The Relation

Her mom had noticed the smile and the shine in her face. She was happy and grew wary at the same time. Time and again she had seen gory incidences of teenage couples splitting up on stupid issues and causing grave and at times irreparable losses to their lives, careers, mental peace and spiritual happiness. Being a relationships counselor such problems were a daily occurrence to her. But she knew Jahnavi, her daughter, her darling and her SON and was just waiting for the right moment to talk to her.

Jahnavi, on the other hand, was very happy. Her first date and that too with a moron. She was indeed happy, happy about the dinner, Pooja’s background, and more importantly, Jignesh’s company. Such a sweet memory. Little did the poor soul know what awaited her? Our hero, Jignesh was also no less ecstatic. He had been waiting for this meeting since ages he felt. He seemed like travelling in a desert, alone, tired, worn out, thirsty and suddenly cited an oasis and later reveled to know that it was not a mirage, it was an actual water body which not only quenched his thirst, but rejuvenated him for the arduous journey ahead.

In the morning she got up, got ready and went to the breakfast table. Her mom had been waiting for her.
Mom: “Hi sweetheart, how is my darling doing?”
She smiles, her mother was like her world to her, as her father was busy with his business he did not get much time to devote to family except for on holidays, if he is not travelling.
Jahnavi: “I am fine mom.”
Mom: “So how was the party yesterday?”

Jahnavi forgot she had put up an excuse of going to a classmate’s birthday party. Though her mom was not very supportive of the modern urban fast life, she never was too strict and had given Jahnavi her own space and freedom to blossom and prosper, so she was not very inquisitive about who the friend is and other informative details. So when Jahnavi told her about the party she was not very enquiring. But now, Jahnavi had forgotten about the excuse, she was still lost in the reverie of the DINNER.

Jahnavi: “Oh it was fantastic mom.”
Mom: “So how old have your friend turned up?”
Jahnavi: “Which friend?”

She froze. Immediately she realized the blunder she had just committed and was not sure whether her mom had actually caught her or not. She had. But she was a better player than her daughter. Jahnavi tried some damage control.
Jahnavi: “Mom we did not want to embarrass her on her day, so just did not ask. I am done with breakfast. Getting late, have to rush. See you in the evening.”

She gasped for breath. She cursed herself for being so involved in Jignesh’s thought that she did not realize goofing up the whole thing. But she slowly recuperated that probably her mom has already caught her and wanted her to disclose. But she was not yet ready to disclose. She decided to postpone the matter. Right now she had only one thought on her mind, Jignesh. Oh really, not really, she had Pooja also in her mind. She felt like giving the girl a piece of her mind.

But then another thought crossed her mind and that was not so pleasant. Although Jignesh had expressed his pleasure to be in Jahnavi’s company and had also cared for her to call her from Delhi, she was yet not sure of his feelings for her and how seriously he considered this relationship, and moreover with Pooja being around she felt a little bit insecure as well. She treasured Jignesh very much and was not willing to lose on him.

Beep goes her cell. Jignesh’s text.
“Hi, where are you?”

The name of the sender was more than enough to make her smile, blush and flush at the same moment. She was again beaming. She replied.
“Coming, on the way. Learn to have some patience ” She was happy teasing him. But Jignesh was looking for her. Just when Pooja called him from the back.
Pooja: “Hi Jignesh, how are you?”

This was the least he had expected. Already he despised her presence as that used to remind him about his work being shared. Being the only child sharing came to him with a price. However, he composed himself to answer.

Jignesh: “I am fine. How are you?”
Pooja smiles.
Pooja: “I am fine.”
Jignesh: “I have some work. Will see you later.”

Hurriedly he left towards the library. Jahnavi had seen him leaving. She was wondering, what might be the nature of conversation between them and did Jignesh see her before leaving. She was not sure of this. Anyways she found herself drifting towards the library. Pooja was not sure as to why Jignesh avoided her. Being a smart and beautiful girl, she had never experienced boys avoiding her. This all the more aggravated her curiosity and wanted to know as to why Jignesh avoided her? Was there someone already in his life? Or was he doing all this just to make her beat around the bush for him? If there is someone already in his life, then this stupid fellow does not know, he is missing something not worth losing? These thoughts were enough for her to follow him. She knew it could only be one place where he was to be found – The Library. So she maneuvers herself towards the temple of knowledge. And she is aghast at what she sees. Jignesh talking to a girl. She could no longer stand it. She places herself in such a position wherein she can overhear the conversation without being noticed.

Jignesh and Jahnavi were busy in themselves bothering the least about others. They were talking, laughing and having a gala time together.

Jahnavi: “You know, I think mom has come to know that I did not attend a birthday party yesterday. She asked me the age of the friend and I was so engrossed in yesterday’s dinner that I just told, ‘Which friend’ and I immediately realized the blunder I had committed and ran from there.”

Jignesh was laughing his lungs out. Jahnavi saw him laughing in such a manner for the first time and fell all over for his laughter and so was falling Pooja. She could hardly stand Jahnavi there. Somehow he contained his laughter and spoke.

Jignesh: “I was also very restless since the evening. I just want to tell you Jahnavi, you looked awesome in that dress. I was just thinking about you ever since. Made a blunder at the breakfast table as well.”

The words made her day. I just want to tell you Jahnavi, you looked awesome in that dress. What more could she ask for? Had been waiting to hear this since ages. And now there was more she was waiting to hear, the blunder. She thought, it is high time he has not given a performance.

Jahnavi: “What happened in the morning?”
Jignesh: “Well, I was lost in the thoughts of the evening and was applying butter on the lid of the butter can, rather than the bread. I did not realize till my mom told, ‘Breads are yet soft my dear, do you mind concentrating on your breakfast.’ I just realized what had I been up to and just grinned. Then I left, saying I am still tired by the journey.”

Both of them were started laughing. Then they realized, they had been talking for quite some time and became conscious again. Slowly the laughter subsided and both of them gave each other a look with a smile. Amazon forest was already on fire; Pooja was burning seeing all this.

Jignesh: “I have some work in the library, I will see you later.”
Jahnavi: “OK, see you.”

Jignesh was now no longer alone. She was with him all the time. But now he was a bit tensed. He was in a dilemma. He was feeling good talking to her. More than that what was more enjoying today was his ability to tell her that he had liked her in the evening and also about his breakfast blunder. Slowly he realized, he was opening up to her. He found himself betraying his personality. He was surprised, how he could speak so much in front of Jahnavi. He realized he was changing. Whether the change was good for him was not known to him, but he definitely enjoyed in her company and was also feeling good telling her about his feelings.

Jahnavi, on the other hand, was engrossed in a plethora of thoughts. On one hand, she was at cloud nine for seeing a caring, sharing and sensitive Jignesh for the first time. She had been living to see this facet of his. But one thing definitely bothered her. And the most surprising aspect of this botheration was that she had confidence in Jignesh but not on herself and definitely not on Pooja. She knew it could be only a Hi-Hello meeting, but could not ask this to Jignesh. What if he is upset, what if he sees the lack of trust? Moreover she thought Jignesh would tell her by himself.

Pooja was restless by now. Whatever she heard, was least expected by her. She could never think even in her wildest dreams that a moron like Jignesh would have the guts and ability to woo a girl like Jahnavi for a dinner. All the while she was disturbed as to how it could possibly happen. Now she could very well relate those phone calls of Jignesh. Given his image, she thought he is calling his mother from Delhi, but now the revelation was uplifted. He used to talk to Jahnavi. She was feeling very dejected. She had been approached by guys many times, but she had liked none and nothing went beyond a little flirting. But she had liked Jignesh from day one and now she saw him being taken away by Jahnavi. She was in a fix, what to do.

The day got over and they met again at the coffee table and were lost once more. Pooja noticed them and walked away silently.