Neha quickly went through the time-table and said, “Not really, there is one after one and half hrs gap. Don’t 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 do I have to wake up so late...?”, I cursed myself.
Mom told me, my best friend called me two times. Strangely his name was a girl’s name earlier=Neha which was later corrected as Nehar.
I was so busy dreaming about yesterday’s encounter, that I almost had forgotten I have to meet Preeti today.
I jumped off the bed and went straight for a quick bath.
I was late, when I reached college. Weirdly I was looking out for Preeti, whereas I should have been searching Neha.
And then I saw Preeti standing in a pool of sun-rays that, made their way from the dense leaves of a tree just to highlight her beauty.
She was wearing a white color frock with the design of lilies and sunflowers printed on it. Her frock was trying its best to cover knees, but in vein !! She was looking down with a bunch of books in hand tightly held to her chest and a small sack clung on the back.
I always wonder, why all girls have to hold the books in hand? I have seen Neha doing the same, and I have seen most of the girls doing it as well.
Why do they have to carry that little sack then? If they could get a big size sack, all books can easily fit in it. Or is it just another style statement that these girls follow?
I pulled aside Preeti. She looked at me and smiled.
I mirrored that.
“Hi, How are you?”, I said, Shouldn’t I be asking where Neha is instead?
She said, she is fine. Then she told me that Neha was at the PCO booth trying to call my home number.
I could see the PCO guy talking on the phone, while Neha was standing by the side trying to explain him something without making any sound. I was sure, that guy was talking to my mom asking whether I left?
Neha came back, furiously. “What is this? It’s already 12.15. You should have been here by 11.30 isn’t it?”
I was in no mood listening to her bak-bak. I smiled and holding my ears said “Sorry!!”.
She smiled back.
“Let’s go to the ice-cream shop. A double scoop will cool you down.” I said.
Neha jumped with joy.
“Shall we?”, I looked enquiringly at Preeti.
“Sure”, she said and started walking very gracefully.
I won’t be able to explain what that grace means, but it was feast to the eyes to watch her walking. Head held high, straight walk, long legs. Confidence and attitude both filled in style……
Ice-cream parlor was just across the street.
Me and Neha both ordered usual choco-chips while Preeti ordered strawberry.
We ate quietly.
When we finished, I asked both the girls “Repeat?”
Preeti denied the offer saying she was done with it while Neha ordered one more. Needless to say, I wasn’t interested repeating the ice-cream either.
While Neha was busy eating her next scoop, and finding the Cadbury pieces in it, I looked at Preeti and said, “So coming back to your question, here are my thoughts...”
For the next 15 minutes I kept talking. Preeti was listening, while Neha finished her second scoop. I wanted my complete concentration on what I was talking to Preeti, so I insisted Neha to have one more scoop. I told her that last week only I had tried the new arrival of Sitafal flavor and it was delicious. Eventually she had it, while I continued to talk.
When I finished, I looked enquiringly at her.
Preeti thought for a while and said, “So whatever you just said is well justified, but not convincing. In short, you are supporting a live-in relationship, isn’t it?”
I said, “No Preeti…”, I guess first time I called her by her name, and it felt good to me.
“Live-in is a different thing. When you are in live-in relationship, it is almost a public affair. Your family knows about it, your neighborhood knows. It is as good as a married life. Two souls staying under a same roof, needless to say involved in sexual relationship as well. Nobody expect they will be having their sleeping beds in two different rooms. Whereas with the kind of relationship we are talking does not have a sexual relation in it.”
“NO??”, she raised her eyebrows and looked at me and Neha inquisitively .
“NO!, I mean as long as you do not count Fondling as a sexual relationship.”, I smiled and said.
Neha giggled.
“The advantage of this is, nobody is forcing anything on his or her partner. They are anyways not going to get married in future, so nobody tries and expects the other person to change. And when there are no OTHER terms and conditions, what remains is just Love. And I believe in such relations, love blossoms.”
We were not officially talking about Me or Neha. It was just a question Preeti raised and I explained. I wanted to tell her more, based on our experiences, but was not sure what all things Neha had told her.
“GOD…I’ve to leave now…”, Preeti looked at her watch and said..
“Yeh, or else the city library will close”, I said smiling.
Preeti chuckled and left.
It was almost 1.30.
Neha said, “Phew, I am heavy with the ice-cream. What is your plan now?”
I had no intentions what-so-ever of wandering all over the places for no reason. Besides, I wanted to be idle for some time in some shabby corner of my home and just think about this visit. I wanted to re-feel the magic of Preeti. I wanted to feel the aching of my heart when I had the eye contact with her. I wanted to have those goose-bumps that I had when she corrected her hair which were falling on her shoulder and face again and again. I wanted to listen to the tinkling of her bangles and sparkling of her ear rings.
“Nothing, I have to take backup before I format my PC. It is hell of a job”, I said.
“Hmm, even I have some assignments to cover for tomorrow’s practical”, Neha said, ”Let’s go home then. You drop me at my place and do whatever you want to”, she said smiling.
While on our way back, I asked Neha, “So what’s her name?”
“Preeti Singh…”, she said, “She is a new joinee in our class, but in no time we are best buddies. Preeti is a very nice girl, and friendly too. I just love her.”
“Me too…”, it just slipped. I was glad that the words were missed by Neha in the roaring sound of public transport bus which just passed by.
