The Hapless Romantic ! … Episode 3

Start here to know how Sam and Tessa met for the first time.. Episode 1


College Theatre Show

Sam who was a regular in college literary club, met Vikram, from Computer Science department. Vikram introduced him to the world of Theatres. His love for movies helped him connect to Mime and Theatre enthusiasts at college. He was chosen to play a small role in the mime play, that his seniors, scripted and directed. He and Vikram shared common interests in theatres, Tamil novels and public speaking. In few months’ time, they became great friends.

On his way to rehearsals along with Vikram, he saw Tessa heading towards the same auditorium. Vikram noticed Sam admiring the girl walking ahead of them.

Vikram interrupted, “How do you know her?”

Sam,” Who?”

Vikram,” Well, I can read your eyes”

Sam stammered a bit,” .. She is a junior in the Comp Sci department”

Vikram, “So, you know Tessa?”

Sam was surprised when Vikram spelled her name, “How do you know Tessa?”

Vikram gave him a wicked smile and gave one word replies, “College Bus”

Sam shooted a series of open ended questions but Vikram continued his smile without answering anything.

“Where does she board… What time does she board… Which area… ?”

While they were reaching the auditorium, Vikram called out her name, “Hey, Tessa”

Tessa turned back, “ Hello Senior”

The college always followed a Senior-Junior hierarchy, especially if you are from the same department.

Sam watched those hazel eyes again while she didn’t dare to look at his face. Vikram continued, “ What are you doing here? Have you started bunking classes in your first year ?”

Tessa had an amazing voice that she was always chosen to be the MC during her school days, a voice that she got genetically. Her mother was a member of the Choir group at the St. Cathedral Church in Kottayam, something that she boasts of till date.

Tessa intentionally avoided Sam and wished Vikram, “Good Morning Senior”

Vikram, “what brings you to the audi at this hour, don’t you have classes ?”

Before Tessa could reply, Vikram introduced Sam to her, “By the way, this is Sam, mechanical department, my Best Buddy!”

Sam didn’t react much while he caught Tessa’s gawking at him.

Vikram continued, “ You guys knew each other”

Sam, “ Well, actually YES!”

He narrated the entire episode of the not-so ragging session that happened, the previous month.

Vikram listened to the whole story and burst out laughing, while Tessa looked at them with a sober face that made Sam feel that he shouldn’t have done that.

The Hapless Romantic ! … Episode 2

Start here to know how Sam and Tessa met for the first time.. Episode 1


Sam realized that something was drawing Tessa’s attention and he turned back to see a fair girl walking towards the same lab.

Before he could ask anything, she said, “I have my lab session, can I leave now?”

Sam kept it short, “So the coming Friday, you shall meet the group. I will let you know the time. Also, you will need to find out other Malayalis in your batch and get them to meet us.”

Tessa didn’t reply while she nodded her head and stepped into the lab while Sam kept admiring her walk.

Sam got lucky and spotted another malayali junior Jithun in his department. He decided that he could use him to get more details about Tessa. Luck smiled more at him. It so happened that both Jithun and Tessa commuted together in the same bus to college and they were school mates earlier.

In a weeks’ time, Jithun became friends with Sam and other seniors in the department. The following week, Tessa along with other juniors was invited to the canteen for the not-so-ragging session. Sam, along with 3 of his department seniors Rahul, Faizal & Sumesh met Tessa, Jithun and Roshan at the canteen.

While Rahul and Faizal were interrogating, Jithun & Roshan were on their gadgets (mobile phone and watch). Sam pointed towards the South Indian Corner and asked her to buy him a Dosa.

Tessa with a surprise look asked, “You want a Dosa? At this hour of the day? Are you serious?”

Sam said, “Yes, I love dosa. Be it any hour of the day! And I am your senior, so you better get what I ask.”

Well, little did Tessa know that “Anything can happen over a Dosa

Before Sam could initiate a conversation, the rest of the seniors joined the table and everyone started interrogating Tessa and Jithun.

Jithun was trying to seek permission from Faizal as the college bus would depart on time and it would be difficult for him and Tessa if they miss it.

Rahul and Faizal exchanged numbers with Tessa & Jithun while Sam was merely watching it.

Jithun came forward, “Sam Cheta, tell me your mobile number, I shall save it.”

Sam stood numb there. Sam grew up in a lower middle class family while his father worked for daily wages at a nearby factory. His hard work in school earned him a seat in an engineering college, but he never wanted anyone to show sympathy towards him. He firmly believed that life has given him the best and he can survive despite all odds. His father couldn’t afford him a mobile phone, but that never let him down anywhere.

Sam said,”Jithun, I don’t have a mobile phone. You can call Faizal’s number if you want to reach me for anything.”

Tessa was looking at her watch and trying to get Jithun out of the canteen so that they don’t miss their bus. The college had one of the worst transport facilities that connected to the prime areas of the city. 70% of the college students commuted by train and 20% were hostel residents and only 10% were availing the college bus.

Tessa was smart enough not to exchange her numbers with anyone, by bluntly saying she didn’t have a mobile phone.

Sam figured out that Tessa was losing her patience as she kept looking at her wrist watch (a Titan with a Black dial and golden needles) every 30 seconds.

Sam said, “OK, guys, let them leave, they might lose their bus”

Rahul sarcastically added, “Well, if they miss it, they can join you in your train journey”

Faizal supported Sam,” Aliya, let them go”

 

The Hapless Romantic !

These are few excerpts from Sam’s diary during his undergraduate programme. All characters appearing in this posts are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sam was on his way to the English Literature Club, while he saw that girl walk past him into the computer science lab. Being the typical mechanical engineering student, Sam figured out she was a first year student. Her hazel eyes and curly hair attracted him that he couldn’t let his eyes off her.

He went and stood in front of her, “First year?”, she could have ignored him, but she nodded a yes.

He looked in to her eyes which he likes the most till date. It was not a ‘love at first sight’ or ‘being attracted’ but something down his heart made him feel that he must talk to her at least once.

Sam questioned again, “So, What’s your name?”

She said, “Tessa Varghese”

The surname sounded familiar, he was sure, ‘So you must be a malayali?” she didn’t reply, instead she looked around the ground floor corridor which looked like an Old Prison. She wished if someone would come around to help her from this guy.

Sam,” Aren’t you?”

Tessa nodded a yes again.

Sam, “Native?”

Tessa, “Kottayam”

She always gave one word answers; little did Sam know that she was a reserved person in nature. She still waited if someone would walk past her and take away this guy

“O.K…  I am Sam, 2nd year mechanical and a malayali too… from Trivandrum”

Sam continued,” we are settled here though… I mean, my family is settled here. How about you… Where are you put up?

Tessa stood there muted considering that there were no signs of Sam leaving her.

After looking around for the 3rd time, she replied, “Mogapair”

Tessa looked around once again thinking he would leave her but he continued, “So Tessa, you being a malayali, you will have to undergo a ritual that our college has”

She wanted to cut the conversation giving her next lecture as an excuse, but her soft character never let her to speak up, but hearing the word ritual was something new to her.

You don’t have to worry. It’s like meeting your Malayali Seniors here at the Canteen and an introductory session with the group.

Tessa could see here classmate Remya walking towards her…

                                                                                                              to be continued………………..