Once Upon a University Campus

Humayun Ka Makbara

Dear Reader,

Thanks for your patience. I was struck with a bad case of a writer's block and was totally unable to write something that satisfied myself. Thankfully, this chapter shaped up. Hope you all like it as much. Also a big thanks for nominating this story for the contest. I am not sure how it works yet. But I appreciate your love. 

Best,

Goldie

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Saturday morning brought along an emptiness with it. A day earlier Annika's Saturday looked exciting but with everything that had happened over the past 16 hours or so, she was only expecting another boring Saturday. Om had stayed back with his mother. Mr Outsider did not mention anything about spending the Saturday together during the later part of the evening they had spent together. Annika was coming to terms with her own conjecture that Mr Outsider was spending time with her only because neither Om, nor Khanna ji were available. She put up a brave face, after all this was what she had expected.

She has narrated to Sumo all that had happened at Oberoi Mansion the previous evening. Sumo could not fathom the idea of a couple with adult children ending their marriage in divorce.

"Akka, I have seen drunkards who beat their wives every day, I have seen the most obnoxious of wives who torment their husbands and their families but never know anyone who is divorced. Things are a bit different back home I suppose."

"This is the first divorce in my circle as well. But then I guess it is a good thing. Why should Om Bhaiyya's mother stay in a marriage that has nothing to offer her."

The girls had their breakfast and walked to KC where a small supermarket sold groceries and other essentials. The growing warm nights meant that mosquitoes were back with vengeance. They shopped for mosquito repellants, shampoos, soaps, detergents, coffee and other essentials. Annika grew mindful of extra expenses this month, thanks to her excursions with Mr Outsider. She told herself to be careful with money going forward. With Saahil's summer break fast approaching, she had to make provision for the additional expenses.

Sumo suggested eating Kulfi, Annika refused. She could neither afford to spend money nor pile on the additional calories. Sumo was a little disappointed but they marched back with their supplies stuffed in small clothes sack.

They were back in the room that Sumo got thinking about cooking something special in their room.

"Rasam rice?" Sumo had enthusiastically suggested. Annika was least interested in cooking that warm afternoon. Before she could answer though, her phone had buzzed.

"Busy?" a message popped up as usual.

Sumo gave up all hopes of Rasam rice and resigned to eating the mandatory Saturday lunch of kichdi. Annika's eye lit up though.

"Not really." She had replied.

"Pick you up in 20 minutes at your campus gate." bang came the reply, no beating around the bush or wasting time on pleasantries.

Annika felt bad for abandoning Sumo but Sumo was more than happy to see off her Akka.

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"Where are we going today?" was his conversation opener.

"Humanyun's Tomb." Annika had responded somewhat lost.

"Either we turn the GPS on or you tell me the directions." He shot. Annika told him the directions.

She was unusually quiet trying to make sense of their equation. He was very much here and her hypothesis that he would no longer seek her company now that Om was here, stood disproved. Now what to make of the situation. "Darn Billuji! You are making my life difficult." She told herself. She was battling herself to control her frustration, anger and a myriad other emotions that overwhelmed her at once.