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SNEHAL
Snehal put the curls behind her ears and adjusted her long entwined hair. She was going to meet Vivek at the Swagat restaurant and wanted to appear beautiful.
She had developed a good relationship with Vivek in one month, and he was more romantic than Ranjit. Working with him had been a pleasure. He motivated her to work hard and win the students’ hearts.
Guilt filled her mind as she hadn’t told him about her engagement. However, she worried about Vivek knowing. At times, Vivek acted like a friend whenever Snehal tried to appease him. Had Arjun or somebody else told him she had been engaged to Ranjit?
She was determined to build a relationship with him, and see how he reacted to her moves. She had only been engaged to Ranjit but hadn’t married him; Vivek might take interest in her as they worked together to build their institution. Working together has no doubt brought him closer to me.
The doorbells jingled. Her mother, in her dark green silk sari, entered. Her gold necklace glittered in the fluorescent light. “What are you doing alone here?” She rolled her curious eyes. She took Snehal in from head to toe. “Are you going out?”
“Yes.” Snehal sounded cordial, not wanting to disappoint her mother.
“Where? Your father might come at any time.”
“Don’t I have any freedom, Mum?” Snehal frowned. “I’ll come back in an hour or so.”
“Yes, you have the freedom. I want to know where you are going.” Her mother sounded curious.
Snehal swallowed. “I’m going to Priya’s home. It’s been more than two weeks since I’ve talked to her.”
“Are you sure you’re going there?”
Snehal bit her lip. She had been lying to her mother ever since she became closer to Vivek. She hoped the relation with her mother wouldn’t be severed. “Trust me, I’m going to see Priya.”
“How are you feeling about Ranjit?” Her mother ran her hand over Snehal’s head. “He is a good person, isn’t he?”
Snehal drew in a heavy breath. She nodded. “Ranjit has gone to Delhi on a business trip. We’re eager to meet when he comes back next week.”
“Did you speak to him over the phone?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You must understand him better.”
Snehal nodded. “But I don’t want to hurry to the wedding.”
Ranjit did ring her in the night, but Snehal avoided answering. She wanted to keep a distance until she was convinced about his mannerisms. Her closeness with Vivek also made her ignore his calls.
“So, are you coming for dinner?”
“I told you, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“I’ll tell your Dad the same, and you’re going to have to face him when you come home.”
“Sure. I will.” She walked towards the door. “Please let me go now.”
“Have some coffee.”
“Thank you, I need to go.” Vivek will be waiting for me.
Snehal opened the iron gate of her home and dusted off her vehicle. She started the engine and looked at her pet before racing ahead. The Alsatian dog started barking as she went past her home. She then headed down the main street.
The evening traffic was heavy. The overloaded red-top yellow buses sped down the road, competing with taxis and cars. A few youngsters, their backpacks strapped to their backs, drove past her. Snehal stopped her vehicle at the zebra crossing to let the school children cross the road.
She arrived at the parking place of her office and looked for Vivek’s car. It was parked in its place; Snehal heaved a sigh of relief. Vivek didn’t disappoint her, and perhaps, he was going to accompany her to the Swagat restaurant.
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POOJA WAS SEATED IN her place, her eyes glued to the computer screen. Snehal went to her and sat on a metallic chair in front of her. They both exchanged pleasantries.
Snehal’s eyes searched for Vivek. His voice filtered through the glass walls. “Is Vivek teaching his class?”
Pooja nodded. “Yes, conducting a special class.”
“He never mentioned it to me.”
Snehal rose, breathing heavily and went to her work cubicle. She sat and looked at Vivek. He looked handsome in his blue mixed-white checkered shirt and blue pants. He spoke with confidence and grabbed the student’s attention while he gave the lecture.
Vivek was an engineer, and Snehal could share common subject knowledge with him. They had been working together and had made good progress in achieving their goals.
Vivek seemed to be from a similar family background as that of Snehal and was a perfect match for her. But would he agree to the relationship as Snehal was engaged?
Her heart raced. Her inclination towards Vivek might not be correct, and her parents would oppose such a move. She would get into trouble if she told her father that she liked Vivek. She was dependent on her parents and couldn’t go against their wishes. It would be wise for her to see how Vivek responded to her and act accordingly.
Vivek came out of the class and went to the wash area. The muffled conversations of students filled the surrounding until they went outside the institution. Vivek came back and appeared fresh. His dark, deep-set eyes locked onto Snehal’s for a moment. He pulled the door open and sat in front of her, smiling.
“When did you arrive?” he asked.
Snehal was flushed as Vivek approached her cabin and sat in front of her. “A while ago. I thought your class was in the afternoon.”
“I know, but I wanted to take an extra class now before we went to Swagat.”
Snehal blushed. Vivek was indeed interested in her offer. She shied to talk about the matter and remained silent.
“Why-” Vivek stumbled for words and coughed.
Snehal looked at him. His face had become red, and he wiped his nose with a hanky.
“Are you all right?” Snehal tried to look into his eyes.
“Yes, I am.” He avoided her gaze.
“Were you saying something?”
“No, I didn’t.” Vivek stared down and squeezed his fingers together.
Snehal wanted to leave for Swagat and spend some quality time with him. She didn’t want to delay. “Shall we go now to the Swagat?” Snehal asked.
“Let’s go. I’m hungry.” He rose.
Snehal sat in the passenger’s seat. Vivek drove his car outside the parking place and headed down the main street.
It was semi-dark. The sunset had painted the sky with a black, orange hue. The noise of crows and parrots filled the surroundings when Vivek stopped his car near the intersection, beside a banyan tree. A hoard of buffalos crossed the road as the traffic inspector eased their movement.
Snehal stared in front, contemplating Vivek’s hesitation to join her before he agreed. He wanted to ask something but stopped in the middle. What was he trying to say? Was he aware of her engagement and hence hesitant? She needed to get to know more about him before she moved to develop the friendship.
Vivek turned to her for a moment before fixing his gaze back on the road. “What are you thinking about?”
Snehal became alert. “Um...nothing. Watching ahead.” She forced a smile.
“Did you tell your parents we’re going to Swagat?”
“No, but I don’t think they’ll ask me where I went and when I return.” Snehal bit her lip. She showed her interest to spend time with him.
“Don’t you think your parents will get angry?”
“I have told Mum about I’m going to the center.” She paused and said, “It’s been more than a month and we haven’t spent time together outside the institution.”
Vivek remained silent. He gripped the steering wheel at the top and raced the car’s engine.
Why did he become so silent?
He parked the car and took Snehal inside the Swagat. The fresh smell of roses and jasmine flowers hit her nostrils.
The restaurant was abuzz with customers. Snehal went upstairs with Vivek and they entered the air-conditioned section. After waiting for a few moments, an attendant in white uniform and red turban approached. He ushered them to an empty table on the right side of the foyer.
Snehal sat, facing the wall. Vivek made himself comfortable in front of her.
“So, how was your day?” Vivek propped his elbows on the table and clasped his hands. “It’s not been possible for us to meet at the institution because you conduct the classes in the evening, and I go home in the afternoon.”
“Yes, I know. I wanted to spend some time here.”
Vivek blushed. His face lit with a smile but quickly faded. He remained silent. What happened to him?
“Are you feeling comfortable?” Snehal asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Whatever efforts we have put so far is yielding results,” Snehal said. “I’m glad we have enough students to teach and make money.”
“I agree with you. Thank you for guiding me with your past experience. Your marketing advice had been really helpful to attract students.”
“Your project-based approach to teaching students was a real turning point,” Snehal said. “It’s very unique among the rest of the institutions.”
Vivek smiled.
The waiter came and Snehal preferred to eat masala dosa. Vivek ordered the same.
“You said your mother lives with you,” Snehal said.
“Yes, I left Bangalore for her sake.”
“You could’ve taken her to Bangalore, right?”
“She doesn’t like the Bangalore weather. She underwent bypass surgery and prefers to stay here. I can’t leave her alone.”
“I agree with you.” Snehal admired his caring attitude and love for his mother.
The waiter served them the food. The smell of spicy dosa hung in the air.
Snehal wanted to know whether he knew about her engagement with Ranjit. “Did Arjun tell you anything about me?”
“Um- not much.” Vivek swallowed.
“Do you know about my personal life?”
“Well, I know you stay with your parents.” Vivek smiled. “And you’re interested in teaching youngsters.”
Snehal locked her eyes onto his. Vivek stared at her for a while then shifted his gaze to his plate. Vivek seemed unaware of her engagement.
They finished eating the food in silence. The waiter brought the coffee, and its strong smell wafted in the air.
“Snehal.” Vivek sipped his coffee. “We have enough students this semester, but we’re not done with it. We need to ensure that we work hard every semester to make sure to have more enrollments.”
“Yes, I know. We need to be diligent.”
They finished their food and then coffee. The waiter brought a tray containing the bill.
Snehal controlled her urge to tell him about her engagement. She was sure Vivek wasn’t aware of it and Arjun hadn’t told him. She would reveal the fact after she started dating him and if she found him more attractive than Ranjit.
The sky was dark. The white halogen lights, mounted on the tall lamp posts, lit the street; the insects circled them. The shops on either side of the street were lit with yellow lights. Vivek steered his car ahead of the traffic and arrived at the institution.
“Thank you for accompanying me,” Snehal said.
“No Problem. It’s good if we spend time together often and discuss future plans.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Snehal left for her home.
Snehal ate late dinner with her mother, came back to her room and collapsed on her bed. Guilt coursed through her mind. She went out with Vivek that evening and started a new relationship with him. Already engaged to Ranjit, her move was dangerous. But they were colleagues and there was no harm in spending time together.
I will visit his home and meet his mother before I tell him about my engagement with Ranjit.
Snehal looked forward to going to his house the next day.