Once Upon a University Campus

Changes

Annika put her phone down. Something started aching, so much so that she had to find a spot to sit down. She was walking back to her hostel after meeting Prof Phatak that the phone call finally materialized after numerous futile attempt. The recipient of the call at the other end had not been too happy to receive the call. Annika had dragged herself through the call, though it was she who had initiated the call. The weight of the conversation finally brought her down and she threw her book filled backpack on the pavement and collapsed next to it. It was not the loneliest stretch in the sprawling campus. A motorcycle passed her and the helmet-less pillion started at her for a moment before turning away. The blaze of the early summer mid day sun kept most students away from shadeless roads and sidewalks.

Annika clutched her knees and put her head down. A student passing by stopped to check on her. She reassured the good fellow and the student walked away reluctantly turning towards Annika several times, perhaps he was praying for her wellbeing too. Annika open a random book from her backpack and laid it open on her knee. It was just a cover, to help her avoid attention of good Samaritans. The conversation she had over phone played on her mind in a loop.

"Namaste Phuphaji. This is Annika." The call had started. The gentleman, the man who was her uncle by marriage had taken a few minutes to place her.

"Ahhh!! Annika. How are you? And your brother?" The man had started but had handed over the phone to his wife, before Annika could answer him. The woman was not taking it kindly that her husband was turning over his phone while an unwanted caller was on line. After several minutes of murmurs the woman, who shared Annika's blood, DNA ,straight defined nose and brown almond eyes finally spoke to Annika apprehensively.

"Namaste Buaji."

"Namaste beta." The woman on the other end seemed to bite her tongue as she spoke.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Annika came straight to the point. "I am getting married. My future in-laws want to invite you to the wedding."

There was silence on the other side.

"Hello Buaji are you there?" Annika was as reluctant as her aunt to carry on the conversation but she had to do it for Pinky, for Shivaay, for everything her new family was doing for her.

"Hello .. hello.. Beta.. I cannot hear you." the aunt had responded before the line went dead.

Annika's fingertips started itching. She made a tight fist out of frustration. If only she could scream at the woman and tell her that she had no love lost for her, that it was as much a formality for her as was required. Annika threw her phone into her bag and went to the library returned some books, got a few more. Getting down the library stairs, she forced herself to place the call again. This time the phone rang incessantly before the woman picked up.

"Hello Beta.. I tried to reach you but your phone was busy." The woman lied. Annika knew it.

"So what were you saying?" The woman carried on a reluctant conversation.

"My in-laws want to invite you to the wedding."

"Sure I will ask your Phupha ji to text you our new address. You can ask your in-laws to mail us the wedding invite."

"They want to invite you in person." Words spluttered out with great difficulty like car engine about to die.

Silence continued for a few more minutes till the older lady coughed.

"Of course... of course, your in-laws are as welcome as you and Saahil are. It is your own house." The lady tried to sound sweet, but the bitterness behind her words was palpable.