The Voice of SK

  Chapter 18 The jeep was moving at fast pace maneuvering over the bumpy terrains. We were screaming at the top of our voices but it didn’t carry far as it died against the roar of the engines. Diya was sitting next to me and I was trying to hold on tight to one of bars of the jeep to stabilize myself from jerking. Her hair was undone and flew with the wind. She was finding it hard to keep her balance as she kept trying to hang on to the seat. Sensing her uneasiness, I caught her and made her to sit near the corner as the jeep slowed for a while. She regained her composure and now was holding onto my hand tightly.  The scenery was so posh filled with greenery everywhere and glorious views of the hills. The chill air with mist dominated the atmosphere. I turn towards Diya to find her already looking at me. She turned her gaze aside as I looked at her. At last we reached the top. I lend her my hand as she got down. She was unusually quiet. She just shook her head when I aske...

Chapter 17 Opening up the last page of the newspaper, I skimmed through the pages of the newspapers stacked neatly in a stand. Daylight outshined the artificial lighting inside the reception rendering them inefficacious. A long journey awaited us as we made our way to Coorg. I offered Diya the window seat and perched myself comfortably next to her. She was adorned in a baby blue tinted top with repeating diamond-circle patterns and a black pant. She looked alluring like she did on any other day. Her bewitching eyes pulled me towards her like a magnet. She always appeared beautiful to me no matter what or when. "Beauty lies in the heart of the beholder" someone had said. "You look beautiful today" I broke the silence between us. She blushed. I felt an adrenaline rush coursing through my veins. I couldn't help it. It happens every time she smiles or blushes. We were then interrupted by a pandemonium on what movie should be played. Diya offered me an earpie...

Chapter 16 The City Centre Mall was flowing with people as dusk settled in. I was waiting for Diya and in the meanwhile I went window shopping around, climbing up and down escalators just for fun. Then we went inside a food shop in the basement. We ordered shawarmas and sat down to eat. The place was dimly lit and I wondered if people could really see what they were eating. After finishing we re-entered the mall. "Why are cricket stadiums so cool?" My friend asked. I shrugged not knowing the answer. "Because every seat has a fan on it." I laughed convincingly just like a newly wed husband laughs when meeting his in-laws for the first time. Still no sign of Diya. In the search of her, I bumped into two girls by accident and almost spilt one of their cokes on them. They both were dressed in blue denims and pink t-shirts that had shining stars stuck on them. "I'm so sorry", I apologized to them. "It's ok. You aren't from here,...

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...