Ttyl.

She was busy with her business maths, occupied in her own thoughts and wondering if there was any chance of escaping the brutal subject which was already eating her head.

She looked up at the clock with hopeful eyes, as if demanding that there might be a hope, but all that it seemed to say was that she had to tolerate this subject for another one hour.

Sighing, as if asking herself if she was ever going to make it alive. She turned towards her book which had large black numbers on it. she could not help but make a face as the realization hit her, that she didn't understand anything.

"What's wrong Kri?" Tiya asked. "Everything's right from our notebook, why is there a problem?"

"How can you even say that?" She asked "The notebook isfour hundred pages long, and I can't even face these black digits"

"Yeah right, four hundred pages long and how many pages have you written in?" the girl took the notebook away from Kriya and measured the thin quantity of pages filled. "Not even fifty"

"What if everything's from the notebook? We still have to study!" she groaned

"No." Tiya said "we just have to practice what we've already done, I can't believe they're taking a test this easy"

"So don't believe, and don't make me face these big bold digits" She said "they seem so evil!"

"Why do you have a problem with Maths?" Tiya asked.

"Because numbers are unrealistic" she said crossing her arms across her chest.

"They're not unrealistic Kriya.. Numbers are just.. numbers" Tiya said

"And my stupid friend fell in love with them" she rolled her eyes.

"Kriya-" Tiya was about to speak when Kriya's phone vibrated.

A flash of joy spread across Kriya's face in an instant. "Texting time!" she said like that of a two year old.

But the moment she read the text, her expressions changed, there came an unhappiness and frustration instead of glee that was visible before.

"Why so low? The principal rusticated you or what?" Tiya asked.

"No, its just, some stupid cheeky message, from what it seems like a guy" she said.

"Really?" Tiya jumped up in excitement. "Read it aloud"

"Okay" Kriya said and then started reading the text.

"The flowery season of love,

Letters which were once sent by dove,

That time, that day, we were infinite,

And no one could separate us, not even the gods above"

"Oh my god" Tiya said

"Cheeky" Kriya rolled her eyes.

"Kidding me? So romantic that is!" Tiya exclaimed.

"Still the same" Kriya said "Cheeky"

She started typing with a face that clearly displayed protest and frustration.

"Seasons are Winter, summer and autumn,

Go somewhere else and express your boredom,

For letters are never delivered by birds,

And so, please keep a check on your words"

She clicked the send button and Tiya was left wide-eyed.

"Tell me you did not just write that!" Tiya said

"What if I did?" She said.

The phone vibrated again and Kriya read out the message.

"Love is the feeling which sums,

The beauty of Summer winter and Autumn,

Distance is just numbers when the it true,

And birds can very understand the longing desire,

Which lies within me and you"

Kriya smirked, so this was some poet now.

"You are oblivious of what lies ahead,

And please re-read what i last said,

Birds are creatures they don't understand me and you,

For them, everything is blue (Get your biology correct)"

She clicked the send option again and the reply was quick.

"You seem stubborn, talkative and bold,

But re-read the things i told,

For everyone measures the beauty of love, may it be any creature,

No matter with simple hands, or wings and fur"

Kriya was astonished after reading the words, there was an uncertainty within herself which seemed to grow.

"Dont you think the best choice here would be to tell the one that its a wrong number?" Tiya asked.

"Dont you think you should go back to business maths?" she asked

Tiya rolled her eyes "I don't know, whatever"

"You romanticize everything, get a reality check,

For a popular quote states that love is a brutal lie,

And birds don't care about emotions, they simply fly (bad with rhymes)"

She sent.

"Reality is a brutal, love is pure,

Its not demanding, but is very sure,

You don't seem confident, can you please not rhyme?

I'm afraid it would steal my heart, and commit a crime"

She smiled reading the text.

"You need a biology textbook, and need to make many easy notes,

For love just exists in these cheesy quotes,

These rhymes are stupid,

Please put an end to the flatter,

Or I will break your heart and make it scatter (real bad with rhymes)"

She sent.

"Is someone going to study?" Tiya asked

"Naaah.. I'm busy. You continue" she said

"Fine then, I should better go back to my place and study, what's the use if you're going to simply text?" Tiya huffed picking up her books.

Kriya laughed "I love you, bye"

"Ugh, whatever"

She got a reply.

"Rhymes are weird, but clear as a bell,

Yet you seem caught up in biology as hell,

Brutal is reality, and so is heartbreak,

No one seems to understand what is heartache.

I just sent a message, was it delivered by dove?

I know we just met, but lets pretend we're in love ;)"

She started typing

"Well, that's charming, you've got some skills,

But, they won't help you to pay my bills,

Yes, i'm a biology freak,

But not exactly a geek.

Well, i received no letter, your dove seems pretty lame,

Now, can i please know your name?"

The reply was quick.

"Dove seemed romantic, he must've started reading,

And must've given it to the one he loved,

Well he must be succeeding.

Reyaansh is my name, and I'm as charming as my skills,

Believe me, they can help me pay many of your bills"

She typed.

"Is that supposed to reassure me?

If yes, then you failed, cause i'm not interested in any of your skills,

Please don't bother, I'm happy single and can afford my bills,

Name seems modern and rich too,

Though so lost in dreamland seem you"

The reply next was quick.

"Well, What's your name? Sorry if you misunderstood, my intentions were clean"

She typed.

"They don't seem to be, and i'm afraid i don't have to tell you my name"

He replied.

"I won't stalk you xD"

She typed.

"That smiley is disgusting, and i know you won't stalk, yet the question remains, why do you want it?"

He replied.

"Gosh you're way too secured. Fine! Don't tell me your name, but why are you so worried? What will possibly do? Fall in love with you?"

She typed.

"Stranger Danger! And please no more poetry, or my head will burst into words"

He replied.

"Thats the funniest thing i've heard from a female, You should sleep. Good night"

She texted.

"G'Nyt!"

She felt slightly disappointed, a slight pinch of disappointment, she wanted to talk to him, though she didn't really know who he was, he seemed to be well behaved and kind. There was a smile on her face, she fell back on her bed, and drifted off in a long dreamy sleep.

_________

Kriya continuously groaned for answers, but Tiya was sure not to help her this time, Tiya was writing so much that her nose was almost touching the paper, and here, Kriya was busy fumbling with words, thinking what could be the easiest answer among the numbered questions, but the only thing she could figure out was that she knew nothing and all that ran in her mind was "Why didn't i study!"

Kriya begged the teacher to give her some extra minutes, but the teacher was not a fool, she had seen Kriya asking her friend for answers. And she would not allow that for another ten minutes.

Despite of her desperate demands, the teacher grabbed the paper from her hands and took wandered away.

"Could you have helped me? i'm screwed up" Kriya groaned.

"You should try studying some times, good for health" Tiya said

Her phone vibrated.

"I'll talk to you later okay?" Kriya moved away from her going towards the library.

"How has you day been so far?" came a text

"Pretty boring, and unlucky." She replied.

"Everything okay?" was a quick reply.

"Yes! Just a screwed up test" she replied.

"Don't worry, it happens" he wrote.

"I'm screwed up" she replied.

"Cheer up! Smile" he wrote.

She smiled looking at his text.

"I did" she replied.

"Send me your pic na?" he asked.

"The words you say will paint my picture" she replied.

he wrote. "My words are beautiful"

"You seem to be a nice guy" she wrote.

"Maybe because I am?" he wrote.

"Maybe " she replied.

And then without waiting for a reply she texted "Gtg, TTYL"

________________________________

That afternoon when she checked her cell phone, she had received a couple of messages from him, asking about her hobbies and likes, her classes and various other things.

A smile crept on her face as she read another one of his poetry.

"I just want you to see,

The glitter thats inside of me,

And its just your innocent words,

That make me smile,

Since all this while"

She smiled and started typing "Send me your pic na?"

"Promise you won't start falling for me?" He texted back

"No promises ;)" was all she wrote

________________________

It was a month after when she finally agreed to come online on a video chat with him, when she knew she could totally trust him, and when she knew that behind those poetic lines hid a very caring guy.

The moment she saw his face, she could feel her knees turning cold and hands turning sweaty. She was fine, but There was a slight nervousness attached to everything.

"Hey" his voice was deep and promising.

"H-Hi" she could mutter.

"How are you?" he asked.

"never better" she smiled "You?"

"Same" he said with a cheeky grin.

There was an awkward pause.

"Well, you don't have to turn all red" he remarked.

"I'm not!" she protested "its the weather here."

The fact that he had a strong jawline seemed to make her more nervous, everything seemed to be good about him, ball like eyes, little nose and that beard!

She was trying not to react, but soon found that it was not working at all.

"Well, i had to say something" he said "After all the texts, I think I really like you"

He pronounced the words slowly as though he was afraid that she wont understand.

"You are saying that you like me" she said "Not in a friend way"

"yes.. in a.." he was interrupted.

"Yeah, i got it, in a boy girl way" she said and looked away.

"Okay, its your turn to say something" he said with a smirk.

He bit his lip and Kriya couldnt help but snap "Don't do that! You look gay"

He pulled a straight face. "Well, you're in delhi, and I'm in Mumbai" she said

"distance is just numbers as long as its real" he said

"I don't know" she said

"You do know, you're just avoiding it" he said

How come u know?' she wanted to ask but instead looked up at him, and muttered a "Yes, same here"

Painted_Sky2014-03-16 02:06:26