*04*

Hello here comes another chapter. Sorry for being late. Busy life busy me.

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“It's true actually, I haven't seen him since Monday.” Sam pondered, “and you sure it's because of Shravan!”

“Of course it is. He told me.” Pacing in the room, I almost yanked out all my hair from the scalp.

“Why are you even angry?! It's good no, that prick isn't going to create problem any more.”

“Language Sam!” I sighed, as it may seem like a relief to me, but I was scared, why, I had no idea.

“Of course! Saint you are. Stop thinking so much Suman, see the brighter side. And by the way, as far as I know you two don't talk, then when did he tell you! Am I missing something here?” Trust Sam to ask the wrong questions at the wrong times.

“That book store I went to…”

“What! You two were together?!”

“Technically he was already sitting there and I went later but yes we were together there.” I sighed , “but here the concern is... whatever, we should sleep."

“Yeah goodnight babe. You actually need to sleep well with everything going on around you.”

As they say, we don't get scared of the dark, we get scared of what's in it. And Shravan was so similar.

***

“Hello…” flashing my teeth I went to sit beside him, and got a meek hello in return.

“So...how are you?” Forcing another smile I looked at him only to find him already looking at me with his famous lopsided smile. “What?”

“Nothing...is Shekhar that important?” He tilted his head, concentrating on me or precisely on my eyes.

“S-shekhar...what are you talking about?”

“Please Suman, you want to know where he is. Isn't it?”

“And here I thought I am going to win an Oscar.” I laughed, “yes I want to know. What did you do?”

“I didn't Suman...he did that to himself.” He furrowed his brows, “you should be happy...he wasn't a good guy.”

“I really don't care about him. It's just...just...I want to know, what did you do and moreover why?”

“All right class…” Professor Sen clapped, “so today…” Shravan smirked knowingly that I wouldn't be able to say anything more and opened his copy to scribble down the notes, surely he was enjoying my chagrin.

This is not over yet Shravan.

I wrote on the top of a page of my copy and slid it to him

You are already 18 years old Suman, stop being an infant.

He slid it back. One thing I had to admit, his handwriting was far better than me. Of course which I didn't like.

Infant seems to be your favorite word.

With you indeed it is.

But I want to know.

You don't need to know.

Shravan, please I promise I won't tell anybody.

When he didn't reply I scooted closer to him and whispered, “please Shravan…”

He clenched his teeth, “Suman!” he looked at me with slight irritation, “later.” to which I gave my best ever smile, and scooted back to my place, while he mumbled something unintelligible.

Sitting with Shravan was something, that boy practically was a genius. When we all were fumbling with those horrible equations of Calculus, he was calmly and patiently waiting for us to finish each.

That hour went by in a blur. I sighed when professor Sen, bolted through the door most probably to torture some other class. “I didn't know that you are this good.”

“You don't know me Suman. And yes right now you are sitting beside me ditching your ever intruding friend just because you want to know about that Shekhar.” He snapped, “and I am failing to understand this, why does it matter to you! Why do you want to know his whereabouts?!”

“I am not Shravan, but I want to know what did you do?!”

“He was caught doing... things...with a...a girl.” He sighed.

Okay, that was not really unexpected, “and here he said, he needed a chance...I mean...he said he liked me.”

“Were you thinking of that Suman?” For some reason his voice cracked, and it almost sounded like...like he was desperate.

“No, not at all, it's just funny you know. But what did you do! Again we are back to where we were, what do you do?”

“I informed the warden that he was in his room with a girl. Simple. And the matter went straight to principal and...well he is not here.”

“Ohh!”

“What disappointed?”

I ignored his taunt, “Actually, you know, there's something really wrong with that Shekhar. Even that day when he held my hand . . ." I couldn't finish the sentence when he spoke.

“He. Held. Your. Hand." He asked with a menacing voice, that it almost made me jump out of my place. “And you didn't bother to tell me?!” I could hear his teeth clenched and his fiery light brown eyes glued to my hands which were rested on my lap.

“I didn't know that I had to tell you…”

“Of course you know nothing Princess.” He snapped.

For an eighteen year old boy he definitely looked more mature, but serious Shravan was scary in simple words. The way his jaw muscle twitched, and his palm kept flexing in a fist, it was pretty much evident that he was having a hard time to control his temper. And I needed to distract him.

“Why do you keep calling me princess? I really don't like that you know!” I mumbled.

“Because you are one, aren't you?”

“What?!”

“Nothing.”

Another class, and Shravan didn't talk to me anymore, but I kept looking at him every now and then. And yes he knew I was looking, his growing smile was the proof of it. But still he didn't say anything.

“Shravan…” I called after the class got over.

“Hmm?”

"Don't you think you are weird?"

He arched one of his eyebrows, “No. I know I am weird."

“Shravan I am serious.”

“Me too Suman, me too.”

“But don't you think you could have gone easier on Shekhar? I mean one warning…” he smacked down the book he was holding.

“You like him?!”

“No... are you mad or what! It's just that he won't be able to sit in the exams... he…”

“He will. But he can't set his foot inside the college premises. And please stop worrying about him.” He collected his books.

“Why are you angry?”

“It's okay Suman. Doesn't matter anyway.”

I looked at his retreating back, as confused as I am didn't understand head and tail of his reactions.

***

“You are going to that book store again?” Sam huffed with annoyance, “what another rendezvous with Shravan?”

“Please Sam not again!” I tried my best to act nonchalant, but secretly I was wishing to see him there, reading poetry. That Shravan was so different. He looked young, fresh and he smiled that actually reached to his eyes.

“Don't agree, but I know he likes you.” I turned around to see Sam sitting on her bed cross legged and looking at me intently.

“Achcha!” I laughed.

“Didn't you notice the way he looks at you?” Arching her near perfect brow she tilted her head.

“Huh! Stop reading those romantic novels.” Though I said that but I knew what she was talking about.

“Arey...he actually looks at you like you mean everything to him! Didn't you realize?”

I froze in my place,"Come on Sam!”

“Don't believe me, one day you are going to realise, whatever I am saying is right. Take a note Suman, he is not going to leave you.” She smiled knowingly.

.

.

.

I stopped at the entrance of Chowdhury Book Stores, replaying Sam’s words, didn't I come here with a secret wish to meet him? Didn't I enjoy when he was angry just because Shekhar touched me? Didnt I enjoy sitting beside him even though all he did was taunting and insulting me?!

I took a long breath to calm my nerves, and opened the glass door. My eyes plunged towards the table we sat that day.

There he is...with a book, he was so absorbed in reading that he didn't notice when I went to sit in front of him.

“Hi.”

He gazed up and blinked. Several times. But didn't utter a word.

Okay!

“Hi Shravan” I tried again.

“You are actually here.” He whispered.

“Well yes…” I smiled.

“You know you have a tiny dimple that appears when you smile.” He blinked again.

“Okay...some people do have one or two dimples genius, it's nothing extraordinary.” I smiled more deeply.

“Hmm.” he shook his head mumbling something under his breath.

“Reading poetry again?”

“Yes...Rumi this time.”

“And who is he?” I settled comfortably putting my elbow on the table, cupping my neck with my hand.

He smiled and his eyes flashed, “he was a 13th-century Persian Sunni Muslim poet…” and there was the Shravan I wanted to see, hear.

“Wow...that's amazing. You know you are really well read for an eighteen year old boy. I am impressed.” I said, when he was done speaking about Rumi.

“I didn't have much to do...apart from…” he suddenly stopped as if realising he shouldn't have said those words.

“We should go Suman, it's late.”

"But I just came here."

"Then try to come early from now on."

"But . . ."

"Let's go Suman."

Again like that day, we accompanied each other in complete silence.

“Suman!” We halted at the gate of the entrance.

“Haan?”

“I go there every evening.”

“Book store?"

“Yes.”

“So?”

“No...it's just if you want to go there tell me, I mean if I am already going there, then…” he fumbled.

“Okay.” I smiled.

"Okay?" He looked surprised when I nodded. As if he didn't expect me to not argue with him.

“Okay. Goodnight then.” He gave me a warm smile.

“Goodnight.” I strode off just to look back at the door where he was still standing for me to go in. And he looked happy.

And I remembered the lines of the poem he read for me…

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.

JALAL AD-DIN RUMI