CHAPTER 5 : YOU SUCK AT OBSERVATION

Roma

I was shocked, embarrassed, at lost of words and every single thing that can make one's face tomato red. I felt like my perception about him crumbling. As if it has fallen off a cliff. My heart was racing at a speed rate of thousand miles per hour. I dragged Tanya towards our first lecture's classroom and cornered her. There was a few minutes of silence meanwhile which I was looking to the ground as if it's the most interesting thing in the world and fidgeting with my fingers. Then she broke the silence and her statement was like shattering of crockery.

TANYA : You intentionally cancelled alarms last night.

I twitched my head to meet her eyes. They were expressionless. For the moment I thought, stabbing a knife right through my heart is easier to bear than her emotionless accuses. They were not false though.

I : Tanya, I am really….(she interrupted)

TANYA : You thought (she air quoted) I am cheating on Advik with Nikhil.

I : Tanya, please let me at-least explain myself. Yes, your accusations are correct and I know what I was thinking was totally wrong and I should have trusted you (I started blabbering).

TANYA : You like Nikhil.

I : NO !! ( I said it as fast as reflex action, which probably seemed obvious because she smirked).

I : Tanya, I am really sorry. I was not expecting Nikhil to show up so late. I mean who could. That filthy player would come to return my assignment was beyond all borders of imagination. He even took out his revengeful act on you just because I turned him down!

TANYA : What!! I didn't get the last part.

I : He intentionally ragged you on the first day because he knew that we are friends and before the first lecture I turned him down while he was flirting with me.

Tanya

I knew it! the out-hall isn't the first place they met. She totally misunderstood Nikhil. I wanted to yell at her about how wrong she is about Nikhil. But I am not sure if it will be correct when she recently presumed that I am cheating on Advik with Nikhil.

I : You should thank Nikhil. (She looked at me as if I said that Elon Musk is bankrupted). Don't look at me like that. Are you gonna be an ungrateful brat now? You and Nikhil have gotten on the wrong foot. We are going to study here for 5 years together, I assumed you were a peacemaker.

ROMA : I am!

I : Then prove it.

ROMA : Ok I will but…( I interrupted)

I : No ifs and buts!

ROMA : Hear me out, will you?? (She revolted this time, so I shushed myself).

ROMA : I will talk it out with that brat, but firstly I want to apologise to you. (She held her earlobes softly like a 5 year old). I made judgements on you and Advik. Which I clearly shouldn't have. I wish for your forgiveness first (she freed her ears). Maybe, you are right. Nikhil and I have deals to do with each other.

Roma

I wanted her to know that I am genuinely embarrassed for my act. Even when she asked to sort things with Nikhil, there was a hint of anger and disappointment in her voice. It's been really few days but I have started endearing her. She is important to me now, so I looked at her expectantly to forgive me.

TANYA : Roma!! You mistake simple and silly things, you presume far earlier, you draw conclusion and then ask for forgiveness like a five years old. (She said it all in between her hysterical laugh)

I : I am not infallible…( I said the most obvious thing)

TANYA : Oh definitely not sweetie. But the worst of them is that you suck at observation.

I : What does that supposed to mean? (I asked with a questioning look).

TANYA : You don't observe, maybe you have never crossed path with situations like this before. It's not your fault, you know. There are two types of people when they adore someone. One is who get too blind like black holes to make out the negatives of their acquaintance. The others are the ones who try to observe every minute detail. Mainly because they are not in relationship yet and are afraid that someone else might try to get lucky meanwhile the process of you figuring your feelings out for someone.

I : Honestly, that's a lot to take in within 1 minute ( I said with rolling dead eyes). But guess what, I am as much interested in knowing as watching adventures of Dora the explorer. [A/N : Dora the explorer is a boring cartoon show but it's a good fit for 1 year toddlers].

She shrugged my sarcasm off and continued.

TANYA : Ok, if you say so. But trust me, you will relate to my words when you realise how much you adore Nikhil (she said it with a wink).

I : Say it once more and CBI will have to get its team to look out for your dead body.

[PROFESSOR AND STUDENTS STARTED FILLING THE ROOM]

Nikhil

After explaining Advik why I went to the girls hostel we started heading for the first lecture of the day. Tanya and Roma were sitting on the other end of the class today. It seemed they have cleared the air. I have such a hard urge to sit next to her right now. I could have easily scooted Tanya, but Advik would tease the crap out of me.

ADVIK : Out of every girl you could have sit next with, you are hallucinating it with someone who loathes you. Society says the truth. Love makes people change.

I : I am not in love with Roma!! I barely know her.

ADVIK : When did I say that you are? See, she has occupied your brain so much that with every comparison I make, you are relating it to her. Someone save my lover boy( he said it looking up as if god is coming out of thin air).

I : Yeah ya, keep talking. I would kill to have the grace of impaired hearing right now ( I know I am having the embarrassed grin on my face. I can't control that when I feel embarrassed and fortunately he says no more as the professor settles in).

As the classes continues one after another like ants after sugar cubes, I saw Roma glancing at me now and then. She is trying to convey something through her eyes. They seem guilty and provoked at the same time. I, for the first time in life am afraid of a woman.

[ THREE HOURS LATER AT CAFETERIA ]

Nikhil

I was sitting in the cafeteria with all the ragging thoughts against Vicky. How I want to strangle him with my bare hands while mentally analysing his deeds even after that incident last year. Something that not even Tanya and Advil know about. Both of them went to the library to get done with some of the side tasks for finishing the new project when a girl of about 5'5 height with dark brown hair, downturned nose and almond shaped eyes approached to me with a smile.

THE GIRL : Hey, my name is Eliana ( she outstretched her hand).

I : Nikhil (I was reaching for her hand while someone shattered a glass bottle of soft drink, right behind me, which honestly startled me).

I turned around to look at the culprit of the noise maker but my whole body froze. It was Roma. There was an evil smirk on her face. I concluded from her expression that she dropped the bottle on purpose. I just didn't understand why? I was confused until she spoke.

ROMA : You are Eliana, right? (She nodded so Roma continued).

ROMA : I am so glad to finally meet you. I have a cousin sister in your year. She is great friends with Vicky. We were talking the other day when I was told that she and Vicky had a lot of fun in the restaurant they went to, the last time. She wants me to experience that place too. I am new in town, so do you know the address of that restaurant?

I was really shocked, startled and every other word in the god damn dictionary that mean the same thing. How does Roma knows this girl? What does Eliana has to do with Vicky? Why is she giving such a big explanation to her just for an address? A million questions were popping in my mind when Eliana started blabbering but her words could still be made out by just two of us.

ELIANA: What!! Vicky went to a restaurant with another girl. How could he? He didn't even tell me about it. Oh gee! He started showing his colours already. Doesn't he understands the meaning of simple word "notoriety" that I have. (She said notoriety as a sense of honour)

ROMA : Yeah, she even told me that Vicky is a really great guy and a true gentleman. (I nearly snorted at that but covered it through cough)

ELIANA : Nice to meet you. Thanks for telling me but no thanks for your poking nose into my business. Keep you mending contributions out of my way. (With that she left)

Roma pushed me to a corner where no one could see us. I might be confused but was clear enough that Roma knows something that I am highly unaware of and could be really important for my upcoming plans.

ROMA : Seems like you don't keep check with your brother's relationship status. Also I might have fed her a made up story just now to keep her at a distance from you (I twitched my head at her to confirm that I heard her correct).

ROMA : Yes, you heard me right (does she know how to read mind?).

I : First of, why did you do that? and secondly, how do you know about that?

ROMA : Oh don't ask! it's a traumatic tragedy that's gonna make your heart sink. (She closed her eyes while answering me with a tiring sigh to create a dramatic impact and then twirl open one to see how I respond to her sarcasm)

Honestly, I wanted to laugh out so loud at her silly childishness that lol would become an underrated expression. But I didn't want to give her the satisfaction that she has the power to change my mood. So I just crossed my arms against my chest and was conveying through my eyes that I want answers.

ROMA : OK ok, stop being an old grumpy uncle.

I : Please, I am probably the hottest guy in our year. I am a cheerful lad to only those who deserve it and aren't ungrateful brats.

I couldn't keep the coldness from my voice. I wasn't dying for a thank you from her but it's not everyday when I drive at so late hours to a girls hostel to return a random girls' assignment. I don't go to the library and sit their for freaking four hours just to make sure every girl is safe. I know she isn't fond of me but a simple gesture won't have killed her. More importantly, she really assumed me to be with Tanya and backstabbing Advik. That low she thinks of me. I know am being a jerk to her but jerk and characterless are two separate terms. Was she really was this clueless about me and Advik being friends? And if she is, who gave her the right to presume her own answers and call them to be correct.

I first felt a jolt of joy when I got to know from Tanya that she was insecure and jealous seeing me with her at night but then again, she never complained before when I came to college with different girl on my bike each day. Neither she asked to clear her doubts like an adult. She just made blind conclusions and I don't know why, but it was making me mad. Since high school there have been 1000s of girls who have been attracted to me and 100s of girls who have felt disgusted about me. I have never given a damn about them. But I don't know why Roma's opinion matters to me. When I am fidgeting with my thoughts in mind, she is looking at me with wide eyes. I am waiting for her to break the silence.