Punita threw herself on the bed, unable to control her sob. Teardrops rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped them with her hand, consoling herself. The way Mohan behaved had hurt her, and her belly fluttered when she remembered what had happened since this evening. Is falling in love wrong? Nitin is smart and intelligent. What if he belonged to a different caste?
Her mother, Bela entered and sat beside her on the bed. She put her hand on Punita’s head and wiped her tears. “You must listen to elders; otherwise you face such untoward consequences.”
“What crime I committed to punish me like this? Nitin is my friend, and classmate. Shouldn’t I speak with my classmates?”
“May be Mohan has certain reasons to behave like this,” Bela said, taking her hand away from Punita.
“Can I know the reason? Why should he beat Nitin? What crime he committed?”
“Listen, you don’t understand the social stigma’s associated with such relationships. You must chose your friends wisely,” Bela suggested.
“I don’t understand what…..”
Meanwhile Mohan entered briskly twirling his car key in his hand. “Mom, don’t let her go out for at least couple of days. I want to give stern warnings to the that nerd, and make him forget Punita once for all.”
Punita sat on the bed, and adrenaline rushed through her veins. “Don’t do anything to Nitin, he is innocent.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, it’s he who brainwashed you and made you as his finger-puppet,” Mohan said, with his eyes wide open.
“You’ve mistaken, Mohan. We are just good friends and you know, Nitin helps me in several ways in my studies,” Punita said, stepping down the bed.
“Why do you need his help? Can’t you study on your own and get through the exams?”
“It’s not the exams, he helps me in teaching difficulties whatever I fail to grasp in the class,” Punita said.
“You better take help of any of your other classmates, and try to forget that nerd. It’s my warning, and don’t regret later,” Mohan said.
“Punita, you listen to what Mohan says, it’s good for all. If not Mohan, your Dad will not entertain your friendship with Nitin,” Bela said, stepping down the bed.
“No, Mom, I can’t forget Nitin, he is a nice person. You try to understand his good nature,” Punita said, wiping her tears from her cheeks.
“Okay, if you are so adamant, do what you like and I take care of him,” Mohan said, walking out banging the door behind him.
“Mohan, listen don’t do anything to Nitin,” Punita shouted, sobbing uncontrollably.
Bela wrapped her hands around Punita’s waist, and pressed her hip. “Why are you so melancholic about Nitin? You rest for a couple of days, and you’ll become normal.”
Punita sat herself forcibly on the couch, and covered her face with her hands.