Beginings....

Akshat and Jigyasha were in the same class for the last six months but had hardly interacted more than a couple of times. Jigyasha is your kind of girl who is great at all things academics but stops short somehow in confidence in approaching a guy for chit-chat. Akshat on the other hand has hardly any confidence issues, yet is too proud to talk to a girl until she approaches. This combination explains their situation despite them having so many mutual friends.

                   Its not that they were unaware of each other's existence. She checked him out occasionally as did he. She found him funny and probably good-looking. You see, this "funny" is a very funny emotion that girls attach with guys. It's always open to interpretation so they use it most often. He checked her out mostly because she was well, the topper. Akshat always had a thing for smart chicks. And with all this back story, they were finally thrown in together in the same group in chemistry lab for second semester.

                   Here they were, standing next to each other in the lab. He had contemplated bunking the class but finally showed up. Akshat's reluctance to attend the class had less to do with Jigyasha and more with the fact that he missed his old group. Yet even more to the presence of Robin- third member of their group. Robin is your sort of guy who seemed to have had a difficult childhood and was always searching for someone to put the blame on, every time he messed up. That Robin and Jigyasha were good friends only made the matters worse. Halfway through the class while Jigyasha was gone fetching distilled water, Robin passed him sulphuric  acid instead of sulphurous acid. He mixed it to the precipitate without checking and the mixture spilled all over the table violently. The lab instructor came running and Robin did what he does best saying, "sorry sir! He mixed sulphuric acid". Akshat was pissed off but kept quiet and the instructor moved on without saying a word. Meanwhile Jigyasha had come back and gave him an earful, "Akshat, you should have checked the formula on the bottle. All our marks are on the line here". He tersely replied, "I can mind my marks and for today I'll mind yours too. So just Chill!"

                   Hearing him, she froze in her steps. He didn't even look back and started redoing the setup while Robin was busy sucking up to the instructor. Her eyes welled up. She had never been spoken to so rudely in her life. Few seconds later, she came around and started passing the chemicals. By the time Akshat turned to her, Jigyasha's tears had dried although her nose had gone all red. He at once understood she had been crying but was too angry to sympathize.

                   Rest of the class went smooth until they went to the instructor to have their lab-sheets signed. What happened there was icing on the cake;

Instructor: So who mixed the wrong acid?

Akshat: I did sir.

Instructor: You are extended! Come in the second half, redo the experiment and have your lab-sheet signed. Akshat started walking out of the lab.

Instructor: Hey! take your lab-sheet along.

Akshat:[without looking back] I'll take fresh readings.

Instructor twisted his face in reaction. Jigyasha was left amused by his attitude. She hated him even more.

                   Back in hostel, she vented out to Tulika, her roomie. Tulika then told her of what Robin had done and she could now see the full picture. Yet she was too upset to feel sorry for him.

                   After lunch something happened inside her and she decided to go to the chemistry lab. By the time she reached, Akshat was already there. He was clearly not amused and asked, "haven't you cried enough for one day?". Jigyasha:[he noticed] better to sit in here than waste time in hostel.

Akshat: I have to redo the experiment so please feel free not to help.

 Jigyasha: Never intended to.

                   He was done in flat forty minutes and even she was impressed by his efficiency. As he was about to leave, he casually asked her, "won't you leave?". Jigyasha: I need to buy some notebooks from the shop outside but can't go there. Too many seniors passing comments.

 Akshat: Tell them your gpa and then ask theirs. They won't say a thing.
 Jigyasha:[smiling] You do the same?

 Akshat: I tell them mine and ask for their help.(Jigyasha's smile broadens)

Akshat: Anyways, am gonna have an ice cream there so come along I'll buy you your notebooks.

 Jigyasha: They have ice cream there?

 Akshat: Yes. You want one?

Jigyasha:[hesitantly] No thanks! just the note books please.

                   They walked up to the college gate.

 Jigyasha: Is it an issue if I wait here?

 Akshat: Naah its probably better. Wait up. I'll bring along.

Jigyasha:[giving hundred bucks] Two notebooks.

 Akshat: You sure don't want any ice cream?

Jigyasha: No. Thank you.

Akshat came back five minutes later with her notebooks and two ice creams. Passing her an ice cream, Akshat: Here, I didn't know your flavor so make do with butterscotch.

Jigyasha: But I told you I didn't want any.

Akshat: Who doesn't want ice cream? And he wouldn't give me the change if I didn't buy two. So go ahead. Jigyasha took one reluctantly.

                   They slowly walked up to their hostels barely talking on the way. Her's came before his. They just waved slowly as they parted ways. Walking forward, he found his opinion of hers changing. She suddenly appeared to be friendlier than in the morning. Although judgmental, she seemed humble and looked like she valued people. Why else would she have come to the lab?

                   While all this was going on inside Akshat's head, Jigyasha's wasn't calm either. She was thinking that she had her first ice cream in the college today thanks to the guy who made her cry in the morning. She was not able to decipher him. He appeared grounded yet had this strange attitude. He also came across as a guy who took responsibility. Why else would he accept redoing the experiment spoiled by Robin? But he had made her cry!

                   Yet she did not find him evil. She had begun to forgive him. She was looking forward to the class next week. He too was. Although he never accepted it in his mind. Little did they know, they were thinking the same things. Little did they know where it would all lead to...