SRI RAMAKRISHNA UNIVERSITY - OUTSID

SRI RAMAKRISHNA UNIVERSITY - OUTSIDE THE EXAM HALL

Exams! A necessary evil that simply could not be done without - you just swallowed your grievances, prepared for it, welcomed it, endured it, faced it and then overcame it. Once the ordeal was done with, you mulled over it for a certain period and then tried forgetting about it all - at least, till the next set arrived!

Well, this was the most common pattern across the majority of the lot - and it wasn't very different for HER group either!

'Phew! One paper down' Meera breathed a sigh of relief, as the friends grabbed their handbags from the shelves just outside the exam hall

'I knowww...' Payal let out a vexed murmur

'Yes...' Jodha nodded in agreement, as she dug into her bag to fetch her hairclip 'Waise, the questions were not too tough...I expected worse...'

'Hmmm' Meera mulled - not so sure she agreed with her friend's opinions on the questions 'Anyway... I better leave now...have to prepare for tomorrow...' she rolled her eyes 'Managerial economics ...ufff...'

'Me too...' Payal grumbled 'And you, Jo?'

Jodha paused for a second - aware that they waiting for her to join them 'You girls go ahead... I have to meet him first...'

Needless to say, their 'exam' frowns vanished in no time

'Wow!' Meera winked 'Refreshing yourself for the next subject with some cute classroom romance, haan?'

'Cute? STEAMY more like!' Payal acted surprised 'These two can't stay apart even during exams...'

'Payal, even Maan and you are not this bad!'

'Very funny!' Jodha rebuffed their comments with a mildly-abashed grin. The girls knew perfectly well why she was going to meet him. She hadn't seen him in over a week now. In fact; owing to the ongoing study leave, the pair hadn't met even once since that poignant evening. So, she was going to find out how he was - but her friends had to spin their own tales, of course!

'And Jo... are you planning to go to the farmhouse picnic?'

'Arre...why ask?' Payal nudged her friend 'If HE goes, SHE goes!'

'We'll discuss about the picnic after the exams...ok guys...bye...I better get going...' she abruptly ended the conversation there. She had to, in case they came up with something else to embarrass her

'Ok bye bye...' Payal shook her head sadly

'We're going...we're going... we get the message' Meera wiped a mock-tear 'And tell Jalal we said hi!'

Exchanging a few hush chuckles amongst themselves, the duo began walking away - leaving their friend behind to enjoy her post-exam quiet rendezvous with the boyfriend!

Laughing-off their antics, the upbeat junior decided to get going. It was late and she had a long checklist of things that needed tending to - for starters, taming that wild hair of hers! Fishing her hands into her handbag she made another thorough search for her clip but came up with nothing 'Arre... where is it?' she fretted 'I'm certain I'd put it in this morning...how could it...' she stopped midway. She'd noted something else in one of the inner pockets of her bag - a white envelope!

Wide-eyed, Jodha took it out 'How did this get here?' just then, the face of the most probable culprit came to mind 'JALAL! He slipped it in my handbag after I went into the exam hall...' a slow smile escaped her lips. True, she'd requested him not to get her any gifts or cards - but, now that it was here she couldn't deny how excited she felt viewing his first gift of love!

Jodha examined the envelope - it looked expensive. Sensing a mild fragrance emanating from the scented card, she brought it close 'Wow! It's MY kind of perfume...'

The whole gesture seemed so beautiful - and she hadn't even opened it yet. What a bundle of surprises her guy was! Relishing the warm fuzzy feeling she felt within, the enthused junior prodded open the envelope with care.

The card sported a painting of a young couple passionately making out, in each other's arms. Thankful that her friends weren't nearby, Jodha opened the card with a giggle - wondering what further surprises awaited her

My long wait...

Like the fury of the blazing sun your eyes aglow

Like the turbulence of a savage river your wild tresses flow

Oh! To savour those blissful sights, for how much longer must I wait?

With your skin as soft as layers of fresh snow

With your lips as tender as a red silken bow

Oh! To devour those heavenly tastes, for how much longer must I wait?

She stopped reading 'Hey Ram...' she could feel her cheeks getting hotter - the memories from their last meeting began coming to mind 'Goddd...ye Jalal bhi na...' brushing-off her abashment, she went on to finish the remaining words - hoping they didn't get any saucier than they already had!

A virginal body matched by no other nymph I know

A heart so pure there is none else in this world so

Oh! To ravage you in my arms, for how much longer must I wait?

Signed,

Your REAL man - not a jerk like Jalal.

The giddy happiness that'd taken over her spirits for the past three minutes came crashing down at once - with a big THUD. She couldn't believe it! The stalker had actually started invading her personal belongings! Leaving behind tokens! Worse, his messages were getting hideously indecent!

Reading the offensive signature again, she winced sympathetically 'Jalal'

She was going to meet him after a whole week. Did she have to plague him with another bad news now - especially since he'd barely come out of a difficult time in his life? This was sooo disturbing!

'Urgh' she let out a quiet scream, as she began making her way to his classroom!