Sometime, early morning around 3.30 or so, we sent out our release mail. All the efforts that we had put on in last one month or so, have finally paid off. It was a big relief for all of us.
One and half hour later, I was back home, lying in the bed in trance. Not sure if I was awake, not sure if I was asleep.
I woke up startled by around 10.45. Preeti will be starting with her last paper in 15 minutes and should be over by 1pm.
This was not the first time that I had Preeti’s thought in mind even before I got out of the bed.
I looked in the mirror. That release certainly had an effect on me. Un-shaven face, hair grown, pale eyes because of sleep-less nights…… I looked like a disaster.
I just had 2 hrs before I could meet my dream angel.
By 12, I was almost ready when I got a call from Preeti. I looked into the watch, not believing if Preeti is really calling or my clock is showing wrong time.
I hastily picked up the phone. Before I could say anything Preeti said, “You better be there at my college gate by 12.30. I can’t wait to see you till 1. I have written enough paper that will score me to grade Pass. F*** with the percentage, I can’t write more.”
“Where are you Preeti? Does your examiner allow to call while writing paper?”, I was surprised
“No, I am calling you from girls room. Hurry up, be there on time”, and the line was cut off
She was sounding happy, excited and moreover romantic.
I ran comb quickly, perfumed the cloths and was out in no time.
I made my way through traffic, zipping between the buses, trucks, cursing the auto-rickshaws, and finally reached to the college just in time. I had hardly parked the bike on side-stand at the college gate just then saw Preeti coming out of the college campus.
She smiled happily and waved her hand.
My whole body was aching for her. I wanted to hug her tightly. I was so happy.
She came close to me and whispered, “Don’t think of anything foolish, our HOD is just behind.”, while saying so, she pointed her thumb towards two elder woman coming out of the campus.
I recognized one of them. She was the same who stopped me and Neha for the first time.
She looked at me. I bet she recognized me as well. She looked at Preeti and wondered what could be going on. Last time I was with Neha and now with Preeti. She might have decided to ignore and went off.
I was standing well outside the college boundaries and she had no rights to question me this time.
I looked at Preeti.
“Take me somewhere else, far away from this crowd”
As if I was waiting for her to say, I started my bike and drove off.
I looked into the mirror to get a glimpse of her face. Preeti was looking at me into the mirror, smiling.
I kept driving for about 25kms, until I found a narrow road that turned towards the top of the east hill. The thick trees helped the heat go away. It was cold.
At a cliff, I parked the vehicle and we got down. It was windy. The landscape ahead was looking amazing.
“Wow”, Preeti said, “You often come here.. with Neha”, smiling she said
I angrily looked at her. She was still smiling.
Her hair were moving. Scented wind passed through her hair and I felt divine.
We kept looking at each other, then I stretched my arms. Preeti dropped her bag and hugged me tightly. My hands automatically closed on her back and I squeezed her.
Eyes don’t have to wait for the signal from brain to close down. They know how to feel the moment.
After a long time, I let her go.
I put my arms behind her neck, her hands encircling my waist.
“Thank you”, I said
“For what?”, Preeti asked
“I don’t know, but really thank you.”
Preeti thought for a moment and then kissed on my cheeks.
I pulled her close and kissed on her lips.
That kiss, there was no hesitation, no hurry, no guilty feelings. It was a pure bliss.
Not that it was my first kiss, but the feelings that I experienced were first time. I felt as if the world around is at halt….. as if I don’t exist in this world…… as if all the tensions, problems had vaporized.
“I love you Preetu”, later I said, and Preeti said, “You don’t have to say it, I can read it in your eyes”
“Do you have anything planned today evening?”, Preeti asked me while returning home
“Whatever you say sweetheart. Your wish is my command”, cheerfully I said
“Alright then you are coming at my place 7.30pm sharp. I want to introduce you to my family”, she said
I had almost forgotten that Preeti have a family.
“Sure, I will be there”, I promised her
Late evening, I was at Preeti’s residence. Her mom greeted me. She was a typical Punjabi lady.
“Aunty, where is Preeti?”, I asked her mom while seating on a sofa.
“She is in her bedroom, with her boyfriend”, her mom said with a smile.
“With whom?”, I almost shouted
Just then Preeti came out.
“Hiee, welcome home Tarun”, she said smiling, and then in my ears she whispered “How is your mother-in-law?”
“Forget that, who is in your bedroom?” I asked
“Aakash, my boyfriend”, without hesitation she said
“What is going on? Your boyfriend is seating next to you, and you are telling him, there is another one in your bedroom?”, I was getting restless
Preeti giggled and loudly called Aakash.
Without blinking, I was looking for Aakash to come out.
To my sweet surprise, a 6 year old boy came out running.
Preeti introduced Aakash, her boy-friend, to me and then we laughed.
I wished I could kiss her for the relief that I got. I gathered my lips together to convey my thoughts.
Preeti’s eyes widened.
I folded my hand to beg just a small kiss from my love goddess
She said a BIG NO jerking her neck from left to right, her hair weaving wildly in air.
I got up from my seat, slowly moving towards Preeti to quickly plant a kiss, but just then my future mother-in-law came out with a butter layered paratha.
I moved towards the center table to pretend as if I am picking a magazine.
Preeti controlled her laugh.
“Chuk chuk chuk..”, she made a funny sound and said “Poor baby”
I was furious. I was determined to kiss her, but was helpless.
Just then Preetu’s boyfriend Aakash came out running with a Airoplane toy in his hand.
Vrooom.. he kept running around with a plane in his hand.
Preeti called him close and kissed him on his chubby cheeks, then while arresting her hair behind her ears, she whispered something.
I thought she did this to tease me. How openly and easily her boy-friend Aakash got a kiss but I couldn’t.
Vroom, there the plane started flying again. Aakash made a circle in the air and came close to me. He moved his fingers to ask me bend down. As I did so, he kissed me on my cheeks and ran away.
“Happy?” Preeti did a lip moment to ask me.
So that was the way how she sent her kiss to me.
