Chapter#5 Trios

Chapter#5

“Trios”

 

I returned home after my 2 weeks of fun.  After that day Alekh and I, mostly avoided each other.  Karan  knew something had happened but he was mature enough to not bring it up.
It was only on the last day as I was packing for home did he bring it up,
" You know I won't be there to look out for you, from now on"
" I know" I replied as I kept throwing clothes in my suitcase.
I was never good at folding my clothes and Karan  was a pro. I often teased him  that he had OCD. He pulled a badly mangled shirt out of my suitcase and started folding it again for me. After  that he realised the  whole suitcase needs re packing so he gestured me to move aside and started packing it orderly  for me.
" So that means you will have to do that yourself, the way you handled your holiday crush" he smiled at me.
I smiled back.
" I liked that, you know, there is no problem with the guy, just that  he is a guy brought up in a different surrounding with different sensibilities" he continued lecturing me.
" I know, anyway I think I need to go back to the real world and concentrate  on my education" I tried to be responsible.
" Yup, but don't forget to have fun, also I meant what I said that day, you will meet new jerks in college like the way you met one here."
I didn't understand  what he meant and he knew I didn't so he elaborated in just one line.
" I don't want what happened  with me and Shyla to happen to you. So if you can ;do rethink. Purab  will never choose you if it comes to that.” He stopped himself at that “ I don't want to interfere in your life, so I am going to shut up"
I didn't reply.
I flew back home to lots of forms that Dad lined up for me. London was forgotten between choosing  colleges and planning for the future.
Dad was adamant that I go out of town for my studies. And so I did;  a month after my return I was in a new town, alone , amidst strangers. And with the absence of Karan;  the old Kiera was back- introvert and shy.
I didn't get a chance to meet Purab before I left. Dad still won't allow me out of house alone. We did talk on phone and he seemed fine with me leaving.
"We will meet when you come home in your vacations" he decided for both of us.
First day of college- A totally different experience than junior college. I knew no one  and was the literal outsider. I smiled to myself as I tried concentrating on the lecture and remembering my day dream about college. I was supposed to meet my future husband. He was supposed to save me from ragging. Truth  be told, I didn't face ragging and no one noticed me. I was invisible.
A girl sat next to me through first half of the day but we hardly spoke. I was back to feeling awkward and really needed time to open up. Needless to say she was bored and for the rest of the day I sat alone.
Fortunately, my first day was also the day I met a friend for life. After college, I decided to take a walk to explore the college area  and soon was joined by a real short petite girl.
"Hey hi!" She said as she fastened her pace to match mine " I am in the same class as you."
" Rashmi" she introduced herself and extended her hand.
How I loved easy going people though I could never be one. My hesitation of no physical contact was back as I awkwardly shook her hand and said my name.
"That's an unusual name, where are you from?"
And so started our friendship that lasted the test of time. She kept pace walking besides me and frankly I kept thinking when will she let me go. I was that uncomfortable.
She didn't.  Not that day,  and not the day I shared my innermost feelings with her over coffee, and surely not the day I almost lost my sanity and cried like a lunatic in her car and also not the day I walked around the holy fire with my best friend as she watched me with eyes that understood my every decision.
Karan  called me that evening and wanted  to know everything about my day. He was a bit disappointed  though. And soon was back to his idiotic charade of making me fall in love.
" No new jerks?"
And I assured him there were none. I for once wanted to enjoy my time alone in a new city without the pressures of being in a relationship or pleasing anyone. His enquiries just strengthened my decision.
Next day of college was different. The girl from the day before waved at me as I entered the class. She already was sitting with someone and asked me to sit behind them. So I did. She then introduced me to her friend who was as garrulous as her. During lunch break, I followed them to the canteen and for the first time in my 18 years I was comfortable. Both of them made up for my silence. I still was an introvert and both the girls never stopped talking. Over lunch, plans for made for the evening, the weekend and some site seeing in the new town. I was finally able to fit in.
In the evening, three of us left for purchasing books in the most famous and crowded area of the city. The third girl was a local and she showed us the way. It was twilight by the time we finished and then it was also decided to have dinner.
"Don't worry, I will drop both of you home." The local girl said. I know she should have a name and she did. A name that brought back thousand memories. A name that was so uncommon, yet I was faced with again. This Shyla was however was no way alike to Karan’s Shyla. She came across as very confident on the verge of being a prude but still very likeable. 
Three of us entered a restaurant suggested by Shyla and soon ordered food suggested by Shyla.
She had this high pitch voice of communication that brought liveliness to the conversation.  Even if she was talking about an inanimate object, her voice and gestures were animated.
I spent a lot of time observing her mannerisms and  she kept talking without airs.
"What starters ?" She asked us irrespective of the fact that she was the one holding the only menu card  on the table.
Both Rashmi and I shrugged.
"Cheese cherry pineapple?" She suggested.
" Isn't it taken with drinks?" Rashmi asked "Anyway I hate pineapple"
"So what?" We can order it even  if we aren't drinking. No rule. I hate cherries" Shyla replied.
Karan’s  Shyla would have said " no problem let's order something else, what would you like Kiera?"

But this Shyla didn’t ask me.
I kept doing comparisons between this Shyla and Karan’s  Shyla even as this Shyla went ahead and ordered cheese cherry pineapple.
I couldn't tell her that I was lactose intolerant.  No cheese for me.
But that night also started a tradition we three followed for years to come.
I loved pineapples, so I  would eat that and pass it on to Rashmi who would eat the cherry she liked and Shyla finished the cheese cube. That is the only way we always ordered and ate "cheese-cherry-pineapple"
And  that was also what we three brought in our friendship in some way.
Soon the banter turned to what teenagers talk about - crushes and relationships.
Both of them claimed to be single and crushes on film stars were shared.  When they asked me, I repeated the same.
I was single.
What about  Purab? Nothing was official between us. In fact after junior college we just were like very good friends. Mentally and emotionally I was single. And then came the memory of the night in the pub in London. The hazel eyes that bored through me even as the owner of those eyes crossed my personal zone.

I was single.
I shrugged both the memories away.  I was single and I was on the verge of amazing friendship with two amazing girls. It felt good to repeat.
I was single.
By the time of dessert, I was in a pretty good mood. We had bonded over the cheese cherry pineapple.
Life was pretty easy after that, I was always part of plans made by Shyla. And was finally having fun that Karan  so wanted me to have in college.
It was also the time Dad gifted me the much esteemed Nokia 3310. And with that Purab  also became a part of my life again. He would call me every evening, we would chat about the day and college lives but I still couldn't repeat what I repeated a thousand times the night before. Was I single?
My question was answered in a way I had never anticipated.
" I am in your city, can you meet me after college?" Purab called me one fateful day.
I was with Shyla and she being the vigilant person she was pestered me for more information
"A friend from school is in town and wants to meet" I informed her. But she kept looking strange at me. One thing I wasn't good at was my facial expressions. They were a dead giveaway.
" I will drop you" she said nonchalantly.
I still was waiting for a mode of transport as Dad and I were arguing over what to get for me. He wanted to pass on the old maruti  that Karan  had used for college and I was negotiating for a new bike. I wanted to fit in.
After much efforts, Shyla caught my hints and backed off.
I took an auto to where Purab  asked me to meet.
He was waiting in a posh sedan and I was shocked.
" You drove it here?" He was totally not  the Purab I left behind home. His clothes were a mess and his face showed dark stubble.
" It's dad’s. He is out of town, will be back in few days"
He motioned me to sit beside him and I did. Something was disturbing him and I didn't know how to approach the subject.
So he kept driving in silence till we were on the highway.
" I think we should turn back, Purab" I suggested and he brought the car to halt at the side of highway.
" You know where my Dad is?" He asked me and I shrugged a no.
"Both my parents are at Shyla’s wedding. I feigned illness and stayed back" he informed me.
The information took time to sink in. Karan’s Shyla was getting married. How will  I tell my brother that?
"I don't want my father to do to me what Shyla’s father did to her. So I ask you now. Let's run away"
He kept looking at me.
" Purab we are 18. Do you understand that?"
I tried putting sense in him.
" I knew it" he replied and was suddenly very  angry.
" That's what people like you  do. Your brother ruined Shyla’s  life and that's what you wanted too. Just a bit of fun for you rich spoilt brats"
That was uncalled for.
I considered myself a fairly calm person but in that instant I was thoroughly provoked.
"Karan  did not do anything!" I stammered in anger " you narrow minded imbeciles hurt him" I retorted. It was payback time. I wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt me.
" And so you want to  take it out on  me, Kiera?" Purab replied. " Look around, we are nowhere. I could very well make  sure you cannot say no to me."
The enormity of what he said took some time to sink in. And then a shy, introvert, immature Kiera slapped him without thinking about the repercussions.
" I want to be taken home now" I demanded.
He just snarled but then put the car in gear and soon we were driving towards  the city.
" I am sorry, I didn't mean it" he said after some time.
But he knew his case was lost.
I was trying very hard to hold back my tears.
" Don't ever try to call me again. You are right, it was fun for us rich spoilt  brats and we are so done" I said my piece.
I got down from the car below my PG accommodation. Purab followed behind me but both of us stopped in tracks as I saw Shyla and Rashmi  waiting for me.
"Everything's okay?" Shyla asked and I nodded in confusion. She cast  a disdainful look at Purab and he went back to his car.
"I have to look out for you, you are alone in my city" Shyla said casually.
I had no reaction. There was this girl who I met just few months back and she had my back.
The tears I had held back found their way and I burst out crying.
"So you aren't single?" Shyla mocked. She was a bit weird that way. The kind of person who is gem at heart but always says  the wrong thing at wrong times.
" I am" I replied "now".
" Dinner is on you for lying to us" she said and called for an auto.
Soon we three were crammed in an auto.

“Details please” Shyla requested as soon as we were seated in a restaurant.

And so I blurted out all the details. She deserved to know. What followed was a lecture by the watchful Shyla of how I should not have slapped him in a secluded place.

“I have a confession too” Shyla said when I was done. “ I have someone in my life too. We haven’t yet said it out aloud, but that’s where it is leading. I am in a relationship”

I looked at her and smiled. The facades were done with. We both looked at Rashmi next.

“Nope, still Single” she said between nibbling her cherries.

"You know what a day like this demands" Shyla  suddenly said excitedly.  Even before we could ask she continued "Dancing, lots of it!" Let's go to a disc.
The idea was good and though the only  thing at the back of my mind was to call Karan  and let him know. I said yes. I needed time for the information  to sink in to me and to figure out a way to convey it to Karan.
And so three girls went to the most happening disc of the city alone and danced the frustrations of the day

Don't worry 'bout the future
Forget about the past
Gonna have a ball - ya we're gonna have a blast
Gonna make it last

18 till I die - gonna be 18 till I die
Ya it sure feels good to be alive
Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55! - 18 til I die