Part 4: The Punishment / My First Date
I stopped dancing. Felt a little dizzy in my head sensing the seriousness of the situation I had landed in. Credit goes to - Armaan Malik!
.
.
"Oh let me guess..Your friends might have challenged you and you took up the challenge..of dancing in the principal's office? Right?" The principal questioned, in a serious tone
"No" My voice, was chocked "He told me to..." I pointed towards Armaan who was on the sofa
Principal looked towards the direction I pointed, He starred back at me "Who? There's no one there!"
I looked at the sofa and Armaan was not there. Where did he go?
"Sir!!!!!!!!!!! He was right here.." I said in a panic
"Then where did he go? Disappeared in the air?" He yelled at me
"May be" I said, confused
"Do you think I'm a fool?" He questioned
"No" I put my head down, not knowing how to prove my innocence.
"Are these kind of students given admission here?" Trustee questioned the Principal "Who have no respect for their Principal?"
Principal felt a bit embarrassed..and kept starring at me.
"I've been the principal of this college from past 10years..Seen a lot of spoil brats like you who take up all these nonsense challenges and bets. Everything is not a joke" Principal said..almost yelling
I just saw Armaan get out from behind the sofa and escape from the door. "Sirrr.. There he is..He is the one who.." I pointed out and tried to prove my innocence. Principal and Trustee's back was towards Armaan so they had missed seeing him escape.
"Oh stop it. Everyone is responsible for their own actions so you better don't tell me that a boy asked you to dance and you actually danced to his tunes like a weakling !" He said, with max anger
"Sir please..believe me" I requested
"Don't interrupt when I'm speaking" He said. I looked down.
"I will see that you are punished and punished front of all other students so that all the students of this college get a lesson." Principal added
Now, I went all blank in my head. No thoughts ran in my mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I followed the Principal to the compound. There was some construction work going on there.
"Your punishment - Pick up this paint brush and start paining the compound walls." Principal said
I looked at him in a daze
"What are you looking? Get started" He said, aloud.
Many students kept starring at us.
Great! My first day to college and I was facing the most embarrassing moment in my life... till date. Thanks to Armaan!
"Make sure, you don't leave for home.. till you have finished painting this entire space." He added
I looked at the walls.. It seemed like the painting work would not end for coming 12hrs..that too if I worked non-stop without even breathing.
Principal went. I picked up the brush, dipped it in the paint and started painting the walls..like a Abla Nari - Which I am not. Then why?
I still felt many students eyes set on me. I stared back at them and they disappeared.
THAT'S IT! I'm going back to the Principal with the actual culprit - Armaan.
But where is he?
Just then Nuts came...
"I thought you had told me that you are a girl who doesn't take shit beyond a point? Then whyyy are you taking it now? I know you are not mad enough to dance in principal's office.. I'm sure it's part of ragging. Let's go to the principal and complaint..." She said, in a stretch
"I tried to complaint but Principle didn't hear me" I said
"He didn't hear you but He will hear me..just give me the name of the person who has landed you in this situation" She asked
"ARMAAN and I'm taking him to the principal!" I said, irritated
"What???? I should have guessed so" She said, angrily "But Pleaseee Ridzy, if it was anyone else, I would myself take him to principal but not Armaan! Not because he is my boyfriend..but he already has a bad image front of the principle and if principle comes to know about this..I fear he would take a strict action against him" She said, worriedly "Pleasee don't complaint..??? I hope you understand?" She said, helplessly "Please?" She requested again
Nuts, being a stranger had done a lot for me in the past 24hrs. How couldn't I do so much for her?
"Ok. I understand. I won't complaint" I said, forcing a smile
"But heyyy I can still help you with the painting work" She said, picking up a brush
"Nooo! You can't help her.. This punishment is exclusive for her" said a principal's chamcha from the background.
"It's ok you have helped me enough already" I said "Now goo" I pushed her away.
My first day at St Xavier's University - I was left all alone. Punished! - Painting the compound walls. I hope my parents never get to know this.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You are quite good at painting" I heard Armaan's voice in the background. I didn't bother to answer or re-act. I just carried on the painting work.
"First day to college and Principal se punishment.. Whaoo you are faster than me." He continued to irritate, but I kept up my self-control
"Now that's really some entertainment!" He laughed
He laughed? Did he really laugh? I swear...I have never ever seen a big jerk like him.
I've taken his punishment upon my head and the jerk is laughing.. arggg
"Hum khush hue! Here you go" He threw me my cell phone
I caught my phone "ITS NOT FUNNY OK!" I yelled losing my self-control
"Ohhh.. It's not" He said in a teasing tone and pulling my chin "IT IS!" He gave a wicked grin.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT JERK...MONKEY..DOG..and all the useless animals in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I gave him all the bad words that came to my mind.
"I'll take that as a compliment" He said, coolly
"fine...AMMY" I said, to irritate him
"Now don't call me that" He said and looked around, getting conscious
"AMMY! AMMY! AMMY" I said, like a small Kid
"Stop irritating" He said in anger
"Irritating? I thought only you had the talent to irritate people." I said
"Whatever" He said and walked away.
"Whatever huh!" I said and carried on with my painting work.
"By the way, aise kise ladki ko itne prob mein dalke..gayab hona mera addat nahi hai." He said
I choose not to re-act to anything he says or does.
"Principal se darr nahi lagta mujhe but Trustee..as in my dad the waha pe."
Trustee..is his father? Oh so that's why he got admission in here.
"Dad se bhi darr nahi lagta..lekin agar unhe mere harkatho ke bare mein patha chala tho credit cards etc block karr denge..which would be quite a prob for me...You understand?" He was actually giving a jerky explanation for his jerky act
and he expected me to understand him.
"I don't need an explanation..I'm not your girlfriend" I just said
"Arman Malik's Girlfriend? There's no scope for that!" He said rolling his eyes
Did he really believe he is that GREAT?
"Neither do you have any scope to be my boyfriend!" I said with the same attitude
"Oh!" He made a sad face "How do you manage to break my heart again and again?" He asked, sarcastically
"JUST GO AWAYYY!!!" I yelled
"Cool!" He smirked and left
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was 6 PM - Everyone had left. I was almost all alone in the full college.. I guess only the watchman was there but quite a far distance away. It was getting dark and cold.. just a few lights were on.
I looked at the half painted compound walls.. I mentally calculated that the painting would take another 8hrs. I was already exhausted..but I took a deep breath.. I'm going to finish this 8hrs work in 4hrs and go home.. I told myself and started painting with full speed.. Non-stop till 10 PM.
The painting work was still NOT OVER..NOOO!!!!
I felt like crying and screaming.
I threw the brush down and went and sat on a bench and closed my eyes.
Armaan's face came to my mind.. I cannot explain how irritated I am on him..at this moment.
"ARMAAN! Bass ek barr mere samne aao..I'll kill you!!!!!!!!!!!!" I blurted my thoughts out
"Main yaha ho yaha ho yahaaa hooo.. yahaaa" I heard Armaan singing and turned to find him standing behind me
"Kill me! I'm all yours!" He said, opening his arms
"What are you doing here?" I asked, irritated
"Dinner?" He said. I looked at him confused.
He laid down a mat, placed some pizza boxes and coke on it.. and a small candle in between.
"Picnic time!!!!!! Ab dekh kya rahe ho? Common! Time to attack" He said, looking at the food
"Mujhe bhook nahi hai" I lied
"Armaan ke sath aise candle light dinner karne ka mauka harr ladki ko nahi milta. Sooch lo?" He said, again praising himself
"I'm not interested in having candle light dinner..not with you at least" My stomach was crumbling with hunger.. but self-respect nam ki bhi koi cheez hai na!!!!!!!?
"Look what I got... Cheese cake.. your fav!!!!" He said, tasting the cake with his finger "umm yumm"
"Yea..my abso fav. You remember?" I asked, like a kid. And next moment I remembered I am 'not talking' to him.
"Vaise chocolates bhi hai" He threw some chocolates towards me
Cheese cake? Chocolates? Why is he tempting me? Grrr!
Die with hunger or Enemy ke sath candle light dinner? What was better? This time I choose the first option - Die with hunger!!!!!!!!!!
I ignored him and went and continued the painting work.
In few minutes, I felt him standing right behind me..only 1'inch distance between us. From the corner of my eyes I saw he was staring at me. I tried to ignore and work..and I did work but he continued staring at me for next 10mins. Finally, I lost it.
"KYA HAI?" I turned and yelled. I regretted turning because my nose dashed with his. We were so close that we couldn't see each other. I had never been so close to any guy. I didn't know how to break away from this moment. Honestly, I didn't feel like breaking away. I stood close to him like a statue.. and Nor did he move. I felt his hand touch my waist.. and that pushed me back to senses.
What am I doing? My head scolded me.. 'Ladko se door rehna' I heard my Mom and Dad's voice ring in my hears. I pushed him away.
He just continued starring at me, I cannot explain the look on his face.. It was a expression which I never ever saw on Armaan's face.
"For the first and last time..I will say this" He said, with a straight voice
"What?" I asked
He looked down "Sorry"
It took me aback..surprised and shocked at the same time.. 'sorry' and 'Armaan'? How did these two come together?
"Sorry from Armaan..Now that's something new" I said, and I found myself smiling..a bit
"Hai na?" He said with a little more smile "So ishe bahane let's have candle light dinner?" He added
"No!" I said and turned to continue my work
"Aise nahi manogi na?" He said, getting a bit angry now
"NEVER" I said, stubbornly
In next 2 seconds, my feet were not on the ground.. I was in Armaan's arms. He lifted me and made me sit on the mat.. Took out a pizza and stuffed it in my mouth
"Now, have it!!!!!!! Varna" He warned
I took a bite. You know, Jab bhook lagte hai tab - 'self-respect', 'ego', 'attitude' nam ke cheezien gayab ho jaate hai. Stomach is first priority.
I finished off 3/4 of the whole pizza without looking right or left or at Armaan.. I was soo damn hungry. Finally when my hunger was somewhat satisfied.. I looked at him..and found him starring at me. Again that same weird look was on his face..which I had never seen on his face before.
"Itna concerned mere liye.. kaise?" I asked, the question that was running in my mind
"Concerned? Wo bhi tumare liye.. please ah!" He smirked "It's called..Responsibility! I am responsible for landing you in this situation so thoda responsibility dekhna padta hai yaar" He said
"Responsible aur tum???????" I chuckled
He didn't get angry..He was smiling at me. Armaan aur itna sweet..Ok-ay..now this is getting weird.
We silently had the candle light dinner. There was only silence between us for next 1/2 hr.
Is this my first date? Is it even a date? Looks like!
Not even in my dreams I had thought my first date would be something like this.
Usually we go on a date with a person we kinda like but here it was the opposite.
A surprise date with the person I hate.
"You gotta try this" He gave me a glass
I took a sip. YUCK! It tasted bitter as ever!
"What is this?" I ask, starring at the glass
"Beer" He coolly, took a sip from his glass
"WHATTT" I said, with a shock expression on my face
"Aise dekh rahe ho jaise zeher pi la diya.. Now don't tell me u don't have beer?" He asked, rolling his eyes
"I don't drink!" I said, with a straight voice
He started laughing "You are suchaaa.." He murmured something which I couldn't hear
"Suchaaa what?????" I asked, as I wanted to know
"Boring tied up chicken" He said, and continued laughing
I felt it was better if I didn't know what he murmured. He made feel as if 'Not drinking beer' was a 'sin'.
"I begin to create a good image of you in my mind..but you just crashed it down" I said, twisting my face
"My pleasure!" He said, sipping his beer
"You love Nuts?" I asked
"Girls jitne ho uthne kam!" He answered
What did I ask and What is he answering? Was there even a connection between my question and his answer? I wondered.
"How cheappp!!" I strongly, commented
"That's the way I am..Cheap!" He gave a cute innocent smile
I made a disgusted face.
"You tell me.. how many boyfriends do you have?" He asked
WHAT did he mean by 'how many'?
"Jaha thak I have analyzed you. You seem to be a man hater!" He added
Now, from when did he start analyzing me?
"I'm not a man hater..but I don't want to give any stupid man.. permission to break my heart!" I replied
"So you have a broken heart?" He raised his eyebrow
"No but I've seen many of my friends..suffering from a broken heart. Crying for days together.. why? because a stupid jerk ditched them.. I just hate guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I said
"That's what I was saying.. you are a man hater" He proved his point to be right
After few seconds I said
"But I want Love... True Love"
He begin to laugh yet again. I didn't understand - What was funny?
"Ok laugh at me.. but there will come a point.. where you will realise.. apne cars bikes paise dekha ke tumhe girls to mill sakhte hai.. but at the end of it.. You need LOVE.. everyone needs love" I explained my point
"Bullshit!!!!" That was his reply to my explanation "My love is right here with me" He said, and came a little close to me, stared into my eyes. Whenever we come this close.. I begin to forget he is the man whom I hate.
"excuse me?" I leaned back
"My love" He pointed to the glass of beer "cheers!!"
So, that's his love - beer?
"YOU know what.. you need help.. I think you have never got love in your life.. from anyone.." I just blurted out what came to my mind
He looked down as if trying to hide something. He looked back at me..plastering a blank but serious look on his face
"Yes right.. I have everything...big house, branded clothes, money, best of cars-bikes and even girlsss.. but no one really loves me. Not even my parents! So Miss Basket, I've learnt to live without it.. and now there's no space for love in my life.!" He said, sounded a bit disturbed
Our Conversation took a bit serious turn now. Why did he say his parents don't love him? As far as I remember, His parents more than love him and pamper him to the core. Then why is he saying that? I thought to myself.. anyways it's none of my business.
"Sorry.. I didn't mean to.." I tried to apologize.
"Cut it out" He said, and looked away
He looked a bit upset. I lightly kept my hand on his - to make him feel better. He looked at me.. we shared a eyelock for a few seonds then he gave a half smile.. and looked down.
We both shared a very different kinda bond.. A little love coated with a lot of hate.
In next few moments, everything begin to blur front of my eyes. Tiredness was pushing my eyelids. I helplessly dropped my head on Armaan's shoulder and in few moments I was fast asleep.
To be cont...soon!!!!
Please do leave your comments and tell me how was the update?
Edited by Ms.Goody - 13 years ago
Hui Ghum Yaadein
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
