The Voice of SK

Chapter 15 Yellow ambient light filled the reception hall creating a warm atmosphere around. It took a bit of time for everyone to settle. We were five in the room trying to split territories among us. Outside, in the corridor were the cries of our HOD asking us to get ready soon. The first person to bathe had to experiment with the tap knobs to find the correct combination for hot water. Every once in a while, there would be somebody knocking the door checking upon us if we were ready. After eighteen knocks and two hours later, we were finally ready. As we went out, I whispered to Ajith. He glared at me and assented only after I pleaded. We got into the bus. "Hey! Can you sit there please?" Ajith asked the girl sitting next to Diya pointing at the empty seat at the front. The girl got up and I took her seat. My eyes thanked him. Diya was wearing a sandal yellow dress with intricate geometric patterns, the one I liked the most because she looked like a fragrant rich cre...

Chapter 14 The fan swirled around whirring down a puff of dust down on to the books stacked on the table. I was used to procrastinating work and had just finished packing my stuff when we had like an hour for departure, stuffing things into my bag. My eyes swept across the room searching for things I might have forgotten. I grabbed my earphones trying to untangle them as I locked the room and put the key into my pocket. I strode past the wing reaching the staircase and jumped through the flight of stairs as I made my way to the hostel entrance. I caught up with my friends there and reached the Alumni hut just in time. A yellow bus was waiting for us there to help start our journey. I boarded the bus to see all occupied seats. My eyes scanned for Diya and she was already seated and was chatting busily. I went to the only seat at the back sombrely and put on my earphones trying to shift moods. From my seat all I could witness was her lush sable hair dancing to the rhythm of her melod...

Chapter 13 The light from the projector illuminated the dust in front of it as the computer screen evaporated onto the white screen. Detailed illustrated pictures filled the screen (There were plenty of circles and several coloured lines drawn through them. "Y type printing unit (KBA)" the text below the picture read). I scribbled the diagram onto my notebook. The circles looked ragged and the lines looked lot more like waves. I strangely developed feelings for the fillings in the sandwiches. That's because I was apparently sandwiched in between two giant sized breads. I often struggled to ease myself and would rather take the monkey route of jumping over tables whenever I needed to get out. That day was different. The bench behind was empty and I occupied the whole of it. Easing myself well below now, my legs one over another and I spread out my hands on both sides of the bench taking it all to myself. I wasn't claustrophobic but it felt good to have the whole be...

Chapter 12 "Achh...hooo" I sneezed. Drenching yourself in the rain also has its own effects apart from making me feel good and amazing. Diya and I talked a lot that night as she hit me up with questions like how I had fallen in love with her. I felt the weight in my heart reduce slowly and I thanked God that she didn't react to it, at least not negatively. "She loves me" "She loves me not" "She loves me" "She loves me not"... I ripped the petals of the hibiscus I had plucked on the way. I didn't believe in such fortune telling stuff and still I was doing it. The climate was mild and the sun kept peeping out from the clouds. Diya was cladded in a pink top and a denim. She was looking too resplendent in it. I was wearing a blue T shirt that seemingly looked good on me but nowhere near hers (I badly need someone who could teach me fashion; finally I was worried about how I dressed). Her creamy cheeks outshined the sun tha...

Chapter 11 My brain was on super computer mode. It was simulating various versions of "me proposing her" scenes and I felt like Dr.Strange for a while. Dialogue by dialogue I was busy weaving a script. There were lots of ifs and buts in them. I wanted to tell that I love her in the most possible innocuous way that she doesn't get offended. The dark skies and the clouds loomed all over. The chapatti and paneer combo at the mess had already filled my stomach. Gulping down the lemon juice, I ended my dinner. I phoned Diya and she said that she would be waiting by the Alumni hut. Rehearsing my scripts once again, I did my hair hoping that would make me look good (The struggle to keep up with her beauty was real). I asked Ajith if I looked good some number of times till he told me to shut up. After convincing myself that I looked good. Now I was wondering how I would be shaking him off (Ivana epdi da kalatti vidurathu moment). Lady luck was on my side. He said that...

Chapter 10 I wished it all to be a dream. I pinched myself and it pained for real. Diya and I started taking strolls round the college every night after dinner. Those night times were those when she was not in all her grace. She was wearing a plain grey T shirt and a pant. Her hair was a mess. It didn't matter, it never did. I still wanted to hold hands with her and walk miles together. It was then I realised that I wasn't merely attracted or infatuated by her beauty. My heart had not just discovered but felt what my mind had overlooked. It was emotions and feelings - I felt good, loved, cared, trusted and affectionate whenever she was around with me (What more does a guy want more than this honestly?). A single text from her was enough to brighten me up. She was busy rewriting the definition of love in my dictionary transforming it into something meaningful. I was wondering how someone could come into your life suddenly, slowly creeping into your heart until the...

Chapter 9 The first few drops of rain evaporated as it hit the ground. Four needed of the last ball. My eyes scanned the ground for gaps. My teammates cheered from behind. "Would it be a slower ball?" "Would it be a wide? Should I hit it or leave?" "Should I close my eyes and just swing?" "Should I hit the ball the same way I hit the previous?" A flurry of these questions impinged into my mind as I took stance. The bowler was starting his run up. As he took his last stride and I was ready to face it, Diya entered into my thoughts. Moments later, there was celebration, the stumps were uprooted and held high. I crouched with my bat supporting me lost, still figuring out how I had missed that ball totally. I could have whacked those full tossed balls out of the park any day but I didn't that day. The captain from my team rose and claimed that it was a no ball because it went above the waist height. After a long heated a...