Poetic Sensibility

02- Deductions and Challenges

        To say that the young lady sitting on Samay's right would've been such a surprise package was an understatement. As far as introductions go, she had simply given her name.

"Romi," she had announced, in a voice that was crisp and soft all the same.

        Samay made a mental note as to ask her what was 'Romi' short for. That was all she had said. She didn't launch into a never-ending description of all the qualities that may have been listed in her resume. No one asked anything further about her and she didn't say anything. It was infuriating. The reason she didn't elaborate was why he wished to know more about her. It didn't take him long to figure that she was a woman of few words. A feat in itself, he mused.

        In the same soft tone of hers, she asked if anyone had brought anything to read. Apparently, he was the only one who had turned up without writing anything. He didn't want anyone's 'constructive criticism' as far as his work was concerned. In all likelihood, this woman was going to hear everyone's poems and offer her opinion and go on about how one can improve. A part of him rejected the idea that she would do something like that. Woman of few words, he mentally noted. Now, he simply wanted to hear what she would say.

        One of the girls, Kiara, had written a sonnet that she read. Samay listened attentively, as he would want his poem to be heard. However, he couldn't help himself and glanced at Romi from the corner of his eye. She was listening with rapt attention. That's another point for you, Romi, he thought to himself. Once Kiara had finished, Romi requested for the notebook in which she had written the poem. Okay, here it comes, he thought. The expert will now offer 'friendly advice' or a 'critical feedback.'

"Why the concept of a 'reflection'?" Romi finally looked up from the notebook and looked at Kiara.

Kiara's eyes widened to show a hint of surprise at the question. She recovered in less than a second and supplied the answer, "I suppose it's to show some kind of self-appraisal or self-criticism. Like an introspection."

Romi nodded, "I did think that. I also thought of it in another way. A reflection wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the real, physical being of the man. So, you know, a reflection is incomplete. It's dependent. It's a part of something."

        She had worded exactly what Samay had been thinking in less refined terms. This woman never ceased to surprise him. Everyone took turns to read their composition. She often asked for the poets' interpretation of a word or phrase or an idea and then she would offer her own way of seeing it and understanding it. Finally, she turned to Samay.

"Your turn now," she said, a soft smile playing at her lips.

"I haven't got anything today," Samay replied. "Maybe the next time."

        She simply nodded and turned to address everyone. Samay was taken aback that she had read nothing of her own.

"What about you?" he asked.

She looked at him. Samay saw a flash of ice in her eyes that he would've easily missed if he had blinked. Her lips twitched as she replied, "I have nothing to read either."

        Samay couldn't help but engage her in a battle. Whether it was a battle of wits or will, he didn't know, but he'd be damned if he didn't get something out of her.

"Why not?" he found himself inquiring. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sarah trying to supress a smile. She was clearly enjoying this. Damn her for being right. He was participating in the session... almost.

He saw Romi take a deep breath. Finally, she is going to rant! "For the same reason you don't have a poem for me."

What on earth?! Was she implying--

"You didn't expect today to be like this, did you?" Romi interrupted before he could word his mental outburst. "You had decided already that it was going to be just another poetry reading accompanied by a little bit of feedback here and there."

        Samay wasn't going to admit the fact that it was exactly what he had assumed today would be like. Hell, he had made assumptions about her too.

"Since today has been a pleasant surprise for you," Romi continued, "I hope you will bring something along the next time." She gave him a pointed look and then declared, "maybe I will too."

        The woman was smart, he conceded. She was driving a bargain. He was always difficult about the poems he wrote but he desperately wanted to see hers. She had jumped out of the box he had neatly categorized her into in his mind. What irked him further was that she had put him in a box too, one that he fit into all too easily. Damn her deductions, he silently cursed.

Sarah got up to see Romi to the door. Kabir turned to him and declared, "That was enjoyable."

"You're surprised?" Samay asked.

"Not half as much as you," he grinned.

"I hate women who are right," he replied, much to Kabir's amusement.

"So you will come for the next session?"

"Of course he will," Sarah piped in. "I've never seen him back down from a challenge."

        Damn her for being right, Samay thought and promised himself to bring something to stun Romi. A silent challenge had been issued and he wouldn't back down.