Half Girlfriend (1)

Did she miss nothing about me or what we had?
Because l miss you, damn it! I wanted to scream at the top of my
voice. Of course, I couldn’t. I had lost the right to express any words,
'let alone any emotions, to her. I had to say something reasonable,
underplaying what I felt.
‘So I have a chance to show you I am not a jerk,' I said.
‘! am sure you are not. I take your word for it. You don’t have to
show me.’
Riya is too clever, too smart and sometimes too icy. She left me
speechless. I had a sinking feeiing something was not going right.
However, she touched my hand on the armrest. Her soft fingers
pressed into my wrist, as if checking my pulse.
'Listen, Madhav,’ she said. ‘I am sorry I am being this way. Cold
and aloof.’
Her warm touch melted my resolve to keep my composure. I loved
her touch but I wished she would remove her fingers. I didn’t know if
I could hold back my tears anymore.
‘Please,’ I said. It sounded needy. I hated myself for saying it.
‘Madhav, I’m not angry with you anymore. It is anyway not
possible for us to be friends again. I am leaving.’
‘What?’
‘I’m leaving college.’
‘What? Like quitting?’
She nodded.
‘I’m dropping out.’
‘You’re in the second year. You won’t finish your degree?’
‘Never cared much for formal education.’
I looked at her, shocked.
‘Of course, I can say that because my dad’s rich. It’s okay if you
think that I’m a quitter.’
‘No, I didn’t think that. All I’m thinking is, why?’
She shrugged.
‘You’re dropping out of St. Stephen’s. There must be a reason.’