High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 8 - The Fight

We reached Santiniketan around late afternoon. Sanjana and Karan were helping Himesh checking in. It was a villa rented out by Mohona mam's friends. A very sweet old couple Mr. and Mrs. Sanyal.

The two-storied bungalow, with Corinthian pillars, white and green paint, hanging balconies and a long passageway, had a very traditional feel to it. There were dainty tea-tables spread out in the long passageway and the garden in front of the bungalow was filled with flowers and tall trees. Beautiful creepers decorated the pillars and the surrounding smelled of fresh flowers.

The boys took off to their rooms leaving Chitra behind with us. I had first assumed she will be staying with Koushik but she clearly stated she would share room with us. As the bungalow was already full, five of us were staying in the same room while the boys being bigger in number got two rooms. Just great! All my plans of fighting with Rai because of the sitting arrangement in the bus got blown away!

Mrs Sanyal informed that she had decorated all the rooms by herself. And I had to admit she did a great job. The rooms were decorated with the theme's of Tagore's works and named likewise. The one where we were staying was called Chokherbali and the rooms the boys got Kabuliwallah and Birpurush.

Not being able to resist I quickly took out my camera and started clicking pictures. While Rai and Chitra were busy unpacking Sanjana and Elora posed for me. I also went to the other two rooms and found the boys sulking in the bed and sofa. Noticing me with the camera they quickly started to pose. I rolled my eyes; who said only girls were crazy about photos?

However Mahen and Koushik left to take a walk in the garden. After about two hours when I was satisfied that I had captured almost the entire house within frames I went back to the room.

Elora was fast asleep and Sanjana was in the washroom bathing. I found Chitra looking away outside the window and Rai glaring at her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Don't ask me, ask this idiot," Rai pointed at Chitra. "Ssshh, Rai calm down," I pulled them out in the balcony to avoid any unnecessary drama in front of Elora and Sanjana. Keeping my voice low I said, "Mahen told me what happened between you and Koushik."

Once the words were out from my mouth I saw a thin line of tear falling down from Chitra's eyes. Not a sound escaped her mouth but I know through the silent tears she was trying to shed off her pain. Rai hugged her and I too joined, "It's been a long time since we hugged like this." And then Chitra started crying, "I was only trying to avoid more drama. Mahen has always been a bad news for us."

"Chitra don't cry. I promise you nothing will happen. And Rai is right I have to sort this out. There's still a month's time for your wedding. I promise there won't be any drama."

"And Chitra for once you go and apologise to Koushik. After all these years that boy too needs some pampering!" Rai's words made me laugh while Chitra frowned, "You want ME to apologise. I never do that. I can never do that! I suck at doing that."

"Well, there's always a first. Like in all these years, though I still haven't forgiven Mahen, I am talking to him normally." I said.

"Yes and if you cannot think of how to say sorry just go and make love! Men never deny sex!" I tried to suppress the laugh on Rai's blunt comment.

"No never. We are not having sex before marriage! I-I am still a virgin!" Chitra was blushing.

"WHAT!" Rai and I said in unison abruptly releasing Chitra from our hug.

"Did I hear a virgin?" Elora came out in the balcony rubbing her eyes. Thank god she heard only that and not the former part of our conversation.

"Yes you heard it right and yes I am a virgin," Chitra dropped herself on the couch.