SO ... HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR NEMO ? !

And that's when I knew 'It ' had started . And that's how she came to know of my intrigue . An intrigue that was to seep into my fortress and weaken the stolidity that I was so proud of . .. An intrigue that was to have a lasting effect on me . For a long long time to come.

I had thought of my self as a sensible person.I still am ..to an extent , I think ... Errr, Ummm . But as days passed by, I seemed so opposite of what I had pictured myself to be .I began to appear to myself a lot like Brendan Fraser in Bedazzled . ( Yeah Right! .. Go fly a kite ! ). No ?

Not the hunk Brendan. The overly sentimental guy on the beach ! . Yeah Yeah .. the sentimental philosophical poetShe said that later too !.

Well I was all Butterflies and music and dance .

There was always a freshness around me that only a brain drowned in oxytoxin can exhibit !

"So ... Have you found your Nemo ? " . I quizzed her. An eager puppy with my tail tucked between my legs. I wonder now, How was I able to speak clear and concise english. With her presence only a feet away. I walked across and took my position on her friend's other side. A precaution because I feared those slender bright ivory coloured hands that could really give a stinging slap on the face. But more than the enchanting slap, It was the sharp witty verbal assault she was known to possess. I was witness to it myself. A couple of poor souls slaughtered within a few moments. I feared my predicament end in a similar fashion. Yes ! She could so do that .

But Surprise ! Surprise . she didn't ! ????? . Was I sensing something here . She raised her right eyebrow high ! :) looked straight into mine...(wweeeaaakk !!). There was a coldness in her eyes shouting "Back off", yet the pupils dilated to a galactic enormity .. they suddenly werent threatening .. and everthing seemed all the more confusing.Suddenly her eyes twitched at the corners and she broke her gaze. She glanced ahead and looked down as we walked out of the college canteen. This was so not her. She was silent. She would always complain of the crappy food. I sensed i was treading on thin ice. I dropped the topic.

Next day . Luch time.Her classes got over. I had made my pal wait for it .We looked like jokers reading the bulletin board for an hour . The bell rang , It was some kind of a special day for the class. All the girls were looking their best in sarees. And she , an angel in white-lavender with embriodery saree. Gosh !. we walked behind them to the canteen. keeping our distance. Lest their guys looking like tied puppets get suspicious. We took up a table fifteen paces away from hers. Enough to gimme a glimpse of her eyelashes now and then. I didn't realise my pal was gorging on all the pickled rice i had got for myself from home. And the fryums I so loved . That morning , She had caught me admiring her when I was boarding the bus. I had tripped on the landing and almost fell at her feet. Which had ultimately happened.

Another day , I saw her friend standing in the canteen. Alone. I walked upto her. I felt much saner in her sweet and assuring presence .

"Hey .. Wassup"

"Nuffin " . She gave a broad smile. A mischievious one at that.Her sly smile told me of a slight awareness of the state of affairs happening around .A minute and I am running out of topics to talk about. And in walks 'you know who' .My tongue drops dead. ARched eyebrows. sparkling eyes. And after a minute of her enjoying my red face and tongue tied semi solid state....

"Hey .. Wassup ?"

and I Go...

" SO...im fine.. Came down to the canteen to have Dinner .. DAmn (!#@$@!#%@$@#$@#)..errr Lunch !.. jus finished it...

My friend went hungry that day !

So.. you ladies came for Lunch too ??? "

( !@#$$ for heaven's sake .. that was the Canteen ! ) .

Humph !! ..

Every one within a earshot covered their mouth .. and I head a muffled sound .

My pal turns away as if he does'nt know me.

Well .. Ok .. See ya later . Say Hello To your NEMO from me !! "

( WHAT !!!!!!.. where did that come from ! )

I saw the smile drop , the jaw open in absurdity and eyebrows lock in a serios frown . ! I turned around and almost ran away.

( I had come to know of her assignment in a class. she had designed a pink web application prompting the users to search for nemo .. Finding Nemo ! :P )

PS: Maybe it all started with the way she did her hair....In the Break !!

CP: .......... As told to me by my friend , confidante and Mentor ,wid his inputs and tweaks .. Lov you dude.. !