Maruva

Chapter 4

In the past week, Maruva had terribly missed the guy. She had found herself thinking lovingly of his inhibition, his silence, his shyness. She adored his sobriety and temperance. His body language conveyed his simplicity. Never had she found him trying to don a trendy mask to impress her. She was sure people often misunderstood his introversion for aloofness or a lack of social skills.

…

By 11:30 a.m. the next day, Maruva had put on a knee-length light-brown skirt, a full-sleeved cream-colored top with her favorite pair of earrings and hairband. It was the outcome of a series of permutations and combinations mulled upon the night before. She had been stirring with excitement about the visit to the café.

Maruva had been excitedly waiting for Raksha’s message. When she received it at 11:40 a.m., she practically jumped out to the veranda, kissed Richu, and kick-started her Activa for the café.

Raksha was early and waiting for her friend. She was in her usual sporty attire - a red t-shirt and a tight pair of jeans paired with a trendy pair of sandals.

They ordered for a ‘Chiller Non-Veg 170 Combo’. The guy’s spot was occupied by a couple they hadn’t seen before. Maruva was disheartened at this but pretended to be unaffected. Raksha, however, noticed the uncanny change in Maruva’s demeanor.

After a while, the waiter came with the order. They were eating when Raksha finally dropped it, “Why are you so taken with the guy?”

Maruva was startled at the inquiry. At first, she pretended to not understand Raksha’s question, “Which guy?”

After a brief pause, she remarked, “Oh, that guy! Don’t know. I feel pity for him.”

“Why would you feel pity for him? Dumbo.”

“I don’t know. He looks so detached. So sober and abandoned.”

Raksha thought for a while before speaking, “He may be facing some personal problems. Or maybe not. Our assumption could be wrong. He might be just as sophisticated and well-adjusted as anyone else.”

“Could be”, Maruva said, hiding her feelings behind a grin.

Raksha wouldn’t quit prodding, “Is it just pity and sympathy?”

“I can’t exactly explain how I feel. It’s hard to put in words.”

“He looks dirty sometimes”, Raksha remarked.

Maruva wasn’t pleased to have been reminded of this. She looked despondent and lowered her gaze. Raksha observed the evident change in Maruva’s behavior even as she pretended to be fine. She offered, “Hey, it’s just the way he dresses and I just meant sometimes .”

Maruva said with a faint smile, “You don’t have to say that to make me feel better. It’s not just sometimes, it’s most of the times.”

“But I don’t get it. Why are you into him so much?”

Maruva pulled the glass closer and dodged the question, “Hmm… let’s share this Dark Passion Smoothie.”

Raksha just smiled and started sipping the smoothie that had come with the combo. They steered the conversation in another direction for the next 45 minutes. Raksha carried on with her usual observation of the couples around them. After a long time did they leave for home.

…

The days passed by in the usual flavor - college, classes, long hours of chit-chat. Maruva resolved to not visit the café for the next month. She knew how much it could affect her. Just a visit could dishearten her. Raksha would often bring it up but Maruva was reluctant. She’d rather visit Raksha’s place to spend time with her. Almost once a week, they met at Raksha’s place where they would cook, dance, gossip for hours, and engage in the playful banter typical of the girlish, adolescent phase.