I was a happy-go-lucky guy in college.
While my peers from high school were pushed into Engineering colleges by their parents (typical of Indian parents), I got to go to an Arts college.
Considering the fact that I had a very strong background in Computer Science, I chose to major in it.
I wanted to enjoy my time at college and not have to worry about assignments and exams all the time. Also, I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I wouldn't have much time to think if I was in an Engineering college, so an Arts college perfectly fit my requirements.
I was an overweight kid in school - pampered and overfed. I wanted to break all of that because my hormones were all high and I was sick of watching my peers talk to and go out with girls.
I started working out 3 months before college and got into a lean and decent shape when my classes began.
I didn't have to pay much attention to the lectures because I had a strong background. I figured out that I'd only have to study a little bit in the final year.
Hence began my drive to meet girls.
The ones in my class weren't all that beautiful. Since I was a kid back then with zero dates, I thought everything that mattered in a girl was her beauty. I've come to realize that's not the case.
Anyway, on my second day, I had a joint sitting with the Mathematics department for the English language lecture.
That was when I saw her. She was gorgeous. As we assembled in the class, she was one of the last few to enter the room wearing a beautiful black chudidar with her head slightly down.
She was fairer than the other girls and had beautiful facial features. Her eyes were round, her nose was sharp, and her lips were small and shone with a tinge of glossy lipstick. She had a few freckles but that accentuated her look. She was gorgeous every way I looked at her.
I knew that I wanted to talk to her. So, I waited for the lecture to end and when she was about to leave, popped up from behind with a stupid question asking if I knew her.
I never had the courage to talk to girls when I was a fat kid. But that was all behind me now that I had managed to become lean. I was still nervous though but went ahead with it anyway.
She said no.
I responded, "Well, I'm Jackson. What's your name?"
She replied, "I'm Amutha."
I shook her hand and looked her straight in the eye and told her that she looked beautiful.
Her friends were nearby and started giggling among themselves.
She smiled as her head came down and said thank you.
Since it was getting a little hectic around us, I told her that I will see her soon and gave a warm smile before leaving.
I swear I didn't know how that happened. My first approach couldn't have gone any smoother. But I guess all the years of eating chips and watching romance movies paid off big time.
I thought I was a natural even though there was the initial fear of rejection.
As the days passed, I grew more comfortable talking to her and got to know her more as a person. She was a beautiful girl at heart.
We grew closer when two of our mutual friends fell in love with each other.
We accompanied them and got closer.
It was during one of our meetings in Marina beach in Chennai that I was sitting close to her as we were enjoying the morning breeze that her hair blew over my face.
I wouldn't have cared much if we were in any other setting. But the fact that I was sitting on the beach with my hands behind me on the sand and taking in the beautiful Sunday morning breeze, I couldn't resist the scent of her washed hair.
I turned to her as she was trying to keep her hair from covering her face and realized how beautiful she was.
I took her hair covering her face and gently pushed it behind her ears. It was then I felt that there was a strong feeling of connection that I had with her at that moment. I looked at her and she was looking back at me. I leaned in towards her and gave her a sweet kiss on her cheek. She was blushing now.
My heart was beating fast and warm. I felt the surge of blood through my veins as enthusiasm and excitement took hold of me. I could see that she was blushing a lot. I told her that she was so beautiful as I kissed her lips. She returned back my kiss which sent warm shivers through me. I wanted to give this girl all the love I had and more at the moment.
As our passionate first kiss ended, we were both looking at the waves crash on the shore with our hands side-by-side.
I glanced at her and could see her smile from on the other end of her cheek. I smiled and knew that I had found my girl. We didn't hold hands after our kiss because we were both taking in the passion and excitement of the moment.
As the sun started to shine bright, we had to move. I got up, offered my hand, and lifted her up. We didn't say anything as we got back on the motorbike and as I rode her back to her house.
I dropped her at her parent's house and saw her wave at me as she closed the door with a cheeky smile on her face.
That night, I texted her - "I love you."
I sent the message at 11.32 pm.
I heard a beep back at 11.41 pm.
She replied, "I love you too."
The next time we met was at a local restaurant with cabins. We looked around to see whether anybody was watching and then went for our kiss. This time, the innocence was gone. We were passionate and young. We loved each other and wanted to be with each other so badly.