I decorated myself with the sparkling dress I have bought in Bangalore last weekend. More than enough make up is the first thing obvious in the dressing table mirror. I wiped off too much lipstick using tissue paper.
This company wants its employees to look like a fashion model or something, strict dressing especially make up regulations. I had to carry a mini make up kit in my hand bag and have to look fresh always.
I wondered what on earth all this is for. Anyway I learned a lot of make up tricks and methods here in this internship along with computers.
I rearranged the entire set of make up articles into the drawers of the dressing table. Packed my hand bag with touch up mirror, wet tissue and half a dozen other make up stuff, checked and rechecked myself in the mirror.
The romantic rhythm of the song ‘Tu hi mera pyaar Mahiya’ is till playing in my laptop. Muttering its lines I Turned off my laptop, walked to the door, no big confusion, I had only 3 pairs of sandals here in Bangalore, and obviously the pink one suits this dress and I wore it.
As in the movie ‘Just my Luck’ as soon as I stepped onto the footpath, 3 autorickshaws lined before me. I smiled to myself and stepped into the first one, “Indira Nagar”
Ruminating the phone conversation, ‘..lunch, will you?’ , ‘No compulsion, if only you wish’ I watched the Sunday traffic.
In a signal a hot couple was making the summer heat hotter with their romantic charms. As soon as the signal cleared that guy flew like air in his Hero Honda Unicorn with his girl friend clutching on to him scared or of love, bringing an enigmatic smile on me.
Very well I could have had such a ride now if only I said yes for him to pick me up in his bike, but he is neither my boy friend nor I dared a bike ride with a guy. Mobile rang disturbing these thoughts, “Hey, where are you?”
“On the way, in auto. You already there!”
“Ya I am waiting here”
“Oh sorry”
“No probs, just that I wanted to confirm whether you are coming, you sounded reluctant”
“I told you, I will come”
“Not like that, ya but anyway k fine come soon”
“As fast as this auto could go and its driver could drive it”
“ok ok fine, hope you remember the place”
“Ya I do cya in Nandhini Palace”
I hung up and wondered what it might be. Why does he sound anxious? I heard from lady seniors whom I made friends in the past month about what exactly is a lunch with a guy.
‘It’s nothing like romantic or love or stuff like that. It’s just kinda friendly meet where you get to know each other personally well’
I wondered why someone would need to have lunch together to know each other personally. What more one will learn in an hour or two that he hasn’t learned in all these days?
Conversation with Anu ruminated in me, “hey Shantanu is in Bangalore”
“What why?”
“I am not sure, but one thing is sure he is in Bangalore”
“How do you know?”
“We had the last phase election campaign meet today. He was missing and I asked 4th years about it and they said that he is off to Bangalore on something important”
“What! you are in elections?”
“Ya where else I could get to do at least some damage to Kiran”
“That rogue pulled you too into elections with the same strategy”
“Whom do you mean?”
“Who else the great Shantanu”
“Hey he didn’t pull me in I myself wantonly got in, I knew Kiran is in the opposite side”
“Oh how do you know about it, Shantanu would have told you, didn’t he?”
“Why are you so skeptical about Shantanu, none has to tell me it’s obvious that Kiran is the 2nd most important person in the opposite side”
“Well anyway just be a bit careful I never do encourage these elections”
“Ok I will be fine, by the way Shantanu called me a couple of days back”
“About?”
“He used to call me often on account of elections, but then he asked me about you”
“About me!”
“Ya he enquired whether you will be free this weekend. I said you don’t have office on Sundays”
“Oh well fine, I just now spoke to him, but he never told me that he is here”
“May be he plans for a surprise; anyway wait for his next call”
“Ok I will, take care of yourself”
“Take care, bye”
The Auto driver interrupting ruminations, “Ma’am Nandhini Palace” I walked into the restaurant. I don’t know where to look for him in the hotel, never been alone to such a place.
I took out my mobile phone from my hand bag and when I was about to press the call button, mobile flashed ‘Shantanu’
“temme”
“I am in Bangalore.
"I know, Anu told me"
"Oh fine, hmmm.. Can you come to McDonalds this evening?”
Shantanu's Call (XLV)
This post is dedicated to ma followers Iron Monkey, Pulsars,Ravi Rahul and Rajitha.
I told myself, ‘Shantanu is just a friend’. May be, he is not just a friend, might be one of the best ones, like Anu or Divya. Lost in such thoughts, I was sitting in my room in the company’s guest house staring through the window. Mobile rang on the table, which I noticed only after a few seconds.
‘Shantanu’ the name flashed. The ring tone ‘heart will go on’ pleasantly echoed. I was looking at the mobile, like in a spell. I didn’t attend the call nor did I ignore it. With hesitation I slowly reached for the mobile.
The pleasant melancholic tone of Celine Dion’s voice ceased, and the room back to its usual grave silence. The two other girls are out to enjoy the scenic beauty of Bangalore.
My heart beats faster now. I am practically shivering with my mobile in hand. I repeated to myself, I am losing a good friend to my stupid hormonal attractions. I don’t want to lose him. Thoughts raced in my mind. My thumb in an impulse pressed the green button.
For every ring my lungs widened to intake more air to give more oxygen to my fainting body. Breathing hard I burst out, “hello Shantanu, sorry I were busy with something else, couldn’t attend your call”
“Hey cool, you sound disturbed, will talk later if you are busy”
“No no I am fine.. free, tell me”
“Just like that, we are missing you here, when are you coming back to college”
‘Missing’, ‘we’ who are those comprised in that ‘we’ or is it just a safer side of ‘I’.
“Heard that you are not allowed into office on Sundays so guessed you must be free”, his voice disturbed the racing thoughts. It’s time for me to speak a word. He is clearly cautious about the way I avoided him.
“Ya ya I am free now. Miss office on Sundays” I smiled.
“Computer wizard! Getting too workaholic huh?”
“If you call me a wizard what will you call these people”
“ok ok enough of your modesty. Hope you know we have our college elections in a week”
“Oh that’s why you called me, fine don’t worry anyway I will not be voting for your side” I chuckled.
“Then you are going to vote for Kiran’s best friend, he is one of the key campaigners in the opposite side”
“I will be there by this Friday at the earliest”
“Well the elections are due only next Wednesday, and I didn’t call you on account of elections, it’s just..”
“hey hey sorry I was just kidding, anyway I will try my best for your cause. See what you have for me”
“For you, I will be the cultural secretary this year, if we win, but for that I have killed myself in elections for more than a year”
“You! I didn’t ask you for any ‘post’. See what I can do for elections. What part I shall play in campaigning. I am not power thirsty and will never run behind posts”
“Sorry sorry, damn my language, anyway you have a good, big friend’s circle and you have earned a good reputation amongst juniors, you must make a difference even in the last minute, just send a mail to your juniors and friends who are close to you asking them on their stand”
“But as you said they have some honor for me, but if I get into elections won’t they feel bad about me?”
“What use is their honor if they couldn’t do something for you?”
“You have learned to speak well like a politician. You remind me of the heroes in the Jeffrey Archer’s novels”
“Hmm… fine then, Shantanu will be the Prime Minister of India someday”
“Ok k fine, so how is college?”
“ya it’s still standing”
“That’s a lame joke”
“Oh sorry I am not as witty as Elvi to crack cool jokes”
“Heard the elections are getting a little violent, keep your ass safe”
“Don’t worry about my ‘ass’ it’s perfectly guarded”
“Oh black cats, huh?”
“Kinda.. ya. I am not moving alone anywhere. People don’t let me alone”
“Oh the reputed key leader, well, very well, waiting to see you walk with a dozen guys walking behind you”, chuckles
“If only you are here, you will also be in a similar security circle”
“Ha I am no where near your election stuff, and I will never be wishing for such a following”
“Fine fine, you will be as far away from elections as possible, but only extending your support for us”
“Ok Mr. Prime Minister, Elvia is at your service”
“It’s the Cultural Secretary now”
“Whatever, See you in college, so when do you want me there?”
“ASAP, you said Friday”
“Friday!!! Well, I ll try”
“So sweet, waiting for you”
“Ok bubye”
An unknown illumination surrounded my environment, a feeling of freshness. I got rid of this love madness. I am very clear now. I am back to normal and Shantanu is my good friend. With these cheerful thoughts I called Anu. “hello”
“Hey Shantanu is in Bangalore…”
I told myself, ‘Shantanu is just a friend’. May be, he is not just a friend, might be one of the best ones, like Anu or Divya. Lost in such thoughts, I was sitting in my room in the company’s guest house staring through the window. Mobile rang on the table, which I noticed only after a few seconds.
‘Shantanu’ the name flashed. The ring tone ‘heart will go on’ pleasantly echoed. I was looking at the mobile, like in a spell. I didn’t attend the call nor did I ignore it. With hesitation I slowly reached for the mobile.
The pleasant melancholic tone of Celine Dion’s voice ceased, and the room back to its usual grave silence. The two other girls are out to enjoy the scenic beauty of Bangalore.
My heart beats faster now. I am practically shivering with my mobile in hand. I repeated to myself, I am losing a good friend to my stupid hormonal attractions. I don’t want to lose him. Thoughts raced in my mind. My thumb in an impulse pressed the green button.
For every ring my lungs widened to intake more air to give more oxygen to my fainting body. Breathing hard I burst out, “hello Shantanu, sorry I were busy with something else, couldn’t attend your call”
“Hey cool, you sound disturbed, will talk later if you are busy”
“No no I am fine.. free, tell me”
“Just like that, we are missing you here, when are you coming back to college”
‘Missing’, ‘we’ who are those comprised in that ‘we’ or is it just a safer side of ‘I’.
“Heard that you are not allowed into office on Sundays so guessed you must be free”, his voice disturbed the racing thoughts. It’s time for me to speak a word. He is clearly cautious about the way I avoided him.
“Ya ya I am free now. Miss office on Sundays” I smiled.
“Computer wizard! Getting too workaholic huh?”
“If you call me a wizard what will you call these people”
“ok ok enough of your modesty. Hope you know we have our college elections in a week”
“Oh that’s why you called me, fine don’t worry anyway I will not be voting for your side” I chuckled.
“Then you are going to vote for Kiran’s best friend, he is one of the key campaigners in the opposite side”
“I will be there by this Friday at the earliest”
“Well the elections are due only next Wednesday, and I didn’t call you on account of elections, it’s just..”
“hey hey sorry I was just kidding, anyway I will try my best for your cause. See what you have for me”
“For you, I will be the cultural secretary this year, if we win, but for that I have killed myself in elections for more than a year”
“You! I didn’t ask you for any ‘post’. See what I can do for elections. What part I shall play in campaigning. I am not power thirsty and will never run behind posts”
“Sorry sorry, damn my language, anyway you have a good, big friend’s circle and you have earned a good reputation amongst juniors, you must make a difference even in the last minute, just send a mail to your juniors and friends who are close to you asking them on their stand”
“But as you said they have some honor for me, but if I get into elections won’t they feel bad about me?”
“What use is their honor if they couldn’t do something for you?”
“You have learned to speak well like a politician. You remind me of the heroes in the Jeffrey Archer’s novels”
“Hmm… fine then, Shantanu will be the Prime Minister of India someday”
“Ok k fine, so how is college?”
“ya it’s still standing”
“That’s a lame joke”
“Oh sorry I am not as witty as Elvi to crack cool jokes”
“Heard the elections are getting a little violent, keep your ass safe”
“Don’t worry about my ‘ass’ it’s perfectly guarded”
“Oh black cats, huh?”
“Kinda.. ya. I am not moving alone anywhere. People don’t let me alone”
“Oh the reputed key leader, well, very well, waiting to see you walk with a dozen guys walking behind you”, chuckles
“If only you are here, you will also be in a similar security circle”
“Ha I am no where near your election stuff, and I will never be wishing for such a following”
“Fine fine, you will be as far away from elections as possible, but only extending your support for us”
“Ok Mr. Prime Minister, Elvia is at your service”
“It’s the Cultural Secretary now”
“Whatever, See you in college, so when do you want me there?”
“ASAP, you said Friday”
“Friday!!! Well, I ll try”
“So sweet, waiting for you”
“Ok bubye”
An unknown illumination surrounded my environment, a feeling of freshness. I got rid of this love madness. I am very clear now. I am back to normal and Shantanu is my good friend. With these cheerful thoughts I called Anu. “hello”
“Hey Shantanu is in Bangalore…”
The Pet Intern (XLIV)
Just after he completed the list I ran to him, “Hey it’s you right, Elvia. You have it in you, keep it up.”
“Thank you Sir, but seems like you have missed a name. Anusuya Srivatsava”
“hmmm… no dear, no such name”
“Sir but she would have performed well, please”
“Hey, your friend huh? See we have expert methods to select candidates with the right stuff. Anyway better luck next time for her”
I wanted to shout, ‘If you are not going to take her, I am leaving this interns’, but he is no more there to hear me.
Anu wished me luck and called her dad asking him to book her tickets for the return journey. I called mom with a dull tone, “Hello mom”
“You sound somber, what’s wrong, leave it you will have better options”
“Mom, hold it, I got selected”
“Then why are you dull? Are you ill? What about Anu?”
“I am fine, Anu didn’t make it”
“Oh that’s bad, So, where will you stay? Can Anu stay with you there?”
“The company has made arrangements for us to stay in their guest house and the duration of interns is 40 days. We will be paid a minimum of Rs.10,000 and it will increase based on our performance”
“Money is not an issue, you take care of yourself. By the way you have only 3 more weeks of holidays!”
“That’s not an issue. We can use this certificate to supplement our attendance”
“Ok then tell dad he will be happy”
I called dad and repeated all this, he is glad. I wanted Anu to stay. Dad did allow me to take care of her expenses and stay here.
As soon as I cut the call I burst out, “Anu, stay with me, I will take care of the expenses”
“Hey stop it, I am leaving. You will be fine here”
“Please Anu don’t go, stay here, may be we can find some interns for you in some other company”
“I am not interested. I came here only on your compulsion. Anyway even if I stay here I can’t ask for attendance without attending any interns here”
I couldn’t persuade her anymore. She left Bangalore that evening. I am all alone in the guest house. Bhagya, me and another girl have to share the place. Bhagya is my classmate yet, she is not such an intimate friend.
I tried to concentrate on the task ahead. I worked hard. I am constantly been appreciated by our team lead. For some reason I have become a pet to everyone. I stayed in the office as long as possible. I felt cheerful and intriguing being in the office.
At nights, I practically stayed in hell. I couldn’t sleep peacefully. I got beleaguered by my ambivalences.
I tried to avoid Shantanu in the excuse that my mobile is in roaming and I am busy in the office to use the internet. The more I moved away from him, the more hurting I felt.
I made a good number of friends at office. In college we used to call even our immediate seniors as ‘akka’ and ‘anna’, here we called even a decade elder people by their names. They treated me back as equals.
Shantanu called me a couple of times. I spoke in a disinterested manner. He got cues. Shantanu being so understanding didn’t bug me again, but I don’t know why he didn’t understand what I felt about him. May be that’s why he used the term ‘sister’.
This civil war inside me grew severe and severe every night. I concluded that I should start being a good friend and stop avoiding him. But I couldn’t make it practical.
College started. Anu called me, “Hey sweetheart how are you? College started for us?”
“… Hey you know something Shantanu enquired about you”
“Oh well”
“He is taking a lot of care about you”
“Stop it, it’s all just a sham. After all this, ya he is my bestowed brother”
“You still are mad. Whatever, hope you are not messing up things there”
“Hey I am doing great here. My team lead says that I may get more than Rs.20,000 for the interns, means that I am more than twice as better than the minimum expectation”
“Wow that’s great news. Anyway I told you, you will be fine without me”
“If only you are here, I would have done better”
“Hey enough, waiting to see you, it’s just another week”
“Ya, I am missing you”
“Precisely Shantanu”, chuckling.
“Non sense, I am hanging up bye”
“Thank you Sir, but seems like you have missed a name. Anusuya Srivatsava”
“hmmm… no dear, no such name”
“Sir but she would have performed well, please”
“Hey, your friend huh? See we have expert methods to select candidates with the right stuff. Anyway better luck next time for her”
I wanted to shout, ‘If you are not going to take her, I am leaving this interns’, but he is no more there to hear me.
Anu wished me luck and called her dad asking him to book her tickets for the return journey. I called mom with a dull tone, “Hello mom”
“You sound somber, what’s wrong, leave it you will have better options”
“Mom, hold it, I got selected”
“Then why are you dull? Are you ill? What about Anu?”
“I am fine, Anu didn’t make it”
“Oh that’s bad, So, where will you stay? Can Anu stay with you there?”
“The company has made arrangements for us to stay in their guest house and the duration of interns is 40 days. We will be paid a minimum of Rs.10,000 and it will increase based on our performance”
“Money is not an issue, you take care of yourself. By the way you have only 3 more weeks of holidays!”
“That’s not an issue. We can use this certificate to supplement our attendance”
“Ok then tell dad he will be happy”
I called dad and repeated all this, he is glad. I wanted Anu to stay. Dad did allow me to take care of her expenses and stay here.
As soon as I cut the call I burst out, “Anu, stay with me, I will take care of the expenses”
“Hey stop it, I am leaving. You will be fine here”
“Please Anu don’t go, stay here, may be we can find some interns for you in some other company”
“I am not interested. I came here only on your compulsion. Anyway even if I stay here I can’t ask for attendance without attending any interns here”
I couldn’t persuade her anymore. She left Bangalore that evening. I am all alone in the guest house. Bhagya, me and another girl have to share the place. Bhagya is my classmate yet, she is not such an intimate friend.
I tried to concentrate on the task ahead. I worked hard. I am constantly been appreciated by our team lead. For some reason I have become a pet to everyone. I stayed in the office as long as possible. I felt cheerful and intriguing being in the office.
At nights, I practically stayed in hell. I couldn’t sleep peacefully. I got beleaguered by my ambivalences.
I tried to avoid Shantanu in the excuse that my mobile is in roaming and I am busy in the office to use the internet. The more I moved away from him, the more hurting I felt.
I made a good number of friends at office. In college we used to call even our immediate seniors as ‘akka’ and ‘anna’, here we called even a decade elder people by their names. They treated me back as equals.
Shantanu called me a couple of times. I spoke in a disinterested manner. He got cues. Shantanu being so understanding didn’t bug me again, but I don’t know why he didn’t understand what I felt about him. May be that’s why he used the term ‘sister’.
This civil war inside me grew severe and severe every night. I concluded that I should start being a good friend and stop avoiding him. But I couldn’t make it practical.
College started. Anu called me, “Hey sweetheart how are you? College started for us?”
“… Hey you know something Shantanu enquired about you”
“Oh well”
“He is taking a lot of care about you”
“Stop it, it’s all just a sham. After all this, ya he is my bestowed brother”
“You still are mad. Whatever, hope you are not messing up things there”
“Hey I am doing great here. My team lead says that I may get more than Rs.20,000 for the interns, means that I am more than twice as better than the minimum expectation”
“Wow that’s great news. Anyway I told you, you will be fine without me”
“If only you are here, I would have done better”
“Hey enough, waiting to see you, it’s just another week”
“Ya, I am missing you”
“Precisely Shantanu”, chuckling.
“Non sense, I am hanging up bye”
43. Interns Info
The next day we were taken back to college after the camp. The same loud menacing student’s travel cheer lasted throughout the journey back to college. Sir himself looked like he grew younger. But I am sitting near the window silent with melancholy.
Shantanu still limping of sprain due to last night’s duel didn’t miss all that fun. He even danced a little with that sprain. “Hey Elvi what’s wrong? Why are you so dull?”
“Nothing, just that I am going to miss all you people” I tried to smile. He for some reason didn’t bug me more. Only 2 souls in the bus know why, me and Anu.
As usual Mom and Dad have come to the hostel to pick me up. It went without saying that, Dad just looked and Anu is already there with her baggage.
Just another call, “Hello Sir, This is Elvia’s Mom”
“Oh ma’am I thought of calling you, why not this time Elvia come here for a change, I would feel happy”
“Oh fine, but now we are moving to our place. If you don’t mind I will send the girls in a couple of weeks”
“Hmm.. fine then, so you have already started with Anu”
“Sorry about that, we just thought..”, I saw mom blushing in the phone.
“No problem, fine then I will be in the lookout for them”
“Sure, thanks”
We are now moving to our place. Mom and dad sat in the front seats. I am sitting with the same somber expression, staring out through the window. I don’t know why I took so seriously, especially why as a failure of love.
Anu tried to cheer me up and failed to make conversation. Mom did notice, I managed with lame reasons.
I tried to cheer myself. I don’t want to be like this anymore. I gave out fake smiles, and yes that did work. I got over this madness in a while. Nevertheless his messages and many things around still kept reminding me of him.
After some 20 days Anu’s dad reminded Mom’s promise. Mom, “What Elvi are you going with Anu?”
I really don’t want to be alone. I want someone who knew the crack in my love pot to be around. Anu is such a nice friend to be with. So, I just agreed, “Ya I want to”
“Hope you remember there is no servant like me, to bring you water when you just shout and more than that you may have to help Anu’s dad in the kitchen”
“Mom, I am a grown up, and I will take care of myself”
Dad, “This will be a learning experience let her go”, his usual dialogue.
The next morning we boarded the train to take us to Anu’s place. Mom packed my luggage with a lot of ready made snacks and other stuff that would help me away from getting under nourished.
Right the first day I understood mom is right, very right. I have not grown up, I am not even a kid but an infant, compared to what a grown up has to know and do. I messed up a dish for dinner. Don’t assume I cooked, but I just botched up the dish already prepared.
Anu, “you were dreaming of Shantanu”
”Tramp, don’t make fun of me”
“Ok ok relax. I just said, sorry”
“hmmm.. me too”
“What?”
“Sorry”, she smiled and walked to the dinning table with another dish.
Mom’s backup items are really useful. It was not as bad as the hostel but we always have the canteen to supplement our needs. Somehow between all these things I almost forgot Shantanu.
More than a month of hols have past. Bhagya called me one day, “Hey how are you?”
“Fine da, how do ya do? Call, all of a sudden?”
“Not without a reason. I have something important”
“Will you please tell me that?”
“Ya ya cool, I heard about an internship in a Bangalore based MNC, a real good opportunity, if you are looking for something to add to your Microsoft dreams”
I had almost forgotten Microsoft for a couple of months now. Thank God that others haven’t. “Oh good, but what’s the selection criteria? How many weeks? “
“Hey hey hold on. I will mail you the specs, get back to me ASAP”
I had to be there in Bangalore by that weekend, but not without Anu. I feared Anu may not get selected. I killed myself training her. Not just because I want my friend to get this opportunity but loneliness will built a mastabh around me. I badly wanted Anu.
Monday morning, we are now waiting for the interview results.
"I am not staying here without you"
"Hey don't talk like a kid. This is one big thing that will take you to your dream"
The HR person announced the names. “Ramakrishnan, Vignesh, … Elvia… Bagya Lakshmi..”
Shantanu still limping of sprain due to last night’s duel didn’t miss all that fun. He even danced a little with that sprain. “Hey Elvi what’s wrong? Why are you so dull?”
“Nothing, just that I am going to miss all you people” I tried to smile. He for some reason didn’t bug me more. Only 2 souls in the bus know why, me and Anu.
As usual Mom and Dad have come to the hostel to pick me up. It went without saying that, Dad just looked and Anu is already there with her baggage.
Just another call, “Hello Sir, This is Elvia’s Mom”
“Oh ma’am I thought of calling you, why not this time Elvia come here for a change, I would feel happy”
“Oh fine, but now we are moving to our place. If you don’t mind I will send the girls in a couple of weeks”
“Hmm.. fine then, so you have already started with Anu”
“Sorry about that, we just thought..”, I saw mom blushing in the phone.
“No problem, fine then I will be in the lookout for them”
“Sure, thanks”
We are now moving to our place. Mom and dad sat in the front seats. I am sitting with the same somber expression, staring out through the window. I don’t know why I took so seriously, especially why as a failure of love.
Anu tried to cheer me up and failed to make conversation. Mom did notice, I managed with lame reasons.
I tried to cheer myself. I don’t want to be like this anymore. I gave out fake smiles, and yes that did work. I got over this madness in a while. Nevertheless his messages and many things around still kept reminding me of him.
After some 20 days Anu’s dad reminded Mom’s promise. Mom, “What Elvi are you going with Anu?”
I really don’t want to be alone. I want someone who knew the crack in my love pot to be around. Anu is such a nice friend to be with. So, I just agreed, “Ya I want to”
“Hope you remember there is no servant like me, to bring you water when you just shout and more than that you may have to help Anu’s dad in the kitchen”
“Mom, I am a grown up, and I will take care of myself”
Dad, “This will be a learning experience let her go”, his usual dialogue.
The next morning we boarded the train to take us to Anu’s place. Mom packed my luggage with a lot of ready made snacks and other stuff that would help me away from getting under nourished.
Right the first day I understood mom is right, very right. I have not grown up, I am not even a kid but an infant, compared to what a grown up has to know and do. I messed up a dish for dinner. Don’t assume I cooked, but I just botched up the dish already prepared.
Anu, “you were dreaming of Shantanu”
”Tramp, don’t make fun of me”
“Ok ok relax. I just said, sorry”
“hmmm.. me too”
“What?”
“Sorry”, she smiled and walked to the dinning table with another dish.
Mom’s backup items are really useful. It was not as bad as the hostel but we always have the canteen to supplement our needs. Somehow between all these things I almost forgot Shantanu.
More than a month of hols have past. Bhagya called me one day, “Hey how are you?”
“Fine da, how do ya do? Call, all of a sudden?”
“Not without a reason. I have something important”
“Will you please tell me that?”
“Ya ya cool, I heard about an internship in a Bangalore based MNC, a real good opportunity, if you are looking for something to add to your Microsoft dreams”
I had almost forgotten Microsoft for a couple of months now. Thank God that others haven’t. “Oh good, but what’s the selection criteria? How many weeks? “
“Hey hey hold on. I will mail you the specs, get back to me ASAP”
I had to be there in Bangalore by that weekend, but not without Anu. I feared Anu may not get selected. I killed myself training her. Not just because I want my friend to get this opportunity but loneliness will built a mastabh around me. I badly wanted Anu.
Monday morning, we are now waiting for the interview results.
"I am not staying here without you"
"Hey don't talk like a kid. This is one big thing that will take you to your dream"
The HR person announced the names. “Ramakrishnan, Vignesh, … Elvia… Bagya Lakshmi..”
42. Like a Sister
We enthusiastically gave out ideas and opinions on various activities to be conducted during the camp. Shantanu was sitting very silent and I understood he felt uncomfortable, but he is a first timer.
Finally Lakshman, “Friends, we are all enthusiastic about the camp but the fund allocated is not sufficient for all our expenses. So I propose that we collect a sum of hundred rupees from everyone, what’s your stand”
Sir, “I personally am against this idea. We are not supposed to collect any money. We are here to serve with our hearts, and not with money. What do you people feel?”
There were hushed responses. I personally can very well afford more than that sum but it’s not a matter of affording, Sir seemed to have a point.
A clear voice emerged from the flusters, “Excuse me, I wish that we discuss the camp budget and see whether we can cut costs”
If not for our Sir, Shantanu would have definitely got a mocking response. Then Lakshman started describing the budget. “We are allocated a sum of Rs.12,500 for camp and we have saved Rs. 6700 from our regular funds”
“We have already spent Rs. 850 on transport from college to camp site, and Rs. 3000 on groceries.”
He continued to tell us about the expenses on our tree sapling plantation plans, other survival expenses and expenses on tools etc. Most of us felt a little bored of this.
After the budget and expense descriptions Shantanu, “Most of our expenses are on food for the 60 people in our unit, we are now buying groceries from retail stores. We should go for buying them in wholesale”
“But we are not buying huge amounts to go for wholesale”, Narayanan another 3rd year with disgust.
“Ya, I understand, this Thursday is an auspicious day, I saw 3 Marriage halls on the way to this village. They are less than a couple miles away. We can partner with them, and hence can save on both commodities cost and transport cost.”
Most of us are now in awe, we didn’t know how pragmatic he speaks, but how could he think of all this. “But is that possible”
“Why what’s so far fetched about this”
Lakshman, “Ok I see there is a possibility, you are not assigned any responsibility right, fine then you are the treasurer, and have to take care of the expenses of the camp”
Sir, “Good idea, go speak with the authorities tomorrow, and see how possible things are, and if we fail we may then go for this money collecting idea”
Shantanu now enthusiastically, “Sir, not just that, for the plant saplings one of our junior’s uncle owns a nursery, and if it is for some social cause he may give the required saplings for free”
Narayan, “Whatever, you just take care of these things and report to us”
I spoke to Shantanu over dinner, “Man tell me seriously, from where do you get all those weird ideas”
“Weird!!! I just had nothing else to think other than money, unlike you, who kill yourself with algorithms”
Why should he have to bring in algo for everything, anyway I felt happy about he being good enough for such an important responsibility. He looked cheerful. After dinner we walked back to the school where we stayed.
We had a lot of time together, and I had my laptop and in the evenings Shantanu used my laptop for accounts. I wrote a simple Visual Basic code to help him with his accounts. He laughed at the program, stating that MS Excel would be more helpful. Later I found out he has been using the software without telling me.
Me being in the teaching team and he accounts, we didn’t have too much of work. During days he stayed with us in the teaching room helping us, and bossing around our team juniors. In the evenings we had that classroom all for us, we had a lot of peaceful pleasant time together. I felt an invisible bond develop between us, which is much stronger than the attraction before.
That night I confessed. I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. I really wanted to shout it aloud, “I am in love” but I felt shy to do anything like that, so I just told Anu, “I think I have fallen in love with Shantanu”, she simply smiled back.
Anu proposed a computer awareness camp for a day in a nearby village’s school. Shantanu and Anu visited the school, and arranged for that one day camp. Initially the school authorities were a bit reluctant, later their hesitations disappeared before Shantanu’s business charms.
They are now perfectly convinced that this is a blessing for their students to be taught computers by computer engineering students from such a reputed institute, and thanked them profoundly for the idea.
Initially it was decided that Anu and Shantanu will go for the camp, with me taking care of regular teaching team responsibilities. Anu being an understanding friend, she let me go instead of her, but it’s her idea and I didn’t want to take it from her.
At last we left the local teaching responsibilities to our juniors, and all three of us left to the school with 4 other juniors with us. Students and the authorities gave us a cheerful warm welcome.
We used 3 laptops to teach them basics on using a computer. I had the laptop on the table and explained the curious brats who felt so exotic about a laptop. It was a cool uncomfortable feeling to be looked at as someone dropped down from the sky.
It was a tuff day, yet we felt as energetic as we started till the last of those brats. Filled with complacence and their thankfulness we blissfully walked back to our camp site.
On the way we left Anu and the juniors a few paces before us and we got lost in our own world of small talks. Three guys standing on the road side started following us.
Their susurrations grew louder. They started talking obscene terms pointed on me, a typical eve teasing. I avoided them not willing to spoil the romantic environment of walking after dusk on a lonely road. Shantanu looked very disturbed.
At a point he lost patience and turned back at them, “Bastards get lost from here or you will hate the consequences”
“Hey hero what will you do to us, hit us? Come on come on man go ahead”
He gave a sharp punch to one of them, they hit him back and that’s a street fight, within seconds the 3 overpowered him. I joined the duel and gave a knee kick to one and tried to pull Shantanu out, he is well hurt now.
With my entry Shantanu recollected himself and the duo of us with one a novice Kung fu and me a Karate Dan 2 defeated the three, leaving them moaning on the ground.
Shantanu was bleeding with a hit from someone wearing a ring. He limped till our campsite and I helped him with first aid kit.
“Hey idiot they are some goofs, who are utterly jobless. Why do you go in duel with them?”
“I love you..” for a moment all my blood cells turned dead cells, sweat beads turned frosts. The world around me disappeared and I misty blissful cloud surrounded me.
“I love you like my sister, I value you and I can’t tolerate all that nonsense”
I didn’t hear anything after that word, the terrifying word which is often something terrorizing for guys ‘sister’ but it almost killed me now. I felt numb and dead.
Avoiding his eyes, I hurriedly dressed his blood wound and left the place to avoid he reading the frustration on my face.
Finally Lakshman, “Friends, we are all enthusiastic about the camp but the fund allocated is not sufficient for all our expenses. So I propose that we collect a sum of hundred rupees from everyone, what’s your stand”
Sir, “I personally am against this idea. We are not supposed to collect any money. We are here to serve with our hearts, and not with money. What do you people feel?”
There were hushed responses. I personally can very well afford more than that sum but it’s not a matter of affording, Sir seemed to have a point.
A clear voice emerged from the flusters, “Excuse me, I wish that we discuss the camp budget and see whether we can cut costs”
If not for our Sir, Shantanu would have definitely got a mocking response. Then Lakshman started describing the budget. “We are allocated a sum of Rs.12,500 for camp and we have saved Rs. 6700 from our regular funds”
“We have already spent Rs. 850 on transport from college to camp site, and Rs. 3000 on groceries.”
He continued to tell us about the expenses on our tree sapling plantation plans, other survival expenses and expenses on tools etc. Most of us felt a little bored of this.
After the budget and expense descriptions Shantanu, “Most of our expenses are on food for the 60 people in our unit, we are now buying groceries from retail stores. We should go for buying them in wholesale”
“But we are not buying huge amounts to go for wholesale”, Narayanan another 3rd year with disgust.
“Ya, I understand, this Thursday is an auspicious day, I saw 3 Marriage halls on the way to this village. They are less than a couple miles away. We can partner with them, and hence can save on both commodities cost and transport cost.”
Most of us are now in awe, we didn’t know how pragmatic he speaks, but how could he think of all this. “But is that possible”
“Why what’s so far fetched about this”
Lakshman, “Ok I see there is a possibility, you are not assigned any responsibility right, fine then you are the treasurer, and have to take care of the expenses of the camp”
Sir, “Good idea, go speak with the authorities tomorrow, and see how possible things are, and if we fail we may then go for this money collecting idea”
Shantanu now enthusiastically, “Sir, not just that, for the plant saplings one of our junior’s uncle owns a nursery, and if it is for some social cause he may give the required saplings for free”
Narayan, “Whatever, you just take care of these things and report to us”
I spoke to Shantanu over dinner, “Man tell me seriously, from where do you get all those weird ideas”
“Weird!!! I just had nothing else to think other than money, unlike you, who kill yourself with algorithms”
Why should he have to bring in algo for everything, anyway I felt happy about he being good enough for such an important responsibility. He looked cheerful. After dinner we walked back to the school where we stayed.
We had a lot of time together, and I had my laptop and in the evenings Shantanu used my laptop for accounts. I wrote a simple Visual Basic code to help him with his accounts. He laughed at the program, stating that MS Excel would be more helpful. Later I found out he has been using the software without telling me.
Me being in the teaching team and he accounts, we didn’t have too much of work. During days he stayed with us in the teaching room helping us, and bossing around our team juniors. In the evenings we had that classroom all for us, we had a lot of peaceful pleasant time together. I felt an invisible bond develop between us, which is much stronger than the attraction before.
That night I confessed. I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. I really wanted to shout it aloud, “I am in love” but I felt shy to do anything like that, so I just told Anu, “I think I have fallen in love with Shantanu”, she simply smiled back.
Anu proposed a computer awareness camp for a day in a nearby village’s school. Shantanu and Anu visited the school, and arranged for that one day camp. Initially the school authorities were a bit reluctant, later their hesitations disappeared before Shantanu’s business charms.
They are now perfectly convinced that this is a blessing for their students to be taught computers by computer engineering students from such a reputed institute, and thanked them profoundly for the idea.
Initially it was decided that Anu and Shantanu will go for the camp, with me taking care of regular teaching team responsibilities. Anu being an understanding friend, she let me go instead of her, but it’s her idea and I didn’t want to take it from her.
At last we left the local teaching responsibilities to our juniors, and all three of us left to the school with 4 other juniors with us. Students and the authorities gave us a cheerful warm welcome.
We used 3 laptops to teach them basics on using a computer. I had the laptop on the table and explained the curious brats who felt so exotic about a laptop. It was a cool uncomfortable feeling to be looked at as someone dropped down from the sky.
It was a tuff day, yet we felt as energetic as we started till the last of those brats. Filled with complacence and their thankfulness we blissfully walked back to our camp site.
On the way we left Anu and the juniors a few paces before us and we got lost in our own world of small talks. Three guys standing on the road side started following us.
Their susurrations grew louder. They started talking obscene terms pointed on me, a typical eve teasing. I avoided them not willing to spoil the romantic environment of walking after dusk on a lonely road. Shantanu looked very disturbed.
At a point he lost patience and turned back at them, “Bastards get lost from here or you will hate the consequences”
“Hey hero what will you do to us, hit us? Come on come on man go ahead”
He gave a sharp punch to one of them, they hit him back and that’s a street fight, within seconds the 3 overpowered him. I joined the duel and gave a knee kick to one and tried to pull Shantanu out, he is well hurt now.
With my entry Shantanu recollected himself and the duo of us with one a novice Kung fu and me a Karate Dan 2 defeated the three, leaving them moaning on the ground.
Shantanu was bleeding with a hit from someone wearing a ring. He limped till our campsite and I helped him with first aid kit.
“Hey idiot they are some goofs, who are utterly jobless. Why do you go in duel with them?”
“I love you..” for a moment all my blood cells turned dead cells, sweat beads turned frosts. The world around me disappeared and I misty blissful cloud surrounded me.
“I love you like my sister, I value you and I can’t tolerate all that nonsense”
I didn’t hear anything after that word, the terrifying word which is often something terrorizing for guys ‘sister’ but it almost killed me now. I felt numb and dead.
Avoiding his eyes, I hurriedly dressed his blood wound and left the place to avoid he reading the frustration on my face.
41. Camp as Seniors
In the middle of the semesters we were pulled in for our elections. We wouldn’t be having much time after the exams are over, as people will leave hostels and meeting and canvassing them will be difficult. Once the college starts there will be very little time before the election.
Last year when we were in our first years, we were not influenced by the elections due to strict ragging restrictions that avoid senior junior interaction. But this year we are in 2nd years and 3rd year girls got busy canvassing us and in boys hostel things are worse, seniors fought in the middle of the night to talk to 2nd years.
I didn’t involve myself deep into all this stuff and advised Shantanu to stay away at least till the end of sem exams. Shantanu didn’t speak much about my academics, since the time I cried in the middle of the class about results. But he didn’t fail to say his tag line, “Do what you like and Do it with passion”.
I didn’t work hard, but I prepared with passion. Exams went well. Tomorrow we have TOC, the terrorizing paper handled by psyche Dr.Pal. Girls started shivering a couple days back. Many feared that their life’s first arrear would be on this paper. This fear epidemic did affect me.
Shantanu called me in the morning, asking whether I could help him with the paper. I did agree eventually. But many girls felt bad about it, as they wanted me to help them. So, we decided on something. We eight assembled in a classroom after breakfast.
I climbed up the dais, with the mannerism like a professor. Shantanu and six other girls are sitting in the first two benches but are active unlike regular classes. I imitated the mannerism of my favorite algo ma’am. I took a chalk piece and started picturing a problem on the green board.
I was teaching for a couple of hours, and I did cover problems that are expected and can account for around 35 marks in tomorrow’s exam. With great complacence, I stepped down the dais. I still explained a few more doubts on paper. After this crispy lecture session, the girls left, and I spent a few mins with him.
“Thanks a lot Elvi, I would have really been in a very bad position in tomorrow’s exam without you”
“Well, that’s alright, but what I taught you is less than what you need to pass, even if you manage to do this with pinpoint accuracy”
“Ya I get it, I have already prepared something, and will revise things, I will be fine”
“Let’s hope so, then how is your election stuff going”, I asked just for the sake of conversation. We are now walking down from the 1st floor to get down on the other side of the building opposite to our hostel for our usual walk.
He with a shudder started, “Hmm.. you are good at algos and data structures..”
“I feel interested about them that’s it, anyway so..”
“So… our department juniors value you…” he elongated the statement blushing.
“Hey cut it, no way, I am not in, and I rather do tell you to keep your ass out of that shit”
“Hey hey cool it, you don’t like it fine, well I just tried, but don’t tell me what to do”
“Hello I am your friend and ain’t I supposed to tell you what’s right and wrong”
“I know what it is, and I do know what I will get out of it”
“ok then go to hell” and I walked away.
This is one notable bitter incident that happened between us. I really cared about his academics, and I didn’t want him to waste his time in something so useless or even dangerous, but he affronted me. I tried to forget him and concentrate on tomorrow’s TOC.
Our bitterness continued for a week, and it started alleviating. This year we are going to NSS camp but as seniors. There are still 3rd years, still we are seniors. This is a new cool feeling to boss around.
The added rejoicing thing about this year’s camp is Shantanu will be coming with us. Bliss bubbles are boiling out of me. My best friends Anu and Sangi along with my would be lover are all now traveling to our camp site.
The bus journey as students is one of the top ten great times of student life. More than half of us are standing, whether or not we have sears. The noise we make made horn useless. The big ‘O’s to everyone and everything around is simply deafening.
Our bus just overtook another, all our hands are out through the windows showing thumbs down with a huge cry. For every vehicle we passed by there would be surge in our pitch. I felt momentarily deaf on a holler, when another vehicle overtook us.
After receiving enough curses from the travelers, and making enough damage to the reputation of our college along the way, we reached the camp site by dusk. Me and Anu are team leaders of teaching team. Thankfully Kiran missed the camp due to election work.
Shantanu being a first timer in the camp, he was not assigned any responsibility and he can’t be treated as a first year either, so he just hung around the site. The next day evening we had a general camp meet with our Sir and other seniors over the camp schedule and plans.
Rajkumar Sir, “We should have had this meet well before we have come here, but as you people were busy with your exams I didn’t want to disturb you guys, anyway myself and your general secretary Lakshman met and have some plans, we want you to give your opinions and suggestions”
Our unit’s Programming officer i.e. the faculty incharge Mr.Rajkumar is a very amiable person. We all like him for his humbleness, and he treated us like equals and asked for our opinions on everything. We really felt responsible and passionate to make this camp very fruitful.
Last year when we were in our first years, we were not influenced by the elections due to strict ragging restrictions that avoid senior junior interaction. But this year we are in 2nd years and 3rd year girls got busy canvassing us and in boys hostel things are worse, seniors fought in the middle of the night to talk to 2nd years.
I didn’t involve myself deep into all this stuff and advised Shantanu to stay away at least till the end of sem exams. Shantanu didn’t speak much about my academics, since the time I cried in the middle of the class about results. But he didn’t fail to say his tag line, “Do what you like and Do it with passion”.
I didn’t work hard, but I prepared with passion. Exams went well. Tomorrow we have TOC, the terrorizing paper handled by psyche Dr.Pal. Girls started shivering a couple days back. Many feared that their life’s first arrear would be on this paper. This fear epidemic did affect me.
Shantanu called me in the morning, asking whether I could help him with the paper. I did agree eventually. But many girls felt bad about it, as they wanted me to help them. So, we decided on something. We eight assembled in a classroom after breakfast.
I climbed up the dais, with the mannerism like a professor. Shantanu and six other girls are sitting in the first two benches but are active unlike regular classes. I imitated the mannerism of my favorite algo ma’am. I took a chalk piece and started picturing a problem on the green board.
I was teaching for a couple of hours, and I did cover problems that are expected and can account for around 35 marks in tomorrow’s exam. With great complacence, I stepped down the dais. I still explained a few more doubts on paper. After this crispy lecture session, the girls left, and I spent a few mins with him.
“Thanks a lot Elvi, I would have really been in a very bad position in tomorrow’s exam without you”
“Well, that’s alright, but what I taught you is less than what you need to pass, even if you manage to do this with pinpoint accuracy”
“Ya I get it, I have already prepared something, and will revise things, I will be fine”
“Let’s hope so, then how is your election stuff going”, I asked just for the sake of conversation. We are now walking down from the 1st floor to get down on the other side of the building opposite to our hostel for our usual walk.
He with a shudder started, “Hmm.. you are good at algos and data structures..”
“I feel interested about them that’s it, anyway so..”
“So… our department juniors value you…” he elongated the statement blushing.
“Hey cut it, no way, I am not in, and I rather do tell you to keep your ass out of that shit”
“Hey hey cool it, you don’t like it fine, well I just tried, but don’t tell me what to do”
“Hello I am your friend and ain’t I supposed to tell you what’s right and wrong”
“I know what it is, and I do know what I will get out of it”
“ok then go to hell” and I walked away.
This is one notable bitter incident that happened between us. I really cared about his academics, and I didn’t want him to waste his time in something so useless or even dangerous, but he affronted me. I tried to forget him and concentrate on tomorrow’s TOC.
Our bitterness continued for a week, and it started alleviating. This year we are going to NSS camp but as seniors. There are still 3rd years, still we are seniors. This is a new cool feeling to boss around.
The added rejoicing thing about this year’s camp is Shantanu will be coming with us. Bliss bubbles are boiling out of me. My best friends Anu and Sangi along with my would be lover are all now traveling to our camp site.
The bus journey as students is one of the top ten great times of student life. More than half of us are standing, whether or not we have sears. The noise we make made horn useless. The big ‘O’s to everyone and everything around is simply deafening.
Our bus just overtook another, all our hands are out through the windows showing thumbs down with a huge cry. For every vehicle we passed by there would be surge in our pitch. I felt momentarily deaf on a holler, when another vehicle overtook us.
After receiving enough curses from the travelers, and making enough damage to the reputation of our college along the way, we reached the camp site by dusk. Me and Anu are team leaders of teaching team. Thankfully Kiran missed the camp due to election work.
Shantanu being a first timer in the camp, he was not assigned any responsibility and he can’t be treated as a first year either, so he just hung around the site. The next day evening we had a general camp meet with our Sir and other seniors over the camp schedule and plans.
Rajkumar Sir, “We should have had this meet well before we have come here, but as you people were busy with your exams I didn’t want to disturb you guys, anyway myself and your general secretary Lakshman met and have some plans, we want you to give your opinions and suggestions”
Our unit’s Programming officer i.e. the faculty incharge Mr.Rajkumar is a very amiable person. We all like him for his humbleness, and he treated us like equals and asked for our opinions on everything. We really felt responsible and passionate to make this camp very fruitful.
40. The Hallucinating First Touch
I dedicate this post to my followers Rajasekar, Asish and Surajlal and also to my esteemed critics at Chennai rulezz esp. Siraj and Arun.
The Projects are all over now with the 4th sem exams due in a week. I did a really enjoyable work in projects esp. the one with Shantanu. There is still a working day left before they close the attendance.
The internals are expected to be displayed in the department notice board in a day. I am good enough in the assessments 1 and 2 there is not much of a need for the 3rd internals, yet I wanted to know how good a work we did in our projects.
The projects are supposed to reflect one’s true ability as a software engineer or that’s what seniors told me. I wanted to know how good I am for Microsoft, though these mini-projects are not even worthy enough a mention in Microsoft interview.
The next day first hour was Internet Programming (IP). Ma’am has completed the syllabus and was just having a few words on how to prepare for the end sem etc etc.
Before she was about to leave, “I really wanted to mention this, most of you have done your projects well, yet I had a feeling that you have done it only for the sake of doing”
She continued, “But this project Simulated Chat Room was really good and is an outcome of a true passionate effort. I just wanted to say that you being engineering students from such a reputed institute should have that passion in you”, and she left.
I am blushing wide. Girls around me started teasing me. Shantanu was similarly besieged by guys around him. We checked our internals I was good in all other projects also. Over lunch Harini akka joined the teasing and I am now named Microsoft.
It was not because I am so good at my projects. In fact only in IP ours is the best project in other papers there are better projects than mine.
I am not sure whether it’s the ideal mixture of my background coding and Shantanu’s applet or the ages we spent together in the project. Anyway we could now proudly say we were not just mashing but we worked for the project together. I laughed to myself at this thought.
That evening we met as usual, we were cheerfully discussing about the projects and I told him about the lunch break baptism where I was christened as ‘Microsoft’.
At the mention of this Shantanu was almost rolling on the floor laughing. I laughed with him yet I was a bit irritated. I hate to get hurt at my ego. He later did apologize for that.
Now he also started calling me Microsoft. Elvia is now virtually replaced by Microsoft. I felt it a bit bothersome but the wings of dreams and the pride the term brought with it put me into blushing and bliss.
As we got up to leave Shantanu gave me a hand shake “We rocked”, a warm feeling of current passed through my veins. My palm got struck with his. The icy warmth spread from my right hand fingers through out my entire body and froze my toes.
The entire dimming dark environment at 7.00PM suddenly turned bright. The dull sound of the leaves galled by the breeze is now replaced with the cheery chirp of birds like dawn. I saw a halo behind Shantanu’s head. I don’t know whether he shared all this hormonal excitement.
I guess that’s the first time he touched me ever. I am in India yet it’s no sin for a girl to shake hands with a guy. As a matter of fact I have shaken hands with guys and other men yet this was different, more than that quaint.
I walked back to my hostel it was just a few steps away, but Shantanu didn’t fail to fulfill his chivalry. He walked with me till the edge of the threshold to avoid the eyes of our warden.
We bid adieu and I walked back to my room filled with the bliss and cheers of projects. The brilliance of the touch was more dominant than all that. I entered my room.
Divya and a couple other girls were also there with Anu and Sangi. I sat on my cot. Divya as always the Elvia’s predictor, “Hey what’s the aura around you?” smiling.
I kept blushing. “looks like Shantanu kissed you today”, Sangi teased.
“hey shut up, told you girls we are just friends”, crimson of my cheeks are now powerful enough to stop traffic both sides of a road.
“Come on girl why do you retell the same old tale”
“Ok yaar she will say that when she have to stop bugging her”, Anu smiling.
“All I want to say is be careful and don’t end up like Anu”, Preethi. She bit her tongue in the moment realizing the implication of those words on Anu.
The cheerful environment in the room suddenly turned grave. I expected Anu would cry, but she just fell silent. After a few seconds, “Ok girls lets move, it’s time for dinner”, Anu cheerfully.
I felt so numb. Life has given more than her share for her to bear. She has been overdosed with too much stuff that anything will not make her shed tears anymore. She is not acting. I really felt that she has grew stronger with the turn of events.
The mood in the mess was cheerful we now stopped regretting and cursing mess food and the authorities rather we started making fun of them all. We all had a nice time.
With a good long week before the semester exams we didn’t want to spoil the engineering tradition by starting preparations this soon. So decided on watching a movie that night.
After a heavy duel on the languages English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu we zeroed in on a Tamil movie. Now it’s the dispute on the movie.
Somehow with Divya with her usual maturity acting like Kofi Annan solved things and finalized on a typical tamil movie which is a mixture of action, comedy and romance.
We cuddled ourselves on two cots, switched of the lights, placed the table and the laptop on it strategically such that all of us could have a clear view of the screen. Created a virtual theatre for ourselves and now silently started watching the movie.
Saranya being an ardent fan of the hero whistled like hell at the hero’s introduction. We asked her to control herself not wanting to bring the warden up at this hour and spoil all this.
The movie got over with Sangamitra crying at the death of hero’s mom and with loads of such emotions. Everybody left to their respective rooms.
I happily fell on my bed. After I closed my eyes, Shantanu flashed before me, with Preethi’s words echoing in my ears, “Don’t end up like Anu”
The Projects are all over now with the 4th sem exams due in a week. I did a really enjoyable work in projects esp. the one with Shantanu. There is still a working day left before they close the attendance.
The internals are expected to be displayed in the department notice board in a day. I am good enough in the assessments 1 and 2 there is not much of a need for the 3rd internals, yet I wanted to know how good a work we did in our projects.
The projects are supposed to reflect one’s true ability as a software engineer or that’s what seniors told me. I wanted to know how good I am for Microsoft, though these mini-projects are not even worthy enough a mention in Microsoft interview.
The next day first hour was Internet Programming (IP). Ma’am has completed the syllabus and was just having a few words on how to prepare for the end sem etc etc.
Before she was about to leave, “I really wanted to mention this, most of you have done your projects well, yet I had a feeling that you have done it only for the sake of doing”
She continued, “But this project Simulated Chat Room was really good and is an outcome of a true passionate effort. I just wanted to say that you being engineering students from such a reputed institute should have that passion in you”, and she left.
I am blushing wide. Girls around me started teasing me. Shantanu was similarly besieged by guys around him. We checked our internals I was good in all other projects also. Over lunch Harini akka joined the teasing and I am now named Microsoft.
It was not because I am so good at my projects. In fact only in IP ours is the best project in other papers there are better projects than mine.
I am not sure whether it’s the ideal mixture of my background coding and Shantanu’s applet or the ages we spent together in the project. Anyway we could now proudly say we were not just mashing but we worked for the project together. I laughed to myself at this thought.
That evening we met as usual, we were cheerfully discussing about the projects and I told him about the lunch break baptism where I was christened as ‘Microsoft’.
At the mention of this Shantanu was almost rolling on the floor laughing. I laughed with him yet I was a bit irritated. I hate to get hurt at my ego. He later did apologize for that.
Now he also started calling me Microsoft. Elvia is now virtually replaced by Microsoft. I felt it a bit bothersome but the wings of dreams and the pride the term brought with it put me into blushing and bliss.
As we got up to leave Shantanu gave me a hand shake “We rocked”, a warm feeling of current passed through my veins. My palm got struck with his. The icy warmth spread from my right hand fingers through out my entire body and froze my toes.
The entire dimming dark environment at 7.00PM suddenly turned bright. The dull sound of the leaves galled by the breeze is now replaced with the cheery chirp of birds like dawn. I saw a halo behind Shantanu’s head. I don’t know whether he shared all this hormonal excitement.
I guess that’s the first time he touched me ever. I am in India yet it’s no sin for a girl to shake hands with a guy. As a matter of fact I have shaken hands with guys and other men yet this was different, more than that quaint.
I walked back to my hostel it was just a few steps away, but Shantanu didn’t fail to fulfill his chivalry. He walked with me till the edge of the threshold to avoid the eyes of our warden.
We bid adieu and I walked back to my room filled with the bliss and cheers of projects. The brilliance of the touch was more dominant than all that. I entered my room.
Divya and a couple other girls were also there with Anu and Sangi. I sat on my cot. Divya as always the Elvia’s predictor, “Hey what’s the aura around you?” smiling.
I kept blushing. “looks like Shantanu kissed you today”, Sangi teased.
“hey shut up, told you girls we are just friends”, crimson of my cheeks are now powerful enough to stop traffic both sides of a road.
“Come on girl why do you retell the same old tale”
“Ok yaar she will say that when she have to stop bugging her”, Anu smiling.
“All I want to say is be careful and don’t end up like Anu”, Preethi. She bit her tongue in the moment realizing the implication of those words on Anu.
The cheerful environment in the room suddenly turned grave. I expected Anu would cry, but she just fell silent. After a few seconds, “Ok girls lets move, it’s time for dinner”, Anu cheerfully.
I felt so numb. Life has given more than her share for her to bear. She has been overdosed with too much stuff that anything will not make her shed tears anymore. She is not acting. I really felt that she has grew stronger with the turn of events.
The mood in the mess was cheerful we now stopped regretting and cursing mess food and the authorities rather we started making fun of them all. We all had a nice time.
With a good long week before the semester exams we didn’t want to spoil the engineering tradition by starting preparations this soon. So decided on watching a movie that night.
After a heavy duel on the languages English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu we zeroed in on a Tamil movie. Now it’s the dispute on the movie.
Somehow with Divya with her usual maturity acting like Kofi Annan solved things and finalized on a typical tamil movie which is a mixture of action, comedy and romance.
We cuddled ourselves on two cots, switched of the lights, placed the table and the laptop on it strategically such that all of us could have a clear view of the screen. Created a virtual theatre for ourselves and now silently started watching the movie.
Saranya being an ardent fan of the hero whistled like hell at the hero’s introduction. We asked her to control herself not wanting to bring the warden up at this hour and spoil all this.
The movie got over with Sangamitra crying at the death of hero’s mom and with loads of such emotions. Everybody left to their respective rooms.
I happily fell on my bed. After I closed my eyes, Shantanu flashed before me, with Preethi’s words echoing in my ears, “Don’t end up like Anu”
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