Poetic Sensibility

07- Battling Curiosity

        After the Shakespearean session, everyone had agreed that these sessions should be held at least once a week instead of once a fortnight. Therefore, 7 days later, Rishi found himself, just like the last time, seated at Sarah's dining table. He had arrived half an hour early and found himself in the delightful company of his best friend's crush. Just thinking about it made his lips twitch with amusement. If someone had told him about 4 years ago that Kabir would fancy someone, he would've laughed them off. He had never met anyone as straight-laced as Kabir. But then, Kabir met Sarah at a friend's birthday gathering and they had hit it off instantly. Rishi's thoughts came to an abrupt halt as the doorbell rang. Someone had arrived as early as him.

        Sarah got up to open the door and in walked Kiara. Rishi did a double-take. The shy, quiet girl who spoke only when directly spoken to, was dressed in formal clothing, accompanied by a short blazer, and the big, black spectacles which otherwise dominated her face were nowhere to be seen. For the first time, with complete clarity, Rishi could see her light green eyes. He had met very few people who had light coloured irises. In fact, everyone in this poetry group had dark eyes. Except her. Sensing her discomfort as he continued to look at her, he quickly turned back to the notebook in his hands. She looked as if she wanted the earth to swallow her up. Sarah ushered her to her bedroom and then rejoined Rishi. Sarah spoke before he could ask anything about her.

"She's just got here from an interview," Sarah said. That explained her formal clothes.

"Is she always this shy?" Rishi asked.

Sarah looked slightly annoyed at his question, "She doesn't mix easily, no. But she's a wonderful person once you get to know her. She gets really loud when she starts feeling comfortable around you."

Rishi's curiosity only intensified. "I see. How do you know her?"

"She's a distant cousin," Sarah replied. "Her family used to live in this very building but they moved about 3 years ago. We've grown up together." Which explained why she came here. Apart from the writing poetry thing. Sarah must've known about her writing skills and she must have agreed to join because of Sarah's company.

        By this time, Kiara had returned, back in her original avatar. She was dressed in her trademark ankle length jeans and a t-shirt. However, Rishi couldn't let go of the vulnerability he had glimpsed in her eyes when she guessed that it was her Sarah and he were talking about. Wordlessly, she took a seat. Rishi smiled at her and she gave a small one in return. Romi was the next to arrive and Rishi's attention was back to the fact that he was now a little more curious about Shakespeare because of the sonnet they had done in the last session. Had he really found the bard so difficult to understand, he wondered. Romi talked about how Queen Elizabeth served as THE symbol for all the playwrights and poets of the era. Rishi often found himself looking at Kiara as she hung on to Romi's every word. Soon, everyone had arrived and the session began. He wondered what Romi would discuss today.

        This session was, just like a few of their initial ones, about reading their respective poetry and answering questions about it. He found himself listening intently when it was Kiara's turn. Rishi realized that if he wanted an insight into her thoughts and behaviour, her poetry was the only option he had.

"I am sorry," she said, in the softest voice imaginable, "I haven't been able to write a poem for today."

        Romi assured her that it was quite alright and moved on the others. Rishi fought the disappointment rising inside him. He then wondered where this was coming from. Since when did he want to dig deeper when it came to people? He did not delve into what motivated and drove other people to action because he didn't wish to involve himself into any kind of drama. He had practically zero tolerance for histrionics. He was conscious of the battle raging inside him. One part was curious about everything, and today, it was curious about Kiara and the other wanted to smother that curiosity. He already knew which side was winning. As the session ended, everyone left. Kiara had gone back to Sarah's room to fetch her interview attire. Rishi waited for her to emerge from the bedroom and helped Sarah clear the table.

"So, how did the interview go?" he asked Kiara as soon as she was out. Rishi could see the struggle to find an answer etched on her face.

"I'm not sure," she said, for the lack of a better answer.

"What was the interview for?" he asked.

"It was for the post of a content writer," she replied, mechanically. Rishi desperately wanted her to elaborate and he almost punched the air when she did, "It's a design company that makes websites, brochures, prospectus' and those kind of things. They were looking for a content writer."

"Is that why you couldn't write the poem? Because you were preparing for the interview?" Sarah asked her. Kiara nodded. 

        Rishi found himself imagining the expression on her face when she was being interviewed by complete strangers. She would appear as if she had been thrown to the wolves. Without even bothering to think about it, Rishi found himself offering to help her with the interview prep. To say that Kiara looked astounded would be an understatement.

Sarah, however, being Sarah, answered for her, "Oh, that'll be great!"

        Trying her best to hide her mortification, Kiara mumbled a "Thanks" and Rishi scheduled a date and time to help her. She had offered to do it at her home. Rishi thought about how she would think it was a safe territory. Only once he was walking towards his apartment did he question his reasons behind his offer. Yes, he wanted to help. But he also had that burning curiosity to find out why she looked at him and at everyone, except Sarah, as if they were going to tear her to tiny pieces. Why did he want to help some introverted person he had met less than 2 months ago? That was Kabir's forte. And where was all this new found curiosity coming from? Rishi needed some answers. And he wanted them now.