1377 words
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This part is dedicated to luvreading00
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By the end of the semester I was now a pro at neglecting my studies. Piles lay bundled up at the study table and library books issued last month remained untouched at a corner. But solemnly I woved to get my life together. I made a routine and stuck it on my cupboard, highlighting my rendezvous with Ayan with a red marker. That gave me enough energy to become the patroness of Early Romantics writers and Shakesperean Sonnets. Wordsworth was little eccentric but Keats and Byron gave wings to my fantasies. I enjoyed reading their poems as much as I enjoyed Ayan's intimacy.

Preparing for exams is something which I manage by myself but 'Oh! The heavenly assignments left me woe begone. I bunked few classes and therefore didn't had an iota of idea about how to make this one. It was pretty much different and difficult from the previous assignments. I needed help but who would help a girl who is half the time absent from the class or, even if present, seldom gets engaged in girly gossip. To all my classmates I was a hypie without a caravan whose companionship ought to be avoided.

I strained my caranial nerve and finally came to a fantastic conclusion. May be Kaya could help me out. She is my senior and even if her friends bully me I will bear it with dignity and get my work done. I had her number which she gave me during the induction ceremony at Ayan's company. I called her and after few brainsteering about the colliding timings, she agreed to meet me at noon.

A month passed and I was being well tutored by her. I met her at the canteen or the library or anywhere we could. She didn't mind being troubled at late hours when I frantically called her to enquire about the silliest doubt on Romantic Writers. The best thing that ever happened to me in this college was Kaya. An amiable person and a mentor to my studies. In the course of time she became my confidante too. I talked about the violent dresses being worn by girls in the hostle or the best cold wax. I enjoyed being girly with her.

As on Ayan's part, I made him aware of my sudden engagement with studies and he never complained to me about not giving him enough time. He would enquire frequently about my days being well spent but seldom did we meet. Sundays were awaited with great vigour by both of us. I wished sundays would last longer or else should occur thrice a week.

Sunday was not an excuse for Kaya. She pestered me to complete my assignment well before the submission date. No one in my life took such effort to cajole me to study. I either did it myself or a strong cup of tea would help me. Entry of love in my life did unjust to my studies but it was amply compensated and back on track with Kaya's friendship.

As I sat on the hardwood bench in the canteen with a cup of coffee and Kaya's vigilant glance on my assignment sheets , I wished that the 20 minutes should make an hour instead of the regular 60 or the canteen should be closed down early for today or even an eathquake could have given me raptures. Everything seemed insignificant when I thought about Ayan and me.

My insolent glances were apparently understood by Kaya. She smiled at my sporadic behaviour and exclaimed. " time passes slow for the lovers." I smirked but my hands continued filling sheets one after another. Kaya now and then peeped into my work as if I was handling a RDX bomb. I finished the last sheet with an eureka and threw the pen on the table. I leaned back on my chair and my head howled like thousand wolves. Kaya waited patiently for my deliberate drama to get over. "So finally your assignment is complete." She smiled while arranging the sheets and replacing the pen's cap.

"I am glad is it. Asking help is a burden and i elude from it as much as I can." I reached for my mug and gulped the cold coffee at once. It tasted bitter. Not the coffee but my words. I shouldn't have said that. But alas my eloquent tongue never betrays my candour head. I say what I think regardless of its effect on people. The servility had lost its glint long before I stepped out from my town and now I was congealed by the rough edges of everyday life. And this may account for one of the reason of my incapablilty to retain freinds from being forever.

I was ready for the qualms of caprice but Kaya didn't lose her composure. She laughed her heart out. Unable to extract any conclusion from her geniality, I tried to bury my face under the table but all I could do is lower my gaze as much possible. I never was so bare faced embarrassed before.

"Don't be stressed Farha, I won't scrounge for your help ever." Her exhuberant laughter reverberated in the silence of the canteen. "For you are incaple of any good." She got up to leave unable to shun her laughter. I joined her in hurry, almost tumbling from my chair, to beg pardon for my impertinence.

"Sorry Kaya, I didn't mean to offend but your notion of me being klutzy is wrong." I tried to fend my reputation. "I am capable enough to give you a peice a good advice which is loathsome but much impelling."

"Oh! really," she cried in hysteria, "then you are my private councillor. Tell me that coveret advice."

"You better stay away from Rahul. He is not a good person." My tone was sincere, favouring solicitude for Kaya. "Ayan knows him well and is sure about him. Rahul cannot be trusted."

I concealed Rahul's appalling behaviour from Kaya so that she doesn't doubt my integrity. My awoval would hurt her because her love for Rahul disclaimes all surmises. I just wanted to warn her and so I did.

Kaya stopped laughing for few seconds conjecturing that she was convinced. I smiled victoriously to have my only friend saved from the clutches of a womaniser but suddenly she bursted out in paroxysm of laughter. "You warn me because Rahul first proposed you expecting your ready aproval. How bad that you declined him curtly. He is such a schmuck to earn the wrong opinion of Ayan."

I scowled. So rahul played his cards cleverly, he is a villainious gamester. His contrivance satisfied the concience of Kaya. I gave no second thought but to spurt out the truth to her: "he never proposed me but rather he tried to rape me. He is a brute, a scheming brute."

"Stop." Kaya shouted at me. Her laughters soon ceased and eyes glared at me. "How dare you scandalize him in front of me. Not all people are like Ayan, who flutter round a women like you all the time. You and your boyfriend rob him of his public fame. Your denial wont thwart my love for him. I thought you would be a great friend but i think you dont deserve my companionship." Her petulance matched prefectly with her asperity.

Never in my life did I heard such bitter words. I was not angry, neither I felt dejected, instead I contemplated of me being worst of human beings. "I dont deserve friends!" Why should anyone say that. I moped, giving reasons to myself to extract a conclusion from it. I gazed at her ominuous face. My lips were powerless but my eyes overflowed with feelings. I could feel my cheeks wringing with hot tears. It flowed right down my chin on the ground, one after another.

"I am sorry." Is all I could utter out from my choking throat.

Kaya was apathetic to my every word. It fell on her deaf years as she stomped out from the canteen without any further delay or hesitation. I recollected myself from the spree and wiping my tears I creepingly went out of the canteen, to the cafe outside the campus, in persuit of my smile - Ayan.
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