'The Night' - 3 Friends and 2 strangers!

The Nights

Chapter 1: 3 Friends and 2 Strangers!

It is end of the semester and Hyderabad's scorching heat is taking its toll, even killing a person or two every other day in the city. It has been so hot that some 'fake' researchers at the institute have shown that omelets are the best products that could be baked in this sun. There have been some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) along with the opposition party members that have been staging dharna against the irresponsible state government that doesn't take measures to stop the sun. Some went on to relate this act of irresponsibility to the caste based discrimination that the leading party's candidates are well known for.

None of which seems to have an impact on this passing-out batch of undergraduates at IIIT Hyderabad. Especially those young couples that have happily got together after four frustrating years of being single. None of them seem to be in a hurry to be committed, they are still kids after all; while some even say "we are just friends!" and hide behind the bushes. Among this batch three students, 2 girls and a boy, were chatting at the coffee corner in the campus.

Meanwhile two other frustrated research students, K & C (both MS by Research brand of 2k6 batch), both from different departments were variously frustrated. They had their own horrifying "research" stories to tell but none of the two willing to cut loose. They both had come back tired from a satisfying dinner eating 4 parathas each and had decided to go on to fetch at least 2 cups of mango juice each. They took a long calm walk through the campus towards the coffee corner, both casually reminiscing good old days when they had a batch of PG2k6. The first thing that strikes both of them is the unlimited fun each one in the gang had in room number 40 of the boys hostel.

Back in reality, both of them headed to the coffee corner, bought the juice they were waiting for and sat down at a table adjacent to the trio that was already there. Both gulped the first sip and looked at each other and smiled, and then went on to enjoy the drink. Few moments later K was gazing at the charm of the moon, that was unbelievably smart tonight, and was wondering whether moon should be masculine or feminine. C had a different feeling for he was still wondering about the good old days and how he would face the days that are yet to come, without friends and possibly one enemy to live with. C was doing exactly what K didn't want to do!

Each group could over hear each other's voices, none might actually know the other group's context. While this was possible, the minority group wasn't in any mood to talk, they were here to have a life outside everything else they have been doing through the day. They wanted to fill the void created by the emptiness of their daily routine with food and fruits for tonight.

The majority group, on the contrary, were here just to talk. That was their business for tonight. The group consisted of the girls P and M, and the guy J was a stranger to most people; but not to these two girls, both of them were very close to him. Typical of a passing out batch. K & C meanwhile are struck in awe at the awesomeness of the mango juice that has yet again been prepared with utmost care and given the magical touch. It was a flawlessly wonderful drink and they didn't want to think of anything else other than to be immersed in the joy of the juice. But, just then they overhear P scream.

P: "Noooo..... Not like that!" (screams!)
P: "He has been always like that, never listens to anything I say. You can try if you want."
M: "Why do you criticize him all the time ? He is not that irresponsible, I know."
J stares at both of them taking turns, shies away from both and hides his face.

K winks at C; signaling there is going to be an interesting scene developing here.

M: "How long do you know him ?". M asks.
P: "4 years are long enough, madam!", P claims.
M: "I know him since my childhood and I would bet my life on his character." M said sincerely.
J was surprised. But he hardly uttered a word.
K double winks at C!
P: "I am not saying he is bad. I just like him the way he is but he must change a little."
M fires back: "If changes he wouldn't be the same again!"
At last J speaks out : "Ladies, if I could buy your attention for a while, do I have my say in this issue? I think you both are talking about me."
P & M unanimously: "No!"
J : "No to what ? Not about me ?"
P : "No, you don't have a say in this. Just shut up!"
M clarifies: "Why don't you keep quite for a while, meanwhile we both decide how to punish you for what you have done ? Didn't you like the soft drink tonight, why don't you finish it while we settle this ?"
J: "hmmm... Ok!". And he reluctantly takes another sip, throwing away the straw that he half ate.
J shies back to silence and was looking around as if he was looking for some help.

PS: I am not sure of the quality of the post. I was just motivated to write a short-story (because Romanch Keeps on writing them here :D) and then got inspired by a situation on 8th June 2009 at 10.30 PM. Again, all the characters are real and living in IIIT-H. However the story (if something exists of that sort!) is a work of fiction.

UPDATE: This is the first chapter of the short-story series "The Nights". The follow-up post is here which is the second chapter of the series.