Stand in My Shoes

22: Setting Boundaries

Nila started to panic as she saw Riya's name popping on the mobile screen. Sooraj didn't know what to do.

Sooraj: What should I do now?"

Nila: Just take it and put it on speaker mode. I'll tell you what to say. Just say that you went to a seminar.

Sooraj: Ah, I'll try.

Sooraj took the phone and put it to speaker mode.

Sooraj (stammers): H..hello

Riya: Where the hell are you??

Sooraj: I'm.. I....went to a seminar.

Riya: You know what time is? We had been waiting for you for hours.

Sooraj: Erh mmm...you guys may go. I'll be late.

Riya: (snickers) I thought that bloody mary would have piled you up with work.

Nila's mouth went wide. Pr. Mary rolled her eyes.

Nila (grins): Don't listen to her ma'am she's kinda stupid sometimes.

Pr. Mary: Fine.

Riya (excited):You know what? Pr. Amar was on leave today. We were again saved from his boring classes of relativity.

Pr. Amar narrowed his eyes. Nila slapped her forehead.

Sooraj: Oh... okay

Riya: Why are you stammering? Cat got your tongue?

Sooraj mv: God she's just....Wonder how he endures her.

Sooraj: No I'm fine. I'll call you later okay?

Riya: Yeah. Hit me up when you reach home. Bye

He cut the call.

After sometime...

Nila and Sooraj wrote a set of rules and regulations for each other in paper and exchanged them.

Rules: For Nila

1. Don't be late for school or work.

2. Don't talk like a girl!

3. Take care of Mom. Don't hurt her. Listen to what she says

4. Don't waste money

5. Don't cling to much to Boys. People will get the wrong idea.

6. Don't talk to girls Either!

7. Be prompt in your work. Don't loose my marks for assignments.

8. Be neat and tidy.

Rules: For Sooraj

1. Absolutely no looking!

2. Don't look at me or touch my body! Always blindfold yourself when you are bathing or using the toilet.

3. Dress modestly. Never forget to wear a bra underneath.

4. Don't touch boys.

5. Keep distance from girls; especially from my sisters.

6. Always do a night skin care routine.

7. Get up early for college.

8. Be careful when you are riding bicycle.

9. Watch your skirt! Don't let the guys stare at you.

10. If you ever enter the girls locker room, you are dead!

11. Listen to what my mom says. She's really strict. Don't make her mad.

12. Pray before going to bed.

Night routine

1. Wash your face with face wash. .
2. Use scrub to exfoliate
3. Apply face pack
4. Put a sheet mask.
5. And most importantly, brush your teeth!

Sooraj was backtracked when he saw her set of rules.

Sooraj: What the heck? I barely even wash my face. How I can do these?

Nila: You have to. It's my body!!

Sooraj: I prefer to die straightaway than living like this!

Nila gave him a cold stare.

Nila: My life is not as stupid as yours.

Sooraj (glares): Well, I'm stuck up in this weird condition. There's no other way.

Pr. Amar: Okay both of you, I guess you guys must go to your homes- I mean each others homes. Don't panic and act normal in front of others. I'll be in touch with you guys if anything goes wrong. Nila, go with him and show your house. Sooraj, send your apartment location to her. Good luck.

Later

Sooraj and Nila were walking through the hallways. As he was wearing high heels, he was waking like a duck in a marshy pool. Nila was getting extremely embarrassed.

Nila (shouts): Stop over there! You are making me shy!!

Sooraj: What to do? You guys walk on tiny stools like this! God my leg hurts.

Nila: Better remove that! If someone sees this, what will they think of me?

Sooraj (laughs): They'll think that you are having a broken leg or something

Nila (shouts): Youuu!!!!!

JudyJennifer