IT WASN'T THAT SIMPLE

CHAPTER THREE

Punit was indeed ready for that interview. It was tougher than the previous one but that time he didn't mess it up. He couldn't answer one of the questions but he didn't try anything fancy to cover it up. He learned from his mistakes and kept his answers simple and to the point and that worked for him. After that night, he wasn't technically jobless anymore.

Once the placement wave subsided, days started to pass thick and fast. Most of the students had a job offer in their hand and didn't bother to attend lectures while those without jobs were desperately seeking for one and attending lectures were least of their priorities.

The preparation leave was just of two weeks which was followed by external viva. Post the vivas, time flew in a flash. Soon the written exams started and in no time, the final year students were at the night before their last exam. It was different. Though study remained the first priority but their minds were also dealing with the bitter truth that the next day would be the last day of their college life. It was hard for them to calmly wrap their minds around the fact that after one more day, their college was going to be a thing of past.

Things were no different for the trio. Ayesha was in tears and had already called them twice to tell them how much she would miss them. Sid and Punit were trying their best to keep their emotions aside and prepare for the next day's exam. Amidst their preparation, they decided to take a break and smoke at their favourite place, the roof top. The roof of the hostel was the best seat in the house. Doesn't matter whether you want to smoke, breathe in fresh air or enjoy a picturesque view of the city, roof top was the place to be. Officially, students weren't allowed to go there but if someone was willing to bribe the sweeper hundred rupees a month, he could accompany him to the top twice a day. Almost everybody was willing to bribe him but the offer was restricted only to the final year students since they were the occupants of the top floor.

Both Sid and Punit took a special liking for that place. They adored the experience of smoking a cigarette there but wasn't content with only twice a day opportunity. They wanted more of it and that too at will. So, Sid took action. One day, when the sweeper wasn't there in his room, he sneaked in, stole the key from his cupboard, made a duplicate version of it and kept it back. The key was missing from its place for approximately an hour and throughout the entire time Punit had his heart in his mouth. In fact, when Sid tiptoed into the sweeper's den, it was so abrupt and shocking for him that he scuttled towards the opposite direction.

"Man, I would miss this." Voiced Punit as he passed the cigarette to Sid.

"I am sure cigarette is available almost everywhere." chuckled Sid.

"This isn't a joke. This might be the last time that we are hanging out here. These rooftop conversations, I, you and Ayesha bunking lectures and hanging out together, all ends tomorrow."

After blowing a ring of smoke, Sid voiced, "Nothing's going to change. We might not be hanging out on this rooftop but definitely on some other rooftop. We might not bunk lectures anymore but we would definitely skip office to catch up with each other."

"No. You are wrong. Things will change." He pointed towards girl's hostel and continued, "See, right now, that's where Ayesha lives. I can literally walk for five minutes and meet her. But after tomorrow, she will be in Mumbai and I will be back in Chandigarh. You still think that the distance between us will just remain as five minutes?"

Sid looked at him for some time and said, "You are worried that you will miss the sex. Aren't you?"

He looked caught and dumbfounded but in his defence he voiced, "That's not the only thing. I will miss you and Ayesha too and you know it."

Sid didn't counter him that time. He knew that Punit was right. They were going to miss each other's company, especially Sid because Punit and Ayeha were closest he ever got to having a family.