Petrified...

"Come down to my place, u'll like it here."

"but, then don't you think its a bit late?"

Deb checked his watch. It was 8pm. In a place called Bbsr, 8pm was considered late. Nope i ain't kiddin, it actually was.

"No, mom won't have a problem. Tum chale aana. See yu.", Jia cut the phone.

As per Deb's words, they were semi-dating. Really dunno what that's meant to mean. They were yet to know and understand each other. After all, Deb shifted to Bbsr just a week ago and joined the Varsity. No they weren't classmates. Jia was friend of Deb's hostel mate's girlfriend. Sparks flew off at a Fresher's party when they met each other and Deb kept telling himself that she was one. He made sure, they were in contact. After all, he was not a dude, He was THE dude. Yes she was beautiful. To him, she was the Most. Her voice, her childish accent was just enough. Forget the looks. She had cut marks on her wrists, maybe courtesy a failed relationship, Deb thought . From whatever Deb had heard from Vijan, his roomie she had never been with a guy all her life. And by some good fortune, Deb was to be the first, Almost.

"Maybe this girl's got a death wish", Deb thought as he reached Jia's door. Her maid asked him to wait and went in to call Jia.

"Hieeee!!", it was Jia.

Deb-"This is for you".

He had got a Bournville for it was too early to get her a Bourbon, Jack Daniels :P.

J- "thank youu..Dinner kar diya btw? I know, the mess food is al crap, ryt?"

D- "Yep it is, but i just had a chai before coming down. So."

J- "okay, koi fite nahin. We'll have it later. Mom ne aaj Raajma banaya. Curry specialist yu know."

"why on the Earth is this girl chanting on her mom at every other chance?", Deb thought.

J-"Acha, did Vijan say you about the culturals? We, the Economics dept people are doing it. Need some suggestion rey."

D-" Vijan, all he talks about is Weed, weed and weed. Dhatt! Imma thinking of changing rooms. "

J-"Ooooo..mai Babeee hates Weed....I bet it, Mom's surely gonna love you."

D-"(smiles...), by the way, Do you dope, i mean do you like weed and al?"

J- "Vijan can be genereous at times. Me, Archie(Vijan's girl) and Vijan at my terrace. Weed, some booze and Pink Floyd. Heaven."

D-"Hmmm, my mom warned me to stay away from girls like you. They get you wasted.(grins)."

J-"Nautanki!!aarrrgh, my throat...feels like somebody's stabbing me. Deb, i'll be back huh, need to use the washroom."

D-"yup."

Deb then got up and went from the dining table to the living room. He had heard from Archana that Jia was quite good a photographer. "Yu shud see her living room dude", Archie had once told him. She was refering to Jia's pictures.

Deb looked up the wall opposite him. Like, archie said, they were beautiful....

And most of the pics were of a same woman.

" Who-ever she is, She's pretty, Though she looks a bit aged, She's pretty, no doubt.", Deb thought.

All of a sudden, he was distracted by a 'Nahheeeeen' sound which sounded from that of a Tv soap. Heck!, the maid was watching Tv on the other end of the room.

Deb-"Bai, yeh kaun hai? ", he asked the maid about the woman in the photographs.

Maid-"yeh to baby-ji k mummy-jii hain."

Deb- "Bahaut khub-soorat hain.."

Maid- " Thi, ab woh nahin rahe. Do saal pehle woh ek accident main guzar gaye..."

the maid then said a silent prayer....maybe in the memory of the Departed.

"Lets have dinner? M hungry re. Can't wait anymore. I'll just go and fetch the dishes.", Jia said as she emerged from her room and headed towards the kitchen.

And Deb stood. Petrified.