Maithili

#Maithiliepisode7

#maithiliepisode7

Link for episodes: #Maithiliepisode1 , #Maithiliepisode2, #Maithiliepisode3, #Maithiliepisode4, #Maithiliepisode5, #Maithiliepisode6

#FS

#BonusEpisodeMaithili

#maithilibonusepisode

#Author: #RhituparnaChakraborty

#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction with no relation to any person/organism living or dead. Every episode, every character is a work of imagination. Any resemblance to any person, organism, place or character is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

Maithili looked at Raghav’s display picture on her phone. She smiled to herself. Raghav was charming. Not just that, he had charismatic talking style. He had a reticent demeanor. However the attribute for which Maithili became ardently fond of Raghav was his kindness. Yes, he was a post graduate student and post graduate students could exert authority over juniors if they wished. However, Raghav never did that. There were some senior girls in Maithili’s hostel, who apparently had crush on Raghav. However, all these years, Raghav never had a girl friend. This is what some of the girls said about Raghav. At this point in time, many of Raghav’s friends and juniors know that Raghav is inclined towards Maithili.

Maithili kept on looking at Raghav’s display pic smiling to herself when suddenly she heard a knock at the door of her room. It was Mushtaque. Maithili sat up on her bed and said politely, ‘Please come in Jiju.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Tell me, who were you chatting/talking to?’ There was a sense of urgency in Mushtaque’s voice. Maithili asked confused, ‘I….don’t understand.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Okay Maithili, let me tell this to you straight. Anyone you talk to can be in danger.’ Mathili gaped at Mushtaque and said, ‘Uh….means?’. Mushtaque said, ‘I will explain everything to you. But first please tell me who were you talking to?’ Maithili hesitated and said, ‘R..Raghav Agarwal.’ Mushtaque said with a rigid tone, ‘Please call him right now. I need to talk.’ Maithili looked at Mushtaque perplexed. Mushtaque said sternly, ‘CALL HIM NOW MAITHILI.’ Maithili shivered. She dialed Raghav’s number. Mushtaque snatched the phone from Maithili. The phone kept on ringing. Mushtaque muttered to himself, ‘Receive the call Raghav…..’

Rafique took out his books to read but he was missing Maithili. He took out his phone. He logged in to his social media profile and searched Maithili’s profile. There it was. She is so serene. She is confident, poised, kind, mature, and what not. More so she is so understanding. He looked at her pictures. In one of her pictures, she was dressed in a saree in Bengali style with a round medium sized red bindi on her forehead. Her kohl clad eyes seemed to narrate a story. She was standing in front of the idol of Goddess Durga with a plate full of flowers, couple of incense sticks and a clay lamp. Oh, she looked so beautiful. Rafique kept on looking at her picture. He suddenly realized between him and Maithili, there was a huge religious barrier. He then told himself, ‘Who cares! I love this girl and that is what matters. I will tell her how much I love her. And love knows no bounds.’ He wanted to hear Maithili’s voice. He thought of calling her. He dialed her number. The number was busy. Rafique tried again. The number was busy. Rafique thought, ‘Who is she talking to?’

Raghav had stepped out of his room to go to the washroom. When he came he saw missed calls. He checked. It was from Maithili. He was pleasantly surprised. He quickly called her back. Mushtaque received the call. Hearing a male baritone voice, Raghav was puzzled. He said, ‘Oh, maybe I dialed a wrong number.’ Mushtaque said, ‘No. You dialed the right number.’ Raghav was perplexed. He said, ‘May I know who am I talking to.’ Mushtaque said, ‘I am Mushtaque. Maithili’s friend. Now, please listen to me carefully and answer my questions. Do you talk to Maithili often in the college campus?’ Raghav said with a confused note, ‘Yes. I do.’ Mushtaque then said, ‘Have you observed anyone keeping an eye on you or Maithili when you guys are talking?’ Raghav said, ‘Well, it’s a huge campus. So many people see us.’ Mushtaque said, ‘I understand that, but I am asking, how many people do you think know about you and Maithili. Now, I know you like her. So, please don’t hide anything from me.’ Raghav was amazed. How did Mushtaque know that he liked Maithili! Raghav then said, ‘Well my friend Mohit knows and I am sure Maithili’s friends and class mates would know because there were times when I had approached her with them around her. I had even gone to see her when she was in class on the pretext of something very important for the upcoming Saraswati Puja celebration.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Okay, was there any instance wherein you felt someone did not like it when you were around Maithili?’ Raghav thought for a while and said, ‘Yes. There were. In fact quite a few instances…..’ Raghav told someone’s name. Mushtaque smiled to himself and said, ‘Okay, look Raghav, I don’t want to scare you, but, I want you to take care of yourself. Something is happening around. I will share all the details very soon. Till then, may I request you to watch your way well while walking or going anywhere. All the same, whenever you eat something be careful. For the next couple of days, don’t eat in your room. Eat in the common dining room and see that food is served to you from the same vessels from which the food is served to the rest of the guys.’ Raghav said, ‘But why so?’ Mushtaque said, ‘I will tell you everything. Till then, please do as I say. I just want you to be careful.’

Next morning Maithili reached for her classes way before time. Professor Awasthi had not arrived as yet. After 5 minutes of Maithili’s arrival, Anu came. Anu beamed and said, ‘Whoa, before time! Good. Now the devil will not yell at you.’ Maithili smiled and said, ‘Yes, I hate the way he embarrasses me in class.’ Anu said, ‘Leave it. You tell me did you meet Raghav?’ Maithili blushed. Maithili said, ‘Well, he does chat with me.’ Anu giggled and said, ‘Do you feel something for him?’. Maithili smiled, blushed and said, ‘No….’. Anu said amazed, ‘No? Really?’. Maithili laughed and said, ‘Listen to the complete sentence, I meant, “Not just something…..I feel a lot for him. I want to go and hug him and……”.’ Anu said teasingly, ‘And what? Tell me. And what?’. Maithili was about to say something when Rafique came. Maithili was wearing an orange chiffon long kurti with matching leggings and matching scarf. Her pearl earrings added to the beauty of her dress and of course to her beauty too. Rafique was delighted to see Maithili. He came and said gently, ‘Hi Maithili, Good Morning.’ Anu looked at Rafique and said, ‘And you won’t wish me Good Morning?’ Rafique smiled and said, ‘Good morning Anu.’ Anu replied with a grumpy tone, ‘Good Morning.’ The way Rafique looked at Maithili, he never looked at Anu that way and Anu felt it.

Just then Sohum Awasthi came. Since he was very strict, there was pin drop silence in the class. Maithili, Anu and Rafique usually used to sit on the first bench, however today they deliberately sat on the fourth bench. Sohum Awasthi looked at the three of them and said bitterly, ‘So, from first bench to fourth bench. Good improvement!’ Maithili, Anu and Rafique kept quiet. Sohum Awasthi then looked at Maithili and said, ‘I need all the assignments I had given to the class. It seems you are not much interested in studies, are you?’ Maithili said petrified, ‘Sir, I have submitted all the assignments except for one. That I will submit during lunch break.’ Sohum Awasthi said with sarcasm, ‘Sure, if you have time. Isn’t it?’ Maithili’s eyes soaked with tears. Rafique saw that. He can’t see Maithili in pain. He clutched his pen tight trying to control his anger. Sohum Awasthi went back to his teaching without bothering what Maithili felt.

Mihir Sen came for the next class. Anu told Maithili, ‘You okay?’ Maithili nodded. Rafique took his water bottle and gave it to Maithili. Mihir Sen wished ‘Good Morning’ to the class. The class wished him Good Morning. Mihir noticed Rafique offering water to Maithili. He looked at Maithili. He saw her eyes red. He did not say anything. He continued with the class.

After the class, he told Maithili, ‘I need to have a word with you. Please come and see me in the practical class at around 2:00 p.m. Class starts from 2:15 p.m., so I will get around 15 minutes to talk to you.’ Maithili replied, ‘Sure Sir.’

Maithili went to meet Mihir Sen at 2:00 p.m. He was working with the lab assistant getting things ready. When Maithili came, he went back to his table, asked Maithili to sit and said, ‘Is something troubling you Maithili. I have seen in couple of classes, you looked disturbed. What is it? You can tell me.’ Maithili hesitated. Mihir said, ‘You can trust me. What is it?’. Maithili said, ‘Well, Sohum Sir seems to be upset with me most of the time. I don’t know why.’ Mihir Sen said, ‘Hmm. Could you please elaborate?’ Maithili paused for a while and then told Mihir everything. Mihir then said, ‘Okay. Thank you. Now, class is about to begin. Don’t worry, we will sort out your problem.’

It was dark when he was going back to his accommodation. Someone came right in front of him and said, ‘So, what do you think you are doing? Is it all about Maithili in your mind? Why Maithili?’

To be continued……….