I think I'm cursed! "Thou shall never go out shopping." Once again my plans to go shopping in Madurai ended on the highway. I didn't get drunk as I did yesterday, but I drank as much beer as my system would take without making me tipsy.

Sai and Shivani left for Chennai on Sunday morning. Sai wanted to rest before he could start college on Monday.

I lay in my bed ideally, even my favorite Korean drama 'My Girlfriend is a Nine-tailed Fox' didn't hold my interest now. Am I supposed to say I like 'Boys over Flowers'? I like Lee Seung-gi's cute smile and if I had to pick a drama of Lee Min-ho I would pick the 'City Hunter'. He is hot when in the Action genre. But I didn't want to see Lee Seung-gi's cute smile or Lee Min-ho's hot action, all I wanted was to see Senthil.

"Ananya," my paati called.

I went down to find my friends P. Saranya, Ramya, and Tamil waiting for me, "Hi girls."

"Where are Sai anna and his sister?" asked Ramya.

"They left today morning."

We ended up watching 'Something Something' - a Tamil romance movie. A rich Indian guy from London falls in love with an Indian village girl. The hero says that heroin will wait for him, forever!

Why do they have dialogues like this! The irony! God just loves tormenting me. I could no longer watch the movie, all I thought was Senthil and his commitment. If what Sai said was true, Senthil too would wait for me forever.

I didn't realize the movie ended, Ramya was waving her hand in front of my face. "Did you say something? Sorry I was thinking something else."

Ramya gave me a knowing smile.

"I said, I wish I had someone to love me just like Santhosh (Hero's name in the movie)," said Tamil dreamily.

"Ananya already has one," said Ramya mischievously.

I was taken aback, how did she know about Senthil? Did I think aloud?

"Yes he is very serious about you," said P. Saranya who usually doesn't make such comments.

"Please let's not talk about him."

"He just left this morning and you already miss him."

"He left? Where?"

"To Chennai, of course."

"Chennai! That was sudden. Do you know why?"

My friends looked bewildered at me. "He is studying there right?"

"Studying?"

"Medical college in Chennai!"

"Who are you talking about?" I asked finally. My friends made no sense to me. Senthil has not yet completed high school. How can he go to medical college?

"Sai anna!" they said in unison.

"Oh yeah! Sai!" I finally caught up, am I usually this slow or my brain has turned to slugs now.

I gave up trying to convince them, 'Sai was not in love with me,' theory again, Ramya won't believe me anyway.

That night I dreaded going to school, what am I going to say to Senthil? I don't have commitment issues, if I were 27 instead of 17, Senthil's statement wouldn't have scared me this much. I might have been happy I found a guy who was serious. Despite all his scary marriage talks, I didn't want to stay away from him either.

Monday started with PT, to everyone's delight except mine Mohan Sir was not taking today's PT class. To make things complicated Senthil did the exact opposite of what he usually did. I caught him staring at me more than what was considered normal. Each time I failed miserably to keep the blush off the face.

"Is it hot for you today? your cheeks are pink," commented P. Saranya. I made a great show of fanning myself.

"We will be out here all morning, next is Tamil period."

"Ananya," Senthil called.

I slowly turned my lips curved up in a happy smile as I said, "Yes"

"You have not submitted your math assignment yet. Can you give it to me?"

I haven't done any work during the weekends, I was about to say so when Senthil gestured with his eyes to follow him. Bracing myself I followed him.

After walking some distance away from my friends I said, "Senthil, I haven't completed my assignment"

"I know, I completed your assignment."

"You did.." I trailed as we entered an empty classroom.

"I wanted to talk to you."

Please don't talk about marriage, please don't talk about marriage I chanted in my mind.

"I just wanted to tell you that we should take things slowly. Though I am not sorry I kissed you, I won't distract you from your studies. I will wait till you are ready."

He wasn't talking about marriage, but why does it hurt to hear it from him. Did I expect him to push me to the wall and kiss me in this empty classroom, judging by the disappointment I fret, it seems I did expect him to do such a thing.

"Ok," I said in a hollow voice.

"I want to become a doctor too. I want to be worthy when I marry you."

Why am I blushing? 'Anu! You are against the whole idea of serious commitments, remember?', my annoying inner voice shouted, rolling its eyes at me. But I was busy tucking my hair behind my ear in the most girlish way I have ever been in my life.

"But, please, let's study on weekends."

"Yes," I said breathlessly. What am I agreeing to? Study during weekends or marriage when he is a doctor? Really I didn't know.

"I missed you like crazy yesterday, even if I have to study organic chemistry, I want to be with you."

"We don't need to study to spend time together." My cheeks felt hot, I am sure I looked like a tomato.

"I would love that," he said, smiling broadly.