High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 6 - The Friends

Asshole! How dare he made decisions for me. "Who told you I am going for this trip?" I asked in a stern voice.

"So you won't?" Mahen raised his eyebrows.

"I need time to think."

"Too bad, everything is pre-booked. It's a gift afterall."

"Yes for Chitra and Koushik. How does that include us?"

"Remember when we won the inter-school cultural championships? Mohona mam had promised to give us a gift. At that time she had to take a long-duration leave so it didn't happen. Now that Chitra and Koushik are getting married she thinks this is the best time to give that gift. So technically it's not just their wedding gift. Its for all of us."

"Listen, I have work. I cannot just take off to a trip..."

"Then go and tell that to Mohona mam. I bet she will be heartbroken hearing one of her favourite student didn't like her gift!" there goes another one of his sly smiles. 

Hearing that I went quiet. I hate to admit that Mahen was right. Mohona mam will definitely feel bad.

Interrupting our conversation Lofa asked, "excuse me? What school trip you are talking about? Deepa as far as I recall you finished school long back. What's going on?"

"Lofa I'll talk to you later. For now, I have to leave; Chitra and Koushik must be waiting." I said folding the camera stand and putting away the equipments safely. I grabbed my bag, nodded at Mahen and left the studio floor. Mahen followed behind me and as we reached the car he said, "I told you, you couldn't deny this trip."

"The trip is the last thing in my mind, right now I need to concentrate on Chitra's wedding."

"Wedding being the dominating word here!"

I glared at him while he gave me a what-did-I-do kind of look before opening the car lock.

Throughout the long route to Chitra's house Mahen kept on answering work calls through the hands-free while I studied Chitra and Koushik's photographs. That was love. That is how a couple looked when they knew soon they would tie the knot – in love and happy.

I stared at the busy traffic enjoying the March breeze. The weather hadn't turned that hot yet. There was still a soothing air. I kept the windows down and Mahen too didn't protested. He knew from previous experience that I always preferred fresh air over an AC.

The traffic lights went green and as he took a turn I screamed, "Stop! Stop! Stop!"

Mahen abruptly brought the car to a halt. Without telling him anything I got down in the middle of the traffic and rushed to the street vendors selling abir (powder colours).

I did hear Mahen calling behind me but ignored it. I was now smitten by the beautiful shades lined up in the street stalls. I mean how can someone not get excited seeing all these colours together.  

From the corner of my eyes I saw Mahen parking the car at one side and coming towards me with a face that was about to burst any moment. "What the hell Deepa? Why did you run?"

I asked the vendor to pack small pouches of each colours. Taking a fistful of the red colour I turned towards Mahen smiling, "Happy holi!"

He rolled his eyes saying, "Deepa Holi is a week away!"

Looking at the colours I got distracted and almost forgot about my companion right now. I have to agree that Holi is one festival that gets me all excited and I forget about people around me. I quickly tried to cover up my excitement, "S-so what? I am just keeping the colours ready."