“Sana, Sana, you’re walking so fast, you didn’t even hear me. Are you mad?” Shefali saw Shehnaaz finally
stop and sped up her pace to stand before her.
Shehnaaz’s face was composed as she shook her head cooly, “Classmate, I’m not close with you, so don’t speak to
me with such familiarity? I’m a simple person and can’t take your unwarranted friendliness.”
Shefali flushed. Thankfully she had been running after Shehnaaz and was red from it anyway, nobody could tell she was embarrassed. “Don’t be angry, ok?” Shefali pleaded, her voice oozing with sincerity, “Please don’t misunderstand, there’s really someone in Parth’s heart, but it’s not me. I’m the same as you, and that’s why I wanted to let you know. Please don’t misunderstand me, I was never your match, it’s someone else.”
Shehnaaz looked up at Shefali and suddenly felt pity for her. She was ruining herself for a man who didn’t love her.
Her words alone were meant to cause a rift and put a thorn in Shehnaaz’s heart. When the moment was right, the misunderstandings would accumulate and Shehnaaz would
have a huge fight with Parth–while Shefali could conveniently watch the show. He was just a man, was he
worth all this scheming? Shehnaaz realized she didn’t understand anymore. What is love? Was it throwing away everything like Shefali, charging through all obstacles, creating her own terms when there were no terms–is only this worthy of being called love? It didn’t seem like there was a strong sense of possessiveness and exclusiveness like
this between her and Parth. Shehnaaz looked at Shefali, perplexed. She stared at Shefali’s gaping red lips and her thoughts were elsewhere.
“Sana, I’m telling you the truth, I’ve been classmates with Parth in junior high and high school for a total of of six years and his desk mate for three years. He was our class rep–handsome face, good grades, good background and there were many girls that liked him. I’m not afraid to tell you that I was smitten by him once, but when he fell madly
in love with my best friend, I forfeited.” Shefali continued, her eyes red. Her words were 70% truth and 30% made up–she even got herself worked up in process. “They were each other’s first loves. You know, no matter for men or women, the first love is always untouchable. Parth is a
loyal man, a person like him would never forget his first love.”
Shehnaaz, “…”
Shefali wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, “I’m know about their relationship the best. I also know they have a shared Weibo called “Black Tea’s Sky.” You should have a look when you can. You’ll understand how madly they loved each other without me telling you.”
Shehnaaz came to her senses and only asked Shefali one thing, “Did they break up?”
Shefali was surprised, “…They did, but in his heart…”
“How do you know what Class Rep feels in his heart? Are you a mind reader?” Shehnaaz raised her brows slightly, no longer letting Shefali string her along, “I’ll ask you another thing, when did they break up?”
“They broke up four years ago when we graduated from high school. Then my good friend, Mahira Sharma went
abroad to study music and Parth stayed to study law.” Shefali answered feebly, “You really don’t mind?”
“Then it’s fine. They broke up four years ago and you’re stirring the pot today and exaggerating about how much they loved each other–don’t you think that’s ridiculous? If they really loved each other so much, why did they break up all those years ago? It’s just studying abroad, I don’t see how true love couldn’t conquer something as trivial as that.”
Shehnaaz finished and eyed Shefali, “From the way I see it, you just couldn’t stand Class Rep with someone else?”
“You’re taking this the wrong way, I’m not…” Shefali found herself unable to outspeak Shehnaaz and hastily tried to explain herself.
Shehnaaz was no longer cordial, her tone brusque, “Fine, fine, you’ve really worried yourself sick over Class Rep’s
love life. Someone not knowing better would think you’re his mom, not his classmate.”
Shefali sensed the dripping sarcasm and pursed her lips as she smoothed her long hair. She replied dryly, “I don’t
care what you think of me. You don’t understand how much I love him, as long as he’s happy, I’ll be happier than anyone else. Love is not about possession…”
“Why are you telling me this stuff? Are you preaching? You’re also a law student, didn’t you know it’s illegal to
preach in a non-religious setting?” Shehnaaz interrupted Shefali and looked up at the tree lined path ahead. She dryly said, “I don’t understand your love. For me, if I love him and he loves me, then no one can break us apart. If he doesn’t love me, I’ll distance myself and will definitely not
bother him. I’ll also definitely not stay at his side as a friend and wreak havoc on his life.”
Shefali was beginning to understand, she looked at Shehnaaz with a suddenly cold gaze, “You don’t love Parth. If you love him, you wouldn’t be so logical.”
“You’re not me, how would you know how what I’d do?” Shehnaaz was at her wits end and rolled her eyes at Shefali. She said contemptuously, “I’ll say it again, other people’s business is not for you to worry about. Don’t you
think you’re a busybody?” Shehnaaz spoke as she hurried away.
Shefali stood on the tree lined path on the C University campus, and watched Shehnaaz’s back disappear at the end of the path. The noon sun was beaming through the crevices between the leaves and the light was scattered in speckles on the path–just like the feelings she was trying to deny.
Shefali smiled and took out her phone to dial a number.
“Mahira? It’s Shefali, when id your flight? I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
…
Shehnaaz returned to the dorm and felt beyond disgusted when she thought about what just happened.
Afterwards, Parth called her twice but she didn’t pick up. She went to the library alone to make the final edits on her thesis. She was working until nearly evening and finally finished the
first draft. Kartik had rushed her several times already to ask to see it. She found Kartik’s email and send the first draft over. Not long after she sent the email out, she received a text from him. She was in no rush to return to the dorm, carrying her laptop bag and sat cross legged on the grass field by the library. She bathed in the last of the sunlight for the day and replied to his text.
Professor Sen: “You only finished the thesis now?”
Shehnaaz: “Yes, the first edition, hot off the presses. Please advise, Professor Sen. O(∩_∩)O~”
Professor Sen: “…When is the thesis defense?”
Shehnaaz: “Mid-June, around the 15th or so.”
Professor Sen: “There’s not many days left, I’ll try to edit it and send back to you as soon as possible.”
Shehnaaz: “Thank you! I bow! Professor Sen is my saviour!”
Professor Sen: “…”
Shehnaaz: “Just a joke, Professor Sen wouldn’t mind right?”
Professor Sen: “Cut the nonsense, do you have a passport? Quickly get a US visa. I got you the opportunity to intern at United States Congress. You’re free for half a year after graduating, it’ll be perfect for you to intern in the States.”
*
*
*
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Love you all.