Wednesday, December 10

That evening

She was draping that 6m something long cloth around her all the while cursing the person who thought it would be nice if all the girls wore saree for the function. That was when she remembered, "You look pretty in a saree" he had said looking at that picture on her phone. She was too dumb-founded that night to say anything at all.

She was annoyed that night. Was it because she did not find company among the 10 friends she had gone on the trip or was it because everyone was in a relationship and she wasn't? She couldn't exactly remember. That time had been the toughest for her. It was the time when all around her girls were hanging out with their 'boyfriends'. She never wanted a boyfriend; she considered it a distraction but it was tough for her. Tough to keep her head on the goal, tough to stay single, tough to keep up with everyone.

       It was late that night but she wasn't sleepy. She had wanted to have her share of fun. She wanted night well spent. She didn't want to go back to her room. She was accommodated in a simple and a clean room with enough ventilation but she felt like the four walls were closing in on her. She felt that they were inching towards her slowly so that she wouldn't notice, but she did notice. She had the freedom to take a walk in the middle of the night and so she did. A mild breeze blew her hair. That was an assurance that everything is going to be alright.

When she reached the end of the road, she saw him sitting on a parapet wall with his netbook. She was too relieved to notice that he was probably concentrating on whatever he did or that she had not bothered to ask if she was disturbing. She was just plain glad to have company. Without a second thought she started talking. Complaining about everything she had to complain about starting from that evening to common friends of theirs. So close that no one would dare speak about all that in their first conversation but she did. She felt something of an untold faith in him something that told her it was okay to tell him things she didn't say anyone else. She didn't stop unless he had something to say.

He retaliated the faith that she had in him. He spoke about his past, his present, his experiences and everything he could think about. She was happy he had told her all this. It meant a lot to her. It also meant that she wasn't boring him or that is what she liked to think. He also told that girls should have an aim, should make something for themselves in their life. She had almost blushed. It had been a long time since anyone told her that. She had almost forgotten her dream. She had almost given up fighting and it felt good to hear that. It was that extra boost she had searched for, for months now. She felt different then. She had found one person who would support and that was all she needed.

They went for a walk around the campus. They spoke about the places near by, on the full form of places and stuff. He knew so much and she, so little. She felt a little embarrassed and changed the subject.

Even before she realised, the place around her was getting bright. She hadn't noticed the sun rise. She wanted to remember how he looked for she didn't know when they will get to meet next, if at all there is a chance. But they were walking too close. She noticed his eyes. They were brown, a slightly lighter brown. She had told herself that, that was all she needed but she was wrong.

That night had long gone now and it was nothing but a memory. She wished she had noticed more. She wished that life were a movie, for every move is recorded for a lifetime.  All that she remembered were his eyes and fragments of the night that was.

She was hoping to meet him once again but she kept telling herself that it was a one-time-thing only. She started wondering what he had thought about that night and how things will go if they meet again.

-Shreeji