CALL IT LOVE

TANVI

My classroom, located on the fifth floor of the building, is a minute's walk away from the cafeteria. Half of the floor is a classroom, and the other half is an open verandah, which I learned the day before yesterday was a popular hangout for couples after college hours. Arjun dropped me off at the classroom door. The classroom is enormous, with long tables and benches divided in the middle to allow for walking. I immediately proceed to the last bench.

A girl is sitting next to me. I have an instant connection with her. She's dressed in a black satin saree and a sleeveless blouse. She wears a lovely bindi on her forehead. She is wearing oxidised earrings and a heavy neckpiece. She wore a bold red lipstick that complemented her whitish skin tone and elegant black saree. She was curvy, unlike me.

"Hi, I'm Tara"

She smiled "Hi, I'm Tanvi"

I smiled back.

"Hey, do you mind coming with me to the restroom?"

"Ah, just come with me"

She takes her bag with us. I think she's got her periods. Periods on the first day of college is miserable. We come out of our class. I see Arjun standing there with his boy gang. Seeing me, he comes to us and speaks to me.

"Where are you headed to? The professor's gonna come now."

I did not like being controlled by him for every of my move. "To the restroom. Mind joining us?" I asked him with my favourite chauvinistic expression. He makes a deadpan expression and says, "that way," pointing to the left end.

Tanvi and I make our way to the restroom. "I'll be quick," she says as she hands me her bag. I was expecting her to pull out a pad. Instead, she wore a faded blue high waisted jean and a baby pink hoodie. She enters, quickly changes, and stuffs her saree in the back. She pulls a small box from the front zip, removes her earrings, and places them in it along with a few safety pins she used to secure her saree. She then wears a pair of hoops for her ears, removes her lipstick with wipes, and discards it. She then pulled her long, loose hair up into a high ponytail. This entire transition took her only five minutes. I'm standing there like a statue, clutching her bag.

We then return to our class. The professor is not here. Arjun was nowhere to be found as we made our way back to class. After that, we exchanged phone numbers. The classes are satisfactory. So far, all of the teachers have been pleasant and helpful.

It is 1 p.m., and we are on our lunch break. Tanvi says she needs to get something for lunch. So we make our way to the cafeteria. We are seated at a four-person table. She requests a plate of chole bature. I brought my lunchbox to class with me. I brought some pulao with paneer tikka and a small box of green chutney with onion slices.

"You cook, Tara?"

"Yes, why not?"

"So Ms. Tara is gonna have chole bature for lunch"

She takes my box and begins to eat. I'm filled with joy just looking at her, at the contentment on her face. I can see Arjun in my peripheral vision as I admire Tanvi. She is seated opposite to me. Arjun arrives and sits next to me.

"How can i pay back? Shall I take you out in the evening?"

"That's really great of you mister. But i would sleep on my couch rather than going out with you. Thank you!" I'm so irritated with him. He stands up.

"Oh that would be lovely, my lady." he then goes away.

I'm still perplexed as to why I'm upset with him. He asked where I was going, and now I'm irritated. I'm a terrible mess. I'd have to apologize. 

We return to our classroom after lunch. Arjun has vanished. By 5 p.m., the classes are finished. I went to Tanvi's dorm and stayed for an hour, talking a lot to her. She also discussed her previous experiences.I leave at 6:15 p.m. When I arrived at the parking lot, the black Audi was still there. My wiper was tucked with a piece of paper."Hello, Tara. I'd like for us to be friends. I'm the overly cautious type, and you're my type! I am deeply sorry if any of my actions have caused you harm. I wish I could apologise. Please meet me in the cafeteria. I'll wait until 6." It's 6:15 now. I should really hurry to the cafeteria as it is my responsibility to apologise.

I'm heading to the cafeteria. I'm moving quickly. My mind is racing with ideas about how to apologise, and I've lost count of time. I come to a halt at an unknown location. A group of guys are hanging out in the small garden next to me. I approach them and ask for directions to the cafeteria.

"Hey, could you point me in the direction of the sociology group's cafe?"

A guy with a small beard and a perfect moustache emerges from the crowd. "Aight, come with me.""I- It- it's great if you just tell me where to go," I stammer."I'm not going to kidnap you." He laughs. He is quite endearing.

So, we leave for the cafeteria. 

On our way, we meet Arjun.