For Rya,being home was just another semester which was pretty tough compared to the other two. She had never missed her parents when she left home for hostel.Spending time with each other was an obligation both for her and for her parents. With time, she had become a liability for both - Mr. and Mrs. Mahen.
Rya's parents had a love marriage way back in the 80's. They had a smooth sail on the waters of love. Being from the same caste, they never had to face the hassles of an Indian marriage. Rya's mother, Mrs. Archana Mahen was considered to be the most beautiful girl during her college days.Vijay ,Rya's father, had fallen in love with Archana at first sight. He barely knew her when he decided to spend the rest of his life with her. Vijay was a die hard romantic guy and was frivolous by nature.On the contrary,Archana was ambitious and she never ever appreciated the thought of "living for someone else". She was independent in her thoughts but conventional in her acts. She hated the concept of "arranged marriage" and did not have the time to fall in love. But she knew she had to marry someday.She did not concede to Vijay's proposal till her parents forced her to start considering marriage.She liked Vijay as a friend though.Under these circumstances,Vijay's proposal offered her the safest route and she immediately agreed to get married. The initial years of their marriage proved to be the icing on the cake but when the cake itself was made up of the wrong ingredients, how long could it attract celebration? Caste seemed to be the only common thing between them apart from Rya. Their social status did not allow them the luxury to get a divorce and they had mastered the art of staying as separate entities under the same roof. For seventeen years, Rya had been a constant audience to the drama of which Mr. and Mrs. Mahen played their roles perfectly,being single.
While at home, Rya had ample of time to think over that note. At times, she felt Ryan was the one. After all, how much time does it take for someone to change the handwriting or to take help from someone else.But his indifference towards her forced her to think different. By the end of the vacation, Rya was still clueless about this silent admirer of her and she decided to talk to Ryan about this on reaching campus. Mr. and Mrs. Mahen accompanied Rya to see her off at the airport and as she looked back to bid adieu to her parents, she could see two souls standing ,perfectly in resonance with their imperfect lives.
3rd Semester
On reaching campus, Rya first met Anand who waved at her a casual "hi". He had definitely gone to greet Aditi after the holidays.
"How lucky is Aditi!"- thought Rya to herself.
And she kept walking towards hostel.
"Rya!"
Rya looked back and found Aditi gasping for her breath as she tried to lift the three luggages which definitely took a toll on her poor friend.
"Aditi!What are you doing here!"
"What do you mean by that, Rya!I am coming from home."
"But I saw Anand returning from our hostel now.I thought...he went to meet you."
"Anand?"
"Yes Aditi."
"Rya...he must have gone to meet someone else....Actually....Anand and I broke up last month."
"What!...But why?"
"Can we talk about this in room?"
"Okay"-muttered a bewildered Rya.
To Rya's amazement, Aditi was quite callous about the break up.Apparently, Anand and Aditi had realized that they never really felt for each other. It was just an infatuation and it was their mutual decision to call it quits. Rya did not know what to say to this.
She just wished "If only my parents had also realized this!"
In the evening, Rya went out for her usual evening walk. This was the only part of the day which she really loved.She tended to be philosophical when alone and analysing life was an integral part of her solitude. But today,she thought about Aditi and Anand.The idea of being comfortable and indifferent towards the past kept haunting her. But perhaps that's the way life was! She had neither been in love nor been an authority on the subject but she knew that if ever she would, it would be really difficult on her part to just move on in life as if nothing ever happened.
On returning back to hostel,the watchman handed over another envelope to Rya. She took it from him and found it to be unsigned again. She grew impatient and hollered at the watchman:
"Who gave it to you?..What does he look like?"
"She is a little girl." - replied the watchman.
Rya was undoubtedly amazed but not at the mention of the little girl but for the way her silent admirer preferred to being incognito. She could not comprehend the reason behind this but she was definitely looking forward to hearing from him.She rushed to her room and opened the envelope.She found a tiny note along with a Chrysanthemum flower. The note read:
"The moment I saw you today, I realized how badly I had been missing you. All the best for your term ahead!"
Rya folded the note and kept it in her diary along with the previous one.She tried not to think about it but she could only think of one person who could have written it ----It had to be Anand!
Over the next three months in the term, Rya did not receive any other note. Anand spoke casually to Rya whenever they met in the campus and Rya found nothing odd in Anand's behaviour. Aditi had again become the cynosure of the batch. Ryan was totally unassuming for the whole term and he continued avoiding Rya. There were many occasions when Rya tried to talk to him but he always made it a point to find the escape.
One evening while Rya was taking her evening stroll in the park, she chanced upon Ryan. He was sitting alone.
"Hi"- greeted Rya.
"Oh hi!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Definitely not stalking you", smiled Ryan.
Rya reciprocated back with a pleasant smile across her face.
"See Ryan. I am extremely sorry for whatever happened between us on the Fresher's night.It was really mean on my part to talk to you like that and..."
"You do not have to apologize Rya. It was better that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything happens for a reason and that reason is always awesome!"
"But Ryan, we could never be friends because of that.What was so awesome about it?"
"The fact that today you are talking to me!"
Rya did not expect this as an answer but she was totally floored by Ryan this time.She just smiled and told "Ryan,I would have talked to you any way had you not tried to avoid me so vehemently".
"How many guys in our batch have you talked to Rya?"
Rya was speechless and she knew she was in loss for an answer.
"Or am I special?", smiled Ryan.
"Alright I give in. But stop flirting with me Ryan",smiled Rya.
"Okay!Okay! I will not flirt with you but promise me that you will introduce me to all your good looking friends", laughed Ryan.
Rya laughed too and continued asking "But you did not answer me...what were you doing here?"
"Waiting for you", smiled Ryan mischievously and ran away.
Rya saw him walking down from a distance and knew that the seeds of a beautiful relationship were sown.
For the rest of the term Rya and Ryan spent a lot of time with each other and Aditi was their third accomplice in every crime. Rya loved her life. She shared a lot in common with Ryan and she had begun confiding in him. A day without Ryan seemed so dull and boring to her. She kept thinking of him everywhere and every time. The days seemed to fly. She had never been so happy before and before she could realize,the term came to an end.
It was the Christmas holidays and everyone was happy to leave for home except for Rya. She knew she was heading to a sophisticated prison and most importantly she would miss Ryan. She had packed her bags and was waiting to meet Ryan when the watchman handed over another envelope to her.
This time, she did not want to read it.She threw it away and asked the watchman to get a cab. She was getting late for her flight and Ryan was nowhere to see.
The cab arrived but Ryan still did not come.
"Idiot",muttered Rya and left for her holidays.
A few minutes later
Ryan picked up the envelope and smiled to himself as he read the note "This was the best term for me!"
(To be continued...)
