Sunday, December 18, 2011

Life is a Ride - RIDE 8:

Hesitantly I replied, Yes Shiva, its Preethi here.
Oh Preethi!! So how are you? I heard that you were hurt!
I am fine Shiva; there were some minor bruises, nothing to worry about.
We had two to three more conversations about exams and practical‘s before the
call was done.
I sat on my bed, thinking, why Shiva and Vikram interact with me unconnectedly?
Why Madhav always seams with Vikram whenever, there is something to deal with
me?
I couldn‘t understand the whole picture at that point of time.
Sipping a yummy coffee, prepared by mom, I started to prepare for my exams
vigorously.
Gripped with exam fear, we were all back to our exam halls with hall tickets and
collection of stationeries. Luckily, I didn‘t get any chance to face Ganesh that day
and with sincere prayers, I started to write my paper.
That after noon, I met Ganesh face to face. His forehead had an evident stitch.
Cold Vibes filled with hatred crossed between our eyes. I headed to our bus, and
sat along with my friends. The days moved on with exams, holidays, combined
studies, whole night studies etc etc.
The exams were done and the semester holidays commenced. I left to my native
along with my parents. I had a good time with my grandparents. I missed my
friends, I missed Vikram, but something or the other kept me occupied.
The first day to our second semester, was colorful. We hugged each other,
expressing how we missed everybody and continued with our casual chats and
gossips. I heard from Priya, that they had a get together with Vikram and his
friends twice during their holidays. I didn‘t react much to that. Within a couple of
days, we got our results and much to my glee, I scored the college First rank for
the Year 1 CSE .It was Shiva in Year 2 CSE. No idea about Year 3 and 4. Many
known and unknown college mates congratulated me.We all moved to our computer lab and I occupied the same machine, this semester
as well. I opened some programs just for name sake and I was busy chatting with
Priya. Abruptly, Priya shook my shoulders and urged me to see the screen saver.
The screen saver moved left and right … …..‘CONGRATULATIONS PREETHI….U
DESERVE IT…..CHEERS…SHIVA‘.
I was ….I did not know what I felt, but for damn sure, I was disturbed with the
way the things were moving on with Shiva.
Our routine classes started to move on. The boring class was brought to an end by
the circular brought by the office boy …….‖ COLLEGE FEST‖ for three days…..
Sports, competitions, awards and honors, special guest….blah…blah….blah…..
God only knows, to what extent we were all excited. I enrolled myself for the
singing competition. Our P.T mam selected me and Priya along with 8 other girls
from various departments to invite the dignitaries.
The first day of the fest was all about, inaugurations, speech by various
dignitaries, achievement summary and similar stuffs like this. I brought all my
stuffs to get dressed up. We were in the 2nd floor for dressing up. We were
waiting for our senior girls to drape the saree for us, as both of us were naïve. Our
seniors did the job well and all the 8 of us looked pretty in the various color
combinations of silk sarees.
Out P.T mam urged all of us to be there in the reception at 10.30 AM sharp. The
other six girls rapidly completed all their dress up, make up etc and moved
downstairs. I was not satisfied with the hair style. It was the fourth time; I was
changing my hair style.
Our P.T name knocked the door violently and screamed at us to move to the
reception. It was already 10.15 AM. Priya rushed out and moved along with our P.T
mam, and told me to join her immediately. I took few more minutes to complete the
hair styling and now, I was quite satisfied. I took my bag and moved out of the
room. The whole corridor was completely empty. I couldn‘t walk much comfortably
as this saree is really a new stuff to me, as I was wearing the saree for the second
time in my life after my school farewell.
The steps were at the end of the corridor. Somehow, I adjusted myself and
walked fast and to my dismay I heard some footsteps. It was Vikram; he stood
near the steps and gave a smile at me. I didn‘t know what to react. I stooped my
head and walked slowly. He leaned himself on the wall and stood folding his handsand looked straight at me, with a little naughty smile on his face. I started
sweating like anything.
What on earth! He is doing here? The moment I crossed him, he gave a mild
whistle and I literally forgot how to walk. I felt, that I will jump directly from the
second floor of the building. He kept on whistling mildly some song and walked
behind me. Thankfully, all the 8 girls were standing in the first floor. I rushed to
them, and disappeared in between them.The first day was a grand day and I felt
elated with the way, Vikram roamed around me. With pleasant dreams, I had a
wonderful sleep that night.
The next day, were full of competitions. I have enrolled myself for the Singing
competition. Being a decent singer, I practiced a lot for the song ―Every Night in
my Dreams‖ by Celine Dion the title track of the movie Titanic. It was 2 PM when
the singing competition started.
To my shock, the students behaved like anything. They screamed liked jungle
animals, whenever a student started to sing on the dais. Without any knowledge
about the college atmosphere, I made a blunder mistake by enrolling myself for the
competition. I approached the volunteers to remove my name from the list. But
they convinced me that, it‘s all fun and don‘t be bothered about it. The girl doing
the MC, roared on the mike.
―The next contestant, is Miss. Preethi!!!!
She is the only contestant from the first year….Guys give a loud applause for
Preethiiiiiii‖
God! For the first time, in my life, I heard such uproar. I trembled and I was
literally about to cry. I thought, I will act like I have fainted and can escape the
situation, but nothing worked. Trembling with fear, I took up on the stage. There
was pin drop silence suddenly, and the silence made me to tremble more.
I kept the mike close to my lips, and started the initial hum, …………………...the whole
crowd roared with laughter and some screamed and some mimicked like a
goat…cat…donkey…..horse….dog….etc etc….I closed my eyes firmly and continued my
singing. Somehow, I dint expose my trembling, I was on properly on my note.
I gave a pause and sang the second couplet in the high pitch,
―You‘re here there‘s nothing I ll fear, and I know that my heart will go on‖…..
The crowd also shouted with the same pitch as I sang. God only knows, how the
judges will decide. By God‘s grace, I completed the song and slowly I opened myeyes and to my utter shock, I saw Vikram standing on the Chair and putting his belt
around his neck and posing as if he is going to hang himself because of my song and
all his friends were shouting and clapping their hands like anything around him.
With complete disappointment, I came down from the dais and moved to my
friends. Many congratulated me. I did know that I sang well, but Vikrams behavior
completely brought me down. The M.C girl congratulated everybody and announced
that the results will be declared the next day.
We moved to the pantry,
Vikram came straight to me and congratulated me.
I gave an unforgiving stare at him and tried to move away.
But he blocked my path and stood still…
Hey Preethi! Don‘t you know manners? You have to say ‗Thank You‘ when, somebody
congratulates you!
I gave a sharp reply; I don‘t have to prove my decorum to loafers like you.
Traumatized with my reply…. Ok ok ….Cool Cool!! It‘s all fun!! We should have those
funs!
Ok …Miss. Rose! Who is the Jack?
Startled, with his question!! I grinned and questioned him!! Do you really want to
know that Vikram?
He again widened his smile and retorted,
Yes Miss. Rose!!! I want to know Mr.Jack.
I sighed and pounced back ….Its SHIVA!!!! And gave a sharp cut and moved across
him!
Vikram was shaken!
Both of us moved away from the Pantry…. Offended and hurt …., without knowing,
that Shiva was on the other side of the pantry counter listening to our
conversation!!!.

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