Aravind Reddy, Poojitha, and Raghava face one another for the first time

Finally, the day came when all the 3 radicals gathered at the same place on the orientation day. It was all crowded and noisy and every face was nervous with the thought that they were locked there for the next 4 years. Some have already started fearing whether they would get a job placement.

Poojitha was observing the campus keenly and as usual, Rupa accompanied her. Aravind Reddy kept his eyes keen on understanding the building structure, staff, nature of the University rules, the atmosphere, and seniors. Raghava didn’t show much interest as he already was there before. The lecturers took pleasure in welcoming the new batch of students which seemed like a new source of entertainment and amusement to them. After walking them through CSE, EEE, Mechanical, Civil, Instrumentation, Automobile, Robotics, and Language department blocks, they were made to sit in a large auditorium where they were addressed and welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor.

Students were told to have lunch and slowly dispersed into the canteen hall. They were slowly introducing themselves to one another and were a bit relaxed that the stressful event is over and excited to meet new people with whom they are going to spend the next four years.

Raghava and Nayakar were sitting in a corner and having their lunch silently. Rupa was introducing Poojitha to some of her friends who happened to be the classmates again. And now, Reddy asked Rakesh Varma,

‘What happened to Rushika? Have you made friends with any of her trusted friends?’

Varma replied

‘I’m still trying to find the right person whom I should first talk to in her circle’

Reddy suddenly said ‘Show me Rushika, I will tell you whom you should talk to.’

Varma went upstairs and searched for her. After a few minutes of bustle on the floor, he found her talking to a group of friends, which is understandably a post-lunch discussion. He called Reddy and asked to come to the second floor, VLSI lab. Reddy arrived and Varma showed him Rushika.

Reddy started following her and Varma followed Reddy. This happened for 2 hours without a break. He followed her to the library, her classroom, corridor, coffee machine, and parking place with undivided attention. It seemed like he didn’t event blink his eyes off her for a moment. Seeing this, Varma got panicked for two reasons. One is for the fear that someone might observe them following her; second is- he started doubting that Reddy is impressed with Rushika. If the second one happens, it will be too hard for him to compete. He already started regretting showing him Rushika.

After she finally left college, Reddy turned to Varma and said sharp eyes looking straight. He said

‘ She has that girl by her side in a floral dress with red background. You should make friends with her to win Rushika.’

Puzzled at the advice, Varma asked ‘Why that girl?’ with his chin open.

‘See, the first rule for a group of girls is they always stay closed. They won’t allow an external person that easily. So you have to pick the weak spot to enter. That girl I told is less attractive in the group. Everyone else is laughing, chirping, and talking eagerly. This one girl is struggling to talk but she is the insider. Rushika always has this girl by her side even while going to the washroom. She will get your work done.’

‘Okay. I will make my way to talk to her.’

Reddy, who was walking forward quickly, suddenly turned back and spoke as he forgot something to tell.

‘Remember, never get tempted to flirt with her even casually or funnily. If she ever develops feelings for you, she will be the main villain who collapses your love story to dust.’

Varma was amused at the intelligence of Aravind Reddy and both parted ways. As Reddy was moving forward, there was a girl standing in the middle of the passage looking at the scenery of the garden, especially a tall tree which gave a vintage look to the campus.

She seemed like a fashion icon for her vibrant dressing. The fabrics, the colours, the pattern, everything in the look was simple yet seemed someone took so conscious decision in each aspect. There were two words written on the shirt on either side and Aravind Reddy, in the way got intrigued to see what her shirt read. In the opposite direction came Raghava with solid steps and mind in a thinking mode.

Both read the words on her shirt from opposite sides as she and her dress would garner anyone’s attention. The shirt read ‘Back’ to Reddy from the front and ‘Front’ to Raghava from the back. They both happened to meet each others’ eyes for the first time after reading those words and left without noticing their first encounter.

The girl who was standing there and watching the tree is Poojitha and her friend Rupa brought her a pineapple juice along with bringing one for herself. As they were having it, Rupa asked her curiously

‘Why is your shirt saying ‘Back’ from the front and ‘Front’ from the back. Is it indirectly provoking people to watch them both or is it like ‘you have seen one but don’t miss the second one’?

Poojitha smiled and said- ‘Yaa, it’s like it. Actually, I like to fool boys and test them at the same time. 99% will see those words and get intrigued, excited, or rattled. But who would bypass them both, not look front or back but look up, who can look into my eyes and then my brain, let me see that boy or man.’

Poojitha nodded her head slowly to Rupa indicating that there will be some boys out there like that.