​​​​​​ ‘Have you settled comfortably there?’, Arun's mother had no chill.

And why not?

Generally, moms are worried whenever the child moves away from them. This is one is no exception.

Especially, if it's the first time.

It was going to be his first day at the university tomorrow.

‘What have you taken to study there? What it is called, quality.. or quantity... physi...’

‘Quantum physics, ma.’

​​​​​​​ ‘Ya ya, same. Your generation's more advanced in this stuff...’

He was too excited to listen. He already had sacrificed his high school to get into a top university.

This is it. A path to his dreams.

‘Are you even listening?!’

Mothers could also be whooping your ass, if you piss her off. It's not really a good idea to make her angry.

‘Yes, I am.’

‘I don't think so, I'm saying this for your own benefit.’

‘Okay sorry, ma. I have to go and run some errands.’

‘Have dinner then. I have packed your favorite meal, Palak Paneer.’

‘Okay ma, bye. Take care.’

‘Bye.’

Arun readies himself for the big day tomorrow. You know the drill, bags, books, nicest clothes. Stuff like that. For tomorrow.

He suddenly hears some noise.

What is going on?

He goes to the balcony of the residential complex to see what the heck is going on.

Puppies! But they are too young! Where is their mom?, he thinks, while he looks left and right for their mom.

He decides to go outside to look for the puppies' mom in the residential complex.

He came, and visited the puppies.

‘One, two, three, four, five, six.’

Alright six puppies, but where is their mum? But I can't leave the puppies like this.

He then sees a shadow.

Who the fuck is here, 11 in the night?

The footsteps came closer and closer, with something in their hands.

‘Hey! What are you doing with the babies?’

It was a girl's voice, gentle yet furious.

‘Hello!? Are you listening? What were you doing with the babies?’

‘Sheesh, calm down! I heard these puppies, and I didn't see their mother. But just then, you came!’

Arun looks at what the girl was holding.

A dog? Talk about hypocrisy. A pot calling the kettle black.

‘And what is with you? Is that their mom? What are you doing with her!?’

The energy in his voice became intimidating for being wrongly accused. Tables are turned.

‘Hello!? Are you listening? What were you doing with the mother?’

She puts down the dog, near her children. The puppies go towards the dog, as naturally they would.

‘This poor little thing was ill, and had developed a wee infection. If that had spread to the pups, there would have been some problems.’

The tsunami-esque anger had turned into a gentle pleasantry. The face, which was filled with disgust and questions was now smiling and relieved. Just like a trail-blazing charmer.

I was looked at her face, her charm, attraction, whatever the fucking words you associate with love, and was mesmerized.

‘Hey, what happened?’ That girl puzzledly asked.

‘Nothing. On the contrary, I'd like to thank you to save the dog's life. I'd like to thank you once again.’

‘Hey, no issues.....uh, what's your name?’

‘Arun’ he says while he shakes her hand. ‘You might also have a name?’

‘Anushka’ she said while laughing a little.

‘So, do you...’

Someone's phone rang. It was Anushka's.

‘Ya....ya.....I'm coming....just reached’

‘I would have to go. You know, it is too late to be around.’

‘Should I drop you or something?’

‘Nah, it’s cool. I just live nearby.’

‘Gotta go. Bye, Arun.’

She leaves in a hurry.

Arun was not in his senses the whole time. He was just spellbound by her beauty. It’s not everyday you see a person and get hypnotised, but when you are, you can tell by the aura coming off of the person.

Fuck, I should have asked her about the vets around! I even don’t have her number! Should have asked her.

The puppies were asleep. Like sardines, they just slept one over the other. The mother guarded her kids, as a mother would always do.

Arun was not able to sleep though. He was just busy in his fantasies. Don’t blame the man! He’s just hypnotized by the encounter.

The mind is such a complex machine. So enigmatic.

****

‘I don’t know what happened that night that hurt me and made me suffer later on. You know, hormones. Perhaps, I might be paying some karmic debts.’ Arun had calmed a little.

‘Anyways…....’

****

The first day of university in Arun’s life. The university gate read, “WELCOME FRESHERS” on probably reused materials from the last year.

The age was clearly visible.

‘Yes, ma…I...yes...I have eaten well...yes I went to Lord Shiva ji temple...and yes..I'll try to sit in the front, Dad.’

He goes into the magnificent campus, and sees a crowd near what it seemed like his department building.

Maybe there I can find some people from my class…

Arun goes to the classroom, and looks at the swathe of the masses.

‘Boy there are too many people.’ he murmured to himself.

He scans the entire classroom.

‘Hey! The puppy guy!’ a familiar voice said.

It was Anushka! With a good amount of touch-up and , any boy would instantly fall for her.

What is she doing here? Does she study here? What is going on? Have I done something wrong?

  ‘So you study here?’ Anushka asked.

  ‘It’s my first day here.’

  ‘Oh nice, what are you studying here?’

  ‘I am studying quantum mechanics and computing. What about you?’

  ‘What a coincidence. I also registered for the same subject! But one of its parts is not my strongest though.’

Great! You’ve been promoted to the level of a simp! You were a loser in your “relationship”, you’ll be screwed again by this girl.

 ‘It’s really not that hard, actually.’

Oh really? If I were to tell you, I’ll be classified as a nerd for sure.

‘Haha really? Then that’s quite good, let’s hope we get straight As.’ Anushka spoke astonishingly.

‘I do think the same.’

****

‘Well, fate wanted us to be together, even when we both didn’t want to. What nefarious plans did the stars destined for us?’ Arun was stressing on this statement frequently.

‘Arun, we’ll come to that for sure, but tell me what relationships did you try to pursue? What I mean is, sometimes there is a romantic relationship that you might’ve been chasing for vanity. Please share your experience.’ Sangeetha asked.

‘Well, I did, to be honest……..’

****

‘What’s the price?’ Arun mumbles, as he sees the poster outside his classroom for some event.

He was confused. He hasn’t been to a bar, ever, let alone have been near it. A teetotaler by choice, he doesn’t get why people spend on alcohol.

He suddenly hears a group of people chattering, and introducing themselves.

Because why not? It is said that your university would shape your base for your career.

For some a career is such, where they want to just code only.

The problem is that not everyone is built for coding, and can’t perform repetitive tasks.

Arun was one of them.

 ‘What’s your name, buddy?’ A boy asks him.

  ‘Arun, and you?’

  ‘Karan.’

  ‘So, are you interested in attending this fresher’s event thing?’

  ‘Don’t know really; there's still a lot of time. But I know this fact that it’s a waste to not go with someone close to you.’

  ‘Well, that might be sorted for you.’ Arun gave a slight wry smile to Karan.

  ‘I am single, my man.’ Karan replied laughingly.

  ‘To be honest, you could have no trouble in attracting girls, whatever be the situation.’

****

‘......and I'll be honest with you Sangeetha, he had some charm. Any woman would be head over heels on him. And what was I? A chump, who sacrificed myself at the altar of the education system. A zombie, who just blurted out physics and mathematics formulae.’ Arun was just lost and helpless, looking at his past.

****

 ‘So whom do you want to go with?’ Karan asked.

It had been a week when they first met. While Karan had used his charm to persuade a girl to accompany him, Arun was still in the process of the same.

He was searching for someone to accompany him, but deep down he was looking for a soulmate.

An unrealistic, but a grand expectation.

But on the flipside, what was there to lose?