"The preliminary part of the thesis is done. Like the topic selection, the research and analysis of the topic. The writing part is left, and somehow I have got a writer's block on it." I said and puffed.
"I should start working on mine, too." Siddharth said.
"Work on what?" A clear female voice spoke with such conviction that the three of us felt like inmates in a prison discussing escape plans. Both Jason and Siddharth turned back and said, "Hi, Kriti."
Kriti was in her senior year and the student head. Her presence was so strong that even the professors were a bit afraid of her. Not because she was rumoured to have certain connections, but for her tenacity in holding on to an issue so long that even Satan won't hold a grudge against someone that long.
"Hi, Siddharth, Jason and... Jasmine." Kriti said and continued, "So, what were you guys talking about? "
"My thesis writing. I still have quite some pages to write, so I probably won't be able to join the meetup today." Siddharth said.
"Oh." Kriti said, then asked," And when is the last date to submit?"
"Semester end and only the draft," Siddharth said, unwillingly, as he knew what Kriti would say about the deadline.
"Semester end is a long time. Skipping a day won't hurt. Jason, it's your task to bring this guy to Church Street[1]." Exactly what Siddharth prophesied in his head came true. But for me, it lit a lightbulb.
"Where in Church Street?" I asked tentatively to find out every detail.
"There's this new place that is like social media style and a current hype. The party is going to happen there." Siddharth said.
"And at what time?" I asked for the final detail.
"Around 7 pm." He replied.
I patted loudly on his back and said," The universe is aligned with your natal chart, honey. Your girlfriend is taking me out on a date with her cousin at that place at the same time. Now, it's going to be your loss if you don't go." And I started walking away slowly before that loverboy realised what I meant.
***** *****
At 5 pm, I had already finished my hair and decided what to wear. I went with a white tube top, olive green cape sweater and khaki coloured long trousers. I put my hair up in a loose bun and went with rose gold coloured ear loops and my lucky obsidian four-leaf clover pendant. I ditched my contacts and chose my thin metallic glasses. I did some basic touch-up and applied a deep blood red lipstick. I charged my phone and at exactly 5:30 pm, I was leaving with my new beige coloured bag and slightly older black D'Orsay flats.
When I went downstairs, I saw her. Kriti, wearing a black leather jacket and boots paired with a white shirt and black jeans. She had silver loops and two rings on her index fingers. "Going now?" She asked.
"I have a really bad habit of reaching early." I said with a smile.
"How are you going to get there?" Kriti asked.
"Thinking of taking an Uber taxi. I was about to book one." I said.
"How about... I'll drop you? We are going in the same direction after all." She said carefully.
"Sure." A tiny part of me lit up.
Kriti took out two large bandhani handkerchiefs from her pocket and said, "Tie this to your hair. It would prevent your hair from becoming messy."
I wore the handkerchief like an Italian grandmother and took the helmet. Kriti revved up her bike, and I sat, arms uncomfortably wrapping around her waist. The tiny part of me was slowly becoming reckless, and I wanted to keep that tiny part of me deep in the abyss, especially after that day.
We reached the entrance of Church Street while making small talk on the entire journey. Kriti wheeled the bike to the community bike parking and took a ticket. By the time we reached, it was already 6:45 pm. Bangalore and its traffic problems.
Like us, there were three more people from the student council, waiting for others the join the party. I called Jaya only to learn she had cancelled the plan as her cousin had an emergency board meeting in their family business on a market evaluation. She apologised for not being able to tell, as she too has to rush to the meeting as a shareholder and a member of the family.
[1] It's an actual place in Bangalore. Check it out.