5
I was back to work. Mondays are the biggest enemies, especially of the software professionals. For me, it was 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 to be happy and feel pleasant for many more weeks to come. I haven’t seen her after our last visit. But all those memories were still fresh inside and I was able to recollect every bit of it.
Outlook meeting reminder popped-up to alert me about some crappy status meeting which was due in next 15 minutes.
I looked at my watch. It was half past 11. I wondered what Preeti would be doing. She might have finished with her classes and as usual will be heading for the city library in about thirty minutes.
I sighed and started clearing my mailbox, then an idea struck my mind. I quickly opened my Yahoo messenger and buzzed my colleague, Nitin.
“Hey Dude!”
“Hey Tarun…hiee…nice to c u back at work. How was your vacation?”
“It was all good. Hey listen, I have to run down to City Library to renew my subscription. Today is the last day and I will have to pay fine if I skip it. I just forgot to take care of it during vacation. I will be back in an hour or so. Can you please update it in the status meeting?”
“Yes sure…np, anyways got a mail from Kumar that he will be delayed. So don’t think there will be any meeting. But if there is, I will update.”
“Thanks dude, I don’t have anything to update as such, because I was on leave for a complete week, but if anybody, asks, just let them know I will be back soon.”
“sure man, I will…go slow, drive safely, don’t hurry up…”, messages from Nitin were flashing on my screen, but I was already gone by then.
If you ask me what is good thing about IT industry, it forces you to be presentable most of the time. We robots are always dressed in the best of our formals, hair nicely combed, shoes polished, mild deo / perfume fragrance, branded stuff makes you feel good and confident.
I quickly glanced at the mirror to make sure everything is in order and left for the city library.
I was hoping and praying for two things. One, Preeti would be there, and two, Neha shouldn’t be with her.
City library was flooded with college youths, retired people, house-wives and the usual crowd. I made my way inside, among the crowd, while my eyes were continuously searching for Preeti.
“Where could she be?”, was thinking to myself reading the sub-sections of the library.
Cooking, Story books, Technical stuff, Sci-fi, Bollywood and Hollywood gossip magazines. Can’t tell where she will be, if at all she is here……. Somewhere in my heart, I was sure enough to realize that she is here.
I spent next 20 minutes searching for her but was disappointed.
It was the last section left…the recipe section. I went inside. Other than couple of newly married girls, it was empty.
I was about to turn back when I heard that sweet voice, “May I help you Tarun?”
I turned back to see the cute face in front of me. Dressed in a pearl white salwar-kamiz, a white bindi and silver colored bangles she was looking no less than an angel.
“Hey…hi…”, I said as if she was the last person I was expecting to be here. “hiee”, she smiled and said. “I have a presentation due at 3 today and needed some information from popular technical periodicals…” “I see…”, she said “Will just glance through and will be back in office…”, I continued to fake. “Tarun...Don’t you think, you are searching in the wrong section?”, while saying so she pointed me to a board which read “Recipe”
I was caught in my teeth. I just hopelessly smiled.
“What about you? How come you are here today? Change of books?” I asked her.
“No, I work here, part-time”, she replied.
“You what?”, I was not sure if I heard it correctly.
“I work here…part time”, she said.
“Work? For what?” I was shocked.
“I love reading. I get to glance through so many knowledge base here, I feel good surrounded by books, get to meet new people and also manage to earn some cash to spend”, she said.
“And what about your late evening classes?”, I asked her.
“I work in either of the two shifts. 12-4 or 3-7”, she replied back.
“That’s wonderful”, inside I was unknowingly comparing her with Neha. She will make her faces if somebody asks her to read a book or to work. She hates both the things and was determined to marry someone who will never ask her to work.
On the other hand, this lady looked self-made - with lots of self-esteem, andnot ashamed of working. She could have very easily lied to me, but she stuck to the truth.
When I was about to say something, an old lady came near Preeti.
“Miss, can I get a book on Meditation?” “Sure Ma’m, this way please”, Preeti pointed that lady to another section. Before going with her, she turned back and said, “Alright Tarun, I will get back to my work. If you need anything, let me know. I will be at desk 3 on 2nd floor”
“I want a date with you.. Can I??, I murmured under my breathe.
Without giving me a chance to say anything, or for that matter at-least say good bye, she was gone.
I was thinking whether I should tell Neha about my visit to City Library and an encounter with Preeti? Or should I just keep quiet and see if Preeti tell Neha about it.
I opted for the second choice.
For the next 3-4 days, I was constantly in touch with Neha, but she never mentioned about it. After 4 days, I was sure that, like me, Preeti also decided to stay dumb.
The immediate thing I did next was to subscribe for the annual membership in City Library. I also told Preeti to subscribe me for the email alerts of new arrivals of technical publications.
She asked me whether I read Sydney Sheldon, and my answer was a big NO.
I kind of had a hangover of Preeti Day and night I was thinking about her ONLY. I had to take extra caution while talking to Neha. I was scared that some-day inadvertently I will call out Neha as Preeti!!!!
I started visiting the city library regularly. Considering my office timings, I could only go there in the evening i.e. 3 to 7 pm shift. So, I was not able to see or meet Preeti always, but still I kept going there frequently. Soon I got the pattern right and my visits to the library were in sync with her second shift.
Sometimes, I could talk to her for a while, but most of the times it was just a casual ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye’. Never-the-less, we atleast had eye-contacts regularly.
One day, I was standing at the kiosk, pretending to be searching some book in the terminal, but was busy looking at her. She was standing just next to me, occupied with her work ofupdating the new arrivals, consultation to the usual members, telephone calls and the usual tasks. I was completely in my thoughts when suddenly she looked up at me. I quickly tried my best to look elsewhere, but I was sure that I was caught staring at her. After that it became regular for both of us, staring at each other. I was not sure if she was looking at me just to find out that if I am looking at her.
