Once Upon a University Campus

Love Story

Shivaay snuggled against Annika on the large sectional sofa next to the bar counter. Rudy and Om were already settled on a part of the sofa that ran perpendicular to the one on which Annnika and Shivaay sat. Om's eyes were bloodshot, drink half way through, when Komal brought in a tray filled with food.

"Pakora, samosas??" Om got distracted momentarily. Komal mutely pointed out Rudy and left the tray. She returned soon with a flask.

"Filter coffee Rudy sir, just the way you wanted." Komal poured a cuppa joe for Rudy and another for Annika. Annika was only delighted.

"Looks like someone is missing someone so much that filter coffee replaced protein shake and pakoras replaced protein bars." Annika teased Rudy. "not that I have any problems." She whispered privately to Rudy.

"Sh!! Didi. Ignore the pakoras. It is with great difficulty that Shivaay bhaiyya is opening up. If he stops now, even gods cannot help me. Let me listen to his side of the story and hopefully learn something that could help me get out of this mess with Sumo." Rudy whispered to Annika.

"O, you continue.." Rudy urged Om to continue. Om stared at Rudy curiously for a few minutes and continued.

"How can I forget GDP, GNP? By god Annika, It took the last of your patience to teach me that. Thankfully you never gave up on me. If I remember it right, it was just before my exams and I was almost on the verge of a breakdown. You graciously agreed to help me out and we were in my room when Shivaay walked in and you dropped a cup of water splashing mostly on him but some on me as well. Looking back I find it cute.. My perfectionist brother and my otherwise perfect but a little clumsy tutor." Om smiled warmly.

"Cute? ha!There was and there is nothing cute in getting splashed either water or chutney or chai or anything else." Shivaay intervened. "What a day! The telecom minister canceled my appointment without advance notice so I had the whole day for myself. By then I had figured out that the minister was doing it to spite me. I suspected that my competitors had gotten him before I did.I already had a solution on hand that could bypass approval from ministry to acquire a medium sized company, something that was a good fit. I was somewhat relieved on the front but something else happened that I found very difficult to wrap my head around. I still was not expecting to encounter that girl who threatened to call the security on me. I had been waiting for an opportunity to get even at that girl for being audacious, for speaking to me the way she did. I stood there at the door watching her teach Om. She was focused on her lesson and was repeatedly explaining the same concept without any frustration. She was unlike the irresponsible, inefficient person I had earlier concluded she was. For a moment I felt my resolve to fight her weaken. But my ego would not take it lying down.I had to show her, her place, so I got ready with my zingers. Hell! this was Annika though. She had to do what she did best, drop something on me. This time it turned out to be a cup of water. She had ended up splashing something on me twice in a row now. Strangely the glass of water washed away my zingers and all the insults I had in mind, all that was left was condescension. It did not help that she asked me to get her a cup of tea."

"Uh! No no. That is unfair Shivaay. To set the record straight I was expecting my student Bhupender and mistook you for him.."

Shivaay chuckled." You must be right Sweetheart. All that matters is, today, now, I can get you umpteen cups of Chai at your bidding. What chai, anything your heart wishes." Shivaay longingly looked at Annika and reached out to hold her hand.

"Bhaiyya.. " Rudy snapped his fingers close to Shivaay's face. "Come back to the point.. Get back.." Rudy played an unappointed moderator.

"Ah! right...Yeah.. .Annika.. Annika.." Shivaay repeated Annika's name tenderly as if her name was a melodious song, relishing the way each of the syllable sounded. "Annika is feisty, she did not let my condescension affect her and again spoke to me like no one else did. She declared that her time was important. I found it preposterous that she thought her time was precious compared to my time. But then, that was what I was used to. Everyone around me,without a question always worked around my time, my schedule and how dare this girl who could not carry either a bowl of chutney or a cup of water usurp into my time with Om? Somewhere in my head a voice told me that she was right and that I was interrupting a tutoring session but I was too proud to acknowledge it. Om was my own, I could command him to send her away but I could see that he was desperate for her help. I had little choice but to leave and I did, without a word. The rest of the day till Om came back to me, I kept thinking of the opportunity I had lost. I could have, I should have shown her, her place. I was upset and could not get my mind out of all the zingers I could have fired at her. At that point she was just a faceless, nameless clumsy girl who had insulted me in worst ways but I begrudgingly accepted that she was helping Om and that Om needed, appreciated her help. Thankfully Om joined me a little later helping me get rid of all the wasteful thoughts festering in my head. . Do you remember Om? It was a fun evening "