Circular Queue

Quarter:

She tried not to express her fear and failed. The pressure of her clutches within his hands increased. Realizing that, he asked, “Will you be able to manage dear. If this bus delays, then you might miss the college bus from the bus stand” 

“Don’t worry Dad, I will manage. It has been one month since I have joined”. She knew that she is not that comfortable as much she consoled him.

“If you miss the last college bus, how will you go??”

“I need to book some cab. But that will be costly, I am troubling you very much financially, but what to do, I did not think this bus from here will be so late”

“Don’t worry!! I will somehow manage. All I am concerned about is your safety”, as he consoled, bus came. She got in and bus left the stand.

Her bus travel was filled with thoughts of how difficult it is for a girl from poor family to undergo professional studies. She reached bus stand. SOLA Cab that she booked during her bus travel was waiting. Watch read 11:30 PM. She had seventy more kilometers to reach her college. En-route is densely populated with trees and sparsely with people. SOLA cab driver was looking young and that increased her fear. After loading the luggage, she entered the back seat.

Once she settled and as the cab was exiting the bus stand, driver asked, “Madam, I have mineral water, paper boat fruit juices, coke and Pepsi –you would like to have anything?”

She just said, “Nothing”.

Drive went on. After few hundreds of seconds

“Madam, I have all channels of FM, A.R Rahman Romantic Tracks, Illayaraja classics or Carnatic songs – which would you prefer?”

She raised her voice, “Can you please focus on your driving rather than on me “.

“Sorry Mam”, he replied and continued.

She realized that her fear is manifesting as anger that she showed on him. But as time passed by, she was slowly returning to normalcy. She started realizing a difference in him. The way he drives also meant a lot – not so fast, not so slow. The way he changed gears and took turns were gentle and he maneuvered the car very elegantly. His initial attempts of making her comfortable also struck a chord with her. She started making impressions on him. Silence pervaded and she started counting the trees as the car passed by. She could not control the smile she had every now and then.

Around half of the distance, she slowly realized that there were 4 motorbikes going past their car, slowing down, going behind and again going past. Initially she ignored, but the race repeated. Fear made a re-entry and she picked up a book to pretend reading.  

The frequency of the bike overtaking increased and it became tough for the driver to drive. At one instance he over took all of them stopped the car perpendicular to all the four bikes and got down from the car, indicating her to just stay inside. He made sure to close the doors and windows and locked them with the A/C on.

His walk had lots of meaning. It did not display anger rather; the confidence and his steps indicated he wanted to make a point to them. His interaction with them extended for several minutes and all through the time, his body language was very calm and composed. Few times, when they raised their hands, he just blocked them and continued to talk. They were animated, but he was cool. As the discussion continued, she could realize that he had victory, in making them realize their mistakes. They had a face down expression and they shook hands with them, leaving him the way. He came back with the same confidence and smiling face, took the car and proceeded without asking or saying anything.

She was puzzled, surprised and impressed.

As time proceeded, she couldn’t control, “What did you say to them so that they did not cross our way any further”.

He smiled, “All of us are like FM receivers Mam, it depends on what channel you tune to listen what you want. I tuned correct channels and the reception was calm and clear”.  

She was not sure whether she understood, but she liked the answer. They reached the college, she paid the money and went inside, being involved in his thoughts so much that she forgot to tell thanks to him. Her night was filled with dreams of FM channels and the tuning aspects.

Next day morning, she has to get ready for her lab class and on the way to her laboratory; she has to cross the other department. She was surprised to see the same SOLA cab in front of that department. She waited to see if he had come to drop or pick up some one. Her surprise became double folded, when she saw him in her college laboratory uniform.

She almost ran towards him and said, “Hi”.

“Oh!! Hi”.

“Do you study here?? “ 

“Yes!!! Mam I wanted to introduce myself yesterday, but you were in a hurry, so I did not want to disturb you”, with a smile

“That’s so nice of you, By the way, I Am Deepali. You do not have to call me Mam... If you don’t mind I want to say something to you “

“Sure, Please”

“I LOVE YOU!!!”

Half:

 “Fluid Dynamics is one of the toughest subjects for mechanical engineering students. Our job is to make it easy for you. So, let us start our love with the fluids. Shall we? “Professor started. He could hear one of the students, murmuring, “If we say NO, will you stop?” Professor smiled, “Yes I will stop if you do not want”. Students were surprised. He continued, “I am stopping now, not because you do not want, but, today, I have the responsibility to select a Joint secretary for this year Mechanical Engineering students”. Students were happy and excited. Professor continued, “You can discuss amongst yourselves and volunteers can come up to the stage. I will step out for a while and come back. Once I am back we can conduct a small election and can select the JS today itself. Volunteers just come to the stage and wait until I come, to talk to the class”. He stepped out.

Volume in the class increased exponentially. Everyone had suggestions and everyone wanted the other to contest. When they were speaking to themselves and contemplating what to do, that happened. A girl from the second row, went to the podium of the class, “Hi friends, I would like to represent our class and want to contest for this post. I hope you will support me”. Silence for a while. Girls clapped their hands and guys looked confused and they started to talk amongst themselves.

“Hey, I will go and represent all of us”

“No Man. Let him go, he can talk well”

“Let us not send only one of us, let us have more than one – say two or three, so even by probability, we have better chance to win” – a mathematician in the class suggested

“That makes sense – let us send him, him and him”

“No that shows that we are not confident”

Confusion and anxiety were increasing and girls felt proud of having found their representative.

All through these discussions, there was this student from the boys’ section, who was sitting calm at the corner, looking the girl on the podium, without a wink. He was amazed about a lot of great things in her, the way she stood at the podium, her dressing sense, her accent, the way she adjusted the hair that falls in front of her forehead, the silent signal exchanges that she had with the girl-gang and many more. He wanted to increase his proximity with her. After a deep breath, he came around to the discussion area and said,

“Guys, there is no point in arguing. We need to show our strength. Let me go to the podium and compete and Let me be the only guy. With shear strength of the boys and with the assurance that all of you will vote for me, I shall win the election. Once I win, it is left to us to decide what to do and we can do all what we want. What do you guys say”.

Boys found him reasonable and applauded as he walked towards the podium.

As he reached to share the stage, Professor came in, looked at those two, smiled, turned towards the class, “Ok, this is final. No more nominations accepted. Now, these two will talk in front of you for five minutes each “

As always, it was ladies first. Her five minutes speech was awesome. She sounded like a professional speaker, politician and an intellectual candidate. Guys slowly started falling for the way she spoke and the way she carried herself.

It was his turn.

“Hi friends, as you now, I am Leeladharan, Leeladharan… mmmm Leeladharan. “

He repeated his name three more times and then he fumbled, confused, shivered and blabbered. His talk was haphazard, uncorrelated and dis-oriented. He had no point to make, except that he wanted him to be elected.

Voting started, completed and counted. She won. Portion of guys were disappointed and they were angry at themselves for listening to him and at him for the way he talked.

He had least botheration and he was walking out as the class was over.

She came running to him, “Hey, Thank you for giving me competition. I am sure you are not that bad a speaker, why did you do that in front of everyone? Are you not feeling well??”

“You are right. I can speak better than that. In fact there are few of the guys who can speak much better than you spoke. But if I wouldn’t have come to the competition convincing them about me going alone, one of them could have come for the contest and you would have lost. I wanted you to win and I wanted only you to win”.

She was happy and puzzled, “But Why”

He looked at her eyes closely and said

“I LOVE YOU!!!”

Three-quarter:

It was a much sort-after weekend after a hectic week. Dharani returned few books and took a few more from the library. She was on her way to hostel, and then she remembered that she needs to call her home. She diverted herself towards the STD booth and she saw her friend. Dharani waited, talked and accompanied her friend towards hostel.

Dharani, “You look rattled, what happened?”

Friend, “Yeah, one of my cousins eloped with a guy and got married. My aunt is completely in a devastated state. I am very scared”

“That is bullshit. How can someone be so selfish? Can’t they think a moment about their parents before doing anything like this?”

“Dharani!!! Falling in love is natural. I wouldn’t deny that. But eloping is wrong.”

“What are you talking? Parents are the best care-takers of their kids. How can you unilaterally decide who is good for you? Now, because of this act, both the families are going to undergo severe trauma.”

“No Dharani, in fact the parents are the reason for the kids to take that extreme step of running away. They impose lots of restriction on their kids and once the kids find some affection with lot of freedom, they tend to get diverted”

“Crazy …. This is not called Love or affection. True love is what your parents show you. They care for you so much and in fact they find the better match for you.”

“Dharani, you are fortunate to have wonderful parents, even if you find someone who inspires you in any aspect, you will fall for them. Loving someone is not a crime and you have all the rights to follow your heart, rather than thinking always about your parents.

“Never…. I will never find a partner myself. I have complete faith and belief on my parents to find someone for me.”

By that time, they have reached the hostel. Dharani went into her room, banged the door and went to bed. Her hands were still shivering and she could control her feeling only by sleeping and she did that.

Sun and moon exchanged their shifts numerous times.

On a routine day morning, she saw a family waiting in front of the principal’s office. With the thought, some student has done a major mischief and whole family is waiting to get punished by the college management, she entered her class. She was not comfortable in the class by the second hour and excused herself, went to room and slept.

By the time she woke up, it was night. On the hall way and in the mess, she heard group of girls talking about the family she saw in the morning. One of the girls sat next to her for dinner, “Dharani, you know a new guy had joined our class and the beauty is the guy’s whole family was here to get him admitted”.

Dharani, “Fine, what is so funny about this that needs to be discussed across?”

“That’s not all; the way the family reacted, when they left the guy in the hostel and went back was very melodramatic. It was like watching Khabi Khushi Khabi Gam live”

Dharani, with a smile in her face, “It ok, maybe he is the only son and they have pampered him in his house”

“Hey Hey, whats happening, looks like you are having a soft corner for him, even without seeing him … mmmmm.. Whats cooking up”

“Shut up, you girls cannot think of anything else….get last”, She walked off, not only because she did not like what her friend told, but also because she had finished her dinner.

Dharani did not fail to notice the family of that guy every weekend. They come on Sunday afternoon, have lunch with him and leave that day evening or night.

She was puzzled. Even though a boy is pampered so much, she was finding it hard to believe that they come and meet him every weekend.

She found an apt time to talk to him.

They stood near the notice board, sat next to the lawn, walked towards library, went to the entrance, came back to their department, strolled in the ground, but did not stop talking. She asked, he said. He queried, she explained.

She realized that he is so attached to his family and he believes in his family as much she believes in the concept of parents and family. His philosophy of life and marriage was in alignment with hers. They both discussed and agreed that arranged marriage is the best and parents are the best to decide the partners for their children. 

As they depart, she walked a few yards, turned back and called him. He turned casually and came near her and asked, “What….”  And she replied

“I LOVE YOU!!!”

  

Full :

“Oh!! I am sorry. I did not intend to hurt you”

“Really!!! Then what were your intentions… Have you heard a word called courtesy?? Is this how you talk to a stranger...Why do you need 1000 bucks from me? When I say I do not have, why are you pestering me repeatedly for the money??”

“I really mean it when I say sorry… It was all my friends’ prank. They had a bet that I need to collect 1000 Rupees from you. I thought you were kidding when you said you don’t have. “

She had tears, that she was not able to control

He was feeling pathetic.

Slowly her tears turned into anger and with a firm voice, she asked, “What is your name?”

“Ranadeep”

“Listen Ranadeep, Let this be the last time. Next time, I see you playing prank with any one, I will complain to Principal. You guys need to be taught a lesson”

“I am extremely sorry again”

She walked off.

He came back to his set of friends, “You guys are idiots and insensitive. She is a poor girl trying hard to manage her every day expenses along with her educational loans and you played this prank with her...? Don’t involve me in any of these stupid games”

Sleep also punished him that night, by staying away.

Classes, sports, assignments, practical, college day and other events slowly erased the traces of this event from both of their minds. But his feel of guilt was very strong and he was trying to find a chance to clear that off.

He crosses her once in two days and every such time, he wants to initiate a dialog with her, but, her “Don’t care him “attitude and his lingering guilt feel never allowed him to talk with her.

For one week, three facts were bothering him a lot, semester exams are nearing, there is a flood warning in Chennai and she was not seen for the past four days.

On a Wednesday night, when he was deep into his exam preparation, one of his friends disturbed him saying rain in Chennai is increasing and as per the meteorological department, it is going to increase multi-fold.

He went into a panic state and immediately started to Chennai. All his mobile call attempts to her parents in Chennai were in vain.

All social networking media were filled with flood updates, queries and answers. He also pasted his queries in multiple websites. In all of them he got an area wide update, but no one gave him specific news about his family or that street. His travel duration was 3 times more than the normal to his house.

House was completely inside water and he had no trace of where his parents were. He was running around frantically to find their whereabouts. One cobbler near his area spotted him and told that they were escorted to a nearby school premises.

He rushed towards the school and found them sitting with a group of other people. They were relieved seeing him and so was he. After the initial exchanges of what and how, he slowly moved them from there to one of their relatives’ houses. On their way his mother told, “Randeep, you know there was a girl who was very helpful. She helped all of us to evacuate from our area and made sure we settle in this school. I am trying to find her and want to thank her, but could not see her at all after that day”

Randeep, “Oh!! Really I wish I could also see that girl. She deserves more than a thank. Seeing this pathetic situation, I am planning to stay here for a week and help all these poor folks to get out of the danger”.

“Good Bacha, Please do whatever you can”

As they were crossing a fierce full stream of water, mother was excited and shouted, “Hey girl, come here, come here, I was looking for you”

She came near by smiling

Randeep was surprised and shocked.

“Randeep, this is the girl who helped all of us. See how committed she is, she has not stopped still. You know she had spent lots of money from her own pocket to buy food and other essentials for all of the affected.”

He was flattered. He extended his hands, tried to say “Thank you”, but failed to speak. His tears spoke million words.

She, without changing her smile, understood and accepted his gratitude.

He recovered himself and said, “I want to join you in assisting people”

She said, “Of course, we need lots of people like you” and he joined her.

He could not believe what is happening and could not express or explain what feeling he is undergoing. She was explaining the plans she had and was telling him what he has to do. He was silent.

Suddenly he came close to her, held her hands and told

“I LOVE YOU!!!”

Hang Over:

Randeep:

It was still dawn when I stepped out of the cab and walked towards the entry gate of the Delhi airport. The early morning February air was pleasantly cold.

I was travelling to Bengaluru to attend a college friend's wedding. It had been four years since we graduated from the same college. This wedding was also going to be a reunion of our batch mates. But what I didn't know was that the reunion would begin much ahead of time; right in the queue in front of the airline counter.

I was almost sure it was she. Same height! Same long hair! Same complexion! Curiosity had my eyes glued to her. And then about 60-odd seconds later, when she turned, she proved me right. My ex-girlfriend stood two places ahead of me in that queue. We had never met after the college farewell.

With the intention to talk to her, I called her name “Deepali “.  My voice was not loud enough to reach her. When I tried to increase the same, I found she was trying to reach out to someone in the queue.

Deepali:

What a day for me. The first mail I saw today morning was an appreciation from manager. Even though I was late from home, could reach the airport without any hindrance and added to all, now I see my sweet heart in the queue, in front of me.  It was since the college farewell that I spoke to him. Should I go and stand in front of him and surprise him or should I shout out his name or wait until he sees me. What I could not do in college I need to do it today. She smiled and whispered his name, within herself, “Leeladharan”. The thought and the very spell of his name made her blush, which no one noticed in the queue.

Leeladharan:

“Did I miss something?” He checked everything to be perfect, but still was in the thought that he missed something. He was getting restless as the queue was moving slowly. He finished answering all SMS and WhatsApp messages. His thought slowly went back in time and started thinking about college. “How much fun were those days? Will I see her now? Will I see her alone, with her husband? Or with a kid in hand? Oh!! God, please make me see her somehow”. His wish was answered immediately. As he peeped out of the queue to see who was taking more time at the counter, it was she. “Oooooh!!!!” he shouted as the passenger standing next to him saw him differently. “Dharani!!!” He shouted out of his control

Dharani:

As she finished her check-in, she collected her cabin bag and was moving towards the security check, she saw him standing in the queue looking at somebody in the queue in front of him. She stood, took a deep breath and moved near to him. As she approached closely, she called him, “Randeep”.