Lillian made her way to the front of the class after the session was complete, taking care not to talk to the other students as she walked. Lillian was way too shy to even consider looking them in the eye, much less strike up a lively conversation. She was thinking off the fastest way to escape the talking crowds when she twisted her ankle, stumbling and teetering on the edge of the steps.
"Shit!" She blurted, her left hand pinwheeling almost comically. She would have taken a nasty fall, if a hand hadn't shot out and grabbed her elbow, steadying her and turning her around carefully. She brushed her curly hair out of her dark round face and turned to face her rescuer.
He gazed at her surprised face with serious light brown eyes, and then broke eye contact to glare at her offending high sandals with stark disapproval. He had the most beautiful shade of golden brown skin, and a straight pointed nose. He released her elbow, but she stood there with her books in her hands, gaping up at him. He looked back, his gaze fathomless and wary at the same time.
"Th-thanks," she stammered, and he nodded curtly, walking off to the door, his sinewy body slipping easily through the chatting students.
Lillian wanted to know all about this golden mystery.
She endured many classroom conversations, overcoming her shyness to find out that his name was Vidyartha, and he was Indian, and he was incredibly smart. Lillian was intrigued by him, to say the very least, spending her class sessions gazing at the back of his head. He turned more than once to look back at her, his golden gaze unreadable. Lillian just had to talk to him.
She found her opportunity when one day she rounded a corner on the campus, and saw him reclining under a tree, engrossed in a small book. She breathed deep, and then marched up, her determination almost fading when he snapped his eyes to her.
"Hello." Her voice sounded so small. He looked as if he didn't want to answer, and then he replied.
"Hi."
"What are you reading?" The words simply zoomed out of her mouth, she was so nervous. He frowned, processing what she just said, and then sat up a little straighter against the tree.
"The Bhagavad-Gita."