Alex
Gawri had irritated the hell out of me. I always tried to be polite with her but she always insulted me with her remarks. She knew that she had overreacted but she was not ready to apologize even after I said sorry.
"Alex, just look at me, how I pronounce my name, okay? We don't have much time" ME looked at me and I nodded.
'I can pronounce her name properly.'
"Okay, like you call tree just say Mree" she said nervously.
"Mree" I uttered the word and she smiled on my successful attempt.
"Okay, like wall say naal"
"Nawl" my accent retorted the word a bit but she clapped lightly to encourage me.
"Good attempt, now say them together, Mree-naal" she said.
I gulped some air and closed my eyes and said "Mree" paused for a second and opened my eyes "Nawl".
"MreeNawl" And I heard someone laughing hysterically at the door.
Gawri was leaning at the door while clutching her stomach and holding a heavy book in her left hand. Her laughter was like the ringing of bells and my anger flew away with that sound.
She placed the book on the nearest desk and gripped her sides as while laughing hysterically. I was feeling that she would roll on the floor at any moment.
The whole classroom was filled with her laughter. She was looking so beautiful and her eyes were twinkling with amusement.
"Oh kay, oh kay, I, I, I am so, ha ha ha, sorry Miller" she curtsied elegantly and I was surprised that how she did that without any mistake because curtsying was not part of Indian culture.
"B-B-bye Mree Mree Mree-nawl, Vibhu must be waiting" she mimicked me and went away while laughing hysterically. She was panting due to continuous laughing and waved us bye.
"And Miller, it is Naal, not Naul, ha ha ha" her sound was trailing behind her in the corridor.
Mreenaul was shocked like she has seen a ghost. I tapped on her shoulder and waved in front of her.
"What! Where are you Mreenaul, sorry Mreenaal" she looked at me in surprise.
"I never saw her laughing since I knew her" She was stunned and her gaze was fixed in Gawri's direction. It was my turn to get surprised.
"Thanks for making her laugh" she came out of shock and tapped my right shoulder to go.
"Let's go" Her focus was still fixed on the laughter echoing in the corridor.
I followed her to the parking where her driver was waiting. She waved me bye and I headed towards my Mercedes.
I stopped her as something clicked in my mind. "Mreenaal, who is this Vibu?".
"Her little brother" she smirked.
"You are taking interest in her, what is the matter, Alex." She winked and giggled while waving me good-bye.