I had eye contact with my cuty girl-friend. She held her thumb for a second to show me I did 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 preferred to keep quiet.
When a question was posed, she used to check who has asked the question first and then turn back and look at me to see what I am answering.
Quickly I looked at the watch and realized that all this will be over in 5 mins and I will be out of it for good.
Just then I heard a weird question. “Tarun, can I ask you a question about love life of a boy and a girl?”
Almost all the faces turned back to look at the girl who posed this question.
All the girls moved their body to either side to allow me to see the face of the girl who asked the question.
I saw the cutest girl of the class. I hate to say this but yes, she was prettier than Neha. She was looking at me with her crystal like eyes. Her hair spread across, some on her back and some on her shoulders. She had a fair complexion. Her voice sounded very sweet to me. It was that kind of voice which you hear on a phone-call either from a HR representative of the companies’ or from the sales people. I wondered how come I haven’t noticed her earlier in this class. Might be she was sitting at the back or because she remained quiet all the while.
“Excuse me?”, I said, while my mind was busy wondering from where she landed into this bunch of girls. Was she there before? And if she was, how come I haven’t spotted her?… My mind was busy, thinking when I heard her repeating the question.
“Your name miss?”, I tried to be very stylish when I asked this.
I remembered our technical consultant Jack who was with us couple of months back from USA. Whenever a question is posed to him, he always used to address the person with Miss/Mr as per the gender of the person. That time it appeared very cool to me and eventually I tried mimicking that here.
But as soon as I asked, I realized how out of place it was.
Why should I know her name? I had not asked same question to anybody here. What was it that prompted me to ask her name? Instantly, I looked at Neha to see if she had any problem with me asking her name. But she was too busy and anxious to see what I reply.
“Preeti” that girl replied back.
“It should have been Pretty”, I murmured to myself.
“Yeh, sure…go ahead…”, I kept my left hand behind the bench, legs stretched, back reclined. That’s the usual posture in our professional work-life when somebody asks “Why this issue was there in your code?” and you’ve to answer it to the best of your abilities. You try to be friendly, try to be confident yet bit scared inside.
“Well, Tarun, think of a boy and a girl who are a couple. A typical boyfriend and girlfriend….Who are very happy together, a made for each other kind of pair. But they’ve this weird relationship. Both of them are committed to each other…for a certain period of time. They both are sure that they will never be getting married to each other. As long as they are not married to anybody else, they will be together and be loyal to each other, and then they will say good-bye for long. Do you see a big future problem here?”
Preeti waited to breathe.
The moment the question was finished, I looked back at Neha. I caught her, biting her lower lips. She was about to look at me, but then she realized I am staring at her.
She looked elsewhere.
Every girl of the class is now looking at me.
For sure, this question was posed for me and Neha.
This was OUR story.
Neha was Hindu-Maratha, whereas I was a Hindu- Bramhin. Although we were deeply in love with each other, we both were realistic. We were aware that whatever happens, our parents won’t allow the inter-cast marriage. On one hand, we can’t stay away from each other, and on the other hand we don’t want to run away and get married and do some stupid act which will hurt our parents.
So, without any other terms and conditions, we mutually agreed upon being a boyfriend and girlfriend till either or both of us get married to the guy or the girl which our parents choose for us.
I know why the question was and for whom it was.
I had no reason to think, it was our story and I was very clear what to answer. Still for the sake of formality, I waited for about 20 seconds and said,
“You see, Miss Preeti, it all depends upon what kind of situation it is. Sometimes it is not what you see. There could be different angels to the life of that boy and that girl. If you ask me about the future…”
I was answering the question and just then the bell rang.
That ringing sound was enough to stop the session. Desai Ma’m had to go for another lecture. Some girls wanted to go out to the canteen and eat, while some might be wondering if their Romeos are waiting outside the gate. Seemed like nobody was interested in what I had to say. The sounds of closing the books and opening the bags were enough to stop me.
“Well, that’s it for the class”, Desai Ma’m said, “Tarun, thank you for your time” she said while leaving the class. Girls were already flashing out with their books and periodicals.
I looked at Preeti, she was still sitting there and had not moved an inch.
I saw Neha coming towards me.
“Enjoyed?”, Neha asked. “Of-course, it was fun…” I said.
Neha was already turning towards the door for exit. Somehow I was reluctant to go out. I wanted to talk to Preeti, not sure about what. So I sat on the bench again and started playing with the shoe lace.
The class was empty then, when Preeti got up. She was in no hurry. She picked up her books gracefully. Her eyes down on the desk, her heavy eye-lashes blinking, a sparkling ear-ring was making its way through her thick dark black colored hair.
She was almost close to Neha when I moved.
Apparently, we three went outside together.
“Tarun, this is Preeti, my best friend…”, Neha said
“Best friend?”, I was surprised, “Then how come you haven’t introduced me in the beginning.”
“Well you see…she was sitting at the far back and it was not convenient, so thought of introducing her after the class…”, Neha explained.
“I see…”, I said while eyeing Preeti from the corner of my eye.
“Well…see you then…nice meeting you…”, Preeti said looking at me. I desperately wanted to talk to her more, know her more. But how can I stop her?
“You don’t want the answer for your question?”, I enquired.
“I know the answer. Already have discussed it with Neha, but not convinced so far…”, Preeti said forcing a smile on face and looking at Neha.
“Well, then let ME try…” ‘was I forcing myself too much?.’ Suddenly Preeti said, “Sure…try your best, but not now. I have to run to City Library. May be tomorrow, after our 11.30 lecture?”
I nodded.
Preeti said bye to Neha. They both hugged each other and then Preeti went.
All of a sudden I realized the presence of Neha. She had been just bouncing her head from me to Preeti and vice versa while we were talking. I felt bad for her. I should have asked if it is okay with her to all of us meet tomorrow. She might have felt the importance in front of her best friend.
“So what’s your plan now?”, I asked Neha.. “Do you have any more classes left?”
