Project: Meera

5. Hanging out

Soon we exchanged numbers and our breaks were filled with intelligent conversation as i figured Meera would talk easily about Chemistry than boys. I was finally settling in but my heart wanted its way back. One evening as I was watching telly my mother came in. In the past few days she had changed. Her hair was immaculately blow dried to perfection and now a honey blonde colour, she wore dresses so prefect that I felt my fashion sense needed major upgrade. Looking at her tube maxi in turquoise blue which highlighted her pretty blow dried curls, I looked down at my VS purple pyjamas and the white crop top. Okay I looked scrunchy! "Nia! How are you now?" her excited tone felt strained and conscious. What was wrong with her or rather what did she think was wrong with me? "Maa I'm okay, but what's going on with you?" I asked back.
I saw my mother go all red with embarrassment, "n-nothing," she tried to answer casually but something was up.

My iPhone lit up with a message Meera was here. "Maa meet my only friend in India Meera," I said as I saw Meera enter the living room. I got up and saw my mother looked a bit shocked, sure Meera looked like a bigger nerd outside her school clothes but I will not let my mother judge the only friend I made. Meera was wearing a chiffon high neck party top with denims two sizes big her specs and tightly braided hair made her look weird.
"Hi Meera! Its nice my daughter has made a friend here or she would have taken me back to Singapore," maa said in a humorous way but I felt embarrassed. "Thanks auntie. I'm here to complete our group project," Meera offered warmly.

"Nia I'm off to Raunak's place so let's finish this quickly," she said while keeping a stack of papers on the table.

Over the week I had heard of Raunak so many times that my curiosity piqued. "When is he coming back?" I asked picking an imaginary lint from my PJs. "He will be back Monday," she replied excitedly.

We started working on our group project which was apparently the three of us. Me, Meera and Raunak because Meera listed him in our group.

After an hour we took a break when maa sent the maid with cold coffee, Pringles and French fries. I munched on the chips and thought of all my previous study sessions usually ended in primping and preening. I decided to try it with Meera God knew she needed this. "Meera I have got this awesome yint which will make your skin glow naturally. Want to try some?," I asked feeling nervous. She looked up from the paper she was writing and replied cool. Great I rushed to get my Kohl, bene tint. On second thoughts grabbed tweezers and my ghd hair straightening iron. 15 minutes later all Meera agreed to was some blush with my tint.

She was scared of the tweezer, the iron might burn her hair and the kohl would hardly be visible behind her spectacles. Maybe she will be a nerd forever. "Maybe next time we can study at mine," meera said with a frown. My father is hardly at home. "And your mother?" I asked straightening my curly bangs to a sleeker style. "She is no more," she replied with tears in her eyes.
I got up and gave her the tightest hug. My father left us and had not bothered to call me but I couldn't imagine him dying ever. However I understood Meera's loss.

Meera got up suddenly ready to leave. "I was supposed to meet Raunak an hour back. See you on Monday," she collected her notes quickly. "Take care see you Monday," I replied softly. Feeling lonely I went to hug my mother. I entered her room and heard her on the phone, "I want alimony and make sure he pays for the mental abuse he has caused."