Her Calling

Hide and Seek

"Are you serious?" Meher was incredulous, "He gave you his notes because you had missed classes?"

"Copy of his notes. Yes."

"Don't you wonder why?"

"I guess he just wants my uncle's money. For whatever charity work he does when he isn't being a visiting professor."

"He knows your uncle? And you seem to know more about him than you let on."

"I don't. He was at the party at home, though. And an introduction was forced upon me."

"Why were you missing classes anyway?"

"Just like that."

"What's going on, Rupali?"

"I wish I knew."

"Poor Rupali! She had gone out to vanquish the haughty professor. But looks like she has been thoroughly conquered herself."

"English please!"

"Good going. I have always maintained that he is an eye-candy."

"Fuck off!"

--

"Good job summarizing the literature on the topic, Ms. Banerjee." Paritosh said while returning her the report she had submitted to him. Rupali discreetly eyed ten on ten he had given to her for the report and her heart did a quick happy somersault. Her other project-mates had also gotten their reports back, but nobody else had scored a ten. When she looked up, she found Paritosh looking at her curiously. She worried if she had given something away in her reaction?

But then he leaned back in his chair and continued the project discussion, "Now that all of you have done your secondary studies, I think it is time to start the actual experiments. And experiments often become more about logistics than psychology. Every detail needs to be planned carefully."

"I... We would do our best, Sir."

"Sit down with your friends then, and make a plan for the experiments, from recruiting the participants, to booking the halls, down to the last detail. We also need to know the expenses that have to be incurred. Your Psychology Research book would have a template for experiment plan. But you can also look around online, specifically on the websites of other people who have conducted similar experiments."

"Yes Sir."

"As the most dedicated of all four, I am designating you the project leader from now on. Are you fine with that?"

"Yes Sir."

"Alright then. Send me you plan by, let's say, Friday?"

"Yes Sir."

She looked back at him before stepping out of the door, "Aren't you going to eat, Prof. Khanna?"

He looked up startled, "Uh... Yeah. I will. I will go a little later though."

Unknown to him, she had been watching him and had noticed that he often missed lunch, or made do with just a puff or a packet of biscuits.

She came back about fifteen minutes later and placed a cellophane wrapped burger on his table.

"Sorry for interrupting," she pretended nonchalance, but he noticed when her hands trembled, "I had bought this for Meher. But she had already eaten. I thought you could use it. You look too busy to go to the canteen."

He looked perplexed; then he reached for his wallet, "That's very thoughtful of you. How much did you pay for it?"

"Please. I had already bought it. I'm not going to accept money for it."

Before he could object, she turned on her heels and left.

Paritosh squinted at the burger for a moment, then unwrapped it and started to eat. He was thoughtful through his unexpected lunch. Although they had started on the wrong footing -- him assuming that she was a spoiled brat, and her assuming that he was a pompous showoff -- things had changed as they got to know each other better. His first surprise had come when he had checked her grades and records. Everything there pointed to her being a sincere student. Then her work in the project had been outstanding and he could not help being impressed. She must also be over her initial prejudice, because she seemed to be taking him and his guidance in the project seriously.

But something bothered him now. The blush that inadvertently crept up on her face, the times when she would stare at him unblinking while he would pretend not to be aware, the quickening of her breath and widening of her eyes if he as much as accidentally brushed against her, all these were becoming difficult to ignore now. It was increasingly difficult to think that it was a harmless crush. What with this transparent alibi to bring him lunch! Had she realized that he counted his pennies and that's why had pretended having bought the burger by mistake to stop him from paying? The idea touched him, infuriated him, and worried him - all at the same time.