A Gentle Love. A Gentle Self. #OctPoWriMo 2013 day 4

Down the hallwaythere's a woman crying

cursing and praying
at the same time
I wonder what occurred to her
as I take each step towards her
one by one
Only with one motive
I will be gentle
with her pain 
with her sayings
I will understand all her sufferings.

Yes there is a boy
living next door
with a crooked smile
and a broken soul
He whispers often some words
but whimpers more and more
I shall knock his door
Ask him his pain
that dwells in him
I will be gentle
with his shouts
with his cryings
I will understand even if he yells. 

The girl who lost someone close
last year
still has red eyes
and her soul has gone black
She stays mum while walking down the road
dropped her dreams of floating aloof
I shall walk with her someday
talk of whom she lost
and why she blames herself
I will be gentle
with her curses
with her wounds
I will understand even if she doesn't say a word.

For I have found myself
in others' happiness
trying to be gentle with their dreams
has become my gift
And so discovered a piece of me
which lives for others
yes, indeed
Being gentle with them
has made me be gentle with me.

If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad

Its been a long time since I've written something here and even longer since I've written about 'someone' straight from heart. Yet, this post goes out happily to a girl I've met by fluke. Only two things gives me irks at the bottom of my heart: one, seeings plastic bags at my home and two, setting adieu to someone dear. Letting go is surely the hardest moment of all. So, this post clearly goes off at bidding goodbye to a girl we all know, all because am better at writing than saying.

Meeting someone gives you a smile
Knowing that someone makes you feel content
Acknowledging lows & highs brings a strange feeling of togetherness
Goodbyes sets you even closer

Like a winterland princess, living in her own forms, surviving against all odds, somehow managing to set sails in high tides, filled with elation- this is remarkably known Jagriti. With her roll number prior to mine, I've grown fonder of her, slowly yet definitely. With each summer shining bright, each rain getting stronger, each autumn making us move on and each winter getting colder, she's risen above all.

You know when you meet someone
There's a flicker in eyes, a charm in words
Another attitude flowing in awes and oos
Its another friend you've met.

There's something about her, I thought clicking pen on my bench when she walked in the classroom; a rare sight, seriously. Which is beyond we can see, imagine or understand. She has a gift by Him. A gift which she knows she possess and respects it. Its not just a gift of being beautiful outside, its something deep inside. There's some charade about her, which makes us go even crazier for her.

Its been a long time, yes
Some enigma in her soul
I frequently ask this question
How can someone remain so blithe?

I knew this quote was right: "the girl who laughs the most is the one who cries at night", used a lot in movies and often deduced out of a happy girl by all. Bogus! Delusive! Made up!
Jagriti has changed my definition of being 'happy'. The supernatural being who's made everyone her's, seeing through the transparent mind and soul of all. Flowing in with all's sorrows and smiles. I've seen her grow even better than us.

The break-ups leave us crippled
More parched for true love
She has however gone a different way
Break up brings you closer to the real 'you'.

The girl who has emerged in a better way after break up. Never looked back and sailed with good winds leaving the world watch her with every step she takes towards mending herself all throughout. Personally, its because of her I started taking my break-ups in an affirmative manner. Will I ever see her again? This is a question I've stopped asking, for we set our own trends & ways. Sooner or later, meeting is marked.


I see you flying a midst the storm
Is this delusion that I see your wings?
Or is it as they say;
you are truly a blessed one

The sun is setting we say
You'd rather wait for new days
Filling wounds with happiness
Would you teach us how?

Blitheness, cheerfulness, delight
You've made it yours- the dark night
We see you fly
"There she goes, when we might see her again?"

The numb words have preoccupied us
Here are the only ones that I have:
May you glow higher than moonlight
The world shall never set you apart
Glee be your mate forever
Happiness stay with you thereafter

-Much Love
Aavika

Well, the post doesn't end here, a few words by your algorithms are:

Anjali 
With you, I need no long essays to express my love
I'll miss your routine calls
I'll miss your tragic stories
The fun we had that night
The chats we used to have during labs

The way you used to irritate me by your silly questions
Trust me, no one can do that, that cutely
No matter where we all end up Jagriti,
You will be missed
Love

Anu
Jagriti, you are the most jaunty and lively person I have ever met. Your mere presence brings a msile to everyone's face... you are the girl with purest soul.. I will miss your stupid long long stories and the way you said "anjali, anu kuch samajh nahi aa raha kya karu". when you are totally blank during exam times (actually most of the time). Just want to say all the best for your future, may you get through the best college and succeed in your life ahead. Keep laughing an take care, will miss you a lot and I know you will miss me too.
P.S- Benzene hamari presence feel karta rahega tumhe!

Shivangi
I would remember you as a girl who hardly attended college. Every other day you had something or other to share with all those twists and turns in your crazy life. A girl running for assignments, attendance or some advice, with no relatives in Delhi but so many friends. Hope to see you a little less confused in future and continue being smart, sweet, hot, fun, lively, bubbly person that you are. And all these years spent in chem hons venky, we have a strong bonding with "Benzene".

Vartika
Adieu!
Miss horny! I know I realized it later but its a toast to be your friend in every way. You are the inspiration for all of us to live your life so lively. I treasure every moment spent with your especially the naval thing (our new invention together). It wont be the same without you girl. Wish you a best "kanpuria" life ahead!

Happy times! 

Just we all look so grown up here! :O

Fly high Jagriti!

Empty Lockers

Once a venkyite, always a venkyite

"Finally the day has come when we empty our lockers", I said looking in her eyes and she broke down in tears instantly.
Chemistry Hons is mostly about labs, I say to people. You spend four hours daily in labs, testing, detecting, creating, destroying, burning, breaking, charring, sweating, finding, washing, heating, drying, rushing and what not, obviously wearing a lab coat. In a trice after the final practical, it felt like its time has come to return the apparatuses, empty our very own lockers and go forever out of the place which always felt like ours. No more acid marks on our clothes, shoes or burns on our skins, annoying teachers screaming on head, stinky smell from lab coats which became un-washable for all mothers, all has passed us by. Thats the point when you know; its time to go.
The foyer where we made our plans, files, assignments, the back lawn where we ate and hang out, the front lawn where we prepared for exams, the dark science block, will keep lingering in my thoughts forever; maybe in black & white.
Another great phase has ended.
This too, has passed.
These are a few photos which will remind us of labs for a long time.

The botany lab

Physics ka dark room!

the memories of fuming H2SO4 which aastha is taking with her

monika during physical practical

when we were freshers

inorganic labs

Bliss that I find here

That blessing in life called Parivartan

Almost three years at college, coming to an end and it has already started pinching somewhere. Never have I really liked my chemistry department though, where I study. Its something beyond my department and friends that I will miss. 

The amazing work we kept doing

Almost three years at Parivartan, coming to an end and surely it is pinching me. Parivartan- Social Service Society of my college, I have been associated with since my first year, an amateur who surely wanted to learn a lot from senior ones. My boring classes, long labs, furious teachers, have always come at second priority after smiles I wanted to bring at so many faces. The first year I only came to college for society work, ngo visits and receive as much experience as I could and sincerely respected orders given to me by seniors when I started off under teach the kids. Second year was even better- with three amazing people I have met in my college life whom I can never think of living without- Riddhi, Disha and Swati. The knowledge and experience just got better with them and we clearly had spread out our web at larger diameter, working for street children, people with disabilities and many more. Third year was a loss in beginning as my heart missed them a lot. With that came a responsibility of being the head of the society where I, now, have to give orders and see who all are working efficiently. Feels empty sometimes as no one sees if I am working efficiently or not.

Letting you go was the hardest thing I did since  years.
But you made me realize you are around all the time. 

College for me, only means working with Parivartan- running for permissions, scolding kids, slum teaching, associating with double the ngos we worked with last year and spreading as much awareness as we can. I will be missing my college, my society which has given me lot. Three amazing years at Parivartan are coming to an end. Not to forget the amazing and hardworking people I have met all throughout these years. Most of them have graduated, some will graduate with me, some who will do so in coming years. It feels like I have grown a lot- as a human, as a person. Surely I have learned to respect my co-workers. The journey of bringing change in college life as a student is coming to an end. But, as a person, it is not. I still have long way to go and continue my relations, visits to many organizations especially working for people suffering from disabilities. I thank Parivartan with open heart for teaching me all walks of life. Talking of experience, many more are yet to come. And of bonds, surreal ones just grow with time. 

The awesome trio!

That blessing in your life which we all call- Parivartan

Paramour for Nature

Happy days, sad days, gloomy days, lazy days, enjoying days, tiring days, stressful days, celebration days, fun days and all kinds of days come and pass me by, at which sometimes, I love to look back, with hatred or with a smile on my face.

Apart from this, I have always felt a void in my days, something lacking. We all need someone who would love us back, love us even more than what we offer and of course, asking nothing in return except our presence. Such cellophane attitude cannot be apprehended from humans who continue always look for some favors in return or alongside of our love. 

I bereft a cherished, darling, endearing. I beggared a pet since my imagination took off its first flight. Here are a few strands of my imagination which are buried deep within my heart, yet insatiable of pure love:

How about a dog?

I woke up one winter morning with red polka dotted pajamas on, wondering where did my orange-cum-green jute slippers go. Without stressing my mind with absence of slippers, I saw my dog, Bubbles chewing them. Bubbles is a female lazy Saint Bernard puppy with brown patches on her white soft fur, who sleeps most of the times and loves to sit on my feet, at remaining times. I fell in love with her at the adoption site at an NGO. We usually go out for long drives and I allow her to sit at front seat with her light pink tongue floating out of window in direction of wind. Bubbles is a pure vegetarian like me and sticks around with me all the time. Being a girl, she listens to me patiently and never leaks my secrets to anyone. She likes colorful clothes and caps, we usually match on every detailing of wearings. Sitting by lake on a green portion of grass , under our favorite Mahagony green tree on weekends is our favorite thing to do. She always sits near the doormat waiting for me with eyes glued at the stairs that lead to our first floor home.

Bubbles, a lazy Saint Bernard.

Or a turtle?

Chloe is a female Star Turtle, a month old when I got it from an aquarium shop very near from a metro station. Chloe is a happy-go-lucky soul and a very articulate one too. Always residing in her glass & wooden box kept right above my book shelf and right next to the window, she has just enough sunlight coming in from window to provide her with vitamin-D for her healthy bones. I have set up two table lamps to give her enough warmth, a little tub of water where she daily enjoys her bath and two-three plant pots which in summers, I replace with flower pots too (which she loves to eat). Chloe is a pure vegetarian like me and enjoys only lettuce & spinach unlike me. At night, I detail her with aces of my day, after which she goes off to sleep.

That's how Chloe likes it in her natural aura. 

Pet isn't something which is put in cage and seized its freedom. Pet is adored, cared for, dearest, idolized, well-liked, precious and very close to heart. You only give it food to eat, shelter to stay in, babyish time and it gives you its heart & soul. For all those lucky people who have a pet, be it a bird, a dog, a cat, a rabbit or anything, continue to love your animals as family. And as for me, I can only hope & imagine I integrate my life and acquire the missing puzzle piece, soon.  

Its Aavika, with a double 'a'!

"What's you name again?" the teacher would usually ask.
"Aavika", said the little girl.
"Spell it for me?" was the teacher's next question.
"A-a-v-i-k-a", the girl continued.
"With a double 'a'?, teacher kept asking.
"Yes, mam with a double 'a'", the little girl said, now irritated.
"What does it mean?" the teacher just wont stop.
"Mam, it doesnt specifically mean something", The girl said looking around the class who was starring at her.
"Cant be. Why would your parents give you such a name?" the teacher was now too interested.
"Mam, I dont know", she said shrugging. When will she shut up and teach?
That happened with me when I was in 2nd standard, in 3rd, in 4th. Oh! wait, that happened with me in every class. The upper the classes got, more the teachers got fonder of knowing the meaning behind the name.
"Beta, there must be a meaning to it. Ask your parents", the sport teacher said while the class was going to the ground in 7th standard to the girl with two pony tails.
"Sir, there's none. I've asked them, its just a meaningless word", she said agitated.
It happens when someone asks you the same question all throughout your life and you still cant answer it. Even though you love the name.
"But why would they keep a name which has no meaning?" the coordinator asked in 12th standard.
"Mam, the researchers are still trying to find out. When the readings are ready, I will inform you", the girl said in a very serious tone. Followed by a laughter from both the ends.
Not only the teachers, even friends, friends of friends, friends of family also ask the name.
"Oh! the balika vadhu wali avika?" an uncle said once.
"No!!!", she said in a highly overrated itching tone. "No! thats single 'a', am double 'a'." She said.
The most hatred thing in the world is seeing the beautiful unique name wrongly pronounced or written.
I've been well equipped now of poking "its double 'a' " over and over again. Weird part is, someone who's known you since a long time, still doesn't know the spelling.
But, now I've figured it out- the meaning. I did it earlier than the researchers.

even though its tiny, but you can easily see Aavika all over. :)
these people define me.

Aavika- a beautiful acronym used for someone who is very pretty, beauty, short, smart, funny, friendly, interactive and humorous. There! I did it.
Ofcourse, I love the identity given to me by my parents with an extra 'a'. The extra 'a' which has brought some extra stars on me. I've always admired it. No matter how much teachers/friends would blame my parents for keeping a meaningless word (as they say) as my name- I would never mind. I know its very unique, its very beautiful, its very yellow and its very 'me'! 

You can stand under my Umbrella

Mine is just a simple yet cute umbrella. Sea green in color and light black polka dots, a three folds one. I love it. Not to forget the little green laces at the border. Its very sober. Its very me. I carry it with me every now and then. Its always in my bag.
You'll see a little girl in yellow top and a green umbrella in a sunny day, that's me.
Or you'll see a little girl in blue top and same umbrella, that's me again.
Its three folding makes me more efficient to stay in the bag. Yes, I can no doubt exaggerate my umbrella for a long long time.
Recently my dad bought me a new one. It has 5 colored stripes, yellow, blue, green, red, pink but its not three folded. None-the-less, its just like what a kinder garden girl would have. I carry it around quite often too. A few people hate it, more than a few people love it.
The umbrella has memories for me. Usually or unusually it rains and my friend comes under it. Both fighting for it and yet both get wet from right and left half sides respectively. Or maybe an over sunny day too, friends would come under it again.
To the market, to the college, to the shopping, to the zoo, to the movies, to a friend's place- my green umbrella stays close to me. I keep it safe in my bag cos it keeps me safe too.

No, this is not something that I have.
But something I admire a lot.

So, above was a little post dedicated to my umbrella which sticks with me in the gloomy, heavy rains or in the harsh sunny day. It protects me when I need it most. Saves me and suffers it all.
The song which comes into my mind right now:


You have my heart 
And we'll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines
But you'll still be my star


Baby cos in the dark
You cant see shiny cars
And thats when you need me there
With you I'll always share
Because.. 


When the sun shine we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out till the end


Now thats its raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella



Even though I know all have watched it many times, but still, this video is never gonna run off the track:

Rihanna- Umbrella!

The Last First Day

Its 2012 now. The last session at college has kicked off. Freshers coming in new wonderful dresses which I know I would never wear at college. Me being in something very regular. I stand at the lobby waiting for someone. The same someone who's been there with me since two years. Till then I stare at people- nothing better I could have done. The walls seem so old yet so new to me. The noises the crowd make makes me feel so related. The person entered the lobby. We went straight to the class. Science- cant help it. The break came, we went to the canteen. Not much people around, but thats how we like it. The canteen seemed a bit renovated though. We preferred to sit outside. Under the shed. And so the talks started. The normal talks. We dont really need more friends. We know we are sufficient for each other. All of a sudden, we started remembering the previous two years- of college, of fun, of friendship, of shopping, of bunking, of fights, of togetherness. We means me & Vartika.

I must admit, this is our best picture ever.

College life has been so full with her, only her. We went into deep thoughts and suddenly it started raining.
"My first Delhi rain of this session", she said
"Of course", I said.
We saw the rain dancing with slow and fast steps. We saw people running back to classes.
"Dont worry, I have my umbrella", I said.
She smiled.
The rain dripping in through the leaking canteen sheds- on us, on food. We didnt bother.
"I just wish we have a plain, simple, tension free year", I said.
"Me too", she said.
 Somewhere deep down we knew the beginning of ending has started. Its gonna be the last year at college. It was the last first day at college of constant classes.
A long silence followed. 

The Best Thing I Ever Had

"U bitch! Kal frndship's day hai.", she text me.
"I know. What's bitchy about it?", I replied.
"U didn't even make any plan", she says.
"What plan? Sab usual. You come at evening. We going to daddy's to buy friendship bracelet. We going to kfc. You buying me krushers. Aur kya? ", I say.
":) Okie dokie.. :* ", she replied.
Same routine has been carrying out since ages. I, wearing a top given to me by her. Not gifted, literally, 'given'. (As the top now fits me instead of her).

This one began with some unexpected things. The first thing happened, when my door bell rang and she popped up with six yellow flowered bouquet in her hand. Six flowers signifying the six most platinum years of our life- our friendship bond since six years. I, awed, completely flattered, for at each valentine's & friendship's day, I am supposed to buy her flowers. The tradition, yet the same, the characters, inter changed.

So, we decided to go to daddy's, to still follow the tradition to tie friendship's bracelet. The old school ritual, yet in our hearts and souls. Still wearing the previous year's on our wrists, in order to replace it with new one. Rooted with the special attitude, we kept searching for one in the entire renowned sector-6 market. Found nothing. Finally, went to archies.
"The bag looks classy to me", I said looking at one.
"Looks like some sabji mandi types", she said.
I giggled. Found no such thing called a valuable band, we postponed it to future shopping.
That signifies the uniqueness. how opposite poles of earth we are. How mismatched our likes and dislikes are.  The hoax that friends have alike habits and what not, is proved wrong by us. Well, that is one reason why we always shop together for each other. She selecting her gift, I, paying for it & the other way round.
The day ended at kfc, she eating the non-veg stuff, and me, being a pure vegetarian, only sipping the mochalash (followed by stealing away her french fries). We laughed as we saw couples together at friendship's day.

She & I have grown up together. Known each other since we didn't even know how to use a kajal. Gulped down each other's flaws and still keeping in mind the another one is way too perfect, that's the beauty of our relationship. Our bond since seventh standard has always nurtured. Have moaned together, laughed together, shopped together, cried together, studied together (me doing even her bit for I have completed her assignments and English homework, even after I changed my school, she always bribed me with golgappas) in short, grew up together.
We ensured our every firsts happened together, so that none of us was left out. We ensured we are there for each other even when the other one doesn't say so.




"Right partition or left?", she texts me one day at 5 am for she had a date with someone.
I, still eyes shut, replied "left".
Same has happened to me, there have been none of the messages which she hasn't replied to.

"You are the best thing that happened to me... I'd be dead without you and of course some friends are always more important than lovers and equally important as family.. In fact you are a family.. Thanks for coming into my life and let's hope to die as godmothers of each other's children <3 <3".

The best message ever, that too sent by my bestest best friend- Samvita.. on Friendship's Day. 

I, didn't reply, actually, I couldn't reply. Just had a smile on my face with an assurance that, even when nobody's on my side, you are there.. Like you've always been... Like you'll always be.
You are the best thing I ever had.
With all the Love in my heart, soul & luck, I thank you for every second of six years we've spent.
Our friendship will live forever & ever till eternity.

Confessions of a Shopaholic???

It happened last Monday. Me, Samvita and Varuna were on our way to watch Delhi Belly (me for the second time) in English of course, for our loath for dubbing cannot be buried in sand. We were too early for the movie, cos of my obnoxious planning. We decided to take a walk down the Pacific Mall. The awesome mall is a mark of high quality I must say. Having seen like a hundred brands (which weren't new to our eyes), we decided to shop. Not literally shop; window shop is a better term.We, love window shopping as we are most of the times left with such option at heavy brands. (Heavy not by weight, but by price). The lights at the showrooms were shut (it was just 9:15am when we reached), but we were able to see everything! Yes, that's a quality only we possess.
"I wish I could just pause the moment for a long time and steal away everything", Samvita says intaking a heavy breath looking at Da Milano.
And then I remember, how once at Lajpat she grabbed a bag, staring at it, she started shouting, "Aavika am buying this, Aavika am buying this". Her breath almost stopped and she; hafting. Literally, hafting. Her eyes growing bigger, the size I only get to see during shopping. When I gazed at her and said, "Samvita come back to your senses". She drops the bag. "I'll wait outside", she said while she moved out. She becomes claustrophobic. I hauled cos buying that bag for no reason would have disturbed the budget (which anyway, she never sets. She knows it'll be destroyed anyhow).
"I just want fifty thousand bucks, which isn't too much, to just shop here", I say with a glory in my voice. The glory I've been familiar with since ages. The glory of being a  "Shopaholic".
Followed by our high salaries (expected in future) we keep coloring our dreams even more.
Varuna just laughs at our dreams, for she has even the same.
Coming to Varuna, she shops ninety percent with me. She, too, is a typical shopper. She takes five hours and comes with only one single top. With her evil smile, she gets it billed. Yes, I have witnessed that evil smile. As if coming from winning some battle!

Yes, we are girls. Yes, we dream for bags, foot wears, watches, accessories, clothes and everything all over the world. Yes, we all are shopaholics. The girl isn't a girl until she is a shopaholic, I believe.
Finally after the movie, we decided to shop. Yes, the best part of the day. We three are the typical shoppers. We shop with insanity. Lifestyle at Pacific has raised its bar of quality, I must say. Amidst in the clothes and accessories. Good decision of shifting from Lifestyle at Rajouri. We'd spent two hours there, tried like over twenty tops on & on, we didnt buy anything. Yes, we are obsessed with quality (followed by price tags which cannot be ignored). Also, I always face size troubles, which doesn't affects me now.
All I know about my profile, is an important point of being a shopaholic. Highly obsessed. (The sale season gives me more hope).

I can shop anywhere & everywhere. Most of the people take me as a companion with them, in reverse am always bribed with burgers and ice creams. None-the-less, I never say a no. (Sometimes I do, due to tight schedule). I have shopped with and for school friends, college friends, friends of friends, friend's bf, bf's friends, bf's family, bf's friend's gf, my sis' bf, friend's elder sis' marriage (even chosen bridal wear for two), her gonna be family, my family, their friends, even for unknowns. I for myself, can shop alone, but a company always matters for a nice opinion. They just take me along!
The hint that I offer them every time is, look at the cloth, ask yourself, "is this me?'', if yes, buy it. If no, grab something else and repeat the procedure.
Be, it Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, Subhash Nagar, Chandani Chowk and what not! Name it and I've been there. Name it and I've shopped there.
Besides I can shop for bedsheets, crockeries, mum's sarees, dad's formals, and everything. Even the tiles are selected by me for the renovation. And so is the kitchen's slab. My mum, doesn't even buy a cup without my opinion. "You are a smart shopper", says my mum carried with higher pride than mine. When it comes to my sis, she doesn't even buy a top without my assessment.
Even though, it has happened that given over ten tops, I'll only select two. For am a typical shopper. I always have a budget which shall never be shaken.
A few times, I shop to make my mood good, too.
Am proud of this quality of mine!

At the end of the day,  I bought only three tops (sigh), watched movie, ate, on & on in just nine hundred bucks!
Nobody would believe that!
Huhh!! Girl Power!

The hardest part

She didn't call me on her birthday, so did I. Moreover, she didn't even wish me. Why should I? It has happened  many times with me. I've tried to talk to many people and they keep on ignoring me. Tried to gain many's attention but gained only rolling eyes. I called them to my birthday party and I know I was nowhere in their mind during their's. It hurts a lot. Indeed it does.
Not now. Not anymore. I know I have improvised a lot. Made don't know how many friends in almost all parts of the city. That makes me proud.
Anyhow, this post isn't in any negative sense. It's about someone, who tried to be friends with me and I kept keeping her at bay. Even though, somewhere, I do not know, but yes, I've done it to many people. There have been times when people need me, but I haven't given any heed. The reason being: they don't mean much to me. Still, I mean a lot to them. Its paranoiac.
Two days back, I had a look at my phone. How broken its edges have been. How it has lost its metallic lusture. Even the alphabets have started disappearing cos of excessive typing quality of mine. How like a million times it has fallen off from my hand. It needs a cover, badly. A cover which needs no washing, and suits me. Plus, fits in my tiny little hands. I remember I had one a few months back. Which I never used deliberately. True, you remember the importance of things once its gone. Not to forget, It was a cover just for name.
It makes me remember someone. Someone from my college. A simple girl not from this city.
It was my birthday. Having known like a million people from the world and everyone screaming for a treat in my ears, I always have a collective bunch of humans which only get exclusive treats from me.
She wished me. I didn't call her for treat. I remember how nicely she tried to talk to me since the very beginning. I, being selfish on my part, used her extensively for assignments and files. I think she knows this.
Later I remember, the glory in her eyes when I started talking to her. We sat under the infamous tree near the canteen door. It was the exam practical time. Having most of the friends in another batch cos of alphabetical disorder, I only had her in my batch to talk to. We had a nice lunch followed by a chirpy talk. That was the first time we talked for almost two hours without any disjunction. I came to know she belongs from Rajasthan, a city which am fond of. I felt some roots attached to her cos my mum belongs to Ajmer. I haven't been there for more than once. Her golden words about the state made me live there some longer.
We went home. I agreed am a jerk who couldn't understand her in the beginning. We became close friends. Her simplicity touched me.
It was her birthday. I ran screaming her name, almost pounced on and hugged her tight leaving her in awes and open mouthed. She called me for the treat. Wait! I wasn't expecting this nor was I prepared how to react over this. I thought she would have remember I didn't invite her on my birthday treat. I felt small & embarrassed. She is the ocean of love. Am only an apprentice. Since the beginning she'd been appreciating my phone cover, which I barely used. It was a jute one. Just the size of my phone beset with thin lace.
She asked me "where did you buy it from".
"Cultural fest, Assam quarter", I said.
"Buy one for me the next time you visit it, I always wanted one such", she said.
"Ya, sure", I said.
At the end of the day, when we were leaving. I stayed and handed it over to her. Asked her to keep it. When she was about to open her wallet and pay me for that, I hauled her and said, "Keep it as my token of love". She smiled. Her beautiful one , filled with innocence.
On my part, I do not regret giving it to her.  It was a cover just for name (for me).
{For now, I do not have a pic of us together, but I'll get one and upload it as soon as the college reopens}

Thanks Archana, for everything. You taught me a lot. You forged me into another being. I'll always cling up to you.