First not a Date

Sure! Here’s a rephrased version with corrected grammar: --- ### Sangy Illusion **Name**: Sreehari **Place**: Mulund **College**: Vikas Night College **Location**: Vikhroli **Girl in This Story**: **Name**: Sangeeta **Location**: Vikhroli Village, near Vikhroli Station **Another Character**: **Name**: Sushant Nagwekar **Location**: Powai **College**: Same as above Sreehari, a guy who hated studying, somehow passed his second year of Inter 12th, thanks to Accounts. But when the results were declared, he was enjoying himself at his native place, and by the time he returned, the admission process was already over. The officials at Vikas College told him he could only apply for vocational courses like DBM. It was June 2001, the beginning of first-year degree—an age filled with mischief when everyone starts dreaming of having a girlfriend. I, too, had such a wish, unaware that it would derail my academic career, though it also led me to an interesting point in my life. Everyone was busy planning for their futures while I was lost in thoughts about family planning with every girl I liked. Sangeeta Gajare, a typical Marathi girl from a Gujarati family, caught my eye. Although her hometown was Vapi, Gujarat, she came from a Marathi family. This girl truly derailed my degree life with my dreams about her. Our first meeting? It all began on a sunny afternoon during break time, drawn in by her glittery dress. I followed her around for hours, practically like a Vodafone dog. That first year went by as I gathered information about her, though I ended up with two backlogs due to my obsessive focus on her. **Second Year, June 2002** The first day of college brought with it a weird wish to catch a glimpse of Sangeeta. My friends joined me a week later, but I had returned early just for her. However, she rejoined college late, three weeks in. Not even the professors bothered to ask why. I wanted to know the reason behind her late return, so I developed a network of friends to gather intel on her. A big day was approaching—Friendship Day. Many advised me not to introduce myself as a friend but to propose to her directly. But how could I do that for the first time? On Monday, June 6, we celebrated Friendship Day in college, but of course, she didn’t show up. Feeling down, I knew I had to speak to her the next day. To calm my nerves, I called my friend Nikhil, who lived near Sangeeta. I shared my plans to befriend her, only to discover that he already knew her well. He encouraged me to go for it, mentioning that she remembered him. The next day, I was more nervous than ever. My friends teased me, saying I wouldn't go through with it. But I felt she needed to know me, and I needed to know her. **Wednesday, June 8** Sangeeta was present, and my pulse raced. I felt like I was about to attend an interview. My friends had these sarcastic smiles, which only made me more anxious. They advised me to get it over with quickly, but I thought it was important to understand each other’s likes and dislikes first. As college ended, everyone gathered at the college gate. I spotted Sangeeta standing with a big group of girls, waiting for her friend Priya, who was significantly larger than Sangeeta but close to her. My friends nudged me, and I approached Sangeeta, cutting through the group. “Hey, Sangeeta?” I said. “Yes?” she replied. “My name is Sreehari.” I was sweating; this was tougher than any exam! “Oh, do you know Nikhil from Vikas Junior College, Agarwal Classes?” “Yes, he’s my good friend,” she responded. “He’s doing fine. Aah, Sangeeta, I want to be your friend,” I said. “Sure!” she replied, offering a fishy handshake. And just like that, we started chatting. Out of nowhere, Priya jumped in, and the introductions continued. “Hey Priya, this is Sreehari, Nikhil’s friend,” Sangeeta said. “Yeah, I remember him,” Priya replied. As the college gate cleared, we began to walk, and I was thrilled. I had learned so much about her—her family, her home, everything. She seemed surprised at how much I knew, or maybe she sensed that I wanted more than just friendship. My friends were proud of my performance, but they had no idea how I really approached her. We reached the auto stand, sharing a ride to Vikhroli Station. I didn’t expect sharing an auto to be so enjoyable. Sangeeta sat inside, and I followed, with Priya beside me. I realized I was wedged between them, feeling the warmth of Sangeeta’s presence. She asked me something, and I could only manage to say “yes” or “no.” “Station!” the auto driver called out, and we parted ways, heading home. From that day on, I made it a routine to wait for Sangeeta at the station. I followed her to college every day, cutting through the crowd to interact with her until we reached class. Our college had three floors. I was in B section while she was in A section. I would enter her classroom, make friends just to get closer to her. College was a night affair, starting at 6:45 PM, and management would lock the gates at 7:30 PM to prevent anyone from skipping lectures. Only girls could go to the ground floor—mostly for the restroom. My obsession with Sangeeta peaked; I would even follow her around the college building. One day, as I was about to go down the stairs after her, my friend pulled me back. “Hey, leave her alone, at least for the bathroom!” --- I found myself in a new world where Sangeeta was my only focus. I never thought of anything else. The college hours were the best part of my day. I couldn’t wait for 6:30 PM when I would meet her, and those interactions would last until 10 PM. I even slept during the day to prepare for college, neglecting my studies. A practical person would never act this way, but Sangeeta was worth it. **Typing Class...** One good thing happened—I learned that she was taking a typing course, which prompted me to join as well. My initial routine involved five to six typing classes before heading to college. I enrolled for 30 words per minute, while she was preparing for 50 WPM exams. Girls had separate rows in class, and I placed my chair right next to hers. The sound of the typewriter became a rhythm I loved, and I found myself daydreaming while watching her. The typing teacher was beautiful, and many boys were attracted to her, but my focus was solely on Sangeeta. I would ask her questions as if she were my teacher, but she would politely redirect me to the actual teacher. As the climax approached, I learned that Sangeeta would finish her typing course soon. I still had two months left, and I felt dejected. When I discussed this with her, she replied: “Why don’t you join the 60 WPM course or something similar? You could complete it simultaneously.” “Well, there’s no point. I got a job as a data entry operator, so this is enough for me,” she said. Damn, she was so practical and career-oriented! Oh, Sangeeta, I love you; if only you could read my mind. “Any tips for me?” I asked. “Complete the course and look for a part-time job,” she advised. I thanked her, but when exams came, she was no longer in my class, leaving me lonely with twenty other girls. I adjusted my timing to align with hers, entering class ten minutes early to walk with her. My friends initially appreciated my efforts but eventually realized the truth: Sangeeta was my only motivation. Back in college, my story became famous among my friends as me and Sangeeta grew closer. However, lurking behind her was my rival, Sushant Nagwekar. I soon discovered him but we agreed to let each other try our luck with Sangeeta. The plan was to see who would win her over. My friends helped me gather intel on Sangeeta. Ganesh informed me that Sushant was also interested in her but remained supportive of my feelings. I figured if I made mutual friends with Sangeeta, I could get more opportunities to meet her. I learned that I should take notes about her and return them the next day—everything was unfolding nicely until winter arrived. Days grew shorter, and nights grew longer. Sushant and I became good friends, sharing information about Sangeeta, though I hid some details due to insecurity. He even decoded her email ID and landline number, calling her twice, but I believed in asking for permission first. The more I learned about her, the more anxious I became about our uncertain future. It was time to decide the best moment to confess my feelings. My grades plummeted. Even my economics teacher, who had faith in me, was disappointed when I scored only 5 out of 50 on my midterms. Meanwhile, Sangeeta and Sushant were thriving. Friends suggested combined study sessions, but my focus was on marrying Sangeeta instead. Days passed, and Sangeeta didn’t come to college regularly. By mid-November, she had nearly vanished. My friends teased me, but I kept my resolve. The moment of truth was approaching. **November 15** College started as usual. The sun shone bright, but inside me, it felt dark. I sensed Sushant was also preparing to confess, and my heartbeat quickened. We talked about her but kept things lighthearted, though I knew it was a competition. That day, Sangeeta’s name echoed in my mind, and I finally gathered the courage to speak to her. “Hey Sangeeta,” I began nervously, approaching her near the college gate. “Hey,” she replied. “I really like you,” I said. “Okay,” she said, nonchalantly. “I mean, I want to be your boyfriends,” I added. “Really?” she smiled, as though I had cracked a joke. “Yes! I’ve had this crush on you for months, and I thought we should be friends, possibly more,” I confessed. To my surprise, she responded with a warm smile, saying, “That’s sweet of you, but I can’t. I’m focusing on my studies and career right now.” “Wait, what about Sushant?” I asked. “He’s a nice guy too,” she replied, but her words felt like a cold breeze to me. Sushant, sensing my unease, jumped in. “No worries, buddy. We can still be friends,” he said, though I could sense his intention to pursue her more seriously. I walked away defeated, my heart heavy, and watched Sushant and Sangeeta chat happily. --- In the days that followed, I became a recluse, focusing solely on my studies. I even neglected my usual hangouts with friends, unwilling to face Sangeeta and Sushant. The midterm exams approached, and my academic performance hit rock bottom. I finally decided to pull myself together. I needed to regain control of my life and studies. My focus on Sangeeta had cost me dearly, but the resolve to move on emerged. My friends encouraged me to take the typing course again and aim for a higher level. Although I felt lost, I knew I had to accept reality.