Anjali ( OFFERINGS TO GODESS)

Saraswati Puja considered being Valentine’s Day of the Bengali people. All bong beauties come to school, collages dressed in sari lovely attire. Arup never had a girlfriend in his life till the time he is in the final year of the Mechanical Engineering stream. That is not going to be counted anyway as all the lovely ladies are in IT. He is anyway very shy. All he had is a childhood, tomboy kind girl who played with him in KG standard. After that, he never had the chance to have a girlfriend. Although he studied in a well-reputed convent school where a lot of high-class girls studied he never raised his head from the book much. Now the scene is Arup is a single Bengali boy who feels lonely.

Today is Saraswati Puja and Arup along with his Btech classmates Ronit and Palash is near the college entrance. The entrance of the gate is well decorated. All the pretty girls of the IT department have gathered near the puja pandal of the college campus. They are the most attractive girls in the entire college. Arup had a crush on a girl from the IT department but never had the guts to talk to her. " Bro today is a divine day. If you consider yourself the adopted son of Maa Saraswati move ahead and talk to your crush. She is right there standing. “Arup looked up and saw that girl in a blue sari. She is the girl Arup had a crush on since day 1 in college. But he never dared to talk to her. Now it is 4 years and the case remained where it was. Finally, he has a chance today but his mind is not ready. Palash told him, “ bro it is now or never. You have to approach her anyhow. “

Arup gathered some courage and went near the puja pandal. The place is well decorated with colours, lights, and ornaments. All the girls in their ethnic dress look amazing. That girl in a blue sari looked so amazing with the eyes of the enchantress, curly hair, and sharp nose. Her face is so glowing in brightness that at one time it becomes tough to look into her eyes. Arup went near that girl and asked, “Can you please spare me some flowers for Anjali's offering. “ Anal offering means throwing flowers at Ma Saraswati during the puja is going on. The girl looked at Arup and nodded. Seemed that she hardly bothered. However Arup this time is not demotivated. “Hey, you are from IT CSE right?” The girl looked at Arup and nodded. Arup continued, “If I had the chance to join IT I would have.” The Girl told,” Then why didn’t you? “ Arup told, “Well Mechanical is my passion, IT stuff I love very much. Last year the internship I got from Mercedes Benz they are offering me a full-time job. But I want to pursue Mtech. “The girl interrupted, “So are you saying, IT students are less talented compared to mechanical!!” “ OO no please I never meant that. It is just I presented it in the wrong way” The girl smiled funnily,” C’mon I was just pulling your leg man. “ Arup signed a huge relief. Arup gathered his courage and told,” it is anyways a holy day, goddess of education might give some blessing on us. Do you mind if we both offer our books together to her? Anyways we both are passionate about our stream. Just a thought. “The girl agreed and it is Bengali ritual in Saraswati puja to offer books of favourite subjects to mother’s Saraswati feet. Once it is done the girl asked Arup, “Listen I am very hungry. Do you mind if we go someplace to have a bite? Arup agreed and went to a Panipuri stall. Arup told, “Why you girls love panipuri so much? “ The girl replied, “Because we are very spicy” This answer shocked Arup. Arup is the kind of guy who never has tried to be over-smart with his answers. The girl understood his mental condition and replied,” it is okay I was trying to pull your leg again. By the way are you this gentle, shy all the time or is it you are just pretending in front of me. . Arup replied, “No I am like this only, this is my real nature. “ The girl laughed, Arup noticed a sense of mystery in her eyes which needs to be uncovered, unravelled. The girl herself is so pretty, but in her mannerism, her l looked raw. She does not have a barer over her tongue. Arup is completely different. Arup loved this girl so much that these few minutes spent with her is worth an entire time frame. Arup never had a girlfriend in her life. His exposure to girls is next to 0. Or maybe a few childhoods time girl companions but that’s no matter. Now this entire conversation that too with the crush of his life, he is feeling strange inside his stomach. 

The girl asked, “Want to go for a walk. I am tired of this nonsense show-off this IT girls are doing. All in sari which they never bother to wear ever except in occasion like this. At least I am brutally honest. If I do not like something I say it on my face. “Arup simply shook his head as he agreed to it. The girl looked at Arup, “You are honest too different is you do not express it in your words upfront. You are afraid to express what you exactly feel. “Arup smiled and told,” I never had a girlfriend in my life and I have no experience talking to girls. So I do not want that a wrong statement offends someone so I speak selectively. “ The girl smiled and told, “O I see but there is another problem you have you want to know what. You have a weak memory. You tend to forget childhood memories, childhood friends. You are hitting on me for a long time which I already knew but you hardly remember anything. “

Arup could not understand anything, he is fully confused. The girl in the blue sari is giving a cute mysterious smile which is confusing him more. He had no childhood girl in his kindergarten days except one girl. She was a monster. A proper tomboy. She used to play with Arup on weekends. Arup was a sober, calm boy and that girl was so naughty. She made a hell of his life in childhood. She has changed so much. Her name is Suchismita Banerjee. Then they parted ways as her father had a transferrable job. Now she is in the same engineering college for the last 4 years and Arup did not know it was her. Such an idiot he was can’t recognize his childhood friend.  Suchismita just hugged Arup and told, “I recognized you since day 1 but I was super angry you never recognized me, in fact, you never dared to speak to me. You deserve a big thrashing dear. Palash and Ronit are looking at both of them in dismay.