By the time I reached my college hostel, I was already 2 hours late. I checked my time table. Anatomy class was just starting. I didn’t want to attend the anatomy class.
Because no one has seen me coming back, I knew I can safely skip the class. I didn’t want to see Dr. Rajesh’s face right now, especially because, Dr Rajesh had asked all the students to study the upper arm muscles during the christmas holidays. I knew the first question he would ask as soon as he enters the class is
“Ms. Thomas, tell me the origin and insertion of Deltoid (or some other muscle in the upper arm)?”.
I dreaded attending his class, as I felt he was finding some satisfaction by picking on me and embarassing me infront of all my classmates. The solution to the problem was simple, I just had to read the book before going to his class, but I didn’t want Dr. Rajesh to have the joy of knowing that, he finally succeeded in making me study anatomy.
I came out of my room and shouted
“Gangamma, Gangamma, where are you?”
“Here, Madam” I saw her waving from the third floor corridoor.
“Come here” I called her
I watched her walking quickly and coming down the staris to my room
“When did you come ma? Not going to class ma?” She asked me, while looking at the lock and key in my hand.
“I came just now. I am tired Gangamma, I want to sleep for a little while. Can you lock my door?” I asked her
“hmm” She nodded her head.
“Thank you Gangamma” I gave her the lock and key and went inside my room.
Gangamma, locked the door from the outside and passed the key to me from the bottom of the door. So now, even if the Princy and hostel warden decided to do a spot check on the occupants of the ladies hostel, to catch those who skip the class, I wouldn’t be caught, as my door is locked from the outside!
I looked at my bag. Should I unpack? Would kapalanga (Sujith) remember to send the telegram? I hoped he would. I will unpack later.
I took the Bhgavad Gita book from my bag and started to read. I must have slept off, because I woke up suddenly hearing Gangamma knocking my door and calling my name. I looked at the clock. 5 minutes to 12. What is going on?
I passed the key to her from under the door and she opened the door.
“What is it Gangamma?”
“Nina ma, today they made aloo gobi( potato with cauliflower) for lunch at the mess. Hurry up and go and eat, before all your friends come from the college and finish it” She was looking at me and smiling.
“Thank you for telling me Gangamma. Did you eat your lunch?”
“Not yet ma, I will eat later”
I walked to the hostel mess. There was only few seniors in the mess.
“Hi Ms Kottayam” They shouted
“Hi” I replied. I felt like telling them the Ms.Kottayam joke is very stale now!

I took a plate from the counter and took the hot Aloo gobhi(potato and cauliflower) and some rice. I was just so glad to be back in the medical college. At least I would get some good food here. While I was eating, I watched one of the seniors going to the counter and asking the contractor, if she could take some food for her room mate. I didn’t know until them that we could take food for our room mates. After finishing my lunch, I too walked to the counter and asked the contractor
“May I please take some food for my room mate?” I smiled the sweetest smile..
He looked at me.
“What is your room mate’s name?”
“Gangga” I replied.
“Ok”
I quickly went to the serving station, took some rice, aloo gobhi and 2 rotis in a plate. used another plate to cover it and ran back to the hostel.
As soon as I reached the hostel entrance I shouted
“Ganggamma, Gangamma, come here quickly”
She was sweeping the corridoor and she looked at me
“what is it Nina ma?” She asked
“Come here” I yelled
“Not now Nina ma, I have to sweep the corridoor, before your warden comes to check”
“Aiyyah, Come here” I pointed to the plate in my hand. I couldn’t shout and tell her that I brought food for her. Someone would hear it and complain to the warden and Gangamma would lose her job.
Hesitantly she walked to where I was standing.
“I bought food for you from the hostel. Go and eat quickly, before anyone sees”
“No ma, I can’t ma, I am not allowed to eat the mess food. I will lose my job”
“Gangamma, stop talking and go and eat. I got Aloo gobi for you. Besides there is enough food for everyone at the mess “
She looked at me and at the plate in my hand. We could hear students talking and walking towards the hostel. Gangamma took the plate from my hand and quickly walked to the corner where she and all the cleaners keep their bags. She hid the plate under her bag. She turned around to see me staring at her
“I will share it with Sidhamma, she is pregnant”
“Ok, make sure she won’t tell anyone”
“I will. Thank you Nina ma”
“It is ok Gangamma”
I walked to my room and few seconds later, Shylaja and Aparna came to the room.
“When did you come?” Aparna asked
“5 minutes ago”
“You missed three lectures. Dr. Rajesh was asking for you”
“hmm, train was late”
‘Are you coming to eat lunch?” Shylaja asked
“I ate already”
“Ok”.

When the postman came, I ran outside, hoping to see if he brought the telegram.
“Postman any letters for me?” I asked
He looked at me and checked the bundles of letters in his hand.
“No” He shook his head.
I felt like killing kapalanga(Sujith). He promised he would send. Why do people never keep their promises?

I changed my clothes and got ready for the anatomy dissection class. Dr. Rajesh saw me as soon as I entered the dissection hall.
“Nina Thomas, where were you this morning?”
“Train was late, sir”
“Why?”
I looked at him. I wondered what does he gain by knowing the exact reason why my train was late. He doesn’t gain anything and I wasn’t going to tell him that some goods train was derailed near Ernakulam
“I don’t know sir” I replied half expecting him to ask me ‘How come? or Why not?’ He didn’t and I walked to my table.

After the dissection class, I went to the canteen to eat egg bhaji. I sat on the corner table and waited for my food to arrive. I took the newspaper from the table next to me and was reading when I heard someone singing.I looked up. He was sitting on the table facing the other side with his friends and singing
“If you love somebody, set them free“. He had such a sweet voice and I was mesmerised. When the song was over, he turned around and found me looking at him. Our eyes met and I quickly looked down.
His eyes, they were small and cute. Oh they were so beautiful! He had the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. Who is this guy? Why he does he look like a Chinese? Is he a Malaysian? I had a thousand questions that I needed to find the answers, but even without knowing anything about him, in my heart I felt a kind of joy that I have never ever felt before. It was the first time I ever wanted to know more about someone. I had to find out more about him. I just had to.

I quickly finished the egg bhaji and got up from the chair, just as I reached the main door, I turned to look. I needed to see his eyes one more time. I regretted turning my head, because he was looking at me and a smile flashed across his face. I quickly walked out of the canteen cursing my own stupidity.

When I reached my room Aparna was getting ready to go for her shower. I thought of asking her, if she knew who that guy is. But I knew, she would tell everyone and soon there will be unnecessary rumours. I will have to find someother way. Although I was sad that, I couldn’t go to Chengannur, deep in my heart I felt a sense of happinesss to be back in the college. Especially after seeing those beutiful eyes. Everything happens for a reason, so I thought. I unpacked my bag, changed my clothes. I lay down on my bed thinking of those beautiful eyes and the beautiful voice.
Some time later I heard someone knocking the door
“The door is open, come in” I shouted thinking that, it must be one of my classmates. I didn’t want to get up from my bed.
Someone knocked the door again
“Aiyyah, the door is open” I got up and walked to the door, ready to scream at the person, who couldn’t just push the door open and come inside.
Princy was standing right outside my door. His face looked very grave.
A thousand thoughts flashed across my head. Did someone snitch on me? Did someone tell him that I skipped the anatomy class? Or is it the lunch I got for Gangamma?
I looked at him, trying to see what is going on.
“Nina, I have arranged my driver to take you to the railway station” He spoke
“huh?” I looked at him stunned. Am I getting suspended? Did my mother really tell that damn man about me forging Appa’s signature? How can a mother do such a thing? I was so mad at Amma
“Your grandfather is not feeling well, your family wants you home”
It took me a few seconds to realize that kapalanga(Sujith) really send the telegram. By now most of the students came to see what is happening. Shylaja quickly packed some of my clothes in to my bag. Within minutes I was out of the hostel and was on my way to the railway station. I felt guilty, cheating everyone, but I had to do something for my grandmother. I also had to tell her about the beautiful eyes.

PS: Does anyone know a song that goes something like this
“There is black cat on the high tree top, it is the same old thing as yesterday…”
That was beautiful eyes’s favourite song and I have succesfully blocked it out. If you know the song or who sang it, please leave a comment. Thanks