As the college day drew to a close, Geeta and Ram walked side by side toward the college gate. Geeta's demeanor was striking, her presence reminiscent of a revered historical figure, evoking a sense of nobility that intrigued Ram. Noticing her contemplative expression, Ram asked, "What's on your mind, Geeta?"
"Nothing," she replied tersely, but after a moment's reflection, she added with a sigh, "Ram, you're very different from others. I haven't met anyone as kind-hearted as you."
Taken aback by her sincerity, Ram responded, "I'm glad to hear that. I'm happy to have met you too."
Geeta's curiosity was piqued. "Ram, could I have your contact number?"
"Of course," Ram said, though he looked puzzled. "But I don't actually know it right now. I got my cell phone back from my aunt this morning."
Geeta's eyebrows arched in surprise. "You didn't have a cell phone before?"
Ram shook his head. "No."
"Don't worry," Geeta said, offering a reassuring smile. "Just show me your phone. I'll tell you my number and call myself so you can see your contact number."
Ram nodded in agreement and handed his phone to Geeta. The device was old and appeared outdated, and Geeta struggled to operate it. "What kind of system is installed on this?" she asked. "I haven't seen this on any Android phone. It seems quite obsolete."
"It is," Ram admitted. "It's a gift from my aunt, and I actually love it."
Geeta managed to enter her number into the dialer and placed the call. When she saw Ram's contact number, which was quite unconventional, she inquired, "What kind of SIM do you use?"
Ram shrugged. "I don't know."
At that moment, a jeep pulled up, and Ram's Aunt Maya emerged with a warm smile. "Hello, sweetheart! How was your day? Did you miss your aunt?"
Ram replied with a grin, "It was a nice day, Aunt Maya."
Aunt Maya's gaze shifted to Geeta. "Who is this lovely young lady? Is she your girlfriend?"
Geeta's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly interjected, "No, no. I'm not his girlfriend. I'm just... his friend."
Ram chuckled and said, "Aunt Maya, this is Geeta. We met at college, and she's been very helpful. Geeta, this is my Aunt Maya. I live with her."
Geeta extended her hand with a smile. "Hello, Aunt Maya. My name is Geeta. It's nice to meet you."
Aunt Maya shook Geeta's hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, sweetie. You're so beautiful. Thank you for helping Ram. He's not familiar with this place, so please assist him."
Geeta nodded. "Don't worry, Aunt Maya. Ram is my friend as well. I'll be sure to help him."
"Thanks, sweetheart," Aunt Maya said. "Now, let's go home, Ram. And Geeta, would you like a ride? I can drop you off wherever you need to go."
Geeta looked surprised and then smiled. "No, thank you, Aunt Maya. I have some work to do, so I'll be staying late. You can go on without me."
"Alright then," Aunt Maya replied. "See you soon."
With a warm smile, Geeta turned to Ram. "See you tomorrow, Ram."
Ram responded, "See you tomorrow too."
As Geeta walked away, she glanced back at Ram, a smile playing on her lips. She left the college grounds with a sense of contentment.
That evening, Aunt Maya prepared a sumptuous meal for Ram, who was diligently studying his syllabus. He immersed himself in the basics of data and recalled how his Uncle James had taught him various subjects—physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, computer science, and multiple languages—since childhood.
As Ram reminisced about his memories with Uncle James, Aunt Maya entered his room and announced, "Dinner is ready."
Noticing Ram's pensive expression, Aunt Maya asked, "What's the matter?"
Ram looked up and replied, "Nothing much. I'm just missing Uncle James."
Aunt Maya offered a comforting smile. "Don't worry. Your uncle is doing well and will see you soon. Now, come to the hall. Dinner is ready."
Ram tidied his books and joined Aunt Maya at the dinner table. As he looked at the array of dishes laid out before him, he felt a familiar sense of happiness. Aunt Maya observed him with a smile.
"Did you enjoy your day at college?" Aunt Maya asked. "And who was that girl?"
Ram replied, "It was a good day. She's just a friend from my batch."
Aunt Maya's eyes brightened. "I'm glad to see you making friends."
As they continued their meal, Ram suddenly posed a question, "What should you do if someone is in trouble, and you want to help, but they refuse your assistance?"
Aunt Maya paused, then answered with a thoughtful smile, "Even if someone refuses your help, you should still offer it. Sometimes, people need help even if they don't realize it themselves."
She shared a personal anecdote. "There was a time when I was in trouble, and your Uncle James insisted on helping me even though I initially refused. I resisted, but he was persistent and eventually helped me despite my objections."
Aunt Maya's thoughts drifted to a vivid memory: a tumultuous battle in which she was injured. Uncle James had come to her aid, and although she had fought him off, he had managed to knock her out of her senses and assist her. She recalled being in a hospital afterward, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she remembered the moment.
As Aunt Maya finished her story, she looked at Ram with a smile. Ram, though puzzled by her reaction, absorbed the lesson she imparted: sometimes, help is needed even when it's not immediately accepted.
With that, the evening continued the warmth of the meal and the conversation wrapping around them like a comforting embrace.