I was stumped, and instantly thought what Preeti said moments before is the truth. I tried to put Preeti in 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 beautiful girls were fighting for me. Frankly I was not bothered about Neha, but the thought of Preeti covering me and supporting our friendship was pleasing me a lot.
I nodded when Preeti asked me that question.
“What? Tarun? Am I nobody to you now?”, Neha was shocked
“Not literally Nobody, but we are just friends now. You can expect your friend to share their life, but you can’t impose it if he/ she don’t want to” I tried to put it in a descent way.
Arguments kept going for a while, but Neha had no valid point to fight for and after a while, she was dumb struck.
Finally, she called her driver, then took out money from her purse and put it on table.
“I am paying for my share, you take of yours.”
Then she looked at me and said, “Good that we are at least friends. So as a friend’s advice, don’t do the same mistake that we did Tarun. You still won’t be able to marry Preeti. Do you want to repeat the History? Do you want to suffer again in your relationship?”, she said this and left.
I had no answer. She said only one correct thing and it was 100% correct.
With Neha gone, the tension in the air was released. We both felt relaxed.
“Phew”, I said while checking my forehead for any sweat drops, “that was a heroic thing, you just did”
The remains of the coffee were ice-cold.
“Would you care for another coffee?”, I asked Preeti and she said “Yes”
While we were enjoying our fresh cup of coffee, I recollected that I was supposed to ask Preeti something.
“So what were you talking about planting some seeds by Neha. What was that?” “Nothing”, she said “What nothing? Tell me what Neha said”, I was still pushing
“Nothing Tarun, leave it okay?. Look, my final exams are scheduled next week and I don’t want to flunk in that. Got to go now”, Preeti got out of her chair, as she said this.
I thought in a flash of moment, trusted my instincts and without hesitation caught Preeti’s arm. Her soft, milky white palm was crumpled in my hand. That touch awaked thousands of my senses instantly. I felt my ears getting hot.
I looked at Preeti. By no means, she was trying to rescue. I could feel, she was breathing heavily again, her eyes partially closed for the divine ecstasy. I could see her blushing.
“Sir!.. bill”, waiter put the coffee bill on our table
He had to come just now, I was furious.
“Bye Tarun, see you after my exams”, Preeti said and she left the coffee shop
I quickly pulled my cell and typed a sms to Preeti, which said “Hum Aapake Hain Kaun?”
I was looking at the back of Preeti, when she was standing on the divider to cross the remaining half of the road. She paused, pulled her mobile out and read something.
I was shaking.
She stood there; her back is still facing me.
The next half road was empty as a signal turned red.
She turned back, did that act and ran away without looking back again.
I was just blessed with a flying kiss by this utterly beautiful angel of my life.
The thing that I felt, can easily be used as a reference, or a content write up by Wikipedia to explain the feeling of Falling in love for the first time.
9
Two days before the exam, Preeti sms’ed me that Neha had withdrawn her name from the college. She is no more interested in continuing with her studies furthermore.
I read the message two times and deleted it from my cell as if this is the last thing that was related to Neha. There won’t be any reference to Neha henceforth in my life.
I was counting days for the exam to get over. Preeti’s exam schedule was by-heart to me. I never called her, sms’d her or tried to contact her, not even for saying ‘All the Best’ when the exam started.
My best wishes were always with her, and I was sure Preeti knew it very well. I had no intentions of distracting her from studies.
I was slogging myself day and night to deliver the last patches. I wanted to finish everything before Preeti is done with her exam, so that I can take a leave again to spend time with her.
Being a team-lead, I forced my team to work equally hard. I pitied them, but my love is on top priority than this bunch of junior people.
One day before the exam, I was still in the office when the clock strucked to 1am. I was too tired. Work was almost finished but these junior people always mess with something and the formality was dragged by couple of more hours.
I was wondering what Preeti might be doing at this time. I remembered her saying, last day subject was the easiest of all. Besides it is just a 50 marks paper. I thought she might be asleep by now. But the urge to talk to her and listen to the sweet voice was too much for me. I couldn’t control it and decided to call her. Only two rings, if she picks it up, otherwise I will place the receiver back.
I dialed her number, it ringed first time, and I heard her sweet voice “Hiee!”
“Did I disturb you?”, I whispered trying to control my voice so that colleagues in nearby cubicles won’t hear me.
“Telepathy, you see”, she said, “I was thinking of calling you, just then you called”, she said with a joy in her voice
“Thought to talk to you, my release is almost on the way. Feeling too tired.” I said
“Don’t push too hard Tarun, take care of your health. I.. I need you for rest of my life”, she whispered
My heart was beating fast and loud
“Dying to see you tomorrow”, I said, “There are lot many things to talk about, you see”, I said mischievously.
“Me too”, she said, “Good night Tarun”
“Good night Preeti”, I said
I was reluctant to keep the receiver down. I wanted her to disconnect the call first, so I stayed on line.
Preeti was also still on line. I could hear her heavy breathing, and then I heard a big “Mwaaaah”
The line was dead before I could say anything.
