When It Rained…

I glanced across the library hall. He was staring at me again. Why doesn’t he stop? Idiot. Some teacher would notice & we would get thrown out. But I couldn’t help smiling back at him. Abhi had the cutest smile & he looked the best when he was glancing at me surreptitiously, as if knowing well how it sent my heart racing.  We always played this game. Sit at the far ends of the hall, he on the boys’ side & me on the girls’, glancing at each other. He called it romancing with the eyes. No better term for it.

The clock struck 6. Both of us got up at the same moment, returned the books, grabbed our bags & left the library. Once outside, there was no need to stay apart. Soon his warm hand enveloped mine & we walked down the road to our favourite roadside stall. There was a light drizzle & a cool soft breeze blew my hair across my face. He took his time to pull it back. There were very few people on the road & even if they had stared I didn’t care. I loved these lazy walks in the evenings. Evening was the best time of the day. No bugging friends or suspicious teachers to care about. No rules nor restrictions & I could be with him alone for this one hour till it was time to return to the hostel.

We had reached the stall. I bounced ahead & asked the chai-wallah to hand over 2 cups of steaming hot tea. “2 cups madam? You will have both now, or should I give you just one first?” he asked a bit puzzled. “What..?” I glanced back to where I had left Abhi. I had done it again. “No, just one cup of tea please.”

A guy & a girl had just reached the shop & noticing me they both hurriedly let go of each other’s hand. “Good evening ma’am”. “Good evening.” I left the shop with my cup of tea. Let them enjoy this weather, every moment counts.