Inquest (Completed)

Inside Krupa's world

Krupa emerged out of the corridor into Dhruv's field of vision and was the centre of his focus for quite some time. Her maroon-coloured-full-length gown with bright-coloured-floral-designs looked even more elegant when paired with her smile. One of the boys, Rishabh from Krupa's classes, exclaimed in surprise and complimented her: "You look gorgeous." Dhruv had the same opinion, but couldn't say it aloud. Rishabh took out his phone and clicked Krupa's picture. "Don't post it!" Krupa ordered. "Of course I won't." He said. Then followed birthday-wishes from all, including Dhruv, and hand-shakes, and 'Thank you!'s from Krupa. Dhruv couldn't stop smiling; he was simply pleased to be there.

"Okay okay, now here's your birthday-gift, on behalf of all of us, including Rukmini, who couldn't come today." Piya said, she was on her toes with excitement, "we all hope you'll love it."

"Of course she will,"  said Shekhar (a senior from school, studying in the college next to Krupa's), "we've put a lot of efforts in it, or at least Piya has. Krupa loves these kind of gifts."

"Guys, yes, but let me see it quick! Quick!" said Krupa.

Piya took out the carry-bag from beside the sofa, and was slowly taking out the gift, but paused, demanded that Krupa close her eyes; Krupa protested but then agreed, covering her eyes with the palm of her left hand, saying, "Quick!"

Piya took out the framed-photo and held it with both her hand. "You may now op--"

Krupa shrieked in delight. "It's the same frame I had shown you [to Piya], isn't it? You still remember! Aww.... Thank you, thank you all! I love my gift!" Evidently, the chosen photo-frame was one that Krupa had shown to Piya a long time ago, saying that it's pretty. Krupa held the gift in her hand, hugged it, turned around, said "Come," to no one in particular, headed to her room, closely followed by the others, with Dhruv tailing the group. They passed by the kitchen, but they could only see large utensils covered with plates and Krupa's mum's was cutting some almonds and cashew-nuts. They could taste the food by it's aroma. Once they were in Krupa's room, she rested the photo on her study-table and said, facing the others, "Now it's in its rightful place." Dhruv was just entering the room while she said this; he took a moment to look around the place. He was entering Krupa's world for the first time: after all, that's how personal someone's room is to themselves.

"So all of these are Krupa's friends!" A gentle female voice spoke from behind them all. Krupa's mum stood at the door, looking at the faces one by one, gazing at Dhruv's face just a little bit longer than the other guys' faces. Krupa took the opportunity to introduce all of them. "So Ma, you've already met Piya..."

"Hello, aunty!" Piya greeted.

"And also Radhika and Parvathi..."

Radhika waved a hand, both smiled.

"And this is Dhruv, also from school; you finally got to meet him..."

Dhruv said a hi and gave an awkward smile, pushing his specs up his nose.

"And then from classes, Rishabh, Erika and Rupa --I've told you about these three-- then also from school but seniors-- Shantanu and Jaywardhan... Rukmini couldn't come, she's gone to her hometown-- and this guy of course [Shekhar, who was smiling]."

"I have met some of you before," Krupa's mother said, "some of you, I haven't, but I have heard about all of you from Krupa... Don't hesitate to feel yourself at home, lunch will shortly be ready, I don't want to hear any excuses for not eating from any of you, okay? ... Okay then, have fun..." Krupa's mother returned to the kitchen.

"So, what do you want to do now? We have perhaps half-an-hour, till lunch break, and then whatever we want to do..." Krupa said.

"We could play Damsharaas [a game in which one person must use gestures to tell the audience the name of any movie]." suggested Dhruv.