The Phone Booth

Those were the days when I was thinking nothing can go good in my life for the next 4 years. I was slowly walking towards the FD-3 where phone booths are located, to call my Parents, as its already been two weeks since the last time I did. Generally I would come along with a friend to chat while we walk, today all my friends are busy playing computer games or locked up in their rooms to top the Exams which are still a few weeks away. Just as I entered FD-3 I saw a guy waiting at one phone booth and a girl entering another phone booth. While approaching the booths, I applied my brain a bit and used reasoning to decide which booth I should wait at. A girl is talking in first booth and she has just started it, this input is sufficient to decide against that boot irrespective of all the other variables, but as I reached the two booths a new parameter came into the equation which tilted the scale in her favour. So I was waiting at her booth, looking at her beautiful eyes through the glass. Though I could not hear anything what she is saying, from my critical observation of her face I could capture the nuances and her gestures supported them. Either I did not realize the time looking at her, or there are more guys like me just wanting to see her, quite a queue was formed behind me. Suddenly she turned to me with raised eye brows and her lips read S*IT. I thought she did not like me watching her, but before I could turn my face away, she opened the door. I wanted to remind her that she did not disconnect the call, she asked me to come in. I obliged without any objection as any hypnotized person would do. She explained in a hurry the reason why I'm here that she had forgot to lock her bicycle and she has lot more to talk which she could not do if she disconnects the call and come back after locking the bike, as she would have to wait at the end of the queue. So my duty here is to pretend that I'm talking to the person on the other end of the line, suddenly I became all attentive as any new hire would be on his first day of the job. I took the receiver from her hand and she rushed past me. I put the receiver to my ear and I could hear a male voice, from the tone of which I assumed her father's, speaking in fluent English. My job was made easy as all I had to do was listen to the motivational speech about how Engineering is important and how it is the launch pad for a great career and blah blah… it became difficult for me when the mother took over, for one reason I don't understand the language she is talking in. when I was thinking of disconnecting and making it look like a network problem, the girl came back holding her bike keys and almost in a run entered the booth. Without letting me out, she grabbed the receiver and dived into conversation ignoring my presence. The booth is so narrow that I cannot go out with her in between the door and I and neither did I have the temerity to stop her talking and let me out. So I made the best out of the situation and took into the wonderful sight so close to me. When she finished her call after 15 mins, she realized that there is another person in the same booth. Suddenly a deep red blush filled her cheeks and said "thank you, for holding my call". "Well, I hope you know of the unwritten rule that a person cannot make two calls when there is a queue outside" expecting more appreciation from her. "Of course I know" she said with a pity face "Your purpose of visit here is not successful, sorry and I owe you one for what you have done". Not wanting to be rude with her I said "That's Ok, I have a class here tomorrow, and I'll come a little early make a call." and added hesitantly "Whats next, where are you going?" "Library" "I'm myself going there" I said too quickly, but added "You come by your bike I'll come through the inst and meet you at the Library" to be on the safe side. "I don't want to wait for you there." She said in a complaining tone. "I can come with you if you don't mind walking the distance" I suggested. "I certainly don't mind. Lets Go." During the walk, I started the small talk, about her Family, which I later realized that it was no small talk. I asked "whats with your father. We are freshers and not a month is over, he is already giving lectures on career" expecting a laugh from her. "Hmmmm" She sighed. "You don't have to answer if I am intruding." "Nothing like that. Long story short, he wants me to become an aeronautical engineer and I want to be a writer." She said without any emotion "Difference of opinions." I said "Wow, that's some fresh thinking, I have n't seen anyone here who don't want to be an engineer." cheering her. "We'll Make a good Coup.. er. Team, I like reading and you like writing. There we go, we reached the library." I insinuated an idea successfully diverted too. I thought "Damn, I should become a writer too. Nah, Its not my cup of life."
We both went into the literature section and started browsing the books. "Do you like Sidney Sheldon?" she asked looking at me and holding one of his novels. Without looking at her "I don't personally know him." I replied and looked at her. She dropped to the floor laughing and said "I mean his books you Dummy!!!" with a glint in her eyes. "I knew. I just wanted to make you laugh." I replied looking at her from the corner of my eye and noticed a visible blush on her face. "Well, to answer your actual question I really don't, but that's just me. Most of the folks seem to like him. I myself advice his books to beginners." She cut my mini lecture in the middle and said "Exactly, his books are fast paced; easy to read but somehow I don't get the feeling of satisfaction after finishing a book. But I do like to read them. Do you think its uncanny?" she asked me. "No not at all, You are one of the very few who has a same opinion on this. I do the same. I read his books irrespective of my liking and that's why I think he is a successful writer." I finished my lecture with a conclusion. "Nice theory." She complimented. For the next one hour we had our own discussion/debate on various books ignoring our qualification to do so. We lost track of time until we heard the closing bell of the library and we rushed to the reception with our selection of books to sign out. "Aap ek kitab extra laya." The grumpy clerk told her. "Oh I forgot that I already took one book yesterday. Aah which one should I leave now." She talked to herself. "I have an idea, why don't you take the extra book on my name. I have a slot left." I offered. "I was thinking of it, but was hesitant that we don't even know each other's names." "Well, I guess this is the time." I passed my library card across the counter and extended my hand to her and told "I'm Manoj." "I'm Asha" she said shaking my hand. "ee lo bhayya aap ka kitab" with a watchful eye the clerk handed over after separating the book rented on my name from hers. We came out of the library; on the way out I offered to hold the books which she denied. "I'll see you tomorrow, May be" I said. "Thank you for everything. I'll return your book as soon as I can." "Don't worry take your time, but don't make me pay overdue fine." I said jokingly. "I'll take off now." She said plainly and left. I quickly walked towards my hostel, thinking of what happened in the past few hours. An inadvertent smile spread across my face.