I looked at the clock it was 6.40 pm. We still had time.“Can you help me with the cooking.” She asked.“I would like to, but I don’t know to cook.” I answered.“If you could cut the vegetables, that would be more than enough.” She said. And I agreed to help and both of us walked into the kitchen. I cut the vegetables the way she told.“Thanks” I said after sometime.
“Why?” She asked back.

“For accepting a girlish boy like me as your friend. Everybody thinks I am useless. Loser.” I replied.
“Don’t under estimate yourself.” She said, then she came close and touched my shoulder and said. “You are not a looser, only those who say so are going to lose the friendship of a good person. And you are not a girlish boy, you are a boy with a feminine mind. Only a man like you could understand a girl well. The girl who is going to marry you should be lucky.”

That was the second time I am meeting a girl superior to me. First was my sister, she was superior to me in strength and this girl is superior to me in intelligence.“I should be lucky to have a friend like you.” I said with a smile and a drop of tear rolling down my right cheek.She wiped my tears and said. “You know what, I have seen many husbands who complain that their wife don’t love them but only cares about their salaries. But I think it’s they who went after the best dowry instead of love.

But that won’t be the case with you, so you would definitely be loved by your girl.”By then it was already 7.30 pm, I was still in the saree. She asked me to remove the saree. And leave since her friend would be back soon.“Are you not coming?” I asked her.

“No, I stay here, this place is close to my college. I visit mom sometimes.” She replied.I walked into the bed room and changed into my trousers. She asked me to wait for a minute and she folded the saree and petticoat and gave it to me.“You can take this, return it when you come next time.” She said.I was surprised, and also confused.“Won’t your friend, search it?” I asked her.
“No, it’s mine not hers.” she said with her usual caring smile.

I felt like kissing her, but I didn’t want to upset her by taking advantage. So I took the saree, put it into my bag and returned home. All along the way only one thought ran in my mind. It’s her saree. I wanted to wear it again as soon as possible.

Once I reached home I had a quick dinner and went to my room and locked it. I opened my bag and took out the saree. Kept it on my bed,and slowly moved my fingers and palm over it. It’s hers! The very thought made me exited.I draped it quickly and looked at the mirror. I tried to adjust the pallu but I couldn’t be perfect as her. It’s ok. I wore it on my t-shirt. Then I walked around the room, I wanted to have a complete experience with the saree.

At last I wanted to feel the silk on my body so I removed my t-shirt and put the saree on my bare chest and shoulder, I didn’t fold the pallu this time, I just let it flow down the length of my left hand. I felt the sensation, the same silk that touched her body. I didn’t want to remove it therefore I switched off the light and slept with the saree.On next day morning, I removed the saree and hid it deep under my clothes making sure that no one accidentally discovers it. And again that night I slept with the saree. I repeated it every night that followed. Since I didn’t know when I will have to return it. After I return will she give me another saree? What if not? So I wanted to spend maximum time with it, so I wore it every night and slept with it.

I didn’t want to go and disturb her, so I waited for her arrival. She came to meet her mother, eight days had passed by then. During that time I have started to refer her as “my girl”. I didn’t know who is her to me, sister, friend, lover, guide? But still she is my girl to me.She met me in the evening of that day and said that her friend is visiting her village in the coming weekend and that we can have the whole weekend for ourselves. I started counting the day, four more days.

To be continued….