Victory of Connecting Hearts

Chapter 3

Avni looked for Raunak outside the college canteen. He was standing some distance away from there, in the corridor, at a side by the wall where no one could disturb him or get disturbed by him. Maneuvering her way through various student bodies she walked up to his side and stood at a respectable distance from him. The thought of how to address him kept swirling in her mind while her hands fidgeted with the strap of her bag in slight nervousness.

She had met him only during some colony functions or family functions where both his and her families were present. She had barely shared a conversation with him ever before besides the formal greetings which included a 'hi', 'hello', or sometimes just a nod of acknowledgment.

He was merely an acquaintance to her.

Being aware of the presence behind him, Raunak turned around facing Avni with a small mechanical smile on his lips. His light brown eyes settled on her, for the first time in attention.

He nodded his head at her and greeted her courteously. "Hi." His manly voice was gentle for the girl standing before him.

Owning a healthy lean and handsome physique Raunak had managed to grab the attention of many student bodies standing in the corridor which involved both males and females. Girls kept ogling at him in awe and admiration while boys, finding him their competitor, were busy bruising their egos by comparing themselves with him.

Raunak looked older for being a college student and his style of dressing confirmed that he was not a college goer. His onlookers wondered if he was a new professor in the college or some other faculty. Much to the boys' relief and girls' disappointment, he was neither of them.

Hearing Raunak offering greetings Avni too replied. "Hi." Her polite tone held uncertainty in it as she tried to fathom the reason behind this very unexpected encounter of hers with him.

Awkwardness lingered in the air when silence fell upon them. Raunak, once again, contemplated on the thought of speaking to her for the reason he was there. Avni waited for him to speak. Her chocolate brown eyes struggled to maintain eye contact with him whilst her hands kept fidgeting with the strap of her bag.

Taking notice of the growing impatience and curiosity on Avni's face, Raunak decided not to stretch the awkward silence surrounding them. Thus, looking expectantly with hopeful eyes he asked her for a favor.

"Can I borrow your scooty for a while?" His tone requesting, which hid the urgency behind it.

Eyebrows furrowed together Avni looked at him slightly puzzled.

"What?" She asked him, confused.

In reality the question meant 'why'. Why did he want her scooty? All of a sudden he came out of nowhere asking her to lend her vehicle to him. Like lending her vehicle to anyone who would come and ask was a usual thing for her. Even if he was an acquaintance how she could let him take her dearest priced possession without any reason or explanation. No. Nothing.

Seeing the look of hesitation on Avni's face, Raunak explained his adverse circumstances to her and how she could help him out in this urgent situation.

"I have a job interview to go to, for which I have applied. I have my bike with me but when I went to parking area, I realised the back tyre was punctured."

"Oh." Avni said in low voice. Realisation dawning at her.

Watching her former expressions change Raunak asked again, "So I need your scooty to reach company in time. Will you help me?" He was internally desperate, wanting her to give the answer in an affirmative. Still he didn't let his desperation show on his face.

The job was important for him to get. Being jobless at a young age of twenty five bought stress to his mind along with self doubts regarding his own abilities. Not to forget the pressure that came from society and family which never failed to remind him that he was a man and needed to earn money to feed his family and take care of their needs. Women could live being jobless because they would have their husbands taking their responsibilities. But men? They couldn't.