Dreams Aren't Real

Chapter 4

21st August '14 

"Bhaiya, that's my seat," said some girl pointing at my seat. I looked up to check, and I couldn't believe my eyes. That was Radhika. She looked even prettier this time wearing a blue salwar-kameez. The creases of her kameez perfectly lined her curves and the white dupatta along the deep neck served as the icing on the cake. 

"What's your seat number?" I asked as soon as I gained my consciousness.  

"The one on which you're sitting." She said in a flat tone. This could've enraged anyone but me. I found it rather cute.  

"It's my seat," I said showing her my ticket. 

"Yours is 21, and mine's 20. Even seats are window seats. Now get off it." She demanded in the same flat tone. Even though my ticket said window seat was mine, I took the aisle one without taking this conversation further. At least, I was near her and that was my consolation. 

I had taken a Volvo bus to Dehradun, as did everyone else in the bus. My parents weren't accompanying me as they had a lot of work to do. It appeared that Radhika too, was alone. The entire bus was filled with people going to my college, accompanied with their parents. The guy whom I had met in the counselling was sitting right in front of me with his dad; then there was a girl I had talked to on the Facebook page of the college, on my right; and then there were plenty of others wearing the college cap they got on the counselling day. Well then I realized there was Radhika sitting beside me whom I hadn't spoken a word ever since the 'seat conversation.' 

"Hi. I'm Arihant." I said extending my arm for a handshake. 

"Radhika," she said shaking hands half-heartedly. Then she immediately started looking for something in her yellow bag with red polka dots, which had a black button on every polka dot. What a waste of money, craftsmanship, and buttons, I wondered. 

Though we didn't have any other conversation in the entire journey as she had her big Skullcandy headphones on, and I preferred to sleep, we sure did touch each other a few times, as the bus shook. She had a certain vibe in her touch, it seemed electric. This was the first time I hadn't cursed the driver for rash-driving.  

As we reached Dehradun at three, I couldn't get any cheap transportation to my hostel. There were only a few autos, and they were charging an astounding sum of 500 bucks to drop me to the hostel. It was then that I bumped into Radhika again. She looked even cuter while she was bargaining.  

"What's wrong with you?" She screamed. 

I said "I'm sorry. Couldn't see you because of these rats. I mean they're charging 500 bucks for thirteen kilometers. I could've walked that distance if I didn't have so many bags." 

"Where are you going, by the way?" She asked, and I was eagerly waiting for that question. 

"I'm going to ICE campus, and you?" I asked, though I knew the answer. 

"Are you in ICE? Why didn't you tell me already? Let's share the auto." I was about to say so, but this was even better. 

"Yeah, sure." And I, like a gentleman, gestured her to get in first. I learnt this from "simple ways to impress a girl" on 9gag.  

I hopped in after her, ensuring all our belongings were safe in the carrier. I felt like the luckiest person on earth. I felt good as people around me were staring at her, and then at me with envy. The auto driver, like the bus driver drove the auto as if it was his last drive. Though at three in the morning when there was no one on the roads we could hardly feel it, the speed breakers made all three of us jump on our seats. My head banged twice against the roof. Radhika, looking at my state, demanded him to slow down, or it was because even she wasn't comfortable with such a speed. Whatever it was, I liked it. I liked her. She made me forget her.