Those enchanted four and half years

Chapter 11

The trip gave us fodder for discussions and gossip for the next few days. Every night we would go to somebody's room to see the photographs. I, Sufee and Nayana spent one evening writing funny captions on our photographs in the album. The hot topic of discussion was Avinash – Shabana proposal. Those who had not come for the trip regretted as they had missed out this event. Avinash and Shabana became the most happening couple of our college. Shabana started living in a different world. She would go on dates with him, go on long rides on his bike, go to watch movies with him. And whenever she would return, we all would attack her with hundred's of questions; 'How was your date?', 'What did you do?', 'What did Avinash say?', 'Did he kiss you?'

One evening, as I and sufee were standing outside SP, waiting for Nayana and Sneha, a bike came and stood beside us. As I turned to look around, I saw Amey getting off his bike.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," I managed, finding my voice.

"How are you?" he smiled.

"Fine," I said.

Why couldn't I keep conversation going on with him?Where had my voice gone?

"College's over?" he asked.

"Yes, we were waiting for some friends to come, for having tea in SP before going home," I said.

"Would you like to have tea with me?"

Have I heard right? I looked at Sufee. Her expressions were unfathomable. She nodded.

"Okay," I said, "let's go." I turned toward SP.

"Not here," he said.

I looked at him, puzzled.

"I will take you to my favourite place. The tea they serve is terrific." He said.

I again looked at Sufee. Again her expressions were unfathomable. She nodded again.

"Fine," I said.

I could feel butterflies flying in my stomach. As I climbed on the bike to sit behind him, I kept feeling very awkward. I felt very conscious, as if all eyes around were glued onto us. I managed to sit with difficulty, preventing myself from falling backwards, at the same time taking care not to touch him.

Amey took me to 'Tea-house' on Tagore road. I had seen this place many times, but had never been there. We sat on a table for two. I took the menu card in my hand. They served more than 20 types of various teas. Amey didn't bother with the menucard. "Two special masala tea," he ordered. I looked at Amey. As always today also he was looking very handsome in a red and black checked shirt and jet black trousers. His hair played on his forehead. I suddenly looked away as I realized I was very obviously staring at him.

"Have you ever been here?" he asked me. He seemed to ignore my stare...or was he too staring at me??

"I have seen this place but never been here before," I said.

"I am a complete tea lover" he said, "that's why I like this place. I keep on trying various teas here."

"I love tea and coffee both," I said.

"Okay, but the coffee here is not that good. The best tea here is ginger tea, and it tastes best in winter season."

"Okay," I said.

Why were we discussing the merits and demerits of this teahouse? I was least interested in them.

"So how was your trip?" Amey changed the topic.

Our tea arrived. I took a sip. It was truly terrific.

"Our trip was fun. Mahabaleshwar is beautiful," I said.

"Yes, I have been there when I was a kid," Amey said.

"Where had you been to for a trip in first year?" I asked him.

"We had been to Goa," he said.

"Wow!" I remarked, "Must have been fun."

"Yes, great fun," Amey said and smiled. That smile which could take any girls breath away. We silently sipped our respective teas for sometime.

"Hey, I heard Avinash proposed to some girl in your trip?"Amey asked.

"Yes...while playing 'truth and dare', he was given this dare to propose to the girl of his dreams...and he did it. We were all taken by surprise." I said.

"What did you opt for? Amey asked. If he knew about Avinash and Shabana, he would have known about what I had said, I thought. He was purposefully feigning ignorance. I will also play along, I thought. "Truth," I replied.

"What truth?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"Ask your friends," I said, smiling.

He smiled back. "I should know, right?" he said, looking me straight in the eyes. I couldn't hold his eye contact. I looked down. The butterflies in my stomach were flying helter skelter.

Seeing my discomfort and embarrassment, Amey changed the topic.

"Hey, did I tell you, I went to Nene uncle's house the other day?"

I looked up. "You found it right?"

"Inspite of the perfect directions given by you, I got lost. Some pedestrians guided me."

I smiled.

"I am really weak at finding places," he said, "There is some short circuit in the area for understanding directions and landmarks in my brain."

"That's odd," I said, "I heard you are a genius."

"Do you know there's a very thin line between being genius and being neurotic?"

We both laughed. The waiter brought the bill.

"When can we meet again?" he asked me as we went back to where his bike was parked.

"Anytime," I said.

"Shall we go for a movie sometime?" he asked.

I looked up at him. Was this really happening or was it one of my dreams?

"Hey, where are you lost?" I came back to my senses on hearing his voice. "Oh...yes..we shall go sometime," I said. "I will take a bus from here".

"I will drop you," he offered.

"No thanks," I said, smiling.

"So we will meet soon?" he asked.

"Soon," I replied as I almost ran towards the bus stop before he could see my blushed face.

Sufee couldn't wait for the next day to dawn to hear from me. She called me that night.

"So how was your date?" she asked excitedly.

"Good," I said.

"Did he say something?" she asked, enthusiastic.

"Yes," I replied.

"What?"

"That he likes tea very much."

"Come on, what else?"

"That he had been to Goa in first year," I said.

"And??"

"That we should go for a movie sometime."

"Oh..ho! my my! I had never thought you would be going around so soon! Congrats!"

"I had no idea either, I was taken by surprise too," I said.

"You happy?" she asked, seriously.

"Yes."

"Then that's what matters. I can't wait till I tell Sneha and Nayana."

Was Amey really the guy of my dreams? Was he really my soulmate? Did he really love me? Did I really understand what feelings he evoked in me? So many questions to be answered.. only time would tell answers to all these questions.