A Young Love Story...

Part 3 - Attraction and Sparks...

The third day of celebrations was Balloon Day. On this day, generally people exchanged heart-shaped balloons and expressed their love or attraction for their special someone. 

Ananya was waiting in anticipation, as to what would Vishesh turn up with today. Just as she entered college, she looked around. But, to her disappointment, she did not find Vishesh. She was a little sad, and was walking towards the class. She entered the class and looked around for Vishesh. She didn't find him. She thought he may come late. She was wearing a sleek black top, and a white jeans. She had let her hair loose. Suddenly, she felt someone tugging at her hair from behind. She simply pulled her hair, with her hand, in the front. Again, after a few minutes, she felt her hair being pulled. She looked behind. She was surprised to see Vishesh. "Vishesh, you? When did you...?" He put a finger on his lips to signal her to be quiet. She kept quiet, then she looked back again. Vishesh was writing something. She thought he was busy taking down notes, so she wouldn't disturb him now. She decided to talk later. 

Just then, Vishesh tapped her shoulder and gave her a chit... "Did you miss seeing me at the entrance?" She blushed internally, but did not show it on her face. She wrote on the note, "High hopes.." and smiled. 

After a moment, he gave another note to her, "Oh.. really? I was standing here in the passage and observing.. Your face looked sad.. You walked into the campus... and then looked left and right.. and then a sad face.. And you walked in to class.. So, don't lie... Okay?"

She was taken aback.. She felt as if she had been caught red-handed. She blushed. She scribbled behind the note.. "Ooops.. I can't lie... Yes I was expecting to see you there.. But that's all... Nothing more. Okay?"

"I didn't say anything else, Anu!" he passed another chit to her.. She read and re-read it.. she smiled. She scribbled behind that note... "Anu...! I like it... :)Thank you for this new name, Vishu" she gave it back to him. 

Vishesh smiled at the note.. "Ahh...Vishu... Too much love in it.. Thank you Dearest Anu for this love filled addressing... I am touched... XX", he was trying hard to flirt and was searching Ananya's face constantly for her expressions. 

She scribbled behind the note, "Ohhh... no love and all that.. But I like Vishu better than Vishesh.. that's all... Dearest Vishu.. Haha.. And no XX okay? Hugs, so soon? No way! Patience!" and she giggled aloud. 

"Ohh you are refusing hugs...? Who does that? That's rude... I was thinking of XOXO and you are refusing XX itself? Looks like I have a tough road ahead... Me, sad!" he wrote and placed in her hand again. 

"XOXO? My my... you are fast... Okay lets go ahead with the XX, hugs are okay... at least on paper... But absolutely no XOXO, not even on paper okay?" she turned and gave a serious look, and gave him the chit. 

"Okay baba! Only hugs, no kisses.. Hugs also only on paper! You are so innocent man!" he wrote on the paper, and whispered, "Hug in person, consider?" 

She turned behind and said, "No ways!" and suddenly thought in her mind, what was wrong with Vishesh. 

The class got over, and Ananya was kind of disturbed. She did not turn to look at Vishesh, nor did she wave at him. She walked straight out of the class. She had reached the exit gate, when suddenly Vishesh came running, calling her out loudly. She stopped, but did not turn. "Hey, no bye? What happened? You got angry?" he asked. 

"Vishesh, I belong to a simple family. I have some rules to follow. And I have some beliefs. I thought of you as a friend. I don't know what you are thinking, but I didn't like what you said." she said simply. 

"Oh my God.. What is wrong with you? Don't friends hug? I didn't suggest anything else dear!" he was trying to reason. 

"May be friends hug too. But a girl cannot hug a guy just like a friend. Not in my thoughts. May be I am too backward. Sorry! Please let this matter be. I don't want to talk anymore." she said and quickly walked away. Vishesh was sad and angry at himself. 

He pulled out a pink balloon he had got for her, from his pocket. He hadn't blown it yet. He put it back into his pocket. He was sad. He went home, depressed.