Prof Rufus was a serious man with a serious face. He smiled so rarely, the students were easily convinced that the rumour was more true. Prof Rufus was unable to smile. It wasn't surprising that the seriousness extended to his lectures too. They weren't dull or boring. The man was much too intense for that. They were just too much. Prof Rufus had a way of pulling the listeners in, so the students were all equally engrossed. By the end of the hour long class, the students were all as entertained as they were spent.
The western desert was among Prof Rufus' favourites. The history of the western desert was fairly recent, so there were many who were proficient in it. It was a subject matter that was of equal interest to students of history and political science, since the western desert was of man's making.
Prof Rufus was especially eager today.
"Think something good happened to him?"
Sashi scribbled in her notebook, her face unchanging as if she was taking notes of the lecture.
Even though Anad and Sashi sat together, there were few classes they would dare to speak during. Prof Rufus' wasn't one of those. The man had ears that had no business on a face that old. They could pick up the softest whispers from the furthest corners of a classroom, whatever be the size of the room. Sashi had experienced firsthand his ferocious taunts at the students breaking the rule of silence.
Anad's eyes didn't move away from the front, but he read the question and was even scribbling the answer underneath the question.
"Maybe. That bad?"
The good thing about being of the same mind was that understanding came easy. Anad and Sashi seemed to always be of the same mind.
"Worse. I almost am of the same mind as the greedy Mirzas."
"Ha Ha HA. Good thing you're not saying that out loud. I think Rufus would make a spectacle of decapitating you."
Anad even laughed in the scribbles. That always amazed her.
"He would be better off fighting for the environment. At least the classrooms would be so much better."
"Just a little more."
"Yeah. And it is the last class of the day. Hey, umm, let's go out. After."
"Okay. Where?"
"Dinner. Pizza?"
"San's?"
"Yes. I can already taste it in my mouth. Definitely ask for extra cheese."
"Sure. Extra cheese. Thin crust. And lots of jalapeños and pineapples."
"HA HA HA. Pineapples? Are you crazy?"
"Got a laugh."
"Umm. I mean it as more than just pizza. Just so you know."
"What do you".
Before Anad could finish, the class ended. Prof Rufus gave homework, which wasn't too surprising. The class waited until prof Rufus left, before dialling up the noise. And Anad could finish voicing the question he couldn't finish writing.
"What do you mean?"
Sashi blushed. Embarrassment felt alien on her face. Left Anad confused.
"What?" He asked again.
She shook her head.
"Let's just go."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him out. He waited until they were out on the grounds, and asked again.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said, her voice flushed too. "Let's just go."
"Wait," he said after a minute, pulling her to a stop. "Dinner. You asked me out on a date?"
She froze. The moment stretched on for long. Then, she nodded. The embarrassment felt less alien, and more endearing.
"Okay," he said, the blush rapidly spreading across his face.
It was her turn to be confused.
"Okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Dinner. Let's go."
She understood. Was amused by his embarrassment, enough to forget her own embarrassment from a minute ago.
"Dinner? Date, you mean."
"Yeah, date. Look how happy you are."
That did it. They were both enveloped under a red hue as they walked toward San's pizza.
It wasn't the first time they were holding hands. But today felt different. It wasn't the first time they were feasting at San's. But the pizza was a lot tastier. It wasn't as if they were being unusually silent. But the silence pulled them so much closer. There was nothing strange about their eyes seeing only the other. But each looked much prettier to the other. And they could both see what they were thinking.
"The date?" He asked with hesitation.
"The date," she agreed, with the same hesitation.
"It's nice. Dinners before were nice too. This is nicer."
"Think it's because this is the first?"
"Maybe. But, I think, they're going to only get better."
"Where does the confidence come from?"
"Wherefrom do you think?"
"I don't know."
"As if you're not of the same opinion."
"I am. But I'm the one who asked you out. So, yeah, I'd think that. What about you?"
"Come on. You did ask. But you gave up before I answered. So, the first date is mine."
She snorted, refusing to give in without a fight. He smiled complacently, as if daring her to throw the first punch.
"Screw you."
She caved. And she was still happy.
"I like this," he said, the blush creeping back onto his face.
"Me too," she said, blushing deeper.
"We should do this more often. So, I'm thinking, tomorrow. Second date?"
"Sure," she nodded readily, with a glint in her eye. "As long as you're making noodles at home. I'll bring cake."
He knew what she really meant when she said she would bring cake.
"You're planning on making us skip the afternoon classes, aren't you?"
She grinned.
"I don't mind going by myself. But you need ingredients too. And I thought we could buy some coffee. I kind of miss grandpa Fain. I know what you're going to say. I miss the coffee. I also miss grandpa Fain. It's true."
He was more accepting tonight. He blamed the date.
"Yeah, sure. It's true," he relented, less reluctantly than he showed. "Since we're near the end. There's only one slice left, and we know it's yours. The big question. Will you be my girlfriend?"
She choked on pizza. Took a big swig of soda to clear her throat. Tears pooled in her eyes. She was ready with the answer, but she had a few questions first.
"Before that, are you sure you want to be my boyfriend? I don't mean just claiming the title. I'm very demanding. You know that better than anyone. I'm even more demanding of my boyfriend. Also, I don't like short term entanglements. So, my boyfriend is something you cannot walk away from. And it's someone I cannot give up on, someone I cannot lose."
He smiled at her fondly. Reached for her hand. Held it carefully, as a display of his love and his seriousness. He spoke from his heart.
"I know. I'm serious too. When I realised that you were asking me out on a date, the first thing I felt was joy. I was so, so happy, I couldn't think. In that moment, looking into your eyes that were drowning in hesitation and embarrassment, I realised I was in love with you. I know how big a deal being in love is. I can promise you this. I will never stop loving you. I will be ready for whatever it takes."
She was crying and also smiling.
"Then, yes. I would love to be your girlfriend. I love you."
They were lost in the moment. Their hands embracing for them. Their smiles kissing for them. Love was in the air.
And then, when he was ready to stick his head up from the sea of love he was under, he had questions.
"When did you realise you loved me?"
"I always loved you," she answered easily.
"You know what I mean," he spat.
"Yeah," she answered. Having confirmed their relationship, she lost the embarrassment. "I don't know. Wasn't too long ago. Realised I wanted to be with you all the time. Or, putting it another way, wanted to keep you with me all the time. That was just a short step from realising I was in love with you. Took me so long to gather the courage to ask you out."
Their eyes were deeper than ever looking at each other. At the start of dinner, they looked every bit like a couple on their first date. By the end, they were like a couple that had been together for a really long time. They had been the best of friends for over a year. That probably played a big role.
"Coming over tonight?"
She glared at him, before answering.
"Getting ideas?"
"Yeah," he agreed. "Was thinking we'd take the whole day off. Go over to the east market in the morning. Eat out. A light lunch. Buy everything we need. Get back home for an early, long dinner."
"Sounds like a great idea. I want my own room."
"Like you haven't already taken a room. Stop trying to act cute. That's just not you."
"Be nice to your girlfriend. You promised you would be."
"I promised I would always love you. That has nothing to do with indulging every stupidity of yours."
She snorted, but smiled happily nonetheless. They were holding hands as they walked back. Home felt more home now.