The Perfect Photo

Chapter 2

Yesterday(Friday) morning.

My college campus was packed with excitement filled new faces. Two high volume speakers were blasting music, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. There was a stage setup right in the middle of the campus with game shows being conducted. It was our annual cultural day today, and students from all over have flocked the campus. Some were there to participate in the various competitions held over the course of the day while some were just wanting to be a part of the experience. The scene was euphoric and vividly colorful.

I was screaming at the top of my voice. I wasn't enjoying myself like most of the other students. I was a part of the organizing committee, and my job was to make sure things went smoothly. The other girls were dressed up and were roaming around flaunting their style to get noticed by some cute guy from a different college. But I have been running around answering queries and attending to people all morning.

I was pretty well dressed for the occasion, though. Neha took up that responsibility and made sure that I was. She was also a part of the committee, less out of interest and more from a duty towards her roommate. "That's what best friends do for each other.", I blackmailed her into joining. She was wearing a gorgeous white kurti with streaks of red here and there, which made her look like she had just come back from a Holi splash. Her makeup was unerring, and her accessories were matching her attire. There wasn't a single thing out of place. I was also wearing ethnic. I wore a blue salwar kameez which many might call outrageous for me as I am usually seen dressed in a worn out jean and a faded top.

I had to bribe Neha to agree to be with me the whole day. I had somehow felt more approachable when I was with her. We were mostly at the helpdesk across the stage. "Harsha, cute guy alert!!", Neha would say now and then, "11'o clock, black t-shirt", she said then. I would silently check the guy out and wink back at her. She made sure I had a bit of fun, and I did not complain.

"Why don't you go talk to someone out there?", she asked after finding me not doing anything else other than checking out guys.

"Now? Not possible. Loads of work to complete. Maybe after I get some time", I replied. The work expected of me was done a long time back.

"No one will be there then. It's now, or my effort in dressing you up will end up going to waste.", said Neha as she got up and left to use the washroom.

I am not that shy to not be able to approach a guy. It is just that whenever I find someone cute and try to talk, I would find him unquestionably dumb. His hotness level drops to sub-zero instantly. Sometimes I've wondered if all handsome guys were stupid or if I was cursed. Hence I try to refrain from talking to the guys whom I find nice and instead picture in my mind that he would be intellectual as well. I considered myself to be what people nowadays called sapiosexual. If I don't find the guy to be smart, then no matter how cute he is, he would not appeal to me. Some of my girls have always said that I should relax my rules so that my chances of moving away from singledom increases at least a little. Neha has been the only one who has always agreed with me on this matter, which is maybe why she is my closest friend here. We preferred better off to being the Queens of singles-town rather than being the Lords of Dumbsville.

I was sitting there counting the number of visitors that day when I heard someone behind me.

"Hi.", said a voice.

I was startled all of a sudden. I stood up and turned suddenly that my legs got entangled between chairs. I lost my balance a little. A firm grip held my arm. I did not need the support, but I held back. I looked up and saw this guy in blue jeans and white shirt holding me.

"Sorry if I have alarmed you. I did not mean to scare you from behind", the guy said slowly releasing his grip on my arm. I kept holding on unable to come up with a reply. I finally realized and let my grip of his arm feeling a bit awkward.

"I didn't know my way around. Is there a place where I can get some fresh juice?", He asked.

I knew every nook and corner of this campus, but suddenly I could not gather my thoughts to give him directions to the juice shop. I wanted some help, but Neha was not there beside me when I needed her the most. I should have looked like a retard to him.

"Or maybe if you are free you can take me there. You look so tired yourself, and I'd say that a juice break can help", he said.

"Yup..", I replied, almost instantly. I had struggled to answer anything till then, and I agree to this immediately? I didn't know how desperate I looked to him. I needed to say something normal.

"So how do we go?", he asked after finding me rooted to my spot, deep in my thoughts.

"This way.", I said stepping out the desk area. The cultural was not a total flop for me after all, I thought. I did manage to talk to a guy, even better that the guy came up and spoke to me. I was walking in front, and I hadn't checked him out properly. I turned back. He was tall, lean build with a chiseled jawline. His shirt was a little loose for him, but I could somehow tell that he had a lean muscle mass under that.

"I'm Harsha. I didn't get your name.", I said after a long pause. I didn't know I was discreet.

"Yeah, I never mentioned that. Pritam", he said extending his hand. I shook his hand. There was something special in his grip. My hands felt lucky to be held for the second time that day.