Nikitha reached hostel at 6.30pm,the border time one should
be in. I need a long bath,she thought. Warden was standing infront of the
office room,watching every inmates and the exact time they get in.She was a
beauty in her 60’s,a pleasent woman.
Hello nikitha,you have a roommate this time. She came for
exams.
Is she at room now?
No,she went upstairs to study
Oh that is ok,nikitha smiled at her
I love this warden. I am very happy to see her always,she
thought
Nikitha,a working woman stayed in this hostel whenever she
came to banglore. Guest room was always available for her when she calls.
Nikitha took the key and opened the door.
Ohh she conqured my bed,nikitha said to herself
Reluctantly she took the other bed
She placed her bag on the table and unloaded the items.she
looked at the shelf to place her things. Every row was filled with her
roommate’s stuffs.she surely planning to stay not less than 3 weeks. Or does
she in the habbit of carrying everything with her?Nikitha wondered.she arranged
her roommate’s stuffs confined in a row and vacant the other and placed hers on
that shelf.
I must wait here to see her nikitha thought and waited for
sometime but her roommate didn’t appear. So she went to the tv room.we cannot
call it a tv room,it’s a corridor where a tv was placed. People keenly
watching the new episodes. Nikitha
watched the serials every inmates used to see and in the meantime she messaged
to her friends.
She went to the room as one of her friends called her she
stayed there and talked. During the conversation she noticed the room. Some
items were displaced. My roommate surely
had came here. Aww I missed her,she thought.
Unlike before she had a deep interest on seeing her
roommate. She eagerly waited to meet her as early as possible.
Nikitha wanted to use hairoil as she was so tired and as a
treatment for her minor headache.she decided to ask her roommate once she met
her.
She waited again after the call had ended. But her roommate
didn’t turn up.
Nikitha came back to the room again when another call had
come. On each time she got in,she could sense her roommates entry on everytime
time she left the room. There was a displacement of her items on each time. My
god I want to see her,nikitha waited.
Suddenly a girl entered the room. She looked at nikitha and
smiled.
I know her but how,nikitha thought. You ..you.. I know you ,
nikitha murmured
Yes I was your roommate. We stayed together for some days,
the girl said.
I heard you came here for exams
Yes for MA exams. I am working with electricity board and
also doing MA.
Now I remember you,nikitha said. You asked me once which bed
was good for sleep, I showed one and you chose the other. You opened the window
that day and allowed every mosquito to get in and it was hard to sleep that
day…
They both laughed
By the way I couldn’t remember your name
I am betsy
Betsy do you have hairoil with you. I have a mild headache
so wanted to cool my head.
Yes I do have
Betsy took the bottle and pored some oil into nikitha’s palm
You know nikitha I was sure that it was you who came for a
stay by seeing your belongings
What! How did you know? It was long backi met you and all I
have now is something new
I don’t know nikitha but I told my friend that the girl who
stayed long back has come without seeing you. After that I saw you watching
tv,then I had a double mind and confused.
So you identified me with my belongings and confused when
saw me, nikitha wondered
That is right,betsy said
Anyway good to hear that somebody remembers me,nikitha
smiled
Betsy had university exam.she arranged every study material
on the table and said she has yet to complete the portions
Nikitha laid on her bed watching betsy , liking her and smiling when she began to talk
after arranging the study material for a supposed study
Betsy, a very humorous and lively person, listening to her was not a
strain; it was a relief, a relief from a complicated life. Nikitha wondered,
how could I laugh this much after a very long time? How could I get a light
weighted heart within minutes? There was no barrier between them, like close
friends meet, they talked.
Every character came to their conversation seemed to be very
familiar to nikitha. She enjoyed everything Betsy had shared. She even forgot
her headache. She could realize how life became simple for a while when a
simple person was near to her. She asked herself, why do I choose this hostel
always? Was it because of the low rent, Lovely warden, Simple people with small
world around? Everything, she realized.
Nikitha told Betsy to give a break for her endless talk and
to show some importance to her next day exam and she went for bath. But she
entered the room, screaming. What happened, betsy jumpd out of her bed and
asked. I have got periods. I have no pad with me. It was too late. So I thought
it won’t come this month. Do you have one?
No, mine was over
I don’t know anubody here. Will you please ask someone?
Betsy came with a packet and handed it to nikitha
I asked my friend. She had an unused pack. Thank god, betsy
said.
They slept after 10.30. Before that betsy set an alaram at
7am and told nikitha to call her if she couldn’t makeup in time.
Next morning at 7, nikitha could hear betsy scolding some
friend who called her at 4.30am to wake her up for studies as the day was her
exam day. Nikitha was in a dilemma whether to call her or let her sleep. Nikitha
slept confused.
Betsy wokeup first and got herself busy in brushing,
bathing. The room became noisy that broke nikitha’s sleep
Good morning betsy
Hey did I wake you up! Good morning
I slept peacefully, the only place that could give me a
peaceful sleep. The repeating mantras, the hot black coffee, the cold
underground water bath everything makes me fresh, nikitha thought.
Betsy was seriously reading a book. The last minute
struggle. Her exam was scheduled at 1 o’clock. She had planned to go at 10 for
hall ticket.
Nikitha called her friend and arranged a meeting at 9. She got
ready at 8.30
I am coming back only on Thursday. I have to stay with my
friend and have to study the next subjects, betsy said.
Oh I am going back on Thursday morning at 6.30. We are not
going to meet again,right?
But the fate had once proved that we meet again, betsy told
confidently
Betsy give me your number, nikitha asked as she was not
ready to leave all to fath. I will message you whenever I am here and I could
inform you when I made a plan to come here.
They shared their number
It is raining outside. How could I meet my friend now? I have
no umbrella, nikitha wondered
Ok I will come with you.itisn’t bad to go to college early. They
shared a smile.
What I might be doing if she wasn’t there for me? Nikitha thought
They shared an umbrella and walked to the busstop. By the
time betsy told about her little pond infront of her house she made for
waterplant.
They skipped 1st bus as it seemed little rush and
the other two for no reason. Were’t they skipped busses as they wished to stay
together?
They entered a bus which no man could breath properly. Betsy
managed to stand close to the window leaning backward. Nikitha stood facing
her. They talked about many little things, forget people around.
They enjoyed the togetherness.
My stop is next and yours is after another two, betsy said. I
will come again on 24th of this month,betsy told dropping herself
out of the bus, waving her hand and smiling.
The bus was moving. Nikitha looked back at her waving her
hand. Nikitha could feel a hollow space in her heart. Is that one I longing to
meet?
Nikitha felt the fear of loosing her the whole day.
How was your exam? Nikitha messaged betsy at night.
She slept while waiting for her reply.
Next morning she looked for message eagerly.
Nothing.
She wentout with her
friend. While having breakfast her moblie beeped.
A message…
Hey I had no balance yesterday. My exam was good.
Nikitha smiled at her mobile.
Why are you smiling, her friends asked.
Hey nothing…
