36:26:30

“36:26:30”

“What?”   

“36:26:30”

“Oh… Nice” Riju managed to find adjective finally. He looked at me, I smirked.

Yes, this is Sonali, the hottest and sexiest girl of my college. English Honors division was always a heaven being fabricated and embroidered by the hottest girls and nastiest boys in Kolkata. (How the hell I landed up there?)

It was time when I went back to Kolkata for a while after my 4^th trimester. I was sitting with Riju at the Indian Coffee House and we were talking about Riju’s new girlfriend. That was the best topic we were talking about. Riju was explaining how she looks, how they met, how innocent she was, how much she loved him, how they fought, how they bunked university classes, how they kissed for the 1^st time and everything. I was listening to it with amusement and smile. Suddenly Riju said, “Hey look isn’t that girl from your department in college?”

“Who?” I looked at the direction he was pointing and saw the thing that I was least ready of. It was Sonali who was coming towards us. She identified me. Damn how was she looking? She was the hottest girl in my college, this looser crap Aniruddh could hardly speak to her and what was she now? A pink sleeveless top (intolerably low cut), a blue half-jeans (baring the entire legs just under the knees), a pink shoes (the heals were so thin and so long), a silver belt (not meant for tightening the jeans of course), brown hair (not natural of course), blue color on the eyelids (flashy enough), kohl (too dark), pinkish lipstick (pink and lipstick?)… It was January, 1 pm, Coffee House, packed people, packed smoke, packed shouts, packed laughter and this girl was so obnoxiously packed!! A strong smell (not scent) reached my nose as she came forward.

“Hi Ani….ru….ddh, remember?” Sonali asked. (I’ve never heard my name pronounced in such a weird style, as if my name was an ice cream that she licking by every inch!)

“Hi. Yes. Sonali….. of course.” I said. (I wished if only I could say no to that.)

“How are you sweetie?” (Sweetie? Me? Damn it!)

“Ahh fine….. How about you?” (I was least bothered, I must say.)

“Ohooo…. I’m as I look… haha!!” (If you ask me, then answer was you look sick! Sick!)

“By the way, Sonali you know him right?” I pointed towards Riju. (When you are out of words, pass the ball.)

“Hi, I’m Riju.” (Is he too eager?)

“36:26:30”

“What?”  

“36:26:30”

“Oh… nice” Riju managed to find adjective finally. He looked at me, I smirked.

“Can I join you guys?”

“Yes please” (Nooooo Please…)

She sat and started introducing her to Riju and I saw that they were smiling, unwillingly from Riju’s side and sarcastically from Sonali’s side.

Damn, I was listening to a heavenly topic and from where this over decorated, over used, over cared, massacred creature fell off? She was a girl who used to increase the heart beats of each guy in college. I used to be so shaky when she used to talk to me, I used to search for the place where I should keep my eyes… windows, benches, ceilings, notebook, my nails… anywhere I could keep my eyes, but not on her! And Now? Sick! She is looking so sick!

I saw that Sonali was pushing her locks behind her ears quite frequently while explaining the traffic condition outside and Riju was attentively listening to it. Thanks Boss, I know he was least interested and he was listening to her to save me only, as he had read my eyes. I was concentrating on the menu card. (We were there to drink cold coffee, Rs 10 a cup. I knew it. Yet menu card was the best place to gaze at, as all other spectacles were fused!)

“Hey Ani, tell me how do I look?” Very concrete was Sonali’s voice and firm. I knew she was not kidding this time.

“What?” (She realised that I was avoiding her.)

“How do I look?”

“Shall I tell you what I feel or what you want to hear?”

“Of course what you feel.”

“Like shit!” I can’t believe I made it. I was gazing at her nails; it was pink nail polish again.

“I know.” Sonali agreed!!!! (I can’t believe it!)

“What?”

“I know.” firm voice.

“Why is it so Sonali?” I heard my voice, sympathetic.

“Huh….” Pushed smile thrown to the ceiling, “Shit… you’re right.” I looked at her eyes, the light of the room was shining there… tears!!!

I reached for her hands, and asked, “Sonali, what’s wrong?”

She sighed and spoke for 10 minutes and in that 10 minutes I don’t know what we felt…… all I know that now I’m sorry to be a man. This hot girl had a dream, to be an airhostess, she fought with everyone for that, her parents gave her 2 years after her graduation; she tried, and while placements, she used to reach the final round and got rejected in some 4 interviews. Finally, she appeared in front of a good brand and after her interview she was given a visiting card, of someone GREAT. And when she approached him, all he wanted was a night. A night for the job, a night for her dream-come-true. And Sonali said, “What did I have to lose? I had one dream and I was about to lose that. All my dream and fights were about to finish and I was weak. I agreed and slept with that man. He was not making love or having sex with me. He was RAPING me!!”

I and Riju had our heads buried into hell. I couldn’t look up. I saw Riju reached for Sonali’s hands and pressed it with genuine warmth. And he asked, “Now?”

“Ha…. He asked me to visit his PA next day; his PA said I can’t get the job.”

“What? Why?”

“I could... if I would have allowed the PA also to do what his boss has done. I couldn’t ….. That time I preferred to lose my dream.”

My head was down, Sonali’s right arm touched mine and I felt her. I didn’t look up, I couldn’t look up!