[No AI Write] Cunning Raggers of Robotics Club

Half a semester has passed within the speed of 3 x 10^8 km/s. Yet, here I am, still sipping the same chocolate shake. Alone. As usual, I am staring at a specific group of boys — splashing water over each other’s head while laughing as if there’s no tomorrow — through the canteen glass wall. Although, the sound of their terrible laughter’s were inaudible, I could sense it breaking the bars of normal decibels.

They say getting into a prestigious engineering college requires a brain with properly working circuits. They say it’s harder than jumping out of a flying airplane. Maybe they’re not wrong. But if you ask me, jumping out of a plane is just the blink of an eye. Surviving engineering is the real challenge — like trying to control an airplane with blown engines. Every. Single. Day.

No, the syllabus isn’t my real problem. Not, actually. It’s the crowd around him. His gang!

Everyday whenever I spotted them, all I saw is them fooling around. Laughing, chuckling and grinning like there is no tomorrow. Ugh! I hate them so much! Couldn’t they just leave him alone?

Varun Deshmukh.

My senior from Third Year.

From Marine Engineering Department.

The Vice President of Robotics Club.

I have been stalking him even before I learnt that it is actually a serious crime. Don’t judge me. I was just seven when I lost control over the insides of my chest. However, he is the real culprit. Illegally, he hijacked both conscious and subconscious mind of a minor. To worsen the fact, he acts like there is nothing going on around him. Humph!

I worshipped him. Only him. I admired him from my balcony. We were neighbors. He used to nap all day in his room. Then woke whole night to study. Meanwhile, I shamelessly gawked at him, pretending to do my homework. Sometimes, I even clicked his pictures — laying, leaning, standing, and gaming — without his knowledge. I didn’t left any single chance to not invade his privacy. Although, he never noticed me. I waited. And waited. And waited. I hoped for him to notice me. Even for once. But he never seem to mind what is going on around him. And then, he left without a sign.

I could have enrolled into any prestigious engineering university, at abroad. It was my Papa’s wish. But abroad is not where my deity resides. His abode is not there.

I overheard neighbor aunties gossiping about him — his rumored college life.

I studied. More dedicatedly than ever I had. I cracked AEE (Adjoint Entrance Exam). And after two years of zero stalking, zero social life, and some hidden pictures; I finally made it to B.U.Ty. — Bhairavi University of Technology! With a hundred percent scholarship!

However, holding a big bowl of popcorn, someone up in the sky must be enjoying the show. Even after stepping into the same university as him, my zillion attempts to hit a decent conversation with him failed! Miserably.

The day I spotted him locking his bike, an extreme joy — that I blurred everything but him— took over me. I almost sprinted towards him.

“Varu-ow!” two shoulders harshly brushed against mine from the behind, before having my jaw nearly taste the concrete floor. Hypermetropiac jerks!

They slid their arms around Varun’s neck and dragged him before vanishing inside the campus building. I huffed. Glad nobody saw me. That was embarrassing.

My life, it is always like this. Constantly, on loop:

Early in the morning, go to campus.

Search Varun. He is nowhere.

Endure head hammering lectures.

Search Varun. He is surrounded by his friends.

Rush to cafeteria before it runs out of samosa.

Search Varun. He is laughing with his friends.

Go to library.

Search Varun. They are group studying.

Head back to dormitory.

I hate it! It is their fault. None of my time would have been wasted if they allowed him a bit of privacy. Bloody leeches-on-the-poli! They always ruin it for me.

Hey! The ‘beloved’ writer of this terrible story of mine. Lots of ‘love’ for the ‘efforts’ you have put all along to get me completely nowhere. What is problem with me? Why this universe is obsessed with getting me nowhere when it comes to my Varun? What is the use of all those wits? Math-smart? Bullshit! Even it didn’t had me anywhere near him.

Why are you applying limits in my love life?

I am always so close to him, yet we never meet.

After all of these miserable outcomes, I accept that it is useless. It’s useless to keep trying to solve a problem that keeps getting worse over every redo.

I give up. Officially.

The delicious aroma of freshly roasted Paneer Roll in my hand failed to lure me. It is unusual of me to not bite it the instance I grab it. Even a tiny crack in the heart turns an appetizing delicacy into an ordinary canteen snack. Why did I bought it in the first place?

Stupid me.

The fogginess that kept wheeling today wherever I set my foot was suddenly washed away by an unexpected ray of golden warmth.

It’s Varun! And alone? In a classroom.

Before my broken brain could send some proper signals; my feet propelled up without a single thought.

I sprinted with full speed toward him before pulling up just inches away.

His head upon a side of crossed forearms rested on the wooden bench; his spine C-curved. The sunlight penetrating through stained glass window kissed his hair, face and back.

He almost looked unreal at this point.

His chocolate brown skin that steals sight in the broad daylight looked more delicious as it keeps shining lustrously.

His face looks criminally divine with his eyes closed.

His nose. I wish I could pinch it hard for once.

His jawline has become sharper than before. I can even spot tiny hairs popping out on of his jaw.

Oh, wait! His lips. As always — plump and beautiful. I remember staring at these lips from afar as he talks with everyone at campus.

What a cheery on the top moment! Unaware of the desires — I suppressed for all of these years — began to erupt violently as I bended on his level. Now our faces were just centimeters apart.

DROP-DROP!

Before I could erase the gap between our lips that sudden notification made my body jerk back in dread.

I instantly pulled myself away from him. My butt landed straight on the ceramic tiled floor.

“Ouch!” A rush of pain cradled across my butt cheeks. However, the physical pain weighs less than the fear to be caught. Somehow the shame — it should have earlier — crept in.

I looked here and there. Nobody saw that.

What the hell was I doing!

Get yourself some damned control, Avni!

I rubbed my chest gently to calm the heart that pumped at 10 times the actual speed.

Thank God! That stupid sound didn’t wake him up. I thought I died.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I fished out my phone. The screen was already glowing as the notification bar that almost took my soul, was on display without any sign of remorse.

B.U.TY. CLUB AFFAIRS:

Robotics Club Recruitment

Interested in robotics, coding, electronics, or building innovative projects? Join the Robotics Club and explore hands-on learning, exciting workshops, competitions, and collaborative projects.

We welcome students of all skill levels. Apply now and be a part of the innovation!

Interested applicants fill and submit this form.

Robotics Club,

The Club President.

My nose scrunched up in annoyance. Out of all these times, did they really need to announce that now only?

Never mind.

Who knows when I would find him alone again? Let’s not waste more of the golden seconds of a pleasant sight like this.

Instantly, a bulb glowed inside my head. Why not capture this eye-soothing moment into my 20 megapixel camera?

Back in those days I would steal mamma’s phone and click his photos from afar. Some were blurry. Some were just simply shaky. The day I shot a perfect picture of him was a cannon event of my life. But. Days like that did came with some bad omen as well. Horrible ones. Once, I was seen clicking pictures of him — changing his clothes — by his cousin! And once, I was being chased by street dogs while I secretly shot him playing cricket. Alas! Those were the days when I didn’t even had a phone of my own.

Today, I have both. A phone. A camera. Plus, this perfect angle so close to him.

I’m not backing off without having a single picture of him. Be it blurry or shaky. I don’t care.

Shoving my bag in front, I unzipped it. Then I carefully brought out the camera.

I promised myself the day my grandfather gifted it to me: The next picture after my family photo would be of him. After clicking one picture with them, I never ever shot any single picture with it.

Today is the day. I’ve waited devotionally for it.

I brought near my eye. Closing one of my eyes, I focused on fitting his napping frame in the display of 3X3 grid.

Breathe in.

Steady.

And... Click!

Now, breathe out.

Relax.

I brought it down at an appropriate distance to see how it is. And... And...

A perfect picture in one go!

I fist bumped with the air, absolutely being aware of the fact that how stupid it was. I looked at the picture again and again.

The melodious chirping of birds outside the champa tree mirrored the blossoms blooming inside every corner of my heart.

I. Can’t. Believe myself!

Out of the dopamine rushing all over my head, I clicked as many pictures I could. One by the near. One from the far. I changed angles as per the light. He looked divine in every snap.

I swear I’m never deleting a single one of these.

Finally after two years.

Ten months.

Twelve days.

Sixteen hours.

Three minutes.

Forty five seconds; since I ever shot him last time, I have this many pictures of him.

Suddenly, the classroom began to brighten like the romance dramas I’ve been binging on the occasions of my “me” time.

I wish I could see him all day like this. But, it’s not nice to be too greedy. I’ll leave before he wakes up.

I placed the Paneer Roll beside him. It’s still wrapped properly and slightly warm. He can eat it after he wakes up.

I threw the bag on my shoulder.

Without turning around on my heel, I took reversed steps. I want to capture every detail of him in my head. The way he breathes. The way his lips pout out like a big baby. The way...

“Ugh!”

I hit my head on a wall. Or, that’s what I thought until I abruptly turned around and my eyes flew wide.

The dreamy golden stars instantly replaced by a darker filter.

The excitement from before switched to dread.

My throat dried up all of the sudden.

Why? Why? Why?

Why didn’t the ground split apart?

Why didn’t the sky broke down?

Why didn’t the oceans evaporated away?

The guys I’ve been cursing since day one, two of them caught me red-handed!

The way out through the door frame is almost blocked by them.

The taller and muscular one eyed me as if he’s a cop and I’m a thief. Meanwhile, the slim one covered his mouth in disbelief. His eyes carried a mischievous glint.

A trail of sweat slid through my spine when this scary looking giant cocked an eyebrow up.

“Caught in 4K,” that curly haired idiot whispered against his palm before adding a light chuckle.

I instantly dashed through the narrow spaces between their waists without even looking back for once.

Every passerby looked at me curiously. I almost hit my mouth on these diabolical metal railings. Some laughed at the way I ran. I ran like my butt caught on fire. It would be a lie if I said it didn’t. I’m doomed. What if they told him everything? What if the case reaches the Dean’s ears? What he reports me to the police? What if my family gets to know this? It would bring shame upon everyone. I can even get expelled from the university!

My mind already flooded with dozens of negative possibilities that I didn’t realized that I’m almost past the campus gate.

I’m caught red handed! No. As he said;

“I’m actually caught in 4K!”

To be continue…