I GUESS, THAT IS US?

WHOSE COOKIE CRUMBLED?

"OF ALL THE AMBER SUNSETS AND LILAC SKIES, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ONES THAT SHONE IN YOUR COFFEE EYES."

"So, you're saying that, you were attracted to her from the first glimpse?" Aita inquires.

I smile a little, remembering the way my heart skipped a beat and how I forgot to breathe for a few seconds, "yeah," I continue looking out of the window at the palm trees swaying in the wind. "It felt like I was having a cliched bollywood moment." I chuckle lightly as my mind makes a run for the memory.

****

I'm standing in the middle of the open-air auditorium, as she walks in from the entrance towards the seats, and my gaze follows her movement closely.

Her soft, wavy, raven locks blow lightly in the autumn breeze, almost as if the winds wanted to welcome her, too. They are so lustrous... I wish I could run my hands through them.
It is as if, the fallen leaves feel alive again in her presence as they dance around in the wind.

What did I just think to myself??

Am I in some Bollywood romance, because I sure as hell feel like it. Why does it feel like everything is happening in slow motion? Why am I blinking ever so slowly?
There are all sorts of questions in my mind but I can't stop staring at her.

She is in a long A-cut dress in white with shades of black and grey. She seems to be feeling shy but I can see that she's trying to put up a brave face. I wonder if she is stra-

"Dude, you really need to stop staring at the juniors like that." Vaishnavi scoffs beside me.
"Huh? Oh! No! I wasn't staring at them... I just, zoned out waiting for them to settle down", I give out a nervous laugh. Jesus, when did she get here!

I really need to stop. What is wrong with me?? I do not check out 'or' stare at people. Taisha, get a grip! She's a junior, and with so many juniors around, you'll probably never see her again in college.

"But she is so beautiful!"

But I didn't even see her face properly.

"Then, don't you think, you should? To satiate your inquisition?"

That is, by far, the stupidest idea my brain has ever given me. She's a junior for god's sake. A human! I can't just stare at her like she's some object on display!

"You are just looking at her. Having a proper glimpse of her. That is not a crime."

Oh, shut up. Do not tempt me with logic. I should not. Besides, I have a girlfriend.

"You should just be taking a good look at her. She's your junior. You're gonna need to remember faces of your juniors. You'll need their help for your fest. Remember?"

Right.

"So, it is okay-"

"Are you seriously, kidding me right now?" I hear the annoying, bossy voice again.
Right, how did I forget that she was still standing there.

"...what?" I try to act oblivious.

"Oh, no. Don't you even try to give me that look." She squints her eyes at me, giving me a look of warning.

I put my hands in the air and surrender. "I'll be good. I promise. I guess I should've slept early."

I can see that V isn't really buying my excuse.

"...pictures. I need to get back to my duty!" I give her a quick hug and skip towards the juniors' seating area.

Saved by V. Phew.

I better be careful about my slipping.

****

"It seems like you were aware of what you were feeling in those moments," Aita remarked as she scribbled something in her notepad, "as opposed to how you explain your inability to acknowledge and accept your emotions now."

"Well, I would say that that was the only period when I acknowledged my true emotions," I smile at the memory of her dark coffee eyes. "It felt like I was in the eye of a tornado. I felt a calm, but I knew I was going to be torn to shreds sooner or later."