Episode V

Who’s that girl?

Holidays, 2008

So, with these beautiful photos of her as reference, I started my ‘artwork’. And soon, I was in no need of the photos to sketch her, as just by closing my eyes, I was able to see my dreamgirl. I was very happy when I started making those sketches. My sleepless nights got something useful to do. And to my surprise, I was not that bad at sketching. It was very easy to sketch such a perfect, flawless face. I just went on and on, and within no time I had a drawing book full of Tanvi’s sketches.

No guys, everything was not so happy, happy and so smooth. Obviously I had to keep it a secret from everyone. And is it possible that everything will proceed smoothly without anything going wrong?

So, after finishing most of those beautiful sketches, for once, in so many days, I got a relaxing, peaceful sleep. And when I woke up, my eyes just remained wide open. It was my dear cousin Priya talking to my elder bro Naren in my room, with the sketchbook in her hand. And she speaks, “Mihir, who’s this sweet girl?”

Shit! How can I be so careless, I thought. If you guys remember correctly, Naren studies in Pune, in same college as Tanvi’s. But, vacations were going on. And he came home for those last days of vacations. And Priya, of course, if I’m on vacation, she is too.

“Who? What? Uhhm, Oh, that! I… I don’t know.”, Don’t laugh you guys. If you are a soldier and you suddenly find a hand grenade in your pocket without a pin that and is ready to blow as soon as you take it out of your pocket, what will be your condition? Similar was mine.

“Ok. So, who’s this girl?”, she asked flipping the page.

“I said, I don’t know.”

“Then what about this one?”, flipping yet another page.

“Priya, I said, I don’t know. I’m not so good at sketching, so whenever I draw a face it looks the same.”, I defended myself strategically.

“Subah se koi mila nahi kya? Sketching the same face again and again is much more difficult. I’m not a fool, Mihir.”

I had nothing to answer. I just looked at her and I’m not sure what happened, but I guess she understood me. Without any further interrogation she closed the sketchbook and handed it over to me with an understanding look in her eyes. And right at that moment, thanks to my luck and thanks to my mom, who like a savior, called me at the right moment and I rushed out within a second.

I always believe that I’m certainly very lucky and thanked my luck again. But, can’t depend on him all the time, right? So, I decided one thing. Nights for my missions and in the morning everything goes in my locker. And hush, but, thereafter I faced no such difficult situations.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .