17

                                                                       17

I,along with rahul and bidya, was standing just in front of our class-room, when the girls' hostel bus arrived. Pipasa couldn’t help smiling as she walked past us.

‘I see you’re very happy’- I said.

‘yes’, she said simply, her eyes resting on my face for a few seconds.

Rahul and lalu decided to leave to allow us a private talk, thankfully. Saina joined them.

‘you look even happier than me’, pipasa said, looking up at me, more confidently this time.

She paused and frowned.

‘techfest effect!!!! Hmmm………!!!!!!’

Pipasa began smiling again.

‘well’, I said,’ you are not laughing at me, are you???? ’

‘I’m not laughing at all,’ said pipasa.

‘smiling,I meant’

‘no, not at you’, said pipasa, ’at myself’, almost laughing this time.

‘ohhh………that is mysterious and confusing………………’- I said.

‘ There is nothing new about you being confused. You always are, and sometimes for nothing .’

Now we could see professor mishra coming towards our class and decided to go in before he reached.

My eyes followed her pink salwar for a few seconds as we settled in our respective seats. The image of barsha came into my mind. Pink is the wrong colour for her complexion, I thought. My attention veered to a new object of contemplation.

‘ You’re not writing anything today???????’- rahul shook my hand almost bringing me back from my exaggerated thoughtful contemplation.

‘oh’, I said, suddenly self-conscious.

I tried to bring back my concentration into the class. I saw pipasa and saina writing wverything that was written or even spoken by the faculty religiously. Bidya, as usual, was listening to the faculty carefully. He always preferred to understand the concept rather than writing down everything told. Rahul was studying- or was trying to study- I could not decipher.

After taking a view of all those who mattered for me, I decided to listen to the faculty, finally. Having missed first few minutes of the class, I found it difficult to follow.

The class got over and students started leaving the class one after another. We decided to sit back and let others leave first.

‘hey man……see the back of meenakshi……….everything is visible…….her dress is so fucking transparent………’- rahul said, excited, as bidya and I looked forward.

Meenakshi was wearing a white salwar that exposed more of her wearings than our eyes were privileged or prepared to see in reality.

‘she needs a carrot man’- rahul uttered spontaneously.

I decided to leave the class before I could picture the whole scene………..THE WHOLE SCENE………………….;)