Priyanka looked around her room one last time before shutting her suitcase. This was it; she was finally leaving home to go to college. She was excited to begin a new life in a new place, have new experiences, and meet new people. Priyanka had received a scholarship to go to out of state college in New York City. Her family had moved to the USA from Mumbai, India when she was a little girl and had lived in the southern state of Texas. While she loved her life in Texas, she longed for the Northeast where she had heard that life was a lot more cosmopolitan, like her childhood town on Mumbai. She was looking forward to walking in downtown Manhattan with friends, going to the local coffee shops, and of course also to studying in one of the best universities of the country.
Priyanka flew directly into JFK airport in New York City, and then took a taxicab to the university. Curiong the cab ride, one of the biggest difference she saw was that every where she looked there were people of all races. Unlike Texas, there were Hispanics, Orientals, African American, and Indians. Lots and lots of Indians, which completely thrilled her.
She had been assigned her room in the dorms and her parents had insisted that she live in the all-girl dorms. She didn't now who her roommate was going to be but hoped that she would be someone nice. Priyanka went into the dorm and registered herself with the Dorm Director and then proceeded into the room. She opened the door and was not surprised to see half the room already decorated as she was just told that her roommate had checked-in the night before. What did surprise her was the fact that the room was decorated with Indian décor. She looked at the door of her room and saw that her roommates name was Jaya and in her hurry to come into her room, Priyanka had missed the name completely. She really hoped that Jaya would be a nice girl since she really didn't want to have a difficult relationship with a fellow Indian.
Priyanka started unpacking and setting up her side of the room. As it started to get dark, her room door opened and in walked in Jaya. Both girls looked at each other and instant broke into a wide smile.
"Hi!" they both said enthusiastically and in typical Indian fashion just gave each other a hug. All walls of formality instantly disappeared. They immediately hit it off, and after a few moments of pleasantries, Jaya started helping Priyanka unpack. They talked for hours and Priyanka told Jaya about herself and her family back in Texas. Jaya shared that she was an international student and her family was still in Mumbai. Hearing that Priyanka jumped up with delight.
"I was born there," she said entusiastically. "This is so wonderful. You have to tell everything about it. I haven't been there is ages."
"No wonder you're so beautiful, your a mumbian!" Jaya said. "One thing you have to know that Mumbai is the most happened place in India. Just remember that and everything will be fine because we Mumbaians take our city very seriously." She added with an air of pride.
"Ok madam." Priyanka said in mock seriousness. "And you should be the one to talk about my looks, have you looked in the mirror lately? You should be in Bollywood. speaking of which, have you seen all the movie actors and actresses? After all Bollywood is in Mumbai right?"
"Yea I've seen a few" Jaya said with a laugh.
"What are you laughing about?" Priyanka asked.
"Well you are only the tenth person to ask me that in two days." Jaya replied with another laugh.
The girls continued to ask and the comfort they felt with each other surprised both of them.
"I hope I'll be able to settle down here." Jaya said with a bit of apprehensiveness in her voice. "I know people do it all the time, but I tend to get a bit homesick now and then. I mean I've never stayed away from my family. My older sister went got her degree in Mumbai so I'm the first one to leave home."
"Well this is my first time away from home too. I'm sure we can help each other time in time of need. That's what friends do right?" Priyanka said back with little bit of encouragement.
"Right." Jaya cheered back up.
Priyanks then looked at Jaya and said "I'll make a deal with you, you tell me all about India and Mumbai and I'll help u get acclimated in the US."
"Deal!" said Jaya and the two girls hugged again.
Priyanka and Jaya friendship grew as time went by. Both were very good natured and had a lot in common. Priyanka let her talk to her family back in Texas who invited her over whenever Priyanka few back home. Jaya's parents in India were very happy to hear that their daughter was living with an Indian girl. While the girls did not have the same majors, they did share a few classes the first semester. So the girls studied together and helped each other out with homework. Priyanka was amazed at how smart Jaya was and often looked at her in admiration.
Jaya on the other hand was always on awe of Priyanka's confidence. When they hung out together on weekends, and went out together with friends, to college parties and sometimes even explored the city, Priyanka was always the leader and true to her word she help Jaya get acclimated to like in the US. Priyanka introduced Jaya to her first taste of alcohol which the girls enjoyed in the privacy of their rooms. Both of them got pretty buzzed and ended up having a pillow fight in their pajamas. When the university shut down for Christmas break in December, Priyanka took Jaya back to Texas to meet her family. Priyanka parents welcomed Jaya with open arms.
Their second semester was just as good as the first one. Their friendship continued to grow and soon they had become inseparable except when they were in classes. When the semester ended, Jaya went back to India and Priyanka went home. They kept in touch through emails and chats and updated each other regularly on what was happening in their lives. They also realized how much they missed each other. It was apparent that an unmentioned emotional bond had formed between the two and the day wouldn't be complete if they didn't chat for at least a little bit ever night.
Both were looking forward to the fall to return college, and in September their reunion was like that of school girls and not college women. There was screaming, and hugging, and giggling, and jumping. Such was their friendship. They were always there for each other in good times and bad moods; through laughter and tears; through aggravation of school, and homesickness. They weren't friends, they were they were best friends, and if genetics wasn't a factor, they would be sisters..
The following October Priyanka and Jaya were invited to a Halloween party organized by the University's Indian association and both decided to dress up as Indian brides. It sounded like a great idea since it would be excellent opportunity to show their culture off to the Americans and also fulfill the purpose of a costume. The girls applied mehendi (henna) to their hands and feet (Jaya was very good at this did most of the work). They wore their most formal dresses which comprised of a short embroidered blouse with a long full length skirt accompanied with the ghoongat (Veil). This latest fashion allowed their midriff to be bare so both girls added thin gold waist chain to the jewelry that they had which they wore just below their navel. While not as grand as the real bridal jewelry, the girls augmented their dresses by putting on the Teekas (forehead jewelry), rings, bangles, bracelets and anklets.
When the finished dressing, Priyanka got her camera out and started taking Jaya's picture.
"Hey let me take yours. You look gorgeous, dear." Jaya said gleefully. "If this was your wedding day, your husband would have gone nuts."
"Yea well" said Priyanka not to be out done, "If this was your wedding night, you husband would consider himself a very lucky man."
Jaya simply blushed at the comment and started laughing.
Priyanka was taller of the two at 5'6 and had a slim figure. She wasn't very big-chested and sported average 34 b cups and a thin waist and slightly rounded butt. She had shoulder length black hair and was of wheatish complexion. Jaya was a couple of inches shorter and was more rounded. She was fairer than Priyanka so her mehendi really stood out in start contrast to her green eyes. She also had a fuller figure with 36c cups, and a rounded butt. The long hair ended just an inch above her lower back. Both the girls had very sweet faces and tonight both looked like exquisite brides.
Priyanka had bought a used car this year so they drove to the party which was being held in a banquet hall. When the girls walked in, almost every head, male and female, turned to look at them.
Jaya turned to Priyanka and whispered, "I thinks our costumes as a hit."
Soon the girls were surrounded by guys asking them for a drink and dance. Being more experienced and knowledgeable in such situations, Priyanka had instructed Jaya to stay close to her. She knew that parties like these were almost like hunting grounds for horny boys and not being naive she knew that both the girls would be a prize catch for any guy.
Within moments both the girls were dancing with two very handsome guys. Once was dressed as a European Count and the other as a rock star. The music and atmosphere was lovely, and the guys kept bringing them drinks on the dance floor. Both the girls were very conservative in their drinking since they didn't want to get in trouble or be taken advantage off. Soon the foursome found a corner booth and started to relax and talk. The guys were really charming and both Priyanka and Jaya were enjoying the company of their respective "dates".
Once the music started to pick up again, Jaya's date took her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor again. Soon they were dancing out of sight while Priyanka was busy chatting with her. She could feel herself being attracted to his charm and the more they talked the closer they got to each other. He kept praising her beauty and his words were like sweet nectar. The more she heard his manly voice the more she could feel being pulled to him. This man was someone special she thought since he was arousing her without a single touch.
