Mary was driving the car smoothly. She loved following rules and regulations, so she was driving within the prescribed limit. More so, because it was raining outside for a while and it was already 8 PM. So in case she had to apply brakes to avert a mishap, she would find it difficult to stop the car. Britney Spears's 'Toxic' was playing in the car. Mary moved her head to the beat of the song. It was one of her favourites. So was it for the guy sitting next to her; Vihaan.
Vihaan was one of the foreign students who came to her college to study science. The college used to provide a human guide to every foreign student to make them comfortable and understand the American life. The college had voluntarily asked American students to be a part of this programme. Mary, being a student of cultural studies, had volunteered for the same hoping it would brighten her horizon for the subject. As luck would have it, Mary was Vihaan's guide.
When they first met, Mary was greeted with a charming smile. They introduced themselves to each other. Vihaan got to learn that Mary was a student of cultural studies who belonged to rural Illinois originally. Mary got to learn that Vihaan was there at the university for his masters study in engineering who had come from India. Vihaan, initially, found it a little difficult in adjusting in America. He sometimes had questions because something that was perfectly acceptable back home was considered offensive here and vice-versa. He would sometimes text them to her or ask her the same directly. Mary was of great help to him during this time. She loved clarifying his doubts. She also liked how respectful he was whenever he talked to her and was ready to help her whenever she needed.
Vihaan also had a little crush on Mary. The 22-year old was beautiful. Her lean body, coupled with her glowing white skin and beautiful brunette hair that she always tied in a ponytail and her lovely, gentle green eyes, sometimes made it difficult for him to take his eyes off her. But most importantly, it was general demeanour and her kindness that made her so attractive to him. But asking her out, Vihaan knew, would be futile coz Mary was already in a relationship with another guy, Doug.
Vihaan, at 25, had his share of admirers. A couple of girls in her dorm, had asked Mary who was cute-looking guy they see her with a lot of times. Surely it was not Doug. Mary found it a little surprising. Not many girls were attracted to Indian guys, at least the ones who were already studying in college. But there was something about Vihaan that made him attractive. Perhaps, it was his smile that, frankly, even Mary found charming. Overall, yes, she liked Vihaan, but not enough to date him.
Over the next few months, their interactions had become limited. Vihaan started hanging out more with people studying science like him. He had also begun dating Tiffany Maxwell, one of the girls who had Mary about Vihaan. Mary's relationship with Doug grew more serious. But whenever, Vihaan and Mary would talk to each other, they both would feel great to have talked to each other.
More than a year passed by and so it happened that just days before Christmas, Mary wrote a post on college online community group that she was looking for a travelling companion who would be willing to travel with her to the airport in her car. Since the college was in a remote location, the nearest airport was about 200 miles away. She planned on travelling to the airport by her own car where she would park it and then boarding an early morning flight to her home in Illinois. Vihaan immediately responded when he saw the ad. His aunt and uncle used to live in Chicago and they had invited him to spend the Christmas holidays with them. Mary was more than glad that it was someone she knew who had responded to the ad.
"You like Britney Spears?" asked Mary while driving.
"Well, some of her songs... I do." Said Vihaan.
'Baby one more time' was playing in the background.
"How about this one?" asked Mary.
"Umm... not so much." replied Vihaan.
Mary gently nodded and then stopped the song.
"What happened?" asked Vihaan.
"Nothing... let's do something else instead of songs." said Mary.
"Sure... like what?" asked Vihaan.
"So... what's going on in your life right now. We haven't talked much in the last few months." said Mary.
"Well... college will end in a few months. It's been great studying here. Very different from studying in India. I'm looking forward to getting a good job that pays me well somewhere in NY or LA. I want to earn some money first then... I think, I'll start my own business." said Vihaan.
"Wow, you have already figured it out... I wish I could think like you" said Mary.
"Why... what is your plan?" asked Vihaan.
"I don't know, Vihaan... I come from a family where everyone is into farming, including my extended family. I didn't wanna do that which is why I enrolled into college but now... I don't think I want to get a job... coz I'm not cut out for it... I don't exactly know what I wanna do in life..." told Mary.
"Uh huh... what about your dating life? Last I heard, you were going out with Tiffany." said Mary.
"Ah... Tiffany was great but it did not work out." said Vihaan.
"Why?"
"She was nice but sometimes she was kind of moody and..." he trailed off.
"And...?" asked Mary.
"Ah... nothing. What about you? How is it going with you and Doug?" asked Vihaan.
"Umm..."
Mary hesitated in saying something.
"Hey... it's okay if you don't want to tell me." assured Vihaan.
"No... it's fine... Umm.. Me and Doug... we broke up three days back." said Mary.
"Oh... ah.. I'm so sorry." Said Vihaan.
"Nah... it's ok... actually I broke up with him." said Mary.
"Really?... Why?... I mean, you two looked perfect for each other.... And you guys were in a relationship for like a year or something... What happened?" said Vihaan.
Mary felt like a hammer striking her heart. She choked up. Vihaan saw the discomfort she felt. So he asked her, "Mary.... Are you ok?"
Mary just nodded. She, then, took several minutes to say the next sentence.
"That bastard cheated on me." said Mary.
"Really... Well... that's... just messed up." said Vihaan.
"Yeah... I caught him with that slut Nancy Thomson in his room when he told me he was going out for some drinks." Said Mary.
Vihaan felt anger, frustration and disappointment in her voice. To Mary, Doug was the guy. She had planned on continuing their relationship once college ended. She even intended to marry him and have a family with him. Her dreams felt shattered the moment she saw Doug naked with Nancy.
Neither Mary nor Vihaan said anything for the next few minutes.
"That's why I decided to travel to my parents' home for Christmas." Mary started.
"I really wanted to be away from college at this time because..." She choked up and couldn't complete her sentence.
"... but I... didn't want to... travel alone... so I put up... that post..."
Vihaan felt like she wanted to cry. He asked her to stop the car. She did the same and stopped the car at the side of the road.
Tears ran down her eyes. She realised Vihaan was the first person she was telling it all to. Vihaan placed a hand on her back and gently rubbed it.
"You know, if he didn't like me.... He could have broken up with me. I would have respected that... but the fact he cheated on me feels... like a slap..." said Mary.
Vihaan was listening to her patiently as she sobbed.
"You know that you are awesome, Mary." Said Vihaan, several seconds later.
"What?" asked Mary.
"Yeah... I mean you were my first friend in this foreign land and for some time, the only friend I had. I liked your attitude. You were my guide and you were so helpful. You kind of made my life easier here." Said Vihaan.
