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I was wearing my Ray-Ban sunglasses, a gift from Mom on my last birthday. I am usually bad at selecting things, but with these sunglasses it had been different. I had known which ones to pick the moment I had entered the store. It was probably Will Smith of Men in Black, who was instrumental in my selection. For the first few months I had worn them practically everyday while driving come rain or shine. The only time I drove without them was at night.

The fact that Rajni loved my glasses only helped their cause.
The three took their places in the marching contingent, smoothened imaginary creases from their spotless, crisp uniforms and checked the shine in their shoes for the thirty-fifth time since the morning.

This was it.

Five minutes and they would march out through the huge ramparts, into the Parameswaram drill square and become officers in the Indian Army.
After the kiss, Naina avoided the canteen, and Michael, for days. It was unlikely that she would meet him in the classrooms, since Michael hardly attended lectures. One afternoon, she decided to go to the canteen for a coffee; the group usually did not meet then. But they were there, and Abhinav called out as soon as he saw her, 'Hey Naina, over here. Where have you been?'

Only Abhinav, Ruchi and Michael were at the table. Apart from a casual nod Michael did not even glance at her. She had to sit beside him because Ruchi and Abhinav were sharing a bench, but that way she did not have to meet his eyes. Michael was unconcerned, and casually continued the discussion they were having. But when they were about to disperse, he said, 'Naina wanted to know about neo-Expressionism, perhaps she wants to impress her professor. You guys carry on, unless you want to hear my lecture all over again.'
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