Backstory of Tapasya Oberoi

4. Friends

It was Monday, a day to start new. There is excitement in senior high school students to join college and study their favorite subject as major. But for Tapasya it was hell in middle of some crowd.

The driver left her at the front gate of prestigious university of the country, which either very rich children can afford or you are on a scholarship. The premises was large and lush green, divided into total ten blocks for different departments like for management, arts, engineering etc. the pharmaceutical building was around the corner, totally out of the sight. It had distinct pungent smell of different chemicals.

Reaching before time, not wanting to be late on very first day, she entered the classroom on the first floor. There were already three students seated and talking about something, occupying the second last bench in the center. They, one girl and two boys, greeted her with a smile and motioned her to seat with them, which she declined. Tapasya have social anxiety and it was not easy for her to make friends, nor she was looking for. If she had the option she would never set a foot outside her room but Mr. Oberoi urge her to open up as she has to look after his whole business one day.

She chose a seat in the corner at second row. It will be a safe place. She could hear whatever professor will rant and yet remain out of attention. She messaged Mr. Oberoi that she reached college safely. Closing her eyes, for the darkness to engulf her, she waited for the day to be over already.

But just closing your eyes won't solve your problems.

She heard a knock on her desk after few minutes. Her eyes welcomed a feminine stature standing in front of her. She was small, confident, clad in skinny jeans and red check full sleeves shirt, with black rimmed glasses, it can be possible that they are in fashion because her dress was telling me that she has good fashion taste, and had a well developed personality but the first thing that someone notice would be her evenly pearly white teeth which she was flashing. 

"Hi! Wow you have such a beautiful eyes" she said in a childish voice. "What? Don't you know how to speak or you do not want to?" she asked when Tapasya didn't answer her back.

"I am Yaman, Yaman Malik," she extended her hand for a handshake.

Tapasya extended her hand to meet hers, "Tapasya," she simply said. 

"Nice name babe. Hope you don't mind me sitting here, disturbing your alone time, but you know I like to sit in front row but do not have courage to sit alone. So thanks for your company."

Babe? Company? Tapasya's head was already spinning. 

"So, what's your story, how'd you end up here?"

"Huh?" 'Wait, What? Was she talking to me?' Tapasya wondered. "Mind if you repeat it again", she asked. Yaman was now sitting beside her.

"Oofo, girl if you do not pay attention you'll not gonna pass a semester. They are famous for setting tough papers." She said. "Well in case you didn't pay attention am gonna repeat my intro once more listen carefully. I chose this college because you know this is one of the best in the country and is in my home-town also I can't get into one that famous industrialist run 'The Oberois'." She made sign of quotation in the air while naming the Oberois.

"You know their paper pattern, I barely clear the paper and qualify, can you imagine me, the topper of my class, still can't get any top ranking. They set one of the toughest papers in the nation plus I have given a scholarship test here, and top the exam. So here I am on full scholarship. Isn't it great." Her eyes were like thousand watts light illuminating her whole face.

Tapasya wondered how can someone speak fast without taking a single breath.

"Now tell me yours," she'd not going to stop until she got answers.

Tapasya just shrugged, scratched her chin, looked at Yaman and said, "I ended up second on the scholarship program." It's not like she can't pay the fees but she wanted to do one thing according to her terms, like getting admission in this college. She could easily get in Oxford or Harvard, but won't survive anywhere away from her father. She omitted to mention these facts.

"Wow, that explains." Yaman exclaimed. Tapasya's eyes held question, though her face was blank, "I mean who sits at front on first day of college and that to alone? You are a total nerd, all left is a pair of thick glasses to put on." She continued in her same playful voice.

Before Tapasya could even open her mouth Yaman stood up and went to the back to greet other students. Meanwhile few more students showed up and taken the seat wherever they want. It was silent before and now so many chit-chats around, giving Tapasya headache. So she closed her eyes once again.

"Hey that's my seat." Yaman's voice came from somewhere near.

Tapasya opened her eyes to find a boy sitting next to her. How long was he seated here? She didn't even realize.

"Oh sorry, I asked her before sitting, but it seems like she was taking a nap so I just took this vacant seat." The boy defended him. "Oh! you have beautiful eyes." he complimented Tapasya when he saw them.

"Thanks", Yaman replied on Tapasya's behalf, then turned to her, "What a nap? In morning? What kind of studious girl does that?" she chided.

'Are they five years old? Do they realize that they are in college?' Tapasya thought. 

Before she or the boy can say anything or find another seat, a teacher entered the classroom. Yaman was quick enough to sit down beside her. As the teacher introduced herself and class continued. After the class get over, Tapasya closed her eyes again, trying not to focus on the chaos generated after the teacher left.

"Hi, I am Mrinal Sethi. Sorry I didn't ask you properly before taking the seat. I didn't know it was hers." Mrinal said to Tapasya.

"I don't own this college, neither this class nor any of the seats. You can seat wherever you want." She said plainly without opening her eyes. 

"Though you owe an apology to me mister I was seated there. But it's alright. I am Yaman, and she is Tapasya." Yaman introduced herself and Tapasya.

"Wait, are you the one who is here on full scholarship." Excitement was clear in his voice.

"Yes, why?"

"You defeated me with total six marks. I am the third student on scholarship."

"Great, Taps is too on one, she is the second one. Wow, we'll be the cool trio of this class. Like Harry Potter just genders are reversed and I will bep Hermione." Mrinal chuckled.

No one speak after that as the classes continued, the day was long for Tapasya.

*

At night on the dinner table Mr. Oberoi asked her about day's happening.

"How was your first day in the college?"

"Betterthen I thought, no anxiety so far."

"Did you make any new friends?"

She just shrugged before looking at him, "I won't call them friends yet, they are disaster."

He simply chuckled while passing her the strawberry ice-cream, he brought for her today as he promised. she didn't ask for it though. It was Tapasya's favorite eight years before.

TO BE CONTINUED....