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College, confusion and romance - Part II
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« continued from Part - I
Rahul looked slightly taken a back, but remained tight lipped. Just then Murray a friend of Sandra's came up to the table and the conservation was distracted. The rest of the evening went by rather fast. And we all called it a night earlier than expected. There seemed to be a dull awkwardness after what Payal said. Although both Payal and Rahul participated in everything discussed the undertones of joyfulness and liveliness seemed out of sync almost like Payal's answer about friendship and marriage. I mean for Pete's Sake girl you're in America... consent... what consent? Hmm I wonder whether it was me or was every other girl of Indian origin in America wondering about consent as opposed to individual choice? And would it matter to most of them whether the approval or consent was given or not?
I forgot about the incident or rather I put it in the back of my mind as exams were around the corner and April would fast blend to May. It had been a couple of weeks before I got a chance to catch-up with Payal after that eventful night.
Before meeting her, Sandra broke the bubble and dropped the news, "Rahul and Payal have broken up... It's true." she said looking at the disbelief on my face. He apparently told her that he wanted to get a little serious and meet her parents, and she said no."
"Oh my God," I thought and wondered what Payal must be going through.
I tried to find her, but to no avail. She wasn't in the library or in the canteen where she normally studied during free period.
At the end of the day, I finally bumped into Malti who told me Payal had left for India last night and had deferred the semester exams till the end of the summer citing family concerns.
"Oh, " I responded, dully shocked, at this new revelations. And without thinking asked her,"Does Rahul know?"
"Obviously, he's stunned," said Malti giving me that what planet are you from look.
Another week blurred with studies, debate team practice, and study groups all rolled up in one. Days and nights were separated by the chapters in the texts and the crosses on the calendar. Rahul and I were both on the debate team but we were not partners so luckily I hadn't seen him. Inwardly, I really didn't want to meet with him.
Our school lost the debate and I was in charge of collecting the clearance signatures from the judges after the debate was over. This took longer than I had anticipated. When I finally made it outside, the parking area was deserted, and I realized I wasn't going to be able to catch a ride with anyone.
"Need a lift?" the window rolled down as a car slide up to my side. I jumped as I was caught off-guard. It was Rahul.
He looked at me matter-of-factly and repeated, "Do you want me to drop you home?"
I looked around the parking lot and realized that the others had really left.
"O.k." I stammered unsure of what to do next. "I mean if it isn't out of your way or anything. I could call a cab or something," I offered feebly.
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