BEZUBA, PART 19

~BEZUBA~

~PART 19~

Geet was in a hurry. No she wasn’t getting late but the jitters in her stomach made it seems like the clock was running fast just like her heart beats. She was afraid in her excitement-that had become so big it could be counted as nervousness-she would forget something, do something idiotic. Gosh, she had thought she would never see a college much less a college in a metro city.

Phew, it felt like a dream so when she came out of the bathroom and found a grey and pink thing on her bed she actually thought it was dream. The laptop was slick and glorious. And were those… real diamonds? 

There was a mobile beside the laptop too.

Clothes were fine but with this Dadimaa had gone too far off.

Yeh hum nahi laye. Dadimaa told unlike last time when Geet had come to her with clothes in hand. Humme lagta hai yeh Maan aapke lie le kar aaye hai.

Geet was first confused then ecstatic then apprehensive. All those emotions mixed and turned into anger. *Kis haq se unhone mujhe yeh dia? Apni patni nahi maante, khud ko swarthy kehte hai… aur mere lie yeh sab karke mujhe chota bana dete hai.*

There was no exact time anymore when Maan left for office, sometimes he left too early so she half expected him to not be there in his room when she walked in. But he was there wearing his tie. His thick lashes rose to reveal dark orbs that sucked her into their depths. Maan was dazed to dazed to see her in jeans, kurti and a stole. Her straight hairs were open falling down to her waist. She looked so different and angelic, fresh- He didn’t want to let her go out alone. Absence of her ever-present symbols of marriage didn’t escape his eyes. He felt a pang of hurt, he wasn’t a conformist but she was… going away. This was the grand start. He smiled ruefully.

He saw the lappy and mob in her hands.

You look beautiful and the laptop matches your stole. His lovely smile was smug. It’s a gift since you are joining college and would need these. And it’s also to say that I am there with you. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. If you need anything, anytime. Did you… like it?

He waited for her response and she nodded after few still seconds, relief flooded him. He had personally selected the design and had it custom made. Obviously it had costed him a fortune but he wanted to give her everything special. The best person deserved the bestest of things. Geet signed a thank you and left with the laptop hugged to her chest. For a moment he wanted to be there in her arms but as she walked away he reminded himself of the mountain of reasons why that would always be a dream, never to come true.

She caressed the laptop with wet eyes and big smile. Despite whatever he said, she did mean something to him. The gestures that he put in so much effort to hide said so, his eyes said so. The way he had asked if she liked it, Geet knew that expression… it was of hope. On his face there was a kind of fear that she wouldn’t like his gift. How could she deny it? When he was looking at her with those big eyes that gave him away. Only sometimes did it happen that the real Maan broke through the hard exterior, the Maan who had saved her from her family and later consoled her, taking her so tenderly in his arms.

She loved his gifts. They were a bit flashy-specially the laptop-and would catch everybody’s eyes but still it was most amazing gift because it was from her husband. Her smile broadened even more when a naughty idea came to her mind. She would make him teach her all their functions and if he tried to deny she would say it was his own doing since he only brought the them. That way she could spend some time with him, hayeee… she blushed grinning like a fool.

After taking babaji and dadimaa’s blessing Geet left for college. The car dropped her at the college gates. Madam ji, sham ko mai aapko yahi pe milunga. Geet nodded too unnerved to even smile. A gal walked passed, accidently bumping into her. Her bag fell and Geet muttered a sorry. Babes look where you are walking.

Well she wasn’t walking. What a welcome! Inside, the college was huge and by the time she stopped looking around in wonder, the bell rang and pupils started to rush around. Geet had the schedule but didn’t know where her classroom was. She attempted at catching someone to ask direction but couldn’t, it was like a tornado had hit the place. A whistle had her halting. There was group of boys sitting over a raised platform.

Hi. They all said in chorus and waved their hands. Geet smiled and awkwardly waved her hand. Fresher? One of them asked and Geet bit her lip. She didn’t want to get ragged. Nai. She said but they probably already knew she was new so instantly nodded her head. The guys laughed. Hoo ke nai hoooo…? One drawled and she gulped making a baby face. Geet looked back at the now deserted ground and the empty corridors beyond. She adjusted her stole and practically ran from there.

The guy who had asked about her being fresher had came behind her. She turned back and he titled his head to look up, whistling casually. *Babaji kaha phasa dia?* Geet cribbed walking faster, checking the room numbers to find hers. She climbed the stairs and Fresher? Guy followed. Class dhundh rai ho? She didn’t reply. Kam sunai deta hai madam? Are you searching for your class? I can help you. She looked at him skeptically and nodded then showed him her schedule, pointing at the room number. It’s this way. She started to walk in that direction. Oh, am sorry. Your class is that way. I forgot. Giving him an annoyed look she turned to go in the said direction. Wait… even this not the right way; I guess your room is upstairs. He smirked and Geet felt like slapping that smirk off his face. *Khud ko kya samjhta hai gadha kahika.*

Deciding to search her own way she marched pass him. Hey, I didn’t do it intentionally. I just have loose memory, you know. She kept walking rapidly looking at the class room numbers and getting glares from the teachers inside. She started to ascend the stairs. Listen… Fresher? Guy held her hand and that was it. She slapped his hand away, inadvertently scoring his skin with her nail. What the hell. He hissed.Sorry… sorry. Geet held the same hand now in hers, examining the damage. It wasn’t much just a tiny scratch.

Tum karo toh chamatkar, hum kare toh balatkar. He spoke snootily and Geet snatched her hands back going all red. Your room is fourth from right. With a wink he raced down the stairs. This time he had told right and Geet finally entered her classroom.

You are late. The prof said as if she didn’t know. Geet hung her head down. Late college admission then late comer in class as well. Don’t know how the administration gave you admission. Go sit at the back. Geet complied while the prof kept cursing the college administration and her.

Don’t be sad. The chubby girl sitting beside Geet whispered. It’s usual. He is like that only. Happens, after you teach dumbasses for years. Myself Pinky from Punjab. New to Delhi. Chip?

Geet picked chips from the offered packet and ate hiding her face behind the student’s head who was sitting in front. *I am Geet. I am also from Punjab.* She wrote on her pad and showed. Pinky thought Geet didn’t want to get caught that’s why she was writing.

By lunch time Geet and Pinky had become friends and were talking like they knew each others for years… well, not talking exactly. Pinky soon discovered that Geet couldn’t speak but that didn’t disrupt their gossips.

Dadimaa was right. What gals were wearing here was skimpy and many attires made her blush. Geet was observing the clothes only when her eyes locked with familiar ones.

Annie was looking at her with murderous eyes. For a second Geet didn’t know how to react, whether to acknowledge Annie or just ignore like she didn’t know her SIL because Annie might not like talking to her between her friends. Her dilemma was solved as Annie turned on her heels and strode away very angrily. The rest of the day was nothing special, Geet attended classes and went back home.

She told Dadimaa everything from the Fresher? Guy to Annie. They were just talking when Annie came in boiling red. May I know what the hell you were doing in my college?

Dadimaa- Usne admission lia hai, Annie.

Annie- Ghar kya kam tha jo yeh college me bhi aa gai. Akhir iski problem kya hai? And she started saying all this and that about how Geet couldn’t study that too in ‘HER’ college, how Geet was making ‘HER’ life miserable. Geet wasn’t surprised at all. The expressions with which Annie was looking at her in college Geet had known this would happen. Thankfully Geet had become inured to Divya and Annie’s taunts and tantrums.

Dadimaa- Annie aap saari tameez bhul gai hai kya? Yeh apki bhabhi hai aur aap inse aise kaise baat kar sakti hai?

Literally, smoke was coming out of Annie’s ears. Dadimaa I know she is your favorite but please spare me. Yeh meri bhabhi-wabhi nai hai. With a disgusted face, Annie pointed a finger at Geet. Don’t you dare talk to me in college or even look at me and I don’t want anyone knowing that you have something to do with me.

It was Geet’s second week in college and Pinky hadn’t come because she was sick. Apart from Pinky Geet had no other friend because of her inability to speak which was a barrier when it came to making friends out of unwilling people. But not everything was that bad. One thing that Geet was scared of the most didn’t happen. Ragging. She was relieved like all other freshers in college. Almost a month had passed since the sessions had started and there was no mention of ragging anywhere. The college authorities were very strict about it.

It was just when that all freshers had become damn sure no ragging was going to happen the seniors called them to assemble in hall.

Last precap continued..

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