Haunted By Unknown

35. a small gift

August 16th, 1990

I saw him again...This time in my class! Vinnu hated jayanti madam and never listened to her classes. Even she disturbs me from listening to the class. So this day too I was disturbed from listening. To avoid vinnu scratching my arm which irritates me, I looked around and spotted the boy. Vinnu was lying on the table so she did not notice him.

I turned my gaze away but could not stop smiling. Jayanti madam always teaches us by writing continuously on the board ignoring the flying rockets among the boys or the yarning people imtended to disturb others. So without any shame I looked again who was smiling at me this time.

I averted my gaze but my eyes still turned at his. His genuine smile attracted me. His friend pulled him, waved his hand in front of his face but the boy pushed him enjoying to look at me. I turned again acting as if I'm listening to the class but my eyes betrayed me and turned at him. He did not disappoint my eyes which clashed with his twinkling eyes. It was the only moments I remember from all the day. I think he's going to come in my dream again...

August 19th, 1990

I heard my parents speaking with vinnu's father. They all wanted me to marry vinnu's brother but my heart rejected it. I don't know why I was angry but I did not like imagining to marry suresh. He is a good person but I can't share my life with him.

As I was thinking about the marriage, suresh came in with his friend. I barely saw them as I was struggling to remove the thoughts of marrying vinnu's brother from my mind.

"Nandana?" He called me pulling out of my trans state. I looked at him not understanding why he is speaking with me.

"Where is my sister?"  He asked.

"She's getting ready" I said and turned my gaze. Today is vinnu's birthday. So she is wearing a saree I bought few days back as her present. I thought of helping her but she said she's a big girl and can do her things. I felt weird but left it there.

The men sat next to me. Not exactly beside me in same sofa but sat in chairs. They glanced once a while scaring me. Both of them wanted to speak something but held back as I was there. I know it is uncomfortable for them too but I don't like going to kitchen now as my mother is in kitchen and if I go she will ask to serve them drinks. It would be like they came to see me. So I did not move even though I was equally uncomfortable as them.

"Look at me!" Vinnu said coming out of her room. She is clearly ectasic that she missed a stranger sitting in the hall. So I stood to prevent the embarrassment.

"Vinnu, you are missing something"  I said gesturing her about the guest. She looked at him confused and then realised she has a guest in her house. She ran into her room immediately. I took an excuse and went to her room. She was clutching her chest as if she had a heart attack. Of course I too had a mini heart attack by her sudden appearance.

"You have scared me girl"  I said sitting on the bed.

"Me too" she said and sat next to me. We talked for half an hour and her brother knocked the door. We were asked to join the lunch. So we came out and joined with the adults and the guest. Suresh spoke a lot with his friend who happily talked to his friend. But I noticed the shyness in Vinnu for first time. She is the one who talks a lot so watching her calm the entire hour shocked me.

After the lunch the guest said he has to leave since his mother will be alone. But suresh insisted on introducing him to us...personally. He accepted his friend's request and  stood in front of us.