School was over. College was about to start. The paranormal shift of location that normal to be engineer today encounter didn’t un-nerve him. A shift from Chandigarh to Delhi wasn’t that bad. Especially when his cousins were residing in Delhi. His parents had been delighted. They had never quite expected him to get into such a great college and hence he was loaded with brand new i-pod classic and such techies. The phone had a staggering camera which most of his friends had loved and hence he was happy too. And he was ravished at the idea of the sense of freedom his elder sister had told him about. Plus Delhi! The city of a million things. Not that Chandigarh was any less but then Delhi was the freaking capital of it all not just economically. He wasn’t just happy. He was delighted. That was last semester. The first time he went to college.
Now he had his own bike. The Delhi to Chandigarh highway barely was four hours and he had his share of fun driving. The cell phone had been stolen so he had bought a blackberry. The i-pod was making love to his ears and the weather to his upper section. He stopped at Ambala at his friends’ place. They were discussing bikes and IC engines when the worst happened. His friends’ mother came running into the room shouting that his sister had met with an accident and they had to rush. His father was out of town on some business and they were preparing to catch an auto or call a taxi when he offered his bike to his friend in emergency. Hurriedly they thanked him and ran. He stayed for a while playing NFS on his laptop and then got hungry. The fridge he did not wish to open, it wasn’t his house after all so he stepped outside and walked into a restaurant. His friend called him saying that, they would be late but his sister was out of the woods, so he didn’t need to come in the hospital and he should take a bus to Delhi. He rejected the idea and told them to relax. They could take their time. He would leave tomorrow or day after if need be. As he ate he noticed a girl on the corner table. She looked familiar. He walked over to her and smiled saying “Is it just me or have I seen you somewhere.”
“It’s just you”. She smiled.
“May be not. I am sure I have seen you. Would you have anything to do with Delhi College of Engineering?”
“Yeah I live there.”
“No wonder. I am a student there. First year Mechanical.” He replied full of excitement.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I am Amol Behl.”
“Nikita”
“May I join you?”
“What choice do I have?”
“Depends on whether you like eating alone.”
“I don’t.”
“Then what choice do you have?”
“Take a seat”
He sat down grinning.
“So what are you doing in Ambala?” He asked.
“Just came back from Chandigarh. Was hungry. Decided to take a break.”
“Cool. Me too.”
“Yeah?”
“Well technically I was visiting a friend but his sister had an accident so they had to rush.” He added.
“Oh my God is everything okay?”
“Yeah she’s fine, but my friend has taken my bike so I am stuck here a while. They live right across the street. I was hungry. Hence here.” He said.
“Amusing life you have.”
“Not really. So what are you up to nowadays?”
“Trying to convince my dad to marry me off.” She smiled again.
“What?”
“I am kidding, she said and grinned.”
“I am currently in my B.Com, second year in DU.” She added.
“Well. Saw any new movies?” He asked her.
“Naah. Aint much into movies.”
“Why not?”
“They suck?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Real life is much more interesting.”
“Is it?”
“Sure. Like look at us now. Two people from the same city coming from the same city after a holiday.”
“That’s exactly what movies are made up off.” He said.
“Yeah that and desi masala. Kind of pisses me off. Lame jokes. Spoil a perfect story.”
“So I am guessing you do watch English movies.”
“Sure. They rock.”
He laughed.
“What?”
“It’s funny.”
“What’s funny?”
“I don’t like hindi movies much either. Some are great but the rest well aren’t so great.”
“What were you doing in Chandigarh?” He asked.
“Friends’ sister’s wedding.”
“You went there alone?”
“Naah took some friends along. They decided to stay.” She replied.
“I have an exhibition tomorrow. So had to return.” She added.
“Exhibition?” He asked astonishingly.
“Yeah. I paint.”
“Damn that’s solid. What do you love painting the most?”
“Lies.”
“What?”
“You will never get it unless you see for yourself.” She said.
“Then I sure will.”
Then she signaled to the waiter and asked for the bill.
“You didn’t eat much. Not hungry?” She asked him.
“Naah I had been here a while before you came.”
“Oh. So what now?”
“A wait I guess.” He replied.
“Why?”
“Hospital, friends’sister, bike remember?”
“Oh yeah right. Tell you what, I am alone, You can join me.” She grinned.
“You sure?”
“Off Course. Catch me outside in 15. Get your luggage. Lets do a roadtrip.”
“Wow. Thanks.”
He walked outside beaming all over and then ran to the house to gather his luggage. On the way he texted his friend about his leaving to Delhi and the bike. When he was outside the hotel again he saw a ford ikon parked there.
She was standing right next to it talking on the phone.
He couldn’t help over hearing as he put his luggage on the rear seats.
Mom I will be in a while. Yes mom. Relax. I will be safe. Chalo I better run now. Bye. And don’t worry too much.
She then cut the phone and smiled. “Mom like every other mom. One hell of a cook and an even better worrier.” She said.
He smiled.
“You set?” She asked him.
“Yeah.”
“See I am kind of tired so I will drive fast. Any problems?”
“Let me drive then.” He put an offer to her.
“Naah. This babe is mine and mine only. I let no one drive it.”
“Why not?”
“It was a gift.”
“From whom?”
“Someone.”
They sat inside and she started the car. It roared and then moved.
“Tell me about that someone.” He asked her.
“He left. But he left most of his things behind.” She replied.
“One of them being you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t let anyone drive the car because it was a gift from him. What is that but love?”
She grinned.
“You are ridiculous.” He said her.
She stopped the car. And then she glared at him.
He then looked into her eyes and realized how beautiful they were. As he swam among the depths in those craters of brown liquid she coughed.
“Ahem Ahem.” She interrupted.
“Oh sorry. Why did you stop the car?” He asked.
“He used to say I was ridiculous too.” She said.
“Err sorry.”
She sighed.
“I am sorry. I get hyper when I think of him. Which happens like pretty damn every minute.” She replied in a gloomy voice.
“First love does that to you.” He smiled.
“You know?”
“Not really. Never been in love.”
“Honest?” She asked astoundingly.
He nodded.
“You could start the car you know.” He reminded her.
“Yeah right. I forgot.” She laughed and they were on the move again.
“So tell me about this guy.” He started it again.
“Sure after you tell me about your crushes.” She replied with a sweet smile again.
“There weren’t any.” He said.
“I am guessing there weren’t many but there were a few I can bet.”
“Well yeah but…”
“But?”
“I haven’t quite talked about them much before.”
“Why the hell not? Were they dumb blondes?”
“No. no one ever asked.”
“I just did.” She said faking innocence.
“I am not telling.”
“Why not?”
“You will know them better.”
“Why is that?”
“I am guessing one of them is you.” He smiled.
She grimaced.
“Trying to flirt?”
“Am I allowed?”
“No. You are a kid.”
“No I am not!”
“Sure you are. You will just never accept it.”
He was silent.
“So you say you have a crush on me. Since how long?”
“It started right after you stopped the car. The way your eyes sparkled when you talk about painting. The way they glared when I said you were ridiculous. I kind off couldn’t help watching them.”
“So you like my eyes. Big deal.” She smirked.
“That’s a start. I could learn to like the rest.”
“And why would you?”
“I am guessing you are worth it.”
She gave him an expression of pure contempt.
“And what does that say?” She asked.
“That you are one hell of a lover.”
“Really?”
“You stick to him even after he is gone. I could do with someone like that”
“You are sweet.”
“I could be much more trust me.”
“Yeah like my dads’ student.”
“What? You are kidding?” He was stunned.
“Why would I?”
“Now what?”
“You tell me.” She asked.
“Maybe we could be fiends. It may work out, it might not.”
“And how do you know I am not telling dad about this.”
“I don’t.”
Now he had her attention.
“So what if I do tell? What is the worst that can happen?”
“I am thinking on the lines of a rustication letter.” He replied in a miserable voice.
“Well I was thinking on the lines on how a certain someone could give him a better complement than to like his daughter.” She said.
“That’s a complement?”
“Isn’t it to you?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you are touched but not ready to accept it.”
“Yeah.”
“Or you are pretty bipolar and lost and have no idea what to say solely cause you are still dreaming of him coming back.”
“I am not. I am just stuck to him. You see he dies.”
“Damn. I am sorry.”
“You should be. I am his.”
“Ever thought what he would have ever wanted?”
She was silent.
“He would have wanted you to be happy and to experience life without him if not with him. But then what is life alone? It’s shitty. Trust me I know.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Been alone all my life. Friends are good. But sometimes you need intimacy. I know I need it. You know you need it. Why deny it?” He replied.
Now she was sad.
Stop the car he said.
“Why?”
“Do it.”
She stopped.
He stepped out of the car, she followed suit. They had parked right beside the highway. He walked to the highway holding her hand and showed her.
“Look at those lights.” He indicated.
It was dawn. The sun was peeking at the world from under the bed sheets. The lights coming from the cars lighting up the fog created an aura of pure serenity.
“Tell me would it be the same if there were single lights?” He asked her.
She watched.
“I doubt.”
“It really is beautiful. I never noticed.” She replied.
“Only because you are lost in your own world where he is alive and with you in whatever century it was. “
“That was rude.”
“Sure it was. But then think. When there is so much to life, how can you let one bad thing stop you from it all?” He said and she was deeply in thoughts.
“I still paint.”
“Only to vent lies. The truth about you is hidden behind them. Why hide?”
“Not she was stunned. He hadn’t seen her paintings. “
“How do you know?” She asked astoundingly.
“I don’t. I guessed. And by the looks of it I guessed right. So how about we start living? Or in fact you start your life? Because I am definitely living mine. But I could do with some company. Interested?”
