Love at the time of dentistry

Chapter-5

Manya never knew the world was such a beautiful place or did it just looked like that now that she was in a committed relationship that too with her best friend of all times. All the clichés suddenly seemed so true, the air had a magical quality, the sky never seemed bluer and the birds more chipper. Even her mood seemed nowadays as if she was on Ecstasy the whole time. She was still finding it hard to believe that Siddharth was as much in love with her as she was with him. How can two persons who were so close to each other and knew each other so well, were able to hide their feelings for each other for so long, was beyond anybody's imagination. Manya didn't like to waste time thinking about these things. The stolen moments in the hallways, the sweet staring each other across Bunty's, the late night calls and meeting each other after college, even if for a precious few moments was too valuable a time to waste on thinking about mundane things like why did they not confess their feelings for each other before. Siddharth had taken it upon himself to pick Manya after college and leave her at her hostel every day, even though it was just a few minutes distance, not that Manya minded. He was waiting for her beside his bike, as usual, when she came out after college ended. She headed towards him after saying goodbyes to her friends and receiving meaningful looks and giggling in return from them. "M, lady, your carriage awaits", Sid said with mock gallantry, even bowing before taking her hand and kissing it. Manya never knew she could blush this much with pleasure but thankfully there were not many people around to witness. She commanded her brain to say something and not end up looking like an idiot, "thank you kind sir, will you be kind enough to help me up your staid", she said acquiring a fake Victorian accent, a quite bad one at that. "Gladly", he helped her on his bike as if she was a delicate porcelain doll. It was gestures like these which made her love him all the more. He was so sweet and loving to her, she had to pinch herself repeatedly. She could sit like this forever, pressed so close to him, his manly scent filling her nostrils. She felt a sense of loss when they reached her hostel and she had to get down the bike. "Do you have any plans for this evening", Sid asked her, a little shyly if she can say so. "Hmmm, let's have a look at my schedule, I will be meeting our esteemed Dean to discuss this year's final question papers, then I have to get ready to meet the farmer's union to discuss their issues and then I will whisk off to enjoy the cool nightlife our campus has to offer", manya teased him. Sid laughed and took her hand in his', "Ho gaya tumhara ab main kuch bolun, I wanted to take you out for dinner tonight if you can spare a few hours from your busy schedule for me", he said in the same teasing tone. Wow! Their first date together. "I guess I can spare some time for you but it better be worth my time", she said while trying to appear nonchalant but failing as she couldn't hide the twinkle in her eyes. "Great then I'll pick you up at seven", with that he kissed her hand and took off on his bike. She stood there watching him go, thinking of all the good things she must have done to deserve a boyfriend like this. She hurried back to her room to decide what she was going to wear for her first date with Sid, to find her entire battalion of friends waiting for her in her room, obviously wanting to hear all the juicy details. "So he finally asked you out on a date", Anaya said with an expression on her face like a proud mother whose daughter has come first in the class. "I can't believe he waited so long for that but considering he likes to wait it's not surprising", Rhea said. "Ohh!! It's so exciting, we'll doll you up for your first date, and you'll look like a princess for sure", Susannah was having a hard time containing her excitement and she looked about ready to faint with all the emotions. Each one of them were going on at the same time, Manya was having trouble processing what each one of them was saying. "Were you people eavesdropping on our conversation right now", it was all she could manage to get out in all the chaos. "Of course we were, you were never good with the detailing part so how will we know what was really going on between you two love birds", Rhea said as if this was the most natural thing to be done in this situation. Manya could only look with a stunned expression at each of them. "Arre yeh sab important nahin hain, pehle batao tum pehenne kya wali ho, you should make a smashing first impression on him", Anaya tried to bring the conversation back to more 'important' things. "What first impression, he knows me since I was in diapers; I guess the time for first impressions is long gone". "Arre meri bholi bacchii, tujhe sab kuch samjhana padta hai, you are not his childhood friend anymore, you are his girlfriend now, he looks at you in a different way now, so you have to make a solid first impression as his girlfriend, got it?", okay now Anu was sounding like her mother. She could only nod her head in assent because she knew her friends would not take it any other way. Susannah was already going through her wardrobe discarding and selecting potential candidates for tonight's date. Finally she found dark blue kurti with discreet sequined work on its neck and sleeves which she approved of and which she paired with black churidaars and a pair of beautiful black strappy sandals of hers. "Good, now that your outfit is decided, let's do something about your hair and makeup", Anaya went in a totally businesslike tone. Manya was secretly enjoying her grooming session. She was filled with happy anticipation for her date which was to start in about an hour.