It was a cold morning, not only the climate but also the
things that were going to unfurl. I couldn't wake up for I never slept. The
reason being outrageous possessiveness.
I kind of felt uncomfortable in meeting her but nevertheless
I got ready. Clad in best tee and jean from my unwashed collection, I decided
to make a move to the cafeteria for my impatience was nagging and eating me
alive though I was going to be an hour early. I asked the cheta there for a coffee giving him a ten rupee note for 6 bucks coffee.
Collecting the coffee and the change I
kept to my usual place. Sitting down and staring into the void, I had this pale
as a corpse expression in my face.
My brain was flipping through the pages of the novel of my
past four-and-a-half months of life. Seeing that I no option left than to wait,
I was brain storming my past and here is how it happened,
"It was my fourth year of college. The year began well
for I never imagined I would get placed but miracles do happen and it did. As
usual I skipped breakfast at the mess and headed towards the cafeteria to have
a decent meal. Also there is nothing better than a morning's coffee at the
cafeteria.
Walking all the way, I headed straight to the billing
counter without having to look at the menu for I became a regular here over the
period. There wasn't much of a queue and I stood behind two girls. The aroma of
coffee was already refreshing my mind. The two girls were in a hurry I suppose;
they forgot their change and headed to get food.
The cheta at the
counter kept calling them but they simply walked away. Getting my bill and
their change I went after them to give their change. And that's when I met her for the first time.
Neha was her name which I didn't know at that instance.
Anyways I walked up to them and explained what had happened and gave them their
change. They thanked me and smiled and introduced themselves making me do the
same. I told them I hadn't grabbed my food and forced myself out of an awkward
conversation.
I met her again the very next day at the cafeteria. She was
having cornflakes from what I could see in distance. After coming a bit closer,
I bid her a hi and walked to the billing counter and placed my order. After
having got the food, I was searching for a place to sit and that's when she
called me to sit with her.
I had this long weird walk to the table and pulled a chair
and sat opposite to her. She started asking me questions and that was the start
to our first of many conversations that were soon to follow. She was indeed
attractive. She was in the third year
which meant she was my junior. I couldn't help notice how her hair covered her
eyes every time she bent to feed herself
a spoonful of cornflakes making sure the milk doesn't spill on her uniform. (
Yes uniform :|)
We exchanged numbers and left the cafeteria. I promised
myself that I would get to know her. Being in fourth year meant lot of free
hours and lot of time to spend either in my room or in the cafeteria looking at
people and munching.
I kept bumping into her often; at first it was all unplanned
but soon after we started texting, it became otherwise.
I kept calling her to the cafeteria but not very often
because I didn't want her to think I was hitting on her already which I clearly
was not. Or was I?
She had issues in the beginning meeting regularly but she
came every time I called her which made me feel she had a thing towards me. But
my inner voice which had never popped up till then made me think she was just
obligated to come for I was her senior.
She started getting friendlier and comfortable than how she
was initially. She started conversations through texts and I thought this was
progress. But I never did expect any progress. Wait, now do I like her? It was
strange. I never openly succumbed my feelings to love but this was different
altogether. I was happy around her.
One day I was in my class and my phone vibrated. I read the
text under the professor's nose and it read, "Cafe 4:30? :) :) :)"
My hand was shivering and I started to sweat. I was able to feel my skin's
temperature rise. She called me to the cafe for the first time and I was
wondering why. Controlling my excitement, I simply sent a yes.
Later that evening I met her and she ordered coffee for both
of us and we both sat opposite to each other sipping the coffee. She asked me
all of a sudden as to what my plans for her birthday were. I was puzzled. I
thought it was her birthday and that I didn't know. I apologised shamelessly
for wishing late and she started laughing.
Her birthday was the following day and she was as surprised
and a bit disappointed that I didn't even know her birthday. That's when I
actually realised I had feelings for this girl. Just 4 and a half months and
here I was being consumed by feelings towards a girl.
I didn't make any special arrangements for her birthday for
I didn't want to be all cheesy. I wrote a birthday letter hoping she would like
it. I called her exactly at the stroke of 12 to find the line busy. I was
disappointed much. I kept trying again and again only to find the line busy. I
gave up in frustration and slept in anger.
My alarm rang an hour earlier and only after five to six
rings did I realise it was a phone call. I lazily picked up the phone and to my
surprise, it was Neha. The minute I heard her voice, I found myself startled.
She reckoned we meet at the cafe around 8 for breakfast. I told her okay and
kept the phone without even wishing her a happy birthday."
It was like being awoken from a dream. I saw her standing
before me clad in a beautiful white salwar making her look more gorgeous than
ever. She was wearing bangles and her nails were painted in red. I had never
paid heed to many details but now they were right in front of my eyes and I
couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked.
I wished her a happy birthday and gave her the letter and a
huge bar of toblerone. She smiled and whispered, "thanks", brushing
her hair from her face.
We sat next to each other with our plates and started
talking. She kept getting prettier and I couldn't help but fall for her. When I
was about to confess my feelings for her, She apologised.
She was like, " I saw your missed calls. I am sorry the
line was busy and that you couldn't wish. In fact a lot of people had called
but to their dismay, I couldn't return even one of them except for yours."
I assured her it was not a problem and out of curiosity I
asked her who she was talking to and her reply trickled a tear from my eye and it fell into my coffee.
"My boyfriend!", was her reply.
Disclaimer: This work is purely fictional. Resemblance to any person alive or dead is coincidental.
P.S. Thank you Siva Karthik and Arun Yogesh.
