TS 18 Now What

The days passed on slowly...the vacation was a long one. We were back in college in no time, and the few that came late were back by a day or two. Except of course Murali, with his trade mark style had something more "valuable in life" or whatever. While during the time the class seemed to be in a unique unity.

Our class was considered the most promising one, at the same time we were the face of trouble. The criminal minds at work were some where else, but ultimately we were the ones who stepped forward to garner the attention, and get busted in the process. Not that I participated in this bravado in any way other than moral support.

While Murali was gone, I had made up my mind to take thing s in my own hands. I patched up with the people I had put in the backburners. 

The hot topic at that time was preparation for Entrance exams for MBA. We were all overwhelmed by the term MBA. It was a magic word, a word that inspired us to do crazy acts of hardwork and determination, to read and work out mathematics like it was an act of survival...memorizing words and their antonyms,synonyms and all the myms you could think of.

For us MBA was the road to a happy, hep, all prevailing job, guaranteeing money (which we were broke on) lifestyle (chappals to college) and girlfriends(which I wasnt sure off). But Yes, It was like being able to touch a dream world.

Being in the first year, we would only write the Heavenly CAT in the third year, but somehow we got caught up in taking classes through the summer vacations. Which were a couple of months to go. But we lost no time in giving the necessary Gyaan to our classmates, trying to buck up popular opinion (Just to make sure we were doing the  right thing)

Meanwhile, people started feeling the good spirit which rose out of no where, and the common thing seemed to be the absence of Murali. 

"He is a bloody flirt, thinks he is a hero"

"He wants all the limelight, and cant bear it if he doesnt get it"

"Let him come back, we will stop all his hero'giri'"

Everyone had a view on him, and so did I. I confided in Mohan, about the incident just before Murali went, and he too shared that the bugger wasnt more a rascal than what he seemed. 

Murali did come back eventually, but somehow everyone gave him the slient treatment. No body wanted to talk to him, nobody wanted to be seen near him. And some were outright blunt with him. So he turned out to be a hermit. Coming when he wanted, talking to the girls when he wanted something and generally hanging out with the seniors, which again dint win him any brownie points..

Over this time I had only grown fonder of PW, I rarely spoke to her, hardly knew her and yet my undying devotion kept growing. Anything starting with the letter of her name, found its way into my purse,or bag. The same was scribbled over my desk.It had become a open secret that I had the stars in my eyes for her..everyone knew it except her of course.

Mohan kept trying and I guess seema did too, but nothing much was happening on any front..

It was the calm before the storm.

TS 17: ITs Begun

I stood watching him go. From my room. I stood in shock. Unable to talk, unable to comprehend what happened. Unable to understand why I just listened to disgusting insults that made my spine shiver. Unable to explain the imprint of five fingers and a palm on my cheek...

A slap that changed my life.

Beyond recognition, beyond expectation and beyond everything.

As I stood on my porch, I became intensly aware of my surroundings. The rustling of the dry leaves strewn on the playground ahead of me. The water flowing silently, making a gurgling sound in the newly constructed water duct. I must have stood there for an hour, just trying to take in what happened...

what happened...

It started off with another of the fests, and Mohan, Murali, Seema, Pw, Seema and the gang were in attendance. What had happened was actually weird. We had lost in the most pathetic way ever, and a team from some college in Mangalore had won.  During the post victory celebration party, Murali was insistant on celebrating with the Mangalore team, where he had made some friends. Which obviously did not make sense to me. 

It was already late and most of the girls wanted to go back, and some had already left. I was and still am a hardcore team player, and loosing wasnt a celebration factor for me. But Murali's insistance and emotional blackmail got me to the damn hotel. While most of the others left. Needless to say I had the feeling I was going to get the credit for the same as well. 

And I did. All the way home Murali explained to me what a useless piece of baggage I was, and how he was doing the greater thing in tolerating me. Somehow I had enough of this crap, and I just shut up and allowed his incessant rambling to go on. He went on and on, and told me that I was never gonna hook up with Pw and that was the last straw for me.

Early next morning I made up my mind that Murali ceased to exist for me. I just dint want to be part of this "comraderie" anymore. And I told him point blank the next day. Strangely he took it well. Or so I thought.

He came back to my room in the afternoon on the pretext of picking up some books. He was leaving for the vacations, and I didnt mind much anyway. 

When we reached home, he started off with an ironic and sadistic smile.

Murali- People like you are a virus to society.

Me- ha ha...(I thought he'd go into another of his societal concepts now)

Murali-look at yourself. laughing. Dont have the balls to do anything. Laugh go on.

Me- (I just stared on. All of a sudden I was getting very uncomfortable. Strange)

Muralis mind games went on and on. Hitting me with every phrase like poison tipped arrows.And then all of a sudden...

Murali- Dont worry, its not your fault. Its in your blood. U deserve worse. 

And then came the slap. It was a taunt to me. A challenge to prove him wrong. And I dint rise to it. Even at that moment I could help but admire the way he played his cards. A master strategist. 

I learnt my first lesson then and there itself. Never trust someone so completely and entirely that they have the power to hurt you without even doing anything. I had trusted Murali with everything. I had even left my tried and tested buddies, in a race to catch up with my future. Or what I thought was the future.

While my present was hurting and burning with rage as he left, my sub conscious told me this was just the beginning of a long war. 

Murali had just won the first battle hands down. 

TS 16 Somethings not right...

As we walked up to the classroom, I could feel my 6th sense tingling. I have always had a strong 6th sense, I could expect things to happen, and most of the time it did. Not that I could prophesise things.

Somesh and me took our time. Crossing with deliberate steps across the basketball court, looking at the juniors shooting hoops with the new basketballs in the PT room. They were very much aware of our presence, nodding in our direction as we crossed. We stood at the side lines for a few seconds, and then moved on.

It was obvious Somesh and me would patch up; we always did, sooner or later. And I had more of a need to be with friends than before. My super friend Murali had been giving me problems. And my inflated ego was being bruised and I wasnt being able to digest the fact that someone could point out my imperfections.

It had all started with the college fests and the Pw issue. Murali wasnt a saint, that was obvious. He also had an equally big ego, and it began showing with his ignoring the rest of the "gang" and hobnobbing with the girls. I would say it wasnt an intention, but that was his nature. Where he dint get anything, he dint want to spend time.

That was where his problem with me had started. His estimation of my prowess in many things was way way overestimated. And slowly and suddenly he began to feel that I wasnt helping him out in his overall scheme of things. He couldnt understand that there were somethings which I had a natural talent for, and were nt a part of any disciplined practice. We had many quarrels, at the end of which, he always convinced me that I was doing something wrong and was injust. It was the first time in my life someone was walking over me at will, and I could do nothing about it. 

I would have tried confiding in Somesh. But somehow I dint feel he would understand the stakes, the mind games that were going on, and the whole issue in totality. Though I did tell Mohan, and it didnt make much of an impact on his peanut sized brain!!!

As easy as Murali was dominating me, I was similarly blaming myself and my weaknesses. Half of my problems were because I liked the guy, I found that raging spirit to achieve in him. And the other half was my dependency on him to help out with getting to Pw. So I had made matters worse by blurting out everything about me to him.Murali had a habit of getting what he wanted, and he had built a close relationship with Roshan through me, therby getting vital support for his actions thru Roshan, who was also a super senior. 

But unlike me, the others in the class werent as dependent on him. People couldnt take his attitude throwing, smart ass comments. His views on most of the things were outright unacceptable to the rest of the class, and other batchmates. And in ways they were blaming him for trying to make the "english" speaking people into a seperate group in itself. 

Along the way, rumors were spreading thick and fast. And there were some of the "uncool" gang who had girl friends;Who always told them how "Murali the great" was berating them as cheap, dirty rascals, who had nothing to do than flirt around and boast about it. Tempers were rising, and I was becoming aware of it. But Murali always downplayed it. He never shared what he was up to with me, or anyone for that matter. His chattering with Pw drew me cazy with jealousy and irritation, but I could only hope it was for my good.

It was only a matter of time before the bubble blew, and it wasnt going to be long. In fact it happened sooner and began with me.

TS 15 It happens...YES!!!

PW was alone in the class. It was the lunch break, and it was very strange to find her alone, buried in some sort of work. I was just back with Mohan after lunch, and I didn't pay much attention to anything. We went to our seats, engaging in the regular news of the college.

We were chatting and strangely the class wasn't being occupied by anyone else for Long time. All of a sudden Mohan started looking behind me and wasn't paying attention to what I was saying, and it began bugging me. Then he just nodded in the direction of the front row, moving my attention to behind of me.

Pw was standing right at the edge of our bench, giving a full wide eyed stare down to both of us. Somehow Mohan disappeared when I looked back, and I was left alone to face another unknown unexpected attack from cupid and his armed forces.

Pw- You wanted to tell me something huh?

M- Me?? I...uh...no..I mean yes..bbut whhwat 

( I was hit full on by stuttering, stammering and fluttering and all of those...before I could recover, the second wave attacked...)

Pw- What do you think of yourself ? (She was red ) You can some across anyone and say anything you want? And I wouldn't know? Its a shame. I thought at least you were different from the others... But no. You were even more silly and nerveless than the rest of them.

M- But what I did nnt say any..

Pw- Shut up and listen. I had enough of your talk. You've been doing only talking and doing nothing else. when will you get some courage and say it?

M- I well  I thought maybe you wouldn't be....

Pw- Oh really? You think you know everything? Then why don't you tell me what am going to do right now...

M- I kinda think you kinda like the thought that I kinda might be falling in kinda of love with...

Pw- Phew!!! You guys never learn do you..Well let say I say YES then what...

I was sweating, I lost track of time. Forget the class, the whole world was beginning to spin. I was suddenly feeling very faint... I wanted to stand up and Just say it. I stood up..

M- I love....

And I could feel my feet collapse and all I could hear was murmurs...

Pw- Get up...Hey comeon!!! Somebody here?!!! Get up!!! Get some water...Get up!!!

"UP!!! Wake up you idiot!!! Its getting Late!!!"

I felt someone throw water on my face...I opened my eyes and the light blinded me. I must have been in hospital, I must have had a happy heartache or something.

I opened my eyes, and my roomie staring down at me. 

"Aren't you going to college?? Its 10.30. Get up you lazy idiot, and stop shouting YES YES for heavens sake, If aunt hears it, they will get you to a hospital!!!"

I was in my room. The light was streaming in through the windows. The pillow in my arms was screaming for space, and I had almost slept through the whole episode. It took me some time to realize....

I was Dreaming.

I had never been so happy, and lost the same happiness in my life so quickly...

TS 14 Smoke in the house

Its difficult living in guilt. A guilt of not knowing what went wrong and what didn't. Whether your supposed to say sorry or not. PW was a bit stand offish in the days that followed. Much to my distress, neither did Mohan nor Seema know of what the reason was behind Pw's behaviour. And even if they knew, they weren't telling me for some reason.

Meanwhile, post picnic there were problems in the class. The people who weren't "invited" along the trip, weren't amused and were taking out their ire in different ways. They called people names, started bullying the weaker guys, spread the news of the girls and guys going out to the college "radios". In short the class wasn't getting the right publicity, let alone keeping the news hush hush.

Apparently some one in the wannabe crowd had opened their mouths to the uninvited gang, thereby getting their immunity against any possible backlash.

But what happened was now a turn of events hardly anyone accepted. The lecturers stared at us with accusing eyes. The seniors taunted anyone crossing their corridors. There was infighting amongst classmates.

But as I understood it from Roshan, it wasn't just that some people were left back. The whole issue was that the guys and "girls" went along, thereby creating instant jealousy amongst the left behinds. And as I understood, PW had become a quite popular girl, and almost everyone joined in the jealousy of having being left out.

This brought about a vary awkward state in the class. It was disgusting. 

As far as I went, I dint know what to do. I suddenly realised the weight of what I was doing. I felt lost and weak. The competition to grab Pw's attention was now at college level, and that very thought was revolting. O maybe I was mind was going hyper again...

Meanwhile, Murali was being his usual self. Making the chats with the girls and ignoring the guys. And I was completely dependent on his promise to help things between me and PW. I wasnt supposed to talk or say anything to the girls myself, as I might damage his "work" so to speak.

I wasn't very chatty anyway with the girls anyway...It wasn't an ego problem or something but more of not being used to the same...a more shy side of me I'd say. I could hold a conversation, but not start one. So Murali's non interference clause on me wasn't much of a problem to me...

But somehow his behaviour in the class wasn't going down too well with some people...

TS 13 Romantic day at the beach...goes sour

The spirit in the class was going well. We were close into the second semester and camaraderie was on all time high. Something like India having 1 run to win against Pakistan with 9 wickets in hand and 10 overs to go. In the midst of all the hull-a-gulla was I, in my own dream world, singing romantic songs around imaginary banyan trees (or was it Peepal?!) with a slight drizzle in the air.

Eventually, everyone got caught up in the infectious "lets go on a picnic" and plans were being made. Needless to say the whole thing had a very important criteria, of getting the right category of people. Undoubtedly there were the wannabes trying to get the happening crowd of girls to go along, and I dare say that I had my own little plans.

My acceptance to the picnic, of course was only based on PW's acceptance to the same. In fact I would say the whole picnic party depended on her acceptance!!! Though hardly anyone viewed their opinions, I could make out from the various conversations in various brotherhoods that she was being treated way beyond a classmate!!!

Anyway, Pw held on to her cards till the last day and finally the blessed "Yes" did finally ring in the class. So of we were to some place of interest to spend the day in harmless flirting and frolic. I was elated, though not very sure what the next course of action should be. However I knew the basics and good ol Mohan was there to provide the ever needed light. 

So on the day, dressed in the "coolest" attire I could manage, off we went to the picnic. The destination hardly mattered to me, and whether we went to a pub or park meant the same to me;People in Love do talk this way, and I guess I fell into the category, one way road that it seemed at that time.

We ended upon some kind of island beach, with the "wannabes" fluttering around the "already there" girls, cracking their jokes and jacks. Having fun. I was into more of following the group around, trying to get into the right photographs with the right people. I stuck with Mohan, because I wasn't sure what to do.

Luckily soon after lunch I got lucky, and somehow PW and I ended up on the same tree stump at the same time for a snap. Seema saw through the opportunity and grabbed the camera, moved into position, aimed...and allllmmmmmmmmosst clicked, when plop came the "MOHAN" into the picture with his silly giggle..

Within a series of seconds, a surprised Pw moved out of the frame, seema clicked and me and Mohan turned up in the snap, looking like two crows in sunglasses. 

STRIKE 1-out

If I could I would've filled Mohan's silly smile with all the sand I could, but I couldnt bring myself to do it.My second opportunity came during snack time... Everyone was having the idlis and dosas, when some one discovered some convenient open huts. Again I enetered from one end, and Pw from another and fate brought us together again. But by the time Mohan got the camera, the wannabes charged upon the hut...only to completely hide both of us in the crowd. How I wished for a 36 calibre self loading firearm....

STRIKE 2-out

The camera decided that me and PW wouldnt make it tohe film reel, and I had no other option than to open the gap on my face(my mouth!!!) and make some proper noises to catch her attention. Finally while we scourged the rocks on the beach for treasure, I managed to say the most crappy thing ever

M- Nice beach huh (Damn it !!! That's why we were there wasn't it?!!)

Pw- Ya, its beautiful. Sad we have to go home so soon...

If I had my way I would have stayed there for the rest of my life!!! Pw was looking gorgeous and with a silly floppy hat, looked all the more alluring.

M- Guess we can catch the sunset in a few minutes (Seeesh!!! She lived on the beach you moron!!! Think ! Think!)

Pw- Hmmmm....you know when ever I come on to the beach I feel like just being there. I forget everything else in my life and just enjoy the breeze. It so calming so relaxing.

(3 sentences in one go!!! Yes its working you old charmer!!!)

M- Honestly, it feels great to have come out on this trip. Really worthwhile and fun.

We came upon couple of rocks. Mohan helped Seema across, And I extended my hand to help Pw across...Hoping against hope she'd take it. It was a silly thing, but it meant the world to me then.

She did it. And there was this slight lingering hand holding for a couple of seconds more than necessary...the dancing around the tree feeling was back again....and that was perhaps the most beautiful moment of the day for me. I was happy, maybe that made me a bit too adventurous..

M- We should do this again some time...

I hardly had finished the sentence, when all of a sudden Pw turned around and walked off a good twenty feet away on the beach. I was taken by surprise, and invariably the crowd of 5 to 10 turned to look at me, only to find me more taken aback than them. She kept drifting away, and didn't respond to anyone calling out to her.

It took me some time to recover from that, more than some time in fact. Actually a whole day. That evening, returning home I was sulking, not knowing why she behaved like that? Was it something I said? or Maybe I looked too happy...I wasn't sure. 

But one thing was sure. My sleep for the coming nights had just been disturbed...

STRIKE 3 -out

TS 12 Murali the mentor

"What the hell were you doing? We expected so much from you...All you bloody did was sit there like one dead person, not even a word. Is that what you were there for?!!" Murali was pissed

 

"But she...."

 

"What she...Don't you have the nerve to be a normal person? why the hell were you like a dumb ass out there? Roshan had so many expectations from you. I have been in constant touch with him. He kept on asking what you were doing, whether you were leading the team or not...You failed miserably!!!"

 

"You know when she is around I get star stuck.."

 

"Bull Shit. I told you I would help you out with getting in touch with her. You weren't there on a love mission. Your job was to make sure the team won. Your energy and experience was required. Not your filthy Romeo Attitude!!!"

 

Backlog- Me & Murali

Ever since I and Murali had been friends, we were a rocking pair. We started talking on a range of things. We sat together, bunked classes together and had lunch together. Somesh and Mohan invariably felt left out, but I was moving ahead in life. Or so I thought.

 

Murali saw a talented, energetic and a know it all and a Hardworker in me. He thought I worked hard towards everything I wanted to, and I achieved it through dedication. I saw Murali as a mature and smart dude, very confident and peaceful guy, who loved to do fun things and who never had a problem with talking to anyone under the sun.

We both were wrong about each other. Very Wrong

However the initial days we were caught up in the josh of doing everything we could. In the process I introduced him to Roshan.

 

Backlog- Me and Roshan

Roshan was a senior in college who was considered the master when it came to Being in the know about latest happenings in the field of marketing, college fests and events. Absolutely brilliant. Especially after he won a south India level event single handedly for the college.

I met Roshan by accident. He was talking to someone in the Bus stop, when the topic he was discussing caught my fancy and I butted in. Surprisingly he didn't mind and instead we had a great conversation. Ever since I had looked up to him as the guru, and something I wanted to become.

 

 

Anyway's, Roshan and Murali were of the same age group, in the sense Murali was far older than me, by 2-3 years. So Murali and Roshan became thick friends. And in the process Murali also took the place of a guide and mentor to me. I believed that being with this guy, I could turn out better than the usual college duffer.

I had told Murali about Pw, and he immediately promised T help me out. He of course had better experience than me and was in a more advantageous situation than I was, love struck that I was.

The conversation we were currently having was regarding the same. We had decided to go to a fests, and in consultation with Roshan, we had "Arranged" for Pw to be in the team. I and Murali had to drop out, in order to accommodate the others. This was however a strategy, to pacify the wannabe's and so that we two could join the senior team in going to the major events of the year.

But we two were to go along with the team, to support them.

Needless to say the entire team screwed up big time, and I was strangely getting the stick for it. Perhaps it was because all I did whole day was get water for PW, sit next to her, get her stuff, roam behind her from hall to room to hall. And encourage her. The rest of the team was absolutely invisible to me at that point of time.

 

"You screwed up big time, dude. Absolutely a looser's attitude.Roshan will be absolutely disappointed in you..."

I somehow began to have a feeling that things were more deeper than what Murali was accusing me of. Somehow, I dint feel all that wrong as I was "told" I was. It was becoming an irritating state of affairs...

TS 11 Meeting Murali

Over the days I had got into the "follow her" fever. I used to invariably turn up where ever Pw would be, the library, the canteen, the staff room. I would even linger around the water cooler. It looked like there were only two people in the whole college and it was me and Pw. I would have probably in competition with her shadow, and we were really having a fight.

It was just one of those days, I was following her all the way to the bus stand, just enjoying the moments. It wasn't that she didn't know, or then again I wasn't sure. Every time she'd turn I'd duck into some alley or some shop, acting as if I wasn't there. It was a lame attempt, and I had a strange feeling that somehow this whole thing made me look like some psycho maniac or a stalker. But then what the hell, Nothing was working anyway.

 

On one treasure hunt, she stopped to talk to one guy on the road. I wasn't sure who the guy was. I conveniently jumped into a book store, all the while keeping an eye on the talking duo. My attention was turned more to the guy. He was of medium height, wheatish complexion and seemed to be smiling all the way.

However the meeting ended soon, and she went on her way, and he took a right. In the process of observing all this I had already bought 2 pens and a notebook, which I never needed. It would only add up to the stuff I had bought in my "follow-her-she-might-sympathize" campaigns, which included some rice, a something used for cutting, a coconut scrapper and some more learn cooking books.

Anyway, I thought I'd follow the guy anyway. I went up, kept pace with him. He seemed to be moving towards the guys hostel near the temples. I was feeling brave so I thought I'd just ask him directions or something. I went up to him and said hi.

As he turned around I realized this guy was from my class!!! He was a new guy in the class. So my plans changed from directions asking to friend making.

Me- Hi!!!

guy- Hi, I know you. You play basketball with the seniors right?

Me- ya, am sorry I dint catch your name.

guy- Murali. Am staying in the hostels down there. wanna come ?

me- Ya sure. (I had no idea why I said yes)

Murali- Your so active, how do you manage all the things together?

me- Oh I don't really do anything. (At that point, I wasn't doing anything as my attention was directed to someone else) How are you liking the college an stuff.

Murali- Its kind off boring here.. In Mumbai, Commerce classes are so full of excitement and fun. This place hardly does anything.

me- (I was beginning to like this guy. he thought like me)

Hmmmm..I can feel what you say, There's got to be more activity if we want to end up doing something useful. There are some fests and stuff coming up in the next month. That's about everything what happens here.

Murali- Hey that's great. How do we get to participate and all in the fests and all...

me- well there are some seniors who are into this and all, they select the team. I know some of them so I can introduce you to them...

Murali- That be kind of you. You know in Mumbai.....

 

And so went our discussion for almost 2 hours. In the end I returned home feeling I met a long last friend. It was great knowing that I wasn't the only guy who thought like I did.

But Murali was only the beginning. It was going to be a long journey we undertook today, and wasn't going to be easy nor end easy for both of us. It was the beginning of the most painful turn of events ever to happen in my life...

 

 

(This posts marks the completion of 100 posts on Daily Mirror. Thank you so much for coming here and giving us the encouragement to go on. If you get the hang of daily mirror, help us spread the word. Thanks again, keep blogging!!!)

TS10 What next?

Now that I had a double whammy in missing and messing both my plans, I was in a state of Despair. But not in a mood to give up. I mean who ever heard of a guy leaving in two attempts to catch the attention of a girl.

 

But I was finding it more and more difficult to come with ideas to have a decent conversation with Pw. And the more time I took, the more the competition was getting. Apart from the majority of the guys, in my college, now it was outsiders too. And it wasn't helping that I wasn't on the popularity charts either.

 

Most of the so called locals were up to there heroics in trying to get her attention, with all the wisecracks in class and singing and dancing. And of course the active participation in college politics. My tiny group kept giving me ideas but I dint actually have the courage to try anything more.

 

I did have some advantages though. Being a CBSE schooler, did give me the advantage of having better verbal skills, and my NRI background made me slightly better at general awareness than others. I could hold a decent conversation over a range of topics. I loved the stage and did quite a number of presentations as part of academics, and somewhere along the way I might have made a mark. I was never the arrogant type, so I did manage to make friends amongst most of the guys in class. I wasn't MR. Popular but then again no one hated me.

One day it so happened that we had a free class and we were just loitering in class, me, Mohan, and Somesh. Some of the girls and PW. Mohan went on and was chatting to Seema,and I was checking the design of the pen in my hand. Somesh was jumping around cracking jokes and amusing some of the girls. Suddenly Pw comes and sits next to Seema, Right opposite me. She continued chatting with Mohan, and Pw joined in. And I was getting as irate and jittery as a cat in a room full of rockers.

 

Suddenly Mohan just moved out, and Seema started talking to me. Just like that.

 

Seema- ...so as I was saying, this accountancy is killing me. I just cant get the basics right..

Me- Hey not to worry, its not that tough ( With the confidence that I developed the subject of Accounts)

Seema- Easy for you to say, You topped in the Pre university college right?

Me- (completely embarrassed and taken by surprise) Well, that was just a lucky shot

Seema- YA right, and the remaining subjects too then??!!

Me- (almost blushing) Something like that...

Seema- Hey just a sec... (she jumps off to say something to Rochelle)

Awkard silence

Me- So how you finding class? (DUMB question)

Pw- Fine

Me- Ok

Pw- I dint know you were so studious...

Me- Am not, its just an impression. ( I realised I was ACTUALLY talking to her, pinched my self just to make sure)

Me- OUCH!!!

Pw- what?

ME- UH nothing...Pretty boring huh

Pw- I know, its so boring, nothing to do and all. At least you guys can play basketball and stuff//

ME- You like playing basketball? I play quite a lot

Pw- Ya I know, saw you couple of times.

(She saw me playing?!! Damn, I should have stuck to my Basketball uniform, than those lousy yellow football shorts!!!)

Me- Perhaps you can join and learn too...

Pw- Ya, I guess I should.

Me- You would of course be a distracting factor!

(WHAT???!! Did I just say that!!!)

Stare. Stare. (Guess I did say that!)

ME- Kidding, you gotta laugh some times, It wont hurt

Pw- (Giggles. Tosses her hair around and re ties them in a pony.) You dont talk much do you?

Me- Nothing like that, I dont get much of an opportunity to.

Pw-(Laughing) You were trying to talk to me the other day when returning the book weren't you?

Me- YA kind off ( I was feeling kind off silly now)

Silence.

And we both burst out laughing!!! and laughing and laughing...

And all I could do was to etch that scene in my memory for a long time to come. I just watched, as the girl I have been trying to talk too for so long was just laughing with me. I resisted just touching her arm, to make sure it was real. I wanted that moment to last forever.

The guys started streaming in, and she got up to leave.

Pw- Hey catch you later

Me- Ya, will do.

IT was a beautiful moment for me. I realized that it was undoubtedly a hook up made be Mohan and Seema, It seemed tooooo staged to be otherwise. But I was grateful. It was going to be the few rare moments that Pw and I shared together.

MEanwhile, I was thinking what next? what was I going to do next?

TS9 The tea stained trail

Damage control. Thats all I could think of now. I had borrowed a book I dint need, just to talk to a girl who hardly knew me. And apparently I just ruined the opportunity to talk to her while retuning the book, and had more of escape planning to do after spilling a cup of tea on the villianous book.

"Drop some water on it and iron it...."

It dint exactly sound like the wisest thing to do, but then again I hadnt done a course on ink and print, so had to go with whatever any one could up with. I could also tear off that page, but am sure Pw would come after me with a blood hound or two.

So water iron therapy it was. I dropped a couple of drops of water on the spot. Quick Ironed it and viola!!! the stains were slowly dissapearing in steam. I could hardly contain myself with Joy at my redemption, when I saw that not only was the tea stain dissapearing, so was the ink on the page!!!

For my roomie, it was a hilarious site. Me worrying about two drops of spilt tea on a notebook. And it was silly to some extent. But to me it was a harrowing experience. Now there wa nothing more left to do. HAnd over the book. Say a thanks. And Dissapear. No chat, no conversation; at least for a year!!!

As I reached college the next day, preparing myself for the events to happen, Mohan was in an unusually chatty mood.

Moh- So you got the notebook ?

Me- Yes, and it was because I had some notes to fill. Nothing else.

Moh- Everyones expecting a note from you.

Me- WHAT??? a Note..?

Moh- Thats what you took the book for right? either that or you too chicken. The girls think your chicken anyway...

Me- Who told you that> Its rubbish. I took her book for some notes and am giving it back today. no notes wotes and all that crap.

Moh- She thinks your smart.

Me- Who Pw? ( People gave me all sort of informtation when I least needed it, and that it wasnt helping that I dint want to have a conversation at least today)

Moh- Ya. What you going to do?

Me - Nothing. Give the book and come back.

Moh- Well heres news for you. You have to give the book now. BS class has been shifted to the next hour. And I think she's calling for you.

Me- DaMN!!!

Theres some sadistic intent in the whole thing. As if the walls and blackboards were getting a kick out of all this torture I was going through. As I turned around, Pw was waving for me asking for the book.

Trrrrrrrrring. The bell went off. Everyone getting back into the seats. This left me with the most disastorous proposition. Walk up to her in front of the whole class, give her the book, hope she doesnt note the blob of vaporised tea ink mixture, and doesnt give me those nerve racking stares shes been giving people.

It was now or never.

I took a deep breath. Pulled in my tummy, puffed up my chest, a quick dusting of the clothes and I was off. It was approximately 7 steps to her.

Step 1 - She will find out the spot

Step 2 - She wont

Step 3- She will find out the spot

Step 4 - DAmn forgot the book on my table!!!

Went back, got the book and rushed over to her table, theres was no time for niceties.

Me- Sorry, thanks for the book

Pw- (Stare down, but in a sweeter way) Ok.

I did a 360, took a step to rush back to my seat when...

Pw- HEy!!!

Thats it, she saw it. She was going to humiliate me in public. Maybe I shoud just run out of the class. OR drop dead. Ya Dropping dread might divert attention. Or what if...

Pw - You forgot your pen.

I turned around and saw her hand outstretched holding my pen. I took it and mumbled Thanks, and she just smiled.

And I stood there transfixed. The clouds parting the sun shining...That smile was like a knife through butter. I could hear music in he background

"ओह एक लड़की को देखा थो ऐसा लगा...." (A popular hindi song...)

"Get back to your seat!!!"

"जैसे किल्था गुलाब जैसे ..." ( A popular hindi song cont'd!!!)

"Get back to your seat!!!"

Prof HEgde was staring at me and the background music was replaced by was giggles, I rushed back to my seat. Mohan gave me a nudge of acknowledgement. I didnt really care. I was already lost to a smile....

TS8 The Teascapade Part 2

My plan was to walk up to her when the class ended for the day, say a quick hi, ask for help and then get the book. That would give me an opportunity to talk to her again when I returned the book and perhaps build on the same. But right now my single minded determination was on getting that book.

The hours ticked away like a sand clock during the Inca period; or was it the Egyptians? Whatever. Anyway, the time was nearing and I hadn't shared the idea with anyone so the chances of messing this up was less. Unless some nitwit interfered. The best part was that the plan was so trouble proof I was getting over confident.

As the last bell for the day rang, I stood up with casio-watch precision. I had to ensure that it looked casual, not a plan straight out from a Mission Impossible movie. She packed up and made her way to the front entrance. I moved out of my row and started walking to the front door.

She stopped.

I stopped.

Thump Thump

Thump Thump

Thump Thump

I never knew a heart beat could hurt so much. I almost thought somebody heard it.

She then gracefully turned around, to move out through the back entrance. The Back Entrance? Why ? Who ? I was already sweating now. The back entrance lead directly into the corridor. The corridor had three exit points. One was to the staircase to the first floor, the second out on to the grounds and to the ladies room, and the third to the games room.

I could have handled the games room. The ladies room was out of bounds and I'd rather be dead than being caught prancing around the ladies room, not to mention the profs room nearby. The first floor was an enigma. PW walked on with her trusted aide towards the ladies room. I just followed, not knowing what to do.

She walked on and on and it was almost eternity when She a took a right into the block which led to the ladies room. I was about 10 ft from the turn, so I hurried up. I took a quick jog towards the turn, and then...

Thump Thump

Thump Thump

Thump Thump

She appeared back in the turn, and I could only break my  jog by dragging my shoes, which created a horrible screech. I stopped.She turned. We were face to face.

Thump Thump

Thump Thump

PW- " Do you know which Staff room Prof Ramesh sits in ?" matter of factly. No HI hello. nothing.

Me- Uh, no, I mean no, Uh yeah, I know which staff room he uses.

Pw- which?

Me- The one down the main office.

Pw- ok.

And she turns around and walks back towards the main office building. I almost forgot for a second what I had come for. I took a quick step up behind her

Me- Hey, excuse me

Pw turns around and looks at me. Not a word. She must have known something about what that moron Somesh had said.

Me- I missed Prof. Naresh's class. Could you lend me your note book for a day?

Pw- I missed his class too.

What? How did that happen. Now what what what. Think quick. I need any book now. I need a book. It could be a paint it yourself book for all I cared.

Me- Oh, I dint know that. Did you miss BS too? I missed it so that would....

Before I could complete my sentence she was already digging her bag. She took the book out.

Held it in her hand for a good 10 seconds .she gave me a look bordering on a stare.

Pw- Here.

She gave the BS book to me. IT was as if she'd seen so many guys trying to ask her out over a notebook. Not only was I already lost to the scores of losers, I was now another of those notebook trial guys.

Pw- Be CAREFUL with it.(Right, she just handed me  the MonaLisa)Get it back tomorrow.

With that she promptly scooted off to to her original Destination, leaving me staring at her, and wondering what just happened. Apparently I had a talent for messing up. I dint know she had missed the first class, I had completely changed my plan, and I was know left with a book for which I had little use. The conversation was more of a teacher admonishing a kindergarten kid.

I went back home, drowning my sorrows in a tender coconut. I reached home in 20 min, got refreshed and picked up the tea my Paying Guest "Aunty" had made and sat down with PW's book on the sit out. "Bittoo", our PG dog gave me a quick bark of recognition and went back to sleep. Lucky dog, he dint have to worry about all these...

I opened the book, went right to the last page. Nothing much there. As Expected, BS was a fun class. No restrictions. I hadn't expected much on this book either. I contemplated my next move, turning the pages rapidly,to catch something interesting, hoping to find my name etched in red or something similar atleast.

"Woof!!" Bittoo's  bark was loud enough to startle me. The cup in my hand wobbled and before I could grip myself, Two rogue drops of Tea were on their way, moving towards the notebook, with precision on the center page.

I never had wished for the theory of Gravity to be wrong in my entire life as I did on that moment. I let off the glass of tea and used all my strength and agility to push the notebook away...But No. The drops of dark Tea were in the mood of vengeance as they hit the center page, blotting everything. I stared at the dark spot. Apart from swearing, and cursing that I would never touch Tea again, I dint know what to do...

TS8 The Teascapade Part 1

My roomies were concerned about me that day. Not that I was in a state of depression or something, but they had this weird feeling something was up, I was smiling to myself. I wasn't chattering away, and I wasn't reading anything. More surprisingly,I even went out with them for a evening walk.

They knew there was this girl in class, but never knew I would actually try something to talk to her. Pretty Woman(PW henceforth) was popular by then and they had heard of her and knew I had a chance of maybe 1 in a million. But roomies as they were ,they humored me by giving me advice.

In those days "dating" was unheard of, and liking someone was limited to 5 min chats, and maybe a lunch at the end of a 3 year degree, all peppered with similar 5 min chats. There were no Coffee Days and Baristas; so lets go for coffee sounded more like "lets run away together". There were the more bolder type, who used to hang out and all but that wasn't in my end of the city. Anyway, my roomies decided that if I was ever to have talk to PW, I'd need to have an excuse. Obviously I couldn't just walk up and say hi, because it would make me look needy (as if I wasn't!) So they decided I need to ask her for something which she could give happily, apart from a whack on the face.

As we decided on the variables, it began getting late. Thought of asking for a pen, but asking a pen from someone on the other side of the class looked lame, apart from the fact that there were around 30 people in between from whom I could have got a pen and never have to return it. OR ask for directions to the library, but everyone knew that I was the most frequent visitor to the Library.

On the other hand she could have asked a hundred things from me, and I would have offered it with life long free service and 24*7 customer support. But then again she wasn't on the needy side, and at most might ask me If I was in her class or not. I did not know her friends so they couldn't help me. And my dear friends had got me into more than I could handle.

 

But I had already planned for this moment. I had my excuse, and I had been thinking of nothing else but that the whole evening. A notebook. All I had to do was muster the courage to ask for her notebook. I had see Mohan already do it, and she had given him the blessed book without much trouble, so why not me? So as I shared my idea with my roomies, they nodded in approval. And warned me against anything stupid, like putting a note, or doing some "Accidental" Graffiti on the back page.

 

Have you ever checked the last page of a girls notebook? If you have you will know what I mean when I say, that last page is the most vital "current class news " source there could ever be. Notes , names and phone numbers. That's the best page you could ever get your hands on. And there was a science in deciding which book would have that page. Observant that I was I had my theory. The more strict the professor, the more a girl would communicate through notes. Find the most stuckuppish prof and you've got your book!!! And in my case Mr. Naresh, the Burly Accounts prof was my man.

 

Next Day morning Dressed in my best I was in my place at 11, conveniently missing Prof Ramesh's class, the first in the hour. PW was in her seat as well, so things were so fa so good....

TS 7 Notebook please!!!

I wouldn't call myself a jealous guy but at that moment, pure rage engulfed me as I imagined that senior dude hitting on my girl. Well, she wasn't exactly my girl yet but if that was to happen Mr. Senior dude would have to be a negative integer in the equation.

I could almost see the tragedy unfolding in front of my eyes. Senior impresses girl; takes her out to lunch- she falls for him. Then a dance in the basketball court and a proposal over a candle light dinner. She would say yes and he'd call for champagne, and I'd pop the bottle and serve them.

Whoa! Me serve them?! How the hell did I come into the picture- surely I'd have to do something and quick. Perhaps I could challenge him to a basketball game and hit him hard enough with a ball in the right areas. Or I could push him of the bus heh heh..

And just when you least expected it he was at the door with a package…Senior that he was I could walk up to him and say WTF, and I’d only succeed in getting my booty whooped. And then She walked towards him with extended arms-ala slow motion, flowers showering, violins playing and everything went white and red. And I could only close my eyes and think nooooo

And when I opened my eyes he was gone. The class room was back, Flowers were replaced by Cobwebs and the violins gave way to the restless chattering and blabbering from my classmates. And she was back in her seat. I knew love used to be blind before they invented credit cards and John Abraham, but I was outright hallucinating.

But I wasn’t hallucinating; the package was there on her desk. As she packed up to leave, she reached in to the package and pulled out a couple of notebooks. I’d heard of love letters but love note books? Man this senior was outta his mind-

Notebooks? It was the senior’s college Notebooks!! She was just borrowing the guy’s old notebooks!! Phew, I had to stop this day dreaming of mine or I’d end up in one of Manipal’s famous medical facilities.

And thinking of which I got the first sensible idea for that day. Maybe I'd need some notebooks too...As I waited for the class to disperse, I watched the fans slow down, and planned for the notebook which was my key…

TS 6 The Twist

Prof Hegde's classes has always been a mix of fun and learning. But this time I had better things to do. Like planning for an escape to Andaman or Nicobar. After biting off more than I could chew, I felt that there was nothing left for me to do.

However what was really getting me worried was Who? who was the person my partner had spoken to? Who. It could be anyone as far as I knew. And now that Mr. Somesh and me had this issue between us ( YA ya I know, It was my screw up but hey!!! He did say it to someone!!!) It was going to be a while before we patched up. Anyways he was already out of his local place and got in touch with some one from the bench behind.

But that was the least on my mind right now. 

The bell went off. It was the morning interval and now there was no place to hide. I escaped to drown my sorrows in a glass of water near the cooler. I decided against going back to class and headed towards the canteen. 

"Rochelle". 

I turned back and saw Mohan. And it struck me right there. It was Rochelle. YES. HE had spoken to Rochelle. How dumb of me! Mohan had this wry smile on his face. 

As I understood the entire depth of the situation I almost had a vision of Mohan in a King Arthur suit atop a Gallant Stallion. Trumpets sounding, Bugles blowing. (Full Eastman Colour, of course) 360 Dolby digital. 

YEs, at that point of time he was my Knight in Shinin Armor. The next moment we were sharing a Coke and I asked him over a plate of Samosa's

Me- Why dint you tell me!

Moh- Why dint you ask?

Me- What, IF you'd known you could have saved me the trouble!!! What did ya get out of that heh

Moh- Nothing, But it wasnt my business. Anyways I guess you could do with a little help from an expert!!!

Me- Expert? You?

Moh- Get me another coke and yes, Me

Mohan knew Most of the girls in our class and more so he knew seema. So I was willing to bet a coke on it.  I mean going to Andaman was a bit far fetched too. Maybe I could keep it as a second option.

Me- Heres your coke. And now...

Moh- Well first of all the Warning. These things are not for you. Step out now and its the best thing you can do.

Have you ever tried telling a kid not to do something? Invariably that kid was gonna do that, the moment you asked him not to. Such was the case with me.

Me-NO

Moh- Okay. Anyways think about it.  What I would suggest is be yourself and things would go fine. 

Saying this he promptly slurped up his coke and started to leave.

Me- HEy Mr. Expert where do you think you are going? 

Moh- Well you wanted help. Thats it!!! Work around it for a while!

Me- But, I mean, Like... 

It was too late. Mohan was already half way gone. Andaman wasnt a Bad Idea afterall. I walked towards the class and Saw pretty woman walking down the aisle to the class. I thought I caught a glimpse of a smile, and was beginning to have second thoughts.

As I turned the corner,I was sure it was a smile all right. But not directed at me. It was at some guy at the doorway who was chatting to her for almost 15 min. He dissapeared just as I got there. 

I hadnt even started when some other guy already got there! Maybe ol' Mohan was right. Maybe I should back off.

Looking back now that was the first time I had not heeded good advice and it wasnt the last either.

TS5 Could I ever go to college again?

After I spent a whole night thinking of the most humiliating circumstances, I thought there was no way I could live with what Somesh had just helped me with. I mean I asked for a slice of bread and he got me the whole wheat farmers association!!! and a not in a nice way either. 

I could imagine the college laughing at the geek who fell for a girl in the first week of college. Perhaps some of the seniors would be waiting to beat me up for attacking their territory. Or worse pretty woman could have complained to the principal and my parents might be on their way to college. Maybe I could get a job in a restaurant after being dimissed.

Well now that my education was ruined, I thought I should at least murder Somesh before I left college. I knew he was the only way I could escape from this mess. HE HAD to do it. He dragged me into a mess which I never intended. 

On second thoughts, maybe I could make him clear up the mess. I couldnt physically dominate him but knowing him for some time I knew how to push his buttons. 

It was 3 am in the morning. My roomates snoring away and me hatching my master plan. I would catch up with Somesh before college starts, make him talk to seema, clear all the misunderstandin and then maybe I could forever give up the idea of ever going out with anyone again. And attend college for the remaining three years as a hermit. 

So there it was. College started at 9 30 and I was there at 7am. This was my last shot at redemption and I wasnt letting it go. The clock seemed to conspire against me, and as the moments went by I realized a major flaw. What if Somesh did more damage than good? He had a talent for that as he had already diplayed. 

I had to adapt quick. What if I spoke to Seema, pulled Somesh WITH me and made him explain. It would be embarassing as hell, but that seemed my best shot. There was no chance this could fail. 

I geared up. It was 9.15 am and Seema turned up at the classroom door. This was the best place I could get her and make a quick chat before the news spread. Somesh was however no were in sight. As she walked up I came out from hiding behind the door. She stoped. Smiled. 

I smiled back. 

Me- Uhh. I... 

Seema- Hi!!! (36 watt smile, eyes glowing at me)

Me- Oh ya Hi!! (eyes counting the spots on the floor)

Seema- So how are you. You never were so bold at school 

(What was she talking about?)

Me-Oh uhh that, I mean I was just wondering if..( I never knew I had an adams apple, but at this time My throat was suffocating with that lump)

Seema-hey Class is about to start...

(I had to say it, It was now or never, I saw Somesh charging up behind her)

Me- Well whatever Somesh asked about that new girl was not true!!! And he will explain

( Somesh was behind her by now)

Seema- Okaaaaaay and what did he say about that new girl??( Eyes sparkling and ears perked up like a cat)

(Somesh was now franticlly signallin me to shut up, but no no I wasnt going to let him escape)

Me- That I loved her and all that, its some crap he made up!!!

(Somesh almost fainted by now) Mr. HEgde was in the corridor

Seema--Okaaaaayyy. I will catch ya in the lunch break. C ya.

As we scurried into the class, I could feel Somesh staring down my back. Served him right the imbecile. As we sat in our seats, I saw a flurry of action in the girls area; quick whispers and glances being shared. A consiparcy in the making.

Somesh mumbled "you idiot! What have you done!"

Me- You think I'd let you go and ruin my life? Heh heh. I got you this time. Your gonna fix this mess for me now.

Som- Well you made a bigger mess than you think Mr. Smarty pants

Me- You go ahead and ask seema what kind of guy that new girl likes? You go ahead and make a scandalous remark about me Loving that pretty woman? HAh I saw you talking to seema Mr. Somesh...Oh yeah, And I have made a bigger mess...and why is that?

Som-Well, THATS BECAUSE I NEVER ASKED SEEMA about the "pretty woman" you duffer!!! 

As Mr. Hegde took the attendance, I was wondering if a .6 cello tip pen would be enough kill myself....

TS 4. I loved her!!!

One thing I guy should always remember about telling friends when you like someone; Dont tell em!!! Unfortunately in my case, my mouth took the better of my brains and I found myself chattering to Somesh... "Hey nice girl there in the front heh."

Som-"Oh you mean the Bangalorean? Ya shes cute. You like her?" Somesh asked me the question as if he was accusing me of stealing the Statue of Liberty or something.

Me-"I didnt say that, you FAt head I said she was nice." Denial

Som-"Ah ha. Love at first site!!! Want me to tell her?" Stupidity

Me-"You moron, forget I even said anything. Talking to you is like going live on All India Radio" Denial again

Som-" Ok OK. Ya she is nice. No wonder half the college is talking about her" Exaggeration and bait

Me-" The whole college?? Your not serious are you? I mean not that I am bothered or something" fell for it Hook, Line and sinker

Som- " What you want to know about her?" Silence

Silence again. There are ways a guy can know what your thinking when you hardly say a word. Guys blabber through their hands. My hands were all fidgety by then. More silence.

Som-"Meet you at the Basketball court at 5 then? Am bunking Accounts"

Me-"I just want to know where she stays. Nothing else" Fear

Som- sniggering "ok. Are you sure?" more sniggering

Me- "YES. Nothing more. Get that ONLY you freak!!!" Wrong thing to say to a guy with that much info about you.

Over the next interval I saw Somesh jumping around the benches talking to a few girls from our school. Among them one was chirpy little thing. Her name was seema and she was the kinds you'd could go and talk to about anything and never get bored. At the same time she would never keep a secret to herself. And the whole fact that Mr. Somesh was talking to her dint give me the right ideas either.

I Instantly knew that a mistake had been done and now I had to face the consequences. Most Probably Somesh would have made a stupid joke or a crazy remark. Worse he would have told them I was enquiring about a certain 2nd bencher!

Anyways after the fourth hour I headed to the canteen for a quick snack before going to the court. Coincidently the gang of girls were coming back from the canteen, and more than a few gave courteous smiles to me. I amost thought I heard a hi from seema. This was definetly not expected. I could almost see Somesh doing a belly dance on the desk in the canteen.

Later on the court, I asked Somesh what on earth he had done. He dribbled the ball towards the basket shooting on a layup shot. The ball rebounded of the board and I tried to grab the ball in the air and shoot it back. Too optimistic. The ball went off the rim and out. We jogged back to our end.

"You told them I liked her!!!" I screamed at him. He snickered. It wasnt just a snicker. It was a beginning. "What did you tell them Somesh?!" I growled

"BALL!!" I ignored the call and kept staring down at Somesh. It usually worked in getting the Truth out of him. "I did you a favor." Said Som.

"What freaking favor !!!" I cursed

"Well, I told them you wanted to know what kinda guy she liked!"

"You f@#!ing what." I dint have the basketball in my hand or I would have sent Somesh to space by now. But I had a bad feeling in my stomach. This wasnt everything. "And...."

Som was hyper by now " I told them You loved her!!!"

As I saw myself surrounded by opposing team players trying to shoot, I knew It would take me forever to walk into the class again. Oh Boy...

The Story. Meet the strangers

Undoubtedly As awe struck as I was by her presence in the class, it was obvious I wasnt the only one. Beauty is seldom unpopular and so was the case. It was only days before we would have the seniors all roaming in our corridors and making not so discreet enquiries. The only thing that kept them from approaching her was that she looked smart. And at no instance do you want to mess with someone who is good looking and smart at that!!!

Over the days of initial classroom introductions (During the profs intro classes) we came to know that there were three people who were really out of town. One was a guy from Bangalore, the other was the "strike down with lightning" girl I spoke about, who was eduated in Pune though had her native somewhere near by, and  the third person; This third person who caught my attention was Rochelle from Bahrain. The catch phrase for me however was Bahrain.

Being away from what I felt was home(Bahrain), the mere mention of the word brought about memories. Of swimming pool family get togethers or watching terminator on the large screen Tv. To kababs at the barbeque or stealing mice from the school Lab. Anyways I turned to look at her and she gave me the acknowledgement. Somewhere I too had mentioned that I had been in Bahrain ( Be-h-Rain by Prof Hegde ) and we instantly connected. Though it was months before we actually started talking due to social standings.

By social standings, in our college talking to a girl meant you were going out with her or that you were hanky panky kinda guy. It also meant the girl was careless, shameless and so on. And being in the first year we werent in a league of extra ordinary gentlemen so to speak, to break these  "norms".

Anyway my attention was back on socialising with the people on my side of the class and an occassionaly peak at the "pretty woman" in row 2.  I had told my roomies about this and they promptly put me on the track of Romantic endeavours.

In one of their group disclosures, one of them burnt my elbow with an iron. Though I'd say it was my fault as I was in my own dream world listening to the then romantic tracks of "Pyaar tune kya kiya"( Thats Love-you-what-did for my non hindi readers) After hundreds of lessons from my ever concerned roomies, I decided that at least I should find out what pretty woman is doing here, where she stays..you know the general information. I thought this would be easy, but then again I hadnt put Somesh in this equation...

And man did he mess it up or what!!!

(Post on Maddylicious: 6 packs and all!!!)

The Story. It was the first day

As I crossed the basketball court to my class, Caught a few familiar faces from around. First day at college is always an event. You either feel like Sachin Tendulkar walking into a ground full of 5 year olds. Or like a rat walking into a room full of cats!!!

Well I guess I wasnt sure what to expect as I moved into the class. The bell had yet to go off, so I had a good ten minutes to check out the crowd, or more appropriately to find out whom I could have a decent conversation with. 

Classroom dyanmics usually are very clear in any class. The nerds and "write down every single breath uttered by the professor" types right up in the front. Just behind them are the wannabe nerds, trying to look cool and studious at the same time. Few rows down came the undecided guys. These were the guys who want to score a 60 on 100 and at the same time miss 30% of the classes in some or the other form of entertainment. The second last row then had the scrape throughs. Their only goal seemed to be able to say "Pass" during the results. And finally my favorite "Screw you am drunk" kind who sat at the last but were usually on top of the social ladder.

Ah...I had to make a decision fast, so I promptly plumped myself on Row 5. Right next to the aisle leading to the door. Lucky for me some guys I knew joined me and soon we were exchanging hi and hellos, when some thing walked in from behind and mumbled something to the tune of "Hi ya. Am just passing by. Oh hi too". I did a 360 to catch Somesh trying to fit into the bench behind me.During this huge effort he gave a couple of "ughh" stares to the local guys behind. Somesh and I went way back. From School to be honest. He was short and round, and an absolute laughing buddha too. Either he would set everyone off with his antics or with his laughing belly. And he was moody. 

Mohan gave him a Hi too. Surprisingly Mohan sat next to me, though in the previous two years he was a last bencher, but not the notorious types. He was the one of the guys who sat in the last bench if it was behind a row full of girls. We werent that acquainted, but I guess he found out that he needed brains as well to be able to carry on a conversation. Not that he was a Tom Cruise or something, but he was bold and chatty, and had a self depreciating style.

"Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring" went off the bell...We all turned around to face the classroom. And thats when it happened. All I could do was gasp at what crossed by in front of us; and then took her place in the second row of the girls benches...

Little did I know that those 10 sec had changed everything...everything

The Story begins. Day 1

I was a never a front bencher. Neither a last bencher. I was more of a diplomat, right in the centre. The smart ass having fun without having to answer pesky questions from the lecturers.  I had my own small group of friends, some from my CBSE school. Us, CBSE schoolers were always considered as snobs-the English speaking geeks, never to mix with the other more local crowd.

As far as I knew, I was just damn scared of the locals, never knew what they were up too and it was in my best interests to keep my distance. Talking just for a hi or hello and at the most moving with their group to the college gates. My only social interaction in college would be on the basketball court. I was good. Not great but good enough to be noticed by my seniors. And that used to be my college life. Walk to college from my PG and then walk back by 6.30 in the evening.

I used to stay in a PG about 1 km away from College in Udupi. Not a big distance in those days. Saturdays and Sundays used to be spent in my room washing clothes and reading books. Of course with a pocket money of Rs 500, you couldn't afford to do much either!!! So the library also became a favorite haunt.

Out of my two roomies one was a senior from another college. He was the one who got me the room, so I was indebted to him. However he was the last bencher types and had a steady girlfriend so he would only pull me along when he wanted to smoke or wanted company to the bus station.

I was born and educated abroad, in Bahrain. And I loved it there. We were members of the Kannada sangha club there, and twice or thrice a week we would be at the club. My parents played darts while I ran around the place with my friends, playing soccer with crushed "RC Cola" cans. Anyways, more on that later. My parents decided that I needed to be schooled in India for some reason, and I came down to a nice little CBSE school in Brahmavar and joined the hostel; after staying for a short time with my mom in Udupi. But that was only for 6 months.

Hostel was a terror for me for the 1st two years. 7th and 8th standard. Then on it was a nice time having fun. My parents came back in 2000 and settled down in a nice small town away from the ruckus of the city. So that meant I had to continue staying in some mode of accommodation in the city to further my education. So back to college.

Life wasn't cool in college. We had dreams and then we had dreams. Everything would turn out great and we would be rocking by the time I completed my BBM, getting to none less than IIM's or the Harvard's of the world. Little did I know that things don't happen just like that. Instead fate has a way of kicking your booty around till you get back to your senses. And that's how it all started....

(This post is going to be series from a new story that I am starting today. Readers can read the posts to this story in the Label titled The Story from the labels section. This story is inspired by the many NRI kids who come to India and try to find their true identity. A large part of this story is from my life. Any names, or references to anything or anyone existing or existed, or similar is purely coincidental. I you dont believe that go FISH!!!)

(Mean while I will continue my regular blogging on the same blog, but under different labels.)