CALL IT LOVE

FRESHMAN

Today is the first day of classes at college. I didn't sign up for the college hostel because they wouldn't let us in late at night. I want to enjoy the city that has been named the safest in the country for women. I rented a house that was quite far from my college. It's a 15-minute drive to college in the morning and a 90-minute drive home in the evening. The traffic is congested. Even though it is not widely known, I enjoy the local street food. I came here last week and set up my house beautifully. I stocked my pantry and refrigerator with fresh vegetables and all of my favourite snacks.

Back to the present, I am very excited for my first day of college. In college, I resolved to develop my own personal style. I've decided on a jean outfit with a closed neck top and a layered necklace as my go-to look. And I'm going to wear all of my denim jackets on a regular basis because I don't want the professors to give me the "who is this slut" look.

I am wearing my new plain black high waist jean with a plain black turtle neck full Hand shirt on the first day. I am not feeling like accessorizing. I applied my favorite bold liner, which took me 20 minutes and a lot of cotton pads to make both eyes look the same. I applied mascara and my baby pink tinted lip balm. I tied my hair resembling Bella Hadid' s iconic bun. I chose hoops for the earrings. I am completely prepared for the first day!

I drive to college in my car. I never use air conditioning in the mornings because the air in Coimbatore is so fresh. The water, too. It's the best water I've ever had. Cleaning myself in the water makes me feel so good. I had nightmares about hair-fall because of the change in water, but my hairball has significantly decreased.

I have now arrived at the college and parked my car. A black Audi A4 is parked next to mine. When I got out of my car, a person who was far too tall got out of that car as well.

The black Audi was parked on the right, next to my red Volkswagen Polo. He steps out of the car and returns his gaze. That is where I am right now. For a brief moment, he is unable to move. I am as well. I then abruptly lower my head. I return my gaze to him and smiled slightly. He, too, returned the smile.

"Arjun", he said.

"Tara, freshman."

"Fresher? That's fantastic. Allow me to take you to the amphitheater ."

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. He does not appear to be a freshman based on his appearance. We're both dressed in the same outfits. He's dressed in a black formal pant and a black shirt. We are not dressed identically. Nonetheless, it is black. The amphitheater is a five-minute walk from the parking lot. I'm seeing a lot of seniors ragging on the freshmen. But no one raggs me, and they don't even look at me. Nearby is 6 ft tall, making me look like a small child next to him. He was the one who broke the ice.

"What are your subject?"

"I chose English, psychology and political science"

"Seriously?"

"What, is it a bad elective?"

"No, never. You are most welcomed to contact me for any doubts. "

"Wait, so you have chose the same elective?"

"Yes!"

I could clearly see an excitement in his face. I don't want to disappoint him. So I play along.

"Wow. That's great then."

He then suddenly asks me for my phone. I have no idea. I just hand it over to him. He asks for the password and I put my fingerprint. He then goes to contacts and adds his number with the name Arjun.

"That was smooth"

What the heck. My mind voice just came out loud. He smirks. We have now reached the amphitheater. I guess it's time for him to leave for the preparations.

"After the program, cafeteria, 100 meters behind this amphitheater"

He leaves backstage and he never asks me if i wanted to go there.

Everything was ready for the show. A senior with a black veshti, a black shirt, and a black cooler walks up to the stage and shouts:

"WELCOME TO THE FAMILY FRESHERSSSS"

As a response, the entire crowd erupts in applause. That's when I noticed that everyone is dressed ethnically or traditionally, and I'm in the middle of the crowd wearing ripped jeans. I guess I'll get the professors' "who is this slut" look on day one. Wonderful.

I focus my attention on the man on stage, who turns out to be Arjun. His gaze is on me the majority of the time, despite the fact that there are a lot of beautiful girls in the crowd. The program begins with a prayer, then moves on to the seniors dancing and singing before concluding with the show. While everyone else was dressed in light colors, I was dressed entirely in black. I could easily spot Arjun, who was 6"3, at one end of the crowd.

He sends me a big wave as a signal. I predicted that I would go to him. As a result, I go to him. In the background, there is music playing because of which we couldn't hear each other. I am surprised by how crowded the area where we are is. So he grabs my hand and leads me away from the crowd.

He said that the cafeteria is just behind Amphitheater but it takes us a 10 minute walk to reach there. He is on a phone call with his friend.

"Machaa, na oru mukkiyama velaiyaa iruken. Vandhuren. Just 5 minutes"

(Mate, I'm busy on an important work. I'll be there in 5 minutes)

All I have learnt from this conversation is that he will go after 5 minutes. We have finally reached the cafeteria. He orders for two iced coffee and comes to the table where I am sitting.

"What did you order Arjun?"

"The infamous iced coffee"

"It contains milk huh? I am lactose intolerant.  I am going to throw up now."

"OH god"

"Shiva anna, ice coffee la paal venaaamm" he shouted. 

(Shiva brother, don't add milk in the iced coffee)

The whole cafeteria could hear his voice which is very masculine. It is not like that of a robot. It is soothing, pacifying that want to hear all day. When he informed shiva anna, my phone pinged. It is Vishnu. 

"How's it going so far?"

I read his message from the notification bar and decided to reply him later. Arjun sees me bending down to my phone.

"Oh my god. Tara I am so sorry. I never asked your permission to take you here. I did not mean to cross limits with you"

Shiva anna brings our iced coffees. The two minutes of drinking coffee is deadly silent. I drank mine first. He looks at me dead in the eyes. I don't know what to do. So I smile. He smiled back.