Some six years after that first date, we were out yet again on another date and I was as excited as I was on our first date. Every moment spend with Alisha was special for me, I had been that over loving and over caring always. May be that’s why Alisha had always taken me for granted, she knew no matter what I was going nowhere and most importantly, she knew I can do anything to make her stay.

‘This time, it won’t work.’ She retorted.

‘Did you tell your parents about me?’ I asked.

‘They know about you and our relationship since the time, you picked up that call from dad on my phone at 1.30 am.’

‘It was a mistake; I thought it was my phone.’

‘Anyway, I don’t think my parents want us to get married.’

‘I know that since long, you just tell me what you want?’

‘I think it’s time I should get married to someone, I have some criteria though.’

‘Rich and?’

She glared at me for a moment and then came up with her weird parameter. ‘I want someone who is highly intellectual.’

‘Am I not? God damn! I’m the youngest project manager at Volkswagen.’

‘And graduated from where? Yet another college of Engineering!’

‘C’mon Alisha! You too studied there.’

‘Exactly my point! If I could make it there then it’s not that big deal at all.’

‘Didn’t you just insult yourself by saying that?’

‘I just said the fact. Anyway, my husband should be at least from Symbiosis if not from some IIM or IIT and better take that seriously because I am planning to get married in a year.’

‘Are you freaking mad? A MBA course will take at least two years to complete.’

‘You see we are meeting again only when you learn to talk to me with respect.’ She rose and walked outside the restaurant with the same elegance as she had walked in.

I paid the bill and then dropped her home. She didn’t say word all the way, I too didn’t pester her. I very well knew she was not to budge from her demands even though they were unrealistic and cruel, always. But then, I was in love and fully committed to save the relationship because at the end, the crave to impress her had always taken me to new levels. I stopped my car at a book store.

‘Do you have any good book for SNAP preparation?’

***

One year has passed since then and I had only managed to take admission in Symbiosis. But then that was actually the hardest of the task towards my target. All I had to do now was to clear four semesters and also pray that Alisha didn’t find her IITian meanwhile. You see this is what these big institutes have been doing since ages, helping nerds get the hottest girls around.

I found my first class and quietly sat at a front bench, I was on to my purpose from day one rather hour one. The professor came in the class and started with short introductions from everyone there. I soon realized almost all of them where in school when I had started working. Anyway, I wasn’t there to socialize, I was on a mission.

‘Hello everyone! I am Ankur Mehra. I am a mechanical Engineer graduated in 2009. I had worked for Volkswagen for five years as a project engineer before joining this institute.’

Everyone looked at me with curious expression, there was a pin drop silence after I completed. That was more like a Professor’s introduction; I rather doubt the one standing in front of me had better merits than that. Anyway, I said thank you and took my seat.

***

A few weeks in Symbiosis and I started to jell with my classmates not because I was just friendly but I had way too much money for a college life. If not rich my job at Volkswagen job had made me half rich, by Alisha’s standard I was quarter rich. Moreover, I wasn’t just good handling the bills but I was good with assignments too. I don’t know what love does to others but it had surely made me intelligent. Perhaps, a bit more advanced for my class.

‘So class, today we will demonstrate how actual deals happen in corporate. I need few volunteers who would acts as the parties…’ My professor had been doing these stupid gimmicks since a week now. Sometimes, I actually wondered whether I had enrolled for MBA or some acting class.

‘Ma’am!’ I raised my hand.

‘Yes, Ankur! You want to volunteer?’

‘Well… No. Actually, I wanted to say, can we just move on.’

‘What?’

‘Can you teach something else?’

‘Well… If you’re that disinterested with my class, you’re free to move out.’

‘I didn’t mean that. I was just putting up a suggestion.’

‘In that I suggest you to get out.’

Slowly, I was becoming the Munnabhai of my class. I was yet to get over my corporate ways and understand that it was a class and not some project meeting which we try to wrap as early as possible. Two years seemed way too much for me, even though I was popular but was an outcast too. I wondered how I would explain them that I was actually on a mad rush. I seriously didn’t care for anything else except that degree but if it continued that way, I would have same fate of Munnabhai and my Chinky was not at all understanding.

I headed to the library which in today’s age of internet was a mere isolated sitting area. I took a seat at a corner table and tried to relax.

‘Hi!’

I looked up, a hot and sexy girl was smiling at me but then I was committed. I ignored her.

‘Ankur, I’m your classmate.’ She said.

‘Which assignment do you want?’

‘I don’t want your assignments. I just came to talk to you. You’re so cool.’

Girls these days, I tell you. ‘I have a girlfriend, pretty lady.’

‘How rude was that? I said that I want to be your friend not here to sleep with you. I thought you must be low after been thrown out of class and just for sake of generosity thought to talk to you but you seem to be a psychic.’ She stormed out of the library.

I soon regretted for being so rude to her but then I had a very bad day. Alisha had messaged me that she was going on a vacation to Lucknow with her parents. Who goes to vacation to Lucknow that also with parents? I was kind of sure that they were probably going to meet some suitor there. Moreover, the fact that there was an IIM in the city was giving me more tension. But then as much as I had known Alisha over the years, she wouldn’t think twice for leaving me if she finds a guy with her parameters. She was that blunt and cruel yet I don’t know why I loved her so much. You see, guys are always casual about relationships initially but once they get committed, they are in for life.

I spend the rest of the day waiting for her call and when she didn’t I drove to a pub in ABC farms, I took my roommates too for company and as I had earlier, I can’t stop myself blabbering about Alisha. Though I had pledged that I would keep my secrets away from these kids but after few drinks, you hardly have control on your tongue. So, the whole story of mine with Alisha from kiss to blow job was now known to my roommates all in details.

‘You’re stud!’ They cheered.

‘I love her.’

‘Ankur! Why do you even care now? You had already rammed her so many times. You’re so successful in life, just fuck that bitch and move on.’

‘C’mon dude! It’s not that easy. I am not young anymore to get a hot chick. Moreover, I hadn’t known a more pretty girl than Alisha. I don’t want to downgrade now.’

‘Bro! What you’re saying? Didn’t just notice Sunayana?’

‘Now who is she?’

‘The girl you just pissed off today. She had to be the prettiest girl in our college. Whole college is talking about her and you’re the only she had ever shown interest into.’

‘Really? But she said she just wanted to friends with me.’

‘She said that to just you. Now you know what I mean?’