Amma = Mother

Nanna = Father

Nannamma = Nanna's Amma = Father's mother

*******

THREE YEARS AGO:

Fireworks. That's what it felt like when his lips met mine, knocking the wind out of my lungs. Gentle and tentative in the beginning, his lips coerced mine to open and plunged deep into my mouth sending shivers of delight through out my body.

It is a kiss that obliterated every thought, made me lose myself and ignited a passion that only existed in movies.

While it's hot, demanding and open mouthed, his soft caress across my cheek made my heart flutter in my chest and my skin tremble under his touch.

He tasted like vanilla ice cream. Sweet and cold. Too good to let go.

His lips moved against mine, soft, and warm and I don't want it to end. It's unfamiliar, yet addictive.

Just when I thought I have to get away for air, he pulled away connecting our foreheads. Between our mingling breaths, he brushed his lips with mine. Once. Twice. Then again as he sighed and pressed his lips against my temple.

As the kiss ended, my senses slowly returned to me.

His callused index finger ran against my cheekbone before he withdrew his hand.

Time seemed to pause for few moments and I can feel him stare at me. The silence lasted until I felt his hand again, on the side of my face, his fingers lightly stroking my cheeks.

I felt him kiss my forehead followed by a whoosh of air alerting me of his absence.

I woke up with a start, shocked by what happened. We need to have a talk. He can't leave like that.

But just like every other time, I opened my eyes only to find myself on bed, in my room. The same place where I have been dreaming this kiss consistently for a really long time.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I leapt out of my bed and checked the clock.

7 AM.

Perfect. Just what I needed.

Pacing around my room, I clutched my forehead releasing a heavy sigh of breath "What's wrong with me? He's my best friend"

After five minutes of blaming myself and promising to forget it, I picked up my mobile to send a message to him.

Good morning, Vamsi.

Pressing the send button, I threw my mobile onto the bed and left my room to see my parents.

Nanna is sipping coffee as he's reading news paper. Seeing me, he smiled "Good morning Anju. Slept well?"

"Yes Nanna. Where's Amma?"

"In the kitchen" he replied, turning his attention back to news.

"Ammaa..." I shouted from the living, jumping onto the sofa to switch on TV.

"Ammaa" I called her again when she didn't reply.

I heard a yell followed by mom's angry words "What's with you, early in the morning? Can't you be little calm like a girl?"

"Who said girls are calm?" I replied lazily.

"Look at Lakshmi aunty's daughter. I never heard her raise her voice. She listens to her mother, without speaking a word. It doesn't even feel like she's in her house"

"May be she is not in her house" I said with a shrug.

She threw a glare at me "Now, why did you call me?"

"I am not going to college today. Don't pack my lunch" I said, flipping through the music channels to find a nice song.

"Reason?"

I dreamt of kissing Vamsi again and I'm not going to spend a whole day trying not to think how it'd be like to kiss him for real.

I rolled my eyes "I don't need a reason to stay at home"

"Why didn't you tell me this yesterday evening?"

"Because" I began sweetly "I didn't know yesterday that I won't feel like going to college today"

"What do I do with this girl?" she grumbled, leaving the room.

'Lungi dance'is playing in MTV which made me stop my channel search and increase the volume.

I heard Amma shout something at me from the kitchen but let it go like usual.

Once the song's over, I used the washroom, brushed my teeth and retained my position back at the sofa.

Before leaving to their respective jobs, my parents advised me to be careful, have lunch on time and not be engrossed in TV.

Almost an hour later, I heard the unmistakable sound of Vamsi's Bullet at my front door. Half a minute later, he entered the living, looking freshly showered and perfect.

"Why aren't you ready?" he asked the moment his eyes landed on me.

"I don't want to go" I said grumpily, turning my gaze away from him in embarrassment as snippets of my dream resurfaced.

"We have to go. Did you forget we will be assigned members for our final project today?"

I groaned. How did I forget that?

"You go. I am sure both of us will be in the same project" I mumbled uneasily.

Damn you, stupid brain & your stupid dreams!

"How can you be sure?" he demanded, his brown eyes settling on mine.

"Because Sunitha madam loves us. Also, the whole college knows we do everything together. They won't dare put us in different projects" I explained patiently.

He tutted, shaking his head "This time, it's different and you know it"

I groaned again "Just because we have to do our project with section B students, doesn't mean we won't be together"

He gritted his teeth but stayed calm.

I know what he's thinking. What if we ended up in different projects!

We have been friends for so long that the thought of parting is not only depressing but also heart breaking. It should not be a big deal because we still share our classes but it is.

We studied in the same school, sharing the same bench for few years before class was divided into boys and girls rows.

Later, we went to same college for plus two, and then B.Tech; got admission into the same college 'Saraswathi' through common entrance test, EAMCET.

During the mini projects, lab reports and assignments over the last 3.5 years, we did everything together.

However, the final project of our B.Tech will be different. Instead of grouping us with our classmates, they are going to huddle section A and section B students together.

This will not be a problem for most of my classmates as they have friends in the other section; unlike me whose only friends are Vamsi, Neha and if I have to add, the guys I play cricket with.

My social skills is the main reason for my limited friend circle followed by my attitude. How I managed to keep Vamsi beside me all these years, is still a mystery to my parents.

"Are you getting up?" Vamsi's voice woke me up from my thoughts.

I gave him a depressed look "Should I, really ?"

He nodded "I won't force you if it's not important; you know that"

I do. He would stay back at home whenever I didn't want to go to college. We would sit either at home, watching TV or go to CMR Central and watch other window shoppers like us.

With a wistful sigh, I got up and strode towards my room to get ready.

"Anju, no deodorant this time" he called out "You have to bath!"

How does he know, what I'd do before I get the thought?

"I don't feel like, please" I whined.

"You have 15 mins" he said, checking his watch "10 for getting ready and 5 for breakfast"

I looked at the clock to confirm and sure enough, we are getting late.

Eight minutes later, I am back in the living room in a shirt and loose jeans; my short hair pulled back in a ponytail.

"Can this day get any worse?" I exclaimed, when I saw Vamsi with a plate of idly in his hand.

"Wear your shoes" he ordered, breaking a piece of idly and dipping it in coconut chutney.

"I can't eat that" I cried, picking up the fresh socks he kept on the teapoy.

"We will be late. Open your mouth" he said in a no-nonsense voice, putting the piece of idly near my lips.

I glared at him but did as told.

While I put on socks and shoes, he fed me all the while ordering to chew quickly.

"Its idly" I complained, gulping water to swallow the pieces "You know I hate it"

"So many people don't even have that" he preached the same line every time he hears me complain.

"Last piece" he pleaded when I shifted my head away from his hand "Please. Just one last piece. For me"

I accepted grudgingly and got up from the sofa.

He washed his hands and then went to my room.

"I packed your lunch in your bag. Let's go" he said, coming out and putting my bag on his shoulder.

"We have Computer Networks lab today. I have to get the record, wait" I said, running towards my room.

"I did already" he said nonchalantly.

"And the lab observation book?"

"Yes. Now run along" he said, switching off the fan and TV.

Picking up his bag, we locked the house and raced towards our Grey Royal Enfield 500CC bullet.

"Can I drive?"

"Not today" he said, wearing his helmet in hurry.

"Do you even remember it's a gift for both of us?" I said, sitting behind him as he ignited the engine.

The growl erupted by the engine reverberated the whole street as we drove past the houses.

"I do but I can't let you drive" he shouted against the roar of the engine.

"I can manage and you know it" I said in a disappointed tone.

"It's very heavy. Even I have trouble making sharp turns. You will injure yourself" he chastised.

"I will never know unless you let me"

"How about during summer? I can sit behind you to make sure you will be alright" he conceded and I thought about it.

"We might be busy shopping as we will get acceptance letters by then" I reminded.

"We'll still have two months. Neither you, nor me will use such a long period for shopping" he explained, pressing the accelerator.

If everything goes as planned, less than six months later, we will be aboard a plane to US to do our masters.

Few years ago, when Vamsi said he wanted to do MS, work for few years in US and then set up a software startup in Vizag, I decided that's what I will be doing too.

We went to GRE coaching everyday after classes, for months and got a good score.

After this semester, we'll have to apply student loan of about 20 to 25 lakh rupees to pay fee. It's a financial burden and a hard choice to make considering we already have jobs in our hands.

TCS, one of the prestigious MNCs of our country conducted campus interviews during our 3rd year for which 60% of our classmates got selected; including me and Vamsi.

Though it's the easier option, Vamsi wanted to go through his plans and I am more than ready to follow him.

"Do you have my Manchester United t-shirt?" he shouted against the howling wind and the engine sound making it almost impossible to hear.

"I don't know. Will have to check my cupboards" I yelled into his ear.

The wind against my face and the sun shining brightly above us brought a familiar peace that I began humming "You better run, you better do what you can. Don't want to see no blood, don't be a macho man"

My terrible off-key singing earned a laugh from Vamsi as I continued "You want to be tough, better do what you can. So, beat it but you want to be bad"

"Just beat it" Vamsi sang along.

"Beat it"

"Beat it"

"Beat it. No one wants to be defeated. Showing how funky and strong is your fight"

Already five minutes late, we ran towards the auditorium hoping they don't punish our tardiness by placing us in different projects.

When we arrived, students raised as Sunitha mam, Prakash sir, the head of CSE department are taking their seats on dais.

We slowly crept into the back to where Neha saved two seats beside her.

"Thank you" I said anxiously, taking the seat just as the rest of auditorium lowered onto their seats.

"Why are you late?" She whispered, moving herself close to me.

She looked stunning in her purple kurti, white legging and her regular no makeup - makeup look (Apparently, that's a thing).

"I forgot there's this thing today. I planned to bunk, but" I said, throwing a glance at Vamsi who's looking at the teachers.

"Vamsi reminded and forced you to come" she completed for me.

"Yeah" I said in a defeated tone.

She rolled her eyes and whispered in my ear "The same dream?"

I stiffened "N-No"

"Liar" she replied, trying hard not to smirk.

I made a gesture to shut up and shifted my attention to the stage where the HOD is already explaining how they selected the groups and what is expected from us in the next four months.

His speech went on for another 30 mins followed by Ms Sunitha reading out the available professors assisting us.

In the history of boring speeches in my three and half years here, this one tops the list. My eyes started drifting off and I worked to concentrate on her usual drawling sleepy voice & continued to put up a straight face.

Then came another professor Mr Mohan Varma who taught us Microprocessors and Computer Graphics. He went on like his predecessors about issues we don't care or know already.

"I hate this" I finally said to my two friends sitting beside me. There's only so much blathering a person can endure and they are testing my non existent patience levels.

"Shush" Vamsi reprimanded, turning away.

I glared which went unnoticed making Neha giggle "I was wondering how long you will stay quiet"

"Don't tell me you enjoy their balderdash" I commented, folding my hands against my chest.

"Na. Every time a professor opens his or her mouth, my dream land calls me out in the most romantic tune"

I rolled my eyes and spoke with fake cheerfulness "How lovely"

She kicked my hand with her elbow.

"Ouch" I said, throwing a kick at her side and just like that, we engaged ourselves in a battle of elbows.

"Silence" Vamsi hissed in a low voice putting an end to our war..

I put my finger on my lips and turned my gaze to the crowd around me. My classmates and the 'B' section students looked just like me; uninterested.

Not that the classes after this will be entertaining, but they will certainly be less boring.

To my left, I found Anila, one of my classmates busy chatting, with her hands inside her backpack, her fingers furiously typing something.

"Why doesn't that surprise me" Neha voiced out my thoughts, a look of contempt on her face.

"She's still with David, right?"

I am generally not the type to indulge in stupid gossips but anything seemed better than the garbage flowing out of the loud speakers.

She nodded "I wonder how long. Poor David"

"There's nothing to feel sorry for. He knows her. He chose her. Simple" I replied stiffly.

"She was in five relationships prior to him. We saw what she did to those guys and yet, he" she tutted in disappointment "Sometimes, I don't understand boys"

"They knew what they were getting into" I whispered into her ear, so it won't be audible for Vamsi to scold me "They are no victims"

"Doesn't matter. I hate the way she treats you"

I sighed, sitting back "I don't like her, either"

Anila, my classmate for the last 3.5 years is the only person who can throw a punch at me and get away with it. Only, they are verbal and I have no idea how to counter her without breaking her nose. She's the kind of girl who's a goddess on the outside and devil in the inside; which you can't see until you get past her prettily made up face.

She's no Regina George but she can be mean to people without trying.

The sound of thunderous applause brought back my attention and I found prof. Mohan back at his chair.

Our class teacher Ms Sunitha is back with a smile as she spoke into the microphone "I know you all have been eagerly waiting to know who your partners are! So without further adieu, we would like to announce the groups for your final project"

What came next is a long recital of names..

However my first shock of the morning came when I heard "Group 15. Neha Bansal and S Anila from section 'A' and Mohammad Yousuf and D Shreya from section 'B'"

Neha looked furious at the announcement. She gaped to and fro between Anila and the professor, shocked by the new development.

"What the hell" She whispered, looking infuriated at the professor.

"I am sorry" I finally said, placing my hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"This can't be happening" her face looked sullen.

I sympathized with her but there's nothing we can do about it except be optimistic "May be she won't be that bad"

She groaned "We both know you're bad at lying"

"Phew! Now I am scared who my partners will be"

"Not worse than mine"

"Who knows" I replied casually.

Vamsi seemed to understand we are getting close for he took my hand into his and said "We are in this together"

"I am going to kick her ass if we aren't in the same group" I said angrily.

"Are you talking about our class teacher?" Neha piped in.

"Mind your language Anju" Vamsi hissed threateningly "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"It's the way I am" I snapped annoyed by his constant lecturing of how I should talk "I can't change it"

"You don't try" he said furiously, shifting his gaze away from me but not leaving my hand.

And suddenly, I am angry too.

Angry with Vamsi for complaining about my bad habits. Angry with my mom for constantly lecturing me how I should be like other girls. Angry with my Nannamma for always taunting me about my colour. And right now, angry with my department they made Neha partner with the girl she hated the most.

However my anger turned into curiosity the moment I heard my name.

"Group 23. P Anjali and S Vamsi from Section 'A'" The grin on Vamsi's face is turned into wonder almost immediately with what followed "T Nisha and B Vineet from section 'B'"

Nisha.

Nisha.

I may not be aware of majority of section 'B' students but I heard of her on multiple occasions in the last 3.5 years.

She was crowned Miss fresher in our first year of college and she was all I heard for a week, after the freshers party; which I missed because I was busy brawling with my senior Ashok.

There is another person who gave tidbits of her life occasionally.

Vamsi.

"Everyone's talking how she's looking like an angel in that white dress"

"Word around the college that she paid her classmate Sindhu's fees"

"Did you know what song she's performing this time? The same one you change channels as soon as you see it on TV"

"Sandeep proposed to her but she rejected. I wonder why"

"Apparently her parents are rich and yet she's so humble"

Nisha this, Nisha that.

The way she is adored by her teachers, desired by boys, spited by girls and loved by parents, she is a walking cliche.

Except she is real. And she will be our partner for the next four months.

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Thank you for reading. Please Vote, comment and share.

In case you are wondering who made such a pathetic cover, I'd like to say that I take full credit for that. Among the innumerable things I'm terrible at, making book covers is one of them.

Hope you liked the first chapter. See you on Saturday. 

- JANAKI