Chapter :A Tradition

"Just as heart is a fountain of

unspoken words,

the universe is a womb of wonder

weird worlds."

---------Toba Beta.

********

Fifteen years before.

Have I cleared her misconception ?Nope.

Have I tried to?Nope.

Wasn't it misleading?Yep.

It was better to be simply her Mr.Representative.She would be horrified,afraid and mostly would loathe me if knew who am I really.That I won't allow.

If she acknowledges this to be real me then so be it .I was not a petty ambassador of some university nor I want to be one though for the girl I felt an instant protectiveness and an ache.The yearning to share her enthusiasm, her presence and mostly know her was too enticing.And thus began my expedition to conquer the fort.

Few days after the educational fair,and my klutzy mail,we met at a seminar.It was after the conclusion of their final exams.Correspondingly I guessed she would be there and hence travelled back to the city...only to catch a glimpse of the zesty,energetic girl.

The workshop inaugurated on time but she wasn't anywhere to be seen..I felt giddy in anticipation and anxious to such an extent that it seemed quite unnatural of me.Me waiting for someone....naah,rather others suspend their jobs for me....I am the king and one of the world's riche.....nevermind.

While E.H. stood waiting by the reception lounge,he kept clenching and unclenching his fists,a girl dashed in. Clutching the door she panted and slowly as she gazed upwards,her sapphire eyes clashed with my turquoise ones. She beamed up on seeing me and I sighed.I was in big,bad trouble.

You can't say her ravishing but inspite of all she was beautiful, simple and alluring. If properly groomed she would be gorgeous and exquisite. But I felt enchanted by this version of her more.Unbelievable would it be to my closest circle....to my mates.They would never let me hear the end of it....ahhh how much I miss them....

Soon after recovering she made her way to the reception and to my dismay she didn't acknowledge me there.While she inquired the volunteers about the workshop's whereabouts and the sitting arrangements, I spinned back on my heels back inside but paused.She yelled at me to wait for her and there I stood stupefied. Later as she was by my side, we trudged back to the seminar.As we settled in our adjacent seats,I whispered,"Calm down Miss Frost ,it had just begun...let me know if you have any query."(I referred Blue as Miss Frost,because she acted too frosty )

To it she retorted hushingly,"Thanks and please don't be formal,just call me Blue.Moreover I have to thank you for motivating me through your mail."

An hour had passed.

The seminar progressed as per scheduled ,in between we conversed and debated;and during the snack break we entertained ourselves by randomly recalling our favorite dishes.It was felicitous occasion and may be my first time being content.Yet apart from all,I saw snippets of loss,despair and restrain in her eyes which she tried not express.Something isn't right.

Thus when I enquired her if everything was alright, she just reluctantly nodded but her eyes never met mine again.

Promptly the seminar ended.We strolled down the steps in silence but at the last step Blue whirled suddenly around me and grinned at me sheepishly. I swallowed...

Oh my...

To my astonishment instead of me(voicing my own thoughts), she said,"Thanks again for today and really it would be a help if you kindly continued to be me advisor.I am new to all this,moreover my parents are unaware of all this so....."

She didn't need say more...I would do it all to fulfill her dreams....but who would have guessed it won't be so easy.

Shortly, in the end as we parted I saw her tremble and become teary..... cryptically she got shrouded by an uncertainty, a dread.....

That day I watched her pass.....but I have to know the reason behind this...Why and what was I had to search...

And from that day onwards we conversed regularly either in messenger or through Skype...It had turned into our unspoken tradition to speak about our schooling system here,about preparations she needed to make,the scholarships,internships and the sort. We would prattle about various topics, with Blue most of the time falling asleep in the other end.She was too tensed up about coming here,and worked really hard to smoothen out things back home....Home....she had a home,loving parents but still I felt her urgency to escape.

Hmmm.....Hence I realised that we all have got our own demons to slay and slaughter.....

I just hope that I could protect her from herself ....She is self-destructive..... too guilt-prone for her own good.