Young Love

The Reactive Chem Lab

"That is Tanisha." Sakshi said, pointing towards a girl.

Chemistry practicals were the worst. All those different names and tests gave Sakshi a huge headache. Luckily, she had Niel by her side today, the uncrowned king of practicals.

"You know she likes you." She said elbowing Niel in the stomach.

"Careful." Niel said in a angry tone. Mouthing a sorry, she continued her story. Niel looked more interested in the real chemistry rather than the one regarding his love life.

"Look at her handling those chemicals. So cute," she said in a typical girly manner.

"I don't care. I don't even know her." He said without looking up from his experiment.

"Then go know her. Look she has gone to take some chemicals. Go and talk to her now."

"Why should I. I'm not interested."

"You do this for me. Say, I'll owe you." And then she made her best puppy dog eyes.

I smiled creeped up his face. Sakshi owing him a favour had a certain happy tone to it. Rather hesitantly he agreed. Taking the test tube in his hand, he approached the bench near Tanisha. He knew this battle is coming and he was ready. Almost.

---

"Hey!"

"Hey!" She could feel her heart racing up now. The boy of her dreams standing next to her and what more, he was even talking to her. She tilted her head just to make sure it was him.

Meanwhile Niel was confused about what to say. He should have asked Sakshi about that before engaging in this battle. Sure she would have great pieces of advice, being kind of a expert in the matters of love. Alas, he had no option but to go with his instincts and those instincts have proven wrong numerous times.

"So..." his voice grasping for the right words, "Sakshi tells me."

"What did she say?" Tanisha said. A disturbed look was now appearing on her face. 'No', she thought, her best friend won't do that to her.

"Nothing. She just said that, you told her that, you kinda like me." He said the 'like' in a high pitch manner which made things just worse.

Realising that her worst fear had come true, she closed her eyes, kept the test tube in its stand and ran away. Simple, plain 'ran away', leaving Niel in his state of uber confusion. Muttering under her breath, Niel heard her say, "I'm gonna kill that bitch now."

"Did I say something wrong," he said. Clearly still in the state of confusion.

The rotten egg smell of sulphur was clearly meddling with his mind, probably calling him back to his experiment. Or was it just that he had failed in such a simple task?

He walked back to where Sakshi was waiting with a look of intrigue.

"This is all your fault," he said, "I shouldn't have done this."

"Why, what happened?" A tense look took over her face.

And he narrated the whole incident.

Silence for a few minutes was followed by the cute laughter of a girl. Niel buried his face in his work hoping that no one would notice the mad girl and the red-cheeked nerd.

When the laughter finally died she could tell the boy his mistake. "Oh my simpleton boy unknowing of the affairs of love and dating. What are going to do with your life now?" She broke out laughing again.

"Just let me handle this one," she ordered, "Only I can set you up with her."

Continuing her laughter she left, unable to hear Niel say, "But I don't want her, I want..."