‘You are the new exotic creature in her life. She’s bored with
everything else,’ Raman said.
‘Are you always this pessimistic?’ Ashu said. Only the fat kid
supported me. I transferred the gulab jamun from, my plate on to his.
‘The statistical probability is low,’ Shailesh said, in his academic
voice.‘However, my friend Raman should know that love does happen
between classes.’
‘If this is love, why is she avoiding a relationship?’ Raman said. He
stood up to leave. He had finished his dinner and what he wanted to
say.
Ashu thanked me for the gulab jamun. ‘Raman has no experience
with girls. You are doing well. Take it slow. Everything will be fine,’ he
said.
‘What do you think, Shailesh?’ I said.
Of the four of us, I trusted Shailesh’s judgement the most. He
topped the class and was the most well-read. Of course, like us, he had
little experience with women. He drank another glass of water.
‘Yes, don’t rush it. However, don’t stall it either,’ Shailesh said.
‘What does that mean?’ Ashu said on my behalf.
‘Keep it slow, but keep escalating,’ Raman said.
‘Escalating? What? How?’ I said.
‘What’s the clearest sign a girl likes you?’ Shailesh said.
‘She spends time with you?’ I said.
‘Wrong,’ Shailesh said and stood up as well.
‘So then?’ I said.
‘You know the answer. Now do it,’ Shailesh said and left.
*
‘What do you want to talk about?’ Riya said.
She had worn a lemon-coloured chikan salwar-kameez to college
that day. We sat under the big banyan tree in between classes. Her hair
blew in all directions in the afternoon breeze.
‘Thanks for the party,’ I said.
‘You are welcome. Like I told you, it isn’t really my scene but my