14 Apology (1/2)

Punya walked ahead towards the library past the badminton court. She stopped as she saw the new guy playing in the court with the college coach. He was too quick on his toes, so tall that he could cover the court length sideways in few steps, his face was shining as sun rays fell on his sweating face, he was gorgeous. ”He must've been a champion, he had the game in him...” thought Punya who stood there like a statue looking at him, and when he paused to serve the ball, their eyes met sending electric shock down her spines. He had honey colored eye balls which twinkled as sunlight fell on them. He continued to play as coach whistled at him.

”Punya” Siri interrupted Punya's gaze ”you're here, I searched you everywhere in the campus”...

”I... I ju jus just came in search of Jyoti, I mean yesterday her game was amazing so” lied Punya.

”Jyoti is in class, she kept asking for you” Siri explained... Punya was caught.

”Oh yeah, I didn't go to class anyway so I don't know” said Punya covering herself.

”Come let's go, class is about to start” said Siri as she pulled her away.

”I've spent my whole leisure hour looking at him, how could I do that? What's so special about him?... I also felt guilty when I spoke about him to dad, I had butterflies all the time I sat at the dining table. Even now they're flying inside me, I just wanted to thank him. I could've just walked to him and said that but what made me stand there for an hour?” Punya's mind went crazy.

”Punya, hey where were you?” asked Jyoti as she gave her a friendly hug.

”Just lost myself searching someone” blurted Punya.

”What? Who someone?” exclaimed Siri.

”Mmmm uh Jyoti who else? I told you I went in search of her” said Punya in an assuring voice.

”Yeah she went in search of you, she didn't know that you were in class” said Siri turning to Jyoti.

”Everyone settle down” came a loud voice from the lecturer who had walked onto the dias. Punya sighed a breath of relief and thanked the lecturer in her mind.

It was Maths class, she didn't understand anything that was taught. She tried to focus a couple of times but she couldn't concentrate as her thoughts were lingering on the handsome guy in the badminton court. She simply copied everything that was written on the black board. Next hour of Analytical chemistry also passed over her ears without entering her brain. Her classes ended up in Kannada poetry. She tried to be attentive as the lecturer made students read the lines randomly but she escaped as bell rang before her turn. She hit her head softly, saying herself that she shouldn't be so inattentive in class.

As everyone were walking down the steps, someone stepped on her flat sandals from behind and she stumbled forward and would fall down the stairs...

”Punya....” both Jyoti and Siri screamed together.

But she landed safely on Prakruth who was climbing up the stairs...placing her hands on his shoulders... He held her by her waist. They were lost in each other's eyes for a couple of seconds.