Once Upon a University Campus

Cognac Chronicles

Annika's hand groped for the familiar water bottle on the table by her head. Two failed attempts later, she sat up, eyes wide open, slightly disoriented only to hear muffled breathing. It took her a few minutes to remember that she was in Shivaay's bed. He was sleeping next to her, on his back, his left hand covering his eyes. After a fleeting but quiet laugh, she tried checking her watch, but found her hand firmly in the grip of Shivaay's right hand. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she noticed a wall clock. Time was 5.15 AM. She wondered how quiet it was. Back at her house, one could have heard pressure cooker whistles, Azan, milkman's moped, newspaper boy's bicycle bell and assorted alarms going off periodically thanks to the few remarkably lazy neighbours who ended up getting extra snooze every day without fail. The wind chime hanging on her balcony, peacocks, kitchen helpers dragging vats and cauldrons meant that though quiet, mornings at her hostel were not dead silent. She could not remember the guest room she and Saahil spent their summers being this quiet either. Or maybe it was and she never paid attention. Or perhaps winters are quieter than summers. All she could think of was that she had to leave before anyone else woke up. It was just a big kids sleep over, not such a big deal, but any explanation would be awkward if she bumped into one of the older members of Shivaay's family.

She gently wiggled her numb fingers from his grip and flexed it to shake off the numbness. When she tried to move off the bed, she realised he had the edge of her dupatta in his grip as well. She gently tugged at it in the dark.

"ANNIKA" Shivaay woke up with a scream that frightened Annika. A couple of minutes of silence later he called out to her once again, this time softly.

"Annika"

"Yes Shivaay, I am here." Annika whispered as he scrambled to turn the light on.

"Sorry, Did I frighten you. It must have been a nightmare." Shivaay helped himself to a glass of water.

"That is alright Shivaay. I was awake already. I should leave before the rest of the family wakes up."

"What is the hurry? Have breakfast. I will drop you on my way to work." Shivaay still in the stuper of a restful sleep.

Annika did not say anything but stared at him wordlessly.

"Ah! Right. Let me drop you." Shivaay said crestfallen.

*******************************************************

It was quiet at the campus gate too. Only a few bravehearts ventured out for an early morning walk at this time of the year. Shivaay turned off the engine and reached out for Annika's hand.

"I slept very well yesterday, after a long time. So today is going to be a good day." Shivaay spoke softly.

"I slept well too. But, my hand is still numb. Don't hold it so hard next time. I am not running away."

Shivaay shrugged helplessly. Annika's phone almost slipped out of her numb hand.

"See.. this is what I mean" Annika pointed out in mock horror. She tossed her phone into her bag and turned to get out of the car but stopped.

"By the way, I had discarded the sim card in a drain the other day. How did you manage to get a replacement sim card so quick?"

"Perks of owning the company" Shivaay winked. "I will see you in the evening."

"India Gate?" Annika squealed.

"So be it, sweetheart" Shivaay rolled down the window to watch Annika cross the road and walk back to her hostel. She turned back to wave at him before turning around to disappear into the darkness.

**********************************************

Invigorated from the restful sleep, Annika had spent the morning efficiently working on her thesis. Though it was winter vacation, she had not stopped her academic work, earlier as a distraction from heartbreak, now out of pure devotion because there was nothing else bothering her. She had put in hours on fine tuning a regression model by lunch that she needed Chai right afterwards. She was sipping her chai warning herself under the afternoon sun missing Sumo, Om and Rudy when her phone rang. It turned out to be Daadi asking to meet her that evening at Oberoi Mansion. Daadi did not sound like her usual self. But then Annika was not sure since the call was brief. It might just have been that Daadi was busy or distracted. At that moment Annika did not think of it much since her own thoughts were occupied by her regression variables. She would have almost missed the appointment if not for Shivaay calling her at half past four informing Annika that Daadi was expecting him at 5 PM. He offered to pick Annika but Annika refused. It would be more efficient use of time for Shivaay to reach home straight from office so they could finish the word with Daadi and go ahead with their plans of visiting India Gate.