Drawing Together

Now that ragging was over, Manish felt at ease. Almost a month had passed since he had left home. During ragging, he had felt terribly home-sick, often considering running away from the hostel, at least for the weekends. It was only the company of Swami and Thomas that helped him tide over those difficult days. Now that ragging was behind them, and hostel conditions had become bearable (not through improvement but by resetting expectations downwards), Manish was looking forward to engineering college life.

And, of course, there was Prema.

Section B was in the Drawing Hall for the Engineering Drawing class. They were learning how to draw straight lines. And practise hand-writing. Kindergarten revisited, Manish thought. Sound of shuffling feet, sudden silence in the hall and Prema made a hurried entry into the room. She went to the Professor at the front of the large hall, sharp words ensued. Manish could not help noticing.

Prema walked back, with a scowl on her face. She was looking for her roll-number on the drawing tables that were laid out in several long lines. Manish noticed that the table next to his was vacant, but such things happened only in Hindi films, no? In a sudden vote of confidence for Bollywood, Prema stopped at that table and took her seat, in a huff. By the time she had opened her bag and took out an assortment of pencils and other drawing instruments, Manish had given up even the pretension of completing his straight lines.

Not having heard the Professor's instructions at the beginning, Prema looked around in confusion. "Hi. Do you remember me, we met in the canteen?" Manish awoke from his reverie. Those words were not his mental ramblings; he had heard them being spoken. In the sweet voice of Prema. "Yyyess. Yes. Of course." What a question! The whole college was talking about her, and she wants to know if I remember her.

Prema: Thank God, there is someone I know next to me. I have no idea what to do in this class.

Manish: Oh! no problem. No problem.

Prema: Thanks. Can you tell me what is to be done?

Manish: We are supposed to practise straight lines, alphabet and numbers today. Do you have the text book with you?

Prema: Wait, I have a drawing book - let me show it you. N D Bhatt. Is that the one?

Manish: That's right. We have to do the exercises from Chapter 1. First of all, you have to clip the drawing sheet to the board here.

Prema: Thanks a lot, hmmm... what is your name? I am sorry I forgot.

Manish: Mm.. Manish.

Prema: I am Prema.

Manish: I know...

Later, that evening in AS4:

Manish: Yaar, I don’t feel like eating in the mess today. Come, let’s go out somewhere.

Thomas: Why, what happened? That too, today it’s puri for dinner.

Manish: Big deal, yaar. I want to eat something different, feel like celebrating.

Thomas: Cool! Something happened today? Swami, what’s the story?

Swami: I don’t know but… Manish, were you not talking to Prema in the Drawing class?

Manish: Nothing, nothing… she was just asking what the assignment was… er.. she came late to the class. Just leave that. You want to eat Chinese or not? My treat.

Thomas: Ohh!! Why didn’t you say that before? Swami, don’t trouble Manish. We can talk on the way back.

Swami: Hmm… I don’t know da. These Chinese places mix non-veg stuff. You guys go.

Thomas: Hey, this is pure veg. Road-side stall near Ichchhanath temple. Noodles, fried rice and Manchurian. Indian Veg Chinese.

Manish: Sasta and Tasty. Chal, let’s go!!

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