PROPOSE

[Phone ringing … … Tahia receives the call and Anush is on the other side.]
- Hey, hi! How are you Anush?
- Hello. I am fine. What are you doing?
- Nothing much. Just packing things and helping in shifting flat. We are shifting our apartment to the third floor of the building in front of us.
- Ohh! That’s a tiring thing. Will you come tomorrow for tuition?
- Of course. I don’t have much to do. I will come.
- Can I ask something?
- Why not. Why are you thinking so much?
- We are good friends right!! And I can share my thoughts with you!!
- Anush, stop coiling the words. Tell me what you want to say.
- Can you come tomorrow a bit earlier? I will talk to you then.
- Ok, fine. I will come earlier tomorrow. Now bye.
- Bye, Tahia.
Anush is thinking, can I really tell everything to Tahia tomorrow? How will she react? What will happen? And, Tahia is thinking on the other side, what is Anush thinking and why is he behaving so weirdly? What does he want to tell me?
Ok, now all are thinking, who are these two people? What are they talking about? Both are in their 12th class and taking tuition from the same sir in a coaching. They take tuition in Physics and Math. They study at different colleges and can meet only tuition days. Earlier they don’t know each other and aren’t friends either. But time has made them friends and now they talk quite a lot. Anush has his own phone but Tahia doesn’t have her personal mobile. So, whenever, Anush wants to talk to her he calls her on the landline. and this was their last conversation in the landline because the land number doesn’t exist anymore. After shifting the flat, Tahia’s dad didn’t connect the line again. Then Anush takes the number of Tahia’s mom to talk with her. But what happens the next day? Let’s see…
Comming back from college today, Tahia gets ready for the tuition. Today she doesn’t have any other classes. while she is getting ready, her mom asks her,
- Why are you getting ready so earlier? Your tuition has time.
- Mom, I have some work there and have to note down the notes of the previous class from Ria.
- Ok, fine. But eat first before going and don’t stay late there. You know that your dad doesn’t like that.
- I will try to come back as early as possible.
Anush comes to the tuition place earlier today along with his two friends Anu and Fanan. Anush is waiting on the 5th floor to see when Tahia come and he will come down. Their tuition is on the 4th floor. When Tahia reaches there nobody is there. She is waiting outside the classroom because there is another class going on. There is still 30 minutes for her class.
[Time is not passing. It is too lengthy.]
While standing there, she starts to read a book and thinks that where is Anush? When Anush sees Tahia he gets happy and thinks of coming down. Tahia is thinking and then a voice calls her name, “Tahia”. She looks up and there is Anush coming down from the stairs. She sees that Anu and Faran go upstairs from Anush’s behind. She asks him,
- Why are you coming from there? And why do they go?
- Relax. You ask too much question “Islam Vai”.
- Hey, don’t call me this. That is not my name. And when I ask too much?
- Ok. We came earlier and we were chatting upstairs. And there is no reason for their going upstairs.
[Tahia smiles and says nothing.]
Anush then asks her about her preparation for the exams and other things. Tahia then asks him about the last day. She says that Anush was behaving differently. and he didn’t even say anything. hearing this, Anush says,
- Can I as you something, Tahia?
- Sure. Why not?
- Is there anything wrong if you like someone?
- No. It’s very normal to like someone. We can’t control that.
- You really think so.
-Yes. Do you like someone?
- Yah, kind of.
- Then tell her that you like her. Otherwise, it will be late to say anything.
- I am not sure that I should tell her or not. If she gets hurt.
- Why would she hurt? At least tell her Anush.
- The girl I started to like is a good friend and I don’t wanna lose her as a friend. And, this is making me more worried.
- Listen, if she is a good friend then tell her. I believe, friends are the good companion. If you can’t be friends in a relationship then you can’t understand each other. Having a friend as a partner is a good thing. [smiles…]
- Do you really think so?
- Anush, at least try to tell her and know what that girl thinks. And by the way, who is she?
Anush changes the topic. He starts to talk about other things. Tahia also asks him about his studies and his college. Anush says,
- Ok fine. Now tell me, how you managed to study this much? Don’t you get bored?
- Not at all. I don’t get bored because I study as much as I need to. I don’t study so much as you think.
- Really. But I think you always study and also think of studying.
- And who tells you that? and tell me about your studies. You pretend that you don’t study but I am sure that you study a lot.
- Wrong. I don’t study much Tahia. Tell me, what will you do after the board exams?
- I will get prepared for university and medical admission. What about you?
- I will also take prep for medical.
- That’s great.
- What will do then? I mean, what do you want in your life?
- I want to get a scholarship and study abroad like my Moshi Uncle. He is such a brilliant and talented person. I really want to be like him.
- That’s a good ambition. What about your marriage?
Tahia starts laughing loudly. Seriously Anush! She says that she can’t believe that he asks this. Anush also laughs and says,
- No, you say that you want to go abroad. Will your parents permit that.
- That’s why I want a scholarship and then I can approach them. And I am not getting married before completing my masters and getting a good job. you know, all my aunts have completed their studies and got a job and then they got married. And Inshallah, I will also do the same.
- Oh my God!!! That’s a long plan I see.
Tahia is going to say something but Anu and Fana come down from upstairs. It’s been quite sometimes that they are talking and the class ends. So, all of them entered the classroom and taken their sits. Ria just comes and sit beside Tahia. Anush, Anu and Fanan are talking with each other. Sir enters the classroom and started to take their class. Tahia and Anush don’t talk while they are in the class. After two hours, the class ends and it’s past 6:30 of the evening. Sir gives them some problems to solve and bring in the next class. After the class ends, all of them come down from the building. It’s quite dark outside. Ria’s car is waiting for her and she bids bye to all. Tahia is looking here and there for a rickshaw. She walks a bit and she sees that Anush is also coming with her. She says that there is no need but Anush insists. Anu and Fanan are waiting beside Anu’s car. Tahia then calls a rickshaw and take is for home. Sitting in the rickshaw she says to Anush,
- Now you can go. You are getting late.
- No, I am not. And put the hood of the rickshaw.
- Ok. Is this fine now? Please go now Anush. And tells to pull the rickshaw.
Wait, wait, wait !!! Anush stops the rickshaw and comes in front of Tahia.
- Now what?
- Tahia, you were asking me all the time who is that girl. YOU ARE THAT GIRL, TAHIA.

Anush says to pull the rickshaw forward and backs off. Tahia is stoned with the words and looks back from the rickshaw that Anush is going to his friends. Anush is relieved and happy that finally, he can express himself to Tahia. And now he is not worried about her answer because he knows that whatever that is they will be good friends. And Tahia never thought of something like this. She can’t think anything. Only the last words of Anush is in her head “ YOU ARE THE GIRL”.
