It was a sort of homecoming for me. Returning to one's alma mater does qualify for the homecoming feel. To add to the excitement was getting back to the labs and departments that one had spent as a student.
It was a sweet surprise when the head of Anatomy Department in the prestigious medical college in Bangalore -- my alma mater - called me and asked if I was interested to take up a short term teaching assignment in his department.
I had recently passed out of my post graduation in anatomy from a premier medical institute in Delhi and had returned to home town for a well deserved vacation. I was planning to migrate to Australia to take up a teaching assignment in a university medical school. There was a gap of six months before I could join there for the next academic session.
The job that was offered in my alma mater was not well paying, it being an ad hoc appointment; nevertheless I agreed as it is always a thrill to go back as a teacher to the place where you were once a student. Rubbing shoulders with your former teachers in the capacity of a colleague is an experience that has a lot of initial hype.
It was also a learning experience to face the students in the classroom and labs. I felt that would give me lot of confidence to show strength and resolve when I reach my new assignment in Australia. I did have enough teaching experience when doing my post graduation. But then those students were very familiar and we had lot of socializing in the campus. I was more of a senior fellow for them than a teacher. I was not much known here, especially for the first year students, whom I would be teaching.
The chief had given me the schedule of academic activity for the next one month. He had carefully scheduled all his evening classes for my name, so that he could leave the place in the afternoon and enjoy an early evening at his club. I was measuring up the activities that I would be doing for the weekend.
My girlfriend was doing her internship in the same college. She was three years junior to me during the undergraduate studies. She was happy that I had joined the same place and we had plans to make the time worthwhile.
I was in that reverie when a sweet voice jolted me "Sir, do we have dissections tomorrow".
Getting addressed as Sir was a new experience. When I turned around, I saw an innocent looking girl with a name badge claiming that her name was Rima. She was an innocent looking girl of average height and seductive looks. For a moment I kept staring at her face. She was quite fair and supple. Her figure was hidden by the loose apron that she was wearing. But the top buttons that were undone revealed that she had a blue T shirt. She was wearing a denim skirt that was spilt at the back. As my eyes travelled below, I could see that she has sports shoes on. Perhaps she was an athlete and that explained the lithe figure that she had.
Getting no reply from me, she repeated "Sir, do we have dissections tomorrow. My batch mates wanted to know because we have been told that you have joined here and would like to know when you start our classes".
I felt embarrassed that I was caught in an awkward moment by a student and the initial impression that I gave her was not too professional.
I hemmed a bit and said 'Yes. As per the schedule I have histology lab for you tomorrow at 3 PM".
It was now her turn to gape at me.
I am quite handsome by all counts -- 6' 1" height, 70 KG body weight, much of which is muscles and no fat. An oval chiseled face that has a pair of keen eyes. The eyebrows meet at the centre just above the root of nose, making a double arch. My thick mop of curly hair is always trimmed short. I dress impeccably in formals, especially when on professional duties. I was not wearing an apron, which gave her a fair view of my body. My half sleeved shirt afforded a good view of my sinewy and hairy arms.
I smiled at her and said "Hello, are you there?"
It was her turn to be embarrassed. She blushed giving her face a crimson tint. She looked glorious under the sunlight that we were standing. She mumbled a thank you and scooted off. I felt a twinge in my heart that she left so soon. I also felt guilty to have such thoughts about a student, especially when my girlfriend was waiting for me in the cafeteria.
I rushed to the cafeteria for lunch where Jyothi, my girlfriend was waiting. She rose up to shake hands with me and asked "How was the first day".
I explained to her the schedule that was given to me. She was a bit disappointed that I would be occupied during the afternoons -- the time that she was relatively free in the hospital. I told her that we can always find privacy in the lab, as there would be no soul during that time -- the attenders would be either busy gossiping in the tea shop or enjoying siesta.
She did not seem enthusiastic about coming back to the histology lab, as she was averse to the anatomy department from the beginning. We made a deal that I would wrap the class early and meet in her house. Her parents were away on a business tour and she was alone for some more time. We sat there sipping coffee and chatting and had no clue how the time passed off. I told her that I will meet her at home by seven and then go out for dinner and left for home.
There was lot of curiosity at home with my mother wanting to know if everything went of well and how was Jyothi. It was well known at home that we were seeing each other and were serious about settling down once she finished her graduation. Mom had made some special sweets which she packed for Jyothi when I told that I will be visiting her place.
I took bath and changed into comfortable kurta and jeans. I took out my old bike and drove to Jyothi's place that was ten minutes away. She opened the door and received me so warmly and eagerly. She asked me to follow her to the sitting room. There she pointed towards the sofa and asked me to sit down.
Jyothi asked me, "Would you like tea or coffee?"
I suggested tea, as it was easier and faster to make.
"I would like a cup of tea," I told her.
She went to the kitchen, and came back soon with a tray of tea. She put the tray on the table and she sat down beside me on the sofa. She had made tea both for herself and me.
"How did you manage so quickly?" I asked her.
She smiled. "I had already prepared it. Thanks for the sweets. Aunty is surely hell of a cook. I have to take lessons from her before we settle down" she told me.
She wore a white long skirt and a low-necked sleeveless short kamiz and had thrown a red shawl around her shoulders. Her own reddish color was reflected in the latter. It was a surprise that she never used clothes like this at home. She always wore casuals like T shirts and slacks at home.
We continued the small talk for a while till the other friends joined us. I was surprised that she had arranged for a party to celebrate my joining the college. Most of them were her batch mates. I was not too comfortable with this turn of events, as I was in the mood to spending the evening with her alone. And hoping to get a bit lucky as the evening progressed.
The party was at 'The Chimney' a newly opened discotheque in the outskirts of city. It was previously a foundry that was converted as a event management place. We sat there in groups, Jyothi and me together at one table -- thank god for the small mercies. We kept sipping on the chilled beers along with small talk to fill the time.
Her friends were on the dance floor swinging to the fast music. She seemed to be in no rush to head back to her friends. The place was filled with the young revelers from the nearby colleges and the BPO companies. A large group walked past them and one of them bumped into Jyothi. She lost her balance and fell forward. I leaned forward and grabbed her, helping her keep her balance. I couldn't help but look in her Kamiz as she tried to regain her balance but instead fell forward, landing on my lap.
"I'm sorry...." she started to say.
