My Guiding Star

Part Six

"Hi Niranjana, nice to meet you. I have seen you with Ranjan on my way to dance class. You two used to be in that ice cream parlor or that cafe. I have seen you two waiting for me. And sometimes to escort me till home from classes if I am getting late. Of course, you know all that. It was so sweet of you to accompany Ranjan. But I should say, initially I felt a little jealous to see you with him every day" Swathi spoke to Niranjana in a friendly manner.

Ranjan laughed "Come on Swathi. Niranjana is sweet kid. She is my family friend. How can you think like that? Don't think bad on what she said Niranjana" he added to her with a smile. 

Niranjana felt like screaming and running from there. She was not able to grasp a single word uttered by both of them. How stupid she is? Ranjan had thought of her as a kid. He never saw her as a girl.

"Are you OK with this Niranjana?" Ranjan's question brought her back to reality. 

"What?... What did you ask? I didn't noticed." She stammered her question. 

"What are you day dreaming about?" Ranjan laughed and asked again. 

"Swathi's dad is very strict. She feels that we should wait before we disclose about us to her parents. For time being we two cannot meet alone. So if you accompany us, we can tell that you and Swathi are friends and I am simply joining you. Please say yes Niranjana" pleaded Ranjan to her.

Niranjana felt like crying and laughing at the same time on this absurd situation. She didn't know how she accepted for the arrangement. Their meetings became torturous for her and every time she wanted to decline on joining them. But all her resolutions will fly in air, once she sees Ranjan's pleading face.

"Congrats Niru. You have scored a good percentage. I am sure you will get the medical seat you dreamed of. As your marks are out now, can you tell which college have you decided to join? For your percentage, I think you will not have much trouble in getting a good college. Do you want study in our town itself?" Niranjana's dad was checking with her.

"No Dad, I want to join in Chennai. It is one of the top colleges and for my marks if I get a seat there I don't want to miss it." Niranjana answered him. 

"But I thought you wanted to be in the same town. Even though you haven't told in open words, I assumed in such a way" he father frowned at her answer.

"I didn't expected such a good result dad, hence I haven't told you on my choices." Niranjana was relieved when her father never pursued on that topic further and she knew he didn't believed her answer completely. 

With one puzzling smile he left the topic. But her mom was sad that suddenly both her daughters will not be with her. 

"Leave it Vanitha. Our daughters are going out to win in life. We should be happy for them. See, you are now making Niru also sad." 

Oh Dad! If only you knew the truth. I don't feel as if I won in my life, but failed miserably, she thought sadly.

As wished she got seat in Chennai, and will be moving to the hostel in 10 days. She was busy packing and not able to meet Ranjan and Swathi. She felt relieved at not seeing them together, but missed seeing Ranjan every day. But she want to go out of this town, as soon as possible. May be, the duration in her college makes her to forget the things on time, but she strongly suspect on the possibility of that. But she was able to divert her mind on packing things to move to Chennai.

Two days later, she heard some raised voices while entering her home after shopping. She stopped once realized that it was her parents talking to Ranjan's parents along with Ranjan. Apparently Swathi's father saw Ranjan and Swathi together and Swathi declined any relationship between them. She turned out to be big coward to face her father and turned her back to Ranjan.