened. Did your new girlfriend fight with you yesterday? I know, she must have. She is like that only" "Shut up Neha" "No Tarun, I won’t. I know you are not at fault. She stole you away. I am repeating it Tarun, you won't be happy ...Read More

15 While sipping the coffee at the coffee-bar, I looked at the wrist watch. Preeti would be here any Couple of minutes passed by and I saw Preeti coming out of her college campus. She was holding the mark-list in her hand. It was her result day. When I dropped her at the college gate, she was tense. “I am scared Tarun, I don’t want to flunk. I want to finish my graduation quickly”, she said “Why do you think you will flunk dear? You have studied hard, haven’t you?” I asked Truly speacking, even I was tense. I ...Read More

I slept back on sofa, eyes closed, felt so relaxed. I loved the caring and pampering provided by Preeti. light of laptop, showing dying battery, reminded me of my pending work. I pulled the laptop and connected back to vpn to finish assigned tasks. At dinner, dad complimented mom for the dal and jeer rice, which Preeti cooked. Mom told him about Preeti and the help offered by her. “These punjabi’s certainly know how to cook”, I sad while chewing the delicious food. “No wonder, Punjabi food is so popular over the world”, dad said nodding “It is not ...Read More

16 Preeti was overjoyed when she heard the news. We choose next Sunday for the family union lunch for reasons. One I didn’t want anything else to come in between and this planned thing . Two I wanted the momentum to keep going and third there was a India-Australia match coming up which will keep the Dads involved together. “So you must be supporting Harbhajan singh”, my dad asked Preeti’s dad. Both were busy looking at the cricket match of India-Australia. “NO!! He was good, he is good at times, but I think there are other talents in queue ...Read More