No Time for Goodbyes by Andaleeb Wajid Page A

wish we were on our way.
    When I make up an answer for her, she smiles at me in such a guileless manner that I realise she’s really a sweet girl.
    â€˜I wonder what you think of our city after living all your life in a place like Australia,’ she muses. ‘I mean, we must all seem so rustic and backward to you right?’
    I pause for a moment and think. ‘Actually no,’ I say and notice that Manoj is listening to me with interest. My face flushes a little as I explain further. ‘That’s the life I’ve known forever. But this life here in Bangalore, it’s quaint and interesting and simply lovely.’ I realise this is true. Mom always tells me that her childhood and her growing up years were wonderful but I never paid attention or even believed her. Now that I’m living her life, I’m a little surprised to realise that she was right. They may not have cell phones and computers and yet it’s not the end of the world. They seem to be doing just fine.
    The bus rolls to the stop and I get in thankfully, but not before I spot Manoj looking at me thoughtfully.

Thirteen
    T HIS IS THE COLLEGE I’ve wanted to apply to, I realise as we walk into Christ College. But of course, it looks nothing like this now. Manoj and Neelima are chatting amicably and they part ways once inside but Manoj is soon stopped by numerous people who either want to say ‘Hi’ to him or just talk to him about the weekend.
    I stand by the side, feeling annoyed as he goes on in details about the movie we saw last night and then finally we hear the sound of the bell ringing in the distance and all the students disperse.
    â€˜Shouldn’t you be heading to class?’ I ask him, although I’m feeling slightly panicky at the thought of being left alone in this huge campus. Also it’s not like the present where we’d just text each other if we got lost. How did people find each other in those days? Beats me.
    â€˜Yeah, but I’m skipping the first class. I’ll take you around the college and introduce you to the librarian,’ he says, smiling at me and I nod in relief. Together we walk towards a huge stone building that houses the library and we go inside. It’s so quiet in here that you can actually feel the hush that falls on anyone who enters. Some students are sitting at the tables, reading quietly although I can see some lips move. There are a couple of them near the shelves, looking for books. At one corner is the librarian’s desk and we move towards it in silence.
    I’m amazed at the number of books in this library and although I imagine that only a meagre percentage of them are probably fiction, it’s still a good feeling.
    Manoj finds the librarian, a middle-aged balding man who looks extremely serious. He tries to explain the situation to him but the man keeps shushing him. It’s a bit funny actually and I try not to laugh. Finally Manoj asks the librarian to step out for a moment and once outside, he tells him the same Australia and lost luggage story.
    â€˜Has she come alone from Australia?’ the man peers at me with interest and I squirm under his gaze.
    â€˜Yes. She’s staying with her relatives in Delhi and needs money to go back. I offered to help her but she insists on paying her way through. She needs a part-time job, sir,’ Manoj explains earnestly. The man looks thoughtful as he pulls at his lower lip and then shrugs.
    â€˜College is closing in three days. What’s the point of doing a job for such a short period?’ he asks and I look at Manoj disappointed. This hasn’t occurred to both of us. Manoj glances at me, as though to ask if I’m still interested. Well, I’ve no idea when I’m headed back home, so why not give it a try.
    â€˜I’d still like to work for three days sir,’ I tell him and the man looks at me thoughtfully.
    â€˜Fine. I’ll speak to the dean but young woman, I