Shivangi
"Hi, I'm Leonard, I'm her favourite amongst these idiots" he says cheekily while tilting his head towards her.
I look at him for a few seconds before I shake his hand, "Shivangi, probably her new favourite" I reply and see Aarti bobbing her head in assent, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Leonard responds with a big smile before moves to sit next to Aarti. She leans towards me and whispers, "In the short time I have known him I have never seen his mouth shut like that, good job." she smiles conspirationally and then suddenly widened her eyes as if she just remembered something. "Oh, I almost forgot, there is one more person in our group" I was taken aback and asked, "Just how big is this group?, Yikes!" Back in School I was part of a group as well but it was made of six permanent with additional temporary members. "Hehehe.. quite big but this guy is quite reserved and doesn't say much, so I don't really know much about him. Unfortunately, he is absent so I will introduce you two when he comes" she continued to whisper some more about the group dynamics for some time until a professor walked in.
Soon classes started with social skills subject and we all introduced ourselves to the teacher and one another. While the class was interesting, I found myself getting distracted whenever someone walked by the class on the corridor, hoping to catch a glance of him. Oh man, what was wrong with me? I met him but once and I am obsessing over him, I thought to myself.
As the day progressed, things only got worse. By the time it was 30-minute break time after two more classes, my mind was reeling with all kinds of questions. As I walked to the canteen, my eyes were browsing through the crowd to find him but try as I might I couldn't find him. It seemed that he chose not to come to college today. Disappointed, I was about to hang my head when I see a girl walking in front of me. I felt hope as I studied her, I had seen her coming out the class assigned for VISCOM. Maybe she knew about Krish. I was about to approach her when delicious smell invaded my senses and rendered them useless.
I followed the smell and found myself watching a long line of people getting samosas*. My thoughts about Krish vanish as I salivate looking at the basket filled with the delicious snack. "You love samosas too?" a voice asked from behind, I nod my head and don't look towards the sound. I make to walk towards the samosa stall when Aarti appears next to me. "Me too!!! I looove samosas!! Let's go get some." She holds my hand and drags me to the stall. I didn't put up a fight, for samosas were one of my favourite but mostly because I am a big time foodie and I loved food, sleep and books making a close second and third.
We quickly get few samosas for each and start eating them, moaning out our pleasure of having the tasty treat. The outer wheat cover was crisp and with a little hint of oil, the onion filling flavourful and complimented the outer crust so well. All in all, the perfect samosa. "You shouldn't moan like that in public, people may take it in a wrong sense" a deep voice whispers in my ears, I feel a shiver run down my spine. I quickly jump away from the voice and turn to see Leonard standing beside me.
"And you shouldn't whisper in the ears like that, people may perceive you as a pervert" I spat out while throwing him a look that would've killed him if looks could do that. There is one thing I cannot tolerate the most and that is my personal space and privacy being violated and he just did the former. Leonard lifts his hand as a gesture of peace and turn away from him and focus on my samosa. But Aarti, who was beside me heard the exchange, "Leonard, you shouldn't do stuff like that, it's creepy, atleast not on her first day" she reprimands him with a hint of a smile.
"It would be better, if he never does that" I murmmer while eating a samosa. Though I was speaking in a low voice, he still heard it and responded.
"You know what's even better?" he asks in a low voice. He pauses and I sense he was moving. From the corner of my eye, I see him closing in on me with an intention to grab me by my waist.
"Hey, look! That boy from animation just found his new mark" I hear a guy behind me whisper
"Isn't that the guy, who is quite popular with the girls? I heard John's sister saw him once when visiting the college and was instantly charmed by him." another voice whispered.
"Looks like she caught his eye, lucky her. He is just so handsome!" a girl exclaimed.
I clench my free hand in to a fist hearing all this but I let him come near me instead of reacting. Near me, I could see Aarti trying to stop him by shaking his head but I knew he was relentless. I calmly waited while munching on my samosa.
Just when he was about to touch me with a smirk, I elbow him hard on his stomach. He doubles forward, a hand on his stomach moaning in pain, "You..."
I go near him and whisper in his ears, "Now, who is moaning?" Standing straight, finish my last samosa before I say in a menacing tone, "Don't you dare try and cross your limits and touch me or I will teach you how to stay in one the hard way."
I dust my hands and move to walk away. I turn to look at Aarti, who was gaping at what was happening, like others around us, "Sorry but your bestie needs to learn some manners." With that I walk towards the English department for my next hour.