SHE'S ONE OF US - CHAPTER 13

Guru ? Is he here ?

The competitions were all over. The last competition which is paper presentation been conducted in the main auditorium. Shree was done with her competitions and was sitting in the front row listening to the presentations. She was waiting for her friends who were yet to come from their competition. Shree turned to her left. After three seats, She saw the same curious eyes watching her. In a lightning speed , she turned and said to herself "Oh my God , The boy whom I see daily is sitting after three seats, Is he watching me ? or Is it my imagination ? . It seems he was interested to have a talk with me, God ...". Shree was kneading her hands and turned several times at the entrance to check for her friends. After few minutes she slowly turned to her left side and couldn't find the boy. She got relaxed. Suddenly  a pair of hands tapped her shoulders from behind. She was shocked and turned back. She exhaled deeply and was relaxed. It was Shiba and Priya. Shiba and Priya took a seat in the front row near Shree. Shree in a nervous way said "How long you take for a model display competition? . The boy from Men's college who participated in the same competition finished before you. I am been waiting for a long time". Shiba smiled and said "Just now we are done with ours" . Priya turned back and smiled and said "Hi Guru". Shree's eyes were wide open and whispered to Shiba  "Guru ? Is he here ". Shiba said "Yes , Behind you . From the morning , starting from the registration ,you saw him, without knowing he is Guru". Shree exclaimed "What?" and turned and blinked a while. Priya playfully said "Why are you blinking? You said that you are very eager to meet him. Can't you say a hello". Shiba in a mischevious way "Shree was stunned as he is the boy whom she sees daily , So she is shy to talk". Shree cleared her throat said "Both of you stop. Shy? .. Me ? No , Not at all". Guru was only watching Shree  with a smile in these conversation. Shree smiled and said "Heloo".  Guru continued smiling and said "Heloo". Shree said "Shiba and Priya told lot about you". Guru playfully said "In a good way right ?". Shree smiled and said "Yes , Of course". Guru said "They told about you too. After I heard about you , I was a bit curious to see you". Shree gave a blank smile and said "Is it?". She slowly turned and listened to the presentation. Guru was extremely happy as he came to know Shree was the girl whom he daily  see without knowing she was the girl whom Shiba and Priya praised.
                   
                       

                   
Oh My god! Am I super talented ? Am I reserved type ?  I will kill you both.


Priya said "I told him that you are super talented. Because of you , I challenged him that we will win the shield". Shree shouted "What ?..". Shree was shocked and gave a stare at Priya. Shree was very angry and gave an eye signal to Priya to get out of the auditorium and said to Guru and Shiba "Excuse me , I will come with in 5 minutes". Priya said "Excuse me too" . Shiba blinked and said Guru "Wait , Me too will come within 5 minutes" and ran behind Shree and Priya. Guru was perplexed. After they went out of the auditorium , Shree started blasting like crackers. Shree shouted  at Priya"Are you Mad ? Am I super talented to win the shield? Why did you challenge him like that ? We won only two prizes. Just now heard the announcement that they are leading. Moreover , This is our first intercollegiate. What will he think of me ? Oh Bad girl" and exhaled out of bitterness and shook her head out of upset. Priya in a low tone said "Hey , Don't worry you won a third prize in an event ". Shree looked at her and said "Oh no , Get lost from my sight". Shiba said "Okay . Okay ,, Cool Cool..". Priya said in a scared tone "Guru is  our friend , He won't take it wrong". Shree again shouted "You shut your mouth , Never ever open your mouth" and added in a harsh tone "Come in , Lets go". They went inside the auditorium. Guru said "Where you girls went ?". Shiba said "We have a friend here and we just went to meet her". Shree didn't turn Guru's side. They three were talking something. Guru said "Won't  Shree talk much ? She is so silent". Shiba just to make it up said "Ya Guru , She is little reserved". She shrunk her eyes out of shock. Shree whispered "Am I a reserved type?  stupid. I will kill you both". Guru smiled and said "Shree , I can't hear you". Shree heard the result of model dispaly and  turned to him and said "Congratulations" . Guru said "Thanks"and was about to speak something to her , but Shree turned to the front. Finally , the Men's college won the shield. Guru and his friends went happily to the stage to get the shield. Priya and Shiba were smiling and clapping. Priya just turned and saw Shree starring in red eyes, like a devil who is going to eat her. Priya gave a fake smile and pulled Shiba's hands and whispered "Look at Shree". Shiba too saw Shree and was scared. Shree in a discontented tone said "Tomorrow , Come to the class , You both are done" . Guru showed the shield to them . Priya and Shiba congratulated him. Shree said "It is getting late , Can we move ?". Guru said "How you all going?". Priya said "We will take a bus". The whole group from Men's college and Women's college took the same bus. Shree got a seat near the window. Priya and Shiba were listening the funny talks and giggles of Guru and their friends. Shree as usual didn't turn that side and was listening songs played in the bus. The bus reached their town. They all bade bye to each other and went home.

If Guru is a girl .....

Next day Shree saw Guru from a great distance, She had lot of confusions whether to smile or not, But Guru smiled at her without any hesitation. Shree had no option ,she smiled back. After he crossed, the naughty Shree turned her head to watch him. Before the ink was dry , she turned back as Guru also did the same action as her. Shree never expected Guru  would do that and became restless. She saw Priya and Shiba in the college and explained the happening in the road. They both started making fun. Shree angrily said "Stop ! Both of you. If Guru is a girl , Did you people make fun of this incident?  He is a friend of yours and So do I. Is this funny?". and she walked to the class. Priya ran behind her and said "It was just a fun". Shree said "No, It is not". Shiba said playfully " Did we tell you to turn back and see him, But you did it and I know the reason behind" and winked. Shree got pissed off. Shree said "Okay Okay , Mistake was mine. I should not have turned. I am a Stupid, Happy now?". That evening in the computer center Shiba and Priya met. Guru said "How is your friend?". Shiba looked playfully and said "Which friend ?". Guru smiled and asked "Shree". Shiba said "Oh ! She is good. It seems you are too worried about her". Guru smiled and said "Hey, I just asked , Nothing intentional ". Priya giggled and said "Yes , we believed". Guru smiled and said "Convey my regards to her". Shiba and Priya both looked each other and chuckled

I think you fell in love with him.

The same evening Sai arrived. Shree innocently told everything happened in intercollegiate. Sai heard the whole story and pretended that he is not that much interested. Sai had never seen Guru, but he hated him to the core just because Shree praised him. Sai was jealous of Guru and possessive on Shree. He couldn't tolerate Shree praising him. From that day , He always asked about Guru voluntarily. After hearing about him,  his face would become dull and sad . Shree was clueless of Sai's behavior. One day she asked Sai " I was watching you these days ...Why were you so upset when I talk about Guru ? " Sai said "Nothing like that ...". Shree said "Don't say nothing , I can feel it". Sai said "I think you fell in love with him". Shree's anger went to her head and realized it was Sai in front of her and her anger subsided and said politely "What made you think that ?". Sai said "Because you praised him and daily sees him and smiles at him". Shree giggled and said "Why are you so kiddish ? Sorry to say this , This is the reason , I hate this town. They have some stupid  list of principles for girls. One of them is Girls should  bend their heads and should not look any men. Don't she has eyes as men has ?. She is free to look around the world , Looking someone makes her a bad girl ? ". and added "Praising a person means falling in love ? Oh my god ! That means I fell in love million times. I have praised lot of my friends irrespective of gender and I always praise my favorite singer SPB, Did that mean , I fall in love with him?. I have grown up in a place where men and women are treated in a same way and  with same respect. I studied in Co-education. World need to change a lot " and looked Sai. Sai was half convinced , but still couldn't accept as he was grown up like that. It was the first argument which Sai and Shree had. Shree thought for a while and asked "I have a doubt , Even if I fall in love , What does it matters to you? Why are you bothered ?". Sai didn't expect this question and said "I am always concerned about you " . But Shree was not convinced of the answer. A spark of doubt came into her mind , but her heart said "Shree , Are you nuts ? How can you doubt Sai?". The next moment she changed  her mind.

             
Good girl - Keep it up

Days went by. The semester results arrived. Everybody in the college was restless, But Shree left everything to her Raghavendra swamy as  usual and was cool headed. The results been seen in the Internet. Shree was in the seventh heaven as she got 99/100 in her subject and 100/100 in her Maths.
Her friends and all the staffs in the department congratulated her. The senior professor was extremely happy. That evening she rushed home and shared her happiness with her family. Sai showed up that day with a sweet box and  said  Shree "I know , today is the result of your semester exams and there will be a sweet news awaiting and so I bought the sweets". Sai asked Shree about the marks. After hearing the marks , he was awestruck and said "Wow , Awesome , Good girl . Keep it up". She was happy that she laid a strong foundation for the University rank. But this is not final , still long way to go. She was very much concerned that first success shouldn't make her lazy and over confident. The district tournament arrived. The TT team been selected for the next level. She got the second victory.

Next came a great opportunity for Shree to show the whole college who she was. It was the youth festival , a cultural competition conducted each year. Around fifty colleges would participate in that event. Shree been selected for classical vocal and light music vocal. She went to the staff who is in charge of the  competition and asked about the other competition details. There was group vocal western and Instrumental classical and told the staff that she was interested to participate in that too. The madam asked "You know to play any instrument ?". Shree smiled and said "Yes , I play Veena and keyboard". The Madam was contented and said "Our College never participated in these events. We do have Veena  and keyboard in  our college" and showed her the music room. She seek help from the staff for forming a group for western songs. The group was awesome , She played keyboard and also sung the song with them. Meanwhile she practiced Veena too. Its Devi, a third year girl, admired Shree for her talents. Devi called Shree and said "Hi , I am Devi, Third year B.com. I am also participating in youth festival competitions as you. I believe you are multi- talented" and added "Beauty and talent very rarely comes in combination. You got it , All the best". Shree smiled and said "Thank you sister , I also heard from Madam that you are an all rounder and your name been nominated for "The Best outgoing student" award. All the best for you too". Devi smiled and gave a gentle pat on her shoulders. Devi said "When you come to your final year , you have to get this award , So from now on wards , work towards it" and added  "Do not worry , I will help you" and motivated her. Shree nodded her head and said "Yes, Sister". An another aim added to her list.

The Same tongue !

The youth festival arrived. The competitions held for three days outside the town. She packed her cloths and the things for three days. The girls started in a Mini Van. Competitions were all over .
The Results been announced. She heard her name four times as winner. She bagged the prizes  in all four competitions she participated and her college overall  bagged the second place . She was overjoyed. She felt as if she had no better feeling than this. They returned to the college. Next morning, In the prayer , prizes been distributed by the principal. Everyone in her department including HOD congratulated her. HOD said "Shree , I heard,  you play Table tennis , good in extra curricular ,  excellent in studies. You can be nominated for " The Best outgoing student award " in your final year , If you also participate in the student election in your third year, Sure I help you to achieve this". She was too happy as she heard this from the HOD. She just went to a flash back. The same HOD who said "Don't pull  my soul out" when she was begging for the seat  , Now said those excellent words. She couldn't believe her ears. She smiled.....

And  now , I can hear you saying "Chella , What suspense this time ?". I say " No suspense this time , but next week the main part of the story , The turning point in Shree  and Sai's life going to happen. You know what it is as you been waiting for this part for a long time. I can see you smiling.
It is always tough and hard to wait for the romantic part of the story ;) . Patience ...Only  a week to go