Chapter 1
OH! MY GAWWWD... I exclaimed when he stepped in. How could somebody look so cute; so cool? He stepped into the classroom and also into my heart. My heart beat to the rhythm of his foot steps.
He was very fair; red lips as if straight from snow white and seven dwarfs. I know Snow White won’t be an apt description for the MAN in my life; but that’s what first struck me when I saw him.
He sat right next to the stud on whom I had a crush; just a few minutes back. I was in a dilemma (dharmsankat you see). I just couldn’t decide whom to look at. The stud Mr. Rock or the cutie Mr. Puppy. To my relief; both were sitting next to each other so I could have my cake and eat it too.
The chemistry teacher entered and soon the entire class was engrossed in acids and bases. I too mixed my salty fantasies with the acid like Mr. Stud and basic MR. Puppy. I started loving chemistry lectures. I could add any of them to my salts and get desired results that defied laws of electrons and protons.
And suddenly Mr. Gopalan stood besides me to see what examples of endothermic and exothermic reactions I had given.
On reading my notebook his temperature reached the boiling point. Confused; I saw my notebook. It read
Stud Acid + beautyqueen à Love + heat (exothermic)
Naaaah
Mr. Puppy base + beautyqueen + heat -> Love (endothermic)
Sounds cool.
Without any questions he directed me out of the class and asked me to see him after the lecture. For the first time in life; I dint feel scared because I knew I was in Love. I began to concentrate on my chemistry with Mr. Puppy. Now I understood what Mr. Gopalan meant when he said: “In a chemical reagtionn; some bonds are made and some are broken”. My notebook which would now become my diary told me that bond between Mr. Stud and me was broken and a new bond was made; between me and Mr. Puppy.
And then there was Mr. Gopalan happily shaking me out of my romantic dreams. He scolded me of not being attentive in class. He said he would spare me; if I told him what a Chemical Reaction is.
Huhh!! These teachers. They surely know how to bully us.
“So Miss beautyqueen! I am waiting for your response.”
Ummmmmm… Sssssirrr.
A chem…hicall reaction (I could sense my ears turning red; and I could feel the smell of H2S –this H2S smell always bothers me when I am nervous).
OK! CHILL …
Calm down… You know it:
Sir
“During any chemical reaction, there is a conversion of the reactants into a single or many products. The chemical reactions occur under the appropriate conditions of pressure and temperature in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst plays a significant role in increasing the rate of a chemical reaction without actually getting involved in that reaction.”
Eureka!! I knew it. Of course! I knew it. So Mr. Gopalan! May I leave; I have another lecture to attend. Surprised Gopu; stepped aside and I strode… proud of my victory.
What a morning: Two crushes; victory over Gopu. I surely deserve a coffee treat at CCD.
Girl! You need to focus. Remember you just found the MAN of your dreams.
During any chemical reaction, there is a conversion of the reactants into a single or many products. – So True!
Now I have to create appropriate conditions in presences of a catalyst. The catalyst plays a significant role in increasing the rate of a chemical reaction without actually getting involved in that reaction.
So what can be the Catalyst in my chemical reaction? I need to plan, observe and act. God! I have got goose bumps; I am on a (shhhh...) Secret Mission.
Day 2
Look at all the girls; they are just drooling over Mr. Stud.
Bimbos…
But why should I worry. I have no competition as surely these girls will notice my cutie-pie but they will remain at – “OH! He is sooo… chweeeet” .
Mine is true love. Let them focus on Stud.
He stepped in coyly wearing a mauve shirt and white trousers. The clean shaven look, the gelled set hair. Everything is so neat about him. He is so different and so stylish and …
Am I blushing?
I can sense something happening in my stomach.
OH!! That’s butter chicken from last night’s dinner crying hoarse.
CONCENTRATE
Gopu is here. I’d better focus on the lecture; else Puppy would consider me dumb; if I am thrown out of the lecture daily.
Mr. Gopu this year I’ll top chemistry (which one? the time will tell).
Puppy and Stud again sitting together. So they have become kind of pals.
Ahem… Stud would serve as the catalyst.
I should befriend them and then play my game.
But how?
GOD please help me. This time. LAST TIME. Rest I will manage on my own. GOD please please please. . .
Ginni! Are you concentrating?
[Aaaargh this Gopu... Always wakes me up in the middle of my dreams]
Me: mmm Yessss Suurrrrrrr!
Gopu: Ok tell me what is a neutralization reaction? Is it exothermic or endothermic?
[Am I sweating out of nervousness?
Naaaah the weather here is humid]
Gopu: So you don’t know? Get ou..
Me: Ssssir sir! I know… in this acid and base react to give water and salt. Generally it’s exothermic but there can also be endothermic reactions…
[huhhhhh … please don’t ask me which one. I dozed off last night after studying this line.]
Gopu: OK! But you come and sit here [pointed to the bench of Puppy and Stud.]
Me: Yes Sir! [Gopu I love you.. Thank you God... You are a dude. ]
[Distances make the heart grow fonder. I’ll sit next to Stud and not Puppy. I can’t make it so obvious]
Gopu: Class. The example of neutralization reaction that is Endothermic is…
Me: Hi!
Stud: Hi!
Me: I missed something in notes. Can I see yours?
Stud: [grinning] Are you crazy? Why would I take notes? It’s the girls who like a typewriter; type away everything the teacher speaks.
Me: [smiling] but like girls you are sitting at the front desk. [That’s a bouncer; you MCP]
Stud: [taken aback]. [Grinning] Well! Like all guys I came late and had to take this front desk as all other benches were occupied.
[Suddenly I saw Gopu’s prying eye on me. Gosh! He seems to be obsessed with me]
Ok! Let’s focus on the lecture. [And the Stud winked; as if he knew where I was focusing.]
The bell rings and finally Gopu walks out of the room. [huuffff..This man will never let me live.]
[Now is my chance! Now is my chance. Pounce on him Ginni.]
and then suddenly Mr. Stud came to my rescue
Stud: Hi! I am Rajiv.
Me: [smiling] Hiii!! I am Ginni.
Stud: Yeah! By now the entire class knows. The dreamy girl. [Again that stupid grin]
Me: [You @$$H0**; you are maligning my image in front of the love of my life; with whom I haven’t yet had an introduction.]
Me (to Pup): Hi there! I am Ginni.
Pup: Hi!! I am Nitin.
[Wow! Cool name. As cool as he looks.]
Me: Nitin, I was wondering; if you have taken today’s notes … As I have missed a few points.
Nitin: Missed a few points (ahem ahem..) So what you were dreaming about.
[OH! My GAWWD… He has guessed already; that I was thinking of him. Shitt!! Shittt...]
Nitin: Just kidding. Sure you can borrow my notes.
[How cute… This guy takes notes and is ready to help. Why doesn’t God make more of his kind?]
Me: Thanks
Me: [to both] so shall we go to the canteen?
Stud: Yep sure…
Nitin: Yeah! I would love to join.
At night: To my diary
Oh! My GOD! What a day it was. Just 1 chemistry lecture and the entire day with Stud and Nitin in the canteen. Gosh! These guys are so funny.
There seems to be a good friendship between Stud and Nitin and I have to take advantage of it.
Action Plan:
I will increase proximity with Stud and behave as a casual friend to Nitin. I will see if he gets jealous.
If he gets jealous: After making him more envious; I’ll concentrate on him. He will start valuing me and then … la la la la
What if he doesn’t get jealous?
Well! In that case; I will gain Nitin’s sympathy by complaining about Stud; of how rude he is and the mean things he says. Then Nitin will come closer to me and then … la la la la…
OH! My GOD! Ginni you are a genius.
Wait! Am I doing something wrong? I am deceiving my friends.
No! I am not. I am just trying to get some-one I love. All’s fair in Love and War.
Mission PUPPY on roll.
In days to come everything worked out as I had planned.
From next day onwards we became a gang. We would sit on the last bench and I would sit in between Nitin and Rajiv. I was having the best of both worlds. In between lectures I would talk to Rajiv about movies, plan outings. Through the corner of my eyes I would see Nitin’s reactions. I could sense him getting jealous.
[YIPPIEE! He likes me. It’s working].
I would spend time with Nitin catching up with notes; clearing doubts and he would happily do it. I used to have fun spending time with him.
Nitin: So how is everything with Rajiv?
Me: Oh! All is good. But sometimes I don’t like his ways.
Nitin: As in? What happened? Any problem?
[God! He is taking interest in me and Rajiv. He is concerned. Maybe he wants to know if we are going around.]
Me: Nothing. [Not so easy. I’ll make him more jealous]
Nitin: No. Tell me.
[I love this concerned tone. He is perfect.]
Me: Well. I have to leave. I will see you later.
Nitin: Ok! Bye.
[Ahem ahem! All is working well. What should be my next move? I will call him]
[Nitin calling . . .]
Nitin: Hi! Ginni how are you doing?
Me: I am doing OK.
Nitin: OK? That means you are not doing fine.
Me: No… I mean yes I am fine.
Nitin: OH! Come on! Tell me now.
[He wants to listen. He is interested in me; and so he is concerned. WOW…
OK!
Control. Relax]
Me: Nothing is bothering me. Not feeling great today.
Nitin: Ok.
Pause
[Gosh! Speak you fool. This is your test.]
Nitin: Ok! I have an idea to lift your spirits.
Me: What?
Nitin: Let’s go to for a movie and then we’ll go to CCD.
[Oh! My God! He is asking me out. WOWWW…]
[I think I shouldn’t sound desperate.]
Me: No dude. Not today. I just don’t feel like going.
Nitin: Oh!
[Don’t step back puppy! Persuade. I will say yes]
Nitin: In that case I won’t force you.
[Oh No! No GOD… Please God make him persuade me. GOD please help me. This time. LAST TIME. Rest I will manage on my own. GOD please please please. . . ]
Me: Hmmm
Nitin: Ok! We won’t go for a movie. Just for a walk.
Me: ummm.
Nitin: For me?
[Anything for you, darling… ]
Me: OK. I’ll see you outside my hostel.
[Thank you. Thank You God.]
...
It had just rained when we went out for the walk
Nitin: I love this smell after the rain.
Me: Me too. This smell of earth is so heavenly.
Nitin: Wow! Good use of words; earth and heavenly
Me: Thanks
Nitin: So do you read?
Me: Yes? How did you know?
Nitin: I just know.
[Oh! So you also realize that we know each other so well.]
Me: How about an ice-cream.
Nitin: Chocolate?
Me: Wow! Same choice.
Nitin: I’ll pay.
Me: We are friends. We will split.
Nitin: No. Its on me.
[Chivalry]
Nitin: So your mood has something to do with Rajiv?
[Huhhhhh… You fool you don’t have to talk about other guy when you like a girl.]
Me: No nothing like that.
Nitin: Are you sure?
Me: Why do you keep asking me that?
Nitin: uhh… ohh I am sorry. I dint mean to irritate you. I thought there is something.
Me: Look there is nothing between me and Rajiv. So please stop asking me.
[Dropped the hint; but I am feeling nervous; that H2S smell; and ears turning red.]
Nitin: Oh! Ok. I am sorry. I jus…
Me: Its ok. Can we discuss something else?
Nitin: Sure.
[He won’t ask. Let me take a chance.]
Me: What are you doing this weekend?
Nitin: ME? Nothing.
You?
Me: I will… ummm…maybe do some shopping. But the problem is how I will go to the mall on weekend. Its too far from here. Its easy to go as a gang but alone…
Nitin: Don’t worry I will accompany you.
Me: You will?
Nitin: Only if you don’t mind.
Me: No! I would love to go along with you.
To Diary
Oh! My God, spending the entire day with him. That’s just great. Maybe he understood; that I enjoy his company and he offered to come along. Its just a matter of few conversations and he will say;
I like some-one.
And then la la la la…
In lectures; I chose to sit besides him and not with Rajiv. He seemed so happy. But he was trying to conceal.
Dear Puppy; I know what are you upto.
In the evening over the phone; he told me that we the group of three formed Covalent Bonds. We shared attraction to repulsion stability. We all shared our choices; interests just like atoms share electrons.
Gosh! He is sensitive and intellectual too. He connects his knowledge to our lives. Each passing day, my love for him grows as a strong as a carbon-carbon bond.
Rajiv; in the meanwhile got concerned why I distanced myself from him.
He asked me once; but I dint respond. He might misunderstand that I fancy him; if I continue to stay close to him.
I aint doing anything wrong. Anyways Rajiv is busy with those dumb and sweet girls.
Why is the weekend so far . . .
ab weekend agaya hai.. woh date pe jayenge and shopping karenge.. dekhte hai weekend pe kya hota hai...
Does he propose to her; or does she admit what she is upto? Does she spill the plan out of guilt or has he fallen head over heels for her?
Will he forgive her if he gets to know the truth? Will this relationship start?
OR does Rajiv come and say that he likes Ginni?
The Weekend
I shopped and shopped. I had fun the entire day. He would advice me on what looked good on me; what color suited me and what was in vogue. I was surprised at his taste. Well! Yes he has a good choice; since he has fallen for me; but his sense of fashion is far more accomplished than mine.
I have never had such a good time in my life. A guy, who understands me, cares for me, spends time with me, shops with me, is intellectual, and is very cute. Oh! My GOD!
Tomorrow, we planned for lunch together. I guess he would now pop the question. I can sense; he wants to say something. I am getting goose bumps and I know I can’t sleep the whole night.
The Day
Nitin: So you like Chinese?
Me: I love Chinese.
Nitin: Great then let me take you to one of my favorite hangouts.
[I’l go anywhere you take me today. I know you have planned something special. God! I cant wait anymore.
PATIENCE Ginni, Patience.
]
We entered Yo China and there he had reserved a table for two in the corner. There was something happening inside my tummy and this time it wasn’t the butter chicken. I was nervous.
I kept looking at him. He seemed nervous.
Me: Do you want to say something?
Nitin: No! What makes you say that?
Me: Well! I can read your face.
Nitin: No its nothing. Enjoy yourself.
[Oh Puppy! I guess I need to make him feel comfortable].
Me: Whatever you say won’t affect our friendship and you can trust me for life.
Nitin: I can?
Me: [smiled]
Nitin: Well! There is actually something on my mind.
Me: Carry on! I am all ears.
Nitin: [cleared his throat] Look what I am going to say; you might not like and maybe you won’t be able to accept.
[Come on Say it PUP. I have brought you on your knees and now you say I wont accept. ]
Me: Just say. I am your friend and I will listen and accept.
Nitin: Thanks.
[Now I can again smell H2S; Gosh my ears turning red]
Nitin: I think I am in LOVE.
Ginni: OK. [Blush]
Nitin: This person is very important to me and I think it was Love at first sight.
[So our chemistry happened in first lecture itself.]
Nitin: I just think and think but haven’t been able to muster courage because I know I will be rejected. But today I am very sure of what I feel and so I confess.
Me: Why will you be rejected? You are such a sweetheart that only a fool can reject you.
Nitin: NO! Listen.
Thanks for the compliment. I know you care a lot about me. That’s why I chose you.
[He chose me. Good DUDE go on. You have won half the battle]
I love Rajiv.
[OHH! My GAWWWWD!]
I know you will be shocked; but its true.
[MAN! I am not shocked ; I am dead. GOD what on earth are you upto]
Nitin: I liked him when I saw him and I befriended him. He has become very important to me ever since. Then you came and I thought you became a couple. Of course it was very natural for you to be attracted to him. But I got jealous of you. I know my relationship with Rajiv is not possible but still I got jealous. When you told you both were not seeing each other; I got some sort of relief.
I still used to ask you about him because you are the only one who knew so much about him.
Being friends with you had just one motive: to learn more about him. But later, I realized I am doing wrong. Knowing you, I understood you are such a wonderful person and today you are the only person I can trust completely. Hence, I chose you to share what I am.
I am sorry; if I hurt you by saying why I became friends with you; but that’s the truth. I know you are the only person who will understand what I feel and accept me for my preferences.
[Yeah! Sure]
Tonight
I won’t mention what happened afterwards. This chapter of my life closes today. No love story with PUPPY anymore. Thank God; I dint tell anyone what I felt for PUPPY.
We both were playing games with each other. All is fair in love and war. Serves me right.
And there are just 3 words:
“OH! MY GaaaaawwwwwwwD!”
By the way I topped chemistry; some solace there.
