“Please take this seat”, a young boy of a short height stood up and offered Rehana his seat. She looked at him and her gaze was held on by his beautiful pair of eyes. “This meeting will be good for me”, Rehana’s intuition told her. She had gone for a conference in Kolkatta.  Her eyes went around the room. In the other corner of the room, she could spot her friend smiling at her --- Oh! Shania…she was so pleased to see Shania.  Both of them had to make a presentation on some topic. Shania could locate a place for her near her. Rehana slowly picked up her bag and moved across the room to sit with Shania. She hastily passed a glance to the beautiful boy… now busy with some logistics.

“Shania, who is this guy?” Shania smiled impishly at her… and said “he is a biologically born as a girl, but considers himself as a boy.” “His name is Michael…. He was Michelle earlier, but now has changed his name to Michael.” He had been thrown out by his parents for loving a girl and since then he had been living alone.  Rehana could only be at awe at that moment. “How old could he be??? 24-25… that’s too young for someone to face so much.” Rehana had been in relationship with Rashmi for the last 3 years. She had been in an on -off relationship with Rashmi, however, they have been together for all these years. Last year she had come out to her family as gay; since then her family had discarded her. Though she has many friends at Delhi, many a times she missed her family. ….
The next presentation is by Rehana and Shania from Delhi.”… this announcement brought her back to the  conference…. They got all set for the presentation. She took a quick look through the room and started speaking. Her speech was interrupted by that beautiful pair of eyes which were intently looking at her. “That’s a good sign.” She could feel a quiver in her body (but that’s not a good sign!!!)

She gave a heavy sigh of relief when she could hear the sound of clapping. Ok that’s over. !!! Now she wants a cigarette…. Destiny smiled on her as she could hear another announcement…. “Ok! 10 mins break for cigarette and tea!!!.” She hurriedly went out with Shania. Shania was joined by her girl friend, Deepshikha. Deepshikha looked stunning with open hair, Rehana could not help but compliment Deepshikha, and she was replied back with a sweet smile from Deepshikha.

At the tea stall, that intrigue pair of eyes started staring at her. Rehana could not wait but to go and get herself introduced with that person…. Hi I am rehana, hello… m Michael.. . he replied smiling strangely at her. After exchanging the routine and formal hello- hiiis both of them started heading towards the conference hall. “Do you have a cig.?” Ya of course… here it is”. Without communicating much she headed towards the conference hall.

She could not concentrate in the whole conference. When the first day of the conference ended she started heading towards her room. After dinner she sat down in a bench to smoke. She was engrossed in some thoughts…. Suddenly she could feel someone’s hand on her back.. she turned back and her lips could feel someone else’s lips. “Oh sorry!” I had just come to give a kiss on your cheeks... but you turned back and sorry…. The kiss got planted in your lips.” I am really sorry.” That’s all right” Rehana replied regaining compose… “Wanna go for a walk?”, Michael asked again… “Yes,” she could not believe her own ears. She wanted to say no…. ok. Since she had committed … she went ahead for a walk. They talked lots of things…. But nothing went inside her head…. She was just filled with some excitement from inside.

After coming back, she went to her own room and Michael to his own. She got a call from Rashmi that night. The next morning she went to the conference hall, with a stern face…. Michael tried to start some communication with her, but she did not pay any heed to this…. The whole day she was in a very foul mood. She made a presentation that day too without too much excitement. That night Shania proposed to go out for a drink. She agreed to go, so also Michael. So they all went out for a drink and some dance. “ya, I need it a lot!” She started drinking and dancing alone in the dance floor. Michael came to her many times to take her to the seat, she just denied and started dancing more vigorously. Michael just went back to his seat and kept staring at her. That night, Michael proposed to sleep in her room. Rehana wanted to be alone that night. She politely declined the offer and went and slept.

 She has a flight to catch in the morning. In the morning she saw Michael waiting for her in front of her room. Michael had a bouquet of flowers in his hand… “Rehana” he said in a soft voice; “I do not know what have happened, but I have started liking you. I do not need any commitment from you, I just wanted to say this to you.” Saying this he planted a kiss on her lips and went away with teary eyes. Rehana could feel some salty waters in her mouth and kept looking at Michael going away!!!!


POSTED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 01, 2008 1:35 PM at indiatimes blog