Most of us would have had some funny Raksha Bandhan experiences, especially when we were young and immature. Either we would have been an on-looker, laughing at the boy who is getting tagged as a "brother" by his dream girl or we would have been the unfortunate ones who were being looked-on to while participating in the tagging. Let's face it; it's not easy for a girl to take the step to tie a Rakhi to a boy just for the sake of not getting teased together. Not only does the girl has to think over the decision an umpteen number of times but also has to run after the guy to pin him down and tie it. It's the last moment of glory the guy can have by comforting himself and showing off to his friends after gracefully accepting the Rakhi by saying, "Dude! At least she ran behind me for once, whatever may be the reason ;) ".

These kinds of crazy incidents happen only at school and colleges. The same happened in the first year of college. Raksha Bandhan was the day the girls in my class were excited for, to put an end to their weird teasing/pairing up dramas they had to withstand throughout the year. It was naive for the girls to think to voice out the opinion that they weren't interested, they had to wait for Raksha Bandhan to officially brand the guy as their brother. Hopefully when they grow up, they don't wait so long and think that this is the way to do it. So here is how the story goes.....

A bunch of girls had immaculately planned for the day and bought exactly the number of Rakhi's they had to tie. The ritual of girls and boys running around the college corridors started before the morning bell. It continued till the lunch, some were successful, some yet to taste the success. After lunch, when everyone were getting settled into the class, two boys from the second last bench called on to Harini, who was seated three rows from them. Here, the boys were seated in one column of rows and girls separately, with a walking passage acting as the separation.

John and Senthil asked Harini if she tied a Rakhi to anyone. To which Harini replied, "I don't believe in this kind of stupid gestures, I have an own brother and that's enough for me".

Senthil inquired, "Do you think whoever is getting tied, is going to become a brother? It's only to put an end to the teasing. Don't you want to put an end to people who tease you with some guy?"

"There is no one as such and I don't care", Harini said matter-of-factly.

"Oh ho!" exclaimed the two guys in unison.

John went on to say, "Are you sure Harini? There is 'NO ONE' with whom you are teased with and you want to get rid of it?"

Senthil gave John a friendly jab on his chest and told with a slight grin, "Hey, why are you pressurizing her. She is clearly saying she doesn't want to get rid of the teasing with Aman. Looks like we guys are not simply teasing, there is some smoke between them", while waving his hand as if some smoke had come in front of him.

Harini exclaimed, "Oh please! I don't celebrate Raksha Bandhan and so it hadn't struck me."

Senthil budged in saying, "Yes obviously if you like Aman and have some kind of romantic feelings towards him, the idea to tie a Rakhi to him, would not have occurred to you."

John nodded to say, "Yes Harini, we understood fair and square", and winked to give a thumbs-up while tilting his head towards Aman.

"You guys will not accept anything I say, I don't want to waste my time on such silly talks", annoyed Harini turned back to face the black board.

(to be continued....)