Page 55 of Storm
A few days passed like that. One afternoon, just as I wrapped up with my lectures and was about to go home, I turned around a corridor and— ‘That’s a catchy tune.’ I thought to myself, tapping my foot along with the rhythm.
I glanced inside a classroom; Sani's whole batch was in there. A couple of boys and girls were dancing in all their glory at the song blasting from the music system. Sani and other students were cheering for them.
That is when; Sahil stopped dancing and moved towards her with his hand outstretched. For a second, I stood shocked thinking, he was going to ask Sani for a dance. Probably, he was the one; she was in a relationship with. Then to my utter relief, he asked another girl sitting beside her.
‘This girl is going to ruin me for life. Much as I try to stay away from her, all my efforts go to vain. Always.’ mumbling to myself, I took a last look at Sani, who was now clapping with her friends.
I went away from there, before any of them could see me.
Sani
‘Since past many days, Aariz had been so quiet, especially not talking to me at all. Nor did he irritate me or crack jokes. Then instead of being happy about it, why did I feel like shit? Why was I still feeling bad about arguing with him in the restaurant and hurting him? Today when he spoke informally with everyone like old times, then why was my heart filled with warmth?’ Shaking my head, I told myself, I was thinking too much about Aariz.
A couple of days went by this way, with me unable to stop thinking about him all the time. Soon, we were given topics for two assignments and were asked to make PowerPoint presentations for the same, which we had to present before our classmates and both Prof Philip and Aariz, so that we could be graded on it.
Before that, we had to show our presentation on the first assignment to Aariz, so he could show us our mistakes. It was supposed to happen days before the final presentations and projects submission.
One such day after classes, many of my batch mates decided to go to his office, to show him the first drafts of their presentations. Almost half the girls were going, obviously to ogle and grab Aariz's attention like always, given the fact that they were puffing their hair and redoing lip-gloss.
I went along and as I had told Zee, the whispers had started again-
She is always going to his office. All the time.
I think something is on between...
Oh please! Why would he be interested? He might be having a girlfriend of his own age.
He talks only with her in the classroom.
I think I even saw something once. But, I'm not so sure.
Is it a lovers spat they are going through?
It made me want to yell and it made me want to die out of suffocation all at the same time. Yet I knew I had to keep a level head. If I react, then doubts get an encouragement. They get a push to hike up and destroy me. If I ignore, they would get bored eventually.
The most painful part was I could not even share it with my family. Because what could I say? Aariz being friends with all my cousins, they would think I was pinning over their friend who was elder to me, not to mention was my Professor! They would certify me as a fool. They would definitely worry. I won’t be surprised if Zee offered some therapy advice, playing shrink on me. Oh God...! That would be embarrassing on so many levels.
I could obviously not tell Rose and Mirelle about it. Knowing the hurtful truth, that Rose was a part of the whisper mill around the class and Mirelle might be too for sure. After all, she followed Rose. That is what she did.
We reached his office. Prof Philip was in their too. Busy with some work.
I turned towards Aariz and timidly offered my pen drive, “Sir, could you have a look at my presentation?”
“You guys will have to wait. Right now Prof Philip is using my laptop as there is something wrong with his.” Aariz gave me an apologetic look.
Students who had accompanied me, shuffled out at his words.
But I stayed put bringing my best pleading face on, encouraged by his soft smile,
“Wait?! I'm already getting late for going home. Please, can you keep this pen drive with yourself and tell me tomorrow how the presentation is? I will leave now.” I could not hold back the grin, cheering myself with the solution.
Aariz raised one eyebrow, shaking his head. But, I could see him biting back a chuckle.
“No, I have to check it in front of you. In order to show you, what mistakes you have made. Let’s do one thing, you come tomorrow with this pen drive, and I will see it then, all right?”
He looked at me all deep and warm, making a shiver run down my spine, just by his gaze alone.
I tried my best not to fumble as I managed to speak,
