Kismet's Odyssey

-FIVE-

After dropping Miloni back, Tuhin went back to ‘Bindra Park’. He wanted to explore the source of the sound that he and Miloni had heard earlier. Taking his pedal-bike from his house, he rode back to the deserted park. At this hour of evening, there was no one at the park. At the park, he stood looking down at the quarry pit. It was almost ten feet below him. There was a sandy slope that led one from the park to the quarry and Tuhin took the route. He guessed that those boisterous boys had left the park. He had been wanting to inspect the area for long. Occasionally, he had come this far in his bike and at times, he had heard similar sounds. He knew the sounds were not of the quarry explosion.

The slope was slippery and he descended quickly to the wide pit. It was getting darker and there was no one around. He trod softly, pondering if he had been foolish to explore alone. A small opening in the wall of the quarry made him curious and he went closer to the opening.

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“Mili, tell me is that biker Tuhin?” Ajitha and Nithya leaned forward and tapping her shoulder, asked her while the lecture continued uninterrupted.

Miloni covered her mouth partly before answering softly, “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

“What were you doing then? If you didn’t discuss that!” Nithya chided and the other two girls giggled softly while Miloni was reminded of Tuhin’s kiss.

“Girls, what is so funny? Why are you giggling over there? Miloni?” the lecturer called out and she stood up as the whole class turned their eyes on her.

“Sorry Sir!” Miloni apologised

“Take down the questions and mail a summary of my lecture to me by evening. Not you alone, all of you girls must send it to me,” he instructed and they nodded sheepishly.

When the lecture got over, Tuhin sauntered to the girls and greeted, glancing at Miloni frequently. They caught the attention of the entire class. Almost, everyone stared at them. Arko glared, the heat of anger that rose slowly and steadily, making him clench his teeth in fury.

Unaware of others’ reaction, Tuhin asked, “Hey Miloni, free after classes?”

Sherry rapped Miloni with her elbow playfully.

Miloni’s lovely smile caught the attention of some of the boys and they sighed wistfully, wishing they were in place of Tuhin.

Bani grasped Arko’s hands and drew his attention away from Miloni and Tuhin. And yet, Arko’s temper smouldered as he stepped out of the classroom with his current girlfriend.

Miloni countered, “Why? You want my notes?”

“No, there is an art competition in the club house and I thought we will go together,” Tuhin replied, encompassing the four girls in his glance.

“Are you always going to take me to some competition?” Miloni teased and Tuhin’s face reddened. The girls burst out laughing, enjoying their friend’s sassiness.

“I would love to take you to movies and dance but I thought you would prefer this…”

Miloni raised her eyebrows in scorn, “Tuhin, you don’t know what I prefer. Ok!” The girls enjoyed Miloni’s waspish mien. Miloni always had the ability to put a guy in his place.

“Right! I am a moron to presume your preferences. So, what would you like to do Miloni?” he asked with flourish. Sherry made a funny face and Ajitha and Nithya giggled.

Miloni took a long breath and said, “Nothing Tuhin. Right now, I would like to be left alone. So back off.”

Miloni walked out of the room. Nithya and Ajitha followed Miloni, noting Tuhin’s fallen face. Sherry paused and regarded Tuhin, “I think you put her off by something. You need to make up for that.”

Tuhin nodded thoughtfully. He could not understand the reason for Miloni’s standoffishness. That too, all of a sudden. Was she annoyed because he confessed his liking to her last evening? Was that it?

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“Miloni, what is the matter with you? Why are you acting so weird with him?” Ajitha asked and Nithya echoed, “You were rude Mili.”

Miloni slumped down on the bench in their favourite spot and planted her elbows on her knees, “I am just irritated. He told me yesterday that he likes me so he had been planning all summer to ask me out.”

“So, what is wrong? He is being straight with you. We did tell you that he keeps staring at you,” Nithya admonished

“Exactly! You also found him interesting Mili. Then, what is the issue now?” Ajitha questioned.

Sherry who knew Miloni well, asked, “You kissed last evening, isn’t it?’

Miloni nodded quietly and Sherry continued, “And you enjoyed! That is why you want to keep him at a distance. Am I right Mili?”

When the three girls were silent, Sherry continued, “Mili, how long can you hold off like that? You have to trust some guy and Tuhin seems the perfect one. He is hopelessly in love with you Mili, Give the dude a chance.”

The two girls except Miloni nodded vehemently, agreeing to Sherry’s logic.

Miloni stood up abruptly, “Let us go home. Classes are over, Isn’t it?”

“Umm, I can’t. I have to go with Farid for art competition. He is a part of it," Nithya explained her inability to go with them. Conveying their wishes to her boyfriend, the girls left the campus. Nithya strode back to the art studio to give support to Farid.

Tuhin watched the three girls leave with a frown on his face. What was wrong with Miloni? Was it not a right move to approach her in class? But he had wanted everyone to see, hence he had made that move. He knew many guys wanted to date Miloni, so he had wanted to make a statement.

Or was she upset that he kissed her? But then, he had dropped her home and she had seemed normal.

Deep in thought, he sat on the steps of the indoor stadium and watched some boys practising. Arko was one of them and Tuhin watched him play. Arko excelled at every game he played, be it basketball, cricket or football. He was the captain of the football team and he won trophies at state level. Tuhin was in fact surprised when he heard that Miloni and Arko had never dated. He pondered the reason. Both had enormous attitude, both were very popular and both had fan following. By his reasoning, Arko and Miloni would make the perfect couple in the school. Tuhin sighed, he should be happy that Arko was not dating Miloni. If he had, Tuhin would have had no chance to even approach Miloni.

Taking a long breath, he went in search of the locker room to take his bag. Opening his locker, he extracted his bag from it when someone spoke aloud rudely,

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

Tuhin pivoted and to his surprise, it was Arko and he mused, Think of the devil… “What is the matter Arko?”

Arko moved closer and tossed a dismissive glance at him.  His eyes skimmed over Tuhin’s face, his length and to his feet, “Why are you here?”

“What? In the school? Well, I joined here last term…….”

“Cut the crap! I know all that.”

“Then what is it you want to know? I am not after your girlfriend, if that is what you are worried about,” Tuhin taunted, somehow, he got an intuitive feeling that it was about Miloni.

Unexpectedly, Arko punched Tuhin and he fell down.

Holding his bruised jaw, Tuhin glared at Arko, “What the f**k that was all about? Have you gone crazy?”

Arko pulled Tuhin up but Tuhin pushed his fist on Arko’s face and Arko staggered back in shock. He swore loudly. Some of his friends arrived and Karan exclaimed, “Arko, what are you doing man?”

Arko wiped his bloodied chin with the back of his palm and strode away. Tuhin shook his head furiously and glowered at Arko’s retreating back. He grabbed his bag pack and exited the locker room. Furious with Arko for assaulting him, Tuhin strode away swiftly from the premises.

Arko drove the car through the quiet lanes of the town in frustration and anger.

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