Kismet's Odyssey

-SIX-

“What? Are you serious?” Miloni asked Nithya

“Yes, they punched each other,” Nithya repeated, shocking the three girls.

“But what if Farid heard it wrong?” Sherry asked

“No, he is certain. His best friend was there in the locker room when they got into a fight.”

“Why did they do it?”

“Farid was saying that Arko thought Tuhin remarked something about Bani.”

“What?” Miloni asked dubiously.

“Yeah, the rumour mills are very active today. They are saying the same.”

“Bani must be floating in the clouds. Two guys fighting over her! Lucky b***h!” Ajitha exclaimed

“I don’t think it was Bani. What if it was Miloni they were fighting over?” Sherry suggested.

Her words brought a rush of colour on Miloni’s face. She chided her friend, “Are you mad? Why would they be fighting over me? I am not even dating Tuhin.”

“But you did go on a couple of dates.”

“So? What has that got to do with Arko?” Miloni asked, annoyed with Tuhin for getting into a fight with Arko.

“If Tuhin is interested in Bani, he should not ask Miloni out.”

“True! I will grill it out of him.”

“Girls! Why bother? I am not going out with him again. I had already decided that, now with this fiasco, I am certain about my decision.” Miloni emphasized.

“Agreed Miloni! We support you. Come, let us attend class.”

                                                                            ************

Tuhin was upset that Miloni was not talking to him. He had planned to take her out but she didn’t seem to be in a good mood. She did not even turn to look at him whereas the other three girls regarded him with mild anger. He scowled and pondered the reason for their frosty attitude towards him. His friend suggested that it could be due to the gossip in the campus, about his fight with Arko in the locker room.

Tuhin glared at Arko but the other guy seemed unaware of such things. His eyes were glued on his girlfriend. Sighing, Tuhin decided not to approach Miloni that day. He planned to take her out somewhere special and gift her something wonderful.

                                                                         *************

That evening Tuhin was in the gift shop, looking at many things. There was a heart shaped cushion with “I love you” embroidered on it. There was a glass jar in which there was a cute dog holding “You are cute” placard in its mouth. Then, there were many bracelets, chains with lockets, “Love you”, “You are lovely” etc. He was studying them when someone tapped him on his shoulder and he swung around.

                                                                         *************

Arko looked at him and said, “Hey buddy, we have no problem if you want to join us. The team is already practising extensively. You just have to get the permission from the coach.” Arko speculated why everyone thought that he had a problem with Merin joining the team. After all, he would be happy with an extra player.

Arko and his team were preparing hard for the upcoming football match between their district and another that was to be held in Katni. Only a week was left for the match and they hadn’t even studied the weak points of the opposite team.

After the practice, Arko played the games of the opposite teams in his phone and the boys, surrounding him, analysed the goals and their footwork. Bani was waiting for Arko and she felt proud at the way the other boys looked up to Arko for guidance. Watching Arko, Bani was a little disturbed. He seemed lost for the last couple of days, as if something was running in his mind that was disturbing him. When she asked him the previous day, he dismissed it as something about a domestic issue. Bani would have loved to hear Arko’s problem and would have loved to provide a solution but Arko was a very private person and he didn’t share everything with her. Sighing, she wished he liked her as much as she loved him. He was everything to her now and when her father had asked her about her involvement with the most popular boy in the school, she had confessed passionately that they were in love with each other. She knew her father was not convinced and he accepted her outburst with scant acknowledgement. He wasn’t sure about Arko’s motives though.

                                                                         *************

After a day of not talking to each other, Miloni’s eyes searched for Tuhin the next day in class. He was there but his head was bent, perusing something in his phone. He didn’t even look up when she and her friends walked in. Usually, most of the boys gave them a side glance or an appreciative glance or even a discreet look. But that morning, except for Tuhin, everyone else turned to see them.

Miloni frowned while her friends questioned her silently. She shrugged, rolling her eyes, she made a face. Arko entered with Bani and once again everyone turned to look. Arko always made a late entry and like Miloni and the girls, he too grabbed attention. Sherry poked Miloni’s shoulder and made an eye at the couple. Miloni turned around to watch, Bani was hanging on to Arko’s arm but it was not the couple who drew the girls’ attention but Tuhin who was staring at them.

Ajitha leaned forward and asked, “Why is Tuhin staring at them? Is it true then that they fought over Bani? I can’t believe that the tragic aunt is inspiring our dudes to fight one another.”

“I swear!” Nithya agreed

“Mili, forget Tuhin. You don’t deserve him.”

Miloni chuckled at Sherry’s dramatic statement but she was bothered about Tuhin’s indifference.

During break, Miloni was busy in the sports room, coordinating with the head of the department for the annual sports meet. She helped to sequence the events and made lists of the participants for each game. Miloni was a favourite of the sports department and its head considered her as his own child. He encouraged her to practice swimming and he had been the one who asked her to take up swimming seriously.

She was sitting in front of the desktop and keying in names when Arko entered. He was alone and they glanced at each other. Miloni turned back to the keyboard and continued with her work. Arko met a couple of teachers and chatted with them and just before leaving, he came closer to Miloni and said, “Hey Miloni, we are hosting a party for karan on Saturday for his birthday. I will mail the invite.”

Miloni nodded and replied, “Sure! Why not?”

Arko gave a smile and left. Few moments later Tuhin entered, “What did he want?” he asked Miloni while she stared at him in surprise.

Tuhin had never seemed the jealous type so why was he all of a sudden rattled about Arko talking to her. She shrugged and replied, “To invite me for Karan’s birthday.”

“I didn’t know you were friends with Arko and his gang.”

Miloni turned around and regarded Tuhin with exasperation, “Tuhin, we have all studied together for ten years or eleven years. You joined only this year so you may not understand but we have grown up together, neither as good friends nor as enemies but as part of the same community.” Miloni turned back to the desk top in mild irritation.

Arko who had seen Tuhin enter the room, stood outside the door and heard Miloni’s explanation. With a grin, he walked away.

Tuhin felt abashed and took Miloni’s hands, “Miloni, I am really sorry for being a pain in the neck. I know you are upset with me but Miloni, I want to set things right. Will you come out with me this evening?” he pleaded, rubbing her palm with his.

Miloni viewed him for some moments, and deciding to confront him, she asked, “Why did you fight with Arko?”

Tuhin’s face lost colour and he stammered, “he was the one who started it. So, I gave him back. Was I wrong Miloni?” his brown eyes looked into hers.

He didn’t give her a reason for the fight. She felt disappointed, wondering if Tuhin was what he really looked like. Maybe he had a secret crush on Bani and fought with Arko in jealousy. Miloni concluded that was the reason hence she declined Tuhin’s invitation.

And Tuhin walked away miserably.

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