When I completed my twelfth-grade exam, I was expecting that Raj would accompany Jyoti didi and Jiju to our house, but he didn't come.
I knew he had kept his word.
"Why didn't Raj come, didi?" I asked Jyoti didi.
"He has his second-semester exam," Jyoti didi replied. "But he congratulated you on your good result."
"O, say thanks to him," I said.
Raj was studying computer engineering at Assam Engineering College in Guwahati.
I felt that I was missing Raj's earlier teasing and embarrassments.
I recalled everything about Raj and our dog-cat fights.
How wild a child was I! I always fought with Raj, I thought.
For a moment, I was lost in my old memories.
I wanted to study for my graduation at a good college. Therefore, I decided to study in Guwahati.
I took admission in Guwahati College. I chose Political Science as my major subject.
'Suman, you can stay at Jyoti's house. What is the necessity of staying in the hostel?' my mother said.
I had already decided to stay in the college girls' hostel.
'No, maa,' I said.
'But why?' my mother asked, a little surprised.
'Maa, Jyoti didi's house is far away from my college.'
'But you can go by city bus.'
'No, maa, I can't travel by city bus every day.'
'But everybody is traveling by city bus.'
'No, maa, the hostel is good. And it's close to my college.'
'But I am afraid of the hostel. You've never stayed in a hostel.'
'It's fine, Maa. Nothing to worry about; I'll adjust there.'
'Okay, then.'
I convinced my mother.
My father and my brother also suggested the same to me.
However, I wanted to stay in the hostel because I didn't want to face Raj once again.
Still, everything was fresh in my mind that I had humiliated Raj once.
One week before, I went to Jyoti didi's house in Guwahati.
'Suman, why don't you stay in our house?' Jyoti didi asked me.
'No, didi,' I replied.
'What's the problem with staying in our house?' Jiju asked.
'No problem, Jiju.'
'Then?'
'Actually, Jiju, I want to stay in the hostel.'
Jiju thought for a while.
'Well, as you wish. But you have to come to our house every Saturday and Sunday.'
'Okay, done,' I said.
Jyoti didi and Jiju tried to convince me to stay in their house.
However, I stood firm in my decision.