Once Upon a University Campus

Muddy Puddles

Annika had run frantically to her room in a desperate bid to hide her tears. Sumo was listening to something on her laptop with her headphones on and was caught off guard when a sobbing Annika barged into her room and collapsed on her bed, face down on her pillow. Sumo who was expecting happy tidings, tried to talk to her but it was of no avail. Annika continued sobbing for some time. Sumo dragged her chair by the head of the bed and sat running her fingers over Annika's hair. The sobbing reduced and Annika was laboring to breathe. Sumo handed over the bottle of water. Annika sat up on the bed trying to drink the water. Sumo propped her with a pillow and helped Annika lean back against the wall.

Annika emptied the bottle but her breath was still labored and she still sobbed at regular intervals.

"What have I done Sumo..." She was looking blankly at the ceiling, her voice hoarse.

Sumo did not say anything. She just sat there ready to listen to anything Annika had to say.

"He asked me to be his friend and I refused.." She sobbed.

"But you like him, don't you" Sumo was puzzled.

"Does it matter Sumo. I might like him, he might also like me but the road ahead, there is no road ahead for US"

"Why are you so pessimistic Akka, why would say that" Sumo was pained.

"This stupid 'like each other' apart, we should be practical. You know their family well. Where would I fit in? Me who has nothing except education and a determination to be someone. He has a family that loves him, he is educated, sophisticated, speaks foreign languages, he is good looking, has a successful career and has more money than most of us could ever imagine. He has everything. I almost have nothing. How can there be a future for us together."

"I still think you are wrong here Akka. Om bhaiyya's mother and grand-mother are so fond of you. If at a future point the two of you decide to walk on the road ahead family should not have a problem."

"It is not the same Sumo, Om needed a lot of help and unknowingly I helped him heal himself. It is just the gratitude they have for that help. I cannot be one among them. I dare not. For my own good, I know my place in this world."

"I do not think so Akka. You can be one among them, you can be among any set of people you choose. Just that some effort is involved. Sushma married into a family just like ours but she had to make an effort to be a part of the family. It is all about making an effort. Had she married a poor man, she would still have to make an effort, so would be the case had she married a rich man. Alright, let me for a moment agree that you cannot be one among them. What about you? Are you happy?"

"I am not happy right now. But at least I would not be unhappy at a later point in time when it all goes for a toss."

"Honestly tell me something. Are you sure you will be unhappy at a later point in time? What if you make a choice where you are happy now and also happy at a later point in time."

"That does not happen in reality, Sumo. Life is no fairy tale."

"Ok imagine a bleak scenario where you die before an unhappy event occur. You did be dead and you would have spent your days in utter misery. What then?"

"Uh? " Annika was taken aback.. She had never thought of that scenario.... "But then Sumo...how can I do something so impulsive? Something that makes no sense at all, something where things are beyond my control and I am just a mute spectator? "

"Do you watch cricket match Akka?"

"Very rarely.. But what has cricket got to do with this mess?" Annika was still sobbing.