The Boy Who Never Spoke

Sumit

Semesters flew by. Calenders flipped by. The buzz about them grew into a well known rumour. It was nothing short of a miracle for the fraternity of friends that how a man of few words could get along with a woman of such calibre. She knew the answer. He pretended to have never understood this question. He had been calm as usual though now somewhat less stoic. Her words and expressions now received more of his glances than ever before. She was in his thoughts yet somehow he never made it much public.

It was a sunny weekend morning. Professor Kanti had called for an extra lecture to cover the syllabus before the exams begun next week. Manto, Tapan and Lok sat at the canteen table sipping cold banana shake with extra ice just when Tapan's phone beeped.

"Oh, shit man !"

"What happened, dude ? Why are you giving an expression of having chewed a bittergourd? ", Manto replied lousily staring at his half empty glass.

"Kanti's lecture will start half an hour late. Krishty has posted on our Whatsapp group"

"Damn , Kanti! Damn his IC engines! I don't even want to attend the class. " He turned around and signaled the waiter for another glass.

"Oh, come on, fatso ! Just chill! " Lok sipped his juice nonchalantly. 

"Hey, am I seeing Sneha at that far off table ? But who is he...", he said contracting his pupils looking through his big glass. Lok and Tapan turned their heads. Lok raised his head to get a better view. It was indeed her, sharing the table with a hoodie wearing guy. His jacket concealed his identity yet he seemed familiar with her going by her reaction. The occasional smiles she gave didn't make him feel much comfortable. He had always thought her moments of happiness belonged to her and him. Who was this intruder ?

"Bro, if you don't mind, can I say you something ?" Tapan politely intervened. 

"I think you are going slow "

"Slow at what, Tapan?"

"Slow in your relationship, bro. You love Sneha, right ?"

"Love ? Never thought about it. But yeah.... she is a nice friend"

"Oh, I see ! Well, I meant a friend nice enough to be called as a girl friend, you now. Oh, come on, Lok ! Don't be a kid. Just accept it. We know it and everyone knows it. You love Sneha. Tell it to her. Propose her right on her face.."

"I am not sure that whether it would be right to do that. We are yet to know so much about each other. Plus, studies, job, agreement..."

"Agreement? You guys gonna go to a lawyer to make some sort of agreement", Manto blabbered.

"Oh shut up, fatso and drink your juice !", Lok replied angrily.

"You see this anger proves that you didn't like to see her with someone else. What could this mean, Lok ? Look, what you don't ask for, you don't get. If you don't say it, no one listens and knows it."

"I understand that, Tapan. But from where do I begin ? The semester exams begin next week and rarely am I getting time to talk to her these days..."

How about now, young man. She isn't sitting far away from here. What do you say?" Tapan's eyes glowed with hope. 

"Will that be right to do?"

"If that isn't right, what worse will happen ? Anyways, you have turned shameless enough to be turned out of Shyam Lal's  fluid mechanics class five times in a week and still not giving it a thought. It can't be worse than that " He winked at him. Lok got up slowly and turned towards where she was sitting. Tapan and Manto gave a thumbs up to cheer their friend up. He gave a deep sigh. He marched on till she saw him and exclaimed," Hey, Lok. Hi !" He tried hard to give his usual wide smile. Meanwhile, the hood turned around and fell back. It was Sumit.

Oh, that guy ! What is he doing here? 

"He is Sumit. Remember, you both met in library, once. Remember ?"

"Yeah. I remember.", Sumit replied. The patch of beard on his lower jaw was now prominent than before and lend a more sinister look to his face as he smiled that could make even the most hated villains of Bollywood blush. He collected his emotions and turned to Sneha, " It is time for IC lecture. Just now, Lalit had messaged me that professor was already in the class. Let's go..."She picked up her bag, waving bye to him. Sumit continued with his sinister smile as Lok glanced at her.

"How do you know Sumit ?", he asked while they climbed down the stairs. She held to the railings with the bunch of books held close to her bosom, while her eyes were wandering elsewhere. 

"Sneha.."

"Lok, did you say something ?"

"Are you okay ? I asked you something. How do you know Sumit ?"

"We both studied in the same school. He lives in the adjacent locality. We are good friends. Why? What happened ?"

"Nothing. Just asking." He bit his lips turning his face away from her as his head reeled in the whirlpool of confusion that had just taken birth. Two men treating a woman as a friend is one of the most obvious conflicts in this world at the time of youth since ancient times.

Just friend! I know what kind of friend he is! Ever seen him. He looks like a ruffian straight out of jail. Golden chain on this neck. Silver bracelet on his wrist. Those scars on the face must have been the remnants of few fights. Damn, how is that guy familiar to her! 

"What was he saying to you, then?", he continued.

"Nothing much. Just like that. He flunked a paper last term. Had his re-test today and was talking about it. "

"He flunked !"

"Yeah. He is not so good at studies. Poor guy. What can he do ? He has to take care of his ill mother and study. He does his best but doesn't get through at times." They reached the front gate and just as she brought her focus back onto him after waving to someone far off that he was least interested in, he continued," What happened to his mom ?"

"She lost control of both of her legs, a year ago and got confined to bed. She has been under treatment since then. His father has been in touch with many doctors for the treatment of his mom. Hey, today you are asking so many questions about him ? What happened?"

"No, just like that. Didn't know him. That's why. How are you going home today ?" 

"I was thinking of getting ride at the back of one of the brightest minds of our class, if he doesn't mind", she said looking at him.

"Wear this", he said handing her a helmet.

"What is this ! "

"Protection for the most beautiful person's head at my back although I know it is empty", he winked at her.

"Oh, you..!", she said swinging the helmet onto his arms playfully. She got onto the motorbike behind him and clasped his torso while her helmet stuck to his back.

The day had been tumultuous for him though he managed to get over. Yet it was only time that could say how far had been he victorious to save his fort and his queen. The treacherous darkness descended upon the road as he zoomed past.