A forgotten message

Few days passed, Everyday I rushed to my solitude during lunch break, alone. I severely needed a friend. A few classmates eventually started smiling at me whenever I entered the class. The crush guy being one of them, I didn't responded earlier but now I hesitantly smile back at him whenever he smiles at me.   

 I walked into the classroom 10 minutes early for the first time in my life, VICTORY. 

A message popped up on my screen, 

Mumma-We are going on shopping this weekend, have you reached college yet? 

I felt smile creeping up my face. 

Me-yes mumma, reached here 15 minutes ago I am walking into the class now.. Me-  I am Excited for shopping.  

Mumma-Take care and eat something 

Walking inside the class still looking in my phone I typed. 

Me- Yup. Bye. 

I reached the bench I usually sit on and glance up from my phone. I almost jumped when I saw him sitting on the seat. The crush guy looked at me with smirk on his face, he was expecting this reaction. 

Didn't he used to sit on the first bench? What happened now... 

I smiled and sat on the front bench...while he still remain seated on the bench behind mine. 

Weird.  

A realization stroke me....I immediately opened my Instagram and scrolled down the chats.... 

There he was 

He was the one who sent the message welcoming me here  

I read his text again- 

" Good evening....hello I am Kevin. Welcome to our batch. I hope you will like it here and yes just ping me whenever you need help" I looked over my shoulder at him. 

Ohhhhhhhhh okay, he is the Kevin and he texted me. I confirmed his profile picture with his face. 

What a weird name though 

Bell rang and I snapped out of my thoughts.... 

Lectures went on one after the other. It felt weird, siting in front of him. Was he observing me? Is he interested? Did he caught me staring at him the first time and hence had an impression that I am interested? Did I gave him signs? A lot of thoughts ran in my mind.  I shook my head, took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts away. 

"You are just overthinking." I whispered to myself.  

I saw him a couple of times glancing at my table...He sat right across my table in lab just like I mentioned before and often exchanged smile.  

He seems a nice guy and the look on his face always shouted friendship. 

"Its been a while here and I haven't made any friends" I whispered to myself. 

 I spent most of my time alone or on call with friends  and this is not me. 

So I decided to make friends here. 

After all I have to survive a whole f*cking year here. 

Its Thursday today and lectures ends at 3:30 pm. The last lecture was about to start so I slipped my phone out of the pocket and immediately typed  

"Coffee together?!" 

He was busy scribbling something in his book, I glanced at him and then at the message I sent. Second thoughts flooding my mind. 

The lecture started, today's topic was lipid structure. I really suck at this, and spent whole lecture struggling to keep up with professor. The lecture ended after professor made sure to fill our hands with assignment topics and other work. 

I hopped out of the class as soon as  class was dismissed and rushed towards the washroom, my bladder would have burst if I waited a little long. 

Aaahhhhhhh..... Feels good, I walked out of the washroom. I have about 2 hours free, should i go to Rosh's place? I thought.  

Me- Heya!!!!! 

Rosh- What do you want? 

Me- I am coming over.  

Rosh- What if I am not at my home? 

I rolled my eyes. 

Me- I know you are at your home.  

Rosh- lol bring some pizza too.  

I threw my phone in my bag and started walking towards the parking lot when I saw Kevin, leaning on the wall with phone in his hands struggling hard to type something. Why do he looks so nervous? 

Once I reached my vehicle, I fished my phone out again and placed my handset on my ears in parking area.  

My phone buzzed and messages popped up Kevin - sure. 

Kevin- today?! Kevin- where? 

I read the messages.... I completely forgot about you boy. 

Me- "umm.... Okay. You pick a place" 

Kevin- "W.B?" 

Me- "Pardon?!" 

Kevin- " Wagh- Bakri tea lounge?" 

Me- "I don't know where it is...  " 

Kevin- "Where are you?" 

Me- "Parking area near the ground." I saw him walking towards me.... 

We sat on the table smiling at each other. It took only about 5 minutes drive as the lounge was just around the corner. He drove. 

"Do you like the place?" He asked 

"Umm...yeah. Do you come here regularly?" 

"No. Just a couple of times with friends" he said raising his eyebrows. I smiled. 

The waiter came over and handed us the menu. 

"You drink tea?"  He asked. 

"Yeah." I said casually looking in the menu. 

He opened his menu but his eyes were observing me and I could feel it. We ordered special masala tea. 

Ummm.. he is an observant. Okay we have something in common. I don't like those numb fellows lying lifelessly in front of you. 

We started casual conversation, about my last college and why I transferred. Impressive, he has really good interaction skills. 

"So tell me something about the college." I asked with a small smile. 

"College is good. Faculty is quite cooperative. Nice infrastructure." He said. 

"Is this all?, Honestly I can read all of this on the college website." 

He smirked for a while before speaking 

"This college sucks. Especially that professor kay, who teaches metabolism. Haven't you heard about his adventures on  the tour already?" I laughed a little, nodding my head. 

He continued- "and you wouldn't find unity here in our class." 

An elderly waiter came over and placed our order with "girl and boy together, shame on you" face. 

We looked at our tea which had a weird long green leaf inside it, may be for stirring.  

Taking the sip of tea, we looked at each other. Both of us had the same expressions.  

"Do your tea have sugar in it?" - he asked with cringed face. And we both burst into laugh. 

We saw few sugar sachet lying on the tray, taking 1 sachet I added into mine. He followed. 

Although he was still waiting for me to take another but I didn't. 

( Indian masala tea is the special tea that contains a lot of other ingredients other than just tea leaves and already have sugar added in it) 

"So you were talking about our class" I said 

He still had I don't like this tea face when he spoke- " Kavya, this tea is shit. I have been here a couple of times and they served the best. But I don't know why they served this today ."He said looking towards the waiter who was busy watching cricket match on the T.V. 

"Its completely fine, don't think too much" I smiled. 

I talked most of the time, about my hobbies showing him few of my paintings and the book I read. He listened everything silently with  hands crossed.  

I even told him, how me and my friends locked a professor in the washroom and with crackers inside. And how my notorious group would bunk lectures and visit the haunted places.  Times. 

"What about you? Tell me about your kands" i asked. 

"No no no. Rules are bit strict here. Forget all those days of yours. Its Xavier's, one step out of the line and you will be detained". 

My smile disappeared and I looked into the cup. I miss my old friends. 

"Armaan and Raaj" - he said. 

I looked at him. 

"Armaan and Raaj are my man here" he said- "Armaan is the best. I tell him everything and he never spill the beans. Its like everything dissolves in him and Raaj is the studious one ."- he stopped. 

I nodded and took another sip from my cup silently. 

"I was sitting with Armaan just behind you today" he said suddenly. I raised my eyebrows but decided not to say anything. 

"What's your goal in future?" He asked. 

"A beach house, not huge. But mine. Where I can live peacefully with my tortoises and dogs, alone." I replied. 

"Why alone?" He asked. 

"That’s for another day." I replied with a wink. 

We chatted for about half an hour and left.