Travails of a Loverboy

Next morning Manish rose early and rushed towards the Main Block by 10am. He wanted to get a chance to speak to Prema before Swami and the others reached the class. He waited patiently at the entrance, mentally practicing the conversation. Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of Prema. However, Swami and Thomas appeared, grinning widely.

Swami: "Hi, loverboy. Who are you waiting for?

Manish: "Nothing. Nobody.

Thomas: "Don't lie. I saw you leave half an hour ago.  

Manish: "I wanted to check out the library.

Swami: "Ha! What an excuse. 

Thomas: "Look all the girls are the coming now. Swami, which one of them is Prema?

Swami: "The blue one on the left... I mean, blue dress. 

Thomas: "Wow. Manish, good choice, man.

Manish: "Shut up. I don't know what you are talking about.

Swami: "Why are they all wearing same type of clothes, punjabi dress?

Thomas: "Maybe that is part of their ragging, like our full sleeves. 

Manish: "I am going to the class, OK. See you later.

Thomas: "Our man has really fallen hard, Swami. Take care of him in the class.

The next four hours were torturous for Manish. He saw no possibility of speaking to Prema without half the college, including Swami seeing him. Swami had apparently decided that he would be Manish's chaperone, he refused to let Manish go out of sight. Manish did not want to lose this opportunity - he had a great excuse to go speak with Prema. Manish observed during the first break several guys in the class trying to draw her into conversation; she was polite but, thankfully, did not seem to be talking too much with any of them. Come on, God, do something!

Soon it was lunch break and Manish was nowhere closer to saying hello to Prema, forget about getting her intro. He headed towards the canteen, to keep his date with the senior. He had also seen Prema walk towards the canteen with a couple of other first year girls. At the canteen, he spied his two friendly thugs at the corner table, their haunt, it appeared. He walked towards them, nervously. As if on cue, the third senior also appeared and asked him, with a smile on his face, "So Corporal, what report do you bring us?" Manish gulped and said, "Sir, I-I-I could not speak with her... she was busy in the class. Sorry, sir." "How dare you disobey my order! I want to hear her intro now. Is she in the canteen?" Manish looked around and saw Prema at a table near the door. "She is there, sir, near the door." "She is not busy in class now, right? You can speak to her now." "Now, sir?" "Yes. Go." "Don't be shy, Corporal. We are doing this to make you a brave officer," chirped in Thug#1. "Go fast," prompted Thug#2.

Manish swallowed hard and turned. Everyone in the canteen had stopped talking and were looking at him. Or so he felt. He was also feeling excited about finally speaking with Prema, but he would have preferred a less public conversation. Wow! She is so good looking. Is she looking at me? Finally he reached her table and stood there. Silently. By now many in the canteen had realised that some drama was happening. Someone whistled from the back. The freshies looked at him, not sure whether to be envious or sympathetic.

Prema looked up from her plate of half eaten masala dosa.

This is Episode 6 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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